E-Newsletter: September 11, 2026
9/11 WE REMEMBER
Today marks 25 years since the attacks of September 11, 2001, a day that changed our nation and remains deeply personal for countless families.
We remember the nearly 3,000 lives that were lost. We remember the first responders who ran toward danger, the ordinary people who demonstrated extraordinary courage, and the families who have carried the weight of loss for the past 25 years.
We also remember how, in the midst of fear and uncertainty, people reached for one another, communities came together, and churches across America opened their doors for prayer.
On this anniversary, may we pause to remember, to honor, and to pray—for those who still grieve, for those who serve and protect, and for our nation.
We remember. We honor. We pray.
BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY THIS SUNDAY!
Back to Church Sunday is finally here! Greenville First’s fourth annual Back to Church Sunday is this Sunday, September 13, and everyone can help make the day a great experience for our guests and church family.
The Worship Service begins at 10:45 AM, followed by Lunch on the Grounds featuring a pig picking, fried chicken, coleslaw, mac and cheese, green beans, and desserts. The church is providing the meal, so come ready to worship, eat, and enjoy the afternoon together.
As Sunday approaches, here are four things everyone can do to help make the day special:
1. GET HERE EARLY!
Come early, grab some coffee and donuts, welcome people as they arrive, and be ready for worship at 10:45.
2. SAVE THE FRONT PARKING SPOTS FOR OUR GUESTS!
Those who are able are encouraged to park in the church’s back parking lot, across the street at Suger Coated, Artisans, or the dentist office, and leave the most convenient spaces available for newcomers, senior adults, and those who need them.
3. DRESS CASUAL!
It’s going to be hot outside with Lunch on the Grounds following the service. Come comfortable and ready to enjoy the day!
4. PRAY!
More than anything else, pray for an encounter with God. Pray for every newcomer who walks through the doors. Pray that people who need Jesus will respond to the invitation. Pray for good weather and for every part of the day to accomplish what God desires.
And there is still time to invite someone! Think about a family member, friend, neighbor, or coworker who needs Jesus, needs a church home, or simply needs a fresh start.
Back to Church Sunday isn’t simply about filling seats. It’s about opening doors for people to encounter Jesus and become part of the church family.
A new season begins this Sunday.
A NEW SEASON FOR 252 KIDS!
An exciting new season has begun in 252 Kids! Greenville First’s new Children’s Pastor Tommi Bridgeman officially came on board on Tuesday, September 1.
And the new season is getting a new look. The remodeled 252 Kids Church room creates a fresh, welcoming space for our children to learn, worship, and grow together. God has great things in store for 252 Kids, and the church family is grateful to welcome Tommi to this important ministry.
Parents, make plans for your kids to be part of the beginning of this new season!
SUNDAY NIGHTS WITH 252 STUDENTS
Sunday evenings at 5:00 PM are for 252 Students! Middle and high school students join Youth Pastor Eddie Breeze each week for worship, fellowship, and an opportunity to grow deeper in their faith.
During the worship service, 252 Shift, our 6th and 7th grade students, will break out for their own time in the Word with Wes Thomas. This gives younger students age-appropriate Bible teaching while keeping them connected to the larger 252 Student Ministries family.
From middle school through high school, Sunday nights are a place for students to build friendships, encounter God, and grow as followers of Jesus.
252 Students meets every Sunday at 5:00 PM.
COLLEGE AGE BIBLE STUDY
Life after high school brings new questions, new responsibilities, and new opportunities to grow in Christ. College Age Sunday Nights is a place to open God’s Word, build meaningful friendships, and discover what it means to follow Jesus through every season of life.
Meeting each Sunday at 7:30 PM in the Youth Lounge, this weekly gathering is designed for college-age young adults seeking biblical truth, authentic community, and spiritual growth. The study is led by Pastor Eddie Breeze and centers on the transforming power of God’s Word.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
First Things First, a weekly early morning prayer gathering, is designed to help believers seek God before the demands of the day begin. Meeting each Tuesday at 7 AM in the Worship Center, this guided time of prayer follows the pattern Jesus gave in the Lord’s Prayer and leads participants through seven focused moments of prayer and reflection.
Each week includes intentional times of Praise, Priority, Provision, Pardon, Power, and Presence, ending once again in Praise as hearts and minds are centered on God’s greatness, his kingdom, his provision, his forgiveness, his strength, and his voice.
40 STORIES: ONE CHURCH. ONE STORY.
A new year of FCU Night School begins with 40 Stories, a Bible study for the entire church family!
Each Wednesday night, 252 Kids, 252 Students, and adults will journey through the same great stories of the Bible. While each group will learn and discuss the story in an age-appropriate setting, everyone from children to adults will be discovering the same people, events, and truths from God’s Word.
That means the conversation doesn’t have to end when everyone leaves church. Parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and families of every kind can continue talking about what they learned together throughout the week.
The Bible is filled with stories of faith and failure, courage and calling, promise and redemption. 40 Stories will help every generation see how those individual stories fit together as part of God’s greater story.
FCU Night School meets Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, and 40 Stories begins this Wednesday, September 16. There’s a place for every age, so bring the whole family and grow in God’s Word together.
THIS IS US
What does it mean to be part of Greenville First? What kind of church are we, and what matters most to us?
Beginning Sunday, September 20, a new sermon series called This Is Us will explore the four Core Values that help define who Greenville First is and the church God has called us to be:
Encounter with God — We believe everything begins in His presence.
Equip the Believer — We want all believers growing, serving, and becoming who God has called them to be.
