September 2020 FYI – News & Information

First Presbyterian of Farmington is ready to reopen for limited activities

• Join us for worship if you feel comfortable doing so and are able and willing to follow the guidelines: What out-of-doors and in-building, in-person church worship looks like.
• If you are in group that normally meets at the Church, consider which member of your group will receive electrostatic training when the time comes.
• Pray for the Pandemic to end and safely walk in the light of our Lord.

Last Sunday’s Worship Podcasts is now on the Website

We apologize for the technical difficulties on Sunday, August 30 that prevented a timely posting of our worship podcast to the website. This delay was due to a widespread Internet outage that impacted Buzzsprout, our podcast host. The August 30 podcast is now posted to the website for your listening pleasure.

What out-of-doors and in-building,in-person church worship looks like

To assist you, Welcome Greeters/Ushers will be wearing yellow masks for easy identification.

• When worshipping indoors, there is limited indoor seating capacity in the sanctuary (74) and social distance seating is required.
• To ensure we do not exceed our seating capacity, please call (248-474-6170) or email the church office ([email protected]) to indicate you are planning to attend. (This is also required for out-of-doors worship for planning purposes in case of rain).
• For out-of-doors worship, the parking spaces at the South side of the building along the driveway are designated “Handicapped” to provide easy access to the out-of-doors worship area.
• Upon arrival, park leaving an empty parking space between you and the next car.
• A Welcome Greeter will meet you as you enter the parking lot, or at your car, before you get out and direct you to the Registration desk.
• You must have your mask on before exiting your vehicle.
• Attenders are required to wear a face covering during out-of-doors worship and while in the building and to apply hand sanitizer upon entry. If you do not have one, we will provide masks at the Registration desk.
• When out-of-doors, place your chair 6´ from your neighbor (residential family groups may sit together).
• In the event of cold or rain, a Welcome Greeter will direct you to safely enter the sanctuary.
• For in-building worship, a Welcome Usher, wearing yellow masks will seat attendees to ensure that there is 6 feet between each household.
• The services are “touch-free” except for a bulletin which will be at the Registration desk or in the pew when you arrive.
• There will be no congregational singing until further notice.
• Collection containers will be located at the doors in the back of the sanctuary. Offering and additional prayer requests can be dropped into these containers after the service.
• Dismissal following the service will be by the Ushers.
• Bottled water is available by the drinking fountain near Knox Hall. Do not use the drinking fountain.
• Restrooms are restricted to one person at a time with the exception that residential family units may enter as a group, if desired, and individuals requiring assistance may have their designated care provider assist them.

In registering for Sunday’s service, I am acknowledging that I understand the information listed below and that I agree to follow the protocols listed below.

• There is an inherent risk in attending public gatherings and there are no safety measures that can completely eliminate said risk.
• Sunday morning service is a public gathering and carries with it the risk of being exposed to COVID-19.
• I will wear a face covering while in the church building.
• I will use hand sanitizer upon entering the church building.
• I will allow the ushers to seat me upon entering the worship center and to dismiss at the conclusion of service.
• I will maintain proper hygiene and social distancing while in the church building.
• I will worship at home via the podcast if I have been exposed to any one with COVID-19 during the last 14 days.
• I will worship at home through the podcast if I:
  • Have a fever
  • Have ongoing coughing or sneezing
  • Have a sore throat
  • Am experiencing shortness of breath

Planning an Event at First Pres during the Pandemic

Advance Planning is Essential
While many of us are looking forward to meeting together, much of our normal activity will be curtailed or, look different this year. Room usage will require careful planning. The kitchen is closed until further notice. Some activities may be curtailed due to safety concerns. It is possible some events may not take place this year. If you are responsible for any activities such as Flu Clinic (already approved), Ingathering, Lighthouse, Fall Cleanup – whatever the activity might be – you must contact the Reopen Task Force (RTF) at [email protected], Lorrie McVey, or a member of the RTF to enlist our assistance in collaborating with you regarding safe implementation of your plans. Lead time is important to safe planning. We are working hard to be prepared to help you.

Why do Presbyterians say Black Lives Matter?

As part of an ongoing collaborative effort with the PC(USA) to dismantle structural racism, the First Presbyterian Church of Farmington, the Church of the Open Hands, is proud of its community involvement and leadership and affirms our stand with our sisters and brothers of color.  It is abundantly clear through the gospel narrative and the greater witness of the Bible, that God has called us, as people of faith, to seek justice for those most marginalized in our world.

Black Lives Matters is not a political issue, it’s a human rights issue that is well within the Gospel narrative of standing up for the dignity of our brothers and sisters of color, who need and deserve our support. When our Jewish brothers and sisters have been attacked, we have been there to support them. When our Muslim brothers and sisters have been attacked, we have been there to support them. We can and will do no less to support and put an end to the dehumanizing our brothers and sisters of color.

Our stated position, which is on our website and is also the position of the Presbyterian Church (USA), is that we believe racism and unequal treatment in every form is not simply a problem for our communities of color, but a deep-rooted, systemic issue that we are ALL charged with solving.

We are proud of our work with our local Beloved Community, an initiative started by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to build a society based on justice, equal opportunity and love of one’s fellow human beings, where none are discriminated against. We must support our local African American leaders and community members who feel that their lives are undervalued and genuinely fear losing their lives.

