The Great Presbyterian Picture Push

Beginning This Sunday

To strengthen our connections as a church family, we are updating church member photos in our Online Pictorial Directory – “Shelby”. Beginning this Sunday, March 19, we will have stations set up in the FLC Lobby and in the Perrin Room for us to take pictures of you and/or your family. No need to dress up – come as you are! Additional photo times will be held during WAF (all dates and times are posted on the web).

If you cannot make it, feel free to submit your photo online HERE. 

VBS Early Registration

Now Open!

VBS registration for Friends of FPC is now open, and runs until Sunday, March 26! This year's theme is Hero Hotline, and it's going to be a super time for all!

Click the button below to register!

Wesley Hall - Free Recital and Workshop

March 17 & 18

First Presbyterian Church welcomes Wesley Hall (wesleyharrisonhall.com), a noted and passionate young organist who has gained over 150,000 followers on social media. Wesley is a dynamic organist and early musician with a passion for translating the music of the past into the context of today’s audience. We invite you to join Wesley for two special events:

🎹 Friday, March 17 - A special evening recital, featuring Wesley performing on our sanctuary's Aeolian-Skinner 3-keyboard, 35 stop pipe organ. There will also be a free-will offering to benefit the Spartanburg American Guild of Organists (SPAGO) programs. The recital will take place at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary.

🎹 Saturday, March 18 - Wesley will be leading a morning Social Media Workshop, where he will illustrate how to build an internet following (especially around the pipe organ), a skill that seems lost to our church congregations, lovers of music and young piano students. The workshop will take place at 10:00am in the chapel. Refreshments will provided. 

All events are free, open to the public, and handicapped accessible. Parking is free.

Children's Choir Concert

March 22, 6:30pm in the Sanctuary

Our Children's Choirs will be presenting a special concert, titled "God's Hands and Feet," on March 22 at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary. Mark your calendars now!

Spring Into Health

First Session March 23

The Shepherd's Center of Spartanburg invites you to "Spring Into Health - Using Lifestyle to Maximize Your Healthspan." For this special health series, instructor Lori Boyd (MSN, RN, DipACLM) will focus on self-improvement through nutrition, exercise, sleep, and more. The program will meet in Room 2200, and will take place over four sessions (March 23, April 20, May 25, June 22), 11:30am-12:30pm.

Registration is required, and class size is limited to 20. Shepherd's Center members get in free, non-members can join for $20. To register or learn more information, contact the Shepherd's Center at 864-585-1999 or shepherdsctrsptbg@att.net.

March WAF Series

March 29, 6:30pm in Fogartie Hall

Mountains play a central role in the stories of the Hebrew Bible. From Sinai to Nebo and Moriah to Carmel, mountains become central places for God’s activity in the ancient world. Our March WAF series, titled "Seeking God in High Places: Visiting the Mountains of the Old Testament," will take us on a hike through the high ground of the Old Testament and explore how the places and people we meet along the way continue inform our faith today.

Lent Devotional Series

For the season Lent this year, we have been reading through the passion narratives in each of the four Gospels, paired with statements of faith from one of our officers, as an expression of how they are taking up their cross and following Jesus. All devotionals from this week can be found by clicking here.

If you would like to receive future devotionals in your inbox, click the button below. All devotionals can also be found on our social media channels.

Christians in the Making

Wednesdays, 10:00am

Our Christians in the Making (CITM) study group has begun their six-week Lent study, and they invite you to join them! The group will be studying John Indermark's book Gospeled Lives: Encounters with Jesus. CITM meets every Wednesday at 10:00am in the Purnell Room and on Zoom. If you're interested in joining this fun group of believers, please reach out to Jennifer Biber at biber615@charter.net.

Younger Women's Bible Study

Wednesdays & Thursdays

Our Bible study geared towards younger women will meet on Wednesday nights, 6:15-7:15pm, and Thursday mornings, 9:15-10:15am.

For more information, please reach out to Rev. Leslie A. Lang (llang@fpcspartanburg.org).

Tickled Pink Women's Bible Study

Tuesdays, 9:15-10:30am

Jesus Connection & One Another-ing: Jesus calls us friends and shows us the way to a life of love and faith. Come explore Gospel accounts of Jesus loving others and teaching us how to build strong faith and friend connections through Him.

Tickled Pink is an intergenerational group of women gathered to study the Bible and to grow in faith and friendship through laughter, reflection, and conversation. We will be meeting two more Tuesdays, March 21 & March 28, 9:15-10:30am in Fogartie Hall. All are invited – bring a friend! Wear pink for fun! The more the merrier! Questions? Contact Ansley Page, Susan Oldham, Kathryn Bridges, Scottie Lummus or Jean Palmer. 

Tuesday/Thursday Bible Study

Join Nan and Tom McDaniel via Zoom for their next book study. They will be studying Tom Evan’s book, “This Way Forward: Sermons that Matter”. 

Please contact Shannon at shutcheson@fpcspartanburg.org for the Zoom link, and information on picking up the book.

Witness Season Update

THANK YOU!

Thank you for donating towards our 2023 Witness Season Project - a water purification system for our sister congregation in Cuba. Our goal was $30,000, and your generous gifts have allowed us to exceed that goal by nearly $12,000! Your faithful giving will benefit not only our sister congregation, but also the entire community at large!

Easter Eggs Needed

by March 26

The Children's Ministry is in need of pre-filled plastic eggs for their March 29 Easter Egg Hunt! Eggs can be filled with stickers, small toys, or candy. Please drop your egg donations off at the church office, or to Kara Clark by March 26.

