October 2024 News and Information

  What’s New

Stewardship 2025: Following Jesus (What does it mean to you?)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”  (John 10:27)

As we move through our process of change and transition toward a permanent pastor, what better way to move forward than by “following Jesus?” Last year we committed to being a “sailboat church,” depending on God’s provision as the Holy Spirit guides us forward. May we all draw closer to Jesus as we explore what it truly means to follow him.

November 3 – A Big Day at FPCF

November 3 will be a celebration day for multiple people. It is Consecration Sunday as we celebrate our stewardship of our time, talent, and pledges. It is also All Saints Day as we celebrate the lives of those members who passed to More Life this year. We will hear the bell toll as their names are read during the service.

Shari Fiore, our talented organist and pianist.

And sadly, this will be Shari Fiori-Bloom’s last Sunday with us as our Minister of Music. Shari and her husband Dave will be wintering in Florida in a well-deserved retirement. We will honor Shari at our celebration luncheon after the service.

November 2024 FYI Deadline: Friday, October 18

 Upcoming Events and Mission Opportunities

Craft Fair Scheduled in November – More Crafters, Volunteers, and Bakers Needed!

Our 7th annual craft fair is coming up November 9 and 10. We are still looking for crafters, volunteers, and bakers. We have some return crafters so that is always a good sign that they feel welcomed and sell well. If you have questions, please ask Deborah Draper, Sue Cooper, or Leslie Moyna.

Mark your Calendar for the Christmas Play 

You are invited to the 2024 Christmas play, “Shepherds and Kings” by Karen Jones, on Wednesday, December 11 at 10:00 a.m., presented by Presbyterian Players. Join us for the play, Christmas music, and treats afterward. Tickets ($5.00) will be on sale in November.

Civility Discussion Sunday, October 20 at 11:15 a.m.

Nolan Finley & Stephen Henderson

In today’s political climate, many Americans believe they can’t be friends with people with opposing political viewpoints, or fear that any attempt to dive into a political topic with someone who might disagree would have a negative outcome.

This is part of the reason why Detroit’s Today host and former Detroit Free Press editorial writer Stephen Henderson co-founded The Civility Project with Nolan Finley, editorial page editor for the Detroit News and Henderson’s long-time friend. Henderson and Finley rarely agree when it comes to politics, but their mutual respect for one another allows them to rise above their differences and actually listen, learn from, and engage with each other.

The Civility Project aims to build civility by teaching people to listen to and understand one another. Community members, local businesses and area students are invited to come together for a Civility Discussion at First Presbyterian Church of Farmington, 26165 Farmington Road at Eleven Mile Road in Farmington Hills on Sunday, October 20 from 11:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. following service. Our guest speakers are celebrated journalists Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson, who have been longtime friends, despite their different perspectives on pretty much everything. The one thing they agree on is the importance of their friendship—which includes a healthy dose of disagreement and mutual respect.

“It never occurred to us that we couldn’t be friends because we disagree,” says Nolan. “We’ve never avoided conversation, we never pulled punches, we sort of enjoyed the mix-up.”

Join us for a judgment-free zone; a safe place to talk, express yourself, and be OK with the outcome. The Civility Project’s goal is to build healthy disagreement and constructive dialogue while teaching people how to build civility in their relationships.

Americans used to engage in civil conversation with people of opposing viewpoints – enjoying the banter and debate. Today, many Americans believe they can’t be friends with people whose politics are different. The Civility Project seeks to bring people of opposing viewpoints together for healthy disagreement, personal interactions, and constructive conversations. In our live and virtual programs, participants become familiar with the pillars of civility, have a chance to engage in enlightening discussion and learn why the listening is important.

Pray-A-Thon on Thursday, October 17, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Nothing is more powerful than prayer. And when we pray together for something, it is even more powerful. Remember that the Pray-A-Thon we had last year brought us Pastor Bruce! In that spirit, we are planning a Pray-A-Thon focused on praying for the Mission Study Committee and the future vision of our church. You can come alone or with a friend but keep in mind, we want the sanctuary to be quiet and subdued so others can pray undisturbed. If you cannot come to the sanctuary to pray that day, you can pray at home, at work, anywhere. Let’s join our voices together. See Sharon Cressman or Colleen Tavor to sign up for a half hour of prayer in the sanctuary or use this SignUp Genius link: https://tinyurl.com/pray-a-thon-2024. We want the whole day covered in prayer!

“Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6).

Learn About Us, Sunday, October 6, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Room 208/210

If you have been attending First Presbyterian Church in Farmington for a while, or maybe you’ve attended a few times and would like to know more about us, please join us for a “Learn About Us” session on Sunday, October 6. We’ll share with you what’s going on at FPCF, and a little bit about Presbyterians. You can ask any questions you may have, and we’ll just have a fun time of fellowship and getting to know each other. We’re glad you’re here with us and want you to feel welcome and cared for.

Social Justice Book Club Began Again on September 30

The Social Justice Book Study Group has selected our next book, and we began our monthly meetings again on September 30. We are reading Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands by Sarah Towle, who amazingly held a book launch event at FPCF on June 29! Her book charts her journey as she exposes the broken layers of detention and deportation. We meet the last Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Please join us! It’s a safe place to discuss hard topics. Contact Deb Hemmye or Colleen Tavor for the Zoom link.

JOY! Study opens to new members after summer hiatus

The JOY! Study began meeting again via Zoom on Tuesdays from 7:00-8:00 p.m. following its summer hiatus. Our first meeting was Tuesday, September 10 studying the book of Romans. If you would like to join the group, please contact Sharon Cressman to receive the Zoom information.

 Chancel Choir and Choral Bells rehearsals resume

The Choral Bells rehearse on Thursdays from 6:00-7:15 p.m. in Room 209 and the Chancel Choir rehearse afterward from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary There’s always room for more members! If you’ve been thinking of ringing or singing, please contact Minister of Music Shari Fiore-Bloom at [email protected].

Peace and Global Witness Offering (September 8 – October 6)

A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of conflict and injustice across the world. The offering will be split among Mission Agencies, mid-council, and local peace activities. You can use the appropriate envelopes located in the pews for your offering or mail a check made out to FPCF with “Peace Offering” in the note area. Thank you for your gift for peace.

Global Health Charities presents The Glow

Please join us for our annual Glow on October 3rd from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now on our website: www.globalhealthcharities.org. The Glow features international street food, beer, wine, live music by Nick Fugedi and an outdoor Clean Birth Kit Event. Bring a friend or a group of eight. The Glow offers a great opportunity to introduce others to Global Health Charities. The mission of Global Health Charities is to save the lives of mothers and infants in communities in need around the world by providing training, education, and materials essential to a clean and healthy birth.

Congregational News 

Candles Along the Way –

Sharing Our God Moments

Vietnam. 1968.

 By Rob Kirsten

I was a soldier many years ago in Vietnam. Every service member felt threat there, from the scalding 100-degree heat, from the monsoon rains, from the jungle, and certainly, from enemy fire. I was Light Infantry, which meant we carried a lot of gear, and walked a lot. Did I pray? I can confirm that there are no atheists, under fire, in a foxhole. The reality of being under fire filled all your senses. You fell back on your training and experience to act. Was I afraid? This I recall clearly – yes, I was afraid all the time.

I had been in combat for six months there in 1968 when we deployed on a large combat assault into the mountains to the west, with the intent to secure a forward fire base on a mountain top there. Many Huey helicopters took squads of 8 – 10 men each to land on that, and it proved to be very hostile from the outset. We were on a mountaintop, but it was surrounded by jungle and there were taller mountains on three sides around us. It was only about the size of 1⁄2 a football field, with only one spot to land a helicopter.

My job, along with my best buddy, Woody, was to set up radio communications and dig in. It was 100 degrees, the ground was hard as rock, but we were very motivated. By late in the day, we had some level of radio communications working from a large crater, and we had started digging our foxhole on the perimeter but could only get it down a few inches into the hard ground. It was midnight, we were dog tired, and absolutely no light was allowed on that hill. Woody lay down in our scratched-out hole, and I just dropped to the ground beside him to get a couple hours of sleep. I had all my gear on, and my weapon at my side.

