Speaking Down Barriers

 

PCUSA 'BIG TENT' 2017

The PCUSA's  Big Tent is meeting in  St. Louis, July 6-8, 2017. Mark your calendar and join us for worship, workshops, and the opportunity to engage and connect with other Presbyterians.  More information coming soon!

 

On Saturday, November 5th nine of us set out early in the morning to travel to Columbia, SC to work on a home that needed repairs from the Oct. 2016 floods.  This particular home, owned by Ms. Davis, had been sitting empty for over a year.  Ms. Davis' basement flooded sending water up the walls to the living area causing mold and mildew to set in. 

A wonderful organization, St. Bernard's Project (SBP), works in several cities across the US, including Columbia, to help people rebuild their homes and lives from natural disasters. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) works with SBP to fill volunteers and complete projects.  SBP had been working on Ms. Davis home for a few weeks prior to our arrival. 

We had wonderful volunteers (lay people and ministers) from First Presbyterian Church in Simpsonville, Fourth and St. Giles Presbyterian churches.   We mainly worked in three rooms dry-walling walls and ceilings.  Everyone worked well together and enjoyed the fellowship as well as learning new skills.  After working all day, we met in Clinton at the Fatz Café to break bread together one more time and to share laughter from our time together.

 

If you have any interest in volunteering with SBP or PDA, please check them out at http://www.stbernardproject.org and https://pda.pcusa.org.

The theme for the 2017 National Gathering is  "Wells & Walls: Well-Being in a Thirsty World." Our guiding scripture is John 4:1-42 - the Samaritan woman at the well. In John 4 we are told of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, her encounter with her people, and Jesus' words to the disciples. In the person and story of Jesus Christ we see movement across barriers, new understanding, and life-giving transformation as a consistent pattern. 

As we look toward the 2017 National Gathering, as we invite local congregations and regional leadership to come together in the nation's heartland of Kansas City, we recognize there are many walls and wells that manifest in our lives. 

The Spartanburg Community Thanksgiving Service 

will be held on  Tuesday, November 22, at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, Spartanburg. This annual service provides an opportunity for the community to gather together to collectively give thanks. All proceeds collected by the offering will benefit the Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network (SPIHN). 

The Spartanburg County Foundation matches the offering given, up to $5,000. A reception will be held immediately following the service.

The South Carolina Lay Theology School met at Presbyterian College Oct 14-16 and the Foothills was well represented. 

This fall we had 12 people and were the 3rd largest. Thank you to all who attended.  (Foothills usually has about 4-6 people attend and subsequently we have the smallest number of all the presbyteries.) 

The classes included- Pastoral Care, Preaching, Reformed Theology and the Old Testament book of Exodus. Tom Malone was the professor for the Exodus class and I believe we will be seeing him a bit more as a professor at the Lay Theology School. He has signed up to teach the book of Acts at our spring session.

The Spring session will meet at PC for the weekend of March 31-April 2. The classes offered will be Old Testament, Worship and Sacraments, Presbyterian Polity, Church History, Exegesis, and the book of Acts. Anyone is welcome to take these classes as they are wonderful for continuing education. The Presbyterian Polity class would be suggested for anyone who is a Ruling Elder.

If you have any questions or would like any information on the South Carolina Lay Theology School or the Commissioned Ruling Elder program please contact:

Sarah Cornell, 864-934-6845 email:  [email protected]

Nativity Scene Props & Costumes Needed!

   

Belton Presbyterian Church in Belton, SC is hoping to borrow nativity scene props and youth/kids costumes (4 toddler sheep, 3 Wise Men, at least 4 Shepards, David/Mary, etc.) for Sunday, December 18th.   

Please contact Bethany Wiley at [email protected] if you have anything available for us to borrow. 

Needed!!  

Landrum Church is looking for an Organist Version of the blue Hymnal.   Since many  churches have moved to the new hymn book they are hoping there will be one available in our presbytery.  They are willing to pay  a bit. Please contact Gene Lassiter if you know of one that may be available, [email protected].  Thank you!

 

The 2018 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women will be held August 2-5, 2018, in Louisville, Kentucky. 2018 is also the year that PW celebrates its 30th anniversary. "Each month for 30 months (one for each year of PW), we'll be sending a Gathering update to help you prepare, promote and plan for the 2018 Gathering. This eighth update lands in your inbox 22 months from opening plenary (give or take a few days)!"

To sign up for the PW Newsletter click here

Please take a minute 

and visit the new items list 

on the  Resource Center website here!

Chamber Singers will be performing in several places this fall!!

• Biltmore House on Sunday, November 20th for the Christmas Candle light tours. We begin singing at 5:30. 

• Christmas concert "Tidings of Comfort and Joy," on Sunday evening, December 4th at 7:00. The concert is at the Chapman Cultural Arts Center in the David Reid theatre in Spartanburg. Tickets are $15.00 and proceeds go to benefit Mobile Meals. Tickets are available from FPC and Mobile Meals. This is our 4th Chapman concert.

• Moravian Candle Love Feast on Sunday, December 18th at 4:00 and 6:00 in the Chapel of FPC. Chamber Singers provide the service music and members of the Palmetto Moravian Fellowship in Spartanburg help serve in the service.

Please checkout their new Facebook page, Chamber Singers, First Presbyterian Church, "Like" us and share our page with your friends.