OLCC,P eNewsLink
November 1, 2019
From the Desk of Pastor Paul
Dear Friends,
Today, Friday November 1, is All Saints Day in the church calendar. Following All Hallow’s Eve (which we now call Halloween, of course) this special day is set aside to remember those faithful disciples of Jesus Christ who have gone on before us to glory. It began as a day to remember the earliest Christian martyrs for the faith but was soon expanded to remember all those who have joined the “communion of saints” in the presence of Jesus.
Take a few moments today to remember those saints in your life who have been a blessing to you over the years – a parent who embodied the love of God in your life, a pastor, priest, or friend who helped you learn about Jesus and the Christian faith, a spouse or other family member who has preceded you into the presence of Jesus. Let’s give thanks for them and renew our own commitment to be a living representation of Jesus in the lives of those around us. God knows, our world today certainly needs such living examples of faithful discipleship.
This Sunday continues our journey in the Sermon on the Mount. We turn to Matthew 6:19-34 and hear Jesus’ teaching about our treasures and material possessions. “Striving For God’s Kingdom” is the title for both this Sunday’s message and our 2020 Stewardship Campaign. Jesus made it clear that one of the most visible marks of our discipleship is our approach to money and material possessions. These verses challenge us to examine where our ultimate trust lies – in the faithful provision of a loving God, or in our own striving to acquire and possess what we need and want. As disciples, we are called to the deeper righteousness of “striving first for God’s kingdom and righteousness” and trusting in God to provide for us that which we need.
Stewardship packets will be available Sunday for you to pick up when you come to worship. Sunday November 17th will be Faith Promise Dedication Sunday. Please begin now to prayerfully consider how your discipleship can and should be reflected in your Faith Promise for 2020.
See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul
P.S. Remember to “fall back” on Saturday night by setting your clocks back one hour for the end of Daylight Savings time.
Striving For God’s Kingdom
Sunday's Scriptures:
Pray for one another...
Continued healing and health for: Julie Blom, Nancy Burton, Nancy Carter, Marilyn Colton, Peter Cooper, Alan Coopland, Gail Copeland, Dorothy Friedl, Jackie Johnson, Mary Bahr Jones, Larry Lankford, Nina Linebaugh, Adrienne Matthews, Bill & Joyce Pitchford, Sarah Robertson Nadeau, Justin Smith, Dan Tyrrell, as well as all those battling chronic health conditions and mental health challenges
Mission: for the ministry of the Crane Centre in Uganda
Please click on the link below to help the Presbyterian Churches in Northeast Syria
OLCC, P Calendar
7K November Service Challenge
Our theme for this year is #BeLove, which is based on 1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another... because God is love.
Our goals this year:
7,000 hours of service in our communities!
300 conversations with people we serve.
We will strive to deepen our experiences this year by engaging in conversations with those we are serving. Having conversations with people we would otherwise not know takes our discipleship to a deeper level to truly express being God’s love in the world.
How will we do this?
We will Engage, Record & Celebrate.
We Engage by finding a place to serve. Any place/activity that is outside of the church involving helping someone in need, counts.
We Record by logging our hours online, using Track it Forward. You can start logging hours on November 1.
You may also put your volunteer hours in the box provided in the Lakeside area.
And finally, we Celebrate by posting pictures of what we are doing on social media with the hashtag #BeLove.
Pictorial Directory
All members and friends of OLCC,P are invited to participate in our upcoming professional photography sessions. This will be an important tool in helping strengthen our fellowship with one another. Currently all the time slots are filled.
To join the waiting list, go to the Lifetouch link:
Grace Centers of Hope: Christmas Decoration Event
We're asking volunteers to help with hanging Christmas lights on Saturday, November 2nd 10:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. on Seneca St.! Come by yourself or bring a friend. Get your whole family involved! Grace Centers of Hope will provide cookies and cocoa to all the volunteers. It'll be a great time and a great way to get into the holiday cheer.
To join in, call Jim Lemon 248-520-9977
Lighthouse Thanksgiving
Once again this year, OLCC,P will be participating in the Lighthouse Thanksgiving Collection. This is a wonderful opportunity to share the blessings we have received with families in need in the Pontiac area, ensuring that they will have a bountiful Thanksgiving dinner. On this Sunday, November 3rd , as well as next Sunday, November 10th, some of our young people will be passing out grocery bags and "wish lists" as you leave after each service. If you can purchase these items as you are shopping for your own holiday celebrations, fill the bags, and return them to church by November 17th.
