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Holy Week services and Easter worship
The Worship Ministry Team wants to remind you of our upcoming Holy Week Special Worship Services and welcomes you to invite family and friends to join us:
Sunday, March 25 – Palm Sunday Drama @ 10:00 a.m. Designed by the Creative Worship Team featuring John the Disciple, a Pharisee, Mary of Bethany and a Beggar Woman, watch as Jesus makes His way into Jerusalem to face His destiny of the Cross that carries us into Maundy Thursday.
Thursday, March 29 – Taizé Maundy Thursday @ 7:00 p.m. Jesus’ last Passover Meal with His disciples turns into our ritual of Holy Communion. Bring your own candle as we wash each other’s hands, serve each other communion and encourage each other in Taizé songs of hope.
Friday, March 30 – Good Friday @ 12 noon An ecumenical service with our sister churches of the Farmington Area Interfaith Association, hosted by St. John’s Lutheran, 23225 Gill Road, Farmington Hills 48335.
Sunday, April 1 – Easter / Resurrection Day @ 10:00 a.m. Our Chancel Choir and instrumentalists lead us into our celebration our Lord’s defeat of life over death in song, drama and the Word proclaimed. Join us afterwards for an Easter brunch prepared by our own Matteson family and an Easter Egg Hunt for our children!
Sunday, April 1- Easter Taizé Prayer Service @ 6:30 p.m. Relax in the glow of candlelight and the meditative songs of Taizé as we contemplate our Lord’s greatest gift to us.
Join us for Easter brunch and an Easter Egg hunt
A buffet brunch will be served following the 10:00 a.m. worship service and everyone is invited! Brunch will consist of egg casseroles, pancakes, sausage and fruit. There will also be an Easter egg hunt for children and youth after worship. If you can help with set-up or clean-up, please contact Eddie Matteson. Join us for this family-focused Easter celebration and feel free to invite a neighbor or friend.
One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) donations support ministries for disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people in our country and throughout the world find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities.
The OGHS offering will be received on Palm Sunday, March 25 and Easter Sunday, April 1. Please use the designated envelope in your offering envelopes box or in the pew racks, or simply write OGHS on the memo line of your check.
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 11
Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed on Saturday, March 10, or you’ll be an hour late for church next Sunday, March 11!
Deadline for April FYI is Thursday, March 22
Nurture (formerly Christian Education) News and Events
New Member Orientation
What does it mean to be in relationship with one another at our church? How do you take the next step in becoming an active member of our family of faith? Join Pastor Eddie and other church leaders for lunch and conversation immediately following worship on either March 11 or April 15, in room 207 (upstairs).
Get familiar with our church’s DNA – our history, its mission, vision, core values – and learn why being a member of our covenant of faith is so important to your spiritual and faith formation. This is a family friendly event where children are welcome. Child care will be available after the meal. Please email the Nurture Team ([email protected]) or call the church office (248-474-6170) to let us know if you plan to attend, so we can prepare enough materials and food.
Upcoming Events and Mission Opportunities
Mozart Requiem Mass comes to First Pres March 16
Thistle Rose Academy of Arts’ Community Choir will present this rich and beautiful work that encompasses a host of human emotions. Unfinished at the time of his death, this was Mozart’s final musical gift to posterity. Performances are at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17, with a 3:00 p.m. Saturday matinee. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door; cash or credit card accepted.
Orchard Lake Philharmonic returns March 23
Under the director of Norman A. Logan and now in its 11th season, the Orchard Lake Philharmonic will present Overtures to Spring on Friday, March 23 in the First Pres sanctuary. Two performances are planned: a matinee at 3:00 p.m. ($5 per person) and an evening concert at 7:30 p.m. (free, with donations gratefully accepted). This is a perfect opportunity to introduce friends and neighbors to our beautiful sanctuary.
PWPD Retreat is March 24
All women are invited to attend the Presbyterian Women – Presbytery of Detroit March 24 retreat. The Saturday retreat “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The keynote speaker/singer is Renee Warman. The fee is $30 which includes lunch. Pick up a brochure from the PW bulletin board in Knox Hall or contact Sally Kirsten. Registration deadline is March 14. The PWPD retreat is always a day of renewal, drawing the participants closer to God, giving them time and space to embrace one another and contemplate as women of faith. Contact Sue Carlson if you need a ride or are interested in information about a scholarship to attend.
Neighborhood House’s Cupboard is bare!
We are collecting paper products for Neighborhood House the first two weeks in March. We hope you can help by bringing paper towels, toilet paper, tissues and other paper products to church on the first two Sundays in March.
Neighborhood House Needs Phone Volunteers
Neighborhood House is helps needy families and individuals within our local community with help paying rent and utility bills, food from its food pantry, counseling services referrals, and referrals to other resources in the area that can provide help to those in need. Training will be provided to the phone volunteers, and the volunteer’s phone time will be tailored to fit the volunteer’s schedule and availability.
