OLCC,P E-Newslink
May 15, 2020
From Pastor Paul
Greetings to each one of you as we move into the middle part of May 2020! I hope this message once again finds you and your loved ones healthy and well as we continue our “stay home, stay safe” journey here in Michigan. It’s been two months of self-quarantine, and I’m sure all of us are anxious to begin getting outside and about in the weeks ahead, especially as the weather continues to improve!
Our staff and leadership have been discussing our hoped for “return to worship” and what that might look like. One thing is certain in the midst of much that is uncertain – whatever we do when we return will be new and different! Screening as people enter the building, appropriate personal protection and social distancing, limited interpersonal contact, and a number of other protocols are under discussion. We know many of you will be cautious about returning to group gatherings and we respect and understand that. In all our decisions, we will seek input from others, follow civic and health authority directives, and seek the Lord’s guidance! We will continue to offer some form of video worship for those who choose to remain home, and are planning how that will happen on a continuing basis. We will all need to exercise patience and forbearance as we adjust in these days!
This weekend, we will continue our “Life Rebooted” series of messages via video. Our focus will be on Moses, one of the major biblical characters in the Old Testament. If you know his story well, you know it started out living in Pharoah’s household as his fellow Israelites endured the hardships of slave labor. That was until Moses saw a fellow Israelite being mistreated by an Egyptian slavemaster and struck and killed the oppressor! (see Exodus 2:11-15) Yet, in spite of that “skeleton in the closet” for Moses, God still chose to call Moses to lead his children out of Israel into the Promised Land. Now that’s a life rebooted!
Finally, please do continue to keep us informed about needs, joys, concerns, questions, or whatever might be on your mind by calling or emailing myself, Pastor Linda, or Faith Community Nurse Emily Grakul. We want to offer whatever kind of support we can under our current limitations, but if you don’t let us know about something we can’t offer any support! Under these unique circumstances, we rely on your assistance in this way!
Blessings,
Pastor Paul
P.S. If you have not already done so, please “Subscribe” to our YouTube channel – Orchard Lake Community Presbyterian. As we make plans to continue video offerings of worship, we need at least 100 subscribers on YouTube to be allowed to livestream services in the future. Just go to our YouTube page, look for the “Subscribe” option, and click on it to become a subscriber!
Order of Worship for May 17, 2020
Pray for one another...
Sympathy to the Mark Grakul family on the death of his father and the Duncan Galbraith family on the death of his stepson.
Loving God,
It seems like there is a great deal of uncertainty around us. We worry and speculate about tomorrow rather than trusting in your love. Our minds wonder to the possible disappointments and losses for our future when we have not even thanked you the blessings in this day. Forgive our unsettled hearts. Forgive us for our doubts in the promises of Jesus to never leave us or forsake us.
Today, we set our focus on others and we pray:
For those whose health is compromised by the coronavirus or other health issues.
For those who suffer from the economic impact of the virus, in travel, manufacturing, hospitality, energy or so many other industries.
For health care workers and first responders, and other public servants who put themselves in harm’s way for us.
For our leaders of the world and our country, as they seek to help manage this challenging crisis.
For our families as they may feel isolated because they are not able to get out. They may feel frustrated with teaching their children at home while attempting to also work from home.
We pray for those who are lonely and feeling unloved. God of love, provide ways for your people to be filled with love of neighbor and reach out to those who are distraught from being in isolation.
God, it can be overwhelming. But you tell us over and over again not to be afraid. Write that on our hearts, “do not be afraid”, as we treasure this day, value the lives of each other and are used as vessels of your love.
Birthday Recognitions
Several of our members have “milestone” birthdays this month, a month where birthday gatherings are not taking place. You are encouraged to consider sending cards to these folks to help them celebrate their special days during May! They are:
Doris Wiegert - 97, birthday - May 18, 1923
address:
Doris Wiegert
10770 Elizabeth Lake Road
White Lake, Michigan 48386
Don Schimmel - 90, birthday - May 29, 1930
address:
Don Schimmel
7453 Locklin
West Bloomfield, Michigan 48324
From Pastor Paul – Email Fraud:
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
Thursday Classes
9:30 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. – ONLINE!
“Minor Prophets and the least read Bible Books”.
Here is a list of the BIBLE Books we will be studying and discussing for the Spring of 2020
These are considered the MINOR Prophets:
Zepheniah May 28, 2020
Click here to email John Vermeulen for a Zoom Invitation
This page has tutorials in case you have not used Zoom before or need help
Spring Clean Up Day, May 30, 8:00 a.m.-Noon
From Martha Piesko, Director of Children's Ministries
Dear OLCC,P Families,
I would like to share an idea I read about on Buildfaith.org: Ways you can bless your children at home (written by Heather VanDeventer, the Associate Rector at Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia).
How To Do It
1. Start simply. Blessing children can be very simple: " I bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" or "I bless you in the name of the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer".
2. Be creative. For instance if your child is wiggly, you can say "I bless you n the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From the top of your head to the tips of your wiggly toes. From the fingers on this hand to the fingers on this hand. And everywhere in between- on the inside, outside and when you are upside down".
3. Give and Receive. Allow your children to say a blessing for you.
Blessings For Children At Home
Trinity Blessing 1
I bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Trinity Blessing 2
I bless you in the name of the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.
Aaron Blessing (Numbers 6:24-26)
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Parent Blessing 1
I love you and bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, the God who knows and loves you, who watches over you and keeps you safe, growing strong, living, loving, and serving more and more. Amen.
Parent Blessing 2
I bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, this night and always. God give you good rest, and keep you growing stronger, wiser, kinder, and ready to serve- and always knowing how much you're loved. Amen.
Lifetouch Directory
Open Door Pantry Needs
Open Door Food Pantry is in desperate need for donations as churches have suspended in-person gatherings and donations. Food donations of the items below can be dropped off at Open Door (in the shopping mall at the corner of Cooley Lake and Hospital Roads) between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. Tuesday thru Friday, so when you are out shopping please consider purchasing these items to assist with the need. Monetary donations can also be offered for Open Door to purchase food through Gleaners at a reduced cost to them. Here is the list of needed items:
Pasta Noodles, dry
Chicken Noodle soup
Canned Fruit
Canned Pasta Ravioli
Spaghettios etc.
Pasta Sauce
Jelly
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/