Connect@First Newsletter

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Sunday Worship

8:30 & 11:00am
Traditional Worship - Sanctuary

10:45am
Ignite Worship - Worship & Arts Center


WATCH LIVE

Communion

8:30 & 11:00am Worship
Rev. Dr. Richard Gibbons
Sermon Series on Faith & Culture:
“What Do You Believe?” Part 6
John 15:1-11

10:45am Ignite Worship
Rev. Dr. Claire Ripley
Sermon: “Remember Me”
1 Corinthians 11:17-34



Sunday Education

8:30am Nursery
9:30am Student Life Groups
9:45am Adult Life Groups
10:30am Kids Church


Grow@First Brochure

Member News


CONGRATULATIONS

The pastors and congregation extend blessings to
Mr. and Mrs. John Loft (Pat) on their 70th wedding anniversary on September 6.


SYMPATHY

The pastors and congregation extend sympathy to
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Key (Mary Sue) in the death of their son-in-law, Stuart Gregg Anderson III of Greenville, on September 19.


WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

Dan and Liz Basnight, Thomas and MarySims Costigan (Ford, Macy, and Pressley), Barbarba Ellison, Caroline Fiscus (Jude), Paul McGahee, Margaret Jenkins, Philip and Jill Johnson (Ella, Charlie, and Olivia), Katie Ninneman, Trevor and Eliza Painter, Stephen and Laura Romeo (John-Paul, William, and Celia), Zachery and Caroline Rue, Blakley and Riley Swenson


MEMORIALS & HONORS

CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH MINISTRY FUND
In memory of John Burnett, Jr. by Mr. and Mrs. William B. Sykes; Monte and Jan McKinney; Janell Haygood; Richard E. Haigwood; BYKOTA | Eppes | Jones Sunday Connect Grp; Pam and Reggy Batson; Shadow Oak Plantation

CHURCH MEMORIAL FUND
In memory of
Bettina Hensinger by Cindy Smith

TURNER MEMORIAL FUND

In memory of T. G. Hanner by Brenda Busby; Ann Towery; Annie and Mike Harding; Carroll and Jimsie Hart; Dr. and Mrs. David Williams, III; Mr. and Mrs. William B. Sykes; Lou and George Creswell; Mrs. Mary Jane Myers; Karen Lowe; Bob and Bootsie Efird; Betty and John O’Brien; Dr. and Mrs. C. Allen Bruce; Circle 6

YOUTH MINISTRY FUND

In honor of
Bailey Baker by Lamar and Deborah Jordan


PRAYER LIST

Bill Anthony, Sheila Bolick, Tom Brissey, Pat Burns, Susan Cable, Lang Cheves, Peggy Denny, Tom Drake, Susan Findley, Larry Freeman, Mike Freeman, Becky Garcia, Millie Gedney, Pam Goldman, Natalie Hall, Sally Hall, Fran Hardin, Jack Hardin, Gladys “Hap” Henderson, Tom Lide, Jennifer Loft, John Loft, Pat Loft, Anne Lybrand, Janet MacCallum, Geoff Marsh, Megan McCommons, Jennie Miler, Mozelle Moore, Chloris Norman, Alex Olyarchuk, Lucy Owen, Becky Powell, Mason Powell, Joann Reed, Ken Rhoden, Catherine Sandifer, Janice Shartle, Carrie Stringer, Shirley Timmerman, Melanie Ann Tinnelly, John Volpe, Don Youatt, Spires Welch, Beryl Wickliffe, Thomas Wilcox, Jan Zimmermann

PRAYER RESOURCES

Congregational Care Director, Tammy Burkhalter: Call 864.565.0943 for emergencies, upcoming surgeries, or hospital information.
Prayer Appointments: To schedule a confidential appointment with our Healing Prayer Team Members, call 864.565.0960.
Prayer Requests: For general prayer requests, call 864.565.0970.

MILITARY MINISTRY & PRAYER - click here

Announcements

UKRAINE RELIEF FUNDRAISER UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who donated funds to the Ukraine relief fundraiser. We received over $7,700 over the weekend. You still have an opportunity to donate! Pick up an envelope in the literature racks to support The Outreach Foundation, purchasing Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs), the most requested items of soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Each new kit costs $90. Your gift will help save lives of both soldiers and civilians. Write checks to FPC and earmark your gift “Ukraine.”



Discipleship

Discipleship Ministry, Claire Ripley

PASTOR’S WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY

If you are ready to be refreshed and renewed in prayer, come and join us on Wednesdays at 12:30pm or 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall. Over the next few weeks, we will be exploring what is often called the greatest prayer of all, The Lord’s Prayer. We will discover how to resolve some of our challenges and questions about prayer by immersing ourselves in the character and nature of “Our Father.”

SUNDAY LIFE GROUPS

The primary focus of Sunday Life Groups is to help Christians learn how to live with God’s Word shaping everything they think and accomplish in every aspect of life, enabling them to grow into maturity as disciples. There are groups for all ages and stages of life. If you are looking for a place to start, join us at Next Steps on Sundays at 9:45am in B312. For a complete list of Life Groups this fall, click here.