As a leader in the Farmington Interfaith Community, we have forged a strong partnership with local law enforcement, including, most recently, participating with them on June 21^st of this year in a local Juneteenth celebration and unity rally where Chief King, FHPD, addressed the crowd.

And so, to reiterate, Black Lives Matter is a theological and human rights issue, NOT a political issue. It is gaining support and momentum, including with corporations, NASCAR and others in the sports world. All of this is within the Gospel narrative and we are proud to stand with our sisters and brothers of color.

Social Justice Book Discussion Group

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about social justice, systemic racism, white privilege, and more. What do these terms mean and what is our role at this pivotal time in history? If you would like to explore these issues and more, please join Deb Hemmye and Colleen Tavor for a bi-weekly book discussion group to explore social justice issues. Our first book selection is Waking Up White: Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving.

If you’re interested in joining this book discussion group, please contact the church office at [email protected] or 248-474-6170.

The Social Justice Book Discussion Group will meet bi-weekly on Thursday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30 pm, beginning September 10.

LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS (Matthew 25)

We hear a lot of discussions about racism, structural racism, and white privilege going on around us and may hear a lot of terms that are not familiar to us. This month, the Mission Committee thought it would be helpful to define some of the terms and acronyms related to racism that you may be seeing and hearing. Definitions were culled from www.racialequitytools.org.

BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, People of Color

Racism: Racism is race prejudice + social and institutional power. Racism is different from racial prejudice, hatred, or discrimination. Racism involves one group having the power to carry out systemic discrimination through the institutional policies and practices of the society and by shaping cultural beliefs and values that support those racist policies and practices.

Structural Racism: A system in which public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and other norms work in various, often reinforcing ways to perpetuate racial group inequity. It identifies dimensions of our history and culture that have allowed privileges associated with “whiteness” and disadvantages associated with “color” to endure and adapt over time. Structural racism is not something that a few people or institutions choose to practice. Instead it has been a feature of the social, economic and political systems in which we all exist.

Systemic Racism: In many ways “systemic racism” and “structural racism” are synonymous. If there is a difference between the terms, it can be said to exist in the fact that a structural analysis pays more attention to historical, cultural and social psychological aspects of our racialized society. Under systemic racism, systems of education, government and the media celebrate and reward some cultures over others.

Institutional Racism: Institutional racism refers to policies & practices within and across institutions that, intentionally or not, produce outcomes that chronically favor, or put a racial group at a disadvantage. Examples of institutional racism can be found in school disciplinary policies in which students of color are punished at much higher rates than their white counterparts, in the criminal justice system and within many employment sectors, in which day-to-day operations, as well as hiring and firing practices can significantly disadvantage workers of color. Your name alone is likely to get you twice as many job interviews as a candidate with a non-white sounding name, even if you both have otherwise identical resumes in terms of experience and education. Institutional racism creates rules where rules aren’t needed – rules that control BIPOC (e.g, rules against dreadlocks, cornrows, & braids). Hospitals are also affected by institutional racism. A study at George Mason University found that Black newborn babies in the U.S. are more likely to survive childbirth if they are cared for by Black doctors, but 3 times more likely to die when looked after by White doctors. The mortality rate for White babies was largely unaffected by doctor’s race.

White Privilege: White privilege refers to the unquestioned and unearned set of advantages, entitlements, benefits, and choices bestowed on people solely because they are white. Generally white people who experience such privilege do so without being conscious of it. An example of white privilege is your ability to go shopping without being followed around by suspicious employees or security guards. See also the Invisible Knapsack.

Anti-Racism: Anti-racism requires action. Anti-racism is striving to hold anti-racist ideas – that all racial groups are equal. And if there is racial inequality, understanding that it’s not because of something inferior about a particular racial group but rather because of power and policies. Anti-racism is to use what we can to challenge and change those policies – to make them more just and equitable policies for all. Anti-racism is (1) a critique of the current system based on vigorous understanding of history, and (2) building alternative institutions, practices, & policies to create a different, better world.

Anti-racism allows us to see racism when it shows up and to do something about it.

Adult Study Zoom Meetings move to Saturday evenings

Worship Podcasts will continue

Vespers Service on Sept. 6 at 4:30 p.m. at Covenant

This week’s Sunday Vespers will be held at 4:30 p.m. and will be hosted by Covenant Presbyterian Church, 21575 W 10 Mile Road east of Lahser Road, Southfield, MI 48075. For everyone’s safety, please be sure to wear your mask, bring your own chair and place it at least 6’ apart from non-family members. We’ll return to the Cope/Bible Herb Gardens for the Vespers Service on Sunday, September 13 at 4:30 p.m.

Congregational Concerns

Names are withheld from the online version of our newsletter. We pray for those who are worried about loved ones; those recovering from illnesses and surgeries, for our first responders and military members, and for travel mercies for those traveling. W
On this Labor Day weekend, we offer prayers for all those who labor and toil for the good of all our communities. O God, through human labors you continually perfect the immense work of your creation. Grant to everyone employment that calls us to our best and unites us with each other, so that we can serve our brothers and sisters, and your world, through our work.

Prayer for peace in our communities and for an end to the violence perpetrated by harsh words, deadly weapons, or cold indifference. May our homes, our nation, and countries around the world become havens of peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Fall yoga series starts soon…

Welcome to the Presbytery’s new Transitional General Presbyter