First News
April 28, 2022
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And Yet!
“He is Risen!” What a blessing it was to be together for Easter! To lift our voices together to say and to sing “He is Risen,” to hear Micah’s trumpet accompany us, and to eat from an impressive spread of food. I am not going to mention any names, but one of my children had a plate that featured two cupcakes, a cinnamon roll, monkey bread, and, to balance things out, some fruit (natural sugars are important after all). It was wonderful for my family and me to experience our first Easter at First and to do so without the once-necessary Covid precautions. And while I cannot believe it, April 19th marked my one-year anniversary as Pastor of this wonderful congregation. Time has flown and much has changed since I first arrived. Last Easter, as well as my first Sunday, we were worshipping outside. From there, it was an often-bumpy Covid ride as numbers surged and then waned several times. These have not been easy times for any of us, especially for those who have lost loved ones to the virus or who continue to live with its lingering and debilitating effects, whether physical, emotional, or financial. Unfortunately, the divisiveness and anger that seems not to have waned, but only surged, continues to threaten our hope that goodness and justice will prevail. And this is to say nothing of the war raging on in Ukraine.
The post-pandemic world is different, but most of us cannot really articulate how. You can just feel it in your gut and sense it when you look around. Perhaps you can perceive it when you look in the mirror and see newly formed lines of worry and anxiety or eyes that are clearly heavier with exhaustion. For many of us, our memories of what life was like before Covid came bearing down, have faded away and we are left looking at a world that seems less compassionate, more tumultuous, more threatening, and much less hopeful. Sometimes it makes you want to retreat back to the early days of the pandemic when, for a moment, life slowed down, smog-filled skies and polluted waters cleared, and people serenaded first responders from their windows. All of what we feel now, the exhaustion, the numbness, the hopelessness, the anger and frustration, is a part of our collective trauma of living through a pandemic. Regardless of what your feelings about it were or are, none of us has escaped unscathed.
And yet. Always, with we followers of Christ, there is an “and yet.” And yet, throughout these times, volunteers have continued to serve meals at the soup kitchen. And yet, the love and compassion of this congregation has continued through calls, cards, meals, and, when possible, visits. And yet, the waters of baptism have welcomed God’s beloved and new members have joined our fellowship. And yet, the sound of children has grown louder and louder in the halls of the church (sometimes directly correlated to the increasing amounts of sugar they are finding, often thanks to Al). And yet, backpacks are being delivered weekly to the children at Dunbar and their teachers are also gifted with food and love. And yet, the confirmation class continues to meet and recently made a trip to Triune to worship and to serve. And yet, four men who left everything they knew behind in Afghanistan, who do not know if they will EVER see their families and friends again, are coming to our church to be tutored in English by dedicated volunteer teachers from this congregation.
A few weeks ago, I quoted that great phrase from the prophet Zechariah: “prisoners of hope.” The “and yet” we see and participate in as Christians is what defines us; it is what we are called to do. And we do it despite all in the world that says it is a waste of time. We Christians are “prisoners of hope” and so we do the work of hope, despite all that seems hopeless. Because it matters. We may not change the systems in this nation of plenty that allows so many children to go hungry, but the love and food we share will make a difference. We may not be able to do much about the pain and suffering of the people of Afghanistan, but the relationships being formed with the four men we are supporting, will make a world of difference to them. “What the world needs now is love, sweet love,” the song goes. Love and hope. Who better suited than we, followers of the risen Lord, prisoners of hope, to give the world what it so desperately needs? Easter is not one day a year; it is every day, for every day is an opportunity to speak the hope of the resurrection. That death has been defeated, that hopelessness, violence, and suffering are not the final word. So, today and everyday let us be bold to claim in what we say and do that “He is Risen indeed!”
Grace and peace,
Will
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With joy, we celebrate the April 19th
one-year anniversary of
Reverend Will Shelburne’s call
as senior pastor of FPC Greer.
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Enjoy an amazing evening of advanced handbell music presented by some of the best ringers in the upstate! All ages are encouraged to attend this free event.
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Ready to plant your veggies? GS Troop 8 will have vegetable and herb plants and marigolds for sale on April 30th, 9am-noon, in the FPC back parking lot. Thank you for your continued support of our Girl Scouts! |
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Did you know that you can get the Church directory from your phone or tablet? Click the buttons below for instructions.
