What’s New

Fall Fest coming September 8!

Don’t miss the fun with a BBQ lunch, fun and games, and a visit from the FH police and fire departments.

“Make a joyful noise unto the lord.”  Psalm 98:4

October 2024 FYI Deadline: Friday, September 20

 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.

Lunchtime at Crossroads of Michigan!

It’s time to sign up to help prepare or serve lunch at Crossroads of Michigan. We need preparers at Northville Presbyterian Church on Friday, Sept. 27 from 9am to noon. On Sunday, Sept 29, we will meet at Crossroads of Michigan to make lunch for 450 of our neighbors. You can come early in the morning to help prepare or later in the morning to help serve. Here is the link for the Sign-up Genius or just ask Nancy Prieskorn to email it to you:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4EAAAF23A2FB6-47728368-crossroads

Also, after September 1, you may bring in men’s clothing donations and place them in the Mission Cove. Fall and winter clothing only! Label all bags “Crossroads.” Packages of socks or underwear are always greatly appreciated.

Presbyterian Players Wants You!

The Players are gearing up for their annual Christmas play.

These plays have a rich tradition here.  Would you like to be a part of it?  We need actors, and we would love to have you on stage with us! If you would like to play a role, please let Sue Carlson or Laurel Scott know soon. The rehearsals are every Monday evening 6:30-8:30 p.m. from late September through early December. The performances are Dec. 11 and Dec. 15.

If you would like to help in another way (singing or playing an instrument, assistant play coordinator), please let us know that too.

“Back to Church” Sunday – September 15

In September, our brains are wired to “go back to” something – back to school, back to college, back to our regular schedules after summer vacations. Well, September 15 is “Back to Church” Sunday and the Membership Committee invites you to invite your friends or neighbors to be our guest. We’ll have a special gift for new guests that day and something a little extra for coffee time afterward.

Flu Clinic on September 22

The Deacons will be hosting a Flu Clinic on September 22nd immediately following worship. We encourage all members to follow the advice of their doctor and get their yearly Flu Shot if so advised. The Visiting Nurse Association provides this no cost service as a courtesy to promote public health and well-being. Please bring your Medicare ID card and/or your insurance card. The Deacons will provide extra snacks at Fellowship Hour to help the medicine go down.

You can also enjoy food from the Food Truck (see below) after you get your shot!

Food for a Cause – Food Truck on September 22, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Imagine enjoying tasty food from a food truck and helping CARES at the same time! On Sunday, September 22, from 11 am to 1 pm, we’ll be able to buy burgers, wings, fries & street food from DC Novelty Eats and a portion of the sales will go to CARES. Invite your neighbors!

Interviewing and Resume Writing: Effective Strategies

In partnership with DCDI (Dannika Community Development Inc), our church will once again host and sponsor another resume writing and practice interview workshop. We’ll emphasize consulting and advising, especially the practice interviews, which are so important to getting the job. The workshop will take place on 3 consecutive Saturdays (September 21, 28, and October 5), in Room 208/210 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. If you would like to volunteer to help with the practice interviews, please contact Colleen Tavor.

Social Justice Book Club Starts Again on September 30

The Social Justice Book Study Group has selected our next book, and we’ll begin monthly meetings again on September 30. We’ll be 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 7pm via Zoom. Please join us! It’s a safe place to discuss hard topics.

JOY! Study Opens to New Members after Summer Hiatus

The JOY! Study will begin meeting again via Zoom on Tuesdays from 7:00-8:00 p.m. following its summer hiatus. Our first meeting will be Tuesday, September 10 and we’ll be 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 September 5

The official start of the fall season will begin on Sunday, September 8 with Fall Fest. To ready the choirs, rehearsals will begin on Thursday, September 5. Bells will rehearse from 6:00-7:15  p.m. and the chancel choir will rehearse 7:30-:00 p.m. 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].

Congregational News 

Candles Along the Way: Sharing Our God Moments

God Provides

By Colleen Tavor

The Juneteenth celebration at Nardin Park was a week away and I was beginning preparations to spend several hours on Saturday, June 15, along with Laurel Scott, at the First Presbyterian Church of Farmington table that we would be setting up. We planned to set out our church brochures, assorted candy for the kids, FPCF frisbees, and some handouts related to current events at our church – the author book launch, the Garden and Nutrition Project with DCDI, and Youth United. We had everything ready for Saturday.

