A monthly newsletter of The Presbyterian Church of Okemos

T h e T h e G r a p e v i n eG r a p e v i n e

September , 2017 Volume 17 , I ssue 8

Some Thoughts on Faith “It is easy for me to imagine that the next great

division of the world will be between people who wish to live as creatures, and people who wish to live as machines.”

--Wendell Berry, Life is a Miracle: An Essay Against Modern Superstition,

2001 A church member came into my office recently

wanting to borrow a Wendell Berry book and begin reading this American author. As I thumbed through my collection, I was stunned to see that most of Berry’s works were written 10 to 30 years ago. I was discouraged by the dates of publication, but his insights and observations seem more prophetic than ever. His concerns about the dehumanizing effects of technology, for instance, seem even more profound and timely.

We joke about our culture’s obsession with technology and media. We are constantly electronically connected to one another via e-mail, Twitter, smart phones, and the like. Whenever two or three people are gathered together, there is inevitably a camera in the room also; and it is that camera that is seen as making the gathering “real.”

Jean-Francois Lyotard argues that technology has become a new electronic nervous system for human beings. He insists that the human vs. machine conflict has already been won by the machine. He fears that soon there will be no such thing as communicating for the sheer goodness of one another and the thing communicated. This fear is heightened as we come to realize that political leadership in the United States clearly prefers “virtual communication” to real, live, face-to-face encounters with people.

Andrew Sullivan was a well-known writer, commentator, and blogger who officially “retired” from blogging in 2015. In an essay published by New York Magazine, Sullivan wrote, “Every minute I was engrossed in a virtual interaction I was not involved in a human encounter. Every second absorbed in some trivia was a second less for any form of

reflection, or calm, or spirituality. This was a zero-sum question: I either lived as a voice online or I lived as a human being in the world that human beings had lived in since the beginning of time. And so, after 15 years, I decided to live in reality.”

It is not feasible to disconnect entirely, but we can adopt disciplines and practices that help us to be formed in and by our faith. We can do more things with our hands: Gardening, cooking, sewing, knitting, exercise and the like, are a crucial way of restoring our connection with the real world. So is doing things face to face with other people.

To live as though the world is mediated by technology is to become self-absorbed. The Gospel teaches that all things exist independently of “my” desires—that there is a world beyond me and mine. This is not a strategy for turning back the clock to some imagined golden age. But to face the conflict that Wendell Berry identified two decades ago, we will be asked to undertake the long and patient work of reclaiming the real world from the artifice, alienation, and atomization of modern life.

As a congregation, our program year begins with what we call “Rally Day.” Rally because this is an occasion to renew our common purpose—namely, to make disciples for Jesus Christ. This fall, our worship will explore ways of making peace with our neighbors and our enemies. We will walk to raise funds to counter world hunger. We will sit down at table to break bread and share conversations with new friends from the Islamic Center. We will host a Retreat that will focus on how we personally grow as disciples and

how we shape the experience of our children and young people for a life of discipleship. All these things are done face to face, hand to hand, shoulder to shoulder. When Jesus was recruiting Peter,

Andrew, James and John, he did not speak in abstracts. He took them out in a boat and fished with them. He pulled up a net full of fish and told them, ‘This is what discipleship looks and feels like. Follow me, for a greater catch awaits us.’

See you in church, face to face—

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JOYS & CONCERNS

We celebrate: The wedding of Sarah Zichi and Justin Miller

on July 22, at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. Sarah is the daughter of Ken and Paula Zichi.

The 60th wedding anniversary of Pete and Beth Weidenaar on August 23.

The 40th wedding anniversary of John and Barb Geske in August.

Please hold in prayer:

Jennifer Birchmeier, granddaughter of Joan Harkness

Joan Harkness

Lauren Harkness

David Hoekstra

Kathy Richardson

Oliver Smith

Art Vine

Lois Walker, in Hospice at Burcham Hills

Pete & Jean Weinert

We extend sympathy to Emmie McKillips on the death of her sister, Lorrie Perkey, on August 12.

