First Baptist Church, Greenville, SC

Sunday, August 11: Blessing Sunday Worship, 10:30am
We celebrate return to school-year activities by regathering in Sunday School classes and blessing the school year in worship.

Sunday, August 18: Lunch for Visitors and New Members, 11:30am
All newcomers are invited to a free lunch to learn more about FBG and connect with the ministry team.

Sunday, August 18: Block Parties for Children (3pm) and Youth Ministries (5pm)
Afternoon of fun, friendship and one-stop-shop for all those annual forms.

Sunday, August 25: Small Group Open House, 9am
Before and after worship on August 25, walk through displays and tables in the Narthex to connect with Sunday School leaders and sign up for volunteer ministries and other small groups!

Wednesday, August 28: Wednesdays@First Kick Off, 5pm
We will kick off Wednesday night adult activities with a night of music and fun on Wednesday, August 28. Make plans to be there to catch up from the summer and greet new faces! Our first block of Wednesday courses will run for four weeks beginning Wednesday, September 4.

Help Mission Backpack get off to great start this school year by bringing pop-top cans of ravioli to the front reception desk area during the month of August!

Sunday, August 11: Blessing Sunday Worship, 10:30am
We celebrate return to school-year activities by regathering in Sunday School classes and a special Blessing the School Year in worship! Our 3rd and 6th graders will receive their Bibles. Join us for a wonderful day of worship!

What can you learn by reading this week's issue of The Branch? Get your answer by reading this week's issue of our church newsletter!
https://conta.cc/3zZ3nBT

The Branch from First Baptist Greenville Don't miss this week's news! Vol. LXV No. 30 | July 29, 2024 This week we have articles about Pastoral Care, Church Life, Missions and Music in addition to calendar and more! Click to learn more by re

Meet Griffin! Griffin Duffey joined FBG in May as the new Ministry Assistant for Spiritual Formation and Outreach. He supports Sunday School classes, small groups, the young adult ministry (Bridge) and outreach. Griffin is a Clemson grad of many talents! In addition to time at FBG, he runs a beverage business and is a church musician around Greenville. Griffin works Mondays and Tuesdays in addition to some remote hours. Stop by and say hello!

Join us as we welcome the Furman Singers Alumni Choir today to lead in worship.

The Furman Singers has enjoyed a very close relationship with First Baptist since 1946 when DuPre Rhame, then also director of music at First Baptist, founded the Furman Singers.

University Singers
University Music News

Rev. Fred DeFoor is a newcomer to FBG but is a third-generation graduate of Furman University and a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Fred retired after 34 years of directing and teaching choirs in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina churches. Fred shares, “I have known Vivian Hamilton since our undergraduate days at Furman, and have been blessed by her ministry and friendship. It’s my privilege to follow her, and my joy to serve my church as Interim Minister of Music and Worship!"

Friends, I'd love for you to join me on a twelve-day pilgrimage, September 10-21, 2025, down the coast of Turkey called "In the Wake of Paul." We will follow some of the sailing routes and visit the seaports Paul traveled to, tracing the waves of his impact across the centuries in this remarkable region. We will follow in Paul’s wake and cruise along the picturesque Aegean coast on a traditional Turkish gulet boat.
Spots for the trip are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. You can learn more and register here: https://firstbaptistgreenville.com/travel-to-turkey/

-Carol McEntyre

This weekend, alumni from the University Singers will gather from across the country to share a weekend of music and fellowship that will culminate in our morning worship on July 28. The Furman Singers, the oldest of Furman University’s choral ensembles, was founded in 1946 by the late DuPre Rhame while he also served as the Minister of Music at First Baptist Greenville. In 1979, DuPre Rhame (retired in 1970) and the conductor of Singers since 1970, Dr. Bingham Vick Jr., gathered alumni from 1946 until the present time for a weekend of fellowship and music.
Rhame died in 1981, but Vick continued the biennial “Furman Singers Reunion” throughout his tenure. Vick retired in 2010, and the Singers’ next conductor, Dr. Hugh Floyd, continued this tradition. After Floyd’s retirement, Dr. Stephen Gusukuma, Director of Choral Activities, took the helm of the Furman Singers. This year, all three living conductors will be leading the 242 gathered singers. It will be a morning of beautiful music raised in the worship of God. Don’t miss it!
University
Furman University Music News

Don't miss out! Read this week's issue of our church newsletter.
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The Branch from First Baptist Greenville Don't miss this week's news! Vol. LXV No. 29 | July 22, 2024 This week we have articles about Music, Media Center and Church Life in addition to calendar and more! Click to learn more by reading this

Join us for worship as our Duke Divinity Ministerial Intern, Erica Jackson will be our Proclaimer this Sunday!

