September 2025 News and Information

  What's New

Join in the fun!

Enjoy some oldies music!

Invite your friends and neighbors!

Bring your kids!

Bring your grandkids!

October “Community Connections” Deadline: Sept 19, 2025

 Upcoming Events and Mission Opportunities

Congregational News

Candles Along the Way – Sharing Our God Moments

Walking With God

By Sue Carlson

I was upset over a misunderstanding when I started on my evening summer walk.

After doing my regular route near home, I decided to extend my walk a bit farther since walking was proving to feel therapeutic. I ventured into a big nearby subdivision and walked a long time, lost in thought. I walked from one street to another without really paying attention to where I was going.

At one point, I realized that I didn’t recognize the street names, and I really didn’t know my way home. It was getting dark, and I heard claps of thunder. I was dressed in just shorts and a T-shirt. Fortunately, I did have my phone with me, so I put on the GPS to get walking directions home. I was three miles away!

I started on my way home, walking an unfamiliar route as I checked the weather report predicting a big storm. I walked as fast as I could, but it was getting darker and darker and the flashlight on my phone was inadequate to really light my way.

After a couple of miles, light rain had begun, and I saw flashes of lightning. I pushed on, beginning to feel more frightened. I began to pray, asking God to help me. Though the thunder and lightning continued sporadically, the heavy rain held off.

When I finally arrived home, I collapsed in a chair in relief. The rain started to fall in torrents no more than five minutes after I walked in the door. Tearfully, I changed my prayers to prayers of thanksgiving to God for keeping me safe.

SAVE THE DATE: Congregational Retreat on Saturday, October 11

Our entire congregation is invited to an all-day (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) retreat to be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church located on Six Mile Road between Middlebelt and Merriman Roads. Holy Cross has a prayer labyrinth that we’ll incorporate into our agenda. Our theme is “Living Our Vision: Welcoming All, Sharing Christ, Serving Others.” Stay tuned for more details! Yes, there will be T-shirts!

Sunday Flowers

Please remember to take your beautiful flowers home with you immediately following the church service, if that is your intention: Otherwise, they will be donated to homebound church members. Thank you!

Neighborhood House Grants Community Service Award to … Nancy Cook!

Neighborhood House of Farmington Hills is all about “helping others to help themselves.”

On Wednesday, August 13, at their annual fundraising gala, they awarded the Dick Tupper Community Service Award to our very own Nancy Cook!

Nancy is an example to not only us but to our whole community of someone who gives of themselves to better the lives of others.
Congratulations, Nancy, on this well-deserved award!

2025 CROP Walk

The 2025 Farmington/Farmington Hills/West Bloomfield CROP Walk was a great success with another record year, raising more than $69,600. First Pres. contributed $2,255 of this, which was an increase over last year.

Despite the rain, there were appx. 175 walkers, including us (Don, Sue, and Dave Schwartz, Ron and Nancy Prieskorn, Dan Piontek and Dorothy Tait). The donations collected throughout the USA go to many different countries and a portion also goes to the local agencies: CARES, Neighborhood House, Salvation Army and Yad Ezra. Thank you for the many donations this year!

As the walk was on May 4th this year, there was a special guest to help the walkers go forth!

Thank you 2025 CROP Walk Donors

Sandy Adkins, Karl and Sharon Cressman, Marc and Deb Hemmye, Marie Schwartz, Sue Andrews, Emma DeCenso, Rob and Sally Kirsten,  Laurel Scott, Craig Aue, Charlene Diehl, Karen Linnell, Rebecca Seaton, Dot Basmaji, Randy Edwards Gary and Donna Marvicsin, Manny and Irene Sharpe, Leslie Black, Paul and MJ Floreno, Karen McCullough,  Karen and Paul Spica, Lois Caito,  Rick and Anne Fuller, Pastor Bruce Mulder, LeeAnne Tait, Betsy Campbell, Kari Gorman, Tom and Cathy Neal, Colleen Tavor.

100 Boxes of Cereal Delivered to Presbytery

The Mission Ministry sends a big thank-you to all who donated to the Cereal for Summer collection and to Rob and Sally Kirsten who delivered 100 boxes of cereal to the Presbytery in July!

