Reopening Plan Carillon Concerts Birds of Pray

CarillonA QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF GROSSE POINTE MEMORIAL CHURCH

FALL 2021 “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.” Psalm 113:3

Inside this issue Concerts at GPMC Fall Kick-Off Social Welcome back to Sunday School “A light by the lakeshore” A Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) PASTOR’S CORNER PROGRAM STAFF Mission Possible Rev. Sarah Godbehere Associate Pastor/Acting Head of Staff: Rev. Sarah Godbehere, ext. 132 “Sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Coordinator of Outreach Ministries: Christ’s own forever, we are called and Sue Acton, ext. 138 committed to living out our love for God. Through worship, study and service, we Minister of Music: strive to continue God’s transforming work...” James Biery, ext. 134 -Grosse Pointe Memorial Church Director of Pastoral Ministries: revised Mission Statement Carol Beltz Marks, ext. 127

As part of our transition process as we seek a new pastor, GPMC Minister of Adult Education: completed a mission study and revised our mission statement in 2020. Rev. Susan Mozena, ext. 138 You may have noticed this revised mission statement on our bulletins or printed in the Carillon. In June 2021, the Session compared our Director of Finance and Operations: new mission statement to the old version and observed that the new Jim Schultz, ext. 126 statement is strongly action oriented. We express our commitment Director of Children’s Ministries: to God through the things we do, “living out our love for God.” Our Lisa Turner, ext. 135 new mission statement focuses on three areas, “worship, study, and service.” In conversation together, seeking to discern God’s will for Director of Mornings @ Memorial: GPMC, the Session felt strongly drawn to focus on the “service” part Marie Calcaterra, ext. 140 of our mission. As Jesus reminded the disciples, we are called “not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Office hours: So in the coming months, GPMC’s leaders would like to invite you Mon-Thurs. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to “live out our love for God” through service. As we launch our Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. fall programs and return to a more normal schedule, there are many different opportunities to serve the church, the community, and the The Carillon is world. Here at the church, we need hundreds of volunteers to make published quarterly by Grosse our life together fruitful. We are particularly seeking ushers, volun- Pointe Memorial Church. teers for the adult choir and bell choir, and teachers for our children Managing Editor: and youth. Please contact us if you’d like to volunteer and offer your Susan Griffin gifts in service as we return to our usual church programs. Please send article submissions to: We also have many opportunities to serve our community and the [email protected] world. Outreach Council is planning several hands-on service programs each month, including donation drives, Unpack the Truck, Publication layout: Life Remodeled and Shelter Week. See pages 8 - 9 for more details. Linda Pobocik-Insisiengmay Perhaps you will join together with fellow church members and On the cover: serve our community. Or maybe you will find other opportunities to put your faith into action in the coming months. Cover photograph of worship on Trinity Terrace provided We truly are called and committed to living out our love for God. As by Susan Griffin the fall begins, let us join in service and continue God’s transforming work in the world. As members and friends of GPMC, it is our joy to join in this shared mission! Blessings, Pastor Sarah

2 Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, “A light by the lakeshore” | 313.882.5330 | gpmchurch.org CONTENTS Features & News Departments 4 Fr. Elias Chacour returns to GPMC 2 Deacons 6 Session Nuggets 4 Adult Education 5 Music Ministry & Parish Life 7 What’s Happening 6 Session 10 High School Mission Trip 2021 8 Outreach 11 Sunday School and Young Children 10 Christian Education and Worship 12 Learning about the Bible

WHO WE ARE

Grosse Pointe Memorial Church is a 1,200 Deacons By Bev Butler member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Started in 1865 as the Grosse Pointe Evan- gelical Protestant Association, the oldest Protestant congregation in the Grosse Pointes, our 156-year history is a rich one. The greatest treasures we have are our members. As a Presbyterian church, we are a congregation where every member is a minister. Our Mission and Vision Statement: Sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever, we are called and committed to living GPMC Deacons: Wendy Beal, Tim Klepp and Lynn Wood out our love for God. Through worship, study and service, we strive to continue God’s transforming The Board of Deacons is excited to return to the work by worshiping God joyfully, welcoming others GPMC fall schedule and continuing to welcome and graciously, supporting one another lovingly, and serve. During the pandemic, the Deacons met month- faithfully responding to our community and world ly and enjoyed fellowship by Zoom. We were able with compassion. to remain connected with parishioners by phone and stay active in the life of the church. Since the return of in-person services in April, it has been a privilege to set up communion, deliver the birth roses and greet folks from the desk in the lakeside entrance. We look forward to being back and seeing everyone!