Though children (and teachers) may not be ready to admit it yet, school will be back in session next month, meaning it’s also time for the annual School Tools program through United Way of Greenville County! Each summer United Way collects school supplies that are new and unopened for children in Greenville County whose parents struggle to afford them.
Items for elementary through high school are requested.
Drop off at church Reception Area and placed in the Mission Box by July 27
or
Purchase using the amazon link below and the supplies will be delivered to United Way. https://www.amazon.com/.../ls/19QK94JBPSZIY/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
Please have your purchases to the church prior to July 27.
—Nancy Schlepphorst, Missions & Affiliations Committee

Don't miss out! Read this week's issue of our church newsletter here!
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The Branch from First Baptist Greenville Don't miss this week's news! Vol. LXV No. 28 | July 15, 2024 This week we have articles about Music, Missions, Children and Youth in addition to calendar and more! Click to learn more by reading this

Join us for Worship & Retirement Reception honoring Vivian Hamilton, our Minister of Music and Worship this Sunday, July 14!
We will celebrate Vivan’s 16 years of ministry at First Baptist Greenville with a reception on Sunday, July 14!
Worship 10:30 am and Reception 2:00 to 4:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.

With heartfelt gratitude, we extend our thanks for Vivian’s sixteen years of dedicated ministry at First Baptist. Vivian’s presence within our congregation has been a blessing, offering us the invaluable gift of consistent, steadfast leadership over a long tenure. Her love for music, her remarkable skill as a conductor, and her unwavering dedication to God have enriched our worship experiences immeasurably. In honor of her service, we are collecting a love offering. Contact the church's main office for more information.
—Carol McEntyre, Senior Minister

Though children (and teachers) may not be ready to admit it yet, school will be back in session next month, meaning it’s also time for the annual School Tools program through United Way of Greenville County! Each summer United Way collects school supplies that are new and unopened for children in Greenville County whose parents struggle to afford them.
Items for elementary through high school are requested.
Drop off at church Reception Area and placed in the Mission Box
or
Purchase using the amazon link below and the supplies will be delivered to United Way. Link in Profile
Please have your purchases to the church prior to July 27.

—Nancy Schlepphorst, Missions & Affiliations Committee

Join us for Worship & Retirement Reception honoring Vivian Hamilton, our Minister of Music and Worship on Sunday, July 14!
We will celebrate Vivan’s 16 years of ministry at First Baptist Greenville with a reception on Sunday, July 14!
Worship 10:30 am and Reception 2:00 to 4:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.

With heartfelt gratitude, we extend our thanks for Vivian’s sixteen years of dedicated ministry at First Baptist. Vivian’s presence within our congregation has been a blessing, offering us the invaluable gift of consistent, steadfast leadership over a long tenure. Her love for music, her remarkable skill as a conductor, and her unwavering dedication to God have enriched our worship experiences immeasurably. In honor of her service, we are collecting a love offering. Contact the church's main office for more information.
—Carol McEntyre, Senior Minister

Stay connected with FBG by reading this week's newsletter!
https://conta.cc/3WbPpW5

The Branch from First Baptist Greenville Don't miss this week's news! Vol. LXV No. 27 | July 8, 2024 This week we have articles about Pastoral Care, Engaged Aging, Spiritual Formation and Affiliations in addition to calendar and more! Click

Though children (and teachers) may not be ready to admit it yet, school will be back in session next month, meaning it’s also time for the annual School Tools program through United Way of Greenville County! Each summer United Way collects school supplies that are new and unopened for children in Greenville County whose parents struggle to afford them.
Items for elementary through high school are requested.
Drop off at church Reception Area and placed in the Mission Box
or
Purchase using the amazon link below and the supplies will be delivered to United Way. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/19QK94JBPSZIY/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

Please have your purchases to the church prior to July 27.

—Nancy Schlepphorst, Missions & Affiliations Committee

We have a majestic visitor, a hawk, perched atop the steeple! How is the view from up there?

Thank you to Smith for sharing with us this beautiful photography!

United Ministries' Food Pantry needs canned fruit! Pop tops and fruit cups are preferred. You may purchase fruit online from the Pantry's Wish List on Amazon and the fruit will be shipped directly to United Ministries. OR bring canned fruit to church and place it in the collection bins located in the main reception area, the fellowship hall lobby or the AYMC. Fruit is one of the most requested items from our neighbors in need, and FBG is the primary supplier of canned fruit to the UM Food Pantry. (Other area churches provide different items to the pantry.) Please help if you are able to do so.
You may donate online through the Pantry’s Amazon wish list at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1MNF6VPVU487F/ref=cm_go_nav_hz

We are growing our ministry this fall and would love to include some new ringers. Though no ringing experience is required, some basic knowledge of music would be helpful. We rehearse on Sunday evenings from 6pm to 7pm, beginning August 18, and plan to ring during worship services up to three times this fall. Contact me at [email protected] for more information.

—Julie Treu, Director of Bell Tower Ringers

Keep up with what is happening at First Baptist Greenville - read this week's newsletter!
https://conta.cc/4eB3FyM

The Branch from First Baptist Greenville Don't miss this week's news! Vol. LXV No. 26 | June 24, 2024 This week we have articles about Pastoral Care, Children-Youth and Missions in addition to calendar and more! Click to learn more by readin

Join others on the lower level of the AYMC at 2pm on Tuesdays and/or 3:30pm on Thursdays for yoga. No equipment other than a willing spirit is required! For further information, email [email protected]. If you aren’t already a member of the AYMC, stop by the welcome desk to receive information and join in on the fun!