OLCC,P E-Newslink
May 29, 2020
From Pastor Paul
Dear OLCC,P Family,
“I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future.” This quote is attributed to civil rights activist Ralph Abernathy, and it could not be more appropriate for the times we find ourselves living in today! As we continue in a season of various government and health organization recommended restrictions, we seek to balance our own personal desires and wishes of what might be with the wider issues of the health and well being of our neighbors and wider communities.
Our Session met via Zoom conference on Tuesday night and had a lengthy conversation about what the future may hold. There is still much that is uncertain. Michigan is in Phase 3 which still limits group gatherings to under 10 people, as does the next phase to come. These guidelines and realistic expectations of safe and appropriate gathering probably mean it will be July at the earliest when we might consider some return to in-person worship with appropriate precautions in place. But, as the quote says, “I don’t know what the future may hold…” but I know God will continue to guide our path in the days and weeks ahead!
In the meantime, we will continue offering our service via video each week (as we will continue to do for those preferring to remain at home even when we return to in-person worship) thanks to the efforts of our staff and Christy Forhan who has “produced” our final product each week. Steve Orr will also be stepping up to assist us with this ongoing video effort. Thanks to you both!
This week we celebrate Pentecost, which some refer to as “the birthday of the church”. It is the day when God’s gift of the Holy Spirit – present and at work since creation in specific and limited ways – is poured out on all believers for all time. As we celebrate, we look at the story of David in our “Life Rebooted” message series. David gave in to temptation with Bathsheba, but rebooted his life through the words of Psalm 51 and his appeal for God to “cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy spirit from me.”
Temptation is not a sin in and of itself. It is how we respond to temptation that determines its nature (see James 1:12-16). May we seek daily a fresh filling and outpouring of that Holy Spirit given at Pentecost that we might live as Jesus’ disciples!
Blessings,
Pastor Paul
Spring Clean Up Day, May 30, 8:00 a.m.-Noon
Please join us tomorrow for our outdoor Spring Clean Up Day.
- Everyone must wear a mask
- Keep at least 6 feet apart (unless you are a family group)
- Bring your own weeding tools, bags, and rakes as no one can share equipment
- There will be no food or beverages served. Bring your own water.
And of course if you are not feeling well or experiencing any COVID-19 type symptoms, please stay home. Thank you!
Open Door Donations May 30th
Lakeside Coffeehouse, May 30 at 7:00 p.m.
Click here on Saturday to watch on our YouTube page.
“Take the vocal and melodic sound of Seal; add a little funk; guitar work like Toto; bundled with a spiritual focus; and you have - Rufus Harris.”
For more about Rufus, visit his website here, rufusharris.com
Pray for one another...
Continued healing and health for: Fiona Bell, John Brannon, Nancy Burton, Ron Carlson, Rebecca Caufield, Tom Conrad, Peter Cooper, Alan Coopland, Irene Guymer, Harold Jacobsen, Herbert Jarvie, Jackie Johnson, Larry Lankford, Nina Linebaugh, Donna Malenowski, Jim Mann, Bill Marvin, Jean Mattinen, Trudy Morse, Bill & Joyce Pitchford, Sarah Robertson Nadeau, Jack Rothley, Greg Sables, Candy Sacharski, Dara Sperstad, Melanie Telford, Doris Wiegert, Morgen Wright, Madie Zurkan.
Flowers Offering
Sunday’s flowers are given by Doreen Dutton in honor of Dave’s birthday.