Fall 2021 - Carillon 3 ADULT EDUCATION

Fr. Elias Chacour Returns to GPMC The Birthplace of Pilgrims of Ibillin By Rev. Susan Mozena

The evening of July 27th born of the likes of God. This has been my guideline found 45 people, adults and for my life…I consider [all the students] my children…I children, in GPMC’s sanc- care that all are children of God. The school was built tuary to welcome Fr. Elias for all to come and find our dignity together.” (From the Chacour, the emeritus arch- Summer 2021 Pilgrims Post, the newsletter of Pilgrims bishop of the Melkite Greek of Ibillin). Catholic Church in the Holy Rigdon invited Chacour to be GPMC’s Ecumenical Min- Land. Upon turning in to ister in the early 1990s, through the generosity of Es- the church’s driveway, Fr. ther Porter, who founded the Ecumenical Minister Fund Chacour said, “I feel as in memory of her parents. GPMC fell in love with Fr. though I’m coming home. Chacour during that visit and asked him, “What can we Fr. Elias Chacour This is a wonderful church.” do to help Mar Elias?” The non-profit Pilgrims of Ibillin Elias Chacour’s connection to GPMC began on the is- was born out of that visit and the answer to that ques- land of Crete in 1962, where he met another young man tion. GPMC pastors have served as board members and of God, Rev. V. Bruce Rigdon, a Presbyterian minister board president, scores of youth and adults from GPMC who later became pastor and head of staff of GPMC. The have been to Mar Elias for educational visits and to do two young men were attending a meeting of the World construction work, and GPMC has continued to support Council of Churches and struck up a conversation and Pilgrims through outreach donations. deep friendship which continue today. Immediately following his ordination, Fr. Chacour was posted by his bishop to the impoverished Galilean vil- lage of Ibillin, in northern Israel. The young priest quick- ly realized that the children of Ibillin, especially the girls, needed more education, few of them finishing high school and even fewer attending university. He founded Mar Elias School in Ibillin in 1982. Thirty-nine years later, the Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI) have over 3,000 students, kindergarten through high school. Sixty-five percent of the students are Muslim and 35 per- Church members attend service lead by Fr. Elias Chacour cent are Christian. The faculty are Muslim, Christian and Jewish. No longer a school just for the children of Ibil- During his time with us in July, Fr. Chacour wove into his lin, students come from more than twenty villages and narrative stories of inter-religious dialogue, beginning in towns. Graduates score at the highest levels of the Israeli Ibillin and expanding over the years to ecumenical con- national exams and are to be found in leadership in many nections across Israel, in the Middle East and throughout different professions and at the heart of many communi- the world. His life’s ministry rooted in his conviction ty activities. that we all belong to one another as sisters and brothers Central to MEEI is the bedrock faith of Fr. Chacour made his stories of the hard and often very sad work of which he describes this way, “We have one thing in living that conviction as a Palestinian Arab Christian cit- common, whether we are Jews, Palestinians, White or izen of Israel very moving. His narrative was, indeed, a Black Americans…we are born babies. All people are sermon we very much needed to hear, our own nation so in need of seekers of mercy, justice, and peace. May God continue to bless his ministry.