WOMEN’S DINNER OUT Who: All women; members and friends What: Dinner Out! Where: River House Inn 310 W Grand River Ave Williamston, When: 5:30pm Monday, September 18 Please contact Barbara Dorr if you plan on attending, so she can make arrangements.

The Grapevine is a monthly newsletter of

The Presbyterian Church of Okemos

Sunday Worship 10:00 A.M.

STAFF

Rev. Dr. Robert T. Carlson, Jr., PASTOR

Rev. Alice Fleming Townley, ASSOCIATE FOR PARISH LIFE

Sue Schnackenberg, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN & YOUTH MINISTRIES

Laurie Horstman, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday - Thursday: 9:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M. Friday: 9:00 A.M.-Noon

Phone: 517-349-9536

https://twitter.com/okemospreshttps://www.facebook.com/OkemosPresbyterian/

Website:https://okemospres.orgEmail:of ice@okemospres.org

Thank You all for helping us have a wonderful wedding and participating in it. It made it such a great day and started our married life so well. The deacons were extraordinary!! The bell choir sounded just terrific and we appreciate their music, as well as a very generous gift card.

Sincerely, Jan & Cal Endres

Chapel and Hallway Paint Project Special THANKS to Wayne Scott, Jan

Krehbiel, Bill Given, Keith Camann, Jeff Arbour, Frank Hatfield, Jim Kocher, and Doug Paterson for the many hours they donated to help paint the Chapel and hallways. The total time these church members worked was more than 130 hours! The completion of this project by volunteers was a huge savings for our budget!

The Knitting Group is alive and well, meeting usually the first and third Fridays at 1:00 p.m., and sometimes other Fridays as well. Anyone interested should contact Kathy Rich-ardson or Nancy Snow, as we are almost al-ways there when it meets. We welcome new members.

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CROP Walk: Sunday, October 8, 2017 Every second Sunday in October, our church

participates in the greater Lansing area CROP Walk. This year, the walk takes place on Sunday, October 8, at 2:00 P.M. at the STEM Academy at 2600 Hampden Drive in southwest Lansing.

The money gathered by walkers will be used to combat hunger in Lansing, the U. S., and the world. In Lansing, one-fourth of the funds go to agencies such as Advent House, the Haslett Community Food Pantry, and the Garden Project of the Greater Lansing Food Bank.

Once again this year, the youth in our church will be challenged to match a sum given by one of more anonymous donors. Last year that sum was $2,000, and our youth met that challenge.

Last year, 44 walkers from our church contributed $15,055 to fight hunger. That amount was an all-time high for our church. Thank you—contributors, food preparers, and walkers—for that outstanding response.

This year, we have invited adults and youth from the Islamic Center of East Lansing to join us in the walk.

From the middle of September on, donation envelopes and other information will be available at the CROP Walk table in the Fellowship Hall. Please talk to Ron Dorr (484-3610) for additional information. Join us if you can.

With the end of summer and the beginning of fall rapidly approaching, we thank the soloists, instrumentalists, bell ringers, and choir members who participated in the summer music ministry, and look forward to an exciting new season of worship and music at PCO.

This fall marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. As part of the observance, hymns of the Reformation will be highlighted during the worship services.

The fifth annual Lessons and Carols will be presented December 10. This year's program will feature a beautiful selection of music for harp, flute, organ, handbells, and choir.

Jazz Weekend 2018 promises to be an exciting musical experience. We are delighted to welcome clarinet virtuoso Dave Bennett to PCO for both the Saturday evening concert February 10 and the Sunday worship service. A multi instrument phenomenon, Dave plays clarinet, guitar, drums, piano, and hevocalizes and composes in a variety of styles. He has performed with over fifty orchestras throughout the U. S. and Canada including a performance at Carnegie Hall and is featured in dozens of music and jazz festivals.

In the spring, as part of the Doemel Concert Series, the Chancel Choir will present English composer Howard Goodall's "Eternal Light: A Requiem" accompanied by strings, harp, piano, and organ.

This year we are reaching out to the community and to the MSU College of Music to encourage ensembles and individual artists to consider our church as a musical venue. This should greatly expand the opportunities for musical enrichment at PCO.

