Christmas Eve and year-end services
Podcast Worship Service
Please be aware that we are continuing to record a Sunday podcast weekly. It will be available along with the bulletin after 10:00 a.m. on Sundays on the church website at: ww.farmington-pres.org. On December 6 we will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion virtually, so please be sure to have communion elements with you so they can be blessed and consumed during our worship podcast.
Our website also offers additional spiritual enrichment through the posting of our daily lectionary readings.
Wired Word Adult Education Continues
Join us for The Wired Word, an adult curriculum based on current events. The Adult Study Group, which meets via Zoom, is now gathering on yet another new day and time: Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. Contact Tom Neal, Craig Aue or the church office for information on how to join the group.
Tuesday morning Advent Study continues
Let’s rediscover the significance of Christmas together! Join us for the Advent Book Study with Pastor Eddie Jusino: “Incarnation – Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas” by Adam Hamilton. In Incarnation, the author examines the names of Christ, giving the historical and personal significance of his birth in this four-week study. His parents called him Jesus. But the prophets, shepherds, wise men, and angels addressed him by other names — including Messiah, Savior, and Emmanuel. Join us as we explore the meaning behind these titles, what they tell us about the baby whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, and the significance of that Christ child for our lives today. There is a book resource, videos, exercises, etc. The cost for the book is $12 and can be ordered through the church office. This 75-minute, four-session study will be conducted via Zoom technology on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.
January 2021 FYI Deadline: Wed., Dec. 16
Advent Devotionals
Living Through Unprecedented Times, Daily Advent Devotional, by Jill Duffield
Living Through Unprecedented Times seeks to answer these questions with brief reflections and a prayer for each day of Advent. Jill Duffield, Presbyterian Outlook editor, guides us to become aware of God’s presence in the moment even as we anticipate Jesus’ incarnation, helping us to recognize God’s kairos time within as we work through our challenging chronos time.Copies of the devotional will be automatically provided to everyone on the church FYI distribution list, with digital copies to those who receive email and paper copies to those who receive a paper copy of the FYI.
If you are not on the FYI distribution list, you may request a copy by contacting the church office.
Do Not Be Afraid
A Weekly Advent Devotional, from Illustrated Ministry
Spreading Joy during the Advent Season
Random Chats of Kindness – Spreading Joy during the Advent Season
Who do you usually sit with during the worship service on Sunday morning? Who do you greet before
and after the service? Who do you sit with during our Fellowship time?
When was the last time you chatted with them? If it’s been a while, please give them a call and/or send
them a card or a note. Let them know you miss them, find out how they’re doing during this challenging
pandemic season.
Spread some joy!
Annunciations: Disruption and Invitation Video-Based Advent Study
This Advent study Meets via Zoom on Sundays at 7 pm (Nov. 29 – Dec. 20) and explores the sacred stories of Advent and Christmas through the lens of film: particularly, the films produced by the Story Ministry division of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. These substantive, critically acclaimed films were made in order to honor and share the stories of survivors of disasters and the communities that work for the healing and inclusion of those who experience such events including the Flint water crisis.
The video-based study aims to create a dialogue between the Bible’s sacred stories and these also-holy stories by using brief clips as conversation starters and interweaving them with the biblical narrative and the Advent themes that shape Christian experience.
The study group will meet Sunday evenings at 7 pm via Zoom, led by Colleen Tavor and Deb Jackson Lum. To register, contact Deb Lum.
Mind & Body Techniques for Coping with Stress
Connect & Chat – Church Coffee Hour via Zoom
Adult Study Zoom Meetings now Tuesday evenings
Community Service News
PW Hat and Mitten Tree
Again, this year, PW will help by collecting hats, mittens, underwear and socks for children, teens and adults — handmade and new items are welcome.1. Items can be brought into the church building and placed on the dowel tree near the Information Table in the Narthex during normal business hours.
2. We will place a covered plastic bin (clearly marked) outside the main church entrance where you can place items without entering the building.
3. Or we can come to your home to pick up your donations.The collection time is through December 7. Donations will be distributed through Neighborhood House, Goodfellows, and Second Mile Center. Please call Dale Hawkins or Sally Kirsten for more information and to arrange a contactless pick-up.
CARES Donation Update
We know many of you are always concerned about how CARES is doing. They continue to serve people 4 days a month with approximately 180+ pounds of food put into car trunks by volunteers. Eight months ago we were serving 95-100 people each of those 4 days. Recently the number has grown to 120-125 families each day.
