Weekly Update
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already
laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Sunday
December 15, 2024
10:00am
Worship at Valleyview
Theme: Advent 3 - Anointing for
justice: Who belongs?
Worship Leader: Shelley K
Speaker: Pastor Marv
Song Leader: Heidi W
Musician: Rayne D
Reader: Allison H
Tech Team: Heather P, Dan H
Ushers: Don T, Allison H,
Helen D
Counters: Russ S, David H
Coffee Host: Helen D
Order of Service
Welcome and announcements
Scripture reading: Luke 4:16-17; Isaiah
61:1-11; Luke 4: 20-21
Hymn: VT217 - Hark! the Glad Sound!
Call to Worship (based on Isaiah 61:1)
Prayer
Hymn: VT268 - Helpless and Hungry (vs. 1,2)
Candle Lighting
Hymn: VT268 - Helpless and Hungry (v. 3)
Children s story
Hymn: VT553 - How Many Times We Start Again
Message Pastor Marv
Hymn: VT215 - Oh, How Shall I Receive Thee
Offering
Congregational sharing and prayer
Sending Blessing
11:00am
Second Hour
Upstairs: Sharing Faith Story
Anne K: sharing parts of her