Some people were at OCC on Thursday evening.
One was running off the bulletin and helping to get the VBS sign ready to put up.
Two were there to get the VBS sign up and find a couple of things in the VBS room.
Another two were there with some soup for the missionaries who are staying at our church and going to the homes in our area with a prayer, a smile and seeing what people need from our church.
And then there was a new face... a new missionary had come to join the group on Wednesday.
Benjamin is from Romania and was working on his talk.
It was nice to meet him and see his ready smile.
Within the first month that Jonathan and I were living in South Korea, we learned that physical beauty is extremely important to the Korean people. Many young ladies, and even some young men, have expensive plastic surgery done to make themselves look more beautiful (or at least to fit society's view of beauty). Because South Korea is such a small country (38,600 square miles) with such a large population (in November 2011, when we arrived, the population was almost 49 million, but by the spring it went over 50 million!), job competition is very high. Many people, especially young adults, think they need to get plastic surgery to be able to compete in the job market. Needless to say, physical beauty is very, very important to the South Korean people. And people in that society who are physically or mentally handicapped are quite looked down upon, as are single mothers and even couples who adopt children.
A few weeks ago I read an article about a Korean pastor, Lee Jong-rak, who saw a need and made himself open to God's leading. He saw and heard about babies being abandoned on the streets, so he installed a Baby Box on the side of his Seoul apartment. Here mothers who would have abandoned their unwanted - and many times handicapped - babies in the streets could instead place them in the Baby Box. So far about three dozen children are being raised by the pastor and his wife and a small Korean staff at Pastor Lee's apartment-turned-orphanage. Their lives have been saved from certain death, and they are now loved and cherished by this couple who has committed to look after them.
I didn't know about this orphanage while I was living in Seoul, South Korea, but now, after reading the article and seeing the video below, I really wish I had known about it while I was there and could have gone to visit or volunteer there. I'm sure it would have been an amazing experience to witness the love that this man has for the children he has saved. While I watched the video, I was reminded again of God's everlasting and unchanging love for us, all sinners by birth, and how happy He is to welcome us into His heavenly family. What amazing love!
Bev and Dave W. are such a blessing as they are so willing to come and share their time and talents with us at Orchard City SDA Church. This Sabbath, they shared some stories and videos with us of their time in the Philippines in April.
VBS on the trip seemed like a real fun time with so many children coming each day. Dave made visits to the homes of the people in the town, and they worked with the evangelistic meetings in the evenings, too.
How great to have visitor come and share their experiences from their mission trip with us.
Bev W. explaining the video that they are showing us.
Upstairs SS Bible study group
Donna and Brooklyn shared a very sweet song for a special number in the Praise Time,
and Dave accompanied them on the guitar.
"This Little Light of Mine" - the children's song
Awwwww!
Telling us about the flooding and how bad it is. What a caring little guy.
Irina, Larisa and Shonette
Lorkens shared where he is from and what he is doing this summer. Nice to have you here!
From Russia, Irina - Welcome to Orchard City Church!
Larisa comes from Mexico and we are glad to have her here!
Shonette introducing herself
Shonette and Dian sing a duet. What beautiful voices they have!
Dian sang the beautiful song, "God on the Mountain"
(To hear the song and listen to the words, click here.)
It is nice to see the Pastor read from the Bible as well as from the screen. He makes everyone happy!
Ken and Ruth and Gerry chatting
Everyone is happy to share in this lunch time fare
Lunch time after church service
Another of Carol's amazing arrangements
One lone feather floating on the pond.
Just up for a peek and then he slipped back into the water.
Don Q. and Don Blue shared stories of their time on mission trips and how Jesus worked in people's lives.
Don Blue is working at UCA right now, laying brick for the new cafeteria.
"Oh, Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear"
Bryn leads us all in the Praise Time this Sabbath.
We sure enjoy singing hymns from the Hymnal and also praise songs from our red books.
Myrna always has something along for her story for the children to see and learn about. This time she had two tapers to show.
The Pastor lets the candles burn brightly.
If a candle is covered with a jar it soon goes out.
How nice for brothers to come to church together and enjoy story time together.
Pachelbel's Canon in D played by Alexander. Really beautifully played.
Carols' creative and bright flower arrangements are always so pleasant to see at our church each week.
Thank you so much, Carol. They do not go unnoticed.
A bright and beautiful day by the lake front.
Just before the border coming back from Spokane. So many bits and pieces of pretty nature items for us to enjoy.
We gain such a blessing with each different speaker we hear at Orchard City SDA Church.
This Sabbath we enjoyed and learned from Colby Maier.
Thank you so much, Colby, for coming to talk to us about Jesus!
Colby joins us at OCC
So nice to see a speaker use great visuals for us all to remember his words by.
I asked Colby to give us a little summary of his sermon talk and he quickly sent this to me.
"Today, more than ever, it's so very easy to cast the blame on each other. If we take a glance at today's society, everything seems to be based upon performance and perfection, and anything less than that is frowned upon. Society tells us to be perfect, and thus we try to maintain the status quo by throwing the blame and responsibility on others, even when we ourselves are actually to blame. Our distorted view on human perfection has led us into a downward spiral. But what does the Bible have to say concerning this 'Blame Game'? Jesus Christ in one of the greatest sermons ever given, the sermon on the mount, addresses this issue! In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus inquired of the people, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" He then insisted that his people first take the plank out of their own eye, and then they will see clearly to remove the speck of dust out of their brother's eye! If Jesus were speaking to us today, if He were speaking to us in the 21'st century, He might have said they we Christians need a 'Self-reflection Before Another Brother's Inspection.' We must first seek to examine our own lives before probing at the mistakes and faults of others. Seek diligent self-examination today! After all, didn't Jesus take the blame for you? Calvary - where our blame and our sin was cast upon Him, the Holy One of God."
He loved you this much
Alexander shows the children his turtle, Rocky, during the children's story
Rocky has been taken good care of by Alexander this last year
Collection time
Deb Jacobson sang "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" for our special music.
She was accompanied by her husband, Rich, on the drums, and Keith on the guitar. It was very nice to hear.
Rich's first time playing in front of an audience. Thank you for sharing, Rich.
Down by the pond to watch Rocky join other turtles in his new home.
In the afternoon, a few of our members went on a hike at Gallagher's Canyon.
The afternoon hikers to Gallagher's Canyon, led by Doug L.
Pictures of the hike in the afternoon were taken by Don Quiring. Thank you for sharing the photos, Don.
Anyone having photos to share, please email glendq@gmail.com. Thanks.
