Youth United ramps up for July 29 service camp
Do you remember receiving the blue bookmark with the Golden Rule written in 20+ different faiths in your bulletin a few months ago? We are seeing that come to life as youth and adults from 12 faith communities plan this year’s Youth United experience! There are so many opportunities that Youth United will have to help the community through service to CARES and its clients. Quite a few FPCF members are on the planning team but we could use additional help during the camp week, supporting the teens in gardening, art, carpentry, painting, rehabbing. Interested? Talk to Laura Hedgecock or Karen Linnell.
Youth United’s 2019 project list includes laying the groundwork for a community garden, making peace poles, steppingstones, providing artwork for the new SNAP and clothing store, and general improvements to the former convent and rectory, allowing C.A.R.E.S. and its partners to use those spaces for meetings
How you can help: We invite all middle and high school students to participate – and invite their friends. Please spread the word to any youth who might be interested in being a part of this meaningful camp. Youth can register online at bit.ly/yu19reg. Additionally, we could use some experienced members to help plan and oversee construction projects. (Adult volunteers, please use bit.ly/yuadult2019 to register.) Brochures are available in the narthex and a pdf flyer can be found at http://bit.ly/YA2019-Flyer. More questions? See Laura or Karen.
Introducing the Eternal Hope Garden, a Monarch Waystation
Each fall, hundreds of millions of Monarch butterflies migrate from the U.S. and Canada to mountains in central Mexico where they wait out the winter until conditions favor their return flight in the spring. The Monarch migration is truly one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, but the Monarch butterfly is itself in danger of extinction because, unlike other butterflies, they have specialized around only one plant, the Common Milkweed. They only lay their eggs on the Common Milkweed and are totally dependent on this one plant to produce the necessary resources for them to breed and guarantee successive generations of these beautiful insects.
A new garden is being taking shape in one of the eight parking islands! Georgia Roed and Mitchell Cressman are creating a Monarch Waystation that they have named the Eternal Home Garden. The parking island nearest the Preschool playground was selected because it gets sun almost all day, there is little traffic in the area, and it is near the Preschool so the children will be able to observe “visitors” to the garden easily. There also is little valuable growth on the island – one tree, a Spirea bush, another bush and a few small perennials that have survived against all the odds of compacted and acidic soil. These will continue in the garden, which is at least a two-year project. The Monarch butterflies need the protection of tightly place plants. It will not be a particularly organized garden as far as the human eye is concerned, but the hope is that Monarchs will fit it inviting and will lay their eggs on the milkweed. We will not be using any toxic chemicals and will not wood chip this garden. Fortunately, the same kinds of plants being planted also attract and sustain other butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees and other pollinators.
This week we were granted our certification for our Monarch Waystation by the University of Kansas, which is spearheading a national initiative to help preserve this species. U of K will send us a sign to post in the garden, although our garden name, Eternal Hope, will not appear on the sign. Watch it come to life in the coming months.
September FYI deadline is Friday, August 16
Upcoming Events and Mission Opportunities
Summer Connections – all are welcome!
Pizza and guided painting – Tuesday, July 23 at 6:00 p.m., Meet at the Church
Please RSVP to [email protected] by July 21.
Dessert, Music and Bonfire – Tuesday, August 20 at 7:00 p.m. Meet at the church. Bring your favorite dessert to share, explore musical instruments and sing at our campfire gathering.
Fall Fest – Sunday, September 8, 12 noon. Join us for food, fun and games after worship .
Any questions contact Kim Kucharski, the church’s Family & Children Ministry Coordinator, at [email protected].
See you Sundays at 10:00 a.m. for worship and infant-PreK care. Sunday School (PreK-5th grade) will kick-off in the Fall.
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REMINDER: We collect fresh produce on Sundays to donate to our community through C.A.R.E.S. food pantry. Please feel free to share from your garden and/or from shopping at the Farmers’ Market.
Congregational Matters
Making our church grounds beautiful again
Pastor Eddie is starting Weekly Weeders to assist him in grounds weeding, starting with the Cope Memorial Garden. Join him on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 a.m.-12 noon. Bring your gardening gloves and tools and a sack lunch. It will be a nice time for conversation with fellow First Pres members and friends.
He also has appointed a Gardens Team leader and formed a team. Eight Garden Isles research has been completed for the parking lot islands, with needs for funding and volunteers identified. Isle #8 will be a Monarch Butterfly sanctuary and is now being built (see page 1). It will be completed by Fall. Funding is needed for Isles 1-7.
