OLCC,P eNewsLink
January 17, 2020
From the Desk of Pastor Paul
Dear Friends,
As we gather Sunday for worship we will continue our series of messages on the Sabbath. This nearly abandoned practice for people of faith was instituted at creation as we will see in our text for Sunday, Genesis 2:1-3. In fact, these verses just refer to “the seventh day” as opposed to the Sabbath. That term would be codified in the words of the 4th Commandment received by Moses at Mt. Sinai. Genesis simply states that after finishing the work of creation, God rested on the seventh day, blessed it, and called it holy. As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel puts it, the Sabbath is a “Palace in Time”. All created things were pronounced good…only a period of time was pronounced holy!
John Calvin’s description of the Sabbath is “that spiritual rest in which believers lay aside their own works to allow God to work in them.” Karl Barth referred to the Sabbath as that “continual recurring interruption” which frees us from the normal duties of the week in order to be free to worship God and remember whose we are. Freedom from work…freedom for worship and restoration. I like that juxtaposition of ideas in describing the Sabbath.
So we will have the opportunity on this Sabbath day to reflect on Sabbath rest. You can also prepare for Sunday by reading Psalm 62:1-8 and Hebrews 4:4-11 as our supporting scripture passages. In Hebrews, believers are encouraged to “make every effort to enter into that rest” known as the Sabbath. An interesting paradox – make every effort to rest! It takes intentionality and commitment to practice Sabbath. But it is also the rest of knowing that our salvation has been completely achieved for us by Jesus Christ! There is nothing we can do to add to his finished work on our behalf. We gather on the Sabbath to remember and celebrate that great gift!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul
P.S. Please keep Pastor Linda, our youth and their adult chaperones in your prayers as they head for a retreat at Spring Hill this weekend – prayers for safe travels and for an inspiriting encounter with Jesus Christ!
Sunday's Scriptures
Pray for one another...
- Continued healing and health for: Elizabeth Belcher, Nancy Burton, Tom Conrad, Peter Cooper, Alan Coopland, Jackie Johnson, Mary Bahr Jones, Joyce Kilbourne, Larry Lankford, Nina Linebaugh, Bill Marvin, Cynthia Macadow, Trudy Morse, Lisa Pence, Bill & Joyce Pitchford, Sarah Robertson Nadeau, Peggy Simon, Justin Smith, Chuck Storey, Melanie Telford, Doris Wiegert, Madie Zurkan
- Sympathy to the family of Kelly Fish on her death last Sunday
- Mission: Youth on retreat at Spring Hill this weekend with Pastor Linda
OLCC, P Calendar
2020 Sermon Series
January 19th Sabbath as Rest: Genesis 2:1-3
January 26th Congregational Meeting / State of the Church
February 2nd Sabbath and Creation: Exodus 20:8-11
February 9th Sabbath and Redemption: Deuteronomy 5:12-15
February 16th Sabbath as Bride: Leviticus 23:1-3
February 23rd Sabbath as Praying/Playing: Luke 6:1-11
Snow Shoveling
We are looking for volunteers to shovel the sidewalk as needed on Sundays. Please let Pastor Paul if you are willing to do so. Thank you.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
The church office will be closed on January 20th in observance of the holiday.
Thursday Classes 9:30 a.m. and 7:15 p.m.
“Drive thru History Holy Land” DVD series with Dave Stotts lead by Sally Montera.
Dave Stotts speeds through the ancient world of the Bible, delivering a fast paced and even humorous encounter with the people, places, and events that have shaped our world and the Christian faith.
ROMEO Group -January 9th at 11:30 a.m.
Join other Retired “Old” Men Eating Out (ROMEO) for conversation and food (What more do you need?) on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays of each month.
Location: The Grill on Orchard Lake Road in Sylvan Lake.
See Dave Dutton for more information.
Annual Meeting
Notice is hereby given of the 2020 Annual Congregation/Corporation meeting of OLCC,P to be held on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The purpose of this meeting is to receive the 2019 Annual Reports including the 2020 budget approved by the Session, and to act on any proposed changes to pastoral terms of call. All members of the congregation are encouraged to attend this important meeting. Children will be cared for in their Sunday School rooms during the meeting. Copies of the 2019 Annual Report will be available in the church office on January 24th and the report will also be sent out via email.
GodTalk Unfiltered January Pop Up Storytelling Event
This group is for young adults in the Detroit Presbytery on January 27th.
We are back in 2020! 18 and over.
Doors open at 7:00 pm. Stories begin at 7:30 pm.
Free appetizers will be served. Full menu and bar will be available.