4 Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, “A light by the lakeshore” | 313.882.5330 | gpmchurch.org MUSIC MINISTRY Concerts at GPMC ented brass players. On Sunday, November 7 at 3 p.m., “Melodies for Two” will feature Scandinavian music for solo instrument and keyboard with Laura Larson, flute, Stephanie Shapiro, oboe, Rose Urbiel, violin, and Mari- lyn Biery at the organ and piano. The annual “Christmas Story” concert will be offered on Sunday, December 19 at 5 p.m. Concerts for the first part of 2022 include “On with the Show” featuring our tal- ented choir section leaders, an inspirational Lenten concert featuring the Biery’s chancel opera “From Doubt to Faith,” and Jim Biery’s first post-cancer recital on our GPMC full choir and strings performing in the fall of 2019 fabulous Klais pipe organ. Music at Memorial is very excited to announce their Other special music offerings for the year include a plans for a 2021-22 season of concerts in our church Hymn Festival at both morning services on October sanctuary. This year’s theme is “The Lord is my Strength 17 and the presentation of “Journey to Jerusalem,” our and my Song.” Artistic director Jim Biery says, “During Maundy Thursday liturgical music drama on April 14, all those months of separation from our church sanctu- 2022. ary, many of us found strength through the continued singing of our songs of faith. The Lord is our strength in Watch your mail for more complete information on the challenging times. And the songs of the Lord give us the 2021-2022 season. Tickets for each of the concerts will strength to continue on our journey. Let us be glad as we be available in advance at the church reception desk or go to the house of the Lord!” online at eventgroove.com. Admission to each concert is $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Tickets are not required The concert series opens with a thrilling program of mu- for the December 19, Christmas Story concert. sic for brass instruments on Wednesday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. This concert features five of Detroit’s most tal- Parish Life Council FALL KICK-OFF By Jane Clark SOCIAL Happy New Year! Although it is not really the start of a new year, returning to our usual worship services and events at GPMC has the Mark your calendars for Sunday, Sep- anticipation and excitement of a new year. To celebrate, Parish Life tember 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as Council has planned to have ice cream and children’s activities during GPMC gathers together for ice cream the Fall Kick-Off on September 12. This will be a wonderful opportuni- and children’s activities. Church ty for all of us to reconnect with our church community. Parish Life will council information and Sunday provide Individually wrapped ice cream treats for everyone and Chris- school registration will be available tian Education will have fun activities for the children to enjoy. Plan on for all members. joining the GPMC family and friends as we kick-off a new year! Looking ahead, Parish Life Council is planning a family fun fellowship opportunity to enjoy in the fall. On Sunday, November 28 immediately following the 10:30 a.m. service, we will host the annual Holiday Lunch. This is a great time to gather with fellow members at the beginning of Advent and the Christmas season. Please note, all events are subject to change or cancellation due to Covid restrictions. More details to follow within the upcoming weeks.

Fall 2021 - Carillon 5 WHAT’S HAPPENING Session appointed Re-Opening Task Force Due to the increasing level of Covid cases, the Re-Opening Task Force has determined that as of August 19 we should be in Phase 3 of our re-opening plan. Our outside services will be unchanged from Phase 4. Our inside services and meetings will continue with masks being required. Due to the rapidly changing activity of the virus this phase could move up or down in the weeks ahead. We are doing our best to protect those who are unable to be vaccinated and those who are immunocompromised. Please check the website or call the office for the latest up-to-date information.