The bags can be placed in the area outside the office door on the lower level, as you enter the church. You may also write a check, to be used toward the purchase of turkeys. Checks should be made out to OLCC,P, with Lighthouse Thanksgiving written in the memo line, and turned in to the office, so Stacey can write one check to Lighthouse. Thank you for your generosity, and may God bless you and your families as we celebrate and give thanks for our many blessings.
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 November 4th.
Monthly Prayer Gathering
Held on the first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Enter the dimly lit sanctuary to commune with God.
Youth Group Mark Your Calendar!
November 9th
Confirmation Retreat
November 15th
Best Game Night Ever
SpringHill Winter Retreat
The Middle School and High School winter retreat will be January 17-19! The first payment of $50 is due. Please see Pastor Linda for more details.
Fall Clean Up Day
Saturday, November 9th, from 8:00 a.m. until noon, will be our next fall clean up day to work on our exterior campus as we prepare for the winter months.
Please plan to join us. Thank you.
Blood Pressure Screening
Do you know your number?
Stop in the Health and Wellness room #201, following both worship services next Sunday, November 10th and have our nurses check your blood pressure. It is painless and may just save your life.
OLCC,P Family Missions Day
Mark your calendar for Sunday, November 10th. Family Missions Day will take place in Heritage Hall. We will begin with a pizza and salad lunch. Afterwards, there will be a variety of mission activities for parents and their children to complete (painting birdfeeders for people in nursing homes, making bookmarks for college students, and so much more.) Please email Martha at <martha@olccp.com> by November 7th if you would like to participate. All are welcome.
Women’s Bible Study
Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
October 2 - November 13 (7 weeks)
"Conversation Peace" by Mary Kassian
Led by Bonnie Horner
Have you ever found yourself on the wrong end of a conversation, wishing you could begin again? Had a hard time getting your point across? Joined in with sharp barb or juicy gossip? It may be time for a much-needed change. Discover the power of transformational speech in interactive group discussions and Bible study. Revolutionize your speech habits and improve your relationships. Learn six powerful speech-transforming elements. Master the skills of effective communicators. And strengthen your vocabulary with words from Scripture.
Please contact Bonnie Horner, 248-738-5848,
248-880-2327 (text), bnnhrn@yahoo.com to sign up.
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, November 14th.
Meet in the OLCC,P parking lot 7:30 p.m.
No experience required, only a heart willing to serve others!
The History of the Church in the United States
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. or 7:15 p.m.
October 24 - November 14
Led by Ron Verduin
10,000 +/- ! Some say that's how many recognizable different Christian options we have in the USA. Let's learn about some (not all!) of them. We will try to make some sense of all these differing views of the same issue - who is God and who are we?
ROMEO Group
November 14th 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
November 14th 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.
Harvest Potluck Luncheon
Sunday, November 17th at 11:30 a.m.
Gathering around the harvest table for the OLCC,P community lunch. Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing and beverages will be provided. We will only have one service at
10:30 a.m. this day so everyone can enjoy the luncheon. Bring your favorite salad, side dish or dessert to share. Reservations are not required, just show up and enjoy. A free will offering will be accepted.
Open Door
The following items are in immediate need: Peanut butter and jelly, sliced bread, soup, bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, size 5 and 5/6 diapers and baby wipes.
Life Principles by Charles Stanley, DVD series
Thursdays, November 21 and December 5-19:
9:30 a.m. or 7:15 p.m.
Led by Bonnie Horner
Dr. Charles Stanley has faithfully highlighted the 30 Life Principles that have guided his life, empowered his ministry, and helped him to grow in his knowledge, service, and love of God. This series has been designed to help you apply these timeless truths to your life and enjoy life at its very best. Each DVD message walks you through Scripture and shows you how to live the Spirit-filled, victorious life you were created for. We will cover these topics:
November 21 -God Will Show You His Will
December 5 -God Acts on Behalf of Those Who Wait for Him
December 12 -Fight Your Battles on Your Knees
December 19 -Victim or Victor?
Little Free Library
Take a book! Share a book!
The Little Free Library is installed near the main front door.
Feel free to sit in the chairs or couch outside the main office, during business hours to enjoy a read and the view.
50+ and Single Group
Meet friends for Sunday lunch or other social activities through out the year.
Contact Thelma Golden, 248-515-6842 for more information
Live! At the Lake: And There Was Light
Mark your calendars Friday, December 6th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 8th at 4:00 p.m.
Tickets will be available soon.
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
Afsoon Berenjian: (Nursery Attendant)
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/