Grab a friend and join us for an evening of inspiring stories. We welcome those of any faith, those searching for a faith, or those of no faith. We believe listening to others is sacred. Come share YOUR story!
Women's 2020 Winter Bible Study, January 29 - March 18
Slaying the Giants in your Life
You can win the battle and live victoriously!
by Dr. David Jeremiah
Wednesdays,10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Listen! Can you hear thundering footsteps approaching? The Bible warns us of "giants in the land" -- and whether they're literal like Goliath or figurative ones like failure, fear, worry, guilt, anger, temptation, resentment or doubt, their goal is the same: to crush God's people.
Do you need the tools to slay these daunting foes? David Jeremiah shows you from scripture how to stand up to these bullies and win -- with God's help. These are daunting giants, but thankfully we have access to God's Word, which is a wealth of knowledge, encouragement, and power. We are not weak - we are empowered!
In each class, we'll watch a DVD message by Dr. Jeremiah, then discuss the day's topic. Each session stands on its own, so please join us when you can for this eight week study. Everyone is welcome.
Please contact Bonnie Horner, 248-880-2327 or bnnhrn@yahoo.com to sign up.
Per Capita
Per capita is a fundamental way in which all Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations support the work of the wider Church.
Each year it costs OLCC,P over $30 for each member. When the full amount is not covered by the congregation, the money comes out of our Mission Budget. If all of the members of OLCC,P would prayerfully consider paying their own family’s per capita, it would allow your Mission Team to have more to give to others in need.
The 2020 Per Capita offering is $30.55 per OLCC,P member. To provide your per capita online, please visit the OLCC,P website, select the “Giving” tab, select “Donate Online” found on the top right side of the page, and follow
the instructions.
(If you use offering envelopes, a Per Capita envelope is included.)
Open Door
The following items are in immediate need:
Peanut butter and jelly, sliced bread, soup, shampoo, conditioner, bar soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, size 5 and 5/6 diapers, and baby wipes.
Chancel Flowers for 2020
Pick your date(s) to sponsor flowers for the chancel to honor or in memory of someone. The sign-up sheet is in the Narthex next to the elevator. The cost is $36.
Souper Bowl– February 2nd
It’s that time again for our annual Souper Bowl. Pull out your favorite soup recipe and bring a pot to share after the second service.
Lakeside Coffeehouse Valentine Event
Save the date for the Lakeside Coffeehouse Valentine Event on Saturday, February 15th. We will be featuring musicians, Bekah Brudi and Nate Veldhoff.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m., fun begins at 7:30pm.
Xpujil 2020 is a Go!
We have a team of seven who will be travelling to Xpujil, Mexico from February 25 - March 3 to come alongside Mexican villagers to help build cisterns for a safe source of drinking water for their families. There's room for three or four more people on the team; if you've been thinking this is something you'd like to do, we're more than happy to have you.
The week includes four "work days", an opportunity to visit local Mayan ruins and other sights of interest, getting to know the family of Todd Luke's wife Maria, who feed us wonderfully, worshiping on Sunday with the Presbyterians in Xpujil (in the church OLCC,P helped build), and an afternoon and evening of "r and r" in Playa del Carmen, before flying home from Cancun. If you're interested in going, or just want more information, please contact Dodie Berry (248-363-4471).
Winter Weather Policy
Winter Weather Policy – below are our practices related to winter weather and church activities:
- If West Bloomfield Schools are closed due to snow/ice/extreme cold, our office and all activities for that day are cancelled
- If West Bloomfield Schools observe a 2 hour delay, our office will as well and scheduled activities will continue later in the day
- Any Sunday worship changes or cancellations will be publicized as needed
Contact Us
Rev. Dr. Paul H. Thwaite (Sr. Pastor): paul@olccp.com
Rev. Linda Cochran (Temp. Supply Assoc. Pastor) linda@olccp.com
Margaret Bell (Organist): mtbellmusic@gmail.com
Stacey Cheff (Business Administrator): stacey@olccp.com
Emily Grakul (Faith Community Nurse): egrakul@yahoo.com
Martha Piesko (Director of Children’s Ministries) martha@olccp.com
Bruce Snyder (Dir. of Music Ministries): bruce@olccp.com
Jennifer Taub (Office Administrator): jennifer@olccp.com
Doug Wilson (Sexton)
Follow us on Facebook at Orchard Lake Community Church
Email: info@olccp.com
Website: https://www.olccp.com/
Location: 5171 Commerce Road, Orchard Lake, MI, United States
Phone: 248.682.0730
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OLCCP/