Lighthouse is Coming Jan 19-26!
Lighthouse (formerly South Oakland Shelter) is a consortium of several Oakland County community and religious centers that volunteer their time to provide overnight accommodations, food, transportation and a sense of dignity to individuals and families in need. For more than a decade, First Presbyterian Church of Farmington, the Church of the Open Hands, has been a part of this worthwhile endeavor. For one week each January, our church has opened its doors to those for whom life hasn’t been so kind.
This is the marquis mission and outreach event in the life of our church each year — from food purchase to meal preparation to overnight hosting to driving, your help is needed. Managing Lighthouse is an “all hands on deck”-type project requiring lots of volunteers. Many of First Presbyterian’s tried and true have given their talent and treasure to support the cause. Regrettably, while the number of Lighthouse clients has remained level (or in some cases, increased) the number of able First Presbyterian volunteers is slowly dropping, making it difficult to sustain the effort.
Volunteers are needed from Jan. 19-26 in a number of areas:
- SETUP / TEARDOWN SPECIALISTS: We need to pick up Lighthouse supplies from the prior hosting location, set up our own church, then pack everything up for the succeeding site at the end of our hosting week.
- DRIVERS:Our guests will need morning and / or evening transportation to and from their various places of business within about a 30-minute ride from First Presbyterian, as well as occasional shuttle drives to the nearby Farmington Area YMCA so guests can make use of shower facilities there.
- OVERNIGHT HOSTS: We need a combination of female and male supervisors to provide hosting for our guests.
- DISHWASHERS: Following breakfast and after dinner, table service and food prep items need to be cleaned.
- LAUNDRY VOLUNTEERS: Guests will drop off their clothes to be washed, dried and returned to them. This takes place a few days during the week.
- LUNCH PACKERS: We need help each evening preparing and packing sack lunches for our guests the next day.
- We need to purchase food for our guests in advance, plus make runs to the grocery stores during the week as needed.
Please contact either Chris or Emily Davis at (248) 349-5146, or [email protected] to sign up or learn more about Lighthouse. Even if it’s just for one day or one evening, your help would be greatly appreciated.
Another important volunteer opportunity for Lighthouse hosting
Among the many amenities we offer the 30 or so adults and children we’ll be hosting that week is transportation. If you (or the company you work for) has access to a multi-passenger vehicle capable of moving eight or more people, we’d love to hear from you. We often need to transport multiple persons at the same time — sometimes families with children who cannot ride separate from each other. If you can help, please get in touch with Chris or Emily Davis by Jan. 12 at [email protected]
Un-decorate the Church with us on Saturday, Jan. 11
We invite family, friends and neighbors to help us un-decorate the church. Join us from 9 a.m. – 12 noon on Saturday, Jan. 11. Coffee and donuts will be provided along with good fellowship. Thanks for your help.
March FYI Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 17
Save the Date for Pistons’ Faith and Family Night
Enjoy an evening of fellowship and basketball at Faith and Family Night with the Detroit Pistons. First Pres will have a group of people to attend this special evening. The game is Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7:00 p.m. Please tell Kim Kucharski or email Kim at [email protected], if you are interested in buying a ticket ($20 per ticket). Also, there will be a half-time performance by the Detroit Youth Choir. Mark your calendars and plan on joining us for a fun evening together!
Annual Meeting scheduled; Annual Reports Due Soon (Jan. 9)
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, immediately following worship. Reports to be included in the 2019 Annual Report should be emailed to the church office by no later than Thursday, Jan. 9, 2019. The 2019 Annual Report will be emailed to members who have signed up through the church website to receive the FYI newsletter, the annual report and other important church information (to sign up for the newsletter and electronic communications, please go to www.farmington-pres.org ). A few printed copies of the 2019 Annual Report will be available at the welcome center on Sunday, Jan. 26.
Ash Wednesday worship service on Feb. 26
We will observe Ash Wednesday with a worship service on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Please join us.
