Another Sabbath Together

This Sabbath was 13th Sabbath, a special Sabbath to highlight some countries from our quarterly that we are sharing money with to fix or build new projects.

It is always great to have people to help out and make the program interesting.
We started with singing and this little band first.

Who knows where this flag is from?

Another tough flag to figure out. 

Sharing the flag info and then the facts from what is happening with the 13th Sabbath Offering for the first quarter of the year 2019.  We tried to get all the superintendents to help with this 13th Sabbath program.  Thanks for the help. 

Kumbaya to go with the African theme.

Then after Opening Song and Prayer, Glenda shared a mission story.
Dave and Vicki had us guess four different flags to see if we knew these countries that were in the quarterly this past quarter.
Some of the countries are not heard of too often, so it made guessing a little tricky.

Vicki shared some interesting facts and soon it was time for lesson study time in small groups.

Lesson study was lead upstairs by Pastor Bob... he did a great job.

Can you tell what he is trying to explain?

After the lesson study it was time for the church service to begin.

Heidi lead the song service along with her little daughter.

Little Helper

Lori captured our attention with her hat and birding tools.  She showed fun photos of birds to the children too. Thank you for the story. 

Collecting the Children's Offering from her Grampa. 

Special Music by this young lad... "Adoration".  He played it beautifully. 

Pastor Neil came to speak to us from the Rutland Church... It was good to have him here. 

It takes many different  views on the Pastor to have all the expressions come out. 

Look at the colony of ants.  They are a good example of harmony and being united.  We need to teach each other in community as a family of Christ. We need to extend love and grace and harmony. Colossians 3:13 and 14.  Forgiveness helps us to come together.  Remember the song, "Burdens are Lifted at Calvary".
It is like a factory - the queen does not boss the others around as each one knows their job and they just each do their part. Be of one mind.
( little bits and pieces taken from the sermon by Pastor Neil Peralta.)

New decor item... 

After church visiting.  

Thanks for coming to OCC.  Please join us again soon.

Daffodil fields in the sunset. 

March 23rd at OCC

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Introducing Dawna's new grandson to OCC. 

Little Desmond - new grandson of Dawna and Dave Lemky.  Welcome little one. 

I was not at OCC but Jolanta took these photos and sent them to me for you to see.

Looks like a very nice Lord's Supper Sabbath.

Just to Let You Know

It is with much sadness that we must say goodbye to Melody Werner Foulston, the wife of my nephew, Rick Foulson, who is my dad, Walter Wecker's, grandson.

https://www.wilsonsfuneralchapel.ca/notices/Melody-Foulston

Thank you all for the prayers you prayed for Rick and Melody and their family, and for my sister Judy, her husband Terry, and the rest of their family.

February 23rd at OCC

The verses Pastor Josue used for his sermon.  

Attentive children listening to Tammy's story.  

Grace and Karenda leading the Praise Time along with Howard at the piano.  What a treat to have them lead out going from one song right into the next. 

Thanks to Jolanta for catching these shots with her phone for us to enjoy.

Karenda shared a mission story for SS. 

Then she blessed us with a song while she played and sang. Thank you so much for taking time to be part of our Sabbath School morning.  

What would we do without the work of the AV people.  They are active all through SS and church and it is appreciated. 

Doing his part for taking the children's offering. 

Helping Grampa with the regular offering. 

It is so wonderful to have children at our church.  

Pastor Josue was away at Burman University and just got back home.  This sermon was one of caring and uplifting. 
Thank you, Pastor for your interesting and thoughtful sermons.

Some facts about Love:

Cuddling Releases Natural Painkillers

Even Looking At A Picture Of A Loved One Relieves The Pain

Romantic Love Eventually Ends…Only To Be Followed By Committed Love

Holding A Loved One’s Hand Relieves Pain And Stress

Expressing Gratitude Towards People You Love Causes An Immediate Spike In Your Happiness

Butterflies In The Stomach Are Real And They’re Actually Caused by Adrenaline

The necessity of love(what love is not)

Becoming a sounding brass (an annoying distraction) vs. 1

Having everything but yet been nothing vs.2

Meaning well but not doing any good vs.3

The outward carriage may be plausible, when the invisible principle is very bad. M.H.C.

What love is(the fruits of Agape)

The apostle gives us in these verses some of the properties and effects of charity, both to describe and commend it, that we may know whether we have this grace and that if we have not we may fall in love with what is so exceedingly amiable, and not rest till we have obtained it. M.H.C.

a.agapeµ: not what is meant by charity in our common use of the word, which most men understand of alms—giving, but love in its fullest and most extensive meaning, true love to God and man, a benevolent disposition of mind towards our fellow-christians, growing out of sincere and fervent devotion to God.(Matthew Henry commentary,)

b. It is long suffering—makrothymei. It can endure evil, injury, and provocation, without being filled with resentment, indignation, or revenge. It makes the mind firm, gives it power over the angry passions, and furnishes it with a persevering patience,

c.Charity suppresses envy: envy is the effect of ill-will. The prosperity of those to whom we wish well can never grieve us; and the mind which is bent on doing good to all can never with ill to any.

3. What really matters. Love vs. 13

Why is love grater?

How does love makes you look like?

How does love makes you feel like?

How does love makes you think like?

...it is plain that the apostle is here setting the grace of charity in opposition to supernatural gifts. And it is more valuable, because more durable; it shall last, when they shall be no more; it shall enter into heaven, where they will have no place, because they will be of no use...M.H.C

Surely love(agape) has the power to brake us and rebuild us according to God's loving image, a deep sense of altruism is rooted in our hearts, a desire to be faithful and pure cover us and a crave for the fruits of the Spirit is re-born.

Hiding Robin near OCC. 

March 2nd at OCC

They came all the way from Cherryville to be at OCC this morning.  

It was so lovely to have two young ladies come to bring us news about their latest mission trip for our Sabbath School talk.

Kiera and her sister Morgan, had just come back from Mexico and were happy to share about their painting and interesting little stories about the children they helped.

It was nice to have Kiera back at OCC as she was the Bible worker here last year.

Thank you so much for sharing the stories, Kiera. 

We appreciated your sharing too, Morgan. 

It sure is nice to walk in to OCC and have such a nice bulletin given to us.  Thank you everyone who works on doing the bulletins each week. 

Beverly took the leadership of the lesson upstairs this weekend and had a lively discussion going with lots of people taking part.  Thank you, Beverly. 

Praise Time leaders.  So nice to hear the singing during our service. 

Vicki shares with us her piano playing to help us praise God.  Thank you, Vicki. 

Elder of the month - Thank you, Dave for your contribution to our church service. 

Rachel accompanied Grace as she sang for a special number during the Praise Time. 

Almost a full church listening to Grace sing and Rachel play the piano.  Thank you for coming to OCC and singing, Grace. 

Roland reading the scripture text. 

Grace adding singing to our church service so beautifully.

What would we do without our faithful members who come to church and add their presence.  We sure do appreciate you.  

Thank you so much for coming to OCC and for all the things you do to make it a interesting and pleasant place to worship. 

It is great to have Pastor Bob back up sharing the sermon. 

Pastor Bob and Myrna are back home now after their time away this winter.  We are so glad to have them here at OCC.  Pastor Bob shared the sermon, "Does Jesus Care?"
Is He really interested in me?
1. God is Powerful
2. God is Personal
He made our world beautiful for us - He cares.
He gave us the Bible - He cares.
John 3:16 tells us that He loved the world He created.
This personal God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Then Pastor Bob sang the Johnnie Appleseed song.
Thank you for your encouraging message for us, Pastor. 

Bluebirds will be back soon, but not quite yet.