News

October 2020
Volume 65, Issue 10

The Northminster News shares information about programs and activities of interest as well as
news and milestone events in the lives of our church and larger community.

Socks & Skivvies

In this Issue: Northminster received the following "Thank You!" from Kate Thoresen on
behalf of the Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care for our donations to
 A Call to
Stewardship
their “Socks Skivvies” program. Thank you, everyone!
 Raise the Roof Dear Friends of Our Kids in Care,
Update
Judy and Dave Love dropped off your many donations last week. And
 Building & Grounds today we begin our distributions to various organizations such as the
Projects
Wayne County Department of health and Human Services and Second
 Directory Updates Mile Center. Other recipients will include the Madonna College and Wayne
State University program for youth from foster care, Oakland Family
Services, Vista Maria Home for Girls, and the Oakland Foster Closet.
Imagine how smiles will be brought to our many children and youth!
With your four congregations, it seems that you were able to mobilize over
150-200 people to go out and buy something to contribute. This not only
helps our kids in crisis, but also helps to raise awareness about the hard
circumstances some children experience through no fault of their own.
Highlights: Here are some pictures along with many thanks,
Building
Kate
& Grounds 3
Roof Update &
CROP Walk 4
Book Group 5
Church, Society
& Mission 5
Calendar 7
Building &
Grounds 8
 Northminster News Page 2 of 8
Pastor’s Message
Dear Northminster family and friends,
The moment has come to talk Stewardship.
Money and Church aren’t fun things to have conversations about. I don’t know anyone who gets into
the ministry because they want to ask people for money; it is just a reality of the job. And let’s be frank
here – my livelihood directly depends on your generosity. That doesn’t make it easier: I find it awkward
that your spiritual practice is tied to my salary. I wish I could hold up a sign that said “It takes time and
costs money to spread the Good News! Toss a buck in to continue!”…job done, and I could sit back
and watch the dollars roll in. But lest we turn into an organization that resembles a social club more
than a church, it is helpful every now and again to reflect on why we give to the church.
A Retelling of the Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:14-30:
And Jesus said, “This is what things are going to be like: a rich man wanted to go on vacation and
not have to worry about his money. So he called his servants together and gave one servant 5
talents…”
One of the little children at Jesus’ feet said, “Jesus, what’s a talent?”
Jesus replied, “It is a big-ol’ chunk-of-change equal to about 20 years’ worth of the average
person’s work. In 2019, the US average income was $40,000. So a talent would be $800,000,
almost a million dollars!”
“Anyway,” Jesus continued, “the rich guy gave the first servant 100 years’ worth of his income. The
next guy he gave 40 years’ worth of his income. And the last guy, he gave him 20 years’ worth of
his income. And then the rich guy left for his vacation.
“The servant who got 100 years’ worth of money “put the money to work” and got 100 years’ worth
of money on top of what he had. The next servant also “put the money to work,” and gained another
40 years’ worth of income! But the last servant was scared. That servant had never held 20 years’
worth of money in one moment, let alone 1 full years’ worth of salary! That servant was so scared
that they hid the money away so that they wouldn’t lose even a single coin!
“But when the rich guy came back and asked about what the servants had done with the money
he’d given them, the two proclaimed that they had “put the money to work” and showed how they
had doubled what they had been given. The last servant proudly said that he did not lose a single
coin of the money given to him because he had hidden it way! The rich man was furious, not at the
servants who “put the money to work,” doing things that may have been risky or that could has
caused them to lose money, but at the servant who was so scared that he hid the money away…
away from anyone touching it, using it, potentially growing it, or potentially losing it. While the rich
man commended the first two, he threw the scared servant out of the house.”
But we don’t have 20 years of money in the bank: we have three years and a $193,414 budget for
2020. If we were in this parable, we would be the fourth servant who was given a few gold coins. But in
this we see that the money itself is not our God (the rich man being a stand-in for our bountiful creator).
It is not to take the place of God (Matthew 6:24, Luke 12:34) but it should also not be feared. In this
parable, money is a tool to be used and “put to work.” So the question we should be asking, like the
two faithful servants, is how do we put our money to work?
I was curious, so I crunched some numbers: While income had decreased and the budget shrank,
Northminster maintained a Mission budget of $12,500, or roughly $147 per member. While this is not

