E-Newsletter: September 17, 2026
THANK YOU GREENVILLE FIRST FAMILY!
What an incredible Back to Church Sunday!
More than 260 people joined us for worship and Lunch on the Grounds, including at least 50 newcomers! Thank you to everyone who invited friends and family, welcomed guests, worshiped with us, and helped make the day so special.
A day like Sunday takes a tremendous team effort. Thank you to everyone who prepared and served food, brought desserts, helped with setup and teardown, cleaned up, moved tables and chairs, and took care of countless details behind the scenes. A special thank you goes to our First Impressions Team for helping ensure that every person who walked through our doors received a warm Greenville First welcome.
Most of all, thank you to everyone who prayed. We prayed for an encounter with God. We prayed for newcomers. We prayed for good weather. And God gave us a wonderful day together!
Back to Church Sunday may be over, but the opportunity before us is just beginning. Let’s continue welcoming new faces, building new relationships, and making room for people to become part of the Greenville First family.
Thank you, Greenville First, for making room for others!
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 this 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 this Sunday, September 20, during the 10:45 AM Worship Service.
HELP FILL OUR SHOEBOXES!
Greenville First’s Operation Christmas Child collection is underway, and now is the time to help us gather the gifts that will fill this year’s shoeboxes!
For the past few months, we have been collecting toys, school supplies, personal care items, and other gifts that will eventually be packed into shoeboxes and sent to children around the world. There are two easy ways to help: purchase items from the Amazon Wishlist or give directly to the church for Operation Christmas Child supplies using the links below.
Then, on Sunday October 25 from 4 PM – 6 PM, the entire church family will have an opportunity to bring everything together at our church-wide Shoebox Packing Party!
Every item purchased and every dollar given helps fill another box with gifts—and gives us another opportunity to share the hope and love of Jesus with a child.
Let’s fill some shoeboxes!
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.
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 this Tuesday, September 22, at 6:30 PM. Those reading the Wild at Heart book are encouraged to read chapter 3 before Tuesday night. 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.
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.
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.
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!
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