Marlene

Belonging to God/ Growing in Faith Saturday, October 21 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Each time we baptize a child, the congregation is asked to make a promise to walk with the newly baptized, and to teach the Christian faith in word and deed.

This morning retreat will explore some of the issues involved in helping our children be formed as disciples and taking stock of our own discipleship and our commitment to continue growing in our own faith. There will be hands-on activities, face-to-face conversations, and a couple of keynote addresses. Our speakers are Robert and Laura Keeley, who live in Holland, Michigan, teach at Calvin College, and serve in area churches. They have published a handful of books on these topics. Their latest book explores the value of psalms of lament for children and adults. This retreat will take place in Fellowship Hall and we will serve a lunch at noon. There is no charge, but we do ask for a donation to help us meet the cost of lunch.

Music Notes

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From the CE Desk By Sue Schnackenberg

Stories & Lab: Jane Bobay Carrie Carlson Ann Rush

Uniforms & Registration: Nancy Kanistanaux Kathy Richardson Alice Townley

Photographer: Bobbi DuByne

Crafts: Barb Carlson Ann Fuller Jennifer Gordon Bettie Senger

Adult Class: Eunice Creswell Zora Todd

Decorations: Eunice Creswell Jean Cymbalski Ed Gillespie Jennifer Gordon Nancy Kanistanaux Kathy Richardson Jill Schaberg

Snacks: Candy Boldrey Jean Cymbalski Becky Gillespie Nancy Kanistanaux Emmie McKillips

Music: Sandy Detrisac Cathy McCarthy Irene Shutt Jonathan Townley

Seminars: Rick Gierman Bill Horne Kevin Rowe Mike Townley

Games Issy Beckhorn Michael Corder Josh Ellison Jake Gierman Christine Meland Henry Nawyn-Hellinga Allie Otberg

Other Helpers Addison Beckhorn Kendell Bobay Sophia Juarez Massimo Martin-Fanone Olivia Meland Rebecca Stokes Grace Townley Special Thanks to Eunice Creswell & Sue Schnackenberg for organizing and leading this year’s VBS. For next year’s calendar: Vacation Bible School is July 10—13, 2018.

Thanks to all who helped with Vacation Bible School this year!

The children learned: the value of clean water how children in Haiti, Cuba, Honduras, Ghana, and Mexico struggle for clean water how VBS children can help.

A total of $305.80 was contributed to Living Waters for the World (LWW), a ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), by those attending VBS this summer.

FALL SCHEDULE FOR

YOUTH & CHILDREN

September 9—CE Teachers’ Retreat 10—Rally Day

October 1—Writers’ Workshop for Christ-mas Eve Pageant

8—CROP Walk 15—Youth Group Begins 21 (Saturday) - Church-wide CE

Retreat 22—Youth Group trip to Best

Corn Maze

November 10 & 11—Youth Group Lock In

Calling All Church

School Teachers!!

Pre-Rally Day Retreat

Saturday, September 9

10:00 A.M. – Noon

Let’s get ready for a

Great Year!!

Attention Audio Techs and Jr. Nursery Workers: The sign-up sheet for the fall schedule is on Sue’s office door. Please sign up!

Confirmation Class is being offered this year for young people in the 6th grade and older. This is an opportunity to learn about the Christian faith, and the meaning of church membership: to study the Bible; and to learn something about other faiths. Rev. Carlson will be teaching 15 of these class sessions. He will be assisted by Rick Gierman and Jennifer Gordon in teaching the class through the 2017-18 academic season. Please consider attending the opening meeting of this class as a family in the Middle School Room on Sunday, September 10, at 11:30 A.M. If you have any questions, please contact Rev. Carlson.

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Women’s Connection After a long summer recess, we will happily re-connect on Sunday, September 24, 12:30. Following a time of fellowship, catching up, and having lunch together, Carolyn Henderson will be our speaker. She has had an interesting life centered around her faith and influence of clergy, and was married to the late Pastor Phil Henderson. Her career was as a school music and piano teacher. Please plan now to join us and get to know Carolyn better ... all women are welcome!

