. A Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor April 2015 Volume 63, Number 4 WHAT’S INSIDE Worship & Music................................ Residents’ Corner .............................. Faith in Action ................................... Transitions ........................................... Annual Giving ..................................... Opportunities for Women .............. Children & Families........................... Youth Connection ............................. Adult Education.................................. Campus Connection ........................ Congregational Life............................ We are entering the most holy time of the year, a week that begins with a scandalous parade, includes betraying an innocent man for a few pieces of silver, and ends with the light having gone out of the world. Shouts of ‘Hosanna’ are replaced by cries of ‘Crucify him!’ and few people seem to grasp the enormity of what is taking place. The depth of sin is eclipsed only by the depth of God’s love, which will not allow death to have the final word. The resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, is the basis of our faith. It testifies to the power of God, a power that is unrivaled. The more one studies the scriptures and comes to know the grace of God – made most evident and clear to us in the person of Jesus Christ – the more one is humbled, the more one bows in awe before God. Life is too beautiful and intricate to be happenstance. Life is too fragile to be taken for granted. Life is too difficult to be lived without a strength 2 2 3 5 5 5 6 6 8 8 9 greater than our own to nurture and sustain us, to grant us peace and give us hope. As people created and loved by God, we gather to worship in joy and thanksgiving and in witness to the resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Easter at First Pres will be celebrated in five morning worship services. Details are elsewhere in this newsletter. May our joy continue well beyond the final notes of Handel’s Hallelujah chorus, for Christ is raised from the dead! Death is no match for God. God’s love has no end, and God’s love is for us all. Thanks be to God! Grace and peace, Fairfax F. Fair, Pastor Five Worship Opportunities on Easter, April 5 6:45 a.m. – A 30-minute sunrise service will be led by our resident ministers on the Circle Terrace, weather permitting, or Monteith Hall. 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 a.m. – Rev. Dr. Fair will preach at these traditional services held in the Sanctuary. Musical leadership will include the Chancel Choir, brass quintet, organ, and timpani. The services will conclude with the congregation singing Handel’s Hallelujah chorus. 10:00 a.m. – A new worship offering will be led by Rev. Roederer in Monteith Hall for those for whom a less-crowded worship experience is preferred. The service will include a sermon and music led by a soloist. Please note that there is no 7:07 worship service on Easter. Worship & Music EASTER SUNDAY Decorate the Church with Easter Lilies Lilies will grace the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday. Sign up in the Church Office or online at www.firstpresbyterian.org by Monday, March 30, at 5:00 p.m., to donate a lily in memory or in honor of a loved one. The cost is $17. After Easter worship, our deacons will deliver the lilies to members and friends of our congregation who are ill, grieving, or shut in. Parking on Easter Sunday: Make Room for Others Please make considerate parking choices to leave open as many spaces near the church as possible for people with mobility issues. Handicapped spaces will be designated in the parking lot on the Hillegonds Chapel side of the church. Parking is permitted on Washtenaw and Hill Streets on Sunday mornings and free parking is available in the nearby parking structure at 650 S. Forest Avenue. Easter Morning Coffee and Fellowship Enjoy Easter morning fellowship, refreshments, and Fair Trade coffee from 7:15 to 8:00 a.m. (hot cross buns!) in the Narthex, and from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. outside Monteith Hall. Help the Flowering Crosses Bloom on Easter Morning Bring fresh flowers on Easter to add to our Flowering Crosses located outside the Sanctuary on the front steps and in the Monteith Hall vestibule. Store-bought flowers are welcome! No Easter Sunday School Sunday School classes do not meet on Easter Sunday. Childcare, for crib through young five-year-olds, is available at 8:00 a.m., by reservation only, and at 9:30, 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., no reservations needed. Residents’ Corner A Letter from Rev. Conrad Dear First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, I am writing with deepest gratitude in my heart for God’s call that joined us together in ministry for this past year and a half. Your celebrations and tears, trials and adventures, home-brews and hospitality have bolstered and affirmed by call into pastoral ministry. For all that and more, I am