First News
January 11, 2023
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Keepers of the Covenant
On Sunday, we heard God’s words through the prophet Isaiah saying, “I have given you as a covenant to the people.” These words struck me so deeply when I read them. Scripture has a way of doing that; speaking powerfully and very differently to your heart depending on where you are in life at the time. For me, this “word of the Lord” struck me as both a comfort and a challenge. A comfort because it makes clear that God includes us in God’s work in the world and that God wants us to be a part of it. It is a challenge for the exact same reason. God asks us to participate in the redemption of the world; in the healing of wounds, in the breaking of chains, in the wiping away of tears, in the comforting of the sick and grieving.
To be God’s hands and feet in the world is a beautiful thought, but it is also a scary one. Thankfully, God knows this and never expects us to do it alone. The “you” in this verse is plural. “We,” the community of believers, are given to the world. In a culture that encourages individualism and small, closed off nuclear families over broader, “it takes a village” community, it can be difficult to understand God’s call. In this nation, community is hard to find and the church, however imperfect, is one institution whose purpose is to engage and encourage a group of people to come together around a common goal. And that goal is to live out, as best we can, God’s call to love the world as God loves us. This is the covenant that God made with the world on our behalf; that we, as a community, would be a light of love, mercy, and compassion for the world.
Indeed, there is no way for us to fulfill God’s covenant to the world alone. As Paul writes in I Corinthians 12, “the body does not consist of one member but of many….you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” We are the body of Christ. WE are the body of Christ. In these great verses on community, Paul also reminds us that, “if one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” Covenant community is suffering and rejoicing with one another and with the people of the world. Covenant community is inherently inclusive as it seeks to help all people understand themselves to be beloved children of God.
We have heard this call to community many times before, but we need to be reminded that this is not a call to take care of ourselves. The body of Christ is not the community of First Greer, it is the world. We are a part of the body and we have part to play in this time and place. We have a covenant to keep - a covenant of grace, love, and compassion.
God’s promise to the world that we are given as “a covenant to the people” would make a great mission statement. I pray that we make it ours and that we remember and remind one another of this promise as we seek to be a light in our community and the world.
Grace and peace,
Will
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Church Office Closed: The church office will be closed Monday, January 16th in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
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Want to learn handbells? Join us for Joyful Noise Ringers starting on January 22nd at 1:00 p.m. This group is for beginner to early intermediate levels, requires a one month commitment, and is great for both youth and adults.
If interested, please contact Lisa Dillard by January 15th.
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Meet Our New Faith Formation Intern!
We are excited to have Lizzie McCallum starting with us this month as a Faith Formation Intern, working primarily with our Youth Groups. Make sure you stop and introduce yourself to Lizzie when you see her around or send her an email of welcome at lizziem@fpcgreer.org.
A note from Lizzie: I am a freshman at Furman University and I am from Columbia, South Carolina. A Chemistry and Classics double major, I hope to pursue a career in teaching, laboratory work, or in the church. I am a lifelong Presbyterian and served as a Youth Elder at Spring Valley Pres, my back home church. I have spent many summers in Montreat both attending and working for the youth conferences and the summer camp. I am excited to get to know this church and work with the youth!
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During 11:00 a.m. worship on January 8th, we welcomed new church leadership for the Class of 2025. Those ordained and installed were: Elders - Ed Driggers, Tricia Greene, Ann Lelo, Travis Olmert, Rudy Painter, and Betsy Porter. Deacons - Beth DelSavio, Marian Hyslop, Kamin Lambertson, Susan Lynn, Becci Stedry, Chad Wentzky, and Loralea Wright. |
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Children's Faith Formation
F3 will gather on January 29th following the 11:00 worship service. 3rd through 5th graders are invited to join us for a time of fun, fellowship and faith formation.
Adult Volunteers are needed for Children’s Faith Formation activities on Sundays throughout the next few months. Please email Amy Smith or Maggie Wentzky if you can help. Thank you!
