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Posted on April 26, 2013
Subject: Volunteers Needed For This Local Mission!

Arcadia Vacation Bible School
June 17-21 from 1 - 4:00 p.m.

Help the children of Arcadia Elementary and the Boys & Girls Club through our mission Vacation Bible School. Volunteers are needed to guide, teach, and play with these children! Share part of one afternoon, a full afternoon, or all five!

Please contact Neal Karn (nealcecilkarn@gmail.com / 415-5775) to sign up today.

Posted on April 26, 2013
Subject: Congregational Meeting - Sunday, May 26
After 11:00 a.m. Worship
Sanctuary

The Session recommends that a Congregational Meeting be called for Sunday, May 26, 2013 immediately following the 11:00am worship for the following purposes:

1) Electing at-large members to the 2013-2014 Congregational Nominating Committee as follows:
Neely Bailey, Heather Donovan, Mary Elizabeth Evans, Dana Halliday, Landon Hammett, Debbie Kleman, Thomas McMeekin, John Renfro, Lewis White

2) Establishing Robert’s Rules of Order as the parliamentary authority for congregational meetings, except when in contradiction to the Constitution (Book of Order and Book of Confessions)

3) Providing by rule the structure of the Congregational (Church) Nominating Committee as follows:

a. Three (3) ruling elders - appointed by Session
b. Three (3) deacons - appointed by Diaconate
c. Nine (9) active members from the congregation - nominated by CNC, elected by congregation
d. Ruling elder to serve as chair
e. Ruling elders and deacons to serve three-year terms with one (1) elder and (1) deacon rotating off the committee each year.
f. Members at large elected for a one-year term
g. Opportunity for nominations from the floor for any active member of the congregation

Posted on April 23, 2013
Subject: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Boston Response
Following the tragedy at the Boston Marathon, members of the PDA National Response Team are deployed to provide consultation and support to leaders of the faith community as they gather and assess their role in response to the violence in their community.

• An initial report, prayers and worship resources are available online.
  .
  
• Gifts to support the response may be sent to PDA designated for DR000015- Boston or online.
  

West, Texas, Response
The explosion of 25 tons of fertilizer at a plant in West, Texas, has devastated the community.

• An initial report and request to join us in prayer are available online.
  .
  
• Gifts to support the response may be sent to PDA designated for DR000015- West, TX or online.
  

Sichuan Province, China, Response
On April 20,2013, an earthquake of 7.0 on the Richter scale hit rural areas of Lushan County, Sichuan Province, China. Power and communication lines were cut and roads were blocked. More than 1.5 million people have been affected, with at least 181 deaths, 23 people missing, and more than 11,000 injured.

• An initial report and request to join us in prayer are available online.
  
• Gifts to support the response may be sent to PDA designated for DR000138 - China or online.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance enables congregations and mission partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to
witness to the healing love of Christ through caring for communities adversely affected by crisis and catastrophic events.
Mail your gift to: Presbyterian Church (USA), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.

Posted on April 17, 2013
Subject: New Associate Pastor called for Congregational Care and Deacons

On Sunday, April 21 in a congregational meeting following 11:00 worship, the congregation called Rev. Joanne Hull as our new Associate Pastor for Congregational Care and Deacons. Joanne will begin at FPC by July 1. Joanne comes to us from a sister Presbyterian church in North Carolina, with almost 30 years of ministry experience. Her extensive accomplishments are detailed in the brochure linked here.

Posted on April 11, 2013
Subject: Summer Worship Schedule

New Summer Worship Schedule
On Monday, March 25, the Session voted to accept a recommendation from the Worship Committee. Beginning on Sunday, June 2 and concluding on Sunday, September 1, there will be a change in the Summer Worship schedule:

• 9:00am - Sunday School
• 10:00am - Worship Services for the Sanctuary and MorningSong
• 11:00am - Fellowship

If you are out of town or otherwise unable to join us for worship at the church, all services may be heard or watched online at www.fpcspartanburg.org.

The regular Sunday morning schedule will resume on Sunday, September 8.

Posted on March 12, 2013
Subject: Radio Ministry Concludes Sunday, March 31

First Presbyterian will conclude our radio broadcast ministry on Easter Sunday, March 31.

For more than 40 years, First Presbyterian has broadcast its worship service over the radio. This broadcast costs the church $18,000 annually. Surveys of our listenership this winter indicate that the number of weekly radio listeners has substantially declined in recent years, while worship through our on-line audio and video webcasts has increased significantly. Beginning April 1, the church will focus communication resources on new forms of media outreach.

In order for current radio listeners to continue worshipping with our congregation, the Communications Committee will assist individual listeners to help them transition to web broadcasts and other ways to worship. If you are a radio listener or know of someone who is, please contact Scott Neely (sneely@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-208-2138) so we can help with this change.

Through March 31, the 11:00am Sunday worship service may be heard live on 105.7 FM and 910 AM.

Posted on April 22, 2013
Subject: Renovation of Women's Restroom on 1st Floor of Main Building

On Monday, April 22, renovations of the women's restroom on the first floor hallway of the Main Building of the church will begin. The total project time is expected to be approximately 3 weeks.

Signs will direct those seeking a women's restroom on the main hallway to restrooms on the 2nd floor and basement levels of the Main Building via elevators or stairs. In the event of emergency or for reasons of limited mobility, the restroom in Laura Palmer's old office is available. If you encounter someone at the church needing assistance finding a restroom, please guide them to one of these alternative locations.

The Purnell Room should remain open for use during the restroom renovation. If construction interferes with use of the Purnell Room, meetings scheduled for the Purnell Room will be moved to other locations.

Thank you for your cooperation during this time of renovation. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Scott Neely (sneely@fpcspartanburg.org / 864-583-4531 ext. 138).

Page updated May 21, 2013