OLCCP E-Blast

Drum Major Instinct

(No sleight intended toward former Drum Majors, of course. The following words were adapted by Martin Luther King, Jr. from a sermon by a Methodist pastor, J. Wallace Hamilton)

Beginning in Mark 10:35, we read the story of two brothers, James and John, who came to Jesus with a selfish request: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

It’s easy for us to condemn James and John in hindsight; yet, how many of us have the same desire for attention, the same desire to be first in line? Perhaps, we all have that instinct to be important, to surpass others, to achieve distinction, to lead the parade. Alfred Adler, the great psychoanalyst from the early 20th century, contends that this is a dominant human impulse. Adler said our human quest for recognition, this desire for attention, this desire for distinction is a basic impulse: the drum major instinct to be praised for every decision and journey in life.

As children and adults, we are happiest when our name is in print, or when we are praised above others. Even when someone doesn’t deserve praise, that person is pleased to receive recognition. The only person unhappy about praise is the one watching all the praise go toward someone else. It’s our drum major instinct.

But back in the Gospel of Mark, we don’t read Jesus criticizing James and John for what we interpret as a selfish request (to sit at the right and left side of Jesus’ throne in glory). Instead of being critical, Jesus reordered their priorities.

In so many words, Jesus said if you are going to be first in something, be first in love, be first in generosity, be first in service to those around you.

By redefining the pursuit of greatness, Jesus tells the disciples – and us – that everyone can be great. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to love, give, and serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree in order to love, give, and serve.

Nineteen – at the time of King’s sermon – centuries have come and gone and today Jesus remains the most influential figure in human history. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the royals that ever reigned put together have not affected the life of humankind on this earth as much as that one solitary life.

Jesus didn’t have anything. He just went around serving and doing good.

If you want to be a drum major, be a drum major for justice, for righteousness, for peace. Don’t worry about leaving behind money for your loved ones, or fine and luxurious objects. Instead, leave behind a life committed to love, generosity, and service.

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.” (Amos 5:24

Join us for our one worship this Sunday at 10:30 am. Livestreaming is at 10:30 am.

Pastor Rich will bring us the message, A Nightmare Situation.

Click here for Order of Worship

Scripture Readings are:

John 2:1-11

Isaiah 62:1-5

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.

A huge THANK YOU to all who donated to our clothing drive. We have been sorting the items this week, and collected an overwhelming 93 coats! We were able to deliver the coats to First Presbyterian Church of Pontiac just before the deep freeze.

Thank you OLCCP!

Mission & Outreach Team

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, Karla Kurzweil, Kay Malaney, Bill Marvin, Mary Mehelich, Julie Morrish, Richard Mudge, Rebbeca Naftel, David Ridley, Sarah Robertson Nadeau, Shannon Paul, Janet Payne, Michelle Pryce-Laskos, Pat Rothley, Brian Russek, Karen Schoonover, Jim Skeeters, Pat Sluka, 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.

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.

Mark your calendars for January 25 at 7:00 pm for a very special Lakeside Coffee House.

The opening performers will be our very own Emily and Caitlin Frey Wagg.

The Featured Performers are two amazing talents, Beth Bright and Peter Hennes.

Beth, a former Disney studio singer, has returned to the Orchard Lake area after two decades performing off-Broadway, in-studio, out at sea, and on stages across the country.

Peter has played guitar with Broadway touring productions of iconic musicals like Evita, A Chorus Line, Grease, and 42nd Street and has accompanied entertainment legends like Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli, and Bernadette Peters.

No cover charge, but a free will donation will be made to Kids On The Go.

Click here for poster link to share.

See Steve Orr for more details.

We are excited to have our annual Souper Bowl again this year.

Please sign up in the Lakeview Area to bring a soup or dessert to share with everyone. See Kelly or contact her at kelly.olccp@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer to help.

This will be a great time of food and fellowship! Proceeds will go to support the Youth Mission Trip to North Carolina.

COST & SCHEDULE

ORGANIZATION: Group Mission Trips (groupmissiontrips.com)

LOCATION: Elizabeth City, NC

DATES: July 6-12, 2025

COST: $250/person; $100 deposit due to OLCCP on Sunday, January 26, 2025.

EACH PARTICIPANT: will live out their faith in practical ways through love, kindness, and action. You will meet dozens of faithful youth and adult leaders –more than 200 are already registered – from all over the eastern seaboard, be inspired by great music and teaching, and play some raucous large-group games.

See Pastor Rich 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.

Thank you!

Kelly (Kelly.olccp@gmail.com)

Join us on Zoom for Our Daily Bread devotional Monday through Friday at 9:00 am.

The Zoom link for the Daily Bread series and will connect you with the group. Click blow for the Zoom Link.

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

A limited number of printed copies of the Annual Report are available this Sunday in the Lakeview Area for pick up. Please contact the Church Office (leida@olccp.com) if you would like an electronic copy emailed to you.

We are happy to announce that our nursery was recently remodeled. Come check it out down in Room 117.

We are also pleased to announce that there is a need to make the Nursery available on Sundays. Families with infants or toddlers have recently attended our services. While we welcome children in our Sanctuary, the parents stepped out into the Lakeview with their little ones.

It would be a blessing to these families if we could provide a place for their baby or toddler to be attend while they worship. Please consider volunteering in the Nursery one Sunday a month from about 10:00 am -12:00 pm. The service can be live streamed in the Nursery as well.

Contact Leida in Church Office or Mike Starynchak if you can help!

There are times when members need to carpool or park at the church off hours. We created a place card for your dashboard for off hours parking at the church. The place cards are available at the Church Office when needed.

Why Per Capita?

Each year, Presbyterians across the nation make the commitment to support our shared leadership through Per Capita. We are a priesthood of all believers. As a part of this call, we share in the responsibility of supporting the church and her regional and national leaders.

We are a connectional church; no worshipping community in our denomination is isolated. The entirety of the church is called to work with one another in making ministry possible throughout our region, state, and nation. Our regional Presbyteries, Synods, and national denominational offices work alongside one another to support, guide, and collaborate thanks to Per Capita funding.

All Per Capita donations to OLCCP ($37.09 per member) are passed through to the higher judicatories (Presbytery of Detroit, Synod of the Covenant, General Assembly) for their administrative support. Thank you for your support.

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.

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 grey 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.

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/