Worshipful Lent Outlook
When does Lent start in 2022? Glad you asked because Lent is on the horizon.
We are on the cusp of another season of Lent as we journey, again through the seasons of the church year. If you are wondering what Lent is all about or would benefit from a reminder, the season of Lent can be summed up by saying it is centered around baptism — through which we are joined “with the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
For those new to the faith, Lent is a time of preparation for baptism. For those already baptized, Lent is a time of reflection on both the promises made to us and the promises we have made at our baptism. With this reflection, Lent is an opportunity for us to renew and refresh ourselves in our baptism; in both sets of promises. Lent is a 40-day journey towards Easter (not including Sundays) where we engage in practices or disciplines which prepare us for or help us re-commit to living out our baptisms. Among these disciplines is Ash Wednesday’s – the Imposition of the Ashes – service, personal devotions, and either fasting from something for a time, or considering adding time for prayer and /or community service. The purpose of each of these disciplines is a centering into what it means to be baptized and how we live in light of our baptism.
This Lenten season will mark the third year since the world changed in response to the global pandemic of COVID-19. None of us never imagined this virus would overstaying its welcome, yet here we are.
Following you’ll find a calendar of events, activities, and study groups to help you navigate this liturgical season:
Lenten Study with Pastor Eddie – “Lent in Plain Sight – A Devotion Through Ten Objects” 
Meets Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the library. The study will continue every Tuesday through April 12 and it’s not too late to join in. There is one book available in the Church Office – cost is $10.00. This Lenten devotional study draws readers attention to ten ordinary objects that Jesus would have encountered on his way to Jerusalem: dust, bread, the cross, coins, shoes, oil, coats, towels, thorns, and stones.
HOLY WEEK
Palm/Passion Sunday– Sunday, April 10 at 10:00 a.m. – This is the celebrated entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem through the eyes of the three Marys. By the end of that week, Jesus was betrayed and crucified. Palm/Passion Sunday invites us to be the unique person God has created us to be regardless of how the pressure of family, friends, and society might try to crucify us. “We are not here to conform to the world. We are here to transform the world,” (Romans 12:2).
Tenebrae, Maundy Thursday, The Service of the Shadows and the Lord’s Supper April 14 at 7:00 p.m. is a series of readings, short meditative songs and silent reflection and prayers to help us enter more deeply into the meaning of Christ’s Last Supper. This is the night of darkness before the world changed. Not only for the disciples, but also for all of us. Allow the text and music to draw you into the action and events that led to the actual crucifixion, to become more aware of the events and actions in your own life, and our relationship with Christ. We will also celebrate the ritual of handwashing, as a symbol of Christ’s foot washing of the disciples, and the Lord’s Supper. If you will be participating via livestream, please make sure you have a piece of bread and cup of juice with you along with a bowl of water and a hand towel and, if you will, join us in lighting the Christ Candle.
Tenebrae – Good Friday – The Service of the Nails, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. The term “Good” is derived from an obsolete word to mean pious holy. The Service of the Nails is a series of readings, responses, short meditative songs, silent reflection and prayer designed to help us enter more deeply into the meaning of Good Friday. The drama in this service comes not so much from the progressive scripture readings but from the actions called at each scripture reading where everyone is invited to take a nail from a basket and approach a life-size wooden cross and pound a spike into the Cross. The pounding sound of the spike will remind us of our own brokenness as victims and perpetrators of sin, but also of our need for the healing power of God’s amazing grace and redemptive love offered through the cross.
Easter/Resurrection Day & Holy Communion, April 17 at 10:00 a.m. In a world yearning for good 
news, what a wonderful spirit-filled way to raise and shine with family and friends singing, praying, and giving thanks to God for the gift of hope, peace, joy, and love. Pascha [or Easter] is the central event, the time of transformation, of becoming a resurrected people, God’s new people as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Easter is only understood in the eating from the Bread of Life and drinking from the Cup of Grace. On this Sunday of all Sundays, Pascha, we celebrate our transformation as a new people. When Christ rose from the grave, death and all other “principalities and powers” that seek to entomb God’s will were forever defeated. On Easter we glimpse a new landscape — the age to come — and experience a sense of holy awe at the significance of the resurrection for human life. Join us and be part of this new season and beginnings. If you will be participating via livestream, please make sure you have a piece of bread and cup of juice with you and, if you will, join us in lighting the Christ Candle.
