Fall Focus: "This Is Our Story"

Continues this Sunday

First Presbyterian is embarking on a season of storytelling with a church-wide focus this Fall that we are calling: “This Is Our Story.” Through worship, study, and mission, we will explore the different ways that our individual and collective stories tell the Story of God’s redemptive love at work all around us. We hope you will join us as together we bear witness to the good news that God’s story is very much still being written.

Hand in Hand Truck Drive

This Sunday, October 1

Our Hand in Hand community ministry will be holding a truck drive to fill their pantry with non-perishable food donations to help support Spartanburg families in need!

Bring your food donations to church this Sunday, October 1, and drop them off at the trucks on Chestnut Street or outside Fogartie Hall. To see the full list of suggested donations, go to fpcspartanburg.org/handinhand.

Hand in Hand also accepts monetary donations through the church giving site. Just select "Hand in Hand" from the dropdown box.

World Communion Sunday

Fresh-Baked Bread Needed

This Sunday is our annual World Communion Sunday, when we celebrate our oneness in Christ with all our brothers and sisters around the world.

We encourage our church family to bring a home-baked loaf of bread for communion. That morning, loaves can be dropped off in the Sanctuary, 9:45-10:45am.

Churchwide Day of Service

Sign Up by This Sunday, October 1

On Saturday, October 14, we will be having our second-annual Churchwide Day of Service! We will gather at the church at 8:00am for coffee and a brief devotion then, from 9:00am-12:00pm, people will serve in various local organizations around Spartanburg. Come back at noon for lunch and a debrief together, and we will finish by 1:00pm.

Childcare provided up - upon request - through 8 years old, and there are service opportunities for all ages! You won't want to miss it! Click the button below to register by October 1!

Holy Land Interest Meeting

Monday, October 2

First Presbyterian is organizing a trip to the Holy Land in Fall of 2024. If you are interested in possibly going, come to the Purnell Room on Monday, October 2 at 5:00pm to learn details of dates, itinerary, and costs.

Questions? Contact Ansley Page (apage@fpcspartanburg.org)

Bill's Book Club (BBC)

Tuesday, October 3

BBC meets this coming Tuesday, October 3 at 10:30am & 7:00pm in the Arthur Center. You still have time to read this month's selection: "Horse" by Geraldine Brooks.

Transparent Mens Breakfast

Saturday, October 7

On Saturday, October 7, at 8:30am the Sparkle City Transparent Men (SCTM) are meeting in the Large Private Dining Room – off Fogartie Hall – for breakfast, fellowship, and Bible study. All men in the church and community are invited to attend.

SCTM has one overriding objective – to build solid friendships across racial lines – and those who invest the time succeed in doing so. Please join us! Questions? Contact Jimmy Edwards (864-415-4999).

Wednesdays at First

Good Food & Fellowship!

Come enjoy good food and fellowship time at WAF. Reservations are required for dinner. 

Click the button below to make your dinner reservation before 4:00pm Monday.

Covenant Connections

Fall WAF Program | 6:15-7:00pm in Fogartie Hall

We tend to hear the story of the Bible in a piecemeal fashion – a story about Paul in Sunday School, a story about Moses in a sermon, a story about Abraham in a Bible study, and then a story about Jesus in a devotional. But how do all those stories fit together?

This fall at Wednesdays at First, we will be exploring how these individual stories connect into a single narrative timeline that enriches our understanding of each of those stories, and allows us to see beyond the trees of individual disconnected stories to the great forest of God’s redemptive work in history.

Young Adult Fellowship

Sunday, October 15 | 4:00-6:00pm

All Young Adults are invited for Food and Fellowship at the Breeden’s Pavilion (171 Twin Pond Dr). Fun for all ages! We have BBQ and activities for kids. If you would like to fish, bring your fishing poles and bait!

RSVP to Jane Breeden via text (864-590-4783) or email (janebreeden5@gmail.com).

Retirement Conversations with Joanne

Monday, October 16

If you are thinking about retirement or are recently retired, join Pastor Joanne for lunch and reflections upon this new phase of our lives. We will explore the change in our identities, how we spend this new found gift of time, what God might be calling and us to be and do, as well as other aspects of the retirement life.

Please click the button below to register today. We will meet in the Large Private Dining Room of the FLC from 12:00-1:30pm. 

Stephen Ministry 30th Anniversary Dinner

Thursday, October 19

Stephen Ministry is celebrating 30 Years at First Presbyterian Church! (1993-2023)

We are honoring all past and present Stephen Ministers with a spectacular celebration on October 19 in Fogartie Hall! Interested in attending? Click the button below to register by October 13.

Kirkin' o' the Tartans

Want to Participate?

If you are a Tartan Banner owner and would like to participate in the 8:30am or 11:00am Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans service on Sunday, October 29, please click the button below to sign up to participate.

Tartan Donations

If you are no longer interested in marching your tartan banner and would like to donate it as a gift to the church for display at Kirkin’, please email Martha Bean at mtbean54@icloud.com.

Thornwell Bus Trip

Wednesday, November 1 | 9:15am-2:30pm

Please join your church friends as we take a weekday road trip to Clinton, SC to visit Thornwell and Lush Acres Farm. We will learn more about our church’s long relationship with Thornwell and see their ministry in action. All are welcome!

We will meet in the Family Life Center parking lot at 9:15am. Lunch plans to be determined. Click the button below to sign up, or contact Ian Ritchings (iritchings@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2139).

Welcome Grace deMaine

Associate Director of Youth Ministry

It is with great joy and excitement that the Youth department announces the hiring of Grace deMaine, Associate Director of Youth Ministry!