Session Nuggets By Lois Palazzolo Greetings from your new Clerk of Session. It is my honor and privilege to serve the Church and support the GPMC ministries, all in the glory of God! I have very big shoes to fill and cannot thank Bill Ball enough for his leadership, commitment to detail and mentorship as I take on this new role. As previously reported, the Session continues to meet regularly throughout the pandemic using Zoom video conferencing technology and is focused on how best to advance the ministry of the Church despite constraints imposed by the pandemic. As the Church has moved into phase 4 of the re-entry plan, Session looks forward to meeting in person this fall if possible. Below is a few key items from Session’s May and June meetings. The Session enjoyed the month of July off to refresh and renew. In May the Session acted on several important items: 1. Motion approved to accept the recommendation for the GPMC Board of Trustees to allocate the proceeds from a loan extended by the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that was recently forgiven by the Small Business Ad- ministration (SBA). The proceeds from the forgiven loan will fund: • Restoration of cancelled staff 3% annual salary increase retroactive to 1/1/21 • Additional Outreach Grants (determined by Outreach Council) over the existing Budget • Miscellaneous pandemic costs incurred and to be incurred • Capital Improvement Fund - replenish existing fund for future major maintenance • Mornings@Memorial deficit restoration due to tuition refunds and compensation during closure • Contingency Fund - to replenish existing fund for future pledge giving shortfalls 2. Motion adopted to endorse Joseph Masinick’s application to the Presbytery of Detroit Committee on the Prepa- ration for Ministry to be enrolled as an Inquirer. Joe, Allyson and their three young children are GPMC members and Joe is a current Elder. He is enrolled in University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and for two weeks in August, studied as part of an intensive in person segment. He will then complete the program online from their farm and home in the Irish Hills. In addition to academic courses, Joe is required to complete 480 hours of service at a church other than at a church of which he is a member. He hopes to serve the Brooklyn, MI PCUSA Church in this capacity. 3. Motion adopted to authorize the Communication Council to setup an Online Member Directory using Realm and setup a standard operating procedure on maintenance, training, and usage for the Church body. An Online Member Directory will interface with the church’s main member database, facilitate easy access by members only while maintaining complete security of member information. Printed copies will be available at request. The June Session meeting resulted in the following: 1. Motion adopted to recognize the contributions of the “Our 313 Calling” task force and release them of their responsibilities with thanks from the Session. Many of the ministries stemming from this initiative will continue through the support of existing church councils. 2. Motion adopted to renew the Covenant of Support Among GPMC, Ruth Azar (CRE), the Second Mile Center and the Presbytery of Detroit. Since June, the Covenant has been approved and signed by the Presbytery Commit- tee on Ministry, the Director and President of The Second Mile Center and Rev. Sarah Godbehere.

6 Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, “A light by the lakeshore” | 313.882.5330 | gpmchurch.org WHAT’S HAPPENING

Activities listed below run from September through the end of November unless otherwise indicated. Please check GPMC’s website or weekly bulletin or call the office for further information. NOTE: Worship service times after Labor Day are 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

-SundayS- -Special Events- 9 a.m. - Worship Service Second Wednesday: Sandwich making for the hungry - LIVESTREAM 7:00 - Short Story as Theology via every week, see GPMC website for 10:10 a.m. - Sunday School ZOOM more information for all ages 10:30 a.m. - Scripture and Conver- September 12 - Fall Kick-off Social 11 a.m. - Worship Service sation for Women TBD from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Open to all 5 p.m. - Worship Service Third Wednesdays: Trinity Terrace September 19 - Sunday School 9 a.m. - Stephen Ministry Meeting begins and Confirmation Information -MondayS- in room 320/321 Session at 10:10 a.m. 10 a.m. - Preacher’s Worshop Fourth Wednesday: Oct. 6 - Music at Memorial concert Trinity Terrace or Lounge 10:30 a.m. - Scripture and Conver- series at 7:30 p.m. Tickets required First Monday: 7:00 p.m. - Reel sation for Women - Via ZOOM Nov. 7 - Melodies for Two concert at Theology, location TBD 7:00 p.m. - Novel as Theology via 3 p.m. Tickets required Second Monday: 6, 6:30 & 7 ZOOM Dec. 19 - Christmas Story concert p.m., - Various Council Meetings, at 5 p.m. No tickets required location TBD -ThurSdayS- Fourth Monday: 7 p.m. 6 p.m. - Yoga on Trinity Terrace - Session Meeting, location TBD or in Fellowship Hall 7:30 p.m. - Choir, Choir Room -Tuesdays- BIRTHS First & Third Thursdays: 7 a.m. - Women’s Bible Study, Lucas Bernard Brown: 7/2/2021 9 a.m. - Women’s Connection - location TBD 2nd floor Lounge Lyla Marie Berg: 7/9/2021 10 a.m. - Yoga in Fellowship Hall Eloise Lynne Doyal Brenk: 8/2/2021 10:30 a.m. - Prayers and Staff Meeting, rm 209 or Trinity Terrace -Fridays- DEATHS 6 p.m. - Yoga on Trinity Terrace or in Fellowship Hall 10:30 a.m. - Fresh Food Fridays at Rex George Ciavola Jefferson Ave. Church (10/18/1931 – 6/21/2021) 7 p.m. - FLAME/LIFE/TUXIS Youth Groups 6:30 p.m. - Alanon in Library Michael Bellovich 7 p.m. - AA in Fellowship Hall (5/17/1931 -7/10/2021) Second & Fourth Tuesdays: 9 a.m. - Wonder Group in 2nd floor Third Fridays: Christopher James Rousek Lounge 9 a.m. - Unpack the Truck at (1/11/1970 – 7/18/2021) St. John Presbyterian church Jean Downer Hodges -WedneSdayS- (4/30/1921 – 7/22/2021) 7 a.m. - Men’s Bible Study on -SaTurdayS- Virginia Becker Trinity Terrace 8 a.m. - Men’s Bible Study via (11/4/1930 – 8/6/2021) 8:30 a.m. - AA on Trinity Terrace ZOOM First & Third Wednesdays: Third Saturdays: 7:00 p.m. - Adult Bible Study in Sock and Underwear Drive Library