Save the Date for New Membership class
The last couple years have been .. different for churches. We’ve weathered the storm and are still here .. and growing! Many of you have expressed an interest in joining this Body of Christ as a member of First Presbyterian Church of Farmington. We’re pleased that you have become a part of the Church of the Open Hands family and now want to make it official by joining our membership.
We are excited to announce that a New Membership class will be held on Saturday, April 2, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. in Room 208/210. You’ll have an opportunity to hear the FPCF story and tell us yours. Please contact Karen Spica if you plan to attend (248-474-6170 or [email protected]) so we can have plenty of refreshments. If you are unable to attend this new membership session, we’ll be planning another one in May.
Elder/Deacon Training Part 3
Focus: Parting the Sea of Our Collective Anxiety:
Sharing God’s Grace in the Traumas of Our Lives
Saturday, March 26, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
Together we will look at our collective experience of trauma through the lens of the wilderness and how God is working to carry us through layers of grief and conflict to claim emerging hope. This is especially for leaders in congregations who have gone through transitions and other challenges in these last two years. We will be walking together through these necessary leadership skills for ministry in 2022.
All are welcome!
This workshop will be led by Rev. Paul Rhebergen and Rev. Dr. Jan Nolting Carter. Paul and Jan are the Lead Teachers for the Art of Transitional Ministry Program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary where they have innovated both the curriculum and the class experience for Weeks 1 and 2 of The Art of Transitional Ministry. They are currently developing a co-hort based Advanced Transitional Ministry experience that will begin in the Fall of 2022 and continue to imagine ways to share transitional ministry experiences with curious audiences and conversation partners.
Registration Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvc-mvrj4oGdd8vL_bI2O_0CpHUVb834sj
All events sponsored by Congregational, Development, and Transformation Team
One Great Hour of Sharing
During the season of Lent, we celebrate that God connects with us through Jesus’ resurrection and connects us with “those who have least” — that’s how Matthew 25 puts it — and that’s what One Great Hour of Sharing is all about. Connecting. Our gifts provide relief from natural disasters, food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed.
Typically received during the season of Lent, each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing supports efforts to relieve hunger through the Presbyterian Hunger Program, promote development through the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People, and assist in areas of disaster through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
This Lenten season, please give generously to One Great Hour of Sharing.
Virtual Event
Holocaust Survivor – Irene Miller to give a face to the darkest chapter of human history, to promote tolerance and diversity.
About this event
Irene Miller, a Holocaust survivor, author, speaker and educator will take you on a survival journey little written and known about. You will sleep in the winter under an open sky on the no man’s land: you will freeze in a Siberian labor camp where the bears come to your front door. In Uzbekistan, you will live on boiled grass or broiled onions, and shiver with malaria. You will spend years in orphanages. When this is over you will wonder how a child with this background grows up to become a positive, creative, accomplished woman with a joy of living and love to share.
Hosted by the OCC Highland Lakes Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee.
JOB OPENING ANNOUNCEMENT
Office Administrative Assistant (part-time)
First Presbyterian Church of Farmington, located at the corner of Farmington and Eleven Mile Roads in Farmington Hills, has an immediate opening for a part-time Office Administrative Assistant. This role reports to the Senior Pastor as Head of Staff; and is scheduled to work 26 hours per week (over a four-day period) year-round. This is an on-site office position and is not remote work.
Starting pay range is from $17.00 to $21.00 per hour depending upon experience and skill set. Benefits include two weeks of paid vacation and paid holidays.
The Office Administrative Assistant supports the life and mission of the congregation under the direct supervision of the Senior Pastor/Head of Staff. The position provides administrative and secretarial support to the Senior Pastor/Head of Staff, President, Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Clerk of Session. The role shows concern and empathy, respects confidentiality and privacy, and communicates in a friendly, courteous, and tactful manner to congregational members and the general public. The position establishes and maintains effective working relationships with church volunteers.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
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- Greet, assist, and direct congregational members, visitors, and incoming telephone calls.
