Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Mini Camp Meeting at OKAA, May 3, 2014

Today we met together at the OKAA gym for our Sabbath School and church time.

There were men in the parking lot to direct cars to the right parking place.
Parking attendants.

The Rutland Youth presented a play, "The Body," at Sabbath School.
The eye, the ear, the arms, the legs, everything has to work together in the body.
Rutland Youth put on a play for Sabbath School.
It was well done. We need to work together to make things go well.

Narrators for the play.
The young people who put on the play.

After the play came the Sabbath School lesson time.
Ern Brake in the lesson study portion of Sabbath School.
Pastor Brake's five-minute sermons you can draw on a napkin to share. He had about 30 of these.

A very nice quilt display was in the foyer.
These are some of the quilts the students and volunteer adults made in an after-school sewing club.
I think Jerrie Lou, Loretta, and Edith all help out with this group, as does Ruth S.

After a short break, church started and we enjoyed hearing Proclaim - a singing group from CUC - take part then.
They shared a prayer time before going up to lead the Praise Time.

We moved into the rest of our service, the welcome, prayer, scripture reading, and the sermon.
Pastor Hawes welcomes everyone to the church service at Mini Camp Meeting
Stefan S. leads us in prayer.
Rachel S. has the scripture text.
Dr. David Trim, speaker for Mini Camp Meeting, shares about SDA history and how we can grow and learn from our past.
He was an excellent speaker!
Someone took care to make the stage area look pretty.

The Chosen Vessels, a singing group from the Fraser Valley, sang during Mini Camp Meeting and their music was good to hear.

Thanks to all involved for a wonderful Mini Camp Meeting weekend!

Back from Haiti - With Project 7

My husband David Jurek and I had an incredible opportunity recently, which in true fashion he jumped all over and I dragged my heels till I could “process” it! We were invited down to the Children’s Village in Trou du Nord, Haiti with the non-profit organization New Reality International. NRI have joined hands with a Haitian organization called Centre Orphelinat Bon Samaritan de Trou du Nord (COBSAMAT). Their combined forces have created Project 7, a self-staining property for children that have been orphaned, abandoned, abused, at-risk, and ‘restavek’ (child slaves). To read more about the organization and Project 7, visit this link: http://www.newrealityinternational.org/#!project7/c1ha3.

If projects like this excite you, feel free to ask questions and/or donate towards the amazing life changing stuff happening for these kids. David has taken on the volunteer role of Development Director for NRI, so feel free to contact him (davidjurek@me.com) regarding the best way to donate (tax receipts available). The project is currently in its second phase and still needs lots of financial support until everything is completely self-sustaining. The village currently has 19 kids (18 and under) living on the beautiful 7 acres. They were very excited to move into their new home only a few shorts weeks ago!

"For nothing will be impossible with God.” - Luke 1:37

Here are just a few pictures from our visit :)


Thank you for sharing with us, David and Alicia.

Many OCC members should remember Joel coming to have Sabbath School last year.
Take a look at this blog post from August to remember what he told us about his work in Haiti.

























Monday, May 5, 2014

Pastor Ted Andrews

Jill Rhynard, we love you and are so sorry that your step-dad passed away.

 _________________________________

Dear Friends,

We regret to announce the passing of Pastor Ted Andrews on Friday, May 2, 2014 in White Rock, BC. Please share the following information with your church family (e-mail or phone calls) as many people will remember Pastor Ted from his ministry in BC and Alberta Conferences.

97-year-old, retired minister, Ted Andrews, passed away early Friday morning. His death was peaceful and when he awakens it will be to see the face of Jesus. His gentle, caring nature, his wisdom, and his twinkling eyes will be missed by many. He was a dedicated Bible scholar, a servant of the Master and loved his Jesus. I believe Ted was instrumental in the building of the Oakridge and Rutland churches. Praise the Lord we all have the assurance of being reunited when Jesus comes.

The funeral is on Tuesday May 6 at the Valley View Memorial Gardens - 14644 72nd Avenue, Surrey, B.C.
1 p.m. - Open casket
2 p.m. - Service
3 p.m. - Internment

Prayer Chain Request

Please start the prayer chain with this information! God bless!
Subject: CRY FOR IMMEDIATE PRAYER - TRAGIC ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 97 SOUTH OF VERNON
Pastor Steve Little just called  to give an update to the BC Conference on the tragic accident that took place yesterday [May 4] on Highway 97 between Kelowna and Vernon involving two young people on their way home from the Kelowna Mini Youth Camp Meeting.  All we  know at this point is that  Kristopher Boring, a student at OKAA, is in stable condition at the Kelowna Hospital. His brother Rodney a passenger in the vehicle sadly did not survive the head-on collision.  We were also told that the two young people in the other vehicle though not Adventists are good friends of the Boring Family.

Please keep the Boring family, their friends,  and the students and teachers at our schools in Vernon and Kelowna in your prayers. Also pray for the pastors in the Okanagan District – they will need Divine wisdom and guidance to help all impacted by this tragedy get through the next couple of weeks. 

Please pray that God will supply just what the family needs during this difficult hour; and pray that the peace of God will comfort them and the God of peace will guide them through the days ahead. THANK YOU FOR GIVING THIS YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

PS: One last request, if you have a prayer chain in your church please activate it today -- praying for the Boring family as well as all the students and teachers in the Okanagan who have been impacted by this tragedy. Bless you and thank you!

Wayne Culmore, BC Conference President
http://www.bcadventist.com

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Orchard City SDA Church on April 26th, 2014

Each week different things take place at OCC SDA Church.
It is always interesting and this week was no exception.

Alysia C, Rhonda R, and Sara S, teachers at OKAA, led their students in songs, plays, the children's story, a voice choir, and Bible verses.
We were very thankful and happy that they came and were so enthusiastic to have the church service.
These students were from grades 3-7.

Here are some photos for you to see some of the things they did last Sabbath morning.

We still all really like this sign.
A story with Shannon.
Kids just love these.
Waiting in the sunshine.
A moose to colour.
Walter leading out in one Sabbath School class.
Rhonda R. sharing what good things we will experience this morning.
Leading the Praise Time
He played the hymn so well while we sang - "In the Sweet By and By"
Students in the boat.
Acting out the Jonah story for Children's Story Time
During the children's story.
Doing his part.
Children's offering time.
Doing their best, happily.
No one was hurt in the acting of this play.
All part of the play.
Almost ready for taking a bow.
Singing "Lean on Him."
Glad she came to OCC today. It was nice to see her whole family there including her sweet, little baby brother.
Nature's beauty right by the outdoor steps.

Thank you so much for coming to OCC and having our church service!
It was a lovely, lively morning.