2020 offering envelopes
Those who have used numbered envelopes in 2019 will automatically receive envelopes for 2020. If you have NOT used envelopes this year, but DO wish to have them for next year, please do one of the following:
- Contact Jerry Scheel
- Contact the church office to make your requestknown.
Numbered envelopes facilitate the speed and accuracy of the data entry process, so we do encourage you to use envelopes if you contribute manually on a regular basis.
We also encourage the use of electronic debit. If you wish to submit your pledge electronically from your account monthly, please call Jerry Scheel, Financial Secretary, to have the forms mailed to you. If you have any questions, please contact Jerry Scheel or call the church office at (248) 474-6170.
Looking for an opportunity to give back?
Looking for an opportunity to give back? Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity and have 2-1/2 hours on a weekly basis? Check out C.A.R.E.S. of Farmington Hills, our local food pantry that is continuing to expand its offerings to aid those in need in our community. You will find it an enriching experience and your service will be such a benefit to those locally who are in need. C.A.R.E.S. also reports the following supply needs: razors, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, sunscreen, cleaning supplies, dish soap. Donations can be dropped off at C.A.R.E.S., 27835 Shiawassee Street (near Inkster Road), on Tuesdays-Fridays 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Thursday evenings from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and Saturday mornings 9:30 a.m.-12 noon. Contact Nancy Prieskorn of the Mission Ministry Team for more information.
2020 Worship Flower sign-up available
Please consider giving flowers in memory of a loved one or to recognize a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary or to the glory of God. An arrangement is $24 and enhances our worship services. More than one arrangement may be ordered for any Sunday. You may take the flowers with you after the worship service or leave them so that they can be delivered to one of our homebound members. The sign-up sheet is available on the kiosk in the area outside Knox Fellowship Hall. For more information, call the church office at (248) 474-6170.
PW Hat and Mitten Tree A Success
Once again, our church family has demonstrated how we live our faith. The 2019 Hat and Mitten Tree was an amazing success with so many donations of purchased items and beautifully handmade items. Hopefully, you watched the pile grow under the tree over four weeks and saw some of the absolutely adorable warm necessities contributed for both boys and girls.
Donations included:
- 78 Hats (58 purchased & 20handmade)
- 37 pairs of Gloves orMittens
- 15 Hat and Mitten sets
- 6 Hat and Scarfsets
- 139 pairs of Socks for Children orAdults
- 157 pairs of Underwear for Children or Adults The total value of these items was$2,317.
Your generous donations were shared with Calvin East Presbyterian Church, Second Mile Center and Neighborhood House here in Farmington, who will distribute these items throughout the winter to schoolchildren and families in our area.
Many, many thanks for your generosity to our needy brothers and sisters in this extremely cold weather.
Sally Kirsten, PW Vice Moderator for Justice and Peace
Come JOYn us!!
The JOY! Study that meets on Thursday evenings from 7-8 p.m. is resuming its book discussions on January 9, 2020 in the Garden Room (AKA the Parlor).
We will be discussing Life with God: Reading the Bible for Spiritual Transformation by Richard J. Foster. We take a relaxed pace of reading, usually discussing one chapter per week.
This is a great way to increase your understanding of your faith, God and the Bible, and to make some new friends. We are a small group ranging up to about 10 folks. If you have any questions, see/call/email Jan Sell or Sharon Cressman.
All are welcome. Come JOYn us!!
Arts & Archives “Did You Know?”
A Large Wooden Cross hangs in Knox Fellowship Hall. In 1961 the new church building was completed and worship was moved from Knox Chapel (The Barn). The cross was hung in the front of the sanctuary until the “Turn-a-round” and stayed in the sanctuary until the renovation of 2004.
