The Okemos Community Church April Mission Buckets recipient is the OCC Food Bank. The OCC Food Bank has been serving the Okemos Community for over 25 years. We are a member of the Greater Lansing Food Bank and our client referrals come from the Ingham County Department of Social Services and also from Meridian Township Human Services. Food is packaged using a recommended food list. In 2011 The Okemos Community Food Bank was used 382 times. Half of the recipients are age’s 0-17years old. As we have very limited facilities for fresh or frozen items, our clients are given a gift card, according to family size. Non-perishable food donations can be left in the shopping cart outside the Okemos Community Church office. Cash and checks are most welcome to allow us to purchase food to round out donations. Checks should be made payable to Okemos Community Church – noting Food Bank in the memo line. Please contact the Okemos Community Church office for more information at 517-349-4220.

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 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 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.

This year’s Lenten Study at Okemos Community Church will use material from Adam Hamilton, based on his book, 24 Hours That Changed the World.  The class sessions will include a video presentation followed by a discussion.  We will have two study opportunities:  Sunday evenings @  6-7:30 pm and  Wednesday evenings @  6:15-7:30 pm The five study sessions will include: February 26 & 29 The Garden of Gethsemane  March 4 & 7 Condemned by the Righteous March 11 & 14 Jesus, Barabbas, and Pilate March 18 & 21 The Torture and Humiliation of the King March 25 & 28 The Crucifixion  

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.

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.