About 3 a.m. I woke to a distant sound, kind of a “thump, pause, thump, thump.” I knew that was incoming mortar fire, and I shouted “INCOMING” even before the first rounds hit. Mortar rounds started hitting all over the hill, shaking the earth, and throwing a lot of junk in the air. Woody sat up shouting to me that he couldn’t find his boots. I wanted desperately to crawl to the crater 50 feet away from us but could not leave Woody. That was the love of brother. We finally got him together and crawled to that only slightly safer crater in the center of the perimeter.

Both of us fell in on other guys already there taking cover. Mortars were falling all over the hill, obviously from more than one location and it was terrifying because there wasn’t one darn thing you could do about it, just stay down and pray. Did I pray right then? Yes, I did, but I don’t remember all these years later what the prayer might have been.

Then the threat got even more personal. Mortar fire began hitting just to the west of our crater, and the explosions were walking their way right up to us. Three rounds fell in order, then another, and another, all closer to us than the last. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, just hope and pray. Then, the mortar pattern stopped just short of us. It paused. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph – thank you. But, a few minutes later it resumed, now beyond, but walking back towards us. They slammed down, first one, then two, three, four, maybe six rounds all walking back towards us.

But then, by the Grace of God, it stopped.

There were still rounds falling on the hill, but our specific assassins had stopped. They were perfectly registered, but for some reason fell just one or two rounds short of killing us. Every combat soldier wonders why he was spared when some number of his “brothers” died. Was I better? I know the answer to that was certainly not. Was I just lucky? Some would say that, but I have felt, deep in my heart for over 50 years that God was with me and Woody that day. We don’t feel worthy of that, and don’t know why us. But we have been deeply thankful for that incredible God Moment for the rest of our lives.

Marion Medical Mission (MMM) Update

Five years ago, Tom Neal invited Doug Kee, a volunteer for Marion Medical Mission (MMM), to tell the First Pres Men’s Group about them. He impressed the daylights out of us, starting with the fact that in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia, one out of five children would die from water-borne disease by the age of five. Then he told us that MMM figured out that the best way to help was to help locate and build freshwater wells with the villages, and they started doing just that 34 years ago!

Now they have in-country teams engaging with the villagers to help them dig and operate a freshwater well, and they are doing more than 3,000 wells each year. And they do it all with local supplies, simple apparatus, and with the villagers building the wells (and at a cost of just $475 per well, serving as many as 150 in that village).

As we of the Men’s Group talked about our respect for good water, and love for the Great Lakes which surround us, Tom Neal and Rick Fuller named me as “Mr. Well Digger.” (Well, I don’t go to Africa, and I don’t really dig the wells, but I was willing to be a coordinator on our effort to help.) For the First Pres Men’s Group, it started in 2020, and we raised the funds to build two wells, plus our Mission Ministry contributed for another.

Since then, will you forgive us for being proud that we have been able to continue that (with our Mission Ministry as well) for five years, including a wonderful anonymous donor who covers two more wells each year. God knows who they are. In 2024, this combined to cover five new wells. Altogether, this has brought fresh, clean water to over 1,500 people in those countries, just from our small contribution. Much of the coordination from this is via local churches (mostly Presbyterian), and engraved in the concrete on the cap of each well is inscribed: “GLORY TO GOD.”

Doug Kee’s recent email to us said: “I’ve been here for about 10 days helping to get everything organized for teams to get to work. They started installing wells today after arriving on Sunday. Thanks always for your prayers and support.”

You can contact Rob Kirsten or anyone in the First Pres Men’s Group to join in this mission, and we will proudly honor you as a “Fellow MMM Wells for Africa Supporter.”

 New Furniture in the Narthex!

The new furniture for the Narthex arrived on September 24 and we hope you like the new, fresh look. This is just the beginning of additional changes yet to come. We’ll be adding more plants to “warm up” the Narthex and other accessories to make it cozier and more welcoming. We hope you look forward to and enjoy the updates. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Vicki Najjar, Laurel Scott, or Colleen Tavor.