deeply touched and so grateful. As you all know, the resident ministry program comes with a ticking clock and swirling questions of what lies next for each of us pastors you have grown to love and care about, and allowed to minister alongside you and to you. I understand this to be the most difficult and most wonderful part of your call as a congregation. For bearing the tears of saying goodbye alongside the excitement of what lies ahead, I again give you my thanks. So I have big news to share with you! First Presbyterian Church of Burlington, NC has called me to be their Associate Pastor of Mission, Young Adults, and Congregational Care. I am thrilled for this next adventure in my faith journey, but that also means my time in Ann Arbor with you is drawing to a close. My last Sunday is on May 10, 2015. I look forward to celebrating the mutual ministry we have done together on that day in worship, and I prayerfully look forward to the continual unfolding of the ministry of First Pres in the years to come. Peace be yours, Rev. Lindsay Conrad 2 Faith in Action Help Save Lives! Give Blood Monday, April 13 The Deacons’ Blood Drive is scheduled for Monday, April 13, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Curtis Room. As the Red Cross says, “The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Give blood.” Please help! Sign up to donate blood, either online at www.redcrossblood.org, or at the Blood Drive table at Coffee Hour on March 29. Questions? Contact John Yodhes at jyodhes@gmail.com, or Susan Sweet Scott at 3205819. Donating blood is a simple thing to do, and it will make a huge difference in the lives of others. Date Change for April Communion Sunday Food Collection Donations will be accepted on April 12 - note date change! Communion will not be held on Easter Sunday, but one week later, on April 12. Please bring forward food and offerings on the last hymn during each worship service. Presbyterian Women will take the Sunday Communion Food Collection on April 12 to the Second Mile Center in Detroit. The Second Mile Center of Detroit serves Monday night dinners to many people, including the homeless, cares for many children in the after-school program, and provides lunch for campers during summer camp. Their other efforts include a yearly Health Fair and a clothes closet. In a dangerous area of Detroit, people are fed in body, and given hope that their children may avoid street gangs and graduate from high school. Bring food and donations, and pray that Second Mile Center of Detroit may continue these ministries. Philippines Book, Bake, and Reuse Items Sale Donate April 30 & May 1, Shop on May 2 Are you moving or downsizing? Do you need to purge your garage, attic, basement, and closets of items you no longer need? Consider donating those items to the Philippines Mission Team who will turn them into mission dollars, bricks, and mortar! Drop off your donations in the Social Hall, Thursday, April 30, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Friday, May 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Come back on Saturday, May 2, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and go shopping! Suggested donation items include books, linens, costume jewelry, kitchenware, dinnerware, tools, dishes, antiques, framed prints, children’s clothing, sports gear, pottery, and such. We cannot accept adult clothing, old computers, large appliances, large furniture, or exercise equipment. Do you have questions, need pick up help, or need to drop off donations early? Contact John Kinzinger at johnalva@aol.com, Joe Schmidt at 417-4921, or Hank McQueen at 769-1793. Limited storage space is available. Spring Events at Cass: Rev. Conrad Preaches at Cass On April 8, Rev. Lindsay Conrad will be preaching her last sermon at the Cass Community Social Services Wednesday evening worship service. Lindsay has been a popular guest preacher at Cass throughout her residency with us. In December, her guest preaching was combined with a mission event with Cass residents. Although we will not be combining the event with a mission activity, many have expressed an interest in attending the service. The service begins at 6:00 pm and will be held in the warehouse. If you are interested in going and would like to carpool, please contact Sue Jeffers sjeffers1@me.com. Spring Planting Come and be a part of First Presbyterian’s annual spring planting of vegetable and flower gardens at Cass Community Social Services in Detroit on Saturday, May 9. Carpools will leave from the church at 8:00; we should wrap up our work in the early afternoon. Absolutely no skills are required. Please sign up on the church’s website or email Sue Jeffers at sjeffers1@me.com. 3 Fair Trade Coffee on Sale at Coffee Hour April 12 Put some “spring” in your step with Fair Trade Coffee. Regular, decaf, whole bean, and a variety of blends will be sold next Sunday, April 12, at Coffee Hour. Your purchase supports a living wage for coffee farmers and helps pay for First Pres’ commitment to