So, I turned my attention to what I would personally need. Water bottle, check. Sun hat, check. Sunscreen, check. Sunglasses – oops. No check. I always keep them in the car because they are prescription sunglasses, and I only use them to drive. But now I couldn’t find them!

I looked for them all week. I thoroughly searched my car all week long, determined that they had to be there. Under the seats. Between the seats. Even in the back seat. I would pick up my sunglass case and shake it, then look inside to make sure. No sunglasses.

Finally, it was Friday, and I needed the sunglasses for being out in the sun all day on Saturday. So, I looked one last time. Under the seats. Between the seats. You get the picture. Then I picked up my sunglass case again and shook it. Something rattled. I opened the case and there were my sunglasses!

I stared in disbelief. How could they possibly be there after I looked for them all week IN THE CASE? Whenever something inexplicable happens, I figure that God is trying to get my attention, so I started thinking about the lesson he was trying to teach me.

The lesson? That God provides what we need when we need it. No matter how hard I tried, I could not find the sunglasses when I wanted reassurance that I had everything I needed for a Saturday in the sun, several days away. I found the sunglasses on Friday evening, in time for when I needed them.

Walking by faith is scary, challenging. We want what we want when we want it. We need reassurances that everything will be okay. We need to know all the details before we move forward. As our church moves forward into our future, may we remember that our God loves us and wants to bless us and cares for us. Let’s grow in our faith walk together as we see where God leads next.

Who Moved My Chair? Sprucing Up the Narthex!

We are pleased to tell you that you will start seeing some changes soon in the narthex, kiosk area, and Knox Hall!  While we love our church, it needs some updating, and like all of us at times, could use a makeover. The Membership Committee will be working on sprucing up our shared spaces to make them warmer and more welcoming to us and newcomers.

Some of the things we are working on are creating a cozy conversation nook near the windows in the narthex and replacing the chairs and tables in the narthex. We’ll be removing the Stewardship bulletin board and painting the wall and doors, then putting up a Bible verse decal. We’ll be replacing the cushions on all the benches. For the narthex, we’re being mindful to select chairs with arms, comfortable seating for all sizes, and classic taste. We’ll also be adding more plants that our Master Gardener, Laurel Scott, will care for. We hope you look forward to and enjoy the updates. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Colleen Tavor and Laurel Scott.

Backpacks for Foster Kids – How You Helped

On July21, after coffee hour, many hands joined together to fill up 25 backpacks for foster children in our area. Among the items were pencils, notebooks, glue sticks and much more! These children will be excited to begin a new school year with all the supplies they need for success! Thank you for your hands and hearts!  A heartfelt “thank you” from the Foster Care Coordinator at Plymouth Presbyterian appears in the Thank You section at the end of this newsletter. 

Youth United 2024: Two Days of Service Impacts Community

This June, over 80 interfaith teens came together for Youth United 2024, a vibrant summer service experience that left a lasting impact on our community. Supported by about 20 adult volunteers, these young changemakers tackled an impressive array of projects benefiting local organizations and enhancing the dignity of area youth, adults, and families.

Teens also learned more about each other’s faiths and faith traditions.

Founded in 2018 by a coalition of 10 congregations in Farmington and Farmington Hills, Youth United facilitates interfaith service experiences which allow multicultural youth ages 11-18 to explore the common values of their faiths while serving the community. FPCF’s own Karen Linnell and Laura Hedgecock co-lead the intergenerational planning team.

Volunteer leaders for this summer’s service experience included youth and adult lay leaders and staff members from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith communities in the Farmington/Farmington-Hills area.

Highlights of Youth United 2024:

• Created art canvases for Oakland County Foster Closet
• Assembled 48 birthday bags for CARES of Farmington Hills
• Crafted 10 tied blankets for Fleece and Thankyou, which will provide comfort to hospitalized children
• Prepared custom handmade soaps for CARES pantry and market
• Packed 50 “Good Night” bags with comfort items for CARES clientele kids
• Assembled 300 hygiene kits for Another Day Resource to distribute in Detroit
• Prepared 100 lunch bags for Another Day Resource to distribute in Detroit/Pontiac
• Packaged 500 soup bags for Metro Food Rescue
• Created 2 pallet art pieces for CARES
• Assembled 204 snack packs for Song and Spirit

The teens also took on various improvement projects at CARES, including repainting produce carts and welcome signs, weeding, mulching, and setting up new signage. Their creativity shone through in making stress balls, tissue paper flowers with encouraging notes for seniors, and T-shirt bags from donated shirts.