Volunteering is easy with phone calls automatically forwarded to the volunteer’s phone (no information of any kind about the volunteer or their phone number is identified) when no one is in at the Neighborhood House office to take calls. Phone volunteers take down basic information from the calls they receive and forward this to the Neighborhood House Client Support Specialist who then follows up on the phone call. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions about volunteering, please contact the Neighborhood House office at 248-871-2848.
Volunteering at Hillside Elementary
On Tuesday, Feb. 13, I went to Country Bowling Lanes in Farmington Hills. I went there to cheer on Mrs. Hale’s students from Hillside Elementary School. They are a delightful group of ten special needs children. I began volunteering there in October and go once a week to help in the classroom. I usually work one-on-one with the students on reading or math. This week, instead of going to the classroom, I joined them on a field trip bowling with the other Special Ed. students in the Farmington District.
What a delight it was to see them! They were so excited to be there and it warmed my heart when I heard them say “Look, Mrs. Caito is here!” There were spares, strikes and gutter balls (even with “gutter guards” on the lanes). They didn’t mind…they were having fun, laughing and encouraging each other. They had a great time bowling and enjoyed pizza afterwards.
I have met some incredible teachers and support staff at Hillside. All are caring and dedicated people. All the children I have met have been terrific!! Both Mrs. Hales and students made me feel welcome from the first day. This is my first year volunteering there and it won’t be my last. I am so happy that our church has partnered with Hillside.
Lois Caito
Congregational Concerns
Easter Flower Orders are due by Sunday March 18
Easter flowers order form — All orders are due by Sunday, March 18
Place your order for Easter lilies, tulips, and/or azaleas (all in 6-inch pots with foil cover) by completing this form and placing it in the offering plate or returning it to the Church Office along with your payment. Plants may be taken after the 10:00 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. worship service or left for delivery to a homebound member.
I / We wish to donate the following plant(s) for decorating the church on Easter Sunday, April 1.
Please use the following wording in the bulletin:
In honor of ___________________________________
name of person(s)
In memory of _________________________________
name of person(s)
Given by ____________________________
I Would Like To Order The Following Number Of Plants:
_____ Red Tulip plant – $10 each
_____ Pink Azalea plant – $19 each
_____ Easter Lily plant – $11 each Total $ ________ included with order
Name_________________________________________________________
Phone ________________________________________________________
Presbyterian Women welcomes you to a March meeting
All of our Presbyterian Women Circles at First Pres are open to guests and new members. These small groups offer fellowship, friendship, support and spiritual growth, as well as opportunities for outreach. Some of the Circles do the PW bible study and others also include book study. Many women in our church consider their Circles to be an important part of their lives. The Circles are all very welcoming and would love to have a few additional women join them. Contact PW Moderator Sally Kirsten or any of the Circle leaders noted in parentheses below. There is also information on the PW bulletin board in Knox Hall, and in the annual report. There is no obligation, and you are encouraged to visit more than one Circle if you like.
Thursday, March 8: Deborah Circle (Anne Fuller) meets at 10:00 a.m. in Knox Hall.
Tuesday, March 13: ACTS Circle (Marcia Van Hamme) meets at 9:30 a.m. in the parlor.
BETH Circle (Ruth France) meets at noon in the church
Phoenix Circle (Nancy Cook) meets at 7:00 p.m. in homes. (Call for location.)
Tuesday, March 20: Lydia Circle meets at 7:15 p.m. in the parlor.
Stephen Ministry in Action
A friend’s family dog recently died. She told me her son wanted to plan a memorial service for the dog and wanted to know what I thought. I said “Absolutely, let him plan a service!” Often, one of the first times a child goes through the grieving process is when they deal with the loss of a pet. This is like losing a member of the family for them (and for adults, as well!) There are many things that families can do to help grieve the loss of a pet.
- Talk about the pet.
- Have a memorial service for the pet.
- Frame a favorite picture or create a collage.
- Plant a tree or shrub in memory of the pet.
- Donate to an animal shelter.
Grieving hurts but it is important that your child knows that it is a natural process. As you provide acceptance of their feelings, they will see that everything they are feeling is okay.
Lois Caito
(Are you interested in becoming a Stephen Minister or a Stephen Leader? If you have any questions regarding this ministry, talk to Pastor Eddie, Helen Thomas or Lois Caito.)
Caregiving Team Cluster Leaders gathering
In an effort to enhance and improve the Caregiving Ministry initiative, the Caregiving Ministry Team is planning a follow-up meeting for cluster leaders. This will be a chance to touch base with other cluster leaders, see what is working well for them, what areas need to be fine-tuned or tweaked, and what challenges have arisen.
Cluster Leaders, please mark your calendar for a short meeting on Sunday, March 18 after worship. We will meet upstairs in Room 208/210. Please grab a cup of coffee and a snack at the Hospitality Time in Knox Fellowship Hall then and join us about 11:30 a.m. for a short discussion about the program.