serving Fair Trade Coffee at all church events. Coffee can also be purchased any day by completing an order form (located in the Welcome Center) or by stopping by the church office during business hours. Blanket Tying for Children Thursday, April 16 Join us from 10:00 a.m. to noon on April 16 as volunteers cut and tie fleece blankets that will be given to abused children at the “Kids Talk Clinic” in Detroit when they come for treatment. A $10.00 donation is suggested for the cost of material. News from Niger: from Rev. Michael and Rachel Ludwig,Our Mission Co-Workers Please pray for the Ludwigs, their health issues, and progress with Michael’s work with the national church. Our language teacher recently told us that it appears we “don’t really do much.” It was nice to see we’re close enough to tease each other, but also a really interesting comment on how time is valued here. We have spent our time in these ways – Rachel working with the kids in school, Michael doing computer work and collaborating on projects with church leaders, contacting supporters, memorizing Hausa vocabulary, filling water buckets, enjoying conversation with our former guard’s wife, preparing for meals and children’s needs, and more. Our language teacher then told us what it means to him to “be really busy.” He listed all the people he had helped in the last two days. In Niger, the relationships you have in a day and the people you see have everything to do with what you get done. We’ve gotten used to the basics of living here, and even adjusted to surprise problems. We’ve found ways to get into the community, be helpful to the church, and nurture our children in this place. However, often the hardest part is having the energy, after just doing the work of surviving, to stretch ourselves and try to be part of this “other” culture. When we can do that, we start to see that all of the progress we’re making is just scratching the surface of what it means to understand and adapt to another culture. As you see, we need prayers for continued energy, and for our relationships with the people around us. Michael has moved into spending some of his time at the national church office this month, and we are all working on further language learning so that we can soon be able to carry on real conversations in Hausa. We could also use prayers for our health. Also, continued grace for the planning for the national consultation on theological education, which has a chance to make a great impact on the way the church trains and reaches out. Help for Hope Clinic Do you have unused, unneeded, unopened test strips or glucometers? Donate them to the HOPE Medical Clinic in Ypsilanti. Place your excess test strips in the plastic mail bin outside the First Pres Parish Nurse’s office and doctors at the clinic will give them to needy patients. By sharing your excess, new diabetics or those without access to test strips, will be able to benefit from your generosity. Save the Date for the Haiti Reunion Celebration Saturday, June 27, 6:00 pm The Haiti Medical Mission Team and the Haiti Nursing Foundation are co-sponsoring a special evening to celebrate the 15 years of medical mission in Haiti and the 10 years since the founding of the FSIL School of Nursing in Leogane, Haiti. The celebration will feature a reception on the patio, steel drum band, Haitian dinner, and guest speaker Dr. Michael Lindvall. Ticket sales begin May 1. For more information contact Rosemarie Rowney at rrowney@comcast.net or Marcia Lane at mlane@haitinursing.org. 4 Transitions We Grieve the Death of Dorothy “Dottie” Steiner, February 1, 2015 Margaret “Peg” Ressler, February 14, 2015 Betty Reinhart, March 9, 2015 Bob Snyder, March 19, 2015 Barbara Black, March 26, 2015 We say farewell to: Richard and Katie Norton, to Indianapolis Wanetta Jones, to New York Pat and Tom Elkington, to Arizona Annual Giving Upcoming Memorial Services: Barbara Black, April 1, 2:00 p.m. Margaret “Peg” Ressler, May 15, 11:00 a.m. Betty Reinhart, May 16, 11:00 a.m. Bob Snyder, June 7, 3:00 p.m. We Celebrate the Birth of Claire Kristine McInchak, born March 14, 2015, daughter of Joe and Kellie McInchak. Wyatt Byers Ginsberg, born February 11, 2015, son of David and Megan Granito Ginsberg and grandson of Harry Granito and Kim Byers-Granito. Update on Annual Giving for 2015 The Annual Giving Committee thanks all who have turned in their Financial Commitment and Opportunity to Serve forms. Through Friday, March 6, we have received 551 pledges totaling $1,562,980 million. This represents 97% of our 2015 goal of $1,610,000. Please know that it is never too late to make a commitment to your church. If you have not yet turned in your 2015 commitments to serve or your financial pledge, please consider doing so today. Lost or misplaced your Commitment forms? Extra forms may be found in the Welcome Center, in the Church Office and online at http://firstpresbyterian.org/contribute/donate/annual-giving-2015. The Reverend Dr. Fairfax F. Fair has thoughtfully connected our