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 Spring Break Work Project for youth and adults will take place April 1-5, 2012.  We will work with the Sunset Gap Community Center in Cosby, Tennessee.  Middle and high school youth are able to participate.  There is one more opportunity to help raise funds for this trip.  On Sat., Feb.11th, we will be baking cookies from 8:30am-12:30 pm. And will be selling them after both worship services on Sunday, Feb.12th.  The OCC Youth will be engage in our annual service project on Sat., March 24^th9-12 noon, when we will clean the sanctuary. From 11am to noon, we will meet with the parents of the youth going on this trip to deal with final questions or concerns.  This work project, in the past, has been a powerful and meaningful experience.  Make plans now to be a part of the project and the fund-raising activities.   If you have not expressed your interest yet, please contact Paul Hartman, plhartman@okemoscommunitychurch.org, or call the Okemos Community Church office at 517-349-4220, for more information.

Okemos Community Church Mission team has fairly traded coffee, tea, hot chocolate and chocolate candy for sale. The February feature item is Chocolate Bars for $3. Please check out the wide selection of chocolate bars flavors and support our mission team. The Fair trade items will be available for sale in the chapel on Sunday or the Okemos Community Church office.

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.

The Okemos Community Church Mission Buckets will go to the City Rescue Mission. The need for shelter bed space has quadrupled from 33 to over 132 each night. Currently, it is not uncommon to shelter in excess of 150 men, women and children. As of 2011, approximately 150,000 meals were prepared for guests. Prayerfully consider assisting the Mission as plans are being made to expand the men’s dormitories, kitchen and food handling capabilities.

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

Okemos Community Church is scheduled to collect Personal Needs for Christian Services. They are given to people needing a “New Beginning” Please leave your donations in the office any weekday or Sunday morning during January. Needed items include: Paper products of all types, Shampoo & conditioner, Combs and Brusher, Deodorant, any kind of soap (shower, hand, laundry), Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Lotion

 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!

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 4:00 pm with a snack at 5:00 p.m.  The high school group will gather at 5:00 pm to share in the snack and then meet until 6:30 p.m.  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, 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 13 – We need your reservations for the Mid-Winter Retreat by noon this Day.  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 7:00 p.m., 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.  Remember to contact Paul, Jen or Chelsea by noon on Friday, January 13^th.  We will have videos, games, snacks, and all sorts of winter fun. Sunday, January 29 – Between 4:00 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 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.  We will set our first meeting for those who are going and those who may be interested in participating after January 29.  Please make your reservation by then. This project, in the past, has been a powerful and meaningful experience.  Make plans now to be a part of it. For more information about these or any Okemos Community Church youth events, contact the OCC office at 517-349-4220  or email Paul Hartman, plhartman@okemoscommunitychurch.org