Oroville Church of the Nazarene Monthly Newsletter
Volume VIII, Issue 6
December 2011
Holiday Compassion Submitted by Jan Holly
We live in an amazing place. This fall has been beautiful and has provided us with brilliant color that rivals the East Coast. Despite the current economic uncertainty that faces us, we are once again looking forward to the Holiday Season. Our church has a history of giving to Holiday Compassion Projects and this season will be no different. We have learned that alone we can make a small difference, but together we can make a large one. As a body we want to touch the lives of the vulnerable children, parents and families of our community. To do this you will have an opportunity to give to one of the groups listed below. You can donate a little or a lot, to one or
all. Your gift will be an absolute blessing to those receiving your generosity. The Hope Center The Hope Center is a faith based non-profit organization that provides free quality clothing, emergency food and life skills education to the needy of Oroville and the surrounding North Valley communities. Your donation will allow the Center to continue to feed the hungry food for the body and soul. Larry or Stephanie Hayden (538-8398). R.U.S.H. R.U.S.H. (Reaching oUt and Serving = Hope) is an endeavor by our Children’s Department to reach out to local schools. Your donations will be providing much needed sup-
plies to a local school. Axiom The Axiom is a youth center in Oroville, CA. Axiom opened its doors in August of 2007 as a safe place where Jr. High and High School students can go after school to receive academic help and encouragement for daily life. Donations will enable the doors to stay open to many at risk teens. Jordan Crossing Those coming out of the Egypt of drug addiction, or prison, need more than a place to live. They need daily attention as well as needing to be flooded with the reality of Christ’s love. Jordon’s Crossing is an aftercare program for released prisoners. (Continued on Page 10)
Cornerstone Counts Their Blessings It hardly seems possible that a year has gone by since we launched the Cornerstone Ministry with a Thanksgiving dinner as our kick- off event. It rained, but we still had a great group gather to give our thanksgiving to God. On Friday, November 18th, we had our second Cornerstone Thanksgiving potluck dinner and even though it looked like it was going to rain, the Lord was gracious to us and kept it dry. I noticed that some of those who joined us last year were not
able to make it this time because of health or family issues. However, there were a number of new folks who came and enjoyed a wonderful evening of good food, good company, and a won-
derful sense of being connected together with the Lord. Kurt Libby, our Student Ministries Pastor, was our featured guest speaker. It may seem unusual for a Youth pastor to be the speaker at a Cornerstone event, but actually it goes right along with our Motto “Cornerstone: Where maturity meets opportunity.” Every one of us in the Cornerstone season of (Continued on Page 11)
Inside this issue: Musings...
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Women Alive!
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Missions
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Student Ministry
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Worship Him
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What’s Happening
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Just Another Tale
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Snowy Christmas Eve
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Bible Fun Stuff
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Dec. Celebrations
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Church Calendar
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Three dot Christmas wishes...
Well...Merry Christmas...let me be the first to wish you that! We love hearing that every year don’t we? It stirs up all kinds of good emotions, memories and good will. Heard my first “Holly Jolly Christmas the other day in Wal -Mart as I was sidestepping the Christmas M&M display... It was really a poor representation of the true reality of Christmas as you might guess. That’s why this year our theme is Simply Christmas. We’ve scaled back a lot of what we had in the hopper to roll out to the church body and instead decided to streamline every-
thing to...simplicity... The simple message of Christmas is hard to convey midst all the trappings of what the culture sees as the “holidays”. But the truth of the matter is that this one singular even was birthed in the simplicity of a common Hebrew woman and a simple setting. It is incredible to think how one little baby can change everything. Our prayer for you this year is that you will enjoy and connect with the simple truth of Christmas...that a God who loves us chose to become flesh and walk among us...not in the garb of royalty, but in the unmistakable cloak of humanity. We’ve arranged the season to emphasize three ideas...simply... connecting with others…. understanding some of the traditions of the season and coming to grips with the simple truth
of Christmas... God has moved into our neighborhood! So make sure you are in your place this Christmas season to; listen to the truth of Christmas taught each Sunday morning... attend the Advent kick-off service on the 27th... come to either the Christmas Eve service or Christmas Day service (or both)... participate in our ministry giving emphasis this year (Hope Center, Axiom, Helen Wilcox, Jordan Crossing) and spend time on your own and with your family getting to know this Simply Wonderful Savior...
