The sacrament of Holy Communion will be offered in worship at Okemos Community Church next on Thursday, April 5^th, at 7:30 pm, as part of our Maundy Thursday worship service.  If you would like the sacrament brought to you in your home, please phone the Okemos Community Church office at 517-349-4220.  Arrangements will be made for one of the pastors to visit you.

Each year Okemos Community Church is pleased to present Bibles to our high school graduates.  For the past few years we have been able to purchase these Bibles from the Charles E. Piper memorial fund.  However, the fund, which began with a healthy balance from generous contributors, has now been depleted.  Charlie was a wonderful person with a love for young people.  If you would like to continue his legacy with a contribution to the memorial fund in his name, it would be greatly appreciated.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Paul Hartman by e-mail, plhartman@okemoscommunitychurch.org or call the Okemos Community Church office at 517-349-4220.

The Okemos Community Youth activities for the month of March will involve one Sunday gathering, and three Saturday events.  Please note the different times and locations.  As usual, you may bring a friend to any event.  Remember there is a Confirmation Class this spring.  We will make adjustments in our schedule to accommodate the middle school youth who are in the Confirmation Class. For more information about these or any Okemos Community Youth events, please contact the Church office at 517-349-4220 or email Paul Hartman at  plhartman@okemoscommunitychurch.org

Saturday, March 3, 5:30-7:30 pm everyone is invited to come to the Family Fun Night, which will feature Camping.  You will enjoy some of the best features of the Memorial Day Weekend Family Camp (potluck dinner, bingo, etc.) and find out about the summer camps offered by the United Methodist Camp program.  Be sure to bring your parents. Sunday, March 11th, 2-4 pm, both groups are will enjoy a movie, with all the extras (popcorn, soda, etc.) Remember, Middle School youth, if you are in the Confirmation Class, meet with Pastor Jeanne at 4 pm Saturday, March 17th, We will meet at the church at 2 pm to go to the Humane Society Shelter (animal shelter) Returning  to the church by 4:30 pm.  Saturday, March 24, 9 am to noon, we will help clean the sanctuary. This has become a traditional service project for those going on the Spring Break trip, but everyone is welcome to participate.  Parents of the mission team are invited to meet at 11 am.

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 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 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

Okemos Community Church “Family Fun Night -goes camping!” will be Saturday, March 3 in the Social Hall. Camp Potluck will be 5:30-6:30pm and Activities 6:30-7:30pm. Hamburgers, hot dogs,  fixins and table services will be provided. Please bring a summer salad, side dish, or vegetable to share.  Join us for singing camp songs around the “camp fire”, Bingo, smores and popcorn! Information about Okemos Community Church Family Camp and other summer United Methodist camps in Michigan will be available.

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!

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.

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.