Join us for First Forum: Constructive Theology: "Embracing the Other: Love’s Transformative Spirit" in the Curtis and Founders Rooms on Sunday, September 29 at 12:15 p.m. with Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Earlham School of Religion, Earlham, IN. Dr. Kim is an innovative, faithful, Asian feminist perspective on God’s Spirit in the world today.
You are encouraged to attend a one-hour listening session so that we might gain clarity on the mission and vision of who God is calling us to be at First Pres as we enter the third decade of the 21st Century. Your participation is important. We will provide a brief overview of the visioning effort and then listen to your ideas on the future direction of our church.
Come to the all-church picnic on Sunday, June 9, following the 9:30 a.m. worship service. This year, enjoy our summer travel theme, Satchel’s BBQ from Detroit, a fire truck, inflatables like “The Cliffhanger” slide, and lots of fun for children of all ages! String bassist, composer, arranger, bandleader and Ann Arbor jazz hero Paul Keller leads his Paul Keller AT SUNDOWN Quintet as they perform from 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on the Circle Terrace. Cost is $10 per person if you pay by Friday, June 7 at noon. $12 per person if you pay at the event (maximum $50 per family).
Debbie MacVey, First Pres’ Director of Children’s Education and Families Ministries, has announced her retirement. She will continue in her current role through the completion of this year’s Vacation Bible School, and will be honored on Sunday, June 24. Please read her letter about what being a part of the church has meant to her throughout her life at https://www.firstpresbyterian.org/sites/default/files/other/Debbie-MacVey-Retirement-Letter.pdf.
Celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit – wear red to worship on Sunday, May 20! The Pentecost Offering will be accepted on May 20 which supports the Young Adult Volunteer program, youth ministries including Youth Triennium, and programs for children at risk. Forty percent of the offering will be used locally to support programs for young people in the community. This year, First Pres’ portion of the offering will be given to the Youth Outreach program at Ozone House.
On Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. First Presbyterian will have the opportunity to continue to serve the families at Alpha House by providing a spring clean-up of the children's playground and the front garden. Alpha House provides vital support and rapid-rehousing for families in transition in our community. In the playground we'll be adding new mulch and repairing railroad ties used in landscaping. In the front garden, there are dead branches that need to be removed, general clean-up, and new plantings. Sunday, May 20 is the rain-date if needed.
College students are invited to “Michigan Meltdown” on Tuesday, April 17, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Free ice cream for all students! For more information or to volunteer to scoop, contact Revs. Evans McGowan at emcgowan@firstpresbyterian.org or Blair Buckley at bbuckley@firstpresbyterian.org.
Join us Sunday, April 8 for First Forums: A Discussion on Church Safety Issues at First Pres and Possible Next Steps. Presented by the Safety Committee, this will be a review of what the committee has been working on, including possible next steps. The committee has been working on recommendations to make our church both welcoming and safe for members, guests, and staff. Recent events make this discussion even more relevant. Join us at 12:15 p.m. in the Curtis and Founders Rooms. Lunch will be provided, $5 each.
5th Grade-led Mission: Build Lunches with Love - The fifth graders are working on their Reaching Out Together in Mission milestone by partnering with Food Gatherers to build ready-to-grab lunch bags filled with food and love. Fifth graders will be reaching out to the entire congregation throughout the month of April to support this mission and are looking to collect the following donations to build as many lunch bags as possible:
Spring Park Playtime is for families that include children under age six. On Saturday, April 28, 11:00 a.m. to noon, join us at Wurster Park (W. Madison between Third and Turner Park Ct.). This is a fun opportunity to gather with the many church families with young children – kids can play together while parents connect and mingle, too! We’ll meet by the playground equipment near theMosley and Third entrance. There is easy parking on the south side of Madison. For families that can spare the time, we suggest you bring a picnic lunch.
