Join us for FALL FEST 2022 on Sunday, September 11

Come enjoy the end of summer and the beginning of autumn at First Presbyterian’s Fall Fest, scheduled to follow worship on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. Boy Scout Troop 179 will be offering a delicious barbecue lunch. Several activities for all ages are in the works. Tell your friends and neighbors to join the fun in this great start to fall. See Fall Fest flyer included here.

 

Pastoral Transition Update #1 – 8/28/2022

First Presbyterian Church Pastoral Transition FAQ Sheet

Did you know …

The average tenure for a full-time pastor is six years.
The average employee tenure is 4.6 years.
It takes the average church 12 to 24 months to find a new pastor.

Last week, Session met with Rev. Michelle James from the Presbytery Committee on Ministry (COM) Team to create this FAQ Sheet to serve as the first in a series of Pastoral Transition Updates. Future updates will be communicated in multiple ways, via Sunday worship services, FYI, emails and hard copies to keep congregational members and friends informed as we move through this process together. For the updates to be recognizable, they will contain this “Pastoral Transition Update” logo.
This is a very important time for the church, please feel free to direct any questions to Session members. As this is the Church of the Open Hands, let’s also be sure to have open hearts.

Yours in Christ,
Dorothy Tait, Clerk of Session

I got a letter in the mail about Pastor Eddie leaving. What happened?

• Pastor Eddie’s letter of August 21 spoke of “fruitful yet sometimes turbulent days of ministry” and “a lot questioning, debating and praying between God and [himself.]” We thank Pastor Eddie for his six years of service and wish peace, grace and happiness to him and Pam as they move forward to the next chapter of their lives. In a similar way, we will take this opportunity to reflect on First Presbyterian’s long history, embrace the challenges of the present, and look ahead to the promise of our future.

While Session is sad to learn of Pastor Eddie’s leaving, we want to reassure the congregation that we are in contact with the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry (COM) and are prepared to lead the congregation through the necessary next steps.

What are the next steps?

• We will plan a farewell celebration of Pastor Eddie’s ministry with us.
• The Session, COM, and Pastor Eddie will negotiate a fair severance package.
• Session will call for a Congregational Meeting in November to dissolve the call between Pastor Eddie and First Presbyterian Church.
• Our Presbytery’s Associate Executive, Charon Barcony, will be in the pulpit the Sunday following Pastor Eddie’s departure.
• Session’s Nurture and Worship Ministry Teams will arrange for clergy and lay leaders who will fill the pulpit until we secure an interim/transitional pastor.
• Session will provide for pastoral care once Pastor Eddie leaves.
• COM will appoint a moderator for Session meetings and the congregational meetings until our interim/transitional arrives.
• Session will write a Transitional/Interim Pastor Job Description and, with the help of COM, will begin a search for qualified candidates.

It is crucial that the boards, committees, and the congregation continue the work to which Christ has called us so that we continue our momentum and serve as a beacon of hope in the community.

What will the Transitional Pastor do?

• Our Transitional Pastor will preach on Sundays, provide pastoral care for the congregation, moderate meetings of Session and the congregation, and help lead us during this interim period.
• We will begin to assess where we are currently and where God is calling us, and through self-study, prayer and trust in God, we will work through the process of calling our next permanent pastor.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Deadline for September FYI is Friday, August 19, 2022

 

From Tom Neal: In 2005, Ruth Azar shared her vision with me to have a safe haven for eastside Detroit youth and families. In 2007, a youth mission group from Delaware helped fix up SMC’s building on Morang Street. It has been a miracle for that area, especially during the pandemic. Thanks to Ruth and the Presbyterian Women of Detroit, it continues to provide hope with a faith-based approach. Your financial support of this work by Ruth, a modern-day saint, will be very much appreciated. Sign up at: www.secondmilecenter.org.

