Connect@First Newsletter

Feature 


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Sunday Worship

8:30 & 11:00am
Traditional Worship - Sanctuary

10:45am
Ignite Worship - Worship & Arts Center


WATCH LIVE

Sermon Series

8:30 & 11:00am Worship
10:45am Ignite Worship

Mr. Shapoor Ahmadi
Missions Weekend



Sunday Education

8:30am Nursery
9:30am Children's Sunday School
9:30am Student Life Groups
9:45am Adult Life Groups
10:30am Kids Church


Grow@First Brochure

Member News

BAPTISMS

Isla Eleanor Fagan and Hart Alexander Fagan, children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Alexander Fagan (Kate)
Lila Helen Kittredge and Murray Susan Kittredge, children of Mr. and Mrs. John Williamson Kittredge Jr. (Maggie)


SYMPATHY

The pastors and congregation extend sympathy to
Mrs. Wendy Burnett in the death of her husband John Walker Burnett Jr. of Travelers Rest, SC, and to Ella Grace, Emme, Eliza, and John Walker in the death of their father, on September 14.
Mrs. Marian Dameier in the death of her brother, Randy Fear of Welsh, LA, on September 11.


CONGRATULATIONS

The pastors and congregation extend blessings to
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Bignon (Riley) on the birth of a son, Mack Treadwell Bignon, on September 8.
Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Michael (Kelsey) Johnson on the birth of a daughter, Tapscott “Scottie” Cline Johnson, on September 3, and to the grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Johnson (Becky).
Mr. and Mrs. Zay Kittredge (Jennifer) on the birth of a daughter, Evelyn Graham Kittredge, on September 12, and to the grandparents Mr. and Mrs. John Kittredge (Susan).


IN MEMORIAM

John Walker Burnett Jr. • February 15, 1975 – September 14, 2023


NEW MEMBERS

Johnathan and Samantha Burgess, Chris and Jennifer Bramley, Cameron and Magdalena Fellers, Vail Fortson, Drew and Mary Elise Greenway, Grice and Caitlyn Hunt (Helen and Hollis), Andrew and Haley Medbary (Margaret), Felix and Anna Grace Mirando


PRAYER LIST

Bill Anthony, Sheila Bolick, Tom Brissey, John Burnett Jr., Pat Burns, Susan Cable, Lang Cheves, Peggy Denny, Tom Drake, Susan Findley, Larry Freeman, Mike Freeman, Becky Garcia, Millie Gedney, Pam Goldman, Natalie Hall, Sally Hall, Fran Hardin, Jack Hardin, Jim Hastings, Gladys “Hap” Henderson, Tom Lide, Jennifer Loft, John Loft, Pat Loft, Anne Lybrand, Janet MacCallum, Geoff Marsh, Megan McCommons, Jennie Miler, Mozelle Moore, Jerry Murdock, Chloris Norman, Alex Olyarchuk, Lucy Owen, Becky Powell, Mason Powell, Joann Reed, Ken Rhoden, Catherine Sandifer, Roy Seaver, Janice Shartle, Carrie Stringer, Shirley Timmerman, Melanie Ann Tinnelly, John Volpe, Don Youatt, Spires Welch, Beryl Wickliffe, Thomas Wilcox, Jan Zimmermann

PRAYER RESOURCES

Congregational Care Director, Tammy Burkhalter: Call 864.565.0943 for emergencies, upcoming surgeries, or hospital information.
Prayer Appointments: To schedule a confidential appointment with our Healing Prayer Team Members, call 864.565.0960.
Prayer Requests: For general prayer requests, call 864.565.0970.

MILITARY MINISTRY & PRAYER - click here

Announcements

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY IS HIRING

The Children’s Ministry has opened applications for a Children’s Ministry Coordinator and a Special Needs Ministry Coordinator. Both are part-time positions. For details and application, contact Tina Jones at tjones@firstpresgreenville.org or 864.565.0921.

VBS, DAY MISSIONS, & MUSIC CAMP 2024

Please save the date for next year’s Vacation Bible School, Day Missions, and Music Camp: June 10-13. Watch for details coming next spring.

Discipleship

Care Ministry, Tammy Burkhalter

GETTING TO KNOW DEMENTIA

There is still room to join us for Getting to Know Dementia, an educational series for caregivers, friends, and family members that meets on Wednesday nights, 6:15–7:15pm in Room B301. Learn about the various symptoms of dementia and practical ways to love, help, and support a person living with brain change in a positive and respectful way. Please contact Leslie Warner for more information at 864.565.0966.

Discipleship Ministry, Claire Ripley

PASTOR’S WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY: SPECIAL GUEST

Come and join us for the Pastor’s Wednesday Bible Study on September 27, at 12:30pm or 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. We will welcome Shapoor Ahmadi as our guest speaker. Shapoor, and his wife Yasamin, are Iranian, Muslim-background believers who lead a dynamic ministry to Persian and Dari speaking refugees in Liverpool, England.

Women's Ministry, Leah Cloud

WOMEN’S STUDY ON THURSDAY MORNINGS

Join Tina Jones on Thursdays as she leads a Bible study with Lisa Harper’s new book, Luke—Gut-Level Compassion. You will hear the great news woven throughout the Gospel according to Luke that perfection is not a prerequisite for a deep and personal relationship with Jesus. Participants can purchase books from Books & Gifts @First in the Worship & Arts Center. Join us on Thursday mornings at 9:30am in B311. For a complete list of Bible studies this fall, pick up a Grow@First brochure in the literature racks, or click here.