With all our love and best wishes this Christmas... pastor d and staff
A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one child. "No," said another. "He's just for good luck." A third child brought the argument to a close. "They use the dogs," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrants." Page 2
Ministry Outreach Women Alive! In Psalm 100:4, King David tells us to “Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.” That is exactly what we want to do as members of Women Alive, and we are all “members”. God has done the most incredible things this past year…accomplishing what seems, to the human mind at least, impossible. Not only did He invent, create and initiate a plan for a new version of our women’s ministry here at the Naz, but He also provided us with opportunities for fellowship, learning, leadership development and blessed us with a talented and gifted Leadership Team as well. Yeah! Thank You, Jesus. It’s all “good” as they say, and of course the Lord deserves all the credit and glory. But here’s the exciting news ─ We’ve only just begun. 2012 promises to be just as exciting as 2011 here at Women Alive. Personal Healing will be our theme
next year and since we are all wounded and recovering from something…there will be something interesting and beneficial available for each and every one of us. But here is the greatest news of all─ Jesus is eager to lead us into a deeper relationship with Him so we can become the women He created, intended and needs us to be. 2012 promises to be a great and exciting adventure. Our prayer and hope is that you take advantage of all that will be offered and participate. The goal is to provide you with as many opportunities as we can to explore the subject of healing, cultivate greater intimacy with Jesus and grow up into your God-given potential. Change is possible…and there’s always hope. So…with all that said─ we invite you to pick up a Women Alive 2012 Brochure at our kiosk in the foyer and prayerfully consider where you might want to plug in and get in-
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volved. And just for your information ─we are in the process of getting a Women Alive Blog up and running to provide you with yet another way of staying connected, gathering information and being encouraged in your faith and walk with Jesus. See you soon! Love in Christ, Patty Clark Preparing my five-year-old son, Keegan, for his first overnight sleepover, I explained, "Eat whatever is served, say thanks, and make sure you behave yourself." "Oh, don't worry, Mom," Keegan replied. "I never sin at anyone else's house."
LAST GIVING OPPORTUNITY for 2011! Year end gifts will be accepted through December 30, 2011.
Contributions must be in the church office or postmarked by December 31, 2011. Statements will be mailed by January 27, 2012. If you have moved this year and wish to receive your year end statement, please make sure we have your correct address by filling out a blue card and dropping it in the offering or by contacting the church office. Thank you.
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Missions “OUR DOCTOR BILL” “Our Dr. Bill” is an honorable man. As a young doctor he left the possibilities of a comfortable life and a chance to earn a good living for his family. Instead, he followed God’s call and has spent over 25 years at hospitals in Swaziland and now in Papua New Guinea. “Our Dr. Bill” is a servant using his brilliance, talents, education, and expertise serving thousands of people in these developing countries. “Our Dr. Bill” is a humble man. He has worked in extremely difficult places where there was often a shortage of medicine, using old and worn out equipment, and working long hours...all because of his love of Jesus and his desire to do the will of the Father. “Our Dr. Bill” has been gifted with a magnetic personality. He loves to laugh and really enjoys life. “Our Dr. Bill” is deeply loved
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and appreciated by his colleagues and the national people of Papua New Guinea. “Our Dr. Bill” is Bill McCoy, son of Al, brother of Joe and Harold, and sister Brenda Braaten – all part of
our church. He is also the father-inlaw of Erin (Holly) McCoy. Bill was a star Bible Quizzer (quite the competitor) while in high school, graduated from Oroville High, graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University and then from University of California at San Diego School of Medicine. He did his Family Practice Residency at Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma before going to the mission field in 1985. Dr. Bill is married to Marsha and they have three children – Bill Jr. (married to Erin), Jennifer, and Josh. They also have two wonderful grandchildren. Pray for Bill and Marsha at the Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea. Right now their urgent prayer request is that the hospital will be able to find enough qualified nurses to staff the hospital without closing one of the wards.
