Side By Side

“Two are better than one, because
they have a good reward for their toil”
Ecclesiastes 4:9

This wise observation of Solomon is fresh in my singing soul. When God reveals His goodness, it creates a festival within! I recently took a job trimming large shrubbery around a beautiful house. I had planned to work ALONE here and there as I could an estimated week to finish the project. Shrubs, hedgerows, and trees needed pruning. All the trimmed brush had to be raked and dragged to the burn pile in the field below. I wondered if I had the time or energy this project required.

But two days before the start date, my dad called to tell me he would like to help me on the job! So “I” became “we.” We began the back breaking work – trimming, cutting, raking, piling, hauling, and heaving TOGETHER. A hard job was made shorter and lighter. On the second day as we finished shaping an enormously tall holly tree, my dad said, “It’s amazing what one old codger and a middle aged guy working together can get done!” We completed the job in two long, but satisfying days! Moses alludes to this same exponential power in a heart song of his own when he says, “one can put a thousand to flight, two can put ten thousand to flight” (Deuteronomy 32:30). Imagine the power in community! It’s the very reason the enemy tries so hard to keep us apart.

Inspiration floods my soul like the refreshing spring rains. Two are better than one, especially if one is the Father. We are invited to enter “life with God” every day. He is with us, side by side! Don’t work alone. Don’t do anything alone – your helpful Father is with you at all times. We often forget and go at it alone.

Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; but together we can do so much.” As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to work and pray TOGETHER with the Father by our side. We worship and play TOGETHER with the Father by our side. No soul is independently self-sufficient. As a community of faith, God casts His reminder like a gathering net. Let’s be drawn into the power of community. Life is designed by our Father to be less about “me” and more about “we.”

Thanks for the help Dad,

Sunday - Pray for God's Word to make a life changing difference in your life and the lives of your church family.

Monday - Pray for God's direction for The Orchard.

Tuesday - Praise God for all He is doing through the Orchard in your life and the lives of others.

Wednesday - Pray for the Orchard youth and their leaders, Tim and Mary Weekly and Jason Glasgow.

Thursday - Pray for all who teach and nurture our children.

Friday - Praise God for His provision in the past and in the future.

Saturday - Pray for all the members of the worship team that lead us so faithfully week after week.

Weekly Need: $5,171
Last Week's Giving: $3,114
Over/Under: -$2,057

Actual Weekly Giving Average: $4,305
YTD Weekly Average Over/Under Need: -$866
YTD Total Over/Under Need: -$14,714

All contributions given to The Orchard Church will be used exclusively for charitable purposes in accordance with laws governing a tax-exempt organization organized under state law provisions and that of the Internal Revenue Code. In keeping with the foregoing commitment, we reserve the right to distribute all funds contributed to the area of greatest need.

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for a full Calendar of Events

First Sunday Potluck

Bring your favorite covered dish(es) on Sunday for our 1st Sunday Potluck immediately following our worship service this Sunday. Don't forget that we always invite our guests to stay so you need to bring enough for your family plus a few extras.

Elder Installation

Elder Installation is set for May 9 during the worship service. The candidate for installation is Bob Sennett as announced at the Quarterly Congregational Meeting. Please express any joys or concerns to Pastor Chris or the elder team prior to May 9.

Children's Musical

The Children's musical "L.O.S.T. But Now I'm Found" is just around the corner - May 16 at 10:30 a.m. This would be a great time to invite friends and neighbors to worship with us. Don't miss an opportunity to share the Good News with others through our children and youth.

Parents of children and youth in the musical please mark your calendars to help with set design and set-up for the musical. Please make every effort to be present on Saturday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m. and on Monday, May 10 at 6:00 p.m. Many hands make light work.

Church-Wide Yard Sale

The Orchard will be sponsoring a Church-wide Yard Sale on May 21-22 to help us raise money for the church. Please clean out your closets, garage, sheds etc, price the items and bring them to the church ASAP. This is a great way to help you get organized and to benefit the church.

Day Camp

Army of Praise Day Camp will be held at the Orchard Ministry Center June 21-25 featuring B.B. Angelo, music, drama, sign language, praise dance, art and Stomp (instrumental/percussive praise.) This day camp will be from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. each day with a Celebration on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. Camp is offered for children who have completed Kindergarten - 5th grades and the cost is $99 for the first child in the family and $75 for each additional child. Camp in open to the first 100 children to register...registrations forms are available from Pastor Anita or on the church website.

Volunteers Needed!

Volunteers are needed for the Army of Praise Day Camp. Youth and adult volunteers will be needed. If you are willing to help, please let Pastor Anita know.

ICU Outreach

Don't forget to bring individually wrapped snack foods for the Children's Outreach to families of Williamson Medical Center ICU patients. This is an ongoing project that we will need to continue to "restock." Thank you for your help as we reach out to those in need.

Dates at a Glance

Mark your calendars for the following events:

May 1 - Potluck Dinner
May 9 - Elder Installation
May 16 - Children's Musical
May 21-22 - Church-wide Yard Sale
June 21-25 - Army of Praise Day Camp