Instructions for Android Devices -
Instructions to access via the web -
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We need help with Doughnut Delivery! If you are willing/able to pick up doughnuts from Krispy Kreme (Greenville or Spartanburg) on Saturday or Sunday mornings, please reach out to Maggie. We will order online ahead of time so all you have to do is pick them up and get them to church in time to be enjoyed on Sunday mornings.
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Male Volunteers Needed for
Afghan Refugee Ministry
We are in need of male volunteers who can transport the men to and from the church for their ESL classes and other appointments, as needed. Volunteers should have a vehicle big enough to transport four people in addition to the driver. If you are willing to help meet this need, please contact Jenny Munro at 864-908-6148.
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Join us in worship on May 29th as we recognize our 2022 graduates. If you or someone in your immediate family is graduating this year from high school, college, or graduate school, please contact Lisa Johnson in the church office to make sure we have up-to-date information.
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SAVE THE DATE!
May 15th - F3 Event at Noon for 3rd - 5th graders.
May 22nd - Sunday Funday at 4:00 p.m. for children
up to 5th grade.
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The First Presbyterian Book Club meets next on June 7th at 3 p.m. in the Agape Room to discuss Red Summer: The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America by Cameron McWhirter. We welcome anyone interested in reading and discussing books to join us. Contact Jenny Munro at [email protected] for more information.
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Presbytery Choral Festival: May 21-22
John Knox Presbyterian Church
35 Shannon Drive - Greenville, SC
Conducted by Anthony Bernarducci
from Clemson University
Saturday 1-4pm and Sunday 2-4pm
Free concert May 22nd at 3pm
All are invited!
String Ensemble in worship May 22nd
A Huge Thank You to members of the Chancel Choir, Joyful Noise Ringers, Young Ladies’ Ensemble and instrumentalists who made our Holy Week services so worshipful and meaningful! Thank you for the gift of your time and talents to our congregation!
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Save the Date!!
Ready to cook up some fun? Join us for a Food Truck Party at Vacation Bible School the week of July 24th as we learn to pray as Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:11; “Give us this day our daily bread.”
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Reflections from Al - "Mystery"
I’m reading a fascinating and somewhat “deeper” book “The Seven Pillars of Creation”—the Bible, Science, and the Ecology of Wonder written by Old Testament professor Bill Brown. He explores the seven different creation stories in the Bible and in the introduction talks about mystery.
Brown asks, “What if science informed and enabled persons of faith to become more trustworthy ‘stewards of God’s mysteries’?” He quotes Einstein about the experience of mystery “stands at the cradle of true art and true science.”
In our information overload technological age, I fear we are losing the awe and reverence of faith in God and the mysteries of life that provoke good questions and inquiry and curiosity.
“Mystery is being grasped by something larger than ourselves, ever compelling us to stretch, rather than limit, the horizons of our awareness. Under the rubric of wonder, mystery has its place alongside understanding.”
I trust your summer will encourage your sense of wonder and mystery in creation and that will affect your encounter with the Triune mystery of God.
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Memorial Day Weekend - May 29th
One Service at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
Confirmation Sunday - June 5th
One Service at 11:00 in the Sanctuary
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Prayers for the FPC Family
Luanne Baker
Dick & B.J. Baldwin
John Cutruilo
Vincent DeMaria
June & Joe Johns
John McClimon
John & Abbie McWilliams
Rita Moseley
Phil Thompson
We extend Christian sympathy to Judy Blanchard at the recent death of her father in Pennsylvania. He was 101 years old.
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We offer congratulations to John and Carol McClimon at the birth of their grandson, Matthew Edwin Shirk, who was born on April 5th. Matthew is the son of Andrew and Emily McClimon Shirk and the brother of big sister, Jenna.
Congratulations to new grandparents Ed and Christy Driggers whose granddaughter, Olivia Rose Nichols, was born on April 19th. Olivia is the daughter of Garrett and Kathryn Driggers Nichols.
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Dear FPC Family,
My most joyful gratitude to the choir for the wonderful meal after my sister’s surgery and to the church and all the members for the cards and phone calls following my car accident. What a blessing you have been!
With love,
Bonnie Holmes
To the Congregation,
I just want to thank everyone again for their prayers and caring. I have enjoyed the visits and the treats! Thank you, also, to the ladies for the beautiful prayer shawl!
Sincerely,
Rita Moseley
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The next issue of First News is May 25th. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to Lisa Johnson at [email protected] by Friday, May 20th.
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