Each Thursday, from February 15 through March 21, we will gather from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. to explore the relationship between who Jesus is and who we are called to be in relation to Jesus, our faith community and the world. We will be using curriculum based on The Hunger for Home: Food & Meals in the Gospel of Luke by Matthew Croasmun & Miroslav Volf. Relevant material will be provided at each session. No preparation is needed.
We are looking for people to provide meals during the six weeks of sessions. If you, your family, or a group in which you are involved would like to provide a simple meal of soup, salad, and bread, please sign up on the kiosk in Fellowship Hall or let Pastor Lisa or Rebecca know.
Please note that this will be an in-person only discussion and meal. If there is interest in an on-line small group, material can be provided and led by participants. Please contact Pastor Lisa or Rebecca if you are interested in this option.
]]>During the month of January, the church held a coat drive for Cristo Rey Community Center on High Street in Lansing. New and gently used coats, snowpants, boots and other winter gear were collected. Cristo Rey volunteers visited PCO three times to collect all the donations. These will be distributed free of charge to neighbors who need them.
Also in January, the church collected new winter pajamas for children and youth served by the Love Clothing Center, located in Judson Memorial Baptist Church on Glendale in Lansing. Again, these items will be given free of charge to the children and youth served by the center.
Both organizations wanted to extend enthusiastic “Thank Yous!” to everyone who donated.
]]>The Presbyterian Church of Okemos presented Jazz Weekend 2024 on February 10-11, featuring The Diego Rivera Quintet and the Arlene McDaniel Trio.
The weekend kicked off with a free concert on Saturday February 10th at 7:00pm. For the church’s Jazz Worship Service on Sunday, February 11th at 10:00 am Diego Rivera performed with the Arlene McDaniel Trio, and special guest Tiffany Gridiron. A pancake brunch followed the Sunday worship service.
A world-class musician, composer, arranger and educator, Diego Rivera is no stranger to the area. He was raised right here in East Lansing, attended Michigan State University, and served as Associate Professor of Jazz Saxophone and Associate Director of Jazz Studies at MSU’s College of Music. Rivera is known for his muscular tone and unique blend of straight-ahead mainstream jazz fused with music inspired by his Latino background and heritage. He is currently the Director of Jazz Studies at The University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music. For more info on Diego Rivera, please visit his website.
We will be participating in the Giving Tree for refugee families through St. Vincent’s Catholic Charities. Please note that this year we are collecting unwrapped gifts for families rather than gift cards. Look for the Giving Tree in the back of the sanctuary. Take an ornament from tree and follow the instructions. Place your gifts and the ornament under the tree by Monday, December 11.
]]>This national solar tour was been arranged by Interfaith Power and Light and the American Solar Energy Society. The tour was the country’s largest grassroots solar, renewable energy, and sustainable living event.
If you are interested in how the solar panels have benefited PCO, click here for up-to-the-minute information.
]]>Rebecca Mattern joined as Interim Director of Faith Formation in October 2023.
Rebecca has primary responsibility for our ministry developing a lifelong faith in children, youth, and adults. She has experience with intergenerational faith formation and worship, areas we hope to grow here at PCO. Rebecca will partner with Pastor Lisa in worship leadership, including regular preaching and liturgy creation.
Rebecca grew up in northeastern Ohio. She served as a Director of Children and Youth Ministry, Director of Christian Education, and an Interim Director of Youth Ministries at churches in North Carolina and Ohio. During her ministry with children and youth, she felt a call to ordained ministry. She attended Louisville Presbyterian Seminary and graduated in 2022. In addition to an internship at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Rebecca served as a Chaplain Resident and a Chaplain Intern at Baptist Health Louisville, Louisville, KY. Rebecca is currently pursuing ordination in the PC(USA).
Start walking from the Ginkgo tree clock wise around the pond. You will see fuchsia and maroon hibiscus flowers, nestled in goldenrod, and late blooming orange day lilies. Moving around you will see tall yellow sneeze-weed and even taller pink Joe-Pye-weed. Continuing to circle you will see switch grass and willow leaved sunflowers with their small blossoms dancing in the wind. Also note the tall or short fat or thin blossoms on the cattails. The tails, if left over winter will hatch caterpillars, which are food for the red wing blackbirds in spring. You are now around the pond and at the open concrete blocks supporting the course delivering the parking lot water to the pond.
PCO would like to thank Mary Lou for this information and for her many years of service beautifying the church grounds.
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