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Homecoming Celebration for Rev. Budge Gere on Consecration/Pledge Sunday, Nov. 4

Please join us on Sunday, Nov. 4 to hear Rev. Dr. Budge Gere return to our pulpit, after 20 years. Budge will joyfully preach a stewardship message to our church of the open doors, open minds, open hearts and open hands. We will also celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. After the worship service, please join us for a delicious complimentary meal in Knox Fellowship Hall. Help us spread the word to all those who may have worshiped here when Budge was our pastor, from 1987-1998.

Giving to others is such a joy. Your gift matters – it matters to you as the giver, and to the church, which utilizes it as a resource for mission. Please keep First Presbyterian Church of Farmington in your prayers as we, together, move towards discerning what gifts we will make in the coming years. Thank you!
Stewardship Team: Nancy Prieskorn, Jerry Shield, Irene Sharpe, Sally Kirsten, Jan Dennison

All Saints’ Day celebrated Sunday, Nov. 4

On Sunday, Nov. 4, we will observe All Saints Day during worship. All Saints’ Day is a universal festival of the church. This festival day directs our attention to the richness of Christian history and the varied experiences of the grace of God by lifting up the lives of the saints. All Saints Day celebrates all the people of God, living and who have moved to “More Life,” who together form the mystical body of Christ. Below are the names of the members and friends of First Presbyterian Church of Farmington who have been confirmed or baptized or have “Moved from this Life to More Life” in this past year.  At this service we will remember them in our prayers, and we give thanks for their lives.

Deadline for articles for the December FYI is Wednesday, Nov. 15!

Upcoming Events and Mission Opportunities

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Check out Men’s Saturday Breakfasts

Saturday, Nov. 3 – Outing to Stahl’s Automotive Museum in New Baltimore. The Stahl Museum has over 80 cars on display ranging from the 1886 Daimler prototype to the muscle cars of the 1960s with special emphasis on the great cars of the 1930s and 1940s, a period of style and constant evolution. It’s also home to a number of restored and operational automated musical instruments, gas pump, signs and memorabilia. We will carpool from the church parking at 10AM.  If you are interested, we will meet for breakfast at Leo’s Coney Island at 9: 00 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 8 – Men’s Presbytery Communion and Advent Breakfast at Northbrook Presbyterian in Beverly Hill. The keynote speaker is John Gallagher, Detroit Free Press Senior Business Columnist. In addition to writing for the Free Press for 29 years, he has written numerous books on urban development include: “Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City”, “Revolution Detroit” and “Great Architecture of Michigan.” He also was co-author of “AIA Detroit: The American Institute of Architects Guide to Detroit Architecture” and “How Detroit Went Broke.”  Cost is $15.  See Tom Neal for tickets by Dec. 4.  We will carpool from the church parking lot at 7:15 a.m.

Nov 10 Craft Fair offers early shopping opportunity

On Saturday, Nov. 10 from 10 :00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., stop by Knox Hall to shop for unique and all homemade gifts of every type. These will become family memories knowing they were bought out of love. We will also have a wonderful bake sale and sell pizza for lunch. Anyone willing to volunteer to work two-hour shifts or bake are welcome. Let’s come out to support our church and crafters. For more information, please see Deborah Draper.

Fall Clean Up is Nov. 10

It’s once again time to get out those garden tools, trimmers, saws, rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows and gloves for our Fall church property clean-up!  Bring a rake and help spruce up the church grounds on Saturday morning, Nov. 10! We will start at 9:00 a.m. with some cider and donuts and finish at noon. Then you can stop by the Craft Fair afterward to do some early Christmas shopping!) This is a great opportunity to make some new church friends and ensure that our church grounds look great and are ready for the upcoming winter!  If you have questions, please see Rick Fuller.

Boy Scouts’ popular Christmas Wreath Sale on Nov. 18

The Boy Scouts of Troop 179 will hold their annual Christmas Wreath sale before and after church on Sunday, Nov 18. The 12″ wreaths (typical front door size) is $25, and the slightly larger 18″ wreaths are $35.  Additionally, cedar roping is available for $25 for a 25′ length.  Larger wreaths may be ordered.  If you are unable to be at church on Nov. 18, contact Lisa Hayes, and she’ll have a scout deliver your order.

Interfaith Thanksgiving Community Service on Nov. 19

C.A.R.E.S. of Farmington Hills is pleased to be hosting this year’s annual interfaith community worship service on Monday, Nov. 19 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. It will be preceded by a Thanksgiving Community Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Representatives from a variety of houses of worship and community groups affiliated with the Farmington Area Interfaith Association will be participating. Be sure to join us for this inspiring multi-cultural worship service and help us welcome worshippers from throughout our community.

