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Happening at Orchard!

Click here for the 2020 April Orchard Life Issue

Uniting in Prayer

Let’s pray each evening at 6 pm for 1 minute for the elimination of this Coronavirus and for the revival of faith in Christ in this country and around the world.

The Ventura Shelter needs donations

Fresh fruit, snacks, surgical masks, coffee, hand sanitizer, dawn dish soap, laundry detergent, bleach, paper towels, and non-dairy milk. Donations can be dropped off at Judy Alexandre's house on Saturdays and she will deliver them on Sundays. 
All of the following groups are open for you to join whenever you are available. All are low commitment groups with no homework and each meeting is a stand-alone study, so don't worry if you can't make it each time. 

You can use your computer, laptop, or phone. Zoom works with audio and video, or just audio alone - your choice! Please contact the Host below to be sent an invitation to the group.
Zoom pastors bible study, tuesdays at 10 am. Email Pastor Matt for more info at matt@orchardventura.org
Zoom Women's small groups. email Linda Young for more info at lyoung5380@aol.com
Zoom Sunday morning parent life group. email Rich Smith for more info at r_smith122@hotmail.com
Zoom Wednesday Men's group. email Rich Smith for more info at r_smith122@hotmail.com
Zoom Mom's Life group.  Mondays at 4:30 pm email Melinda Hoyt for more info melinda@orchardventura.org
Zoom Kids Clubs email Melinda Hoyt for more infor melinda@orchardventura.org
Zoom Mens fellowship group, Sunday at 9 am. email Lon for more details at lonpsd@hotmail.com
Zoom Youth Bible Study Tuesdays and Thursdays email cody schulze for more info cody@orchardventura.org
Zoom Youth Friday Game Nite, email cody schulze for more info cody@orchardventura.org
Zoom college group. email cody schulze for more info cody@orchardventura.org

Online Service

While we can't be gathered together physically at the church we were so encouraged by the community and connection that happened this past weekend on our first online service. We are excited to continue to worship together in this way. 

This Sunday we will begin to gather online at OrchardVentura.Online.Church at 10 am for a time to check-in and chatting with one another, just like our time on the patio. The service will begin at 10:30 am

This weeks Message

The Risen Shepherd

Easter Sunday

Matthew 28:1-10, Psalm 23, and John 10:14-18

Jesus, the Good Shepherd of the 23rd Psalm, is our risen Lord! 


Last weeks Service

Missed the service last week?
No worries, you can watch it or listen to it! 

Tithing

GIVE ONLINE

Giving online is safe and easy with Pushpay. Use the link below, download the app, or text orchardventura to 77977.

Give with Pushpay

BANK BILL PAY

Your bank most likely offers a bill pay service. Go to your bank’s website and log on to your account. Find the “Bill Pay” tab and set up a one time or recurring payment(s). Your check will be mailed to the church office.

CHECK

Make your check payable to “Orchard Community Church” and drop it by or mail it to the church office.

Children's Ministry

Birth through 5th grade

Please let me know if your family has any needs during this time! I will sure miss them and can't wait to be back together again. In the meantime, be safe and enjoy the extra family time!

Melinda Hoyt
Children's Ministry Director
805-647-3757 ext 123

Children's Bible Activity Sheets

You can even print out the following Bible Activity Worksheets your kids typically find Sunday mornings at church on the clipboards! 

Prayer

Prayer doesn't stop because we can not come together. 

If you have a prayer request or praise report please email us at 

prayerchain@orchardventura.org  and we will continue to lift those up to God. 

Significant Sacrifice Campaign

The water is rising! 

I hope you are all doing well during these challenging times. I was thinking about your church this week as my wife (who is also the associate pastor at Ojai Presbyterian Church) shared with me the challenges of online church. I know it is hard for your congregation right now but I am encouraged by the fact that the church has weathered every storm yet and that God is always good. This too shall pass!Given that your church is near the end of the Lenten Significant Sacrifice campaign, I thought that you might appreciate an update on the village you served LAST year through your previous campaign. Perhaps it will be a way to encourage you and your congregation as part of the last week before Easter. 

Last year your church's Significant Sacrifice efforts helped sponsor the village of Deko Huleti in Ethiopia. This village of 252 people was in desperate need of clean water and gospel hope. Since your sponsorship, however, a lot of progress has been made. The village has completed most of the steps to become a healthy village. 

Throughout 2019, Deko Huleti had been working on steps toward becoming healthy. The most recent milestone is that on November 2019, the village met all community prerequisites to receive a clean water source. This means that the village already has a number of certified healthy homes, a water committee has been formed, and the community has contributed 15% of the cost of the new water source - helping ensure a sense of ownership in their new water source. This is a big milestone!

Unfortunately, with COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing in place throughout Ethiopia, we have had to suspend our drilling/ construction in Ethiopia for the time being. A lot of drilling was scheduled for March/April 2020 that is now on pause. Our field teams tried to finish as much as they could before they were sent home (last Friday). Sadly, I do not have an update on whether or not Deko Huleti was one of the communities to receive one of the final wells before the restrictions were imposed. If not, the community will have to wait for the construction until coronavirus restrictions have been lifted. Our field teams will be communicating via phone with village leaders during the hiatus to continue to encourage them to implement healthy home practices - with hand washing being especially important during the outbreak. 

Please continue to pray for the community in the meantime. Pray that they continue to be encouraged by the improved health they are seeing through healthy home practices. Additionally, please pray against discouragement among community members given the coronavirus restrictions. Finally, pray for their protection in the midst of the pandemic. Lifewater is essentially the only NGO providing any public health guidelines working in the region. Deko Huleti is very vulnerable and with no other safety net so to speak.

Finally, thank you for all your church does. We are so grateful for Orchard's partnership and the impact you are making on villages like Deko Huleti.

Many blessings on this upcoming Holy Week. Stay healthy and well!

In Him,
Tyson

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