MINISTER - FRAN HAYES

We're in the season after Epiphany. A few weeks ago, on Baptism of the Lord Sunday, we heard how when Jesus was baptized and was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved. With you I am well pleased.” Afterward, Jesus was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and he began to teach in the synagogues.

When Jesus came to the synagogue in Nazareth on the sabbath, he stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He found the passage that confirmed who he was and what his mission was and read it: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” He began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

In the midst of everything we see around us in our world, in the midst of a transition in pastoral leadership in this congregation, the scriptures still speak to us today. Filled with the Holy Spirit in his baptism, and tested by forty days in the wilderness that helped him discern his mission, he was declaring his mission. I believe we who follow Jesus need to work through the process of discernment as well.

One of the books I've been reading in preparation for the Transitional Ministry training I'll be doing in February is Changing the Conversation: A Third Way for Congregations, by Anthony B. Robinson. I agree with Robinson when he says, “vital congregations have a compelling, biblically shaped, theologically informed purpose or reason for being that marshals their energies and resources and directs their use.”

I think that one of the temptations this congregation might face during the transition could be anxiety, or fear, of things feeling unsettled and uncertain. Sometimes people respond to discomfort with uncertainty by rushing to make a decision, and to have things settled. It takes time to discern what kind of leadership a faith community needs and can sustain. You'll need to spend some time in the wilderness, enough time to prayerfully discern the possibilities God has in store for you. It's all part of the journey of faith.

Several years ago, we spent some time in a discernment process to answer the questions, “Who are we, as a congregation?” and “Why do we exist?” We also worked to clarify the core values of Littlefield Church. Over the coming months, I hope we'll reflect on what we discerned around 2016 and whether that declaration is accurately the congregation's mission and values today. Consider what you have discerned, so far, as you prayerfully discern together what kind of interim leadership the congregation needs in the near future, and what faithful possibilities God might be setting before you as the future unfolds.

The good news is that we can trust in God's promises. “Surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

In faith, hope, and love.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

February 3
Hebrew Scripture-Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
Epistle Lesson-1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Gospel Lesson-Luke 4:21-30

February 10
Hebrew Scripture-Isaiah 6:1-13
Psalm 138
Epistle Lesson-1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Gospel Lesson-Luke 5:1-11

February 17
Hebrew Scripture-Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1
Epistle Lesson-1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Gospel Lesson-Luke 6:17-26

February 24
Hebrew Scripture-Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40
Epistle Lesson-1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
Gospel Lesson-Luke 6:27-38

PRAYER MINISTRY

Don't Worry; Be Happy
From an early age, I counted my coins and announced to anyone in my family who would listen how much I had saved. Feeling proud, I equated wealth with happiness. I was on the road to fame and fortune. As I grew older, I continued to think that what I owned would make me happy. But the more I owned, the more I owed. My feelings of security turned to doubt.

Many years passed and one Sunday as I left church, someone handed me a card that read, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, where thieves do not steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:20-21) Reading that truth and taking it to heart changed my priorities and my attitude.

Now when I catch myself starting to worry, I return to my treasure, the love and grace of Jesus. I can return my treasure to heaven by sharing Christ's love on earth. No one can take away the feelings that come from blessings received and love shared. I am not always happy, but I know where to go to find happiness.


Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for this day and all its blessings. Help me to recognize your abundant grace, and show me how to use your gifts in loving others. Amen.


Thought For The Day
Life's greatest treasure is knowing the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
  – Scott Andrews (TX)

TODAY'S CHUCKLE

The truth is like elastic: You can stretch it a lot, but eventually it's going to come back to you.

MARY CIRCLE

February 4 @ 7:30 p.m.
The study will cover Lesson 5 in God's Promise-I Am With You.

This circle normally meets the first Monday of every month and shares a devotional, study and dessert. If you have an interest in this Women's Circle, please contact the church office. All women are welcome!