 

September Harvest

Sharon Cressman reported that a whopping 86.5 pounds of produce was delivered to First Presbyterian Church – Pontiac Food Pantry in August!! The food pantry serves about 100 people each Wednesday and the produce goes fast. A big thank-you to Laurel Scott and Alvine Cooper for contributing from their own gardens. We encourage everyone to share of the abundance of their gardens with the food pantry. Please contact Sharon Cressman to coordinate. Let her know, too, if you can help with delivery on Wednesday mornings. Thanks to Karen Linnell and Tom Neal for driving, Mitchell helps with harvest and weeding (he’s the official bean picker!) and Nancy and Dick Cook water each week. Sharon does a bit of everything and keeps it moving. A beautiful team effort from FPCF to benefit the Pontiac Food Pantry!

 

Getting to Know You – Elder MJ Floreno

I suppose my journey to the Presbyterian church began in 1892 when my maternal grandmother was born in Glasgow, Scotland. When she came to America, she brought her faith with her. Unfortunately, she left her large family in 1960 at the age of 68 years as she passed to more life. I’ve always wished I had more time.

My parents were married in a Presbyterian church, and I was baptized in one as well. I believe my mother did that to honor her heritage because, after that, we were never a church-going family. My father who was from Pennsylvania, I believe, belonged to the Church of the Brethren as a young man. I never knew exactly what that meant. I never saw either parent read a Bible, but I believe my dad knew and held to what he had learned along his lifetime. After his passing I found a small, zippered, rather beaten-up looking Bible that he had carried with him while stationed in Burma China during a war.

On my 10th birthday my parents gave me my first Bible. A leather-bound King James, it has a middle section to record dates: birth, death, anniversary and the like. And I did take note of the times that were important in my preteen years. And I carried it to a nondenominational church that I attended for a while. But church wasn’t important to anyone I knew so life carried on without it.

Years passed quickly, some good, some not. In hindsight, which is always 20/20, I know God always had a plan for me and kept His eye on me. I also think he wanted me to “earn” some of the Grace and Mercy he was ready to bestow on me. The struggle was real, but so was my perseverance. I met Paul who was more than willing to explore the Presbyterian church with me when I said I felt something was missing from my life. We became members at St. Paul’s in Livonia and stayed for 15 years. We were active in several capacities and loved our church family. But dissension grew and our Pastor left as the church split apart. I have never felt that church should be an uncomfortable place and, after sticking it out until it was, we left. We remained church-less for several years, shopped around and never found what we lacked…until First Presbyterian of Farmington. We walked in and never left.

It is difficult for me to express what I have gained at FPCF; new experiences, friendships, knowledge, and warmth hardly tell my story. I have begun to learn how to pray real prayers and express gratitude when necessary. I have met people who have become role models for me, and I hope I can continue to grow in my faith and share it with others.

 

Youth United’s 5th Annual Service Experience

What do you get when you put 88 teen volunteers from different faith traditions together at CARES for three days?

Answer: A lot of projects completed, energy spent helping out at CARES, thoughtfulness about people in need, and a better understanding of each other. Those of us who are lucky enough to work with these wonderful kids also feel a lot of hope.

We thank all of you for your support and your prayers.

If you’d like to look through all our photos (of course you do!) you can do so at https://bit.ly/yu2022photos or you can scan the QR code below:

Presbyterian Players are BACK!

 

Presbyterian Players were not able to present their annual Christmas play in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. However, we are planning a December 5, 2022 comeback!

This year’s play features the Nativity story from the point of view of animals in the barnyard.
We need ten actors (each has about 35 lines) who can rehearse Monday evenings starting in early October. (One role is for a child.)

We also need help with costumes, set, props, prompting, sound, and lighting. We are also looking for a pianist and singers for the musical part of the program. For more details, contact Sue Carlson.>

 

JOY Study returns on Tuesdays evenings

In his letters, John expresses delight at believers who are “walking in the truth”: behaving with that integrity which reflects the gospel. In this book by N. T. (Tom) Wright,), “Christians who are just learning about their faith will experience new discoveries and fresh views on life, and seasoned Bible readers will find themselves challenged to reconsider old perspectives.” Scot McKnight, author of The King Jesus Gospel. Join in this Zoom study on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 p.m. by contacting Sharon Cressman.