theme from Micah 6:8 with our stewardship giving: What does the Lord require of us? God asks our best. Our gifts to God are to be as bountiful as God’s blessings toward us. Giving to God is a sign of spiritual maturity. Making our gifts to God our highest priority demonstrates our trust in God and our gratitude to God. Through our giving, we seek justice and show kindness. Through our giving, we demonstrate our mindfulness that we are children of God. That’s what it is to walk humbly with God. If you have questions, please contact either Lucie Audette, Annual Giving Workgroup Chair at 717-8062 or Lynnette Conner, Finance Manager at 662-4466, ext. 344. Formation of 2016 Annual Giving Workgroup The following individuals have graciously volunteered to begin the process of planning the 2016 Annual Giving this coming fall: Lucie Audette, Chair; Carol Downton; Gail Grady; John LeDuc; Zach Monsma; Chris Queen; and Carson Smith. We met for the first time Monday, March 9. We laughed, prayed, got to know each other, and shared our hopes and ideas for Stewardship this coming year. We need additional members for this committee. Please consider joining this group, no experience necessary. We will be meeting once a month to share fellowship and develop plans. Our next meeting is Monday. April 20, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Questions? Interested in joining us? Contact Lucie Audette at 717-8062 or laudette125@hotmail.com Opportunities for Women Habitat for Humanity Tour on April 15 Presbyterian Women will begin their gathering at 9:30 a.m. in the Lewis Room for lesson 8 of the Bible study Reconciling Paul, led by Jill Binkley. At 10:45 a.m., Don Redding and Barry Johnson will meet us at church and lead our group on a tour of area Habitat homes that First Pres has built or rehabbed. After the tour, PW will enjoy lunch at Dalat restaurant in Ypsilanti. Other PW Events: •Women’s Evening Bible Study (WEBS) will meet on the third Monday, April 20, at 7:00 pm in the Curtis Room. •PW Reading Group will meet on Wednesday, April 22, at 1:00 pm at the home of Myra Larson. 5 Children & Families Sign Up Now for Summer Vacation Bible School! Register online at www.firstpresbyterian.org, (search VBS) Our Summer Vacation Bible School program, “Christ’s Chosen,” will be held Tuesday through Thursday, June 16 - 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m, on the grounds of First Pres. For three funfilled days our children who have completed Kindergarten through fifth grade and their friends experience what life was like when Jesus lived. They relive Biblical events, occupations, the synagogue, family life, and experience being part of a typical Bible-time family. Children visit the shops of the marketplace and try their hands at many crafts, travel to the storyteller’s tent, enjoy game time, and witness events in Jesus’ life re-enacted by our drama team. There are many ways that adults, middle schoolers, and high schoolers can volunteer and be a part of this great activity. Questions? Contact: Debbie MacVey dmacvey@firstpresbyterian.org or Cindy King cking@firstpresbyterian.org Have You Signed Up for Camp? Over 30 children and youth have already registered for our fun week at Camp Westminster, but spots are still available. If you want more details about camp or to learn how to register your 2nd through 8th grader go to www.firstpresbyterian. org and search “Camp Westminster.” Take a look at all the good times we have had by checking out the the camp pictures from past summers on the bulletin board on the 400 level at church, or view the photo gallery on the church website. Questions? Email Debbie MacVey dmacvey@firstpresbyterian.org or Rev. Dr. Jim Monnett jmonnett@firstpresbyterian.org Youth Connection Confirmation What does it take to encourage a young person to make a personal decision to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? This year’s eighth grade Confirmation ministry was a great Church School class where the class worked with their mentors Carol Detmer, Margaret Jahnke, Drew Burton and Diane Hockett with Rev. Dr. Jim Monnett, Director of Youth Ministry, to study, discuss and probe the Christian faith. Confirmation weekend is April 18 and 19. It begins with a banquet with the Session at 6 p.m. in the Social Hall followed by an examination in Monteith Hall . On Sunday, the class will stand before the 9:30 a.m. worshipping congregation and profess their faith and affirm the membership vows as they join our church. This year’s class includes Ethan Bilby, Allison Dabrowski, Elizabeth Engel, Nicole France, Leina Kaehr, Emily Lancaster, Ben Meyers, Claudia Morville, Aedan Mulcrone, Charlie Rogers, Jack Santinga, and Lydia Schaafsma. Believe Youth Conference Friday, April 24 - Saturday, April 25 The Believe Youth Conference (http://www.ciy.com/believe) is a high-energy weekend event for sixth through eighth grade students only. It’s packed with great speakers, bands in worship, and events including illusionist Jeff Walling. Middle