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Eleven of our Senior High Youth enjoyed a wonderful time of spiritual growth, worship, and fellowship at the Foothills PYC retreat on January 6th - 8th. Thanks to Scott Cruz & Ansley Wright for chaperoning and to PYC for their leadership! |
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Attention Senior High Youth
and Families!!
We are REGISTERED to go to the Montreat Youth Conference in 2023! We are registered and have housing reserved for July 9-15th.
The theme this year is "In Joy".
What is Montreat Youth Conference? Click here to find out!
Who will the conference leaders be the week we are going?
Click here to find out about the worship and programming leaders.
this summer.
When is the first deposit due? A $50.00 (refundable) deposit is due to Maggie via check, or pay online by January 23, 2023.
How much will the whole trip cost? The whole trip will cost $350.00. This includes conference fees, housing, food, and transportation. What a deal!
Are scholarships available? Yes. Please reach out to Maggie if you are in need and we can work together to figure something out.
** If you would like to be a chaperone, please let Maggie Wentzky know.***
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Attention Mid High Youth and Families!!
We are REGISTERED to go to CROSS Missions in Charlotte NC!
This mission trip for Mid-High Youth is scheduled for the week of July 23-28, 2023!!
What is Cross Missions? The program we will participate in is called "City Serve" and is specifically designed for youth groups to participate in during the summer.
Learn more about City Serve by clicking here.
What is the schedule like at CROSS? Click here for a sample schedule.
Please email Maggie Wentzky if you are planning to attend CROSS this upcoming summer. Friends are more than welcome to join us!
When is the first deposit due? A $50.00 (refundable) deposit is due to Maggie via check, or pay online by January 15th.
How much will the whole trip cost? The whole trip will cost $250.00.
This includes registration, housing, food, and transportation.
Are scholarships available? Yes. Please reach out to Maggie if you are in need and we can work together to figure something out.
** If you would like to be a chaperone, please email Maggie Wentzky.***
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A good time was had by all on December 19th when volunteers from FPC Greer hosted a holiday party for four of our friends from Afghanistan. All four of these young men have participated at some point in the ESL classes offered at the church. Since February 2022, our congregation, in partnership with Lutheran Services Carolinas, has provided various types of support to help the challenging transition of moving to a new country. If you are interested in volunteering with our refugee support group, please email Betsy Porter or Jenny Munro.
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Prayers for the FPC Family
Luanne Baker
Dick & B.J. Baldwin
Barry & Diane Groce
June & Joe Johns
Charlotte Koehler
John Lelo
John & Abbie McWilliams
Rita Moseley
Bob Schmidt
Tripp Smith
Phil Thompson
Ron Ware
Patty White
We extend Christian sympathy to Jason Mangum at the death of his grandmother, Margaret Fuller, on December 6th; to Robert Lynn at the death of his great nephew, Harrison Coble, on December 26th; to the family of Delores Whittington following her death on January 6th; and to Bryan Thomason at the death of his father, Ronald Thomason, on January 8th.
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Thank you for your calls, texts, emails, cards, visits, and most importantly, prayers with the recent passing of my mother. Robert and I are blessed to have such a loving and caring church family.
Many blessings,
Heather Gordon
Dear FPCG Family- I would like to thank the congregation for your support and prayers leading up to and following my recent open heart surgery. It was such a comfort to have so many praying for me. And the cards, calls and meals all helped lift my spirits. I am doing well and am on the road to a complete recovery.
Thank you,
Bob Wiesner
Thank you note from Thornwell: Dear First Presbyterian Church Greer,
Thank you so much for the wonderful books for our Child Development Center and the Christmas gifts for our teens in Ferguson Cottage. Because of you, our children at the CDC have books to read and our teens had a memorable Christmas. Through your generous gifts, you are lighting the way to hope and healing!
With sincere thanks, Jenny Turner - Community Engagement Coordinator
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The next issue of First News is February 9th. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to Lisa Johnson at lisaj@fpcgreer.org by Monday, February 6th.
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