Since most of the food is pre-packed for easy and quick distribution, monetary donations work best at this time. However, people with young children always ask if we have diapers. Up until the second week of November, we did. If you would like to help by donating diapers, they would be very much appreciated! CARES can use diapers in sizes: 4, 5, and 6; Pull-ups, wipes, and formula. You can drop them off at CARES between 9-5 Monday through Friday. You can call or email me and I will pick them up from your front porch or from the portico of the church. ~Thanks, Nancy Prieskorn
Second Mile Giving Opportunities
Presbyterian Women invites you to support holiday outreach to the children and families served by Second Mile Center in Detroit.
Food: There will NOT be a canned food collection this year, but the Center is requesting gift cards from Kroger or checks made out to Second Mile Center in order to purchase turkeys and hams for Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. Please send these to Sue Carlson.
This program will continue as usual. Last year fifteen groups, families, and individuals from our congregation donated large Christmas gift bags to the children at SMC. Each bag includes an outfit, socks and underwear, hats and gloves, and a toy or two (total suggested value about $75). If you would like to receive the name and wish list of a child, let Sue Carlson know. She and Dave will deliver the bags to Ruth Azar the first or second week of December.
News from our Preschool
In November, the Farmington Presbyterian Preschool teachers enjoyed two weeks of in-person learning with our preschoolers! It was so great to see “joy” walk into the building! Some of our families were excited to know their children were socializing and engaged in learning. Some parents decided to continue with the virtual learning. We are a preschool that likes to meet the varied needs of our families.
This year has been a challenge for the teachers and the families; we would love your prayers for strength and resilience! Shortly after we started back to in-person preschool, local COVID cases increased dramatically and the county received an E rating (down from a C rating) which caused the public schools to close. We have teachers that have children enrolled in the public schools which affects availability.
This fall, Georgia Roed taught the children about the church’s butterfly garden. The children planted bulbs and watched the milkweed seeds blow in the wind. The preschoolers love playing and exploring on the grounds of the church.The FPP Board is hopeful for a January reopening, but we know we will be virtual until the new year. The church will include the preschool families in our Advent gift bags! Thanks for assisting the preschool to be a welcoming place introducing a love of learning to children in our community!
Arts & Archives “Did You Know?”
Rev. Richard A. Geiger, 1954-1960 Rev. George Ramsey, 1961-1985
Rev. Dr. Brewster (Budge) Gere, 1987-1998 Rev. Dr. Sue Ellis Melrose, 2000-2014
Rev. James Faile (Transitional Associate Pastor), 2012-2015 Rev. Eddie Jusino, 2016-
Stewardship News
Session Meeting highlights
Annual Meeting scheduled; annual reports due soon
Please be aware that the last bank deposit for contributions for tax year 2020 will be Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. This means contributions must be received in the church office before Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. Any monies received in the mail after these dates will not be counted or deposited until after the end of the year and will be counted as 2021 contributions. Please note these dates so that you will know in advance how to plan your year-end giving.
- Contact Jerry Scheel
- Contact the church office at 248 474-6170 to make your request known.
Numbered envelopes facilitate the speed and accuracy of the data entry process for our offering counters, 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 bank 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.
Congregational Concerns
Note: Our individual prayers are not listed in the e-version of our newsletter to protect the privacy of our members.
Congratulations: To Leslie Moyna on the launch of her new business. On Nov. 24 she opened a booth for her photography at the MI Artisan Market located in the Fun With Fiber store at 12 Mile and Farmington Rd in Farmington Hills. Best wishes for much success, Leslie!
Advent 2020 Activities Update
Welcome to Advent 2020!
“In Advent we find ourselves between memory and hope. We expectantly wait for the One who has already come. We hope for the promised justice of God’s new world, yet we praise God who raised the “righteous branch” to rule with justice and righteousness. We hope for restoration of the afflicted, the tormented, and the grieving, yet we delight that healing comes in Christ. We hope for beating swords into plowshares, yet we rejoice that the Prince of Peace has appeared. We yearn to see the barren deserts of our cities flourish, even while we praise the desert Rose that has bloomed. We dream of the land where lions and lambs live in harmony, yet we acclaim the child born to lead us into that Promised Land.” (from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship).
To learn about Advent 2020 at The Church of the Open Hands, stay tuned for the December Worship Matters with more ideas about how to live out our Advent Theme, Signs of Light — Reasons for Hope.
Advent Book Study
To help us get the most out of Advent, Pastor Eddie will be leading a four-session Zoom study of Adam Hamilton’s book Incarnation—Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas. The Zoom sessions will take place on Tuesdays at 10 AM, starting on November 24 and continuing on December 1, 8, and 15. To get the necessary information to join the Zoom sessions, please contact the church office.
