OLCC,P eNewsLink
February 21, 2020
From the Desk of Pastor Paul
Dear Friends,
We will bring our journey of messages reflecting on “Sabbath: A Gift for Life” to a conclusion this Sunday. The idea began during a 24 hour retreat for pastors which I attended back in October. I realized this was an area in my own spiritual journey that deserved some closer reflection and consideration. I hope the messages over these past weeks have been a catalyst in your own spiritual journey to reflect on how sabbath impacts your own life journey!
This Sunday we will consider the Sabbath as God’s invitation to “praying and playing”. I borrow that concept from pastor and author Eugene Peterson who wrote on the sabbath in his life experience. Our consideration of Sabbath has connected to the ideas of rest, creation, redemption, celebration, and now intentional communion and connection with the presence of God and relationships with others. Our text is Luke 6:1-11 as Jesus once again confronts distorted ideas of what sabbath should be.
The following week leads us into our Lenten journey for 2020! Ash Wednesday February 26th we will gather for worship at 7 p.m. as we begin our guided reflection on the theme “Everything Can Change In Forty Days” using the book of the same title by Jean Watson. Copies of the book are available for $10 on Sundays and in the church office. The book will also be the subject material for our Thursday classes at 9:30 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. from February 27th through April 2nd open to all. Then Jean Watson will be with us on Maundy Thursday to bring our Lenten journey into transformation to its conclusion. I pray it will be a significant time for all of us in drawing closer to Jesus Christ!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Paul
Pray for one another...
- Continued healing and health for: Elizabeth Belcher, Dodie Berry, Mary Bragg, Nancy Burton, Tom Conrad, Peter Cooper, Alan Coopland, Craig Forhan, Jackie Johnson, Larry Lankford, Nina Linebaugh, Bill Marvin, Trudy Morse, Lisa Pence, Bill & Joyce Pitchford, Sarah Robertson Nadeau, Jack Rothley, Peggy Simon, Dara Sperstad, Melanie Telford, Doris Wiegert, Madie Zurkan
- Mission: the work of our Xpujil 2020 Mission team - Dennis Berry, Barb and Glen Christoff, Chuck and Sue Mogg, Brenda Starynchak
- God’s blessings for Chuck Storey as he relocates to Florida
OLCC, P Calendar
Quilters and Sewers
It requires no advanced skills. This month we will meet on February 24th in the boardroom at 9:00 a.m. The meetings will go back to the 3rd Monday of the month in March. There is no need to sign up, just show up. Questions, contact Helene King 248-681-7855 or hmking56@gmail.com.
Women's 2020 Winter Bible Study
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., until March 18
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.
Lenten sermon series “Everything Can Change in 40 Days” by Jean Watson
February 27 – April 2. 9:30 a.m. or 7:15 p.m.
Books on sale this Sunday for $10.
Do you long for change in yourself, in those you love, or in the world around you? Have you prayed for transformation to no avail? In Everything Can Change in Forty Days , Jean Watson encourages us to stop trying to create change and simply live a lifestyle of worship, allowing God to work in us and through us. If you feel discouraged or stuck, perhaps now is the time to set aside forty days to renew your faith and believe that, with Christ, everything can change! Pastors Paul and Linda to lead classes.
ROMEO Group, February 26th 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.
Picture Directory
For those of you who did not get your picture taken for the pictorial directory and would like one, the cost of the directory will be approximately $10.00. Please put your name on the sign-up sheet in the Lakeview area so we can get a feel for how many directories we have to purchase. If you did get your picture taken, you will automatically receive a directory free of charge. Any questions can be directed to Nancy Ratajczak (248-568-7960) or the office.
Per Capita
Per capita is a fundamental way in which all Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations support the work of the wider Church.
Each year it costs OLCC,P over $30 for each member. When the full amount is not covered by the congregation, the money comes out of our Mission Budget. If all of the members of OLCC,P would prayerfully consider paying their own family’s per capita, it would allow your Mission Team to have more to give to others in need.
The 2020 Per Capita offering is $30.55 per OLCC,P member. To provide your per capita online, please visit the OLCC,P website, select the “Giving” tab, select “Donate Online” found on the top right side of the page, and follow
the instructions.
(If you use offering envelopes, a Per Capita envelope is included.)
Open Door
The following items are in need:
Sizes 4, 5 and 5/6 diapers, Hamburger Helper, Sloppy Joe mix, pudding, laundry soap, dish soap, toothpaste, and Women’s deodorant.
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.
Prayers from our Children
All children and youth are invited to create a drawing, write a prayer, poem, or letter to God (younger children may need extra support from their families). Their entries will be illustrated by an artist and compiled into a prayer book. Copies will be made for the entire congregation to enjoy. Feel free to be creative. Please submit all entries to Martha by March 1st.
Parable Festival
The Parable Festival will take place on March 8th in Fellowship Hall, immediately following the second worship service. Come and cook, garden, build, and create as you learn about the "Prodigal Son", "The Lost Sheep", The Lost Coin", "The Good Samaritan", The Wise Man and Foolish Man, and "The Mustard Seed" Please RSVP to Martha at <<martha@olccp.com>> by March 1st. Lunch will be served. All are welcome to attend.
Live! At the Lake presents "Singing and Sipping with Bach!" Sunday, March 15th at 3:00 p.m.
The Rackham Choir and Chamber Orchestra will perform two of Bach’s most contrasting choral pieces — the festive and sacred Cantata 29, a celebratory work sung in German, and the charming secular Coffee Cantata, written in the style of a comic opera and sung in English. The performance will highlight the musicianship of former Rackham intern soloists Ryan Hurley, Aurora Haziri, and Dominik Belavy, accompanist Joseph Jackson, and celebrated conductor, Suzanne Acton. As a "hook," Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company has offered to donate artisan coffee, so that patrons may sip coffee during Bach's Coffee Cantata, thus the title "Singing and Sipping with Bach."
The Rackham Choir has set the ticket prices at $25. Tickets are available at www.olccp.com/live-at-the-lake, and in-between services on Sunday.
Our Living Hope, Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday, April 5 at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services
Filled with the joy and promise of a world redeemed by the love and victorious resurrection of our great Savior. Our Living Hope, is the perfect foundation for what just might be your most powerful and compelling Easter service ever!
Featuring powerfully explosive songs of worship and praise and filled with testimony of the impact of God's love and mercy on our lives. Our Living Hope sets a new standard of excellence for contemporary worship choirs everywhere!
Good Friday is April 10th
Service at Covenant Baptist At 12:15 p.m.
Rev. Paul Thwaite preaching
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/