Virtual Coffee Hour, May 31 at 11:30 AM
Join us on Sunday!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89072581532?pwd=ZTBQZ05Vd1RGYjVlcC8vL09SS094dz09
Meeting ID: 890 7258 1532
Password: 340212
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kb2TkVqiH
Senior Graduation Information Needed
Please help us collect the graduation information for each of our senior students (High School or College), including name, school graduating from (and degrees, if any), future plans, etc. We would like this information by Monday, June 8th. Please email this information along with their photo to: jennifer@olccp.com
Summaries for each student who submits their information will be shared in our on-line Worship bulletin, in our virtual Worship service, and in our Eblast for the weekend of June 14th ! If you have any concerns or questions contact Pastor Linda at: Linda@olccp.com
Youth and Parent Points to Ponder
From Martha Piesko, Director of Children's Ministries
Hello OLCC,P Families,
This Sunday (May 31) we celebrate Pentecost. It is the 50th and last day of the Easter season. We celebrate the birth of the Church when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2). Please click here "Pentecost in a Box" courtesy of buildfaith.org. "Pentecost in a Box" will provides a variety of meaningful ways you can celebrate Pentecost with your family at home.
Below is a picture of the Holy Spirit to print and color from Stushieart.com
Face Mask Offer
Greetings to all. Hope you are all well and safe. To be safer we are all asked to wear non-surgical masks when in public. I have been making masks and would like to share them with you. I will be putting them on my porch for your pick up. These are made from fabrics out of my closets so the prints are what they are.
If you have a tightly woven, 100% cotton fabric that you would like to donate, there will be a bin for that. Please put your mane on it so if it isn't used, it can be returned.
Please call before you come so I can tell you if there are some available or when they will be. I will leave them on my porch.
Helene King
5255 Greer Rd.
West Bloomfield (directly across from Grectchko school}
248-520-3190
OLCCP History book now on website
Good news! Thanks to the dedicated typing of Nancy Rataczak and the photo scanning of Jim Horner, we now have a digital copy of the book, "The Story of Orchard Lake Community Church Presbyterian". This book was produced in 1958 and includes a wonderful history of the church going back to "Indian Days". Nancy and Jim completed their part of this project diligently, and it is my shame that I must admit it has taken me more than A YEAR! to add this to the website. Gordy Steele deserves credit too, He helped Jim find all the hard-copy photos in the archive room so Jim could scan them.
You can read it and see the photos here:
Mid-Michigan Flood Relief
Important Message from Forgotten Harvest
Thank you to everyone who has already signed up for the pop-up pantries. We have added 5 more sites; 4 in Detroit and 1 in Romeo. We are looking for volunteers to help collect information, direct traffic, and place boxes and groceries into car trunks. Please CLICK HERE to sign up.
The safety and well-being of our community, staff and volunteers are important to Forgotten Harvest. We are monitoring the situation and taking our lead from the Michigan Public Health Department and the CDC. Forgotten Harvest can provide PPE, which will include; gloves, face masks and optional face shields.
We are asking any person considering volunteering to please practice necessary safety precautions:
If this describes you, we are unable to have you as a volunteer:
- If you think you are sick, please DO NOT VOLUNTEER.
- If you have been knowingly exposed to or have been a caregiver for someone that has been diagnosed to COVID 19.
- If you have returned from foreign travel, cruises or traveling from out of state, we ask that you refrain from volunteering for at least 14 days while you monitor your health. This is in accordance with CDC recommendations.
- Groups more vulnerable to a dire outcome if they contract the virus include people 60 years of age or older and those with certain health conditions. We discourage these groups to not volunteer and, therefore, avoid exposure to the virus.
- If you are under the age of 18 years of age.
It is important to stay informed as these types of situations can be dynamic. If a volunteer opportunity is not appropriate for you and if you are interested in other ways that you can help, the latest information will be on our COVID-19 response page. https://www.forgottenharvest.org/COVID19/
As always, thank you for all you do to support our mission!
Nicole Peeples, Volunteer Manager npeeples@forgottenharvest.org
OLCC, P Calendar
Our calendar is available to browse live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at OLCC,P Calendar. You can browse all events coming up. You can also subscribe to the calendar on the same page.
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)
Email: info@olccp.com
Website: www.olccp.com
Location: 5171 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: 248-682-0730
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OLCCP/