That sounds like a lot! We had lots of hard workers, accomplishing a week’s worth of work in just two days.

Todd Lipa, Direct of CARES, has this message to FPCF:

“The 2024 Youth United camp was another amazing year. CARES is so blessed to have our local youth leaders come in each year and not only support CARES, but other local nonprofits in our area.

Each year, I watch in amazement teams of youth taking on so many different projects. It’s great to watch our Youth work side by side with Adults to make a difference in the lives of people they may never know.

On behalf of myself, all our CARES volunteers and our guest here at CARES , we want to say thank you to everyone that made Youth United 2024 so successful.

Looking forward to seeing all of you and all the new faces in 2025.”

A $2,500 grant from Farmington Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families made this year’s service experience possible.

Home Depot also donated paint, rollers, mulch, and other miscellaneous items for the CARES improvement projects.

Youth United 2024 not only provided essential items and services to those in need but also fostered interfaith cooperation and instilled a sense of community responsibility in our young participants. The success of this program demonstrates the powerful impact of interfaith cooperation.

For more information on how to participate in future Youth United events, please email [email protected].

Traveling Jesus Photos

Our congregation has been having a blast taking Traveling Jesus with them all summer, whether it’s visiting friends, eating at a BBQ, going to a ballgame, or sitting in a pub in Alaska, Traveling Jesus was there. We shared Traveling Jesus with neighbors and friends and strangers. Photos are also posted and updated on the screen in the narthex. May our Traveling Jesus continue to bless you and others along the way

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 great way to share and get to know church members. Sign up by contacting Tom Neal.

Congregational Information and Concerns

Session Meeting Highlights – August 21, 2024

At the August session meeting, the Treasurer reported that the YTD revenue versus expenses continued to be positive and that the outstanding loan balance is $85,532.

The following Action Items were approved:

1. A Family Christmas Eve Service will be held at FPCF on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
2. The church office hours have been extended to Monday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
3. A Cantata Academy Concert will be held at FPCF on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

The Mission Self-Study team has been formalized and includes: Alvine Cooper, Becca DeSloover, Ginny Hubble, Katie Malisow, Tom Neal, and Colleen Tavor. The meetings will start early September.

Session is looking to fill the position of Corporate President. The current President, Sally Kirsten, is past the length of time and must step down. Anyone interested is encouraged to contact Sally for information on what the position entails.

Dorothy Tait, Clerk of Session

Mission Self-Study Committee Established

We are pleased to inform you that a Mission Self Study Committee has been established and will begin meeting weekly on Tuesday, September 3. The committee has 6 members: Alvine Cooper, Becca DeSloover, Ginny Hubble, Katie Malisow, Tom Neal, and Colleen Tavor. Pastor Bruce will facilitate and guide our work. A Mission Self Study looks at the history of our church, who we are now, and who do we want to be in the future.

The Mission Self Study is an important next step in finding a permanent pastor. The last Mission Self Study took place in 2015 and much has changed. We will be involving the congregation in this process and keep you updated via town halls and updates in the FYI and Sunday bulletins. When our Mission Self Study is completed and approved by the Presbytery, then we can put together a committee that will search for our new permanent pastor. The Mission Self Study will help inform a potential new pastor about us and help them to determine if we are a good fit and where God is calling them. We hope that you will join us in this important next step in our church’s future with your prayers for the committee and providing input as needed.

Chin Baptist Moves to a New Location

Our relationship with the Detroit Chin Baptist congregation started in December of 2022.  Our rental agreement with them will end on August 30, 2024.  We wish them well in their new home.

Financial Update as of July 2024

There is a lag time between month-end Treasurer’s Reports and FYI publication dates. But the Operations Committee wants to keep you abreast of our financial picture year-to-date. As of the end of July, pledges (and total revenues) are coming in ahead of, which is a good thing. Expenses continue below what would be expected for 7 months of the year. This means we continue to operate “in the black.” (Translation: we continue to bring in more money than we are spending.)

Detroit Chin Baptist is leaving our facility at the end of August. This will be significant loss of revenue. However, if you recall our Stewardship Campaign theme for 2024: Sailing with God, we will pray that God provides another significant source of revenue to prepare the 2025 budget.

Our investments with Merrill/Lynch and Vanguard (Endowment) have seen rises and falls throughout this year, but both funds have seen significant growth since the beginning of this year.