Events

Children's Ministry, Tina Jones

FEARFULLY & WONDERFULLY MADE

Join us on Thursday, October 5, for Fearfully & Wonderfully Made in the Worship & Arts Center for an evening of fashion, fellowship, and fun. Based on God’s truth from Psalm 139:14, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made is an evening that God has used to create and connect a missional community with our friends with special abilities. The fashion show and event celebrate God’s indescribable love for each of His children and how we are all created in His image for His purposes. Pre-show reception starts at 5:30pm, followed by the event at 6:30pm. Tickets are available here.


Fine Arts Ministry, Chelsea Fraser

ART & FAITH LUNCH OCTOBER 6

Our next Art & Faith Lunch is Friday, October 6, at 12:00pm in the Formal Dining Room. Our speaker, Chelsea LaCourse, is a professional singer and music educator who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance. Chelsea teaches private voice lessons and coachings, and also works as a teaching artist and music director at South Carolina Children’s Theatre.

CREATIVE SESSION: INCUBATOR

Save the date for our next Creative Session on Thursday, October 12, at 12:00pm in the Formal Dining Room. Writers are encouraged to bring something they have recently written, are working on, or have been inspired to share with the group. Bring your own lunch!

MYSTERION EXHIBIT COMING SOON

The Lenz Gallery will present Mysterion: Works by Makoto Fujimura beginning November 13. Fujimara is a leading contemporary artist whose work has been featured in galleries and museums around the world, including The Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo.

Events Ministry, Caleb Miller

MATTHEW WEST FALL TOUR

FPC will welcome Matthew West with Micah Tyler for the upcoming My Story Your Glory Fall 2023 Tour on Monday, October 30, at 7:00pm in the Worship & Arts Center. Matthew West, renowned for his impressive songwriting abilities with hits like “The God Who Stays,” “Truth Be Told,” and “Hello My Name Is,” will bring his latest album “My Story, Your Glory” to life with a performance that will inspire. Tickets are now on sale on our website. Mark your calendars, gather your friends, and get ready to experience faith and fun like never before. Tickets are now on sale here.

First Presbyterian Academy

FALL FEST AT THE ACADEMY

First Presbyterian Academy invites families from both campuses (Downtown and Shannon Forest) to our Fall Fest! Join us for a night of fall festivities on Friday, October 27, beginning at 5:30pm on the Shannon Forest Campus.


Missions Ministry, Brian Stewart 

ROOTS & RHYTHMS CONCERT

We are kicking off Missions Conference Weekend with an FPC parking lot fiesta, “Roots & Rhythms,” Friday, September 22, at 6:00pm. There will be food trucks, dance troupe performances, face painting, and balloon artists. The concert will be free to local Hispanic Churches with a performance by our DR partners, Revelación Maranatha, beginning at 7:30pm. A limited number of concert tickets are available to the congregation for only $5. Visit this link to purchase. Come out and enjoy fellowship next Friday evening!


Worship & Music Ministry, Graydon Tomlinson

IGNITE ANNOUNCES NIGHT OF WORSHIP

On Thursday, October 26, at 7:00pm, the Ignite Worship Team will host a Night of Worship at the Worship & Arts Center. It will feature songs from the latest Ignite Worship album, Known, as well as familiar songs from other artists. We will also be filming and recording the concert, for later release as a live album along with video clips. Thank you in advance for being an active participant during this event! Nursery up to age 3 will be provided, so bring your family, invite your friends, and join us. Visit this link for more information.

Opportunities To Serve

Missions Ministry, Brian Stewart

SPECIAL OFFERING: UKRAINE RELIEF

As a part of our Missions Weekend, FPC is partnering with The Outreach Foundation to raise funds for Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs), the most requested items of soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Soldiers who receive these kits have an increased survivability rate nearing 90 percent over those who do not. Each new kit costs $90. Your gift of any amount will help save lives. Write checks to FPC and earmark your gift “Ukraine.”

2024 MISSION TRIPS

Join us for upcoming 2024 Mission trips with First Pres! We will be taking groups to the Dominican Republic (medical) in the winter, Egypt (medical) in the spring, Liverpool, England (young adults) in the summer, and Richmond/Harrisonburg, VA (all ages and families) in the summer. For more information, contact Joy Sturgis at jsturgis@firstpresgreenville.org or 864.423.6798.

BILINGUAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We need several Spanish/English speaking volunteers for the “Roots and Rhythms” event on our campus Friday, September 22, at 6:00pm, as we honor and celebrate with Greenville’s Hispanic Community. For more information, email Joy Sturgis at jsturgis@firstpresgreenville.org, or click here to sign up.

Worship & Music Ministry, Susan Messer

COME SING IN THE CHRISTMAS CHOIR!

Beginning Sunday, October 1, at 4:00pm, you are invited to join the Christmas Choir to prepare for the Christmas @First concerts on December 9-10. Regular Christmas Choir rehearsals will be held at 4:00pm on Sundays in October and November. Contact Susan at smesser@firstpresgreenville.org for further details.

Pastor of the Day

09/21: Stan Johnson (864.423.2067)

09/22: Stan Johnson

09/23: Stan Johnson

09/24: Stan Johnson

09/25: Stan Johnson

09/26: Stan Johnson

09/27: Stan Johnson