With Gratitude for Your

Warm Welcome

What a blessing it has already been to be among you! Despite some family illness and spring break travels (for both me and Will!), I have still been able to get a good taste of life at First Presbyterian Church in Greer. I have enjoyed quite a few conversations with church members in the halls, over lunch, on the phone, and in the hospital. And I have been able to visit the Prayer Shawl Ministry group, the Wednesday Lent Bible Study folks, the youth group, the confirmation class, all of the children’s Sunday School classes, and with the Faith Formation Committee.

I have been so impressed by the myriad ways you all care for and pray for one another and by the way you step up to fill lay leadership roles in the church. I have also been moved by the excellence and passion of the staff and choir as they work together to keep things moving and lay the groundwork for a meaningful worship experience every Sunday. One of my favorite God moments so far was when a member of the church serving on the Foothills Presbytery’s Examinations Commission offered to accompany to my examination, even though, due to presbytery polity, he was not allowed to attend the meeting himself. It felt like an embodiment of “God with us.”

I know it will take a while for me to learn everyone’s names, roles, and stories, so do not hesitate to reach out to initiate a conversation or visit and keep reminding me of who you are. In the meantime, here are a few fun facts about me:

• My grandfather was born to Lebanese immigrant parents who settled in Dothan, AL, and he eventually became a successful homebuilder and two-term mayor of the small city.

• Defying childhood stereotypes as an introverted “nerd,” I played high school soccer for the first time at age 16 while attending boarding school in Mobile, AL, and wrote my college essay on “diving headers.” 

• A conversion experience during a protest at the General Assembly of the PCUSA in 2000 eventually led me, an agnostic Youth Advisory Delegate at the time, to pursue ministry as a career.

• I had quite the adventure exploring the Church’s response to HIV/AIDS in South Africa on a Watson fellowship after graduating from college and have since enjoyed being part of church mission partnerships in Haiti, El Salvador, and the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

• Before becoming an Episcopal priest, my husband Richard toured for several years as the drummer of the band Tishamingo, and you can find their music on various streaming apps. He most recently played with the Casey Kearney band, whose recent single “Born to Rodeo” is worth checking out!



• I am currently working on a poetry collection inspired by biblical women. If you’re a poetry fan, check out some of my poems at https://www.christiancentury.org/emily-rose-proctor.

Grace and peace,

Emily

Join Us on April 12 and April 19

for these Special Worship Services!

VBS Registration Is Now Open!

Click on the Graphic to Register

Children K3-5th Grade

VBS Volunteer Opportunities!

Children & Youth News

Graduate Recognition is May 3rd!

Please email Lisa Johnson in the church office if you have a high school or college graduate in your family that should be recognized.

Click on the graphics to register!



The Summer Camp Discount (Code 20FPCG26) is $300.00 for the 6 day camp and

$200.00 for the 4 day camp.

The Family Camp Discount (Code FPCFamily)

is $10.00 per family member.

FPC Greer Financial Summary

Year to Date Actual Income

as of 02/28/26 = $229,653.00

Year to Date Budgeted Income

as of 02/28/26 = $151,678.00

Variance = +$77,975.00

Thank you for supporting the

mission and ministry of FPC Greer!

Mission and Outreach News

Thank you for all of the ways this congregation supports the Backpack Buddies Pantry. The need is ever greater and this important ministry of our congregation would not be possible without your help. 

We are providing weekend food for 89 students at Dunbar Child Development Center and Greer Middle. This adds up to 1056 items each week going out of the pantry.

We invite you to set up recurring donations through our Amazon wishlist that are shipped directly to the church.

Click HERE to shop the pantry wishlist.

You can also shop for items at the grocery store and bring them to the church. Needed items include applesauce and pudding cups, juice boxes, soups, small cans of vegetables, pasta entrees, breakfast items, and individual snacks.

Upcoming Fellowship Opportunities

Jackie Atkins

Beverley House

Bob Moss

Terri Moss

Myra Wood

We offer our prayers and sympathy to Linda Wilson and family following Larry’s death on March 2nd. A private service was held in the columbarium on March 14th. 

Our deepest sympathy to Judy Mirick whose father, John "Jack" Mirick, passed away March 9th after a long period of declining health. A funeral service was held on March 13th in Summerville, SC.

We remember Byron Honbarger and family in prayer. Byron’s brother, Craig, passed away March 14th after a short battle with cancer. A service celebrating Craig’s life was held in Clarksville, TN on March 25th. 

To Our Church Family, 

Thank you so much for your ​compassionate support during these weeks following Harlow’s disappearance. Your kind words and messages of hope have brought comfort to our hearts and your faithful prayers have helped us stay strong during this painful time.

We truly appreciate your ​care for us and for our beloved Harlow.

With our love, The Shelburnes - Will, Sara, William, Sam, and Hannah

We rejoice with Anna-Paige Proffit and family at the birth of Emersyn Marie Proffit on March 25th.

Congratulations! 

Click Here to View

the Latest

Church Photos!

The next issue of First News is May 5. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to Lisa Johnson at lisaj@fpcgreer.org by Monday, May 4.