We thank you for your pledges and donations, and the sharing of your time and talents to keep us Sailing with God.

~The Operations Team

Endowment Committee Update

The Farmington First Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund was formed to encourage, receive, and administer planned gifts that will have an impact beyond the life of the donor. It has been designed to enhance the ministry of our church apart from the general operations of the congregation.

The Endowment Fund balance is currently at $376,190 (July 31, 2024). We encourage our members to make tax-free contributions to this, which helps increase the 4% distribution from Vanguard to the church budget annually. (approximately 12k+ each year). This is a critical offset to what would otherwise be an operating deficit. You can make your contribution in the name of a loved one or to be applied to a favorite future mission.

“Believing that giving is an act of faith, an affirmation that all we have and do comes from God, our Endowment has been built by the gifts of faithful members and friends of the church as acts of faith, providing a lasting legacy of faith for future generations.” Larry Gage

~Sally Kirsten, Endowment Committee Chairman

Preschool Open Enrollment continues

The Preschool is now open for enrollment for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. Please spread the word about our Preschool to friends and family who may be interested in enrolling. The program offers 2.5s, 3s and Pre-K (4s) classes.

Please visit our website: https://farmingtonprespreschool.org/enroll/ or call the preschool at (248) 474-9752 to schedule a tour and/or pick up your enrollment forms.

Support our Preschool’s Mum Fundraiser

It’s sweltering outside but Fall is just around the corner. Treat yourself or someone else to beautiful mums from Schwartz’s nursery and benefit our preschool. Order forms will be in the church office.

Join us for Coffee and Treats after In-Person Worship

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

Stick around for a few minutes and chat.

If you can’t join us in person, watch our livestream:

1. Go to our Worship Services page at: https://Farmington-Pres.org/worship/sermons.
2. Click on the button that says “Watch our Livestream”

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.

Thank You

Back Packs for Foster Kids

”Yes, you all have been a blessing today to 445 children in the foster care system.  Because of all your hard work, donations, supplies, backpacks, and to those that sorted and packed we made our goal.  I needed 400 backpacks and at the last minute another agency called me and I was able to give them 45 filled bags.  It is hard to believe that just 9 years ago we packed about 65  backpacks and I was so thrilled.

It was a busy month, but we supported SIX agencies.  They are Hands Across the Water, Afghanistan refugees, Bethany Christian Services, 2nd Mile Center and The Department of Human and Health Services.  We also gave 25 backpacks to Wayne State University students that were aged out of foster care without being adopted.  They also received a $25 gift card to start their school year.

I am beyond grateful to the many church members, former parents of my third grade students, Facebook friends, relatives of friends and complete strangers that helped with this enormous project. 

I am extremely grateful to the extra help we had from Faith Community Church in Novi, First Presbyterian of Northville, First Presbyterian of Farmington and Sharon’s Yoga Class. I never could have met our needs without their extra help this year.

I am beyond grateful to First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth for helping me with money, donations, a place to sort and pack and all the help from our wonderful members.  Thank you so much to the Local Mission Committee for helping me financially.”

Blessings to you all, Peggy Fisher-Kmieciak, Foster Care Coordinator, Plymouth Presbyterian Church

Office Hours and Upcoming Church Office Closure

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

The church office will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

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 warmer 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 the doors a tug to ensure they’re locked. Thanks for keeping the building and our church staff safe.

Office and Church Donations

Please note, regarding dropping off items and or donations to the church office, prior approval is required for ANY donations. If you leave something on the desk of Pastor Bruce and/or Carly’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.

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 attached in a Word document with 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 on 11 Mile Road Continues to Affect Church Entry

The City of Farmington Hills Department of Public Services continues its reconstruction of Eleven Mile Road between Orchard Lake Road and Farmington Road. This section of Eleven Mile Road is closed to through traffic for the duration of the road construction, which is anticipated to conclude in mid-September.

For safety, consider exiting the church campus via the driveway that leads to Brittney Drive to safely access the traffic light. Visitors to the City Hall Campus (FH Police Dept., FH Fire Dept. Station #5, 47^th District Court, etc.) must enter from the driveway on Orchard Lake Road.

2024 Church Holiday Schedule for First Presbyterian Church Farmington

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

Session Approved December 13, 2023

Fall Calendar

You can view our monthly calendar at https://farmington-pres.org/events/.