Visiting Speaker this Sabbath at OCC

Coming to OCC Sabbath morning. 

 Lesson Study with Dave leading was good.  It was about Cain and His Legacy. 

There was a lot to think about in this discussion. 

Getting things set up. 

Did you get an envelope? Did you open it?  Bonnie does a great job with these fun health nuggets. 

This one was on temperance.  So far we have heard about Water, Exercise and Temperance. 

Temperance is meaning with our time, with our sleep or rest or food or exercise or our money. 

The paper inside the envelope had on Bible verses and also a recipe for Pina Colada Energy Balls.

Handing out the little treats to everyone after the Health Nugget. 

Doug L had the story of the morning... 

Beverly had the scripture and prayer before the sermon started. 

Dave Fiedler came by invitation to share the sermon this morning. 

Being a school teacher at one point and having a vegan restaurant at another time made him an interesting person to listen to as his thoughts were clear and easy to  follow. 

Enjoying the Good Life - It is an Acquired Taste.    

Philippians 4:8

Is there a food you did not used to like but now do?

Avocado, olives, durian?

God's intention.

John 5:11 Romans 15:13 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Which would you rather be?  Happy or unhappy?

Happiness comes from the choices we make. 

In the Power of Choice will is king. 

There are 3 things for the will...conscience/ common sense/ desire.

We ask  Is it right?  Is it best?  Do I want it?

Commit to obedience before the problem arises.  

Be willing to be made willing. Acts of the Apostles  page 482

God wishes us to have the mastery over ourselves. But He cannot help us without our consent and co-operation. The divine Spirit works through the powers and faculties given to man. Of ourselves, we are not able to bring the purposes and desires and inclinations into harmony with the will of God; but if we are "willing to be made willing," the Saviour will accomplish this for us, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5.{AA 482.3}

When there are conflicting ideas, how do you decide?

Follow the one that will hurt you the least. 

When conscience and desire conflict it gives us the worst outcome. 

When the going gets tough... look to what Jesus did in His great decision making time... 

38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Ask for God to help you do His will and He will help you. 

Jesus did not want to do what His Father wanted Him to do.  As He was sweating blood in the garden He did not die for several more hours.  Jesus was sent Gabriel not to give him conscience or common sense but He was told He would be happy in the end.  Hebrews 12:2

At the end of the day desire always wins. 

Either way it is very good or terrifying. 

Hebrews 8:10 and Hebrews 10:18.

All true obedience comes from the heart.  D of A page 668

All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us. Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, 668

Not my will but thine be done.

Their taste will be the same as Christ.  

So how is this enjoyable?  How did Paul and Silas sing in jail?

Act 16: 22 to 25

Angels come when we sing. 

Sacrifice is the currency with which we buy influence to use for God. 

Happy regardless.  Those who in everything make God first and last and best are the happiest people in the world. 

( note: this is a short recap of the many points of this sermon... if it is not clear please as Dave Fiedler to explain) 

We sang a hymn to close. 

Please come out this evening to a Ukraine Benefit concert at the Mary Irwin Theatre with Brad and Kandus as emcees.

Silent auction to follow  free musical program by guest and local artists. 

They hope to raise enough money for 1000 rides out of Ukraine this evening. 

Very happy to share in another Ukrainian Benefit Concert. If you are in the Kelowna area, hope to see you at the concert! Free Admission and you can make a forever difference in the life of a mother, child, grandmother for just $27. ADRA.ca/1000ridesout

Farewell Pastor Bob and Myrna... we will forever miss you!!

This Sabbath was full with the SS lesson and church service and a special meal together.

Alex used the whiteboard as he is an artist and shares his thoughts in drawings on the board. 

Beverly was the elder of the morning.  

Bonnie had one quick announcement about the upcoming Health meetings at Rutland church. 

Check it out if you are interested. 

Don't forget the special gift, Beverly. 

A ribboned package with a memory in it.

Praise Time and since the Praise person was sick this day Heidi and Keith ably filled in. 

A nice addition this weekend was the brass musicians once again. 

Last time this group might be able to play trombones together, as Pastor Bob is moving to North Carolina.   Good to have David and Doyle to play music for Praise Time this weekend. 

Pastor Bob has so many talents.  Music by playing an instrument and singing are two of them. 

He preached his last sermon ( for now) at OCC with assurance and hope and love. 

It is a gift, a gift a gift... he stated for us to not forget how much Jesus loves us and died for us as a gift. 

We will miss you so so much Pastor Bob and we will miss you Myrna too.  You both have been Front Row people to us and we will not forget that. 

We carry a lot of good, warm memories of your time at Orchard City SDA Church. 

Your friendship has been a bright part of our lives. 

Water bottles Bonnie shared for the health nugget a few weeks ago came in handy for lunch time fellowship meal. 

The ladies and maybe a man or two also set up the tables and got the fellowship room all ready for the meal. 

Just a lovely Sabbath with wonderful people. 

Don't travel too fast... 

We are so glad you are with your family. 

Enjoy your new home in North Carolina!!

Testimony Sabbath April 2nd 2022

 The SS lesson was the first one in our new series on Genesis.

Lori always has an interesting take on the lesson as she leads out. 

After the SS lesson discussion time is  Health Nugget, Announcements, Praise Time, Children's Story or just a story for all attending, and Scripture and Prayer.

Bonnie had a little talk after the short video about exercise.  She brought some elastic bands to add in stretching as a beginning step to exercise daily.  Several people got a package with a certain colour of band in it according to beginner or a little past that and more. 

Announcements with Dave and Praise with Karen. 

Jerrie Lou's story was just so fitting with the rest of the stories shared in the service time.  

Thank you Rich for the updated sign board each week. 

What a great message Donna shared with us about how God has inspired her along with her husband, Dwight, to make friends with the refugee people coming newly into Kelowna. 

It was very encouraging to hear her share about the things they have done and meals shared with these special families. 

Thank you very much for your testimony this morning, Donna. 

I am sure there is a lot more you could have shared too. 

Jody agreed to share her testimony when I asked her on messenger.  I was so happy to have her be willing to share as it is very personal but how can a person not share how God has been so involved in your life in such a positive way. 

Thank you very much for the journey of your health through the last four years and for giving Him the praise in it. The meaningful song at the end of your message left tears for many of us but tears because in some way we have had Him in our lives too --- Denise and Heidi with the Reflections Team in the music video was played... Through it All. 

Then Vicki had a tiny bit of time to share of God's involvement in her life and through her sad and lonely times with her losses and stresses.  How wonderful it is that even though a person can go through these tough times it is still wonderful for note that He was there in the darkest valley.

He will see us through. 

After her short talk, Vicki asked us to join her in singing as she played her favourite hymn It Is Well.

We ended the service by singing Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus as Bonnie played the piano. 

We need to do much more of sharing what Jesus has done in our lives so others can benefit by our sharing and we are encouraged also by realizing just how very much He has been in our lives all the time. 

In the evening we enjoyed a nicely put together vespers at Rutland Church for Pastor Bob and Myrna.

Beverly and Ken were the people talking between the tributes spoken by different people who have worked with Pastor Bob and Myrna through the years in BC conference. 

Loren Agrey, Wesley Torres, Dirk Zinner, Joel Gregg, Dan Jackson were some who spoke kind words about the Tetz's.  The brass group played with the congregation singing hymns. 

We will miss them so very very much. 

They are front row people.