“Freely and Joyously Emptied”

Freely and joyously we give to you! These words have carried us through this stewardship season. Personally, it has been a gift for me to have them in my heart and mind. I love the image in 1 Chronicles 29 of a great crowd of God’s people streaming to the temple to give generously for its construction. It is a joyful reminder of the way we are called to give of our lives to God. At the same time, the admonition to freely and joyously give to God causes me to wrestle with the “how” and “why “of my giving and to question my commitment to Christ-like discipleship.

Yesterday, in conversation with a couple of First Greer’s finest, the “Christ Hymn” found in Philippians 2:5-11 came up. It is sometimes referred to as the kenosis hymn which comes from the Greek word ekenōsen, meaning “emptied.”

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

    did not regard equality with God

    as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

    taking the form of a servant,

    being born in human likeness.

These incredible verses capture so well the absurd graciousness of God’s love for us. In an act of cosmic humility, our God was born a baby, in a stable no less! Jesus, Emmanuel, came to us as an act of pure love, to live as pure love. And, as if coming to us was not enough, Jesus lived his short and often difficult life a servant to all. Something most profoundly shown in the act of washing his disciples’ dirty feet on the day before his death. 

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” I was tempted to quote the Rev. Wayne Cole here, “it’s all that easy and all that hard,” but I am not sure it fits. Having the same mind as Christ Jesus seems only “all that hard.” And yet this is the “how” and the “why” of our discipleship. We are called to empty ourselves for one another because Jesus emptied himself for us.

Seeking to empty ourselves like Jesus requires discipline, commitment, and sacrifice. But these are not the most important ingredient for our kenosis. In fact, these things will taste bitter without the most important ingredient, gratitude. Jesus lived with joy and gratitude always. His giving of everything to and for us was not misery for him, it was joy. And this is what our discipleship and our giving is supposed to be, joyful. 

However, the only way we can experience such joy in giving is to seek to live every day with gratitude to God. Gratitude for all that God’s hand hath provided us. So, despite how often we will fail (and God knows that we will!), let us seek to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus so that we, too, might be filled with the joy and freedom of being emptied.  

Coming Up in November!

The APNC is conducting initial interviews while continuing to review potential candidates, giving prayerful consideration to all. The church created an image to share on social media to announce the position, and we encourage you to share this image within your own networks. Please continue to keep the APNC in your prayers as we work to find the person meant for our church, and feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.

In peace and joy,

The APNC - Missy Nicholson & Ginger Mauney, Co-Chairs, Paul Govan, Kamin Lambertson, Ann Drayton Lister, Robert Lynn, Leanna McCord, and William Shelburne, Jr. 

Freely and Joyously We Give to You!

Click on the image above to see mor of our Stewardship posts for 2026

A Word from Pastor Emily

I’ll be honest, Halloween is not my favorite holiday.  I don’t love scary movies or haunted houses. Sometimes I think this is because I am too aware of real evil, injustice and unnecessary suffering in the world, which to me seems to be trivialized by all the fake evil dramatized on Halloween.  At other times, I think it is because I would rather pretend that evil doesn’t really exist at all. As we have proceeded through our study of the book of Revelation, I have come to appreciate that this final book of the Bible refuses to let us paper over the reality of evil in the world and its impact, while also refusing to glorify it or let it dominate our consciousness.

Whereas much that is marketed to us for Halloween, in my opinion, serves as a distraction and a misrepresentation of the true nature of evil, Revelation seeks to open our eyes not only to the things that oppose God, but to God’s ultimate sovereignty over them.  In Revelation, the beast can hold authority, be idolized, survive a seemingly mortal wound, and have a national platform from which to utter his blasphemies, and yet it is no match for the slaughtered lamb.  Evil, like the metaphorical whore of Babylon, can be seductive, promising prosperity, convenience and self-indulgence; but its promises are proven hollow and void compared to the marriage supper of the Lamb.  

