Headlines
Call to Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 5th
The Session has called the Annual Congregational Meeting for Sunday, February 5, 2017 immediately following worship. The call of the meeting is to:
- To receive the reports of the Session and its officers and committees, the Board of Deacons, and other organizations of the congregation.
- To conduct the annual meeting of the Corporation.
- To vote on a proposal from Session to amend the current bylaws of the First Presbyterian Church, regarding the composition of the Session and Deacons.
- And any other appropriate congregation business.
2016 Annual Report is available
The 2016 Annual Report is available on the literature table in the narthex.Please take only 1 copy per family.If you do not need a paper copy, please call the church office (248) 474-6170 to receive the annual report by email.The Annual Report was sent by email to those people signed up on the church email list serve.
Have you paid your 2017 per capita?
One way the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ensures that administrative costs are covered and secures giving for specific mission (disaster and hunger relief), is to assess each church a per member or “per capita” amount. Through this assessment, we share the costs of being Presbyterian and bear witness that we are not an isolated congregation, but serve with other Christians in the Reformed tradition throughout the country and world.
The Per Capita on each of our active members is $25.93. (Of that, $7.33 is for the General Assembly; $3.25 for the Synod of the Covenant; and $15.35 is for the Presbytery of Detroit.) As a church, we will be paying a total of $10,112.70. We do not require, but invite you to pay your per capita – what some refer to as “church dues”. Please send that amount for each active member in your household (ages confirmation and above) with checks payable to the First Presbyterian Church of Farmington. On the memo line write “Per Capita.”
New format for the FYI
The printed version of the FYI has a new look! The new layout is the same one used for the email version of the FYI. Creating only one version of the FYI means that we can get the newsletter distributed in a more timely fashion. If you have any suggestions or questions please speak with Laura Hedgecock or Dale Countegan.
March FYI deadline
The deadline to submit articles for the March FYI is Friday, February 17th. Please email your items to [email protected] or bring them to the church office.
Ash Wednesday worship service on March 1
We will observe Ash Wednesday at a worship service on Wednesday, March 1st at 7:30 PM in the sanctuary. Join with others for a service of penitence and renewal as we pray, hear God’s Word, distribute ashes, and share the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
Christian Education News and Events
Souper Bowl of Caring
Sunday, Feb. 5, we will participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring, a country-wide event utilizing Super Bowl weekend to mobilize young people to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities. Our Youth will be in the Narthex before and after worship, holding soup pots to collect your donation. All donated funds will be given to Alexander’s Food Pantry and Neighborhood House to help stock their shelves.
Sunday, Feb. 5, after the Annual Meeting of the Congregation, we will gather in Knox Fellowship Hall for a light meal in celebration of God’s abiding grace and abundant gifts.
Sunday, Feb. 12, after worship, our Youth will be in the narthex with roses for Valentine’s Day. They will gratefully accept donations in support of this year’s senior high mission trip to Mexico and junior high mission trip to Sandusky, Ohio.
Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1 pm, we will depart from church for Orchestra Hall, where we will attend the Sphinx Concert that begins at 2 pm. This concert features young Black and Latino classical string players who have competed under the guidance of an internationally renowned panel of judges, and who are performing with established professional musicians. Contact Josh Archey by Feb. 5 to reserve a ticket and a car pool seat for this not-to-be-missed event!
Sunday, Feb. 26, we observe the end of the liturgical season of Epiphany and turn our hearts toward the season of Lent. After worship, we will mark this transition with a pancake brunch, hosted by our Youth and their families.
Wednesday, March 1, we will observe Ash Wednesday and usher in the Lenten season, a 40-day period of prayer and reflection during which we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord at Easter.
Tuesdays beginning March 7 at 10:00 AM Pastor Eddie will lead a Lenten study and discussion of the book Final Words From The Cross by Adam Hamilton. The books are available in the church office for $12.
Every Wednesday during Lent (beginning March 8th), we will gather in Knox Fellowship Hall from 6-7:30 pm for a light meal and Lenten experience that will deepen our relationship with God and with one another. Mark your calendars for these inter-generational, family-friendly faith-building Wednesdays!
Senior High Youth, mark your calendars for the Weekend Up North (Feb. 17-19) and for the annual Alma College Youth Mix (Mar. 3-5). Please contact Josh Archey for more information, and sign up for one or both events by Feb. 9.
Mission and Fellowship Opportunities
Help restock the shelves at Neighborhood House
The shelves of Neighborhood House are nearly empty and they need our help! Last year we were a huge help to Neighborhood House and they’re hoping we can do so again. Neighborhood House serves Farmington and Farmington Hills residents who need assistance with food, shelter and clothing to get them back on their feet. While searching for more permanent housing, many are aided by Neighborhood House in finding short term housing in hotels with a hotplate for cooking.
On February 19 & 26, we will collect personal care products: shampoo, conditioner, tooth paste, tooth brush and toilet paper.
On March 12 & 19, we will collect cleaning products: laundry soap, dish soap and paper towels.
On April 2 & 9, we will collect food items: kid-friendly cereal, pudding, fruit cups, canned ravioli, canned chicken and diapers.
If you wish to help, please leave your items in the large box in the “coffee and treats-after-church room.” Thanks for your consideration!
Congregational Concerns
2017 worship flower sign-up has dates available
Please consider giving flowers ($22 per arrangement) to enhance our worship services in memory of a loved one or to recognize a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary. More than one arrangement can be ordered for any Sunday. You can take the flowers with you after the worship service or leave them and they will be delivered to one of our homebound members. The sign-up sheet is available on the kiosk in the coffee hour area. For more information please call the church office (248) 474-6170.
