June 26-29 Vacation Bible School 9am-noon

Saturday July 1 Memorial Service, L. Sue Pompian, 11am Brief Visitation, 10am Luncheon to follow Sunday July 2nd VBS children sing in service July 9-14 Michigan Congregational Summer Camp July 22 Beacon of Hope Food Pantry

Sunday August 13 Worship Service Outside

July 2017-Vol. 42, No. 7

THE PILGRIM VISITOR

First Congregational Church of Royal Oak 1314 Northwood Boulevard, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073

248.288.4220—fccro@fccro.org—www.fccro.org Published Monthly

Summer Office hours

Memorial Day– Labor Day

10am-1pm

The FCCRO Main Office

will be CLOSED

July 3rd and 4th.

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife In 525,600 minutes How do you measure a year in the life? How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love Seasons of love Our sense of time guides us, sometimes too much. We feel overscheduled, overwhelmed, overtired and more. God’s sense of time calls us into rhythms of rest and renewal, inviting us to find peace in fellow-ship with God, and with each other. Our sense of time sometimes has us focus on one great project or cause, off in the distance in time and place, pulling us from where we are. God’s sense of time calls us to simple service, meeting needs as we go, feeding, caring, healing, comforting, visiting, even sharing a simple cup of cold water. Our sense of time can turn our service on and off, seeking a schedule of when we should, and there-fore, when we shouldn’t. God’s sense of time calls us to see it all as service, loving God, loving neighbors, loving strangers, and even loving enemies. Our sense of time is time. God’s sense of time is a posture, a position, an approach to time. So on these long summer days, feel the power and strength of those extra moments of light. Wonder at the lovely sunsets, and embrace the soft sunrise. And seek to live it all on God’s time, embracing day and night, sunshine and rain, formal and informal to seek to serve God in all we say, do, think and feel! It’s where the service to God really begins! Peace, John Miller

Summer is here. Says so right on my calendar! That means June 21, the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, more daylight than we see on any other day. There are celebrations of all of this. There are markers of this time, just as we note the brief light of December 21 and remember the darkness and dark that life sometimes brings. It is a great day to think about light. All of it. Not just the light in the sky for those few extra minutes, but all of light and our place in it. While there is more daylight on June 21, there is no more day to share than any other day. No fewer opportunities to be light, to shine out, than any other day. Each day has its own characteristics and special ele-ments. Each of us have particular gifts and talents. But every day brings new opportunities to serve, and we are all called to serve with the gifts we have. It is the essence of our life of faith. Recently, our Pastoral Care Ministers led worship, each taking on a role in the service. I noted that day that the benediction is the most important part of worship to me, the sending out for us to apply what we know, give of what we have, and to serve those whom we meet. I have long enjoyed the song from the musical, Rent, “Seasons of Love”, that speaks of our use of time. Jonathan Larson writes: 525,600 minutes 525,000 moments so dear 525,600 minutes How do you measure, measure a year?

THE PILGRIM VISITOR

Senior Minister’s

Minute

by Rev. John Miller

THE PILGRIM VISITOR

A Message from the Director of Family Ministeries Tina Sherban As I begin in the role of Director of Family Ministries, I am reminded of verse three from Ecclesiastes, which in part says “for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Also, without fail, whenever I think of this verse, the song by The Byrds always starts playing in my head! Sorry if I’ve given you an ear worm too! However, I feel this really sums up the transition that is happening here at FCCRO. With that in mind, I thought this would be a good place to introduce myself once more, and give you some further background on myself and my experience. I’ll start from the beginning! I was born here in Royal Oak but I grew up in Rochester Hills, where I attended the First Congregational Church of Rochester. There, I was baptized and confirmed, I was active in youth group, and I taught Sunday school during high school. I then went on to graduate from Western Michigan University with a degree in Elementary Education. I stayed in Kalamazoo for many years after I finished school, where I worked in the restaurant industry and traveled frequently. My sister lived in Germany for many years, so I visited her and traveled around Germany and The Netherlands. In a separate trip, I also visited France and Spain. Additionally, I traveled throughout Mexico on multiple occasions with my mother, who owned a Mexican imports store in South Haven, Michigan. On these buying trips, we traveled through a great deal of the country, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Morelia, Taxco de Alarcon (my favorite place in the world!), Cuernavaca, Zihuatanejo and more. We even visited the ancient pyramids at Teotihuacan, outside