Our Temporary Property Committee Leader is seeking funding with anticipated project dates of Aug. 3, Aug. 10 and Aug. 17. Volunteers are needed: Church members and friends; Boy, Girl and Cub Scout Troops. Tasks: Destroying weeds, covering the beds with mesh then mulch, as well as refinishing the teak benches in the Cope Garden. Please call the church office if you can assist.
Arts and Archives – “Did you know?”
Our church has some beautiful artwork. Starting up the stairwell there are two pieces from the former Church of Our Saviour (C.O.O.S.). On the left is a painted pastel “Be Still and Know That I Am” by National Award Winner Gwen Tomkow in memory of a dear friend. On an adjacent wall is the “Autumnal Scene” panorama by photographer Darry Melton, a mixed medium artist. It was given by Richard Spurgeon in memory of his father.
Upstairs in the parlor is the oil painting of “Knox House.” The original name of the house was “The White House,” built in 1931 by Kirby White. After many owners, the building was renamed “Windy Hill” when the painting was made in 1957. The name Knox House was chosen by Farmington First Presbyterian Church when it was acquired in 1954. Nearby is a limited-edition Lithograph picture “Stairway to Paradise” by Thomas Kinkade, which was given to the church in 2002 in memory of Rosemary Opperthauser by her family and Deborah Circle.
The “Holy Family” oil painting on the church office wall was given in honor of the baptism of Allison Rachel Finney in 1988 by artist and grandmother Barbara Homan Kraft. The baby’s parents were David and Diane Finney.
Save the date
On Sunday, Sept. 15 during Hospitality Time, there will be a walk with docents for an updated Arts & Archives tour, including newfound artwork and restored items. Please plan to join us!
Hunger takes a back seat this summer
Pastor Eddie and Colleen Tavor packed 72 full-sized boxes of cereal and 96 single-serving-sized boxes into one car and took them to the Presbytery of Detroit meeting at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, June 25. Your generosity will make a great impact on children in our great Detroit community. Please continue to bring in cereal as we also will support CARES in their efforts to supply local kids with breakfast this summer.
The final count for recent peanut butter donations to CARES was 93 jars collected in a short time period. Delores Watters, director of the food pantry at CARES, was overwhelmed. She said, “This will keep us going until the government peanut butter order comes in.”
Thank you all for your kind and generous donations. ~The Mission Ministry Team
Sing (or play) a summer song with us!
Our Summer Music program continues through Sunday, Sept. 1. All that’s missing is you – and you’re invited! Here’s how it works: for Summer Choir, show up in the chancel at 9:15 on Sunday morning to rehearse an anthem (an easy one, or one we’ve sung before, or both). Sing at the 10 a.m. service (no robes!) , and then join your family and friends in the pews. This is truly music for everyone, and the perfect opportunity for those who love to make music but can’t make a long-term commitment: simply drop in and sing as you wish, whenever you wish.
Don’t sing, but play an instrument? No worries: this is the ideal time to share your gifts with us in a judgment-free zone – just see Dr. Jerry to schedule a time to play.
Coming this fall: First Pres Tailgate
Keep Sunday, Sept. 22 open after worship for our first First Pres Tailgate! The planning committee is hard at work but offered these early details. Wear your school attire or colors for a fun, festive indoor celebration in Knox Hall. Preliminary lunch menu is hot dogs, burgers, potato salad, cole slaw and cupcakes. Some early rivalry between the MSU contingent (Go Green! – Go White!) and CMU supporters (Fire up, Chips!) has already emerged so search out your fellow alumni and get ready to show off your school pride.
Conversations with the Pastor is September 30
Following worship on Sunday, September 30 we will gather for “Conversations with the Pastor.” Join Pastor Eddie in Knox Fellowship Hall for an opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues of importance to our church. “Let’s be good companions of The Way and together discover what the fruit of the Spirit looks like.” (Galatians 5:22-23). We’ll do this quarterly during 2019.
Garden on the Hill update
Below is some of the first produce harvested from our Garden on the Hill. Thanks to the rains and warmer weather – and our dedicated Garden Waterers – we were blessed with an earlier-than-usual harvest. Beans and lettuce were the first produce taken to CARES food pantry. Our neighbors in need so enjoy the fruits of our gardeners’ labors! Also, by request the bin in the foyer is now available to accept your produce donations for CARES – whether from your own garden or the local farmer’s market.