Thanksgiving Baskets

We are collecting for both Second Mile Center (inner city Detroit) and C.AR.E.S. (local giving) on Nov. 4 and 11.  Take your choice or give to both!

PW will accept food donations for the families assisted by Second Mile. Requested items: elbow macaroni, canned cranberry sauce, yams, green beans and corn, corn meal, brownie or cake mix, and frosting. Place in blue tubs near the coat racks by the kiosk.  To help with perishable items, write a check to SMS or donate a Kroger or Sam’s Club gift card. Sue Carlson is collecting these.

On the same dates, the Mission Committee will collect for C.A.R.E.S. of Farmington Hills. The items are the same as those above, with the addition of stuffing, potatoes, and gravy.  Checks to C.A.R.E.S to cover perishable items may be given to Karen Linnell.  $20 buys a turkey and $40 buys the entire meal.  Look for clear plastic tubs marked CARES.

THANKS-GIVING

“I ALWAYS WANTED TO HELP DO THAT.”     HERE’S YOUR CHANCE!!!
Join fellow Presbyterians as they prepare Thanksgiving dinner for 2,000 homeless and needy persons.

WHEN & WHAT:                                                                     
Monday, November 19 – 8am-5pm, prepare turkeys for cooking
Tuesday,  November 20 –  8:30-1:30 pm, prepare side dishes, set tables
Wednesday,  November 21   11:45-3:45 pm, carve 106 turkeys, cut desserts,

HOW:   If you can donate 2 hours, please call Dawn Hicks at 313-443-0565 and leave a message.  She will call you back when she gets home from work.  She hopes to hear from you by November 15.  Donations of dinner rolls and pies are welcomed.

Advent Devotional Study Starting on Nov 27

Come and join Pastor Eddie on Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m., in the Library for four weeks and explore the meaning of Christmas through the lens of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Adam Hamilton’s book and video study Not A Silent Night: Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem.

No one was closer to Jesus than Mary, and no one shaped his life more than she. Beginning with what Scripture and early church tradition tell us about the end of Mary’s life, then moving backward, the four sessions of this study will recount Mary’s story, ending on Christmas with the birth of Jesus. Eight copies of the book are available in the Church Office at $8.00 each. Get an early start and get your copy. Additional copies can be ordered. Save the dates: Tuesday mornings beginning Nov. 27, and continuing Dec. 4, 11 and 18.

Praying in our Own Words

This Advent, we’re going to pray as a church family using “Daily Devotions for Busy Christians,” a booklet of short meditations based on the readings for each day of Advent. It’s our very own, written entirely by us, and we’re thrilled to report that all of the authors needed are on board. A packet of “how-to” guidelines has been sent to each author; if you didn’t get yours, see Dr. J. Our plan is to share this booklet with the broader church through our website and Facebook page — and to publicize it in the secular press as well. Please keep our authors and this exciting project in your prayers as they break open God’s word for all of us.

Hanging of the Greens December 1

We invite family, friends and neighbors to help us decorate the church and prepare the church, our hearts and lives for the Advent season. Join us from 10 a.m. – 12 noon on Saturday, Dec. 1 for our annual Hanging of the Greens, including light refreshments and good fun!

Christmas Gathering is Dec. 3

Mark your calendar for Monday, Dec. 3 at 7:00 p.m. for our annual Christmas Gathering. “Joy, Love, and Praise” will feature dessert in Knox Hall followed by a musical Christmas program in the sanctuary. The evening finale will be a play, “Christmas Unwrapped.” It’s a comedy with a message (of course!) presented by Presbyterian Players. PW is your host for this popular annual event, which is open to all, including guests. Tickets are $3.00.

It’s Hat and Mitten Tree time! Nov 18 – Dec 9

With cold weather just around the corner, it is time for our Hat and Mitten Tree collection. From November 18 through December 9, we will be collecting: hats, mittens, underwear and socks (no scarves, please) for needy children right here in our own community. (These items are distributed through Neighborhood House and the Goodfellows.)

We will also be collecting adult sized hats, scarves and gloves, as there is an ever-present need for these items too during the cold months; distribution through Calvin East Presbyterian Church and Goodfellows. Your new items should be placed on or below the dowel tree in the Narthex. Please leave price tags on items. Thank you in advance for your generosity. If you have questions, please contact Sally Kirsten, PW Vice Moderator for Justice and Peace.

Neighborhood House Seeks Volunteers

The Farmington-Farmington Hills Neighborhood House is in need of additional phone volunteers. Neighborhood House is a local non-profit charitable organization affiliated with the Farmington Area Goodfellows that provides assistance to needy families, children, 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. Interested? Contact the Neighborhood House office at 248-871-2848.