[continued]
`
Page 3 of 8 Northminster News
the highest ticket item on our budget, it shows that mission giving is a priority of “putting the money
to work.” It is a testament that says that putting the money to work means that every person should
have enough to eat, shelter over their heads, and a support network to make life better. Putting the
money to work looks like giving the Deacons a pot of $650 to use to care for the community or to
give out. Putting the money to work looks like using $1,900 to buy music. Putting the money to work
looks like spending $53,800 - roughly $147 a day - to maintain a space for the community to gather
where once we had lunch together and discussed books, where we taught our children that they
were loved deeply by an immeasurable God, where we sang “Halleluiahs!” and stood together to
mourn. Putting the money to work looks like providing a space on Sunday morning where people
can come and worship, hear a word of guidance, comfort, and healing, or find belonging. I looked at
the numbers, and between my salary (divided by the number of hours I spend on worship every
week), Brandon’s salary, and the cost of the building for a day, Sunday morning costs around $1200
a week. Putting the money to work doesn’t look like stuffing it away or ensuring that the church
exists as a mausoleum for God’s word. Putting it to work means being called out into the community
where that investment has a chance to grow and bring returns. So the question should be, how do
we want to make the money work for the Kingdom of God and what returns do we want to see?
Returns in the form of filled bellies and families coming off the streets? Returns in the form of healed
hearts and a community to grieve with you? Returns in the form of song to sing? Returns in the form
of knowing there is a pastor and a community to call when life feels like it is falling apart?
Each of us is tasked to be good stewards of the resources we have been given. We have been
tasked with doing the work of God. Like the rich man, God has trusted us to use the resources given
to us to “put to work” doing the work of the Good News. What returns do you want to see in our
community and in the world and how much are you able and willing to put forward to make that
happen?
Let me put forth a framework to put into context our giving:
SUSTAINING GIVER – Northminster has been and remains a significant part of your spiritual life
and you are committed to supporting the ongoing ministry. The guideline to achieve this is 2-3%
of annual income.
VISIONARY GIVER – Northminster is a central community in your life and you are committed to
expanding the programs and ministries of the church. The guideline to achieve this is 4-7% of
annual income.
TRANSFORMATIVE GIVER – You are deeply committed to Northminster. Your contribution is
intended to provide a level of support that fuels the transformation of Northminster as it adjusts to
the evolving future needs of the church. The guideline to achieve this is 8-10% of annual income.
Thank you all for your continued generosity that
has sustained Northminster in the past and
continues to do so in this uncertain time. I hope
that you prayerfully consider your contribution to
Northminster for this upcoming year and how you
want to see the Spirit of God put those gifts to
work.
With immense gratitude,
Pastor Chris
 Northminster News Page 4 of 8

donate online at bit.ly/CROP2020. Over 90

We will be doing a virtual walk together on
Sunday, October 11th. Little did we know
what 2020 had in store for us. Now, for the
first time, we’ll be holding a virtual CROP
Walk to raise money for the work Church
World Service does around the world.
Anybody who wants to support an individual
walker or the team as a whole can safely
percent of all funds raised are devoted to the
work of feeding helping people who recover from
hardship, and 25 percent of what we raise stays
in our community. This year’s local recipients will
be the Ecumenical Food Pantry of Troy People
Concerned, the Clawson Food Pantry at Grace
Apostolic Church, and new this year Rochester
Neighborhood House. For more about what
Church World Service does, visit their website at
https://cwsglobal.org/
See Susan Love for more info. Let’s make this
another great CROP Walk for Northminster!

Raise the Roof Update

Members and friends are successfully using our
Online Giving link to allow them to keep up their
support of Northminster remotely. Go to:
bit.ly/NPCoffering to set up your online account.
If you’d rather support the USPS, mail it in with
an envelope and stamp to: 3633 W. Big Beaver
Road Troy, Michigan 48084. We thank you so
much for keeping us going even in these times!
The Stewardship and Finance committee is
looking to add one or two additional members to
the committee. If you are at all interested, please
reach out to Chris Kondak.
We are a bit behind in the planning of the 2020
Stewardship Drive.
Look for a communication in the next few weeks
for Stewardship Sunday and the plan for
submitting pledges.
`
Page 5 of 8 Northminster News

