THE PILGRIM VISITORTHE PILGRIM VISITOR

November 2017-Vol. 42, No. 11

Published Monthly

First Congregational Church of Royal Oak 1314 Northwood Boulevard, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073 248.288.4220—fccro@fccro.org—www.fccro.org Return Service Requested

November 19th, 2017 is Heritage Sunday at FCCRO. As part of the celebration of our Congre-gational traditions and our Pilgrim forefathers, the Congregational Heritage Committee is sponsoring a potluck dinner immediately following the worship service. Pilgrim dress is encouraged. Turkey, gravy and dressing, potatoes, rolls, and beverages will be provided. You are encouraged to bring foods that

are traditional, either to your own family’s Thanksgiving celebration or which would have been served at the original Thanksgiving feast. In order to provide for a variety of foods, please follow the schedule

based on the first letter of your last name:

DESSERTS SALADS VEGETABLES A-G H-M N-Z

We will provide paper plates, cups, silverware and napkins. Families with pre-school children will be served first.

Please come and join the celebration!

Heritage PotluckHeritage PotluckHeritage Potluck

INTRODUCING

REV. DR. MARK JENSEN

INTERIM MINISTER, FCCRO

We welcome Rev. Dr. Mark P. Jensen to Royal

Oak as he begins serving as our Interim

Minister. He has preached here and served our

congregation in various ways over the years.

For thirty one years, Mark was senior minister

of North Congregational Church of Farmington

Hills, where he is Minister Emeritus. Since his

retirement there, he has been interim in several

of our association churches. He has been on

many boards of the National Association of

Congregational Christian Churches, and was

Moderator of the Association. He was co-chair

of the Host Committee for the 2016 National

Meeting held in Dearborn.

He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota

and Colgate Rochester Divinity School. He did

Doctoral studies in Boston. Mark was ordained

at Plymouth Congregational Church of

Minneapolis, and had congregations in

Pittsburgh and Boston. He is Trustee Emeritus

of Olivet College, where he was most recently

chair of the Presidential Search Committee.

Numerous community organizations have

named him to their boards.

Mark lives in Farmington Hills with his wife

Liane. Their son Matt, and his family, live in

Royal Oak. Their daughter Rachel, and her

family, live in Ann Arbor.

Among responsibilities, the Interim Minister is to

plan and conduct worship services, attend

Council and Deacon meetings, interact with

staff and hold meetings with them. Hours and

days are flexible depending on the interim’s

needs and the needs of the church. While

Pastoral Care Ministries will assume

responsibility for regular pastoral care, he will

provide services in extreme circumstances.

Mark will be available for weddings and funerals

and counseling as necessary.

Let each one of us share in our new avenue of

ministry at First Congregational Church with joy!

THE PILGRIM VISITOR

A MESSAGE FROM

REV. DR. MARK JENSEN

To be a Congregational Church in Michigan for 175 years is no small feat. I am thankful that I can be a small part of this Royal Oak Church family in this time. Just think of the changes that have confronted First Congregational Church and the nation in that time.

Sometimes we look at the changes in our day

and think of the seemingly overwhelming

challenges we face. We can look at our society

and world speaking of some kind of doomsday.

We forget that throughout the Bible and world

history we can learn from stories about floods,

war, and dysfunctional families (read about

Joseph and his brothers, King David and his

children). In the last 175 years the US has

faced numerous wars, epidemics, and other

trials. Yet in that time, there have been

blessings and hope on which we might focus,

too.

We have a long way to go in many areas, but

slavery in America is never going to be justified

again. Antislavery societies included many

leaders who were Congregationalists. Women

have more equal standing in society. They

teach, run businesses, and are doctors and

judges. Women have been ordained in

Congregational churches for over 160 years.

Alternative ways of living are more diverse than

ever.

No, we haven’t “arrived.” The hymn, “Come

Labor On” calls to us. As we come to the

celebration of Heritage Sunday with Worship,

good food and wonderful music and to

Thanksgiving 2017, let each one of us

remember the challenges of the past even as

we move forward with hope to meet the

confrontations in our day. Each of us has a role

in being good stewards of Gods gifts to us, as

we work, give, pray, and reach out to one

another at Church, at home, and in the world at

large.

A message for Mark can be left in the office, or email him at

mpjfccro@gmail.com.

THE PILGRIM VISITOR

STEWARDSHIP MESSAGE

The beautiful Michigan trees turning rainbow

colors, the nip in the air, and shorter days let

us know that we are coming to a close of

another summer. And with the Autumn

season comes our annual Stewardship drive.