Student Ministry Make a Joyful Noise Submitted By Joanna O’Hanlon
To be honest, the first week was a little bit awkward. There were fewer students, and when the worship band got up to play, the students stood, tentative, acting like they weren’t sure what was about to happen. Some sang softly, reading the words off the screen. Others just stood there silently, not sure if it was cool, or if it’d be comfortable enough to actually sing along. We have been blessed in our Student Ministries settings this year to have a wonderful group of people dedicated to leading our students and leaders in worship twice a week. Destiny Miller has been serving as our worship coordinator, and due to her efforts, along with the leaders of the two bands, our worship times have been growing more and more fruitful. For our high school service on Wednesday nights, a worship band has been part of the DNA of the place for a while now. But for our
Middle School Night, having a time of worship is a whole new component. And the student were just not sure what to think about it at first. Now, though, at Middle School Night we are three months in, there are more students coming, and it’s not uncommon to see raised hands or to hear voices rising up over the
leader’s. Students who were previously barely standing during worship time have now begun to dance. And it’s truly a blessing to see the hearts of these students, some as young as 11 years old, being poured out in song and making a joyful noise unto the Lord.
A little girl came home from Sunday school waving a paper for her mother to see. "Look Mommy," she exclaimed, "Teacher says I drew the most unusual Christmas picture she ever saw!" Her mother took one look and had to agree with the teacher. Hoping her daughter could explain her creation, the mother asked, "Why are all these people riding in the back of an airplane?" "Well, Mommy, that's the flight into Egypt." Accepting that, mother asked another question: "Who is this mean-looking man in the front?" Her daughter answered quickly and knowingly: "That's Pontius, the Pilot." Looking at the picture even more closely, the mother said, "I see you have Mary and Joseph and the baby. But who is this large man sitting behind Mary?" "Can't you tell?" the little girl asked, beginning to shake her head in disappointment. "That's Round John Virgin."
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Worship Him “After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; And they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. They were “magi,” wise men, minding their own business, studying medicine and astrology and all of a sudden they “saw” a star. A star? A star. But not just any star. A little bit of light that the Almighty God of the Universe had sent to announce His Son’s birth. And the magi saw it. Yes! Make a special note of that word “saw.” It is important. It means “to perceive the meaning or importance of…,” “to understand,” “to be aware ofrecognize.” Not only did God send the star…not only did God allow the wisemen to see that special star but, by His grace and influence upon their hearts, they were able to per-
ceive the importance of that star and recognize, instinctively, that an outof-the-ordinary-world-shaking event had taken place. What did the wisemen do after they saw the star? Immediately they laid aside their personal pursuits, activities and ambitions and…they followed the star. They went out in search of the long awaited for Messiah. What I find interesting about this is, both, the immediacy of the magi’s positive response to this lifealtering event and also the motivation behind their seeking. They did not go to Jerusalem just to satisfy some intellectual or idle curiosity. They did not enter the Holy City so they could attend the local synagogue and/or merely get involved in the latest religious trend. They went
Katie Brandt featured this favorite Peruvian Rice Pudding dessert for her guests when she shared stories from Peru!
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with one ambition and goal in mind. They sought Jesus. Why? So they could worship Him. And the scriptures tell us that after traveling a distance and seeking for a time they Came into the house and saw the young Child and they worshiped Him. Their motives were pure. Their response to seeing the Messiah was immediate. They were humbled to be in His glorious presence, prostrated in their spirits by His majesty. They sought. They saw. They worshiped. How simple true religion can be. May your celebration of Christ’s birth be equally focused and simple. Seek Him. Seek Him as He truly is. Let your heart be humbled. Fall down…and worship. That is the gift you can give Him. Blessings, Patty Clark
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Photos by Gus Barlow
Photos by Gus Barlow
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Photos by Gus Barlow
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Just Another Tale from the Pen of Earl E. Keena There is no joy when chickens come home to roost. Many times they give us no advanced notice. It sure knocks the joy out of life. But, what caused them to come home? Why did they leave in the first place? These are questions that I will try to answer. No one likes it when they come home. It always causes a lot of pain, and many times some embarrassment. Oh yes, they came from our own yard and they belong to us, they came from our own mouth. Yuck! So, we first have to identify these chickens. Most people cannot stand them and usually they
Compassion (from pg. 1) We walk the new walk with them one day at a time. Your gift makes this possible. How can you participate? You or your group can simply bring your donation to our Sunday Worship Gathering or drop it by the church office. Special envelopes will be available and you check the box of the recipient. After you have turned in your gift, there will be space in the service for you to hang an ornament on the designated Christmas tree.