schoolers will leave for Holland, Michigan at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24 and return by 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25. The trip will be led by Rev. Dr. Jim Monnett (RJ) and Sarah Glinka Endicott. The registration fee is $140. Checks should be made out to First Presbyterian Church and given to RJ along with a Consent Release form. Contact RJ to obtain the link to the online conference registration form. 6 Adult Education Note: There are no Adult Education classes on Easter Sunday, April 5 Sundays @ 9:30 A.M. The Bible @ 9:30 - French Room/Library Bible Exploration and Conversation April 12 - 26 The Book of Genesis The class, led by Rev. Ed Koster, continues a fascinating study of the first book in the Old Testament, Genesis. First Couples - Monteith Hall This group offers spiritual growth, learning, fellowship, and support for couples and individuals and meets in Monteith Hall. April 12 & 19 24 Hours That Changed the World In this Lenten journey, Pastor Adam Hamilton guides us through the last twenty-four hours of Jesus’ life with a DVD presentation filmed in Israel and discussion. The presenters are class members. April 26 Developing Cultural Understanding and Communication The presenter is Robbie Ransom. Adult Education on Sundays @ 11:00 A.M. Common Ground - Lewis Room Common Ground is a fresh group at First Pres where new and longtime members alike find a place to grow in faith and develop friendships. All are welcome! The class is conversational in style and is led by First Pres members, pastors, and other knowledgeable presenters. April 12 - 26 Love and Logic Parenting Classes Join us for this introduction to the general philosophy of Parenting with Love and Logic® which covers discipline tactics, sibling rivalry, and creating one-liners to help keep your sanity. Holly Majorprice and Mary Magos are the instructors. Childcare will be available, and snacks for adults and children will be provided. The cost for the 3 week series is $20/family which includes childcare, snacks, and a Love and Logic workbook (additional workbooks are $10 each). Register in the Church Office or online at www.firstpresbyterian.org Exploring the Faith (Monteith Hall) April 12 - 26 : Lila – A Conversation with Dr. John Whittier-Ferguson about a beautiful novel Enter the world of Lila with Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gilead and Housekeeping Marilynne Robinson as storyteller. Return to the town of Gilead to trace a story of a girlhood lived on the fringes of society in fear, awe, and wonder. Lila, homeless and alone after years of roaming the countryside, steps inside a small-town Iowa church – the only available shelter from the rain – and ignites a romance and a debate that will reshape her life. The presenter is Dr. John Whittier-Ferguson, Professor of English at the University of Michigan. May 3 The Living Stones of Israel and Palestine Margaret and Harris McClamroch, and Mary Lynn and Jim Thomson will share their experiences meeting and learning from inspirational peacemakers (the Living Stones) in both the West Bank and Israel in October 2014, when they traveled to the Holy Land with the Pilgrims of Ibillin. 7 Campus Connection From Rev. Renee Roederer, Director of Campus Ministry It’s hard to believe that we are nearly finished with the 2015–2016 academic year. Our year together has been tremendous, and it’s time again to thank you. Our undergraduate and graduate students are so grateful to have a home away from home at First Pres. Thank you for getting to know their names and learning more about their lives on campus. Thank you to all of our small group leaders who meet regularly with their students. Your love and hospitality has shaped their faith for a lifetime. Thank you to all the volunteers who have cooked dinner for our students on Sunday nights. This time has truly been a doorway into the life of our broader church. Many students, after dinner, have started attending worship more regularly, participating in our midweek programs, serving in local mission, and learning more deeply in small groups. Thank you to everyone who volunteered at the Pancake Supper. It is an amazing gift to have 300 students inside our building in December! Thank you to everyone who serves as a leader in ministry on the Campus Ministry Work Group and on the Board of the Ann Arbor Campus Ministry Foundation. You add so much to the vision for what we do! And thank you to everyone who has provided financial gifts this year. You supported our overall ministry and our Spring Break service trips. On trips, faith is deepened, and some students have a faith experience for the first time in their lives. Trips build friendships that last a lifetime and strengthen the leadership of students in service for years to come. We could not do what we do without you, and we’re so grateful! Congregational Life Pilgrimage: The Sacred Journey of Ordinary Life Women’s Retreat April 24 - 25, Maumee Bay Lodge, Ohio 24 hours of