OLCCP E-Blast

Our Identity in Christ

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Philippians 1:21.

Just days before he as executed in a Nazi prison, the courageous German theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer penned a poem titled “Who Am I?”

Presently, in movie theaters there is a major motion picture highlighting Bonhoeffer’s courage and faith. In the poem he wrote shortly before being killed by his captors, Bonhoeffer wondered about his true identity, who he really was beneath appearances, beneath even his own secret fears.

Was he the calm, cheerful person of faith that some saw in him, a man who bore his imprisonment with a smile and an air of proud confidence? Or was he the lonely and restless prisoner that he secretly felt himself to be, a man trapped like a bird in a cage, a man for whom prayer seemed empty and for whom life had sunk into despair? “Who am I?” Bonhoeffer wondered.

While we identify ourselves in several ways (ex: I am a Lions fan, a supporter of this or that organization, a church-goer, one who believes in this cause or that effort), these malleable

descriptors cannot fully define who we are.

When identities are as thin as Facebook profiles and as impermanent as an Instagram post, we stammer to answer the question.

The apostle Paul assists us here by pointing out our identity does not rest in the list of what we have achieved or acquired, but in the One to whom we offer our lives. “Christ will be exalted now as always in my body,” Paul writes from his jail cell, “whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).

“Who am I?” Bonhoeffer asked at the end of his poem, still tormented by his solitary and anxious quest. He then concluded, “Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine.”

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “Who Am I?” in Letters and Papers from Prison, trans. Reginald Fuller, 3rd ed. (London: S.C.M. Press, 1967; New York: Touchstone, 1997), 348.]

Please join us for worship at 9:00 am or 10:30 am. Livestreaming is at 10:30 am.

Pastor Rich will bring us the message, You Are a Blessing.

Click here for Order of Worship

Scripture Readings are:

Luke 1:26-38

Isaiah 43:1-7

For those unable to join us in person, OLCCP offers Live Streaming on Sundays at 10:30 am. Click here to join us online live as we worship together.

To access our church online options, subscribe to our YouTube channel on the link below.

Subscribe to YouTube.

Pray for these people on our Prayer List: Bev Ayres, Rev. Mary Bahr-Jones, Marion Benedict, Nancy Bedell, Suzann Brennan, Dennis Burton, Nancy Burton, Nancy Carter, Vangie Chase, Ellen Coffman, Tom Conrad, Judy Daulton, Ann DeMarco, Margaret Edwards, Eileen Fisher, Dorothy Friedl, Tom Gribbell, Steve Hauser, Herbert Jarvie, Diane Kennedy, Lee Knoblock, Lori Konecki, Laura Krzeczkowski, Karla Kurzweil, Kay Malaney, Bill Marvin, , Mary Mehelich, Julie Morrish, Richard Mudge, Rebbeca Naftel, Sarah Robertson Nadeau, Shannon Paul, Janet Payne, Michelle Pryce-Laskos, Pat Rothley, Brian Russek, Rev. Anne Schaefer, Karen Schoonover, Jim Skeeters, Pat Sluka, Paul Stottlemyer, Brett Tremaine, Nancy Watts, Doris Wiegert, Bill Windscheif, Martha Windscheif, and Pamela Zimmerman.

OLCCP is a Stephen Ministry congregation, which means many of our members and friends have completed a 50-hour training course in peer counseling, listening, and referral. If you would like to meet regularly with a Stephen Minister for a listening ear, supportive prayer, and companionship in times of struggle or transition, see Steve Orr or email info@olccp.com

The OLCCP Stephen Ministers are: Bev Ayres, Dorothy Friedl, Sherry Orr, Steve Orr, Bob Siebert, and Pat Redner-Colvin.

The holiday season is upon us and there are many families in our community with great needs. The OLCCP Mission and Outreach Ministry Team wants to thank you for partnering with them this season to help meet some of those needs. It is that time of the year when we open up our Baldwin Christmas Store drive that will run through December 1.

The donations we collect during this holiday season will not only help us provide gifts to children for Christmas who would otherwise go without presents, but they will also help us provide food and clothing to those who need it most this time of the year. (See Wish List below)

We are grateful for the clothing for bitter cold days coming soon, and the gifts that will brighten Christmas morning for many children and families. We appreciate all of you who have been so

generous throughout the year.

Drop off on table near the church office!

Thank you to everyone who donated to the Lighthouse Thanksgiving Food Drive so families can share in a great Thanksgiving meal together!

Our calendar is available to browse live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at OLCC,P Calendar. You can browse all events coming up. You can also subscribe to the calendar on the same page.

Please be sure to check the calendar before organizing an event at OLCCP.

Experience the magic of Celtic musical traditions and instrumentation this Christmas season!

Pulling inspiration from Celtic musical traditions, composer Joel Raney puts a unique spin on traditional favorites as well as setting music to popular Christmas texts.

The premier of this piece will be performed at Carnegie Hall on December 2, 2024.

Once again the Shawl Ministry knitters are promoting our Head to Toe Campaign. During November & December we will be knitting hats.

In addition, all members and visitors to OLCCP are invited to donate hats and socks for distribution to various agencies in the area.

We are asking for all sizes of these items for men, women, and children. Please place your donations in the tubs in the church entrance, by Sunday, December 22nd , so that they can be distributed in time for this Winter.