Book Club Discussion This fall, we will be meeting at 11:30 A.M. or 12:30 P.M. on the third Sunday of each month for discussion of a book. At 11:30 on September 17, we will talk about A Long Way Home, by Saroo Brierley. Subtitled A Boy’s Incredible Journey from India to Australia and Back Again, this fascinating story of two lives, two families, and two homes is the One Book, One Community selection this fall. Brierley was in East Lansing on August 27-28. A review of the book appears in this issue of The Grapevine.

Writing Life Stories This fall, we will be meeting at 11:30 A.M. or 12:30 P.M. on the first Sunday of every month. At 11:30 on Sunday, September 3, we will continue our writing and reading of poems, letters, and autobiographical writing. You do not have to have written anything to contribute. But you are welcome to join the discussion after someone else’s contribution. In that conversation, loss and love, renewal and religion, laughter and seriousness often walk hand in hand. Someone once said, “It’s better than psychiatry.”

ADULT EDUCATION FOR 2017--2018

Date 11:30 A.M.

September 3: Writing Life Stories, Ron Dorr, in Room 108

September 10: Rally Day and Picnic

IN CHAPEL

CHRISTIANS WITHOUT BORDERS IN BOARD ROOM

September 17:

One Book, One Community Discussion: A Long Way Home,

by Saroo Brierley, with Ron Dorr

Living the Word, with Rev. Alice Townley

PCO Directory, with Carl Lira

A help session for saving and using the PDF ver-sion of the PCO directory on your phone or tablet. Register at https://okemospres.org/signup .

September 24: Mission: Global Institute of Lansing with Paula Frantz

Living the Word, with Rev. Alice Townley

IN FELLOWSHIP HALL

MID-WEEK CLASSES Men’s Group meets Tuesday mornings at 6:45 A.M.

in Fellowship Hall Artists’ Circle, meets Tuesdays, 1:00—3:00 P.M.,

beginning September 26, in Room 108 Conversation and Contemplation with Alice

Townley, Wednesdays, 10:00 A.M. beginning September 20, in Room 108.

Adult Bible Study with Rob Carlson, Thursdays, 9:30 A.M. in Room 108.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:

PCO DIRECTORY

A help session will be offered on Sunday morning, September 17 at 11:15 for saving and using the PDF version of the PCO directory on your phone or tablet. This PDF file is only availa-ble to church members or church friends listed in the current PCO directory. If you are interested in this session, send a message to communica-tions@okemospres.org , or register at https://okemospres.org/signup .

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The Mission Committee will soon have PCUSA’s We Choose Welcome yard signs available to the congregation for a donation to the Global Institute of Lansing. These signs are beautiful, positive and very Presbyterian! They will look great in your yard.

The Mission Committee continues to promote

Double-Up Food Bucks! If you would like to help our lower-income neighbors to access fresh local produce, it only takes a couple of hours a week. Please talk to Tom Shaberg to sign up.

PCO is joining several faith-based organizations around Lansing to promote Peace Quest 2017. Rev Rob Carlson’s planned sermon on peace for the kick-off day (September 17) is being advertised throughout Greater Lansing. Mission Committee members will be promoting this week-long event and will represent PCO on the “Day of Action” (September 17).

Next meeting: September 13, 2017

MISSION COMMITTEE UPDATES

Personal Needs: Please bring your travel and hotel toiletries for the Advent House shelter. We will get them to Advent House so they can be distributed. Please cut out coupons and buy toiletries during your shopping trips for great savings and an even greater demonstration of our caring for others in our community.

PeaceQuest is a community-wide celebration in the Greater Lansing area held every September to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace (September 21). PeaceQuest is a week of activities to promote peace, resolve conflicts, learn about other faiths and cultures, and encourage mutual understanding. It is sponsored by the Greater Lansing United Nations Association and multiple community partners, including The Presbyterian Church of Okemos. For full details, please visit: https://peacequestgreaterlansing.org/ Among the events are: Sunday, September 17 Day of Action! PeaceQuest Kick-Off! 2-4 P.M. MSU Campus: Cherry Lane park,

Harrison & Wilson Road, East Lansing; Music, food, displays—All are welcome, All Free!