 

 

Tech Session:  Add the church pictorial directory to your smart phone

Tom Neal and Colleen Tavor will conduct a training on the church’s pictorial Universal Church Directory (UCD) after the worship on Sunday, September 18. This will enable any member with a smart phone to access a photo and contact info on any members. Information is always up to date. Make your life easier! A training session will assist everyone that attends so you will walk out with the UCD on your phone. If you plan to attend, please contact the office (248-474-6170) to receive an access code before the training

Social Justice Book Club – Starting our 3rd Year and our 5th Book

The Social Justice Book Club is starting up again in September after our summer break. Led by Deb Hemmye and Colleen Tavor, we meet by Zoom on the last Monday of each month, 7:00 – 8:30 pm. We have about 17 regular attendees, most from First Presbyterian Church Farmington, but from other parts of the country as well, and even India! We’re in the process of selecting our next book. Please join us! Contact Deb Hemmye or Colleen Tavor for details.

Mission Ministry Delivers

We also delivered hygiene products and clothing items that were collected for the Ruth Ellis Center in June. We received a tour of the facilities and a warm welcome to come back any time.
Let us know if you would like to accompany us on any deliveries. Nothing is more gratifying than to help someone in need.

If you would like to join the Mission Ministry Team, please contact Colleen Tavor.

Crossroads

Sunday, August 14, found 9 people representing First Presbyterian Church of Farmington at Crossroads of Michigan joining in a coalition of people from First Presbyterian Church of Northville and Faith Community of Novi in serving a hot lunch to 400+ people who struggle for enough food, whether they are living in shelters or working minimum wage jobs. We prepared coleslaw, biscuits, grapes, cookies, and cups of lemonade to go with Lee’s fried chicken.

If you missed the opportunity to join us this year, add these dates to your 2023 calendars so you will be on board to join in the fun next year: January 29, May 21, August 27, and November 5.

Many thanks to the FPCF volunteers: Nancy & Ron Prieskorn, Leslie Black, Mike Rogers, Lorrie McVey, Chris and Emily Davis, Colleen Tavor, and her 12-year-old great nephew, Lucas Hale. Lucas was a big hit with the other volunteers and especially the Crossroads clients as he enthusiastically served them drinks with a hearty “All righty” and “Have a nice day now!” He got a lot of smiles that day!

Please plan to join us next year! And bring your kids or grandkids for an experience in helping others in need. Lucas worked hard for 4 hours and can’t wait to do it again next year!

Volunteering can be life-changing for you, your family, and those you help.

Coming Soon! Car Care Class

You may have owned a car for years, but do you know how to check your oil? Or fill the windshield washer dispenser? Or know when your tires need replacing?

We held our first “try-out” of the Car Care Class on Saturday, August 20, and seven participants had a lot of fun together.

With the various participants engaged, it seems that we have a good fit of material matching up with the target audience. We also discovered that team teaching has potential to keep it more interesting.

Watch for the “3 Saturdays” class to be scheduled soon!

This is the first in a “Life Hacks” series that will take place throughout 2023. Many thanks to Karl Cressman and Chris Davis for planning this interesting class!

The Wired Word – Applying the Bible to the Headlines – Join us!

Consider joining our Adult Discussion Class as we apply the Bible to stories in the headlines. It makes for some lively, interesting, and insightful discussions among friends. The class is led by Tom Neal and Rev. Craig Aue.

We meet on Sunday mornings from 9:00 – 10:00 am. You can attend in person in Room 208/210 or by Zoom. Contact Tom Neal for more details and the Zoom link. Many of us join early just to chat and catch up. Please join us! All are welcome!

Congregational News

Elizabeth Schmidt achieves Eagle Scout rank

Elizabeth Schmidt graduated from North Farmington High School in June 2020 with a 4.0+ GPA. She is attending the University of Michigan Dearborn with a full tuition scholarship and plans to major in Psychology. She was a member of the National Honor Society and a member of the Orchestra and the marching band. Elizabeth has been an active member and leader of Scout Troop 179, which meets at our church, and achieved Eagle Scout rank in February. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

Thank you notes