Fall 2021 - Carillon 7 OUTREACH

Interested in helping, but Life Remodeled

don’t know where to start? It’s another six-day neighborhood cleanup! We are looking We welcome GPMC church members and friends at forward to participating with our ALL our Outreach and Mission events. Our printed friends on Wednesday, October 6 materials such as the weekly bulletin, emails and lob- from 1 - 5 p.m. It is a hands-on by bulletin board are continuously updated to provide event doing outdoor yard work, the most current information. Our church website helping to beautify four square puts events coming soon on the “Home” and “Serve” miles surrounding the Durfee Innovation Society. It’s pages. We often ask for sign-ups in advance so we not just about beauty, Life Remodeled had documented can plan effectively, send reminders, and contact a substantial decrease in neighborhood crime following individuals if last minute changes/information be- a project cleanup. Won’t you join us in making a di- comes available. Please use the GPMC website links rect impact as we help our neighbors help themselves? to sign up for events. It’s also easy to send the links to Beautiful weather is anticipated! friends and welcome them to GPMC too.

Unpack the Truck

Hunger intensified during Covid. GPMC members and friends stepped in to help. One way we did that was our monthly, Friday morning visits to St. John Presbyterian Church to help their members unpack a Forgotten Harvest truck and put food into the trunks, back seats or carts of hungry neighbors. Our volunteers have been a dedicated crew, helping even when it snowed or rained. We are planning only glorious days will be in our future efforts this fall. Please add September 17, October 15 and November 19 to your calendar and join us. You’ll be so glad you did!

Unpack the Truck volunteer, Helen Santiz

Fresh Food Fridays

Our church members ALSO help Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church (JAPC) put food in trunks, back seats and carts of their hungry neighbors. JAPC partners with Make Food Not Waste, an organization with a goal of eliminating food waste by creating meals from foods that might otherwise have gone to landfills. Their chefs make delicious meals and bring them to JAPC. Those meals are added to fresh food gleaned from neighborhood markets and set out for pickup at JAPC. That’s where we help with distribution from 10:30 a.m. - 12 noon every Friday. Newcomers are welcome to join us.

8 Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, “A light by the lakeshore” | 313.882.5330 | gpmchurch.org OUTREACH

World Medical Relief Socks and Underwear Drive

Our monthly drive to highlight the need for socks and underwear for the less fortunate continues through the fall. Check out HappyCheeks.org anytime or follow the links on the GPMC website highlighting the third Saturday of the month as our collection day. Drop- offs can be made to the church lobby or to the Tengler GPMC’s volunteer team in 2019 home: 1029 Bishop Road, Grosse Pointe Park. WMR accepts boxfuls of medical supplies and equipment that are no longer useful locally, often sent to them haphazardly. Supplies are sorted by volunteers in their warehouse, labeled and sent to hospitals and clinics in Shelter Week developing countries. GPMC will be volunteering to do the sorting on September 11 at the World Medical Re- Stay tuned! The Outreach Council lief warehouse in Southfield. We are calling on mem- is hoping to invite the homeless at bers with or without a medical background, although Cass Community Social Services it is particularly helpful to have someone attend who back to our third floor this - No can identify medical equipment. More information and vember. We love our All-Church sign-up is available on the GPMC website under Out- Shelter Week and want it to return. reach. We look forward to meeting you in Southfield at Whether this is possible will de- the warehouse. pend on GPMC remaining at Phase 4 due to Covid and Cass’s plans for sheltering the homeless this winter. Our back-up plan will look a lot like the huge donation drive we offered last year, collecting cereal and lunch foods at the church, 1,000 PB&J Sandwiches and providing funding for dinners. Watch the bulletin, web and emails in October for updates. GPMC members have mastered sandwich making! De- livery of sandwiches to those in need has been happening four to five times a week all year and will continue through the fall. This is a great opportunity to participate Hunger Offering in serving others! Sign-up online on GPMC’s website under Outreach for the day you want to deliver them to The Outreach Council chooses the recipients, but our the Tengler home. Sandwiches need to be made in lots level of support is determined by your contributions. of 20. One person can do it or a whole group can do it. Your wallet - your vote. Outreach matches your dona- Scouts, service clubs, book tions up to $2,000 each month. clubs, etc. are invited Recent Contributions: to join in. Check out the sign-up page and May: Forgotten Harvest...... $2,540 see if you can help us June: Coalition on Temporary Shelter...... $2,680 volunteer to serve the hungry 1,000 peanut July: Church World Service - CROP...... $1,800 butter and jelly sandwiches each week!