- Support leadership and collaborate with ministry teams, committees and volunteers on the church’s communications and publications (refer to the Church’s Communication and Publication Schedule) within required timelines. Responsibilities include, but not limited to, creating content; updating content; soliciting, editing and inserting content from internal sources; reformatting as needed; producing; and distributing and posting electronically/digitally and/or in print. Ensure all communications and publications are in accordance with copyright laws.
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- Schedule, monitor and maintain the church calendar and room reservations.
- Process US mail; and respond or redirect church emails received.
- Provide administrative/secretarial support to the Senior Pastor/Head of Staff, President, Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Clerk of Session.
- Assist with arrangements, set up and dissemination of Zoom calls.
- Process invoices/bills received that are
,not associated with a ministry team and/or committee, in a timely manner and following the appropriate process. - Assist Financial Secretary with congregational donations which include counting the receipts and entering in the database system on a weekly basis.
- Maintain petty cash account.
- Forward staff members approved (i.e., signed by the Senior Pastor/Head of Staff) weekly time sheets to the Treasurer in a timely manner for payroll processing.
- Create and produce reports as requested by the Senior Pastor/Head of Staff, President, Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Clerk of Session.
- Assist the Sexton and Property Committee Chairperson on church functions; room/furniture set-up; and property maintenance including routine and emergency maintenance issues.
- Ensure the church’s physical and electronic files, records, rosters, and databases are organized, maintained and current.
- Maintain files with records of minutes of Session and Congregational meetings, marriages, baptisms, confirmations, deaths, and installations/ordinations and generate certificates as needed. File original marriage certificates with the County within required timeframe.
- Assist Senior Pastor/Head of Staff in coordinating with families and volunteers on arrangements for weddings, memorial, and special worship services.
- Maintain inventory for office supplies. Order office and janitorial supplies as needed. Track expenditures, confirm payment of orders and report costs.
- Recruit, assign, train, direct and monitor the activities (basic office tasks) of volunteers for the church office as needed.
- Report concerns and/or ideas for improvement in a timely manner to the Senior Pastor/Head of Staff.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
The minimum qualifications and skills required for this position include:
- High School diploma or equivalent.
- Three (3) years of administrative assistant and/or secretarial experience; or equivalent combination of education (i.e., Associate degree or Business School certificate) and experience.
- Familiar with the inner workings of a church organizational structure and environment.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Access, Adobe Acrobat, Publisher and PowerPoint.
- Working knowledge of databases, website management and online platforms. And an aptitude for working with new systems and software.
- Ability to type at least 40 wpm.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Good basic math skills.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multi-task.
- Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations/information/records/files.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
- Normal amount of sitting or standing, average mobility to move around an office environment and the church building, and able to conduct normal amount of work at a computer.
- Repetitive movement of fingers and hands.
- Must be able to reach with hands and arms.
- May need to lift, carry, push or pull items up to 20 lbs.
- Occasionally bends or stoops.
- Work is performed during the day on weekdays however, there may be rare occasions where evening and/or weekend work is needed (advanced notice would be provided).
Contact: To indicate interest, please submit a brief cover letter and resume to the church office at [email protected] or 26165 Farmington Rd, Farmington Hill, Michigan 48334.
First Presbyterian Church of Farmington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
All orders are due by Wed., April 7
Place your order for Easter lilies, tulips, and/or azaleas 
(all in 6-inch pots with foil cover) by completing this form and returning it to the Church office along with your payment. Plants may be taken after the 10:00 a.m. Easter service or left for delivery to a homebound member.
O I / We wish to purchase the following plant(s) for decorating the church on Easter Sunday, April 17.
O Please deliver the plant(s) circled to a homebound church member.
Ordered by Name: ________________________________ Phone: (_____)____________
I / We would like to order the following number of plants:
_____ Red Tulip plant – $11 each _____ Pink Azalea plant – $22 each
_____ Easter Lily plant – $12 each Total due $ _____ Include payment with order
Please use the following recognition in the Easter bulletin:
In honor of __________________________________________________________________
name of person(s)
In memory of ________________________________________________________________
name of person(s)