Preaching Peace Several houses of faith including PCO. Wednesday, September 20 Story Telling about Peace, 7 P.M. Edgewood United Church 469 North Hagadorn Rd,

East Lansing Saturday, September 23 Nonviolence Training Workshop, $25, led by the

Meta Peace Team, 9am-4 P.M. at Cristo Rey Church 201 W. Miller Rd, Lansing.

Calling All Wannabe Bell Ringers: If you are new to bell ringing, come join the

JuBellees on Thursdays (beginning September 7 at 6:15 P.M.) We need a few good people to fill out our numbers. We practice one hour a week and

last year included ages 8 through 94, See the photo on the kiosk! The music is mostly

level I (easy). Monday Mallets meet every

Monday from 6:45 to 7:45 P,M. They play more advanced music. See or call Irene Shutt phone 517 349-6194, e-mail : shuttik@gmail.com

Join us in supporting recovery efforts related to Hurricane Harvey through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). Make checks payable to the church with PDA in the notation line. More information can be found at https://pda.pcusa.org/situation/tropical-storm-harvey/

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Policy Update, By Ellen Hoekstra By mid-July, Governor Snyder had signed bills to

implement a $57 billion state budget for 2017-2018. Relatively few items were vetoed by the Governor-- $5 million from the omnibus bill for state departments and agencies. The largest of these vetoes was $1 million in software for the treatment of pediatric brain injuries. The omnibus bill covering education, including K-12 and higher education, saw $1.37 million in vetoes, with the biggest of these being $1 million to purchase access to an online math tool by K-12 districts.

By contrast, at the federal level, Congress has immediate fiscal issues to resolve when it returns to Washington in September—keeping the government open and avoiding default on the U.S. debt. A bi-partisan group of House members is working on proposals to keep federal finances afloat. Without raising the debt limit, the government will not have money to pay its bills by September 29. Two days later, funding for the federal government to provide services will expire unless Congress can agree on a spending plan during September.

On another topic, Michigan was wrong in 70% of unemployment fraud cases, meaning that 37,000 people were erroneously charged with fraud and

failed to receive the benefits for which they were eligible. These errors add up to $20.8 million in principal, penalties, and interest now due to the wrongly accused.

Also, the Michigan League for Public Policy and Kids Count in Michigan announced that overall, our state has seen improvements in maternal and infant health from 2010 to 2015. However, during this time period, the mortality of Hispanic infants has risen sharply.

In other news: On Sunday, August 14, there was a

spontaneous rally at our State’s Capitol in opposition to the violence and racism seen in Charlottesville.

The Michigan legislature had an active day when it convened for a one-day session in July. However, the date scheduled for August was a “No bills will be voted upon and attendance will not be taken” day.

Former Congressman Vernon Ehlers of Grand Rapids has passed away. He served ten years in the Michigan legislature and 16 years in Congress and was noteworthy for, among other things, being the only nuclear physicist to serve in Michigan’s legislature.

Every Member Visitation Last fall, the session directed the stewardship

committee to lead an effort to visit as many members and friends of the congregation as possible, to get input on the goals for the next five years and to request input on improvements that might be made to the work we do through our church. Over the next few months, we will be highlighting in the Grapevine some of the work that has been undertaken to implement some of the suggestions made. Briefly, some things you may have noticed include improving our worship experience by installing a hearing loop to allow those with hearing aids to use them effectively, more use of instrumentalists, improving the engagement of children during the children's sermons, training of ushers and communion servers, and updating the children's worship materials. Sermons are also being made available in print in the literature rack in fellowship hall and on the website.

A lot of work has gone into increasing engagement of the congregation. A committee specifically to address the communication to and engagement of our congregation has been organized and is working on things like continuing to improve our online presence and use of technology to reach people. Subcommittees

are working to develop job descriptions of all jobs needed to be done, to update the visitor materials handed to those visiting our church, and to improve the ways we seek volunteers to help with ongoing tasks.