Fall 2021 - Carillon 9 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

High School Mission Trip 2021 - Looking Back By Luke Schaupeter

After each workday we had a time for devotional fol- lowed by dinner from the amazing retreat center staff. Throughout the week devotional took many different forms, as each small group of youth and adults had the chance to create their own program centered around a bible passage. Being taught different parts of the bible through peers allowed for a deeper level of connection to each passage. Although devotional only lasted one short

GPMC high school youth who participated in the June 2021 mission trip at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center

This past June some of the youth and adult members of our ministry had the opportunity to partake in the first post-Covid mission trip. We were generously taken in by St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat Center for all five days of our trip. The team at St. Paul went above and beyond to ensure our safety as we entered the final GPMC high school youth clearing brush at Rouge River Park stages of the pandemic. We were served two hot meals hour each night, I felt that I learned more through our every day by the amazing kitchen staff, whose chicken discussions and mini sermons than I otherwise would was described by Will Hertl as, “The best chicken I’ve have. Throughout the course of the week, I feel that we ever had.” were all able to make new friends, learn more about each During the workday we would other and better connect to our faith. Our experience was traverse to Rouge River Park to best summed up at the end-of-week informal service. work with “Friends of Rouge With rain coating the walls of the sanctuary, we all took River,” the organization who a moment to reflect on our experiences with each other has taken on the task of bring- and our faith. Each of us shared the best parts of our trip ing the park back to its former and collectively, we opened a new chapter of our faith so glory. The majority of our work resilient, not even a pandemic could stop it. So, wheth- consisted of brush removal to er it was our work, our devotionals, stump the pastor or open the woods to park goers, our one morning run, the mission trip was a profound in addition to trash pick-up to Youth participating success in every way. And, directly after arriving home, in devotional time protect the flourishing wildlife we were able to use our skills acquired on the trip to help exhibited throughout the park. While picking up trash, friends and family who had flooded! Onction Zape saw, “The biggest spider I’ve ever seen!” Friends of Rouge River Park still need volunteers to as- which ended up consuming about 30-minutes of our day sist in their goal of cleaning the park; they can be found due to the logistics involved with proper giant spider dis- online at rougepark.org, where a variety of events are posal! The progress we were able to make by the end of listed. There are no prerequisites necessary to help, just each day was amazing and by the end of the week, the sign up, show up and help bring the park back to its for- segments we had cleared stood out by a great margin mer glory. from those still left overgrown.

10 Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, “A light by the lakeshore” | 313.882.5330 | gpmchurch.org CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Sunday School & Young Children and Worship: September 19, 2021