Life Remodeled’s Six-Day Project needs you
The Presbyterian Men’s Fellowship of the Presbytery of Detroit invites you to join them as assist Life Remodeled in mobilizing thousands of volunteers to beautify over 300 city blocks in six days. Task list: plant trees and perennials, remove debris, cut overgrown brush and mowing. Work schedule: Monday-Saturday, August 5-10 with three shifts working between 9 .am. – 5 p.m. Join the Presbyterian Men’s team on Sat., Aug 10; they’re meeting at 8:45 a.m. and will work until 5 p.m. Register for the Presbyterian Men’s team on the Presbytery’s website at: https://www.detroitpresbytery/org/reservations.html.
Clerk of Session needed
Sharon Cressman, our current Clerk of Session, would like to step aside from this responsibility to spend more time on family matters. The Clerk is a Ruling Elder who is elected by the Session. The Clerk’s responsibilities are to maintain records of the Session, including taking minutes at the monthly Session meetings. There are no difficult tasks, but it helps to be organized in record-keeping. Office volunteers help with several of the tasks such getting the Minutes into the official book. Sharon will be around to offer coaching and answer questions. She can provide more details of the position. See her at church or call her at 248-478-1532.
Wanted: Crafters and bakers for our Craft Show & Bake Sale
Our 4th Annual Craft Show and Bake Sale it will be on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in Knox Hall. We are known for being the church with open hands and what a wonderful outreach to the community it is to invite them to be crafters at our show! We already have four returning crafters but there’s room for any more. Space size is 8’ X 8’ and the event is open to all members of the church and community. Please spread the word! For applications or more information, contact Deborah Draper at 248 579-6053.
Holiday and regular office hours reminder
The church office and building will be closed on Monday, September 2 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. In September the office will resumes its regular hours of 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 pm. on Monday through Friday.
June Session meeting highlights
At its June 19, 2019 meeting, the Session:
- Elected new officers to one-year terms:
President – Sally Kirsten
Vice-President – Jerry Howe
Secretary – Sharon Cressman
Treasurer – Irene Sharpe
Financial Secretary – Jerry Scheel
- Elected Deb Jackson Lum and Lorrie McVey to serve on the Nominating Committee
- Elected Colleen Tavor to serve on the Stewardship Committee
- Was challenged by Pastor Eddie to check whether each action is in sync with the Theology of the Open Hands.
Messages of thanks and congratulations
A Special Note of Appreciation to our garden volunteers: We put out the call for garden volunteers to help maintain our property and gardens and are grateful that so many have answered the call. Special thanks to ACTS Circle, who are doing an awesome job cleaning up and planting flowers in the garden on the north side of the entrance. Dale Hawkins and Karen McCullough are done a great job cleaning up Cope Memorial Gardens and the beds that line the sanctuary to the right of our main entrance. The Mission Ministry Team is taking on the flower bed in front of our beautiful stained-glass window and one of the parking lot islands. Dan & Ruth McKinnon
And thanks too to Dan & Ruth McKinnon who are helping coordinate the landscaping effort and have been tending to our beautiful Biblical Herb Garden for more than 30 years!
Check out their progress, pass along your thanks and offer to help if you are able and available.
Congratulations to Rev. Jim Faile: Pastor Jim has accepted a new call as interim pastor to First Presbyterian Church of Northville. He most recently was interim pastor for Allen Park Presbyterian Church after serving as our church’s interim pastor and temporary associate pastor following Church of Our Saviour’s joining with us in 2011.
Book donations needed
If your bookshelves are overcrowded, consider donating books to the AAUW book sale. Just bring books in good condition to church and give to Karen Linnell by Aug. 11. If you want to refill your bookshelves, come to the book sale Sept. 6-8 at the Southfield Community Pavilion. Proceeds go for college scholarships.
Announcements from our Partners
Samaritan Counseling Center news
Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeastern Michigan (SCC) is offering a Preparation for Marriage Workshop. Led by experienced leaders, it provides opportunities for couples to identify and explore both strengths and areas of potential difficulties in their relationship. Couples will consider the complexity of marriage, recognize what each individual brings to this relationship, and clarify the expectations both have as they enter into this commitment.
DATE: Saturday, September 21, 2019
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
LOCATION: First United Methodist Church of Birmingham, 1589 W. Maple Road, Birmingham, MI 48009
FEE: $225 per couple. A $125 deposit is required at registration. Private sessions can be arranged any time throughout the year for an additional $50 fee.
To register, contact SCC’s main office at (248) 474-4701 or visit SCC’s website at www.sccmich.org.
