Okemos Community Church is offering a 5 week Lenten Study – 24 Hours That Changed  The World on Sunday evenings starting Feb. 26, 6:00-7:30 pm or on Wednesday evenings starting Feb. 29 at 6:15-7:30 pm.  We will be using a program featuring Adam Hamilton, a United Methodist Pastor, who has developed a DVD showing the sites in the Holy Land that mark the places Jesus went during the last 24 hours before his crucifixion.  There will be time for reflection and discussion.  Rev. Jeanne Randels and Paul Hartman will be leading these sessions with help from other church leaders.  Please contact the Okemos Community Church office at 517-349-4220 to sign up.

Okemos Community Church Wednesday Night Alive  February programs will include two new presenters with interesting programs, plus the beginning of Lent with an Ash Wednesday Worship Service, and the first of our Lenten study series,  24 Hours that Changed the World with Adam Hamilton.  As usual, we have wonderful meals prepared by Linda Omura.  Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. and the programs begin at 6:30 p.m.  Please make reservations by calling the Okemos Community Church office at 517-349-4220 for the meal by Monday noon.  Feb. 8 – Our presenter will be Erica Schmittdiel, who will tell us about MSU Safe Place, a program to protect and serve vulnerable people. Menu: Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Salad, Corn Bread, Chocolate Cake

Feb. 15 – We will have another presentation by Jonathan Henry in our Mental Health series Menu: Chili with Cornbread, Chicken Enchiladas, Salad, Guacamole,                 Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Feb. 22 – Ash Wednesday.  Our program time will be the Ash Wednesday Service beginning at 6:30 p.m. Menu: Baked Chicken with gravy, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Salad, Apple Brown Betty Feb. 29 – The first session in our Lenten series, 24 Hours that Changed the World  with Adam Hamilton. Menu: Beef Stroganoff, Egg Noodles, Tossed Salad, Garlic Bread, Apple Brown Betty

This year, the season of Lent begins on Wednesday, February 22^nd.  There will be a service of worship at Okemos Community Church in the sanctuary at 6:30p.m., which will include the imposition of ashes. Dinner will be offered at 5:30. Please call the Okemos community Church office to make dinner reservations.

The Okemos Community Church  Book Club will be meeting next on Tuesday, February 21st, at 7:00 p.m., in the Lounge, to discuss I Still Dream About You, by Fannie Flagg. This light-hearted novel tells the story of Maggie Fortenberry, a former beauty queen living in Birmingham, Alabama, and searching for meaning in her life.  A complete list of all O.C.C. Book Club selections and meeting dates are available from the church office.  We welcome everyone who likes to read and talk about books!

Okemos Community Church is planning our next “Sunday on Saturday” for April 21^st. at 5pm in our Chapel. Please save the date for a wonderful time of worship and fellowship.

Classes for those interested in joining in membership with the congregation of Okemos Community Church will be held on: Sunday, March 18^th, and Sunday March 25^th.  These classes will be from 12:15 – 1:45, in the chapel.  Childcare will be provided and a light lunch will be served.  If you would like to take part in these classes, please give the Okemos Community Church office a call at 517-349-4220 to indicate your participation.  New members will be received during worship on April 1^st.

Okemos Community Church’s second “Sunday on Saturday” Worship will be held on Saturday, January 28^th, at 5:00 in the Chapel.  Our theme for this service of worship will be interpersonal communication.  “Sunday on Saturday Worship” is designed to be contemporary and casual and may or may not be a substitute for your participation in Sunday morning worship.  If you’d like more information about this service, please give the Okemos Community Church office a call at 517-349-4220.

Okemos Community Church Youth Fellowship meetings are for both middle school and high school youth on Sunday afternoons.  Generally the middle school group will meet at 4 pm with a snack at 5 p.m.  The high school group will gather at 5 pm to share in the snack and then meet until 6:30 pm.  Occasionally, we will have a special activity.  Please note if there are different times and locations.  As usual, we encourage you to bring a friend. Sunday, January 1  There will be no Youth Fellowship activity this day. Sunday, January 8  We will have a C.L.U.B. meeting this day.  Groups come at the usual times, 4 and 5 p.m.

Reservations for the Mid-Winter Retreat by noon  Friday, January 13 .  Be sure to let Jen, Chelsea or Paul know if you plan to attend. Sunday, January 15  We will all meet at the church at 4:00 p.m. for a “Study Hall” in preparation for exams.  Bring your materials and you will find Pizza and a few tutors. Mid-Winter Retreat at Wesley Woods, Friday to Sunday, January 20-22.  Friday, January 20, at 7pm, we will meet at the church to go to Wesley Woods.    We will return on Sunday morning by 10:00 a.m.  The cost of this event is $90 with a reduced rate for a second member of a family.  This covers four meals and two nights.   Registrations are due by noon on Friday, January 13^th.  We will have videos, games, snacks, and all sorts of winter fun. Sunday, January 29  Between 4 and 6:30 p.m. we will be preparing the dinner meal for the families that are staying at the Ronald McDonald House.  Meet at the church at 3:45 p.m. The Okemos Community Church Spring Break Work Project for youth and adults will take place April 1-7, 2012. 

For more information about these or any Okemos Community Church Youth Events, contact Paul Hartman, plhartman@okemoscommunitychurch.org or the Church office at 517-349-4220

The Okemos Community Church Book Club  will be meeting next on Tuesday, January 17^th, at 7:00 pm, in the Lounge, to discuss:  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,  by Rebecca Skloat.   This non-fiction book is an account of the life of a woman whose cells, taken without her knowledge, became one of the most important tools in modern medicine. A complete list of all O.C.C. Book Club selections and meeting dates listed below.  We welcome everyone who likes to read and talk about books! Please contact the Okemos Community Church Office with questions 517-349-4220

BOOK GROUP SELECTIONS 2012 February 21: I Still Dream About You By Fannie Flagg  March 20: Hotel On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet  By Jamie Ford  April 17: Zoo Story By Thomas French  May 15  Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand By Helen Simonson June 19 Choosing Books for Coming Year

 The Okemos Community Church Spring Break Work Project for youth and adults will take place April 1-7, 2012.  We will work with the Sunset Gap Community Center in Cosby, Tennessee.  Middle and high school youth are able to participate.    Please contact Paul Hartman plhartman@okemoscommunitychurch.org or the Church office at 517-349-4220 to indicate your interest in attending by January 29^th . We will let you know the information about  our first meeting for those who are going and those who may be interested in participating after January 29.This project, in the past, has been a powerful and meaningful experience.  Make plans now to be a part of it!