Sunday school for children age 3 through 4th grade will begin on September 19 during Middle Hour from 10 - 11a.m. in the third floor classrooms. Each Sunday, the teachers will guide the children through engaging experiences, spiritual practices and opportunities for reflection, giving them a safe space to ask big questions and help them claim their spiritual identity as children of God. Using the Celebrate Wonder curriculum, the children will connect with their Creator and invite God’s presence into their daily lives as they learn to express their faith through everyday interactions with the world around them. Young Children and Worship (YCW) for children age 3 through 2nd grade will also begin on September 19 during the 9 a.m. worship service. Young Children and Worship is an experience designed to help children experience how to worship in a special place apart from the congregation. Through storytelling, music, prayer and individual response time, the children will engage in meaningful worship to encounter God. Children are invited to come to YCW immediately following the children’s sermon. More information and registration forms about these two programs and other programs and events for children and families will be available on Sunday, September 12 during the GPMC Fall Kick-off. Youth Program Fall Kick-off! Youth groups for middle school and high school students (FLAME, LIFE, and TUXIS) will meet regularly on Tues- day nights during the school year from 7 - 8 p.m. We had a fantastic time meeting outside last year, so due to popular demand, we’re sticking with our outdoor format for the fall. Mark your calendars and join the fun - we will kick-off our youth group program on September 21 at 7 p.m. on Trinity Terrace. Our weekly meetings follow the same gener- al format. We’ll have a fire pit for each age group to gather around: 5th and 6th grades, 7th and 8th grades and high schoolers. During our meeting we will share our highs and lows from the week, read a Bible verse and discuss it, play some active games and pray. If the weather is really terrible, we’ll move indoors with masks. We’re looking forward to welcoming our 5th grade students and seeing friends old and new once again! Seekers Confirmation Program The Seekers program did not meet last year due to the pandemic, so we are excited to welcome a great big group of students to Confirmation this year. All high school students who have not yet been confirmed are eligible to participate. We will launch the Seekers Confirmation program with an information session on September 19 at 10:10 a.m. during Middle Hour in the 3rd floor Youth Lounge. For information or to join the youth email or text lists, please contact Sarah Godbehere: [email protected]. Back to School Blessings & Prayers Another school year is about to begin and students of all ages (even adults) are invited to bring their backpacks, satchels, electronic devices or lunch boxes to any of the three worship services on Sunday, September 12, which is the same day as the Fall Kick- off Social from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Backpack blessings and prayers is a rite that helps our faith communities bless the students as they return to school, assures both the students and adults that God loves them and is with them wherever they go. Teachers, aides, principals, administrators, secretaries, librarians, bus drivers and anyone else that works in the educational system can come to church to be blessed, affirmed in your vocation and encouraged as you serve children and families in your daily work! In addition to the blessing, a small gift/token will be given to everyone as a reminder that God goes everywhere with us, including the classroom and the boardroom.

Fall 2021 - Carillon 11 Grosse Pointe Memorial Church 16 Lake Shore Drive Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

Learning about the Bible A Seven Week Course for Third and Fourth Grade Children

Children in the third or fourth grade have a very special Led by Lois Palazzolo, Sue Acton and Beth Baergen, the opportunity this fall. They are invited to participate in a classes begin on Sunday, October 1, with the last class on fun and engaging, seven-week class learning about the Sunday, November 21. On the last day of class, the chil- bible. dren will be presented with their own Bible during the 9 This class is an important addition to their continuing a.m. worship service and then have a celebration during Christian education. Learning to appreciate scripture middle hour with their teachers and family. Traditionally and feel comfortable using the Bible are valuable foun- during the celebration, a rousing game of Bible Jeopardy dations in their spiritual development. The children will is played between the children and parents and to date, learn about the divisions of the Bible, the books of the the children have won every year! Bible, how to look up and identify references, how to If your third or fourth grade student did not receive an use the maps and other study helps and look at some key invitation by mail, please contact Lisa Turner: lturner@ scripture verses and how they shape who we are as fol- gpmchurch.org or call the Christian Education office at lowers of Jesus. The overall goal is to enable the children 313.882.5330, ext. 123, for more information. to feel at home with scripture and begin to use the Bible as a book for learning and growing in faith. GPMC’s Annual Family Camp Nine families took part in GPMC’s annual Family Camp in mid-August at Camp Michin- doh, led by Lisa Turner. Michindoh provides “a responsive, Christ-centered environment of excellence by creating strategic opportunities for evangelism, nurturing and training for the glory of God.” (michindoh.com)

GPMC families enjoying Camp Michindoh this past August 2021

GPMC families enjoying parachute time

Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, “A light by the lakeshore” | 313.882.5330 | gpmchurch.org