WDS Moe's Fundraiser

March 28, 12:00-1:00pm

The Weekday School will be having another Moe’s Pop Up Fundraiser on March 28, 12:00-1:00pm in the FLC parking lot! The taco kit feeds 4-6 people, and each kit includes chicken & ground beef, black beans, rice, queso, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, Pico de Gallo, sour cream, salsa, chips & 12 flour tortillas.

The price is $39.99 plus tax! All orders must be placed by Monday, March 27 at 4:00pm. For each taco kit from 1-50, the WDS will receive $5 and for each kit sold over 51, the WDS will receive $10 back per kit. Our goal is to sell at least 75 kits! If you would like to order a taco kit, please click the button below. Thank you so much for supporting the Weekday School!

Palm Sunday Volunteers Needed

Sunday, April 2

We need volunteers to help hand out palm crosses and waving palms before each of the worship services on Palm Sunday.

Help will be needed for all of the following services: MorningSong and the Chapel Service at 8:45am, Joint Montgomery Commons Celebration with St. Paul's Catholic Church and The Episcopal Church of the Advent at 10:30am, and Traditional Sanctuary Worship at 11:00am.

Come to the entrances of the worship areas 20 minutes before the service time. Families and youth are welcome! If you are able to help, contact LeAnne Thurmond Holcombe (864-621-0213 or leanne.thurmond@gmail.com).

Flower Cross Volunteers Needed

Easter Sunday (April 9)

We need volunteers to help decorate the traditional flower cross between the Chapel and Sanctuary, hand out flowers, assist those who bring flowers, and tidy up the area.

If you are able to help, contact LeAnne Thurmond Holcombe (864-621-0213 or leanne.thurmond@gmail.com).

Hand in Hand Ministries

Accepting Food Donations

Our Hand in Hand community ministry is always accepting non-perishable food donations to help support Spartanburg families in need! They also accept monetary donations through the church giving site.

To learn more about the mission of Hand in Hand and see how you can help those who need it most, visit their website at handinhandspartanburg.org.

Sunday Greeters Needed!

Looking for an easy way to get involved in the church? Come share your smile and help greet on Sunday mornings! We need three greeters each Sunday- one to welcome those coming to Sunday school from 9:30-9:55 and two to welcome Sanctuary worshippers from 10:30 to 11:00. All you have to do is stand outside your assigned door and welcome people as they arrive! (You are welcome to bring your kids to help as well!)  We just ask that you bring your warm smile and friendly face.

Welcome Class

Sunday, April 16

On Sunday, April 16, we will have a special Welcome Class, 12:00-2:00pm in the Large Private Dining Room. Lunch will be included. If you are interested in joining or learning more about First Presbyterian Church, please RSVP to Joanie Shackleton (jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2132); this will help us with planning. 

JOY Fellowship Trip

Thursday, April 20

The JOY Fellowship will travel to Chimney Rock Village and Burnt Shirt Winery for lunch and wine tasting on Thursday, April 20. We hope you will join us! Contact Joanie Shackleton (jshackleton@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2132) to reserve your spot on the bus.

Blood Drive

Sunday, June 25

Please mark your calendar for the next blood drive that is scheduled for Sunday, June 25, 2023. If you donated during the February 12 blood drive, you will be eligible to donate again on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. By using code 9BBW, First Presbyterian Church will be credited with your donation.

To donate during the June 25, 2023, blood drive, please refrain from donating after Friday, April 28, 2023.

Montreat Women's Connection

August 11-13

The Keynoter for the 2023 Montreat Women’s Connection Conference is Kate Bowler. Kate is a three-time New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and an associate professor of American religious history at Duke University. Other conference leadership includes the Rev. Kathryn Johnston as preacher and Dr. Margaret Aymer as Bible Scholar.

First Presbyterian Church has reserved spaces for 28 women to go to the conference. We have also reserved the entirety of the charming, historic, (and air conditioned!) Glen Rock Inn for our group, right in the heart of Montreat, with ample gathering space for participants to enjoy together. Meals will be in Assembly Inn.

For more information about the conference, visit fpcspartanburg.org/events/montreat-womens-connection. Click the button below to register!

SAVE THE DATE!

Special Guest John L. Bell, Sept. 8-10

Scottish theologian and hymn writer John Bell will be at FPC Spartanburg September 8-10. Rev. Bell is a graduate and former rector at the University of Glasgow, convener of the Church of Scotland's Church Hymnary (Fourth Edition), and the 2018 recipient of the Cranmer Award for Worship, for his "outstanding Christian witness, through hymn-writing, broadcasting and social action." We eagerly anticipate the honor having Rev. Bell as a guest this fall.

Try Our New Kiosk

We are experimenting with the uses of a Kiosk and would love for you try it out. It is currently located in the Financial/Columbarium offices – just outside of Lynise Clarke’s office. On Sundays, it can be located in the Perrin Room. You can “Register for an Event” (such as WAF, the 1843 Endowment Dinner or other upcoming events), or you can “Give Now” to any of the church funds through our secure online giving portal.

If you have any questions, Lynise is more than happy to assist at lclarke@fpcspartanburg.org or 864-208-2130.

Stickers Available

We have stickers available around the church! It's a square design with a blue background, featuring our church name and cross symbol.

Get yours from the tables outside of Fogartie Hall or the Perrin Room.

FPC Spartanburg Sermoncast

Available on All Podcast Platforms

Missed last week's worship service? Want to revisit your favorite sermons while on the road, at work, or anywhere at all? Now you can! Plus: Listen to Rev. John Daniel's new Confirmation Podcast series!

All of it is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you find your podcasts.