Currently a Junior at Wofford College, double majoring in Government and Religion, Grace is originally from Greenville, SC and grew up at John Knox Presbyterian Church. For the last two summers she has served as the Youth Intern at National Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. and was also the Youth Intern at John Knox last year.

The oldest of 6 siblings, Grace loves being around middle and high school kids and is looking forward to getting to know our Youth! Please help us give her a warm First Pres welcome.

Youth Group

Sunday Evenings

Middle School: 5:30-6:30pm (FLC)

High School: 6:30-8:30pm (FLC)

Fitness Machine Orientations

Mon & Fri in September

So many gym machines, so little time! Where does one begin?

We invite you to drop by for a machine orientation with Colleen. She will go over sets, reps, and proper form for each of our equipment pieces. No sign up needed. Every Monday & Friday at 10:00am, all month long.

Church Basketball Registration

Opens This Monday

Registration for Church Basketball will be open October 2-30. Sign-ups are open to grades 1-12, boys and girls, members and non-members!

Click the button below to sign up, or go to fpcspartanburg.org/basketball!

Basketball Coaches Needed

We're in need of coaches for the 2023 Church Basketball Season! Adults of all ages are invited to help coach these wonderful young athletes!

Interested? Contact Recreation Director Colleen Darrall (cdarrall@fpcspartanburg.org)

Vaccination/Skin and Bone Screening Clinic

October 10 & 11

It’s time to start registering for the upcoming Vaccination/Skin Screening/Bone Density Screening Clinic. The Drive-Thru Clinic (Flu shots only) is scheduled for Tuesday, October 10th 5:00 pm–7:00 pm

The Walk-in Clinic with screenings is scheduled for Wednesday, October 11th 5:00 pm–7:00 pm (During WAF). Flu, pneumonia, Tdap, and shingles vaccines will be available. Pending distribution, the new Covid-19 booster may be available for both events!

Please contact Beth Cecil to register (bcecil@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2136).

Blood Drive

Sunday, November 5

Our next blood drive is scheduled for Sunday, November 05, 2023. If you would like to participate during that event please refrain from donating blood after Friday, September 08, 2023.

WAF Volunteers Needed

Wednesdays at First is back, and we need volunteers! Jobs include: Registration, desserts, serving/prep, kids table, dish washers, and breakdown.

If you're willing to help with any of these tasks, on any week of WAF, please click the button below to sign up. We appreciate your help in serving on our WAF Staff!

Hospitality Golf Carts

Drivers Needed

Our hospitality golf carts are driving toward a return to First Pres! We are excited to announce that you will soon be seeing golf carts in and around the parking lots on Sunday mornings. This service, which was suspended during the pandemic, will be offered again starting this Fall and is available to any and all members who’d like a ride from their car to the 11:00 worship service. Lots of little people to wrangle? Had a recent surgery? Feeling extra tired? We want you to catch a ride!

But FIRST, we need volunteer drivers! We are looking for 8-10 men and women, ages 25+, to drive the golf carts. With this number of volunteers, we expect each driver to be assigned a Sunday no more than once every two months. All drivers will go through a background check for insurance purposes and will be trained and oriented on driving and storing the golf cart.

Click the button below to volunteer for this easy, fun way to get involved!

2023 FIECP Summit

Thursday, October 19 | 8:30am-2:00pm

On Thursday, October 19 the Faith Initiative To End Child Poverty will host a summit focused on education, especially how congregations can best support students and educators. The Faith Initiative is a consortium of congregations working to end child poverty in Spartanburg. The Summit will be held at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Spartanburg (502 S. Daniel Morgan Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29306). A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. All are welcome.

The Faith Initiative Summit is in partnership with the Spartanburg Academic Movement's 10th anniversary conference the day before, on October 18. This article by Dr. Irvin Scott from the Harvard LIFE (Leadership Initiative for Faith and Education) Program is our framework for the October 19 Summit.

Please RSVP so we can have a good estimate of attendance for food and seating. The Faith Initiative would especially like to invite congregations and educators who are partnered to serve students in our schools throughout Spartanburg County. If you are aware of ministries or congregations that work in partnership with our schools, please share with us who to contact in order to invite them to the Summit.

Click the button below to RSVP for this year's Summit.

Winter Warmth 2023

Volunteers Needed

We're in need of volunteers to be part of FPC’s largest annual mission project, Winter Warmth, where we distribute brand-new coats to children in need across Spartanburg County.

Volunteer jobs include helping with set-up, check-in, parking lot attendees, translators, and shoppers. We are also accepting donations of new scarfs, gloves, and winter hats.

Winter Warmth will take place on November 11th this year. If you're interested in volunteering, please click the button below to sign up!

Weekday School

Substitute Teachers Needed!

The Weekday School at FPC is looking for a few more substitute teachers for the 2023-2024 school year.

If you are interested in being a substitute at our wonderful Weekday School, or know someone who would be great, please contact Kris Graham at (kgraham@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-706-0460).

Cleveland Academy of Leadership

Kindergarten Tutors Needed!

Are you able to commit to one hour a week to help end child poverty through the gift of literacy?

Kindergarten Tutors are needed every day from 9:00-10:00am at Cleveland Academy to work in small groups with students. Please contact Mary Elizabeth Evans (mewevan@gmail.com) if you are interested and able to help. 

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.

These Days

Daily Devotions for Living by Faith

The October-December edition of the These Days devotional book are now available for pickup throughout the church!

Get your copy today!

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!

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