Embrace the Family — We believe church is more than a place to attend; it is a family to belong to.
Engage the Community — We are called to take the love and message of Jesus beyond the walls of the church.
Each year following Back to Church Sunday, Greenville First returns to these values. For those who are new, it is an opportunity to discover what this church is all about. For those who have been part of the family for years, it is a reminder that these values aren’t simply words on a page. They shape how we worship, grow, love, and serve.
This Is Us begins Sunday, September 20, during the 10:45 AM Worship Service.
PARKING LOT EXPANSION: GOAL MET!
There is great news to share about Greenville First’s parking lot expansion project: the congregation has already met the entire $75,000 giving goal for 2026!
At the called Church Business Meeting on August 26, the church body unanimously approved the expansion, which will add 66 new parking spaces, increasing capacity from 99 to 165 spaces. The approximately $200,000 project was originally planned to be funded with $50,000 from existing church resources, $75,000 in congregational giving during 2026, and approximately $75,000 in financing to be retired through Faith Commitment giving in 2027.
Because of the tremendous response of the Greenville First family, the $75,000 congregational goal has already been reached, more than three months ahead of the December 31 deadline!
So why stop now?
The 2026 giving goal is being expanded to $100,000. Raising approximately $25,000 more by December 31 will allow the church to reduce the anticipated financing from approximately $75,000 to only $50,000. That remaining amount can then be eliminated through Faith Commitment giving during 2027.
The updated plan is simple:
$50,000 Church Investment + $100,000 Congregational Giving + approximately $50,000 Financing = $200,000
Every additional dollar given now is a dollar that will not need to be borrowed and paid back next year.
The parking lot is not the mission. It is infrastructure serving the mission. These additional spaces will help Greenville First Church make room for more people to hear the gospel, find a church home, and experience what God is doing.
2026 EXPANDED GIVING GOAL: $100,000
Already Given: $75,000+
Still Needed: Approximately $25,000
Deadline: December 31, 2026
Thank you to everyone who has already given. The first goal has been reached. Now, together, let’s finish as much of this project as possible debt-free!
Parking spaces don’t grow churches, but they can make room for the people God sends.
Click the button below to give to the Parking Lot Fund. From the drop-down menu, select PARKING LOT EXPANSION.
WILD AT HEART: THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
Greenville First Men’s Ministry has begun a journey through John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart, exploring what it means for men to understand the heart God has given them and to live with purpose, courage, and faith.
The journey began in August with the first two chapters, but it is definitely not too late to join! While reading Wild at Heart will add to the experience, men are encouraged to come even if they haven’t read the book (books are available in the Church Office). Each gathering includes video teaching and meaningful group discussion that stands on its own and provides an opportunity for men to learn, connect, and encourage one another.
Men’s Ministry Director Zach Loch is leading the group, which meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. There is always a good meal planned for the Men’s Ministry meetings, so come hungry physically and spiritually!
The next gathering is Tuesday, September 22, at 6:30 PM. Whether you joined the journey in August or are just hearing about it, this is a great time to get involved.
Come join the journey.
THINK PINK
Greenville First Church Women’s Ministry invites all ladies to a special Think Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Brunch on Saturday, October 10, at 10:30 AM.
Please note the change of date and day. Rather than the regularly scheduled second-Monday gatherings, the October meeting will be held on Saturday morning as a special joint meeting. Brunch will be served, and everyone is encouraged to wear pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This gathering will also provide an opportunity to remember three special women from the Greenville First family who have recently passed: Brandy Duke, Anna leRoux, and Gwen Duncan. A memorial tree will be part of the morning, with donations received in their memory and divided between the SECU Family House in Chapel Hill and Hope Lodge in Greenville, two ministries that provide support and lodging for patients and families facing serious medical treatment.
Winnie White will be the guest speaker for this special morning of fellowship, remembrance, encouragement, and hope.
Mark the date, wear your pink, and join the ladies of Greenville First on Saturday, October 10, at 10:30 AM.
FIRST STEPS FOR TEENS
A new opportunity for middle and high school students begins Sunday, September 6 at 9:30 AM! First Church University Sunday School will offer First Steps, separate classes for teens, creating space for age-appropriate teaching, conversation, and spiritual growth. Billy Gore will teach the boys, and Ann Conner will teach the girls.
FCU Sunday School remains a great opportunity to grow deeper in God’s Word and build relationships with others. Classes are available for every age—from children and students to adults. Make Sunday School part of your Sunday morning!
OCC SHOEBOXES
The Operation Christmas Child Shoebox effort is getting an early start this year! From now through October, the focus is collecting the gifts that will go into the shoeboxes. You can help by purchasing items from the Amazon Wishlist or by giving directly to the church for shoebox supplies (links provided below).
A church-wide packing party is scheduled in October to fill and prepare the shoeboxes for shipment. Thank you for helping Greenville First share hope and the love of Jesus with children around the world.
WAYS TO GIVE
The faithful and sacrificial giving of the family and friends of the church ensure the Gospel is preached and the Kingdom of God advances onward!
Sunday in-person giving can be done by placing checks/cash/tithing envelopes in the dropboxes located at each Sanctuary entrance. To give in person during the week, see Yvette Lewis in the church office or place your offering in the dropbox located by the office door.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Prayer changes things—and you don’t have to carry your burdens alone. The Greenville First prayer team would be honored to stand with you in prayer. Whether big or small, your request matters to God.
Submit your prayer request today, and let your church family join you in bringing it before the Lord.
Email: prayer@greenvillefirst.org
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
