Okemos Community Church Food Bank   has been serving our community for over 25 years. We are a member of the Greater Lansing Food Bank. (Pantry b-O-00448-30 ) Client referrals come from the Ingham County Department of Social Services 517-8874957 and also from Meridian Township Human Services.  As we have very limited facilities for fresh or frozen items, clients are also given a gift card, according to size, to shop at Meijers. It has been exciting to see youth involved in food drives from churches, schools and scouting  this year as over half of the recipients of the OCC Food Bank are ages 0-17years.  We are grateful for your support to meet the  increasing need for food assistance in our own community. Our December  Shopping list includes the following :  Canned Meat - chicken, stew or  chilli, Peanut butter, Cereal – hot or cold, Pasta Sauce, , Crackers, Mac and Cheese, Condiments.  Please leave your non perishable food donations in the shopping cart outside the Church office or call the office (349-4220) to set up a drop off time.

Please note cash donations are always needed to purchase food to round out the donations so we can insure we are providing the recommended food assortment. Checks should be made payable to Okemos Community Church noting food panty in memo line. Thank you.  Please call the church office for more information. (517) 349-4220

Okemos Community Church will be offering two worship services on Christmas Eve. The 7pm services is a Family Worship experience and our Children’s Choir will be singing.  Yes, wiggling children are welcome at this service! We want the whole family to join us in this worship service. The Second Chirstmas Eve. Service will be a Candle Light Service at 11pm. We will be celebrating Communion at this Service.  Should you have any questions please contact Okemos Community Church Office at 517-349-4220.

December Mission/Outreach buckets will benefit Operation Santa, providing a wonderful Christmas for needy children at Lyons Street School in Lansing.

Christmas Offering Envelopes will be divided between Advent House Ministries- a local shelter and their many programs and also with Curamerical Global to provide health care and trading in Bolivia

Christmas Eve Offering as in former years is dedicated to the Methodist Children’s Home Societ in the Detroit area.

Christmas Baskets will be provided to 25 local families (referrals from Meridian Township) Please check list to sign-up for items to donate or cash gifts are gladly excepted.

By now you’ve found the Okemos Community Church Mitten Tree in the center hallway. It is ready for your donations of hats, mittens, scarves, and gloves.  Just add them to the tree as you are able.  Feel free to donate boots and coats in the tub located in the Church office.  By the end of the Advent season we will have dozens of pieces of warm wear to give to the Lyons Elementary School in Lansing.  Please do your part to complete the decorating process. We will be taking them after the Christmas break.

December 1 , 9am & 6:30pm Disciple I Bible Study 

December 3 , 6-9 pm “Parent’s Night Out” (Youth meet at 5:30)

December 4 , 2^nd Sunday of Advent 9:30 & 11 am Service & Church School 8:45am Chamber Choir, noon Children’s Choir, 12:30 Children/Youth Handbells

December 7 – Wednesday Night Alive (WNA) Matt & Margaret De Long – South Africa. 6:30pm Bell Choir, 7:30 Chancel Choir

December 8 , 9am & 6:30pm Disciple I Bible Study

December 9,  7:30pm Christmas Sing-Along (Adult Fellowship) at the home of the Witters

December 10, 9am-noon OCC Women Doing for others, 10am-noon Rehearsal for Church School Play, 5-8 pm. Youth Christmas Party at Church (Locations change) (remember $10 “grab bag” gift)

December 11, 3^nd Sunday of Advent 9:30 & 11 am Service & Church School, Operation Santa Sunday, 8:45am Chamber Choir, 5 pm Family Christmas Concert (combining the Children’s Program/ Family Music Concert). Youth Group will attend concert, noon Children’s Choir, 12:30 Children/Youth Handbells

December 12, Operation Santa Sort, 7pm Finance Committee meeting

December 13, 7pm Membership Committee & Cabinet are meeting 

December 14   5:30 dinner, Las Posadas Service6:30 followed by breaking of the piñata. 6:30pm Bell Choir, 7:30 Chancel Choir

