OLCC,P eNewsLink
January 3, 2020
From the Desk of Pastor Paul
Here you go…
Happy New Year!
Greetings for the first time in 2020! I hope you and your loved ones had a blessed Christmas and New Year’s celebration filled with a sense of the presence of Jesus Christ. Remember – we are still in the liturgical season of Christmas this Sunday, still reflecting on and rejoicing in the greatest Christmas gift the world has ever received! Even though the songs have disappeared and the decorations may have been taken down, Jesus is alive and present with us in the stuff of daily life! Hallelujah!
As we begin a new year, we also welcome a new person on our staff team. Afsoon Berenjian, our Nursery Attendant since September 2000, submitted her resignation in November to pursue other interests. This Sunday we welcome Stefani Nieb as our new Nursery Attendant caring for our youngest treasures. Stefani comes to us with experience both as a nanny and as a staff member at several different preschool childcare businesses in the local area. In her words, she is “highly motivated and dedicated…friendly and energetic with over 20 years’ experience in childcare and education…motivated to help children become happy, healthy, and well-behaved.” Stefani will work along with Martha Piesko to make our nursery a welcoming and caring place for our young children each and every Sunday. Welcome, Stefani!
As we gather for worship around the Lord’s Table on this first Sunday of the new year, we will introduce a new series of messages entitled “Sabbath – A Gift For Life” exploring the concept of Sabbath as taught in the scriptures. It’s a concept originating at creation when God rested on the seventh day and codified at Mt. Sinai in the fourth commandment to “remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy…” Jesus observed the Sabbath in his own life, yet in our driven and stress-filled lives in the 21st century, it’s a concept we often take lightly or ignore all together to our own detriment. So we will spend the weeks between now and Lent reflecting together on this gift of God for God’s people meant to allow us to survive and flourish as God’s children.
See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul
P.S. Remember – Sunday we’re celebrating National Spaghetti Day with a Spaghetti Luncheon following our 10:30 worship service. Just bring yourself – all the food provided by our wonderful Gathering Ministry Team!
Sunday's Scriptures
Pray for one another...
- Continued healing and health for: Elizabeth Belcher, Nancy Burton, Tom Conrad, Peter Cooper, Alan Coopland, Dorothy Friedl, Jackie Johnson, Mary Bahr Jones, Joyce Kilbourne, Larry Lankford, Nina Linebaugh, Trudy Morse, Lisa Pence, Bill & Joyce Pitchford, Sarah Robertson Nadeau, Les Schoonover, Justin Smith, Chuck Storey, Dan Tyrrell, Laurie VanSwearingen, Doris Wiegert, Madie Zurkan.
- Sympathy and prayers to the families of Jan Forhan, Ron Kilbourne, and Gary Lotoczky on the death of their mothers in recent weeks.
- Comfort for those impacted by the church shooting in Texas
2020 Sermon Series
January 5th Introduction: Isaiah 30:15-21
January 12th Jesus, Lord of Sabbath: Mark 2:23-28
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
Spaghetti Dinner, Sunday at 11:30am
In the first week of January, many people celebrate National Spaghetti Day.
On January 5th, OLCC,P will celebrate National Spaghetti Day. Everyone is invited to gather together in Fellowship Hall to relax, catch up with friends, and enjoy a plate of spaghetti (or two).
2020 Faith Promise Cards
If you have not already returned your Striving For God’s Kingdom 2020 Faith Promise Card, please do so as soon this week. Additional Faith Promise Cards are available in the sanctuary or through the church office. Thank you!
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.
New Church Office Hours
There are new hours for the church office. The office will be open beginning at 9:00 a.m. (changed from 8:00 a.m.) until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9:00 a.m. (changed from 8:00 a.m.) to 12 noon on Fridays. Business Administrator Stacey Cheff will only be in the office Monday through Thursday. Please make note of these changes beginning in January. Thank you.
Prayer Shawl Meeting
Our meetings are the 1st and 3rd Mondays, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the library, and all knitters are welcome. The next meeting is January 6th.
Fort Street Open Door
Join Pastor Paul and others in serving those less fortunate at the Open Door Outreach at Fort Street Presbyterian in Detroit, Thursday, January 9th. Meet in the OLCC,P parking lot at 7:30 a.m. No experience required, only a heart willing to serve others!
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.
J.U.L.I.E.T.s, January 9th at 11:30 a.m.
J.U.L.I.E.T.s meet for lunch on the second Thursday of each month for friendship, fellowship and food. Our invitation to join us for lunch is extended to ALL ladies of every age, who attend or are members of OLCC,P. Greek Jalapeno Restaurant located at 6636 Cooley Lake Road in Waterford Twp.
Rides can be provided. See Jorgann Cornwall for more information.
Mark Your Calendars
January 26th is the Annual Meeting immediately following the 10:30 a.m. service.
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.
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.
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/