OLCC,P eNewsLink
December 1st
Sermon Series: What’s So Unique About Jesus Christ?
This Sunday's Message: Christ: Exalted and Humble
“Then they will see the ‘Son of Man coming in clouds’
with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26)
This Sunday's Scriptures: Daniel 7:9-14 Philippians 2:5-11 Mark 13:24-37
From the desk of Pastor Paul...
Dear Friends,
I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving as did our family! It was moving to hear others around our table share blessings for which they were thankful. Most revolved around family and the blessings of love and support with and for one another. I am thankful for our church family and its love and support for each other as well as our desire to serve Jesus Christ in all we do.
Of course, these days have also been filled with daily revelations of human frailty in the news. It’s a stark reminder that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. All of us have struggled with various temptations of our flesh, so no one is exempt. Only by God’s grace are we enabled to endure and resist acting out a variety of things which would be hurtful to ourselves, others, and God. Perhaps these times and experiences will usher in a new awareness of righteousness and godly grief over sin in all its forms.
As we enter Advent, that’s exactly what the presence of Jesus Christ in our world is meant to do – lead us to die to sin and live to righteousness both personally and corporately. Our Advent sermon series is entitled “What’s So Unique About Jesus Christ?” It will lead us week by week in an exploration of who Jesus truly is – exalted and humble, human and divine, lamb and good shepherd, Lion of Judah. As our world demonstrates daily, our only hope and source of salvation and wholeness is found in and through Him!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul
P.S. As an extra measure of precaution in these times, our Emergency Operations Team has determined it best on Sunday mornings to begin locking the doors at our West Entrance and Commerce Rd. entrance 10 minutes after the beginning of each worship service. This will begin this coming Sunday. The main entrance doors and Lakeside entrance doors will remain open throughout the morning at this time, though that may be subject to change in the future as conditions warrant. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Pray for One Another
- The Friedl Family for guidance on decisions to be made for Wally's care.
- Shauna Ryder for healing from her recent concussion.
A Note of Thanks....
Norm and I would like to express our sincere thanks for all the prayers, cards and flowers received for our surgeries, my shoulder replacement and Norm’s hip replacement. We are doing much better now and getting therapy. With God’s blessing we should be good as new soon.
Sincerely, Linda & Norman Schlafmann
2018 Stewardship Update
Our "All Things Are Possible" 2018 Stewardship campaign is continuing to unfold. As of November 27th we have received 94 Faith Promise Cards for 2018 with promises of $279,764 toward our Faith Promise goal of $505,000. 44% of these promises show an increase from 2017! There are 5 new promises from folks who hadn’t made one previously, while 91 people/families who promised in 2017 have not yet returned 2018 Faith Promise Cards. Stewardship packets are available in the office and Faith Promise Cards can be found in the sanctuary. Please return your 2018 Faith Promise card as soon as possible trusting that All Things Are Possible through our awesome God! Thanks for your generosity!
Advent Devotionals Now Available
Tickets Available for Sounds of Christmas Performances
Suggested donation: $10
Students free with ID.
Sharing our Christmas Joy
This Sunday we receive the Christmas Joy Offering. This offering is dedicated to helping retired Church workers and missionaries and their surviving spouses whose retirements were seriously under-funded, and who have little resource to fund their current housing and health costs.
In addition, some of the offering goes to help with costs at our denomination’s historic
racial and ethnic high schools and colleges, at no time segregated, but providing access to education for talented, but still economically challenged students.
Caring & Sharing Loaner Closet
In addition to gently used medical equipment such as wheel chairs, crutches, walkers, and shower chairs, a power lift and recline chair has recently been donated to our closet. We also have packages of adult disposable briefs (Depends) in various sizes. If you or someone you know could use any of these medical aids, please give Emily a call 248-346-7062.
Supporting Baldwin’s Christmas Store
The Baldwin Center in Pontiac opens a Christmas Store each year so needy families may choose new gifts to give to their loved ones, ensuring some Christmas joy, even in the midst of bleak times. OLCC,P helps make this possible by donating new, unwrapped gifts.