Mexico City, where I climbed the third highest pyramid in the world! I adore Mexico, its people, culture and food! I hope to one day go back to some of these places, but my mother moved away from selling Mexican imports after the recession and due to the increased dangers. In 2008, I moved back to metro Detroit with my future husband, Chris Sherban, and began teaching preschool. Chris and I were married in South Haven, overlooking Lake Michigan, in 2010, and we welcomed our first child, Julia Anne, in October 2012. At this point I was no longer teaching, but stayed home with Julia and took on watching my nephew Ryan as well. I took care of Ryan all the way up until I started here, which was more than 4 years! It has been so great watching both kids, who are only two months apart in age, grow from babies to kids! In February 2016, we welcomed our youngest, Evelyn Elizabeth. God has blessed us with two wonderful little girls, and I feel so very lucky. I love being a mom! However, “for everything there is a season,” and with Ryan and Julia both attending school every day in the fall, it was time for me to branch out. Having the opportunity to serve the families of this church is a great honor to me. I am very excited to take on the responsibilities and, as I said at the pulpit in June, to guide our Christian education programs in new and continued ways. I welcome anyone who would like to talk to me further to come sit down with me at any time, and I have also brought my portfolio for people to thumb through; I have lots of pictures of my former students, lessons and events! Please feel free to stop in or email me! Happy summer! Tina Sherban

THE PILGRIM VISITOR

Board of Christian Outreach (BCO) Update Beacon of Hope Fresh Food Pantry The food pantry re-opened on 6/24 and served approximately 50 families. Big THANKS to all the volunteers and all who donated cheese and butter. We could not serve our community without YOU! We will continue to need monthly cheese and butter donations, next pantry date is JULY 22. CROP walk donations totaled $2,344.10! Thanks again to everyone who raised money and walked. A percentage of the total will support designated local programs. Youth Program Donations raised totaled $270.00 and will be given to support Royal Family Kids Camp, which is a summer camp for children in the foster care system. www.royalfamilykids.org. KIVA We were able to make an additional 8 loans of $100 each this month! These 8 new loans raise the total amount of loans from FCC to $3200! It's exciting to see how the impact of our KIVA loans has grown since we started 10 years ago. Genesis Community Luncheon We will be serving our bi-annual lunch at Genesis Church one Saturday in October, specific date still to be determined. Sign up at coffee hour once the time is closer.

THE TRUSTEES have decided to add repair of the Lintel (over the south facing Narthex window) to the Tuck Pointing project. If you would like to contribute to this effort, please label your donation as "BRICK" and drop it in the plate or bring it to the office. Feel free to ask any of the Trustees if you have questions. Thank you for your continuing support!

THE BOARD OF RELIGIOUS MUSIC is accepting donations to help defray the cost of its upcoming presentation of the “Ode to the Virginian Voyage.” There will be a box in the Narthex for any voluntary contributions, or you may leave an envelope labeled “Ode” in the collection plate any Sunday. Thank you so much for your support!

Have a safe and happy 4th!

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

248.288.4220—248.288.9029 fccro@fccro.org www.fccro.org

The Reverend John F. Miller, Senior Minister Melissa Ambrose-Eidson, Minister of Music Tina Sherban, Director of Family Ministries Alissa Gorman, Administrative Assistant

First Congregational Church Covenant We, the Lord’s free people have joyned ourselves

into a church state, in the fellowship of the gospell, to

walke in all his wayes, made known, or to be made

known, according to our best endeavours, whatsoever

it should cost us, the Lord assisting us.

THE PILGRIM VISITOR

ATTENTION

Please submit

all Bulletin

Announcements

to the church

office by

WEDNESDAY

each week.

Thank you!

**SAVE THE DATE! ** The 4th annual FCC Tiger

baseball outing is Sunday,

September 17. We will

leave by bus directly after

worship service for a 1:10

game against the Chicago

White Sox. More details and

sign-up to follow!!

Do you or someone you know have high school (Kimball, Dondero, ROHS) or middle school BAND CONCERT PROGRAMS that you would be willing to share for a RESEARCH PROJECT? 1) EMAIL programs to Tuomaala@gmail.com, 2) TEXT a photo to 320.224.8966, 3) Or CALL Glen Tuomaala at 320.224.8966 to

make arrangements! THANK YOU!