Final Traveling Jesus Photos

Our congregation has been having a blast taking Traveling Jesus with them all summer! We shared Traveling Jesus with neighbors, friends, and strangers. Photos have also been posted and updated on the screen in the Narthex. May our Traveling Jesus continue to bless you and others along the way.

Presbyterian Women Recognition Sunday is October 13

Each year Presbyterian Women leaders select a person (usually a woman but sometimes a couple) who has demonstrated outstanding service in one or more areas of the work of the church. The recipients receive an Honorary Life Membership in Presbyterian Women. Who will receive this prestigious award this year? It’s a surprise, so come and find out! Everyone is invited to a reception after worship in honor of the 2024 recipient.

DCDI Receives $100,000 Grant!

The Mission Ministry is immensely proud and happy to have played a role in our community partner, DCDI (Danika Community Development Inc.) receiving a grant for $100,000 via Senator Mary Cavanagh (6^th District) to continue their many activities in the community. The Mission Ministry supports DCDI through the Garden and Nutrition Project and the Resume Writing and Practice Interview Workshop.

As a sponsor, FPCF shares our space with DCDI and several in our congregation participate in and build community with the program participants. DCDI Director Danielle Ware expressed much appreciation to FPCF for our support.

Senator Mary Cavanagh (top at right) presents Danielle Ware, DCDI director, with $100,000 grant by the FPCF gardens. Later she enjoys harvesting produce from our community garden on the hill. FPCF members Sharon Cressman, Colleen Tavor and Laurel Scott joined in the check presentation.

Fall Fest Fun!

A beautiful fall day and large turnout made for a memorable Fall Fest at First Pres Sunday, September 8. Those participating in the gathering after worship enjoyed the warm weather, delicious barbeque, fire truck and police car tours, cake walk, song from a barbershop quartet and sharing time with friends and families. Thanks to Scout Troop #179 and the Nurture Team for arranging another great event!

Adult Bible Discussion – The Wired Word

All are welcome to join our Bible study Sundays at 9:00 a.m. The class meets in the library and ends in time to join in Worship at 10:00 a.m. Every week there is a new topic selected by The Wired Word staff based on current events and ideas. An advance copy of the weekly lesson is sent via email to each of the class members and friends requesting a copy. These meaningful discussions are a wonderful way to share and get to know church members. Sign up by contacting Tom Neal. 

Congregational Information and Concerns

Session Meeting Highlights – September 18, 2024

The church financials as of August 31, 2024, were reviewed and the YTD revenue versus expenses continues to be positive. The 2025 Budget planning process has begun, and ministry teams and committees are asked to submit their 2025 budget requests for the next session meeting.

The following highlighted Action Items were approved:

1. The Scouts are planning to host a “thank you” pancake breakfast for the congregation and community after church on a Sunday date TBD.
2. The Scouts are planning to hold a car wash in the church parking lot on a Saturday date TBD.

The Mission Self Study Team has been meeting weekly and is making good progress. Upcoming plans are:

–      Communication blitz (letters, bulletin, FYI, emails) on the progress of this team.
–      Town Halls on October 27 and November 17 for updates and Q&A.
–      The creation of congregation and leadership surveys.

The Clerk of Session reported that the Corporate President position is still to be filled. A job description and request will be published in the weekly bulletin and monthly FYI to look for a candidate.

The next Session meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.

Dorothy Tait, Clerk of Session

Mission Study Committee Meets Weekly

Mission Study Committee members: Alvine Cooper, Becca DeSloover, Ginny Hubble, Katie Malisow, Tom Neal, and Colleen Tavor. The committee meets on a weekly basis and is making good progress under Pastor Bruce’s guidance. As a reminder, the purpose of the Mission Study is to look at the history of our church, who we are now, and who we want to be in the future. This self-analysis is helpful as we begin our search for a permanent pastor after the study is completed.

In mid-October, you’ll be hearing about a survey that will be available for you to participate in. You can take the survey either online or submit a paper copy. It’s especially important that you participate. We want to know what you think.