See Doreen for more details!

Join us on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month in the Quilt Room (Room 115) from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (drop in for any amount of time that you can). We also take a break for Chair Yoga at 1:00 pm. Any skill level is welcome to join us. These "I Spy" quilts are lovingly made for South Oakland Shelter (SOS) families and other children in need in the community. Please reach out to Helene King for possible evening get-togethers.

Contact Helene King at hmking56@gmail.com for more information.

We invite you to volunteer with Children and Family Ministries to foster a safe and enjoyable environment for the children and youth during worship. We are looking for caring and enthusiastic people to support our Sunday School (preschool-5th grade) and God Loves U (GLU) (6-12th grade) programs.

Prepared lessons and supplies will be provided. We rely on your participation to keep these experiences running, and it is through the dedication of church families like yours that the programs thrive.

PLEASE CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING TO TEACH !!

Volunteer Application Process: To ensure a safe experience, all volunteers working with children must complete the Volunteer Application (https://www.olccp.com/childrens-ministries) and have a Background Check. Volunteers will attend a brief training before starting.

Join us for a Book Discussion on The First Christmas, What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’s Birth, by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan. The authors, two Biblical scholars, explore these familiar stories historically and theologically, focusing on their meaning, both in the first century and today.

Discussions are Mondays at 11:00 am. Books may be purchased online. Contact Betsy Telford, discussion leader, at starryskys@comcast.net.

Join us on Zoom for an Advent Daily Bread Devotional during the moth of December, Monday through Friday at 9:00 am.

Click on this Advent Weekly Devotional link to read the material on your phone or computer/tablet. Once on the website, scroll down to find the readings for each week.

Click here for Advent Weekly Devotional link

A pdf of the entire devotional is a below on the PDF Advent of Devotional link.

Click here for PDF Advent of Devotional Link

The Zoom link is the same we have used for the Daily Bread series and will connect you with the group. Click here for ZOOM link

And to lead one morning, you can sign up here Orchard Lake Community Church, Presbyterian: Our Daily Bread Devotional (signupgenius.com)

We will begin this Monday, December 2.

Contact Leida at the church office 248-682-0730 if you have any issue opening the links to the devotional. Stop by the office if you would like to print out the pdf copy.

I sincerely wish to thank you for all your prayers, cards and calls during my extended recovery. I am always deeply moved and grateful for the love and support Greg and I receive when we need it. I am finally beginning to get back on my feet and back to a normal routine. We are so blessed to be a part of this loving church

Monthly Envelopes are now available to be picked up in the Lakeview area. If you do not see your name and would like a boxed set, please contact Stacey Cheff.

Meals On Wheels

685 Union Lake Rd, White Lake, MI 48386

(810) 632 -2155

(248) 698-2299

mealsonwheelsamerica.org

Bloomfield Township Senior Center

4315 Andover Rd. Bloomfield Township, MI 48302-0489

Public Building Hours Monday - Friday 7:00AM - 3:30PM
Office Hours 7:00AM - 3:30PM

(248)723-3500

seniorservices@bloomfieldtwp.org

Any questions, concerns or need assistance contact: Rebecca FCN, (248)-682-0730

Each year, Orchard Lake Community Church, Presbyterian receives donations through the Kroger Community Rewards program. If you shop at Kroger and haven't already designated Orchard Lake Community Church , Presbyterian as your organization, please sign up.

Once you link your Kroger Card to Orchard Lake Community Church, Presbyterian, all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Shopper’s Card.

Use the link below to sign up:

https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards

Contact Mike Starynchak for more information.

Do you need a ride? Deacon Transportation Services at OLCCP is staffed and able to take fellow members to medical or essential appointments.

Please contact Linda V. or Rebecca for information or email info@olccp.com.

The pantry is in need of the following food items: jelly, condiments, canned meat, tuna, soups, canned vegetables and fruits, canned chili, stew and baked beans, spaghetti sauce, pasta, boxed cereals, cake mix and frosting, crackers, and juice. This is an ongoing collection at OLCCP that is distributed weekly.

They accept all shelf-stable items. Any donation of food or hygiene products is appreciated. Items can be dropped off in the brown bench near the office.

Thank you for your continued support!

The Church Office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

• Rev. Dr. Richard Lapehn (Pastor): In the office Monday through Thursday. May be reached by email at (pastorrich@olccp.com)or by phone at 248-682-0730.
• Leida Soto (Office Administrator): In the office Monday through Thursday or by email during office hours at (leida@olccp.com) or by phone at 248-682-0730.
• Stacey Cheff (Business Administrator): In the office Mondays and Thursdays or by email during office hours (stacey@olccp.com)
• Kelly Holquist (Children & Youth Director): May be reached by email during office hours at (kellyh@olccp.com) or phone at 248-682-0730.
• Rebecca Grice-Johnson (Faith Community Nurse) : Email at (rebecca@olccp.com) or call 248-682-0730.
• Bruce Snyder (Director of Music Ministries): (bruce@olccp.com)

Email: info@olccp.com
Website: www.olccp.com
Location: 5171 Commerce Road, Orchard Lake, MI, USA
Phone: 248-682-0730
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OLCCP/