The Large Wood Relief Carving on the wall in Knox Fellowship Hall was created by sculpture Jean Claude Gaugy and given to the church after the terrible riots in Detroit in 1967. The eight Wood Relief Carvings on the walls in the sanctuary were also created by Mr. Gaugy. In 1968 the Parsons family commissioned him to create the reliefs in memory of their daughter Lucinda M Parsons who died at the age of 20. The carvings were created by hand and are considered a “sermon in wood.”
Photo Album:
Congregational Concerns
We keep in our prayers
Names are withheld on the web-version of our FYI. We pray for those who are grieving; sick and suffering; members and friends who are homebound, in nursing homes, and assisted living; and those serving in the military and as first responders.
Congregation News
Kudos:
Nancy Cook was recently recognized by the Farmington Area Goodfellows for “demonstrating outstanding leadership skills, tireless dedication to the spirit of giving back, helping those less fortunate, and supporting the mission of the Farmington Area Goodfellows, ‘No child or senior without a Christmas,’ and from this day forward be known to all as the recipient as the Richard L. Tupper award for 2019 Goodfellow of the Year.”
Expressions of Gratitude
We shall always remember with deep gratitude your comforting expression of sympathy. We are appreciative of the support and prayers at this time. I would like to thank all the volunteers who organized and executed my father’s funeral luncheon. It was perfect and appreciated. In Christ, Judy Tell Nies
To ALL of you at First Presbyterian Church, THANK YOU! The CARES organization gratefully acknowledges your generous gift and continued support. Your hands-on help and supplies for our garden and house clean-up, paint, mulch, etc., are greatly appreciated. In addition, your compassion helping to keep our shelves stocked for our guests – you are “over the top” with your generosity and support to CARES. Please know the contribution will be used to further our mission to meet the needs of our Community. ~Very Sincerely, Todd L Lipa Executive Director, CARES in Farmington Hills
On behalf of all the lives changed by Freedom House Detroit, thank you for your generous gift. With your gift, you have joined a community of supporters who ensure that every survivor who crosses our threshold receives free, comprehensive services. You, through your generosity, enable us to provide those who are yearning to breathe free with everything they need to begin rebuilding their lives. Freedom House Detroit isn’t just a place. It’s a place of the heart, a place of renewal, support, family, and strength – not only for our clients but for our supporters too. At our House, you are home.
With heartfelt gratitude, Deborah Drennan, Chief Executive Officer, Freedom House Detroit
Plastic bag collection ends
Though our Mission Ministry Team, our congregation has been collecting plastic bags for a woman who “knits” them into mats for homeless folks. She has been overwhelmed with donations, beyond her current storage capacity. Until she recruits some additional volunteers to help with this knitting projects, she has ceased collecting of plastic bags. If someone is interested in learning this skill and perhaps leading a group of “knitters” at our church, please contact Nancy Prieskorn.
Check out the Church’s Facebook Page
For those of you who use Facebook, if you have not “liked” our church page, please start by looking up First Presbyterian Church of Farmington and clicking the “like” icon. Once you have “liked” the page you will receive interesting church news. You may have to scroll down to find the original post. You can help the Craft Fair be a success even if you are unable to attend. Please “like” our events AND then “share” them to your timeline! Just remember, Like and Share!
Upcoming Mission Opportunities
Read upcoming mission opportunities for January 2020.
From the Samaritan Counseling Center
The Board Members and Staff of Samaritan Counseling Center (SCC) wish to thank all of the wonderful churches and their congregations who sponsor us throughout the year. Your support is so crucial to our continued success in bringing much-needed mental health assistance to the people of our communities. Thank you for all you do for SCC and our clients!
PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE: Samaritan Counseling Center will now be offering Preparation for Marriage as private sessions on an as-needed basis. The sessions will be led by experienced therapists who will provide 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. These sessions can be scheduled at most of our locations at any time and are two hours long. The fee is $275.00. Please contact SCC’s main office at 248 474-4701 or visit our website, www.sccmich.org, for further information.