Our September book was by yearning. Then each chapter

Book Group Barbara Kingsolver and, not changes narrator: a new cop, a
surprisingly, had an Mexican immigrant without papers,
environmental topic – climate a police detective, a bowling alley
change. Laila Lalami’s The proprietor, a widow, and the
Other Americans is our second person killed in chapter 1, as the
book of the year. It also has a search for the driver goes on.
very contemporary topic – Everyone is welcome to join us in
immigration. The first narrator is our monthly book discussions. We
Nora Guerraovi, a young meet the second Thursday of each
composer born and raised in month at 2:00 pm; this month is
California by Moroccan October 8 and will be a ZOOM
immigrants, followed by at least 7 meeting. Bobbie Maki is leading
other narrators. the discussion.
A hit-and-run accident in the first Please see the About Us/Small
chapter begins the story as the Groups section of our website for
book slowly unmasks a small an update in the order of our
town’s worth of resentment and
reading list.
 Northminster News Page 6 of 8

Church, Society & Mission
Baby Basics
Baby Basics will be a recipient
of Northminster and other
Parish Council churches’
diaper collection efforts in
November. We will have a diaper drive on
Nov. 21, with volunteers helping collect size 5
and 6 diapers from people’s trunks, then
sorting, bundling and storing them. Look for
more information in the next newsletter!

Troy-area Interfaith Group

TIG is anticipating hosting their October 5
meeting live and in person at First United
Methodist Church of Troy, 6363 Livernois Rd.
A Journey to Understanding and
Compassion will be a panel discussion led
by people from the LGBQT communities who
will share their personal stories with a question
and answer session to follow. A limited
number of attendees may participate, so
registration must be made to the TIG email
before 5:00p.m. that day. You can also watch
it live-streamed at 7:00 pm October 5 at the
First United Methodist Church Facebook page.
For more information, contact TIG at
troyinterfaith@gmail.com prior to the event
The SOS virtual drive is underway now
through October 11, which is the date our
co-hosting week would have ended.
For donations to the fundraiser for SOS-
Lighthouse, you can contribute one of two
ways:
 You can send a check into the office, with
the words "SOS” on the memo lines.
 If you wish to contribute online, please go
to bit.ly/NPCoffering and fill out the form
(you do NOT need to create an account).
At the bottom of the form, under credit
card info, there is a section titled "Notes":
please enter "SOS".

During its regular September meeting, the Session approved the

following motions to:
1. Conduct a fundraiser from September 14-October 11th in lieu of in-person hosting SOS this
October of 2020. Members and friends may donate directly online to Lighthouse-SOS, or
online or by check to Northminster, indicating “SOS” on the memo line.
2. Designate the Northminster portion of the Peace and Global Witness special offering from
September and October for the organization Hope Against Trafficking.
3. Charge Discovery Corner Academy $2,500 for October rent.
Session will meet next on October 1.
 `
Page 7 of 8 Northminster News October 2020
`

See Calendar updates at: TroyNorthminster.com


Northminster
Presbyterian Church
3633 W. Big Beaver Road
Troy, MI 48084
TroyNorthminster.com
PHONE:
(248) 644-5920
E-MAIL:
office@troynorthminster.com
Our Facebook page is
Northminster Presbyterian
Church – Troy
and our private friends group is
Northminster Troy
PASTOR:
Rev. Chris Hallam
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR:
Suzanne Joy
MUSIC DIRECTOR:
Dr. Brandon Ulrich
P R E S BY T ER I A N C H U R CH
3633 W. Big Beaver Rd
Troy, MI 48084
Newsletter for October 2020
Northminster News Page 8 of 8
Building & Grounds
To prepare for our first outdoor service at church, the Building and
Grounds crew met with other members to trim branches, rake leaves,
pick up sticks and clean entrances. The outdoor service was a great
place for a mix of sun and shade on a picture perfect day. The area
looks great, thanks to everyone for your help! In the parking lot, a few
holes were filled in and inside light bulbs were replaced.
The newest project for building and grounds is re-shingling the
gazebo. After 25 years of Michigan weather, the wooden roof
shingles need to be replaced. Our plan is to work on a dry day. If you
are able to help, let John Cole or Doug Riddering know.
About Our Church… we desire to be treated, We value all members of
Northminster Presbyterian the community. We
Our core purpose is to
Church welcomes all consciously strive to
love God and our
people, regardless of create an environment of
neighbors as we seek to
sexual orientation, color, mutual respect, hospitality
understand, respect and
gender, religion, age, and warmth in which none
celebrate our differences.
politics, social or are strangers and all July
In recognizing Christ’s economic class, ethnicity, flourish.
calling to treat others as nationality or disability.
Helen VanLoon
3557 Tothill Drive
Troy, MI 48084