Events & Calendar Anchor

Events and Calendar

Sunburst Singers Music Program for children

Holy Week and Easter Worship Service

Maundy Thursday—April 17 at 7pm
Good Friday—April 18 at 7pm
Easter Sunday—April 20 at 10:30am (one service only)

Lenten Devotional

Pick up a paper copy of the FPCRO Lenten Devotional on Sunday, March 2 or download a PDF if you prefer to view it each day on a device. Many members of the congregation have shared their personal faith experiences as a way to guide us through the season of Lent as we explore topics that include learning, turning, wilderness, journey, struggle, and spiritual practices. We hope you will enjoy
this opportunity to deepen your faith and draw closer to fellow church members.

Upcoming March S.T.A.G.E. Dates

Regular meeting at FPCRO April 27. S.T.A.G.E. (Somewhere to Ask God Everything) is a collaborative youth group which strives to build lifelong relationships, impact the communities we live in, and learn about and share the love of Christ! Join our newsletter for all the details on our meetings, added service events during the year, and summer mission work! Meetings are open to all Middle and High School Students (6th-12th grade)

Discussion of Lenten Devotional, 7pm • Tuesday, April 22

Mark your calendar now for Tuesday, April 22 for an evening to discuss the Lenten Devotional, after we’ve had a chance to enjoy all the entries. Come to share about the process of writing your entry. Come to talk about the insights you gained in reading the entries throughout the season.

Everything is Free! Saturday, April 26 • 10am–12noon

In partnership with Buy Nothing Royal Oak (Northwest, Northeast, Central, and South), FPCRO is hosting a second annual free sale where everything is free! The event will take place in the parking lots of the church. (Rain date is Saturday, May 3, 2025.)

If you plan to come with gifts to give to neighbors for free, please sign up using this link. “Gifters” should plan to set up their items between 9:30am and 10am near their vehicle. Gifters must stay for the duration of the event and staff their area—though of course you can ‘shop’ during the event! Gifters are responsible for their own set-up and clean-up of all items. No items may be left at the church ahead of the event. No items may be left at the church for disposal, nor placed in the dumpster, following the event.

Volunteers from FPCRO will be needed for this event. If you can spend some time helping out, please sign up using this link. Serve as a parking lot attendant, or serve as a host at our church booth, including set-up and clean-up time. Starting at 9:15am, volunteers will set up tents, bring out tables, and set-out church items for gifting. Then they will staff the booth, as ‘shoppers’ look for items during the event. We need volunteers to give directions to our church’s restrooms and water fountains. These volunteers may stay until 12:30pm to help clean-up the church booth and move items back inside. If you have questions, you may contact Pastor Emma or Chris Klein.

Spring Grounds Clean-Up

The House and Grounds Committee invites you to join us Saturday, May 3 from 9am-12pm as we prepare the church’s grounds and garden beds for the upcoming spring and summer growing seasons. Bring your gloves and gardening tools as many hands do make light work taking care of the church grounds.

Congregational Meeting May 4

There will be a congregational meeting Sunday, May 4 in the sanctuary following the worship service for the purpose of electing elders, deacons, and at-large nominating committee members. All members are encouraged to attend!

Men’s Fellowship Group

The Men’s Group will gather Monday, May 5 at Bagger Dave’s in Berkley (2972 Coolidge). Please join us at 7:30pm or whenever you can make it. Join us for a return visit or the first time. No one bites, unless they’ve ordered something to eat!

Mom’s Night Out May 9

Moms of kids through elementary age are invited to a Mom's Night Out! Celebrate Mother’s Day early with other moms and swap stories of endless Spirit Weeks, trade secrets of chore charts and potty training, and laugh over tales of Kids Say the Darndest Things! We’ll join together at Vinsetta Garage on Friday, May 9 at 6:30 pm. Audrey Frieberg will make reservations, so please sign up with this link so she knows you’re coming. Also, please let her know if you will arrive late or if you have any questions.