TAIZE WORSHIP SERVICE

February 5 @ 7:00 p.m.
Light, prayer and music are woven together in a contemplative prayer service. Short, simple songs, repeated again and again, help one enter into a meditative state. Thus, this meditative singing becomes a way of listening to God. All are invited, regardless of faith background and age, to come and renew your spirit. You are invited to dress comfortably and casually. Invite a friend!

ANNUAL MEETING

On Sunday, February 10, we will have our Annual Ecclesiastical and Corporate meeting as required in our by-laws. There will be three additional items of business. Nominating Committee will bring one motion. A second motion will ask the congregation to act on Fran's retirement, effective May 31, 2019, which will enable our leaders to prepare for the transition. A third motion will authorize Session to approve minutes of congregational meetings, which is necessary since this was omitted from an update to the Book of Order.

2019 PEACE CAMP MEETING

I know it is the deepest part of winter, but we begin planning Peace Camp very early. If you have any interest in volunteering for Peace Camp 2019 (July 16 ñ 18) or sharing thoughts and observations about the 2018 Peace Camp experience please know that the Peace Camp Team will be meeting on Wednesday, February 13 at 10:00 a.m. If you have interest and cannot attend, feel free to contact the church office prior to the meeting.

Last year's camp was a success only because of those who shared their time and talents. Let's make this year's camp even better! Thank you.

EVANGELISM & MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

We are planning a Newcomers/Inquirers Group. We will be setting aside Sunday, February 17, to meet for a light lunch after the morning service. If you're a relative newcomer or anyone who isn't an official member of Littlefield, you are invited to join us for a simple lunch and conversation in the Littlefield Lounge. We look forward to conversation that helps people get better acquainted and learn from one another. People who have been members for a very long time need to hear new perspectives as we seek ways to welcome new people. We'll talk about worship and what kinds of learning, fellowship and service opportunities people are interested in. We'd also be happy to answer questions about why we do things in a particular way, what we believe, or any other questions you've been wanting to ask. If you would like to attend this event, please contact the church office or talk to Pastor Fran.

Our Lenten Book Study will begin on Tuesday, March 12, and will meet weekly until April 2. We will begin with a simple soup and salad meal at 6:15 p.m. followed by the book discussion at 7:00 p.m. This year we are reading Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks by Diana Butler Bass. In regard to this work, Amazon states: “The author of the multiple award-winning Grounded and leading trend spotter in contemporary Christianity explores why gratitude is missing as a modern spiritual practice, offers practical suggestions for reclaiming it, and illuminates how the shared practice of gratitude can lead to greater connection with God, our world, and our own souls.” The book is available on Kindle, as well as, through book stores. Since this book costs $18.00, we will have a few copies available on a “pay as able” basis. Please contact the church office for more details.

For our Lenten devotional we will be using our denomination's publication entitled Awakening to God's Beauty ñ A Lenten invitation to pray with art. This devotional “invites us on a spiritual and visual pilgrimage through the holy season of Lent . . . through the final days of our Lord's ministry . . . his passion . . . his death on the cross . . . and finally his glorious resurrection at Easter.” [quote from the PC(USA) web site]. Drawing from the Psalms as well as art pieces, we are challenged to see God at work in a broken world.

Feather Bowlers mark your calendars! We will be making our Annual Feather Bowling Trip to the Cadieux Cafe in Detroit on Sunday, March 31. We will feather bowl from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and then gather for dinner in the cafe. All are welcome. Feather bowling is a uniquely Detroit experience and great fun.

Our next Engage! Book Group will be meeting on Wednesday February 27, 2019 to discuss What the Eyes Don't See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City by Mona Hanna-Attisha. We will gather at 6:15 p.m. for a pizza and salad dinner. The book discussion will begin at 7:00 p.m. What the Eyes Don't See is available in Kindle as well as hard cover and paperback. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha was a major force in both the discover and the remediation of the Flint water crisis. Through this work, we get a very personal view of the crisis. “[A] powerful firsthand account . . . Hanna-Attisha's empathy for her patients and the people of Flint comes through, as do her pride in her Iraqi roots and her persistent optimism. . . . An inspiring work.”óPublishers Weekly.

