Sabbath January 17th at Orchard City SDA Church

After a very nice start to our Sabbath School with Dawna L. leading out, Angela D. had the Sabbath School program.

It was her first time to be superintendent at OCC and we all enjoyed it very much.
She asked Brooklyn to have scripture and prayer and Brooklyn did that really nicely.
Then Alexander and Doyle had special music. Alexander played his trumpet and Doyle his trombone.
We sure were happy Angela asked them to play and hope they will play again soon.

So thankful for Angela's involvement at OCC

Catching fish - in Kid's Corner

Alexander really helps a lot - here he is getting the mikes
to the different ones who want to contribute to the Bible study

Brian W. is our conference youth leader. It is so great that he puts everything he has into his work.
His enthusiasm is really catching. Here we are singing the Children's Song - Peace Like a River!

Jerrie Lou shares a short story about a skunk and also one about a porcupine.
Her stories usually come from the time she spent up at Babine Lake, and almost always involve animals.

Collection time. Our visitors like to get involved in helping, too. We are glad they came to visit.

This young man played the guitar for his family to sing with. It was a treat to hear them again.

OCC surely does enjoy it when Pastor Brian is in Kelowna and preaching at our church.

Bibles in church

In the middle of the sermon we were introduced to a new hymn, or one we had not sung before.
Bonnie played it through and then we joined her. It was delightful to learn this.
I sure hope we sing it again. Bonnie does so well at sight-reading.

People do matter. That means you!!

At the seminar in the afternoon. Brian shares a lot of ideas and stories about friends or relatives
who have returned to church fellowship.

Part of the group in the afternoon.

Thank you for coming this weekend, Brian. Thank you for using our names and remembering each of us.
Thank you for the words you shared.

Sabbath January 10th, 2015

Bob W. got our Sabbath School started with a nice song service and Bonnie played the piano. It was very nice to have Bonnie and Doug back from their holiday. It was really great to have Michael, Julie and Jeff here with us, too.

Lori lead out in the Sabbath School program and we enjoyed how she brought us other ways to make the scripture verses really special and meaningful to us personally but changing some of the words to read I and me or to put in a person's name into the verse.
One example of this was a paraphrase this verse:

Ephesians 3:16-19
"Lord, I am asking that according to the riches of Your glory, You will grant ____________________ to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in her inner being so that Christ may dwell in ____________________'s heart through faith -- that she, being rooted and grounded in love, maybe have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that she may be filled with all the fullness of You."

Thank you, Lori for encouraging us to be readers of the Word and to memorize it and make it ours.

Alex M. led out in the upstairs lesson class and Lori had the downstairs group.

Lori sharing about the Bible verses in Sabbath School.

One of the adult Sabbath School classes that meets downstairs each week.
You are very welcome to come and participate in this group.

Cherri G. has been having a class in the room right across the hallway when you come down the stairs. It is for the older children who have graduated from the Kid's Corner class. This week they were making a craft after looking up Bible verses and had a surprise visit by seven kittens. Come and peek in on this group and see what is all going on at OCC.

Although it has been happening for a couple of months at least by now, it is still the newest Sabbath School class at Orchard City SDA Church. It is geared towards children in grade 2-6. Each time I stop in to visit for a few minutes they are doing something interesting.

Kitties come to visit the Sabbath School rooms. Everyone enjoys seeing the babies.

So gentle - all enjoyed having the kitties visit.

This young boy might not realize just how great it is for him to sit with one of the church members each week.
There was a big smile on both faces and on mine too when he sat down here.
Dino had surgery on his ear once again. Let us all pray that this time his ear heals well and Dino is in good health again soon.

Dave is not really a visitor to us, but since they moved they now go to the Winfield church.
It was so wonderful to have Dave and Regine back in OCC on Sabbath.
Dave played and sang a very meaningful song that his brother-in-law wrote. Thank you so much for sharing, David.

In the afternoon some of us from our church went to Sunshine Bands at Sutherland Hills Rest Home. We enjoy singing and visiting with those living there, and we think they enjoy it, too.

Paul shared the study of God's Word this morning.  Thank you, Paul. 

Julie and Jeff help out one last time before they leave for Africa. Don joins them in leading the singing. 

At the care home this lady enjoys petting her 'puppy' asleep in his bed. Must be a nice comfort for her.

