SUNDAY MORNING BREAKFAST

Join us for a light breakfast Sunday mornings in the Abbott Gathering area following the 8:30am worship service. If you attend the early service, take a few minutes to enjoy some refreshments, connect with fellow worshipers, and begin your Sunday in fellowship.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE INTERSECTION CAFÉ

After three years of partnership, Bridge City Coffee has decided to conclude its operations at the Intersection Café at First Presbyterian in order to focus on its two key locations in Greenville County. Sunday, September 27, will be Bridge City Coffee’s final day at the Intersection. We are grateful for the ways Bridge City has served our congregation and community over the past three years, and we look forward to beginning a new ministry partnership with Fresh Start CoffeeWorks, a Workforce Development program of Miracle Hill Ministries. Fresh Start empowers women experiencing life challenges through job training and hands-on work experience, providing opportunities for growth, stability, and a fresh start. We are excited to welcome Fresh Start to the Intersection, where they will begin serving in a few weeks. For more information about Fresh Start CoffeeWorks, visit mhfreshstart.org.

STAFF NEWS

Please join us in welcoming these new members to the First Pres Staff.

Melissa Ragsdale recently joined the staff as the Life Connections and Men’s Discipleship Coordinator. Melissa lives in Greenville with her husband, Craig, and their four teenagers. Their oldest daughter is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina, their next daughter is a junior in high school, and their boy-girl twins are sophomores in high school. Melissa came to FPC after years in interior design, where she loved creating spaces where people feel at home. She is passionate about helping others find that same sense of connection and belonging within the church. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the local art scene and spending time with family and friends.

Hailey Myers recently joined the staff as the Engagement and Program Coordinator. She is a 2026 graduate of Covenant College where she studied Art History before moving to Greenville, where she is excited to begin serving at FPC. In her free time, Hailey enjoys painting, reading, and spending time outdoors.

LOOKING AHEAD

SEPTEMBER
25: Opening Reception for “Are We There Yet?” Exhibit
25–26: Discover First Weekend
27: First Christmas@First Choir Rehearsal

OCTOBER
1: Fearfully & Wonderfully Made
4: Communion Sunday
8: Christian Life & Witness Course
23: Eliza Lynn Concert

For more events and details click here.

GOSPEL OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY

On Wednesday, October 28, Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham, will be speaking at Unity Park here in Greenville. This visit will be part of a 13-state tour and will include live music from Josh Havens and a message of hope from Will Graham (https://billygraham.org/events/declaration-of-dependence). Counselors trained in sharing the gospel are needed for this event. Teaching will be provided in Fellowship Hall on Thursday, October 8, at 7:00pm. First Pres is a host church for the Christian Life and Witness course, and our men’s ministry will assist in organizing the training. Please put October 8 and October 28 on your calendar! Look for more details and registration information coming soon.

Events Ministry, Caleb Miller
STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN IN CONCERT

Join Steven Curtis Chapman for an unforgettable night filled with beloved Christmas classics, favorite songs from his celebrated Christmas collection, and timeless hits from his remarkable career—all brought to life with the beauty of strings and choir. Come sing along, make memories with family and friends, and celebrate the birth of our Savior with Steven Curtis Chapman and the music of Christmas on Thursday, December 3, in the Worship & Arts Center. Purchase tickets online at FirstPresGreenville.org/events.

Fine Arts Ministry, Chelsea Fraser
ARE WE THERE YET? EXHIBIT OPENING

Are We There Yet? invites you to consider the experience of fostering and adoption from many perspectives. Often full of twists and turns, we recognize that caring for children and orphans is a job close to the heart of God. “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing” (Psalm 68:5-6a). Both The Fine Arts and Children’s Ministries are excited to partner with the Heart Gallery of SC, Flourish Adoption agency, and the Premier Arts Collective Art Room at Triune Mercy Center, along with individual artists and their families, to show you the feelings of sorrow, hope, pain, and joy in the fostering and adoptive experience. Join us on Friday, September 25, 4:00-7:00pm, for an opening reception at the Galleries at First Presbyterian to meet the artists and see the exhibition!

Fine Arts Ministry, Chelsea Fraser
FOLK CONCERT WITH ELIZA LYNN

Join us for an unforgettable evening of folk, blues, and gospel music with Greenville singer-songwriter Eliza Lynn and instrumentalist Mike Alexander. Featuring original gospel songs written during Eliza’s years of graduate theological study, the concert will blend soulful storytelling, familiar sing-alongs, and the rich sounds of acoustic guitar, banjo, upright bass, and dobro. Eliza is known for her big, room-filling voice and a musical style rooted in blues, old-time country folk, and soul. Her music has taken her from Nashville and Asheville to London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios and the Belfast–Nashville Songwriting Festival. Fine Arts Director Chelsea Fraser, a songwriter and poet, will join Eliza and Mike as a featured guest. Come enjoy an evening of heartfelt music, meaningful lyrics, and the unmistakable warmth of live acoustic performance..
 Friday, October 23 | 6:30pm
 Tickets: $15 | FirstPresGreenville.org/events

Special Needs Ministry, Brenda Harper
FEARFULLY & WONDERFULLY MADE 2026—MADE TO SHINE: BRIGHTER TOGETHER

Mark your calendar for Thursday, October 1, in the Worship & Arts Center for an unforgettable evening celebrating the unique gifts and God-given worth of our friends with special needs. Enjoy a tropical-themed fashion show, a pre-show reception, shopping, and fellowship as we celebrate that each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. Tickets are on sale FirstPresGreenville.org/events.

Events Ministry, Caleb Miller
SERVE WITH EVENT OPERATIONS

First Presbyterian hosts more than 2,000 events each year—from Bible studies and worship services to receptions and concerts. The Event Operations Ministry helps create a welcoming, professional experience while showing God’s love to everyone who comes through our doors. We need volunteers of all ages and stages of life to serve on our Event Services and Production Services teams. Please prayerfully consider joining this ministry and helping make our many events possible. To learn more or express your interest, email events@firstpresgreenville.org or click here.

Worship & Music Ministry, Susan Messer
JOIN THE CHRISTMAS CHOIR!

Come be part of bringing the joy of Christmas to our church and community this December at Christmas@First, happening December 12–13. Join us for rehearsals beginning Sunday, September 27, 4:00–5:00pm in the Choir Room, and participate in one of First Presbyterian’s most anticipated events of the year. Whether you’re a longtime choir member or simply enjoy singing, everyone is welcome. For more information, contact Susan Messer at smesser@firstpresgreenville.org.