Congregational News and Concerns

Stephen Ministry – Another Caring Resource

Do you have a friend, neighbor, coworker, or relative who has suffered a loss or is going through a difficult time? Here’s a great way you can help them — tell them about our Stephen Ministry! Stephen Ministers have received special training to provide high-quality, confidential, one-on-one, Christian care to hurting people. Stephen Ministers meet weekly with their care receivers to listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support. (Males are matched with males, and females are matched with females.) The caring relationship lasts for as long as the person needs care. It’s free, and it’s a powerful way you can help a hurting friend. To learn how to connect someone you know with a Stephen Minister, talk with Craig Aue, Josh Archey or Helen Thomas. Our Stephen Ministers are there to care!

Caregiving Ministry

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our Meet & Greet after church on Sunday, Oct.  It was great to see so many people attend. During the fellowship time, many of you completed the pink emergency form that was on the table.  Some asked to take them home to complete. If you haven’t returned it yet, please turn it in to the church office at your earliest convenience. You may drop it in the offering plate as another option. Thank you!!

A Sound Investment

Want to know what shared ministry looks like? It looks like this: in October, the Worship Ministry Team proposed a comprehensive upgrade to our 14-year-old sound system that will eliminate dead spots in the sanctuary, bring clear, vibrant sound to the Narthex and the Nursery, and overhaul the audio in Knox Hall. Developed by Randy Wright—an experienced audio technician with deep roots in the community — the Worship Ministry Team agreed to fund just over half of the $12,000 cost. For the balance, Elders Eddie Matteson and Dot Basmaji brought the proposal to Session, where (after questions by Session members), it won unanimous approval. Why? Because we believe that worship is central to who we are and what we do. Congratulations to everyone involved!

We keep in our prayers

Names withheld from the web-version of our newsletter.

We pray for those sick and suffering, those that are grieving, those home-bound or residing in assisted-living facilities, and those serving in the military or as first responders.

Financial Update through Sept. 30

The Session is pleased to provide the following year-to-date financial information for our church:
Total income received:   $337,277.86
Total expenses:              $334,065.49
Year to-date balance:     $    3,212.37 surplus

October Session Highlights

At its October 17, 2018 meeting:

• The Session authorized the use of $5,360 from Memorials/Tributes fund to be used for sanctuary and Knox Hall sound system improvements.Additional funds will be used from the Worship Ministry Restricted funds.
• Session approved the Faith in Action Phase II grant application to the Presbytery of Detroit.The grant, if awarded, will help to further the Farmington Youth United activities at C.A.R.E.S. of Farmington Hills.
• Session approved the updated job description for the Minister of Music, formerly known as the Director of Music.All terms and conditions of employment for Dr. Gerald Custer remain unchanged.
• Session approved a request that First Presbyterian Church of Farmington host the September 24, 2019 Presbytery of Detroit meeting.

Thanks

Dear All Our Wonderful Friends at First Pres: Thank you over and over again for your generous donation. The summer months are difficult for a few reasons. Families are on vacation and donations are down. Adding to that is the fact that Department of Human Services, Salvation Army, Oakland, Livingston Human Service Agency, Lighthouse do not assist with evictions or utility shut offs because summer is considered a non-crisis time. So they do not provide assistance until November. Sot it’s St. Vincent DePaul, Neighborhood House and individual churches like you guys. Yay! You guys. Thanks to you, we truly are a community of neighbors helping neighbors. Together we can be proud that Farmington and Farmington Hills is known as a compassionate community.
With All of our Gratitude, Loretta Zahn, Farmington Neighborhood House

Preschool Scholarship:  Our church provides a partial scholarship to a student in need at our on-site preschool. Here is the thank you note from the adoptive mother of this year’s scholarship recipient:
Oh, Wow!!! We are overwhelmed and our hearts are simply overflowing with gratitude for this amazing blessing! Thank you so much for your time, efforts and considerations and for such a wonderful, kind, generous gift for [our daughter]…
you, all, are so appreciated… she deserves the best and we believe in our hearts that FPP IS the best–perfect for [our daughter] and our family and so many others, too. Having her in such a wonderful welcoming, joyful Christ-centered atmosphere with such loving, warm, caring, talented and supportive teachers and staff has provided such blessings to her and our family in so many important ways…We are so sincerely grateful! We are looking forward to another fun, enriching year of learning and growth together with you, all; thank you!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

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 including notice of our Craft Fair, which has been posted as an event. 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” the event AND then “share” it to your timeline!  Just remember, Like and Share!