Other efforts include offering classes during non-working hours, forming a property team to address the ongoing maintenance needs of our facility, organizing of persons willing to provide visitation to those in our congregation needing or desiring such, and session is making a better effort to use the time and talent pledge sheets to engage people who indicated willingness to serve in some way.

Finally, the mission committee is working diligently to keep people informed on the work of that committee and to offer more service opportunities to our members.

We hope you have noticed some of this work being done specifically to address suggestions made. We would always welcome your involvement in some way by letting us know if you want to become more engaged in the life of our church. If so, please let Rob or Alice know. Thank you.

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Book Nook: A Long Way Home, by Saroo Brierley Review by Ron Dorr

On February 12, 2012, Saroo Brierley, 30, stood in front of the small house in Ganesh Talai, India, where he had lived the first five years of his life. Now his former home was run-down and abandoned.

Twenty-five years earlier, he had mistakenly boarded a train to Calcutta (now Kolkata) and survived several weeks of hard living on the streets of that city. Then he was rescued, placed in an orphanage, and adopted by an Australian couple. In September, 1987, six-year-old Saroo began his new life in Hobart, Tasmania. In 2006, he began to search for his hometown on Google Earth. Five years later, he located the Khandwa Railway Station near Ganesh Talai.

In February, 2012, however, it appeared that his quest for his family of origin had failed. Fortunately, a man in the neighborhood made some inquiries and said to Saroo, “Come with me. I’m going to take you to your mother.”

A Long Way Home is the fascinating story of Saroo Brierley’s two lives, two families, and two homes. Published in 2013, East Lansing’s One Book, One Community selection this fall,

A Long Way Home is three stories: Saroo’s separation from his original family, Saroo’s life with the Brierley family in Hobart, Tasmania, and Saroo Brieley’s reconnection with his mother and siblings in Ganesh Talai. The stories combine the uncommon with the commonplace, the harrowing with the heart-warming, and suspense with knowledge of the final outcome.

“Getting Lost” and “Survival” are the most absorbing and frightening chapters in the book. They capture the fears, frustration, and disorientation after Saroo realized that he had boarded a train that took him far, far from home. Danger and hunger accompanied him on the streets of Calcutta. He narrowly escaped being physically abused by train workers. Three times he was saved by strangers. What else helped him survive? Luck played a part, but so did pluck, increasing self-reliance, and memories of his older brothers’ resourcefulness and resilience. A police station, juvenile detention center, and orphanage also saved him.

In Hobart, Tasmania, Saroo found a loving couple, John and Sue Brierley, who had decided to adopt international children instead of conceiving their own. Feeling safe and secure at home, liking school so much that he skipped a grade, encountering little racism, Saroo “settled in well.” (Mantosh, a second adoptee in the Brierley family, had a less positive experience.) Saroo grew up “Australian—a proud Tassie.” After goofing off too much, he became a model student in high school, tried out accounting and hospitality as possible careers, rejected both, and eventually turned to his family’s business, Brierley Marine, working with his father and becoming a salesman. These years of adolescence and young adulthood—including a pinch of rebellion, restlessness, and the safety of family—are quite familiar in coming of age

memoirs. The life experiences of his Australian parents were much more uncommon (see “My Mum’s Journey”). This second part of A Long Way Home is briefer and less revealing than the first and third parts of the story.

Friends at the Australian International Hotel School in Canberra wet Saroo’s interest in searching for his roots. Google Earth helped but also frustrated him. His new girlfriend, Lisa, put up with his obsessive but increasingly rational searching. Saroo extended the initial boundaries beyond 1,000 kilometers from Kolkata to the western and southern sides of the state of Madhya Pradesh. He zoomed in on small details such as a water tower or railroad station that he remembered. On March 31, 2011, he hit pay dirt. What he had called “Ginestlay” was Ganesh Talai. A year later, Saroo Brieley made the return trip to India, hoping for the best and fearing the worst.

