Okemos Community Church would like to invite children to attend our Special Children’s Easter Service Sunday April 8^th.  Children will gather in the Social Hall after the Children’s Message with Pastor Jeanne.  We will have an Easter Story themed service for children during both 9:30am and 11am services.  The Children’s Service will take the place of Church School. Middle and High school Youth are invited to sign up to help with the Children’s service.  Please call the Okemos Community Church office at 517-349-4220 with any questions.

The Okemos Community Church Book Club will be meeting next on Tuesday, April 17^th,  at 7:00 pm, in the Lounge, to discuss: Zoo Story, by Thomas French.  This is a work of non-fiction which takes readers behind the scenes at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. Anyone who likes books and likes talking about them is welcome to attend.

The Okemos Community Church Book Club will be meeting next on Tuesday, March 20^th, at 7:00 p.m., in the Lounge, to discuss The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford.  This novel is a tender story about a young Chinese-American boy growing up in Seattle during the II World War.  A complete list of all O.C.C. Book Club selections and meeting dates are available from the church office 517-349-4220.  We welcome everyone who likes to read and talk about books!

The Okemos Community Church Spring Break Work Project for youth and adults will take place April 3-6, 2012.  We will work with the Sunset Gap Community Center in Cosby, Tennessee.  Middle and high school youth are invited to participate.  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. You must contact Paul Hartman, plhartman@okemoscommunitychurch.org or 517-349-4220, by Sunday, March 11^th, to secure a place for this experience.

Okemos Community Church 2011 CROP Hunger 25 Walkers who raised $5,370. 25% of our total will stay in the Greater Lansing community. OCC earned a matching gift of $50 for having an attendee at the Recruiters’ Rally in September !st.  OCC also ranked first of thirteen churches and organizations that raised money using the “Walk on the Web” Church World Service donation website. Our on-line total was $1,760 ! Thank you to our Walkers, Rockers, and generous Sponsors / Donors.  Also thank you to everyone who helped promote the walk and recruit Walkers and Rockers at our church. Please mark your calendar for the 2012 walk:  Sunday, October 14, 2012 !

The sacrament of Baptism is currently scheduled for April 29^th   at Okemos Community Church. If you would like to arrange for baptism for yourself or your child at that time, or at a future date, please give the Okemos Community Church office a call at 517-349-4220.

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 Church Spring Break Work Project for youth and adults will take place April 3-6, 2012.  We will work with the Sunset Gap Community Center in Cosby, Tennessee.  Middle and high school youth are invited to participate.  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. You must contact Paul Hartman, plhartman@okemoscommunitychurch.org or 517-349-4220, by Sunday, March 11^th, to secure a place for this experience.

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.