First Sabbath of the New Year, January 3, 2015

Welcome to the New Year!!

Just like all the snow we have been able to enjoy lately, so we can enjoy the fresh cleanness of a new start with our relationships at home, at church and with God.

Dave E. is one of our five Superintendents this year.
He stared off the New Year with our first Sabbath School program.

David shared an experience of his and then asked us to share similar experiences, which several people did.

Fresh new ribbons here and there brighten things up. Thank you Linda.

Learning about wisdom in small groups study.

It is so great when everyone is involved in the Sabbath School.

In Kid's Corner... bright and cheery.

So lovely to have beautiful music from the piano and organ for church. Thank you, Aase.

Paul told the children's story and they sure did listen.

Children enjoy their time of collecting money for the Children's Divisions.

Adults enjoy seeing their happy faces.

It was a real treat to have Emily T. come and play her violin for our special music this Sabbath. She is a student, home for the break, from Fountain View Academy. Thank you so much for sharing your music with us, Emily.

Roland is finished his presentation and now greets everyone. Roland's talk was very interesting and thought-provoking.

It is fun to see things change for the different seasons.

Last Sabbath of 2014 - December 27

Sabbath School, December 27th, 2015 - Last Sabbath of the year

It was so nice to have some family members visiting us this weekend.
Most of those people had part of our SS and church and we were so glad to hear from them again.

For Sabbath School all of the superintendents participated, which made it nice for the end of the year. Thank you for a job well done this year.

Carol S. had the first Sabbath of the year in 2014, and when her health would not allow her to be upfront Sylvia B. finished up the year for her. Their programs were always interesting and had something to learn in them.
Edith M. was such a great, reliable superintendent, too, but she had to give up this position partway through the year. Her SS programs were always well thought out and put together so well.
Lori S. is so faithful and it is wonderful to be able to count on her. She had the second weekend each month and she often lead us in searches of Bible texts - one program was on learning to sing the Bible verses and memorizing them.
Liza L. took the third Sabbath and it was a treat to see what she would have for her programs.
They were varied and involved visitors sometimes and members at other times. One program she invited a lady to come and speak to us about her miracle - she was lost for many days and how she survived with lots of prayer and a great attitude.
A Filipino group of ladies came to sing a couple of times and we sure enjoyed those programs too.
I (Glenda) took the fourth Sabbath and also filled in for the fifth sometimes, too. It was very enjoyable to work with all the willing Sabbath School members and have them participate as often as possible.
One of the important parts of our SS is Missions. Thank you for supporting Missions each Sabbath.
As we share we get more involved with the work to share Jesus all over the world as well as here in Kelowna.

Orchard City Church members are so supportive and come out to our Sabbath School each weekend.
Without you all the programs would fail.
I want to say a big big thank you also to the people who work in the Kid's Corner each Sabbath and also in the new older kids division that has just been going for a couple of months now.
Nancy, Heidi, Bob, Naomi, Linda, Aase, Shannon, Loretta, Cherri, Jason - you are blessing these young people each time you come to church and sing the songs and share the stories in the classrooms. We appreciate you so much.

Children in the newly started Older Children's Kids Corner. Cherri is leading this group and they all seems to enjoy the different activities in this class. Thank you so much, Cherri, for heading this class!

On this Sabbath we enjoyed the Sabbath School class, led by relatives of church members who we know from their visits and love to have visit us.

Groups formed and each group was given a set of verses to read and discuss.

Another group, reading the Bible.

Drs. John and Teresa Reeve were here to visit family and graciously agreed to lead the lesson study.
They always have great insights. They come from Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Church was a lovely time, also. We enjoyed a few special numbers, as well as a the sermon by a youth who grew up in our church. He is grown up now, but we always enjoy when he comes back to visit!

Tyler and Amanda were home to visit family and played and sang two special songs - we so enjoyed hearing them again. 

Donovan was the speaker for our church service and it was good to hear him again.
Thank you, Donovan D.

Part of coming home is having little visits with church members who have been part of these young people's lives for years.  So nice.

Donovan D. played the guitar and sang a special song and then later he also had our sermon.
It is so wonderful to have our young people come back to OCC and share with us again.
He brought his lovely wife Meghann with him, too, and we enjoy visiting with her also.