We have a lot of volunteers at First

Congregational. Boards, committees, the

Green Team, the Circles, the Odd Job

Squad, teachers, the choir… we should all

be proud of the job each and every one of us

does to keep the doors open, to serve God

and the community. But despite the sweat

equity each of us puts into the Church, we

still have expenses. Our work keeps them

modest. But they are there.

Our voluntary pledges are the primary

financial tool here at FCC. They help us plan

the programs and tell us whether we can pay

for all of our budgeted expenses for the

upcoming year. In the approaching weeks,

another bunch of volunteers, the

Stewardship Committee, will ask for you to

help with this year’s planning by turning in

your annual pledge. We thank you in

advance for your support.

BOOKS ON WHEELS

The library team would like

to lend church library

books to those who are

recuperating at home, or

are otherwise unable to get

to church. Anyone who is homebound,

regardless of age, can take advantage of this

lending program. You can give us

suggestions on the type of book you would

enjoy borrowing, or our team can select

some for you based on your interests. We

have books for all ages and on all subjects.

We even have a selection of large print

books you can borrow.

A Message from TINA the Director of Family Ministries

Autumn is officially here, although until very

recently, it has felt like July or August! Several

times in the last month, I had to check the

calendar to make sure it really was October!

We have had a successful first rotation with the

upstairs K-8 kids, studying “The Great

Commandment.” This rotation culminated with

a puppet show for the congregation, which was

very successful! The story had a great

message: that we are all one big church family,

and we need to respect and care for each

other! The kids had a great time! Our current

rotation, which will go through mid-November,

is the story of Jonah and the Big Fish! As most

of us probably know, Jonah does not want to

do what God commands him to do, and

because of it, he ends up in the belly of a giant

fish! We are exploring with the children how

God gives second chances, and he expects us

to do the same. A good reminder for anyone,

not just the children!

Another theme that is ongoing in November is

the reminder to be thankful. In this holiday

season, being thankful for what we have,

exercising forgiveness and showing kindness

and generosity are great lessons for children

and grown-ups alike!

Don’t forget about our annual Heritage Potluck

coming up November 19! Details are on the

board in front of the social hall! We hope to see

you all there, and at our upcoming events in

December (my favorite month!).

Tina Sherban

Board of Christian Outreach (BCO) Monthly Update

BEACON OF HOPE FOOD PANTRY The food pantry will be open to families on the 4

th Saturday of the month for the month of

October and the 3rd

Saturday of the month for the months of November and December. The next pantry day is Saturday, October 28. There are opportunities to help with setup on October 27 at 7pm. Let someone from the Board know if you can volunteer.

Plastic bags are no longer needed, but please continue to bring in your donations of cheese and butter. They are very much appreciated by the families that frequent the food pantry. TURKEY DRIVE Our annual turkey drive to benefit Gleaners will be on November 19. More details will follow. OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP AT CHRISTMAS - Salvation Army bell ringing in December - Christmas gifts for Jimmy’s Kids

More information on these opportunities to help will be in the PV as time gets closer to Christmas.

KIVA REPORT

HARUPERI - ZIMBABWE

Haruperi has benefited largely from the Kiva loans as her business has now expanded to providing tomatoes at wholesale price to her clients to purchase stock of feeds for her poultry animals and also fresh vegetables to resell. The level of stocks has also increased and she now needs the loan to be in a position to meet the increased demand for her products. She has also managed to build her house up almost to the window level, making her more appreciative of the Kiva loans. The Board of Christian Outreach made a $50 loan to Haruperi.

SAFIYA – NIGERIA

Safiya is a maize farmer who is married and lives with her husband and children in a small village in the state of Kaduna. Her village is a small community where farming is the primary means of income for most families. Safiya dreams that one day her children will grow up to be businessmen and women.

Using her last input loan from Babban Gona, Safiya gained access to high-quality farm inputs, and now expects a bountiful harvest.

As a Babban Gona member, Safiya will now receive a Harvest Advance loan, providing her with a cash advance. She will use this loan to pay her children’s school fees and secure their future. Additionally, Babban Gona will support Safiya by storing the harvested maize to sell later in the year. Now, she does not have to forfeit making a profit by selling her maize at low harvest prices.

Safiya notes that working with Babban Gona has improved her life considerably by providing her with a holistic agricultural package and wide support network. Safiya can now generate earnings significantly above the average Nigerian farmer’s annual income and secure her family’s future. The Board of Christian Education made a $100 loan to Safiya.

If you are interested in becoming a member of FCCRO this year, please

contact Claire Boyce or the church office.