These images of the seven-headed dragon, the beasts, and whore, disturbing though they may be, have the effect of waking us up out of any comfort-induced complacency we might have fallen into.  They call us to run every claim on our loyalty through the test of the slaughtered Lamb before giving it our allegiance.  Are relationships merely convenient and transactional, or are they based on faithful commitment and mutual, loving sacrifice?  Is power self-serving or self-giving?  And whereas Halloween keeps our focus on the scariest things our imaginations can manifest, Revelation continually brings our focus back to the Lamb on the throne, the renewing power of worship, and the ultimate victory of God and the Saints.  I am grateful that this year, we can follow Halloween so immediately with a worship service in which we celebrate the triumphant slaughtered lamb and our communion with all God’s saints.

Children & Youth News

Camp Fellowship Winter Camp

This fun and festive weekend camp is a wonderful way to get your camp fix in the winter, but also to check out Camp Fellowship for the first time. Children 5 and up are invited to spend the night at camp and participate in worship, crafts, fun and fellowship.



Click on the flyer for additional information and to register!

Use the code Greer1 for a $75 discount from FPCG!

FPC Greer Financial Summary

YTD actual income as of 9/30/26 = $710,297

YTD budget income as of 9/30/26 = $682,505

Variance = $27,792

YTD actual expenses as of 9/30/26 = $769,255

YTD budget expenses as of 9/30/26 = $759,207

Variance = $10,048

Thank you for supporting the mission and ministry of FPC Greer!

Music News

Upcoming Children & Youth Music Dates

The Young Singers' Ensemble (3rd-12th grades) will sing on November 8th at 11:00 a.m. worship. Practices will be held on Sunday mornings with options offered to rehearse in between worship services or after 11:00 a.m. worship. Please contact Lisa Dillard or Maria Kithcart for more information.

Welcome to Our Newest Members!

At a called Session meeting on October 18th, these folks were received into the life and ministry of First Greer:

Allison Elder

A native of Texas, Allison is the co-founder and executive director of Time Served, a non-profit legal services organization in Greenville. She and her husband, Sam, are the parents of two sons, Kieran, age 9, and Lochlan, age 4. In her free time, Allison enjoys cooking and being outdoors with her family.

Steve & Julie Grisham

The Grishams visited First Greer at the invitation of the their friends, Carlton and Karen Greene. Steve is an architect at a firm in Greenville and Julie is retired from her career as an interior designer. They enjoy riding in their BMW in the mountains. Steve and Julie have one daughter, Mary, who lives in Taylors.

Mike & Tracy Vanzura

The Vanzuras come to us by transfer of their membership from First Presbyterian Church in New Bern, North Carolina. Both Mike and Tracy are retired and previously owned the Great Harvest Bread Company on Woodruff Road. They have family in the Upstate, which prompted their move to our area.

Opportunities for

Fellowship and Study

Looking to Advent

Mission & Outreach News

November is Thornwell Emphasis Month! Each year we participate by distributing Thornwell Turkeys during worship and collecting them, filled with quarters throughout the month of November.

Children and adults can pick up a turkey at church this Sunday or from the church office anytime.

This is a tradition for Thornwell that goes back 150 years and the funds raise go directly into programs that help support children in need.

Luanne Baker

Amy Caldwell

Bonnie Holmes

John McClimon

Terri Moss

Rachel Branham Nizolak

Dave Orr

Rachel Woodward

Myra Wood

Carolyn Wright

Our prayers and sympathy to Blake and Harriett Williams following the death of Blake's sister, Sandra Graves, on October 12th. Sandra passed away at her home in Kershaw, SC, after battling cancer. A service was held in Kershaw on October 16th.

Click HERE to View Photos

of the Latest Church Events!

The next issue of First News is November 24. If you have content for the newsletter, please email it to Lisa Johnson at lisaj@fpcgreer.org by Monday, November 23.