50 Backpacks for Foster Kids

A big thank-you to all who donated school supplies and helped pack the backpacks on Sunday, July 13, after the service!

Gardening and Nutrition Project With DCDI

The Gardening and Nutrition Project with Danika Community Development Inc (DCDI) has been a lot of fun this summer. We’ve done vermicomposting (with real worms), made ginger bug, jam, and fire cider and a whole lot more. Feel free to join us every Saturday from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Check with Sharon Cressman or Colleen Tavor for details.
   

Congregational Concerns

FPCF Session Meeting Highlights – January 15, 2025

• The 2024 financial year ended with a positive balance of more than $52,000. This was great news and is a result of the congregation working together to meet the financial goals, volunteering time, making donations or cutting back where possible.
• The February 2, 2025, Congregational Meeting is being planned. The purpose of the meeting is to review the 2024 annual reports of the ministries, committees, boards and staff of the church, review the 2025 budget and elect the Pastor Nominating Committee Members. 
• There was only one motion made where Session approved holding the Ash Wednesday Service on March 5, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., and the Maundy Thursday Service on April 17, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
• The Mission Study was approved by the Presbytery Commission on Ministry and FPCF has the go-ahead to continue with the next steps, which starts with electing a Pastor Nominating Committee.
• There are many activities that are being planned in our congregational life. Watch the weekly bulletins, monthly FYI, Narthex video screen and social media for more info.
• The Nominating Committee will start looking for nominations for Elders and Deacons to replace those leaving in 2025. Anyone interested should contact Martha Countegan for more info.

The next Session meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.

Dorothy Tait, Clerk of Session

Pastor Nominating Committee

If you are interested in being considered for a member of the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC), please contact Martha Countegan.
PNC is the committee elected by the congregation to conduct the process of finding and evaluating candidates and eventually selecting our new pastor. 2025 will be an exciting and pivotal year for our church. Please pray about what God is calling you to do. The PNC members will be elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting to be held on Sunday, February 2 after the service.

2025 offering envelopes

Those who have used numbered envelopes in 2024 will automatically receive envelopes for 2025, unless you inform us otherwise. If you have NOT used envelopes this year, but DO wish to have them for next year, please 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 automatically submit your pledge electronically from your bank account monthly, please call the church office to have the forms sent to you.

If you have any questions, please call the church office at (248) 474-6170.

Please pay your 2025 Per Capita Apportionment

The Presbyterian Church is a “connectional” church where we interact through the Presbytery of Detroit, the Synod of the Covenant and the General Assembly. These councils are funded by the “Per Capita” on each of our active members. For 2024, the Per Capita amount is $37.00. We ask that you contribute $37 for each member of your household confirmation age and above to help offset this amount. Checks may be made payable to the First Presbyterian Church of Farmington; please note “Per Capita” on the memo line.

2025 offering envelopes and electronic debit

Those who have used numbered envelopes in 2024 will automatically receive envelopes for 2025, unless you inform us otherwise. If you have NOT used envelopes this year, but DO wish to have them for this year, please 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.

2025 Worship Flower sign-up available

Please consider giving flowers in memory of a loved one or to recognize a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary or to the glory of God. An arrangement for our Sunday worship is $25.00 and enhances our in-person and livestreamed worship services. More than one arrangement may be ordered for any Sunday and will be displayed on plant stands near the pulpit during the service. Your donation will also be acknowledged in that Sunday’s worship bulletin. Please complete an order form for 2025 flowers located on the kiosk or order through the church office at least one week in advance. You may take home the flowers after the service, ask to have the flowers delivered to you or request to have them delivered to one of our homebound members or friends.

Custodian Needed!

We at First Presbyterian are actively seeking a permanent part-time custodian. The candidate should have a good background in building maintenance. The job is 18-20 hours per week. The pay for the position is $20 per hour.
Please refer any candidates to Bob Van Hamme.

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 livestream.

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.