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are not welcome, but they are born and raised in our own minds. What caused these chickens to be so unwelcome? They are hatched in our own mind due to our thoughts. And when we least expect them, they come flying out at someone or something. This just might help us to identify them. In our minds we think these things just might help us look better in someone else’s eyes. But little do we know they often hurt more than they help. At the time we feel like we have put someone else down or spoken a word that, so we think, put them in their place. We call it giving them a piece of our
mind. Little do we realize that we are hurting our own reputation more than we are hurting the person that we try to “put down.” When the time is right for them, they will sometimes return the favor and that brings the chickens home to roost. There are only two ways to keep these chickens from coming home. One is to not hatch them up. The other is to immediately apologize and ask forgiveness when the words come ripping out. That way you can keep them from coming home again. “May the words of my mouth…..be pleasing in your sight….” Ps. 20:14
The story is told about a pastor who was into telling stories to the children. He'd bring all the children up, and they'd sit on the floor, and he'd tell them a story. One day he said, "Boys and girls, I want to tell you a story about someone who likes to live in the woods, but sometimes we can see him in our yards. Anybody have any idea who I am talking about?" No takers. He said, "I want to tell you about a creature that lives in the woods and sometimes in our yards, has a big bushy tail, likes to eat nuts. Anybody have any idea what I'm talking about?" No takers. He said, "I'm talking about a creature that lives in the woods, sometimes in our yards, big bushy tail, eats nuts, likes to climb trees, jumps from tree to tree--now, does anybody know what I'm talking about?" One kid raised his hand to take him out of his misery. The pastor said, "Do you know what I'm thinking about?" The kid said, "Yeah. I know the answer should be Jesus, but it sounds like a squirrel to me."
Cornerstone (from pg. 1) life were once young and looked at the future through optimistic eyes. Over the years, life has a way of robbing us of our optimism as we face the hard realities of challenges and trials. It is easy to become cynical and pessimistic. Kurt brought a good word from the Lord. He pointed us to the story of the Israelites being delivered from slavery in Egypt. God did this through the first Passover meal and the lamb’s blood placed on their door post. God brought them to Mt. Sinai where He gave them the Ten Commandments as a Covenant to be
the people and possession of God. One year later, they were still at Mt. Sinai and their circumstances were very difficult, but God told them to celebrate the Passover and remember what He had done for them. Kurt’s message was very clear. For us who are facing difficult circumstances, God calls us to CELEBRATE and remember who He is and what He has done for us. Then Kurt challenged us to remember the legacy that we have been given by the Lord and to be faithful to it. He pointed out that the young people in his ministry need to see that those who paved the way for
them to follow are still convinced that God is trustworthy and keeps His promises. That is a reason to celebrate and be thankful. So, we still have an important mission to those who are not in our season of life. Our next Cornerstone gathering will be on Friday, January 13th. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall for our New Year’s breakfast and Pastor Dennis will be cooking. We will share about the upcoming events and opportunities to participate in Cornerstone. Onward and upward. Pastor Ed
Photos by Gus Barlow Volume VII, Issue 6
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Snowy Christmas Eve There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let others know how he felt about religion and religious holidays, like Christmas. His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and Jesus, despite his disparaging comments. One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come, but he refused. "That story is nonsense!" he said. "Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That's ridiculous!" So she and the children left, and he stayed home. A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese. Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and could not go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed. The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It is warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and did not seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came back out with some bread, broke it up, and made a breadcrumbs trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on. Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe. "Why don't they follow me?!" he exclaimed. "Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?" He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human. "If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said out loud. Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn -- and one by one the other geese followed it to safety. He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: "If only I were a goose, then I could save them!" Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. "Why would God want to be like us? That's ridiculous!" Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese -- blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son become like us so He could show us the way and save us. That was the meaning of Christmas, he realized. As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and he pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood what Christmas was all about, why Christ had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer: "Thank You Jesus for coming in human form to show me the way out of the storm!"