Celebrating a Graduate?

Graduation season is upon us! If your family is celebrating a graduate associated with FPCRO, we would love to share about them in the June issue of the Church Bell newsletter. Please send the student’s name, a photo, school, program from which they are graduating, and any special interests, accolades, or future plans to Sally Gilreath by May 15.

Mission in Service Hands-On Event

On Sunday, May 18 please join us in Kirkman Fellowship Hall after worship to assemble Hygiene Kits. As part of our support of the Here to Help organization, we will assemble hygiene kits for them to give to their clients.

Sunday Serenade, June 8

On the afternoon of Sunday, June 8 at 2pm, our talented section leaders/soloists Bryan Clinthorne, Brady DelVecchio, Olivia Donnel, and Audrey Frieberg will be sharing their gifts with us in an afternoon of song. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful quartet of soloists here at FPCRO, and this concert will feature them in ways that go beyond what we hear on a Sunday morning.

Their program will include solos, duets, trios and quartets from classical Art Song, Opera and Musical Theater. Within this huge variety of pieces there will be something for everyone to enjoy. This year, the singers will be accompanied by our Organ Scholar, John Etsell at the piano. John is the principal pianist for Detroit Opera and holds a DMA in collaborative piano from the University of Michigan.

Join us in support of our talented singers for a beautiful concert which will showcase the versatility of their gifts. The concert will be free and open to the public.

True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World!
Vacation Bible School 2025

Volunteer! Be Part of the Fun at Vacation Bible School!

In order for our VBS week to be successful, we need folks who can help in a variety of ways. Adults and Youth are welcome to volunteer. Our program runs Monday through Friday, June 23-27 from 9am to 12pm. If you can help on all five days, that’s great! If you can only come two or three days, that’s great too! Even one day is a big help.
What’s needed?

Crew leaders who will oversee a group of children as they move from station to station.
Station Leaders are needed for each area. Those areas include:

Bible Adventures where children hear the story and dive into God’s word in simple hands one ways.
Sticky Scripture where children hear the scripture and enjoy fun experiments.
Craft Station where children wonder together with fun craft activities.
VBS isn’t complete without games! We have some great things in store for outside fun!

So, what does it require to be a VBS volunteer? We just ask that you enjoy being around children and you want to share God’s Word with them. You do not have to be an experienced teacher or an expert in any of the areas. Everything is set up for you and you’ll have a chance to look at things ahead of time. Per our church safety policy, we do require a background check be on file for adults working with children. It’s a simple process with a quick online form to fill out. Be sure to see Joelle Jarrait if you
have any questions and to sign up. You can also sign up online.

Naomi-Ruth Circle Meets Wednesdays at 10:30am

Women of FPCRO, mark your calendars and attend Naomi-Ruth Circle! Circle meets at 10:30am in the Fireside Room the second Wednesday of the month September to June. We begin with fellowship and snacks, share joys and concerns, and learn of various missions, and conclude with Bible Study. This year’s study is “Sacred Encounters: The Power and Presence of Jesus Christ in Luke through Acts,” produced by Presbyterian Women/Horizons Bible Study.

Opportunity to Usher on Sunday Mornings

The Worship and Nurture Committee is looking for ushers. Simply arrive 20-25 minutes ahead of
the 10:30am service to greet folks and hand out bulletins. After worship, retrieve the completed
pew rack Friendship pad forms. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the Narthex. Questions? Contact Gail Meengs.

Need a Ride to Church?

The Deacons want to ensure that everyone who wants to come to church can get here! Roger Watson is the transportation advocate on the Board of Deacons. If you need a ride to church, or would like to have a ride occasionally, please get in touch with Roger. Or call the church office to get his contact information. Roger can work with you to see how we can arrange a ride for you to join us for worship.

Sunburst Singers Music Program for Children

Join our music program for kids (preschool through early middle school), following worship on the first and third Sundays of each month from September through June.