SAVE THIS DATE: We’ll have a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, October 27, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm that will facilitate further discussion and ideas. Your participation is crucial to understanding the future of our church as a collective, and not just a few voices. The more voices the better!

Please continue to pray for the committee and the future of our church!

Join us for Coffee and Treats after In-Person Worship

We’d love to have you join us for Hospitality Time in Knox Hall after our worship service!

Stick around for a few minutes and chat.

If you can’t join us in person, watch our worship livestream: https://Farmington-Pres.org/worship/sermons

Congregational Concerns

We Keep In Our Prayers

We pray for members and friends who are sick, homebound, in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, those who are grieving or heavy at heart, and those serving in the military or as first responders.

To protect individuals’ privacy, we do not list them on the online version of our newsletter.

A Warm Welcome

We welcome Liz Labourdeth, our new office administrator. Originally from Waterford Township, Liz now resides in Rochester Hills with her husband Manuel and her cat Ruby. She comes to us with many years of experience in leadership, organization, and communication, with a background in the mortgage industry. She can be reached at the church office at 248-474-6170 or via email at: [email protected]. Please give her a warm First Pres welcome next time you’re in the church office.

Please contact the church office if you have a change to your contact information, including address, phones, and email.

If you haven’t yet added the church pictorial directory app from Universal Church Directory to your smart phone, you’re missing a great resource. Contact Tom Neal to receive your family’s unique identifier and simple installation instructions for convenient access to names, photos, addresses, emails, and phone numbers of your church family.

Thank You

Scout Troop 179

On behalf of the congregation at First Presbyterian Church and representing the Nurture Committee, I wanted to extend our deep gratitude to Troop 179 for a wonderful Fall Fest celebration on Sunday, September 8. We really appreciate the phenomenal food and organization of the entire troop to pull this off. It really is a gift of love that the troop shares with us.

It was fun to see so many scouting families, their many youngsters and our congregation all having a lot of fun together. Always being oriented towards continuous improvement, I want to invite any constructive feedback about how to make things better next year.

Sincerely, Karl Cressman

Thank you, Nurture Team!

Many thanks to everyone on the Nurture Team for organizing yet another fun-filled Fall Fest for the congregation! This gathering means so much to so many and we appreciate all the planning and hard work to organize this effort.

News from the Church Office

Office and Church Donations

Please note, regarding dropping off items and or donations to the church office, prior approval is requested for ANY donations. If you leave something on the desk of Pastor Bruce and/or Liz’s desk, kindly leave a message of what the item is, what needs to be done with it, who is leaving the item and whom to contact.

Current Office Hours

The office is now open Mondays through Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and is closed on Fridays.

Contacting Pastor Bruce

If you’d like to connect with Pastor Bruce, please use this email: [email protected]. His information is also on the UCD app.

Church Security

Although we’re all eager to be outside and enjoy the fall weather, be sure to take just a few extra seconds and make certain that doors are locked if you visit the church during off-hours. That includes removing any doorstops, resuming toggle switches to “lock mode” and giving each door a tug to ensure they’re locked. Thanks for keeping the building and our church staff safe.

Need to make a bulletin announcement?

All announcements for the worship bulletin must be turned in the week prior by no later than Tuesday at 12 noon or they will not go in the bulletin until the following week. The announcement request must include the dates in which it should be placed and removed in the bulletin. Font Size: Arial Narrow, Size 14. It is best if the announcements are included in a Word document attached to an email.

Additionally, as a reminder, you will need prior approval for inclusion of an activity in the church calendar. Contact the church office at [email protected] with any questions and/or submissions.

Construction completed on Eleven Mile Road

The City of Farmington Hills Department of Public Services has completed road construction on West Eleven Mile Road between Orchard Lake Road and Farmington Road. This section of West Eleven Mile Road is now open to traffic. With the exception of minor punch list items, the project is substantially complete. The city recognizes that this road construction may have caused inconvenience and greatly appreciated the community’s patience during the construction.

2024 Church Holiday Schedule

The church office will be closed on these dates in observance of the designated holidays.

Session Approved December 13, 2023

Regularly Scheduled Committees and Activities at FPCF