Usher in the new year
Do you like to meet and greet? Like to help people? Like being able to move around? We’re looking for people who can give the congregation a hand every eight weeks, and occasional substituting, as an usher. Contact Irwin Moyna for details.
Sunday morning greeters needed
The Greeting Team provides warm welcomes and greetings to all who enter our church. We need of some volunteers for TBDs (dates we cannot provide greeters)! We believe there are fellow worshipers who will extend the hand of welcome on the TBDs if we were to ask. We are asking!! Choose an empty date on our signup sheet on the kiosk in the coffee hour area to be a “Greeter for the day”. If you would like more information or have questions, please contact Manny Sharpe.
Sunday morning coffee hour hosts needed
Are you looking for a way to contribute your time and talents to your church family? Serving coffee hour following worship may be for you. It involves making lemonade and putting treats and snacks on plates, (about 30 minutes) before church and serving refreshments for about a half hour after the service. Refreshments can be provided by you or purchased by the church. The sign-up sheet is posted on the kiosk. Blank dates can be filled in by volunteers. The goal is to serve coffee hour after every service. If you enjoy conversation, mingling, or making new friends, this is an opportunity for you, so sign up for serving coffee hour based on your availability. It also provides an opportunity to each of us to invite visitors to join us for coffee and conversation.
2017 offering envelopes available
Those who have used envelopes for 2016 will automatically receive envelopes for 2017. If you did NOT use envelopes in 2016, but DO wish to have them for 2017, please contact Jerry Scheel call the church office. If you wish to have your pledge electronically debited from your account, please call Jerry Scheel, Financial Secretary, to have the forms mailed to you.
January Session highlights
During the January Session meeting, the Session:
- Approved the 2017 Church Budget.
- Approved flower sales, brunches and a car wash as fundraisers for the Youth Mission Trip to Mexico this summer.
- Approved the request of the Mission Ministry to re-stock the shelves at Neighborhood House with cleaning and paper products during February and March.
- Approved the Souper Bowl of Caring Fundraiser on Sunday, February 5.
Kudos & thank yous
Kudos from the Worship Ministry Team to Anne Fuller and Marcia Howe, two long-time members for their decades of devoted service. Both are now enjoying a much deserved retirement from committee work – Anne for her special commitment to communion setup and service as the librarian for the Chancel Choir and Marcia for her creative work in designing banners for special worship services and for baking the communion bread. And they did so much more as dedicated volunteers committed to enhancing our worship experience. Please keep them both your prayers.
Thank you to my church family for the beautiful red poinsettia that was given to me following the Christmas holidays. It not only brightened by day but my living room too! Blessings to all in the new year. Sally Kempf
Due to an anonymous gift from a friend of First Presbyterian Church, your generosity and kindness made such a difference at Christmas time for a family in need. The bare necessities of diapers, wipes and formula (due to our WIC Program only being a “supplemental” program and not meeting daily recommended intake) were purchased through your generosity for a family very much in need. God bless all of you! With thanks, Beth Heller (CS HCS nurse)
Dear First Presbyterian Church,
The Farmington Area Goodfellows would like to thank you for your generous donation. For those in our community who are considered at-risk, the holidays can be a challenging time. Last year, thanks to support from friends like you, we helped almost 500 of our neighbors in need. These children, families and seniors received over 32,000 non-perishable food items, over 160 boxes of diapers and baby wipes, more than 1500 toys and 1500 age-appropriate books. On behalf of the Goodfellows and the hundreds of residents we supported this holiday season, thank you again for your generous donation. Richard Lerner, President and General Chairman
Dear friends at First Presbyterian Church,
Thank you so much for your generous monetary donation which was received by the Alexander Food Pantry during the month of November. Your check was immediately sent down to Gleaners in Detroit where our account has been credited for future purchases as needed. We are also extremely thankful for the large amount of groceries which you collected to support our Thanksgiving Distribution this year. May God continue to bless you and your family during 2017. With deepest appreciation, Carol J. Greening, Manager
Prayer concerns
First Presbyterian Church members: Names withheld from web-version of the newsletter.
We hold in our prayers members who are homebound, in nursing homes, and assisted living: Names withheld from web-version of the newsletter.
Those serving in the military:Names withheld from web-version of the newsletter.
Prayers for the grieving: Names withheld from web-version of the newsletter.
– Samaritan Counseling Center Lay Caregiver Series –
Supporting Children Struggling in School
Sunday, February 19, 2017 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
This workshop series is designed to support and further educate participants, providing lay caregivers with opportunities to:
- Grow in their sense of calling, identity, and skill as caregivers
- Deepen their knowledge and understanding of many difficult issues encountered on life’s journey
- Gain a variety of resources to enhance their care giving
Lay Caregiver workshops continue the ongoing growth and learning of Stephen Ministers, BeFrienders, deacons, and all volunteers who provide visitation to shut-ins, hospitals, nursing homes, jails, and other settings. In fact, the workshops can enhance the growth and learning of everyone!
The workshop will be held at: Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 W. Eleven Mile Road (just west of Middlebelt), Farmington Hills, MI
The cost of the workshop is $15. Please call the Samaritan Counseling Center at (248) 474-4701 for more information or to reserve your spot.
You must register by February 15th if you plan to attend!
