At First, come experience the anticipation, hope and joy of the birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ through these worship opportunities during the month of December.  

Angel Tree Project
For more than a decade First Presbyterian Church has participated in the Angel Tree Project. We sponsor 50 children who have a mother or father in prison. Each child receives two gifts - one article of clothing and one personal item or toy. No single gift may cost more than $25.00. On Christmas Eve members of our church deliver the gifts to the children with two messages; the first message is from the imprisoned parent and the second message is that the love of Christ is given to them.

Gifts should be taken to the church office on or before Friday, December 18.

If you are interested in delivering gifts on Christmas Eve beginning at 9:00 a.m. Grant Close (gclose@fordharrison.com / work phone 699-1158 or home phone 699-9484).

Christmas Carol Sing
Christmas is a time for celebration. The celebration is not complete without the harmonious tunes of carols. FPC’s Lisa Cunningham and the Chamber Singers will lead a Carol Sing in the Social Hall from 6:30 – 7:15 p.m. on December 2. Attend with your entire family.

Advent Celebration - Worship, Dinner and Workshop
On Sunday, December 6 kick off the Advent season and make this a special evening for all ages. New for this year, we will begin with intergenerational worship in the Chapel. Another special feature of this year’s Advent Celebration is a display of church members’ nativity scenes and crèches. You won’t want to miss it! Please contact Winnie Walsh to have your nativity scene included in the display (winwalsh@bellsouth.net / 579-1002).

RSVP for the dinner by Wednesday, December 2 by clicking on the My First Pres link on our website or contact Mimi Wells at the church office (mwells@fpcspartanburg.org / 583-4531).

Bill's Book Club - Dickens of a Christmas
Bill’s Book Club will meet only once this month on Monday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the Annex. Usually we have a morning and an evening group, but given the special nature of this month’s gathering, it seemed good to get all the “bookies” together for a lively discussion of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. 

As we mentioned at last month’s meetings, we want you to feel free to bring some goodies with you, though that is certainly not required.  As we read about all those wonderful treats Dickens mentions, we may want to try a pudding, a cake, a pie – or as one group member noted last month – a goose.  We will also have coffee, tea and beverages. 

We ought to have a rousing good group of regulars and guests.  If you plan to bring a food item, please contact Bill Arthur (bill@arthuralley.com).

For more details on the BBC visit Bill's Book Club page. 

J.O.Y. Fellowship Christmas Brunch
The J.O.Y. Fellowship Christmas Brunch will be held Tuesday, December 8 at 11:30 a.m. in Fogartie Hall. The Older Adult Committee is proud to announce the return of Dr. Kirk Neely as the guest speaker. Dr. Neely writes Christmas stories and reads them to his congregation at Morningside Baptist Church each year. This year he will read one to us! In addition, Dr. Neely will have books available to be signed. All Just Older Youth are cordially invited to attend!

Please be sure to contact Mimi McKinney (troysr@aol.com/585-3151) no later than Thursday, December 3 to make your reservations.

Annual White Gift Service
A 45-Minute Service for all Ages Led by Our Children’s Choirs
Wednesday, December 9
5:00 p.m. Hotdog Supper - 6:30 p.m. Service

This year our children present the musical “Silent Night, Birth of a Carol.”
Gifts (wrapped in white) will be distributed to children at Thornwell Children’s Home and to recipients of Mobile Meals. Gift ideas for Thornwell Children’s Home: Gift certificates to Walmart, Target, Barnes & Noble, and CVS. Gift ideas for Mobile Meals: Toiletries, house shoes and scarves.

A NURSERY WILL BE PROVIDED.

Chancel Choir Special Music Service - Sunday, December 13
Lessons and Carols is an exquisite service to celebrate the coming of Christmas. The service contains lessons that tell the story of Christ’s coming to Earth, punctuated by traditional carols, hymns and anthems. (MorningSong Music Team Lessons and Carols
will be held on Sunday, December 20 - 8:45 a.m. Fogartie Hall)

A Christmas Story For Children of All Ages- Sunday, December 20
During MorningSong on Sunday, December 13 and during both services in the Sanctuary on December 20, David Renwick will share “A Christmas Story for Children of All Ages” (4K and older) and a brief message, “Invaded by Hope.” Come and bring a friend.

The Moravian Love Feast - Sunday, December 20
Music Provided by the Chamber Singers
The Moravian Love Feast is a lovely Christmas service of music, candlelighting, and the serving of the “feast” of special Moravian buns and coffee. It is a joint effort between First Presbyterian Church and the Palmetto Moravian Fellowship here in Spartanburg, who will serve the feast dressed in period costumes. Set in the beauty of our exquisite Chapel, this is a service you won’t want to miss! Because of large crowds, we present this service twice (5:00 and 7:00 p.m.) on Sunday, December 20. A nursery will be provided!

Christmas Eve Services

• Family Service - 5:00 p.m.
  Come all you angels, shepherds, and kings, and join us on Christmas Eve for our children’s nativity pageant. Any child may come dressed as the part he or she wants to play.
  
• Candlelight Services - 7:30 and 11:00 p.m.
  These services, a tradition in our church, feature music by The Christmas Eve Choir. A special message will be delivered and the services will conclude with the Sanctuary bathed in candlelight.

Page updated December 14, 2009