December 15, 9am & 6:30pm Disciple I Bible Study 

December 17 10-noon Cantata Rehearsal

December 18  4th Sunday of Advent 9:30 & 11 am Service & Church School Cantata,  No youth fellowship,  12 noon Children’s Choir, 12:30 Children/Youth Handbells

December 21 at 6:30pm Bell Choir, 7:30 Chancel Choir, 7:15 p.m. CHRISTMAS CAROLING We will leave the Church. (no WNA program or dinner) Youth will be joining.

December 22, 9am & 6:30pm Disciple I Bible Study

December 24 7pm FAMILY CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE everyone is welcome!  A child friendly service (no child care provided). 11pm Candlelight Communion Service.

December 25 One Service at 10am.  No youth fellowship

December 26 & 27 Church office closed

December 28 – 7:30am Ladies Coffee @ Dusty’s. No WNA during the holiday break.  6:30pm Bell Choir, 7:30 Chancel Choir

December 29 , no Disciple I classes today

January 1st  One Service at 10am.  No youth fellowship

 Other groups using Church:

Mondays – 7pm Boy Scouts, Mother’s Prayer Group & Heart to Heart (2^nd and 4^th Mondays)

Tuesdays – 6pm Kiwanis

Thursdays-7pm AA & Substance Abuse 

Okemos Community Church  Men’s Breakfast will be Sunday December 18^th at Quarter to Eight (7:45am) in our social hall. All men are welcome to come for this time of sharing, laughter and very good food.  See you there!

This month, Okemos Community Church Wednesday Night Alive programs will feature the Las Posadas worship with the breaking of the piñata.  The meals are wonderful.  Linda Omura (Cherry Tree Catering) continues to provide very tasty fare each week.  We do need to have reservations to help with meal planning.  So, make your plans to have dinner with us! December 7 – Matt and Margaret De Long will share pictures and stories from their recent trip to South Africa. Menu:  Beef Stroganoff with Egg Noodles, Vegetable medley, Garlic Bread, and Apple Brown Betty .

December 14 – We will celebrate our annual Las Posadas Service. This is a service from the Hispanic tradition that is intended for the whole family.  We will have a piñata for the children following the service. Menu:  Chicken Enchiladas, Fish Tacos, Refried Beans, and Root Beer Floats. December 21 – No WNA meal or program this week, but please join us for Christmas Caroling at 7:15 p.m. December 28 – No WNA during the holiday break.  Reservations for dinner are needed each week! (by Monday 12 Noon) Please call the Okemos Community Church Office at 517-349-4220.

Okemos Community Church will be celebrating  Las Posadas (Mexican Tradition) on Wednesday December 14th 5:30-7:30pm.  Dinner reservactions are requested.  517-349-4220 Dinner will be served at 5:30 then at 6:30 we’ll joirney to the sanctuary, just like Mary and Joseph’s journey and search for lodging. We will celebrate together in service and afterwards we will return to the social hall  where the children will take part in the breaking of a pinata!

Ladies of Okemos Community Church will meet on the 4th Wednesday morning of the month at Dusty’s Wine Bar at 7:30 a.m. This will be an informal time of conversation, lasting about an hour.  Any questions please cont the Okemos Community Church office at 517-349-4220.

Okemos Community Church Parent’s Night Out will be this upcoming Saturday, December 3rd at OCC.  6-9pm Infants, toddlers, and children of all ages are welcome to come! The middle and high school youth with will be chaperoning as well as the youth leaders. (Youth please a Lots of fun activities for children, like playing games, arts and crafts, and decorating a snack! Donations accepted and all the money raised will be given to the youth Tennessee Spring Break Mission Trip. Please RSVP by calling or emailing Paul Hartman. (349-4220 or plhartman@okemoscommunitychurch.org) We would absolutely love to see you there!