relaxation, fun, learning, growth, and friendship. Come to a deeper faith and renewed friendship with other women from First Pres. Always a popular event, registration is due by April 1. Fees are $120/ double or $180/single and include all meals and lodging. Scholarships and carpooling are available. If you did not get a brochure in the mail, see the First Pres website to register, www.firstpresbyterian.org. This year we welcome co-facilitators and leaders Rev. Karen Ferguson Ness (Libertyville, IL) and Rev. Melissa Anne Rogers. Worskhop leaders include Rev. Lois Colon, Rev, Kristin Riegel, Sandy Talbott, and members of First Pres who have taken various kinds of literal and spiritual pilgrimages. Why does the idea of pilgrimage speak to us? What is it about the journey that calls to us? Some of us are led to take an actual spiritual pilgrimage, but others can find the deeper meaning of the spiritual journey in all aspects of life – even in the ordinary everyday moments. At this retreat, we will explore the literal and metaphorical meaning of pilgrimage, and how to draw courage and strength from this idea of journey no matter where we find ourselves and what might be ahead of us. As Jesus was with the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, where is Jesus with us on our journey? To what pilgrimages is Jesus leading us even now? Join us for great keynote speaking and preaching, wonderful communion together, a real walking pilgrimage on the grounds, workshops, and more. Sign up to get your portraits taken now! We have one more week of photo taking with Lifetouch scheduled for Wednesday, April 29 to Saturday May 2. If you have not yet had your photo taken for the new directory, please sign up soon. The new photo directory is planned to be published and distributed in September. Sign up at www.firstpresbyterian.org, or call the Church Office (662-4466) for an appointment. 8 Eat. Drink. Be Merry!: Immature Ministries (40s/50s) is at it again! Dessert Pairings: Wine vs. Beer! And the winner is… Our next Immature Ministries is April 17. Eat dinner before arriving at the home of the Reynolds. Bring nothing (except $7.50/ person to cover costs) and come enjoy some delicious pairings of beer and chocolate along with some wine and cheese pairings. We’ll be voting before the night is out to determine which tasting(s) are the best! If you’re in the (roughly) 40 to 50 year old age range, enjoy laughter, conversation, and rubbing elbows with some of the most engaging people you’ll ever meet, then join us – Friday April 17, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Reynolds’ – 5416 Waldenhill Court, Ypsilanti. RSVP online at www. firstpresbyterian.org, or contact Rev. Melissa Anne Rogers (mrogers@firstpresbyterian.org) or or Sandy Talbott (stalbott@firstpresbyterian.org). We hope to see you there! Hilltoppers Goes to the Dogs! Join us on Thursday, April 9, at Noon, in the Social Hall, for “Therapaws: What is is, How We Serve, and The Difference We Make: Woof!” Jerry Nordblum will join us, and bring several therapy dogs for us to meet. Enjoy a delicious hot lunch by Chef Christine for $5. Sign up in the Church Office, or email Rev. Rogers, mrogers@firstpresbyterian.org. Hilltoppers is geared to those 60 and up, but all are welcome to join us anytime. The College of Elders The College of Elders meets Saturday, April 18, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. If you are an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church, or Minister of the Word and Sacrament, you will be invited to attend. If you have not received an invitation in the past, let the Church Office so we can put you on the list. Tell Me More About This Church Join us on Sunday, April 26 at 12:10 p.m. as Rev. Dr. Fairfax F. Fair leads an open, one-hour conversation with anyone interested in knowing more about First Pres – our history, theology, practices, governance, who we are as a staff, our vision, and more. Lunch is provided but reservations are required. Childcare is available by request. Sign up by emailing Rev. Rogers at mrogers@firstpresbyterian.org or by calling the Church Office at 662-4466. New Communion Elements in Monteith Hall New pottery communion serving pieces are now being used in Monteith Hall. These beautiful pieces were made by Doug Worthington, a member of the Ann Arbor Potters Guild. Doug comes by his work for First Presbyterian naturally. He grew up in Westminster Church of Detroit and, in his words, was “the camp baby at Westminster Camp on Higgins Lake, as my dad was business manager.” Thanks to Doug for his beautiful work which we hope to enjoy for years to come. New Members We welcome these new members that joined our church family on March 22 – Brian and Jill Baumhover, Carol Carter, Mary Evans, Ruth and Bob Gardstrom, John and Betsy Hammond, Alice Holderby, Ralph and Laurel Kauffman, Sacha and Jane Montas, Ellen Pogue-Greiner, Josh and Carolyn Swenson, and Anne and Herb Upton. 9
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