We know not every leader can make this meeting. If you are unable to attend, please share with us your successes and your concerns via email, telephone or in person at church before March 18. We thank you all again for participating in this meaningful program.
The Caregiving Ministry Team:
Mickey Seiler, Sally Kirsten, Helen Thomas, Lois Caito, Charlene Diehl
College Students, Military Personnel Contact Information Requested
The Deacons would like to maintain contact with our college students and military personnel. Parents, friends, please contact Charlene Diehl with addresses, email or any other information available.
February Session Meeting Highlights
At its February 21, 2018 meeting, the Session:
- Changed the April mid-month Communion Sunday from April 15 to April 22, 2018.
- Endorsed Josh Archey as a candidate for Commissioned Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church.Deb Jackson Lum will be his liaison with Session.
- Approved submission of a $1,000 Faith In Action grant proposal to the Presbytery of Detroit to create a 3-5 day experience for middle school students from all of the religious organizations in the Farmington Area Interfaith Association to celebrate the commonalities in all of our faiths — to serve those in need — through a service project at C.A.R.E.S. this summer.
We keep in our prayers
Names withheld from the web-version on our newsletters.
We pray for the grieving. We hold in our prayers those who are ill or suffer from an injury,
members who are homebound, in nursing homes, and assisted living, and those serving in the military.
About the FYI and Website
FYI is a long-standing part of the First Presbyterian tradition, whether it be in print or digital format. However, maintaining adequate content for the edition can no longer be solely the responsibility of church staff. If you have any announcement or information to share via FYI and / or the church’s website, here’s how to get it in the right hands: Submit items for the FYI to Karen Spica at the church office ([email protected]) and items for the website to Laura Hedgecock. And please do so by the designated deadline for each month’s distribution. The church’s Technology & Communications Committee has adopted this policy in an effort to ease the burden of event coordination. If you have any questions, contact Chris Davis at [email protected].
Congratulations and Thank You Messages
TRIPLE KUDOS to Emily and Chris Davis for organizing, schlepping, captaining, encouraging, solving, hosting (and a whole long list of additional verbs) our guests from South Oakland Shelter (SOS) in January! The SOS Committee met in mid-February to look at what went well and what could be improved in preparation for our 12th year of hosting next January. All agreed that Chris and Emily are the best!! And all of the other folks from First Pres, GLRO Toastmasters, the Greater Farmington Chamber of Commerce and the community were awesome volunteers too! Karen Linnell
THANK YOU, S.O.S. VOLUNTEERS: Nearly 100 volunteers logged more than 1,000 hours of work in January assisting 35 guests as part of South Oakland Shelter’s stop at First Pres. This annual labor of love would not be possible without the assistance of anyone who cooked a meal, donated a pair of socks, brought in a therapy dog, moved a mattress, contributed money, offered a prayer or just offered a warm smile for those who need it most. First Pres continues to be a leader in the SOS rotation. Give yourselves a pat on the back for all you’ve done … you deserve it! Chris & Emily Davis
CLASSROOM CLOSET CLEANUP: Kudos to Emily Davis and Marcia Van Hamme for the cleanup and organization of closets in the classroom wing. Over time, these hideaways had fallen into a state of disarray. They’re now stocked, organized and back in working order. Please respect their efforts by keeping the closets neat and tidy.
Dear Friends: Thanks for you good wishes and Christmas greetings. I wish for you overwhelming goodness in the new year. Warmly, Rev. Harold Ellens
Thank you: Many thank yous to the congregation and staff at First Presbyterian Church of Farmington for their expressions of care and concern with calling cards and cookies. All very much appreciated. May the Christmas spirit last all year for you and your family & friends. I will never forget your kindness. God bless you. Sally Kempf
Thank you for your generous gifts, donations and prayers. Ecumenical Theological Seminary so appreciated everyone who has support our work in so many different ways. We thank you for your continuing support. We are here to serve you, and we consider it a blessing that you have chosen to partner with us in this good work. Rev. Dr. Kenneth E. Harris, President
Your generosity provides warmth. On behalf of Operation Common Good and the Farmington / Farmington Hills Education Foundation Board of Trustees, thank you for your generous contribution of $900 for winter jackets. And a special thank you for organizing the holiday gifts for the FPS refugee family. There were lots of tears and smiles because of your generosity. Thank you for making OCG the recipient of your donation and helping us to help the children in our school community.
Mrs. Hatty Ligon, Homeless Coordinator, & Teresa Barrick Homeless Liaison Assistant
Farmington Public Schools
Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeastern Michigan
SCC invites you to this workshop:
Preparation for Marriage Workshop
This workshop, led by experienced leaders, 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, April 21, 2018
TIME: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
LOCATION: Nardin Park UMC, 29887 W. 11 Mile Road, Farmington Hills
FEE: $225 per couple. A $125 deposit is required at registration
Please contact SCC’s main office at (248) 474-4701 to register. For further information, please visit SCC’s website at www.sccmich.org.