MEN'S BIBLE STUDY GROUP

February 25 @ 6:30 p.m.
Dinner will be provided at 6:30 p.m. with discussion following at 7:00 p.m.

The men will continue to study Interrupting Silence, Chapter Three, Silence Kills. This group normally meets the fourth Monday of every month. All men are invited for an evening of eating and study. Please contact the church office if you have any questions.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

The PWPD (Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of Detroit) is inviting all women to attend their Annual Women's Retreat on Saturday, March 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Farmington. The retreat will include a day of fun, fellowship and spiritual renewal. The theme is “Perfect Love, Mind, Body and Spirit” and the keynote speaker will be Christine Bertram. Christine is a professor of World Religions and Bible at Oakland Community College. She is also very active in her church and serves in various capacities as director of adult spiritual education, ladies ministries, ladies prayer director and college and career teacher. Her passion is mentoring young adults. Details of the retreat will be next month's “Life at Littlefield.”

SAVE THE DATE

Feather Bowling
at The Cadieux Cafe
Sunday, March 31

Bowling at 4:00 p.m.
Dinner at 6:00 p.m.

A sign-up sheet will be available closer to the event.

SAVE THE DATE:

Pastor Fran's Retirement Party
May 19, 2019 @ 4:00 p.m.

A WARM FUZZY THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who donated hats, gloves and scarves to our baskets in December. They were split between Fort Street Open Door Program and the children's tutoring program at Calvin East Church, Detroit. The total value came to approximately $522. As we experience the cold days of winter, we can know that our gifts are keeping someone else a little bit warmer. Thank you!

PRESBYTERIAN 101: HOW DO PRESBYTERIANS MAKE DECISIONS?

“As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God's Spirit and governance of God's people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they “lord it over” the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life. Ruling elders, together with teaching elders, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships.” (Book of Order, G-2.0301)

In our councils at various levels (Session, Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly) engage in a process of discernment. We gather information, we listen to one another respectfully. Throughout the process of discernment, we study and reflect on the scriptures and pray together, seeking God's will for us. This is what makes our decision-making a process of spiritual discernment.

FLOWERS FOR WORSHIP SERVICES

Would you like to decorate the church on Sunday? If you are interested in providing flowers, you may call the church office to make those arrangements. The cost for two vases is $53.00, but if you wish to purchase one arrangement and no one else is signed up that week, the cost is $33.00. However, if two families purchase the two arrangements, then the cost is $26.50 per family. We will use silk arrangements for the open Sundays.

MISSION AND OUTREACH TEAM

Faith in Action Grant Awarded!
In October, the Mission & Outreach Team applied for Phase 2 of the Faith in Action Grant and just received the news in January that our proposal was accepted! Praise God! We are one of 19 recipients to receive grant money out of 30 who applied. We have been generously given $2,000 to stock our Outdoor Food/Hygiene and Resource Pantry from March 2019 ñ March 2020. Our hope is that we can jumpstart this program with grant money and in the meantime work with community businesses, organizations and neighbors to help meet these needs in the future.

In our “trial” months, and thanks to many personally donated items, we have seen an overwhelming need for hygiene and household items as opposed to food, which can be attained through WIC and SNAP programs. A monthly stipend of $160 from the grant will be used to purchase most-needed items at the beginning of each month, and the pantry will be stocked and re-stocked on Sundays by the designated “pantry keeper.” We will keep a detailed log of inventory to help determine items most in demand. We also have a “wish list” inside the pantry that neighbors can anonymously fill out (bilingually) to make requests.

Thank you for your support with this project! We are so grateful that it will be funded for the next year and hopefully self-sustaining for years to come.

CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT

Who we are:
We are a community of ordinary people
committed to growing together as disciples of Jesus Christ
through worship, fellowship, learning, prayer, and mission.

Why we exist:
To love God, one another, and all people.
To show God's love in our work for peace and justice.

CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT

Who we are:
We are a community of ordinary people
committed to growing together as disciples of Jesus Christ
through worship, fellowship, learning, prayer, and mission.

Why we exist:
To love God, one another, and all people.
To show God's love in our work for peace and justice.