“Finding Home” led to “Meeting My Mother.” On Febrary 12, 2012, Saroo completed his quest. “This is your mother,” the English-speaking neighbor in Ganesh Talai said. “Despite the years, I knew the fine bone structure of

her face the instant I looked back at her, and in that moment she seemed to know me too. . . . I felt a sharp stab of grief that it could take a mother and son even a few moments to simply recognize each other, and then a rush of joy that we now had. She stepped forward, took my hands, and held them, and stared into my face with utter wonderments.” The homecoming was deeply emotional but also bittersweet. The language barrier between Saroo and his Indian family was difficult to overcome. Saroo’s older brother lost his life in a railroad accident the very night that Saroo had disappeared (the book is dedicated to Guddu). His mother, Kalma, had lost two sons that night. Those losses prompted the remaining son to leave

school and Ganesh Talai, and to find work elsewhere. Yet Kallu and Shekila, Saroo’s sister, had escaped lives of grinding poverty, becoming a factory manager and teacher respectively. Returning to India on another occasion, the author took the 1,680-kilometer trip from Birhanpur to Kolkata. There he faced down some of his fears and lovingly reunited with Saroj Sood, who had arranged his adoption (along with that of 2,000 other Indian children in 37 years). “I remember your mischievous grin. Your face has not changed,” she told Saroo.

With the assistance of Larry Buttrose, Saroo Brierley has written a better book than I had expected. Saroo is more likable than the protagonist of last year’s selection, Enrique’s Journey. He captures his mother’s happiness “as deep as the sea” and writes finely balanced sentences (“I was lost in Calcutta, but I was returning to Kolkata”). From his experience, he has learned to prize family, believe “in the goodness of people,” take advantage of opportunities, and indict the West’s “emphasis on individualism.” Though not religious, he sees “an element of destiny in these events, intertwining my two families with me as the linchpin. . . . I now have two families, not two identities. I am Saroo Brierley.”

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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF OKEMOS 2258 BENNETT RD

OKEMOS, MI 48864-3233

Join us for a time of fellowship & lunch as we celebrate the beginning of another season of church classes. Pulled pork & chicken sandwiches

will be provided as well as ice cream for dessert. Please sign up to bring your favorite salad or side dish at www.perfectpotluck.com. Coordinator Name: Stokes; Password: Fall

If you would like to help set up, serve, or clean up, please contact Nancy Kanistanaux at nkanistanaux@gmail.com.

Parish Life Committee

S u n d a y S e p t e m b e r 1 0 t h

a f t e r c h u r c h

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2

3 10am Worship 11:30am Writing Life

Stories

4 Labor Day

5

6:45am Men’s Group

6 7pm Parish Life

Committee

7 9:30am Adult Bible

Study 6:15 JuBellees 7:30pm Choir

rehearsal

8 9

10am - Teacher Training

1pm Prayer Shawl Group

10 Rally Day

11 12 6:45am Men’s Group 7pm Deacons’

meeting

13 5:45pm Worship &

Music Committee 6pm Mission

Committee 7pm Communication

& Engagement

14 9:30am Adult Bible

Study 6:15pm JuBellees 7:30pm Choir

rehearsal

15 16

10am Worship & Communion

11:30am – CE classes Noon – Lunch and Ice

Cream Sundaes

6:45pm Monday Mallets

17 10am Worship 11am Birthday Cake 11:30am – CE classes Book Club

18

5:30pm Women’s Supper Out

6:45 Monday Mallets

19 6:45am Men’s Group

20 10am Conversation &

Contemplation 6:30pm

Administration Committee

7:30pm Session

21 Grapevine

Deadline 9:30am Adult Bible

Study

6:15pm JuBellees 7:30pm Choir

rehearsal

22 23 1pm Prayer Shawl

Group

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 10am Worship 11:30am – CE classes 12:30pm Women’s

Connection

6:45pm Monday Mallets

6:45am Men’s Group 1 – 3pm Artists Circle

10am Conversation & Contemplation

7pm Personnel

Committee

9:30am Adult Bible Study

6:15pm JuBellees 7:30pm Choir

rehearsal

Grace Hospice set up

Grace Hospice event