Next Sunday the Baldwin Tree, containing suggested gift item ‘decorations’, will be outside the church office. If you would like to purchase items, please take a ‘decoration’. Deadline for returning gifts: December 10.
Advent Candle Lighters Are Needed!
We are looking for families, groups, or committees to help lead us through our Advent journey by lighting the Advent candles for our Sunday services through Advent, as well as the Christmas Eve services. The words used during the lighting will be provided. Please sign up in the Lakeview Area on Sunday morning or call the church office.
Open Door Outreach Center December Requests
Roadside: Mac & Cheese, Box Potatoes Lakeside: Ramen Noodles
Providing Christmas Ornaments & Lights for Needy Families
OLCC,P will again support Grace Centers of Hope by providing Christmas trees for families in their programs. If you would like to provide gently-used Christmas ornaments, tree stands and/or lights, please bring them into the church office by December 7.
Christmas T-Shirt Workshop
OLCC,P Kids and Small Group Leaders are invited to a Sunday afternoon workshop on December 3rd following 2nd service to make ugly Christmas T-shirts. Bring a red T-shirt for each participating family member and we’ll provide the embellishments!
Then, on December 10th, we would like all the kids (and the grown-ups) to wear their creations to church and (the kids!) serve as greeters and ushers. Signup will be at the workshop.
If you and your child(ren) are unable to make it to the workshop, feel free to decorate a shirt at home. A signup for ushering/greeting will be available early next week.
Ladies Christmas Tea ~ Thursday, December 7 ~ 7 - 9:30pm
Table Hostesses: Decorate your table and provide dessert for 8. Set up on December 6. Tea and coffee provided.
Guests: Sign up with a specific table hostess or let us handle the seating arrangements.
New this year! Please bring socks, mittens, or hats to donate.
Nativity sets will be on display, too. Feel free to bring yours also.
Invitations are coming in the mail. Sign up in the Lakeview Area on Sunday.
Cookies, Carols & Crafts ~ December 10 ~ 3pm
Join us for a festive afternoon for families and friends in Heritage Hall! Gary Forhan will entertain us with Christmas carols and trivia. A variety of Christmas crafts will be organized by Christy Forhan and we'll have a few activities and games for those who need to keep moving! Please bring a plate of cookies to share and a gift for the OLCC,P Kids Adopt-a-Family.
Keepsake Christmas ~ December 24 ~ 3pm
During this engaging, one-hour, interactive program, families will hear a dramatic retelling of the Christmas story from cast members onstage. They’ll hear from Mary, Joseph, and an angel how the amazing events unfolded on that first Christmas. Plus each family will create their very own Keepsake nativity scene to cherish for years to come.
If you have a teen (or college student home for the holidays) who would like to help out with this program, please visit this flier for more information. We need volunteers to perform before the program, help with the project during the program and make ahead a few samples. Contact Elizabeth Belcher with questions or sign up in the Lakeview Area or Youth Room on Sunday.
Contact Us
Rev. Dr. Paul H. Thwaite (Sr. Pastor): paul@olccp.com
Elizabeth Belcher (Dir. of Children’s Ministries): elizabeth@olccp.com
Margaret Bell (Organist): mtbellmusic@gmail.com
Afsoon Berenjian: (Nursery Attendant)
Stacey Cheff (Business Administrator): stacey@olccp.com
Scott Hobart (Dir. of Youth Ministries): srhobart@att.net
Emily Grakul (Faith Community Nurse): egrakul@yahoo.com
Lynn Lotoczky (Office Administrator): lynn@olccp.com
Bruce Snyder (Dir. of Music Ministries): bruce@olccp.com
Like us on Facebook at Orchard Lake Community Church
Email: lynn@olccp.com
Website: http://s15611.wixsite.com/orchardlakechurch
Location: 5171 Commerce Road, MI, United States
Phone: 248.682.0730
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OLCCP/