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The Nativity
From: www.akidsheart.com
Across 1 Jesus’ earthly father 5 Mother of Jesus 8 Where Jesus grew up 10 Where Joseph took Jesus and Mary after the wiseman left Bethlehem 11 King of Judea after Herod
Christmas
From www.twopaths.com
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12 A trough: an open box from where cattle feed 13 Joseph and Mary were of the lineage of this former king of Israel 15 A multitude of these praised God, saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” 17 God had promised him that he would not die before he saw the Christ 18 Precious metal: one of the gifts 19 Father of John the Baptist 21 An aromatic herb: One of the gifts 23 Mary’s cousin and mother of John the Baptist
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City where Jesus was born Cloth used to wrap babies The angel who visited Mary and told her she would have a Son. These came from the East and brought gifts. Roman emperor at the time of His birth. God with us. This empire ruled the western world at the time of His birth King of Judea at the time of His birth.
Answers to last month’s puzzle
Down 2 Those watching over sheep 3 Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to pay these 4 A widow who served in the temple: she saw Jesus at His dedication.
Advent Angels Beauty Birth Cards Carols Census Children Christ Church Crèche December Family Feast Festival Garland
Giving Goodwill Herod Holiday Holly Holy Icicles Jesus Joseph Joy Lights Love Magi Manger Mary Merry
Music Nativity Noel Pageants Peach Prayer Santa Season Shepherd Sleigh Snow Star Stocking Trees Yule
December
Poet’s Ponderings
Birthday Celebrants Hanging a Wreath at Christmas Since I have come to know God's love I'll think a little more When hanging up the festive wreath Of holly on my door. I see in it a crown of thorns Placed on my Savior's brow That I may have the gift of life; What meaning it has now! The thorns are there--so needle sharp; The berries, too, are red Not too unlike the precious blood That on the cross was shed. I'll hang with prayer this holly wreath For all the world to see; Perchance, the lonely passerby Will feel God's love through me. Within our homes, let there be love "And peace on earth to men," As we remember in our hearts The Babe of Bethlehem. By Scott Neville
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Albert Lanegan, Carolyn Smith-Hetland Marissa Hannah Alyssa Agee, Jeanne Enget, Jeff Price, Charles Rogers, Suzanne Sweet Caleb Yam Travis Friberg Willetta Boggs, Rita Englund, Darrell Walborn Mike Hutcheson Jean Brown, Christeen Lamb, Becky Spafford Rachel Brandt Chung Yam Lori McAllister Marilyn Fuller Lynn Blodgett, Melissa Miller Al McCoy Kristen Day, Mike Glaze, Bruce Reiman, Roseann Sharp Pam Lamb Sara Hottinger Emma Englund Kelsi Ross Sybil Scruby, Christine Trank Joe McCoy Chris Clark Erik Day Jack Jackson, Eli Keyes, Samantha Magneson Cristian Alexandru Neoma Dossett
Anniversary Celebrants 3 13 16 23 24 27
Bob & Linda Smith Sonny & Kathie Lopez Rodney & Evelyn Johns Bob & Debbie Cox Mike & Mia Hampton Clem & Jean Brown, Dave & Vickie Scruby, Gary & Elsie Soderlund 28 Tom & Tomasa Frazier 31 Patrick & Kendra Wood
Your News Crew Gina Englund Sally Miller Randy Ross Photographer - Gus Barlow Would you like to contribute stories? Do you have suggestions for this newsletter? Contact one of us or send E-mail to:
[email protected]
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December Oroville Church of the Nazarene
Key to Regular Gatherings
Band Practice Quizzing ☺ Men’s Ministry Serenity Sew Much
Women Alive! Healing Ministry Savior Earth Recycling Choir MSN Middle School Stuff the Truck Night
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Dennis Day, Lead Pastor 2238 Monte Vista Drive Oroville, CA 95966 530-533-7464
www.oronaz.org
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Changing the community of Oroville, one life at a time!
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Sunday Service 9 am & 10:45 am
Compassionate Min. Mtg. 7pm
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Family Christmas Dinner 6pm
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Sunday Service 9 am & 10:45 am
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Sunday Service 9 am & 10:45 am
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28 Serenity Christmas Dinner 6:30pn
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Office Closed in observance of Christmas
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