The book can be ordered directly from Cokesbury Press by going to www.cokesbury.com or calling them at 800-672-1789. Our Nurture Team Ministry has also purchased 10 hard-cover copies of the book, and they’re available for $12 in the church office on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sunday Worship Resources —and More!
Although we can’t meet live right now, the Podcast Team will continue to record worship for you to access any time after 10 AM on Sunday morning. Go to www.farmington-pres.org to connect with the latest Podcast and get a copy of the Sunday bulletin.
Want to celebrate Advent a bit more intentionally by reflecting on the readings of the day? You can find the whole list on our website (that’s www.farmington-pres.org, in case you’ve forgotten), or by going to https://www.presbyterianmission.org/wp-content/uploads/Daily-Readings-for-Advent-2020.pdf instead.
A Little Advent Music. No, actually, a Lot.
On the third Sunday of Advent, December 20, we celebrate the special theme of Joy. We change from blue (or purple) candles to pink (or rose) colored ones. We celebrate that we’ve reached the half-way point in our journey to the Manger, and pause to rejoice.
This year’s Advent III is a special time for rejoicing, because the entire service will feature the musical gifts of our talented organist and pianist, Shari Fiore. Rather than give a recital, Shari will be highlighting the different facets of her life in the church at the keyboard — leading hymns, playing solo works on piano and organ, and collaborating with other musical guests.
This year, we are taking advantage of the closeness of Christmas Eve (Thursday, December 24) and the first Sunday after Christmas (December 27) to present the full Christmas story as a special two-part drama presentation with seasonal music.
We’ll use dramatic reading (similar to the old-time “radio dramas” our parents knew) along with a cast of characters and a host of talented guest musical artists performing on harp, violin, viola, cello and bass, along with our own Podcast Music team, to bring the story to life in a fresh and exciting way over the course of these two days (sort of Act One and Act Two).
And, of course, they’ll help to lead us in singing beloved and familiar Christmas carols at both services. It promises to be an unforgettable event that you won’t want to miss!
An Update, and a Shout Out
As you know, our Session has affirmed the decision to have no in-person worship until further notice due to the current rise in coronavirus cases. We expect that this decision will remain in place through the winter months, and at this point, it’s unclear how far it will continue into 2021.
The silver lining in all this is that we will have the time to make a technical transformation happen, and the ability to do it right. For some time, the Worship Ministry Team has been researching the best way to invest in live streaming video equipment for our sanctuary — an investment that will enable us to video record and/or live stream our worship services. It will keep us connected with all our members no matter where we are, particularly during this pandemic when many of us have been restricted in staying home.
In addition, live streaming is an outreach tool, providing a powerful and cost-effective way to reach out and connect ourselves to the larger community, and even reach people beyond the Farmington and Farmington Hills area, such as members who are traveling, snowbirds who are moved away, and military members away from home for extended periods of time.
This cutting-edge technology will allow folks to clearly hear and see our worship: the music we sing, the sermons being preached. It’s interactive: a live stream on the church’s Facebook page will make it possible to comment, ask questions, make prayer requests, and allow viewers to contribute to any of our mission and service opportunities when they are already on the church website.
But none of this would be possible without the expert guidance and hard work of our Communications Committee, including Laura Hedgecock, Lorrie McVey, and especially Chris Ely, who has given hours of his own time in this area of his personal and professional expertise at no charge. Authorized by the Worship Ministry Team, Chris has already started purchasing and beginning installation of the video equipment.
2020 Christmas Poinsettias
Deadline for ordering is Thursday, December 17
Please complete this form and return it to the church office along with your payment. The cost for a red or white eight-inch double Poinsettia plant with gold foil cover is $16 each. Poinsettias are available for you to take home after the video recording of the Christmas Eve and 1st Sunday of Christmas. Contact Eddie Matteson or the church office to arrange to pick up your poinsettia or have it delivered to your home.Please make checks payable to First Presbyterian Church and mark it for poinsettias. For last-minute orders, please contact the office at 248 474-6170 and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
Please PRINT the following information so that it will be published accurately.
NAME: ___________________________________________ PHONE No: (_____)__________________
Number of red poinsettias _______ Number of white poinsettias _______
Amount due to First Presbyterian Church: $ ___________ Payment Enclosed: Yes ____ No ____
In honor of: _____________________________________________________________________________
In memory of: ___________________________________________________________________________
Reminder: How to Find News on Church Activities
Our primary ways of disseminating news and information between the monthly FYIs and weekly eNews distributed via email from the church office are the front page of our website (https://Farmington-pres.org ) and our Facebook page (https://fb.me/FirstPresbyterianChurchofFarmington). If you would like to add your email address to our electronic mailing list, you can do so at http://bit.ly/FPCFoptin.