Metro Food Rescue

“Thank you for your generous donation of $150.- to Metro Food Rescue on 7/3/25. With your generous donation, we will be able to rescue enough food to provide 1,350 meals to people that really need it. Thank you again for helping us to Waste Less and Feed More.” Chad Techner, Executive Director”

Marion Medical Mission

“Thank you for your gift of $900.00! Marion Medical Mission will use 100% of your donation as designated. A Marion Medical Mission well can be guilt in the most remote areas. It is a well that the extreme poor know how to maintain and can afford to maintain. Safe drinking water brings life to these villages. Thank you for being part of the solution! Our efforts will continue until every village has a sustainable source of safe drinking water. When we pray, we move our feet! Tom Logan, President”

Backpacks for Foster Kids

“Our first drive in 2015 netted us 90 backpacks. Word spread and so did the requests from agencies. This year we were asked to donate 400 backpacks. This was an enormous challenge to use and one church cannot do it all. But thanks to FPCF and your donations we were able to meet and surpass our goal. With your help and First Presbyterian Church of Northville and Faith Community Church of Novi, we were able to deliver 706 backpacks, gift cards for Wayne State University students aged out of foster care and over 13,700 school supplies. Because we had an Amazon Wish List, I am not able to know everyone that donated to this drive…but God does.

Last year we were able to support 5 agencies. This year we were able to meet the needs of 11 agencies. Some of the stories I heard were heartbreaking. Your generosity will help ensure that over 700 children that have had trauma filled lives will start the new school year with confidence and pride. Grateful to all at FPCF, Peggy Fisher-Kmieciak, First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth”

Crossroads of Michigan

“On behalf of our 18 staff members, 12 Board members, and the 41,000 clients we serve at Crossroads of Michigan, thank you for your generous donation of $2,000.00. Your support is essential in providing life-changing services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty, and we are deeply grateful to have you as a partner in this critical work.

Once again, thank you for believing in our mission and for making such a meaningful difference to the lives of those we serve. We couldn’t do this without you, and we are truly grateful to have you as part of our community. God bless you and your incredible generosity! What an answered prayer for us and our clients! With gratitude, Dr. Joseph D. Daniel-Hoste, Vice President of Operations”

Danika Community Development Inc (DCDI)

“Thank you so much for your donation of $500 to our scholarship fund! This donation will be the first toward a new scholarship of $2,500 in my mother’s name granted to high school seniors going to college or current college students. We so much appreciate the support and partnership of FPCF also with our Resume and Practice Interviewing Workshops and the Garden and Nutrition Project. You play an essential role in our ability to serve underserved populations.” Danielle Ware, Executive Director”

2025 Church Holiday Schedule

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

Regularly Scheduled Committees and Activities at FPCF

QR Code for Donations!

If you ever forget to go to the ATM, or simply don’t carry cash on you, we’ve decided to include the church QR code for a more streamlined donation process. To donate, just scan the QR code and follow the prompts! 

Church Calendar
You can access the up-to-date church calendar on the FPCF website at:
 https://farmington-pres.org/

Prayer for Labor Day

As the sun rises to bring in the new day:
We remember those who descend into the earth, their work begins in darkness, pulling from the earth, the resources we steward.
We remember those who work inside a building away from the light and brightness of the day.
We remember those who work outside in the harsh elements of our world, the bitter cold and sweltering heat of extremes.
We remember those who do not have a job to go to, who are struggling to meet the needs of their daily living expenses, for whom the day becomes long and arduous.
As the sun sets to bring in the evening of rest:
We remember those who work in the night.
We remember those who are trying to recover from their labor and toils of the day.
We remember those who participate in unsafe and dangerous work.
We pray for a renewed sense of dignity in their lives and in their work.
God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the worker. Make a place in our hearts for compassion to the men and women who labor tirelessly for basic necessities. Ensure a place for the men and women who are struggling to find work. Grant us your wisdom to greet and care for those who are unable to work due to illness or circumstances that prevent their participation. Be with the children who are not able to run and play, but instead must put in a hard day’s work to help their family afford to eat, to live. Be with us all, Christ Jesus, as we go about the busyness of our work. Hold us accountable not only for our actions, but most importantly to each of our neighbors. May we continue to work together to bring about your reign! We ask this in your holy name, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.