Missions Ministry, Brian Stewart

MINISTERING TO MUSLIMS SEMINAR

Join FPC missions partner, Georges Houssney, President of Horizons International, in a dynamic presentation on how to begin a discussion of faith with the Muslim community. The seminar will be Thursday, October 19, at 7:00pm, via Zoom. Horizons International exists to equip the global church to reach those that don’t know Jesus, especially in the Muslim world. For information or a Zoom link, contact Autumn Clark at aclark@firstpresgreenville.org.

Missions Ministry, Brian Stewart

PERSPECTIVES COURSE

Registration will open on Sunday, October 1, for the Perspectives Course on the Grace Church Taylors campus on Tuesday evenings, January 16–April 30. God has a unique role for each Christian in His global purpose of evangelizing the nations. This study program is rooted in Scripture, clarifying each believer’s remarkable opportunity to join God in His global purpose. If you have questions or would like more information, please visit Perspectives.org or reach out to Kelli Morrison at kellimorrison73@gmail.com. Scholarships are available.

Student Ministry, Mason Simmons

7TH & 8TH GRADE CONFIRMATION

Confirmation is offered for 7th and 8th grade students who would like to become Covenant Partners of First Pres. This year the class will take place at the church the weekend of January 19-21, 2024. Discussion topics will include our view of God, the Trinity, salvation, eschatology, how we view the Bible. For information, contact Autumn Clark at aclark@firstpresgreenville.org. To register, click here.

Events

Children’s Ministry, Tina Jones

FEARFULLY & WONDERFULLY MADE

Join us on Thursday, October 5, for Fearfully & Wonderfully Made in the Worship & Arts Center for an evening of fashion, fellowship, and fun. Based on God’s truth from Psalm 139:14, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made is an evening that God has used to create and connect a missional community with our friends with special abilities. Pre-show reception starts at 5:30pm, followed by the event at 6:30pm. Tickets are available by clicking here.

Fine Arts Ministry, Chelsea Fraser

ART & FAITH LUNCH OCTOBER 6

Our next Art & Faith Lunch is Friday, October 6, at 12:00pm in the Formal Dining Room. Our speaker, Chelsea LaCourse, soprano, teaches voice at Anderson University, Musical Theatre classes at South Carolina Children’s Theatre, and has a private studio teaching all ages. She is also the Soprano I section leader for the worship choir at First Presbyterian Church. Chelsea has been blessed to perform at SCCT and Spartanburg Little Theatre, and she serves as a guest Music Director at SCCT.

CREATIVE SESSION: WRITERS’ INCUBATOR

Save the date for our next Creative Session: Writers’ Incubator on Thursday, October 12, at 11:00am in the Student Programming Space. Writers are encouraged to bring something they have recently written, are working on, or have been inspired to share with the group. Bring your own lunch!

Fine Arts Ministry, Chelsea Fraser

MYSTERION EXHIBIT COMING SOON

The Lenz Gallery will present Mysterion: Works by Makoto Fujimura beginning November 13. Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist whose process driven, refractive “slow art” has been featured widely around the world. His bicultural arts education led his style toward a fusion between fine art and abstract expressionism, together with the traditional Japanese art of Nihonga and Kacho-ga (bird-and-flower painting tradition). Visit MakotoFujimura.com to learn more about his work.

Events Ministry, Caleb Miller

MATTHEW WEST FALL TOUR

FPC will welcome Matthew West with Micah Tyler for the upcoming My Story Your Glory Fall 2023 Tour on Monday, October 30, at 7:00pm in the Worship & Arts Center. Matthew West, renowned for his impressive songwriting abilities with hits like “The God Who Stays,” “Truth Be Told,” and “Hello My Name Is,” will bring his latest album “My Story, Your Glory” to life with a performance that will inspire. Tickets are now on sale on our website, click here.

First Presbyterian Academy

FALL FEST AT THE ACADEMY

First Presbyterian Academy invites all families and friends to our Fall Fest! Join us for a night of fun and festivities on Friday, October 27, beginning at 5:30pm on the Shannon Forest Campus. Proceeds benefit the Academy’s Armor Fund. More details at FirstPresAcademy.com.

Opportunities To Serve

Events Ministry, Caleb Miller

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We need individuals to help provide a welcoming experience to those attending events during the fall and winter season. Opportunities include event hosts, ticket takers, ushers, merchandise assistants, and trained crowd managers. If you are interested in serving, please email events@firstpresgreenville.org.

Missions Ministry, Brian Stewart

2024 MISSION TRIPS

Join us for upcoming 2024 Mission trips with First Pres! We will be taking groups to the Dominican Republic (medical) in the winter, Egypt (medical) in the spring, Liverpool, England (young adults) in the summer, and Richmond/Harrisonburg, VA (all ages and families) in the summer. For more information, contact Joy Sturgis at jsturgis@firstpresgreenville.org or 864.423.6798.

Worship & Music Ministry, Susan Messer

COME SING IN THE CHRISTMAS CHOIR!

Beginning Sunday, October 1, at 4:00pm, you are invited to join the Christmas Choir to prepare for the Christmas @First concerts on December 9-10. Regular Christmas Choir rehearsals will be held at 4:00pm on Sundays in October and November. Contact Susan at smesser@firstpresgreenville.org for further details.

Pastor of the Day

09/28: Stan Johnson (864.423.2067)

09/29: Brian Stewart (864.423.2660)

09/30: Brian Stewart

10/1: Brian Stewart

10/2: Brian Stewart

10/3: Brian Stewart

10/4: Brian Stewart