THE PILGRIM VISITOR

FROM THE TRUSTEES: We are running significantly behind our projected collections for the year. Please review your giving against your pledge and make some attempt to catch up if necessary. Thank you!

THE PILGRIM VISITOR

2017 FCC CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: The performance is planned for Sunday, December 17th. We are looking for interested youth to help. Join us, as we prepare for the Christmas season. We have big parts, little parts, silent parts, singing parts… the perfect part for you to shine! In addition, we could use help with rehearsals, sets, and costumes. Please contact colleenschroeder@wowway.com for more information. BOY SCOUT TROOP 1610 will be taking wreath and garland orders during coffee hour November 5th and 12th (Or call Ken Friedman at 248.935.0080 to order by phone!) All orders will be available November 19th for pick up!

THE SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL is accepting applications for its LIVE YOUR DREAM AWARD — a monetary award to assist women with primary financial responsibility for their families to obtain the skills-training and education necessary to improve their employment status and standard of living for themselves and their family. More information is available in the church office. Applications must be submitted by November 15. PLEDGE CARDS HAVE BEEN MAILED — they are also available in the office. Please return your pledge card by November 5. Contact Kathy Gavin at kkgavin5@comcast.net with questions. Thank you for supporting FCC!

Sunday, December 3, 2017, 4:00 pmSunday, December 3, 2017, 4:00 pmSunday, December 3, 2017, 4:00 pm First Congregational Church First Congregational Church First Congregational Church

1314 Northwood Blvd, Royal Oak, MI1314 Northwood Blvd, Royal Oak, MI1314 Northwood Blvd, Royal Oak, MI

It’s beginning to look a lot like a…It’s beginning to look a lot like a…It’s beginning to look a lot like a…

ClassicalClassicalClassical

Bells Bells Bells

Christmas!Christmas!Christmas!

Temple TheatreTemple TheatreTemple Theatre 201 N Washington Ave201 N Washington Ave201 N Washington Ave

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General Admission $12General Admission $12General Admission $12

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November 12, 2017November 12, 2017November 12, 2017 3:00 pm3:00 pm3:00 pm

HELP WANTED:

Heritage Sunday November 19th, 2017

The Heritage Committee is once again looking forward

to our annual celebration of our Heritage with a special church service followed by a potluck turkey dinner. As usual, the meat, potatoes, gravy, dressing, rolls,

and beverages will be provided by the committee and

cooked by our own resident chef, Ken Goodwin. We ask that each family bring a dish to serve 8 as

requested on this month's PV cover, according to

the initial of your last name.

The members of the committee would like some help in

putting on the festive ev ent. Help is especially needed

for the set-up process on Sat., Nov. 18th at 9:30am and

again on Sunday morning, the 19th, for the intake of the

potluck food items and the clean-up after. If you feel that

you could assist us at either of these times, please contact: Judy Marin at 586 576-7101

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In celebration of its 175th anniversary, The First Congregational Church (and friends)

presents a choral and orchestral performance of

Randall Thompson

Ode to the Virginian VoyageOde to the Virginian VoyageOde to the Virginian Voyage

Sunday, November 19, 2017 at 2 p.m. (following our Heritage Sunday potluck!)

First Congregational Church of Royal Oak 1314 Northwood Blvd., Royal Oak, MI 48073

Admission is FREE! Everyone is welcome! Please join us!

THE PILGRIM VISITOR

Mondays Wired Word, 7pm, Youth Room Wednesday Bell Choir Rehearsal, 6:30pm Thursdays “Ode” Rehearsals, 6:30pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal, 7pm Saturdays Men’s Breakfast Club, 8am, Nick’s Country Oven

Sun. Oct. 29 Halloween Party Coffee Hour followed by Trunk or Treat Sun. Nov, 19 Heritage Sunday Potluck, following service “Ode” performance, 2pm Sun. Dec. 3 Classical Bells Concert, 4pm Sun. Dec. 10 Holiday Workshop Sun. Dec. 17 Youth Christmas pageant, during worship service

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ROYAL OAK 1314 Northwood Boulevard, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073

(248) 288-4220 fccro@fccro.org www.fccro.org

The Rev. Dr. Mark P. Jensen, Interim Senior Minister mpjfccro@gmail.com

Melissa Ambrose-Eidson, Minister of Music Tina Sherban, Director of Family Ministries

Alissa Gorman, Administrative Assistant Lori Dixon, Bell Choir Director

The Board of Christian Education is hosting a special HALLOWEEN themed

coffee hour on October 29, followed by our first ever TRUNK OR TREAT! We are also asking for candy donations which can be

dropped off in the office! Costumes are encouraged and

friends are welcome!

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