Connect@First Newsletter

Feature 


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Sunday Worship

September 20, 2026
Missions Sunday

8:30am | Sanctuary
10:45am | Worship & Arts Center
11:00am | Sanctuary


WATCH LIVE

Sermon Series

“Not Just Sundays”
Revelation 3:1-6
Rev. Dr. Richard Gibbons preaching




Sunday Education

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

Sunday Life Groups

Member News

BAPTISMS • September 13, 2026

Elizabeth Leigh Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tread Davis (Emily)


CONGRATULATIONS • The pastors and congregation extend blessings to

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Angermeier (Mary) on the birth of a daughter, Rose Christina Angermeier, on September 10; and to grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Angermeier (Paula).
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tate (Caroline Martin) who were married in the Sanctuary on September 12.


SYMPATHY • The pastors and congregation extend sympathy to

Miss Carly Batson in the death of her grandfather, Mr. Jack Ettinger Hartman, on August 23.
Mr. and Mrs. Doug Piper Sr. (Nancy) in the death of his mother, Dettie Piper, on September 10; to Amanda Neumann, Douglas Piper Jr., and Elizabeth Piper in the death of their grandmother; and to Grace, Matthew, and Caleb Neumann, and Mille Arden Piper, in the death of their great-grandmother.


IN MEMORIAM

Dettie Austin Piper April 15, 1928 – September 10, 2026


MEMORIALS & HONORS

CHURCH HONOR FUND
In honor of Amelia Kate Morris by Scott and Lori Morris


PRAYER LIST • Bold = New Italics = In Hospital

Nancy Adams, Andy Anderson, Bill Anthony, Sandra Banks, Betty Bennett, Harry Bolick, Dan Boling, Matt Covington, Brantley Daniel, Debbie Davidson, Peggy Denny, Harry Hightower, Don Hobbs, Charlie Hutton, Joe James, Al Johnson, Anne Lide, Jenny McCorkle, Rachel Mullinax, Tom Pettigrew, Ed Reed, Carolyn Rice, Thom Robelot, Louise Robinson, Jim Rush, Bob Shell, Barrett Taft, Lewis Tollison, Steve Waddell, Beryl Wickliffe


TUESDAY HEALING & PRAYER SERVICE

The Healing & Prayer Service is held each Tuesday at 6:30pm in Harper Prayer Chapel. You are invited to come and receive God’s love, peace, hope, and healing through prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit. Click here to watch a video with Prayer Team member Dr. John McGraw and prayer recipient Michelle Ward to learn more about the Healing & Prayer service.


PRAYER RESOURCES

Congregational Care: To pass on information regarding a medical emergency, upcoming surgery, or admittance to the hospital, call Don Feuerbach, 864.565.0928.
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.
Healing Prayer Services: Every Tuesday at 6:30pm in Harper Chapel.

For Pastoral emergencies, please call 864.235.0496.

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Announcements

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.


FRIDAYS AT FIRST PODCAST AND EMAIL

Stay connected with what’s happening at First Pres through the Fridays at First podcast, hosted by Rev. Dr. Richard Gibbons. Each week, Richard shares highlights, updates, and conversations about life and ministry at First Presbyterian Church. This week, Richard is joined by co-host Michelle Ward and Russell Guest for a conversation about discipleship opportunities for men and ways to grow in faith and community. Tune in on YouTube @FPCGreenvilleSC or wherever you listen to podcasts. Do you prefer email? Subscribe to the Fridays@First email, click here.


TAKE THE CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY

Our Strategic Plan’s Mission, Vision, and Values prioritize discipleship in the life of the congregation. To assess our effectiveness and guide our planning, we are asking each of our Covenant Partners to complete a Congregational Survey, which will take less than 15 minutes. To access the survey, click here. Please complete the survey before Sunday, October 11.


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
23: Eliza Lynn Concert

For more events and details click here.



Discipleship

Discipleship Ministry, Claire Ripley
DISCOVER FIRST: NEW MEMBER WEEKEND

Are you interested in making First Presbyterian your church home? Discover more about the vision, discipleship, and outreach of FPC! The next New Member Weekend will be Friday−Saturday, September 25–26. Childcare is available for children age 5 and under. For details, contact Tiffany Boggs (tboggs@firstpresgreenville.org). Register at FirstPresGreenville.org/events.


Events

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. Now based in Greenville, she and Mike are recording a new gospel album, anticipated for release this fall. 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 now at FirstPresGreenville.org/events.


Opportunities To Serve

Children’s Ministry, Tina Jones
BUDDY MINISTRY: HELP MAKE SUNDAY WORSHIP POSSIBLE

Do you have a heart for children and youth with special abilities? Several families in our church are raising children with special needs and would love to participate fully in worship on Sunday mornings. We’re looking for a few more caring volunteers to serve as buddies, providing support and companionship so these parents can experience the joy of worship together. Training is provided! If you’re interested in serving in this meaningful ministry, contact Dr. Brenda Harper at bharper@firstpresgreenville.org for more information.


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.


Missions, Eric Swofford
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A SCOUT

Every boy needs men who will invest in him, encourage him, and help him grow. Boy Scout Troop 11 is looking for adults who are willing to share their time, skills, faith, and experience as mentors. Whether you enjoy the outdoors, teaching practical skills, serving the community, or simply spending time with young men, you can make a lasting difference as a Scout leader. Interested in getting involved? Contact Christian Moody at moody34@gmail.com or Rob Williams at rgw515@gmail.com for more information.


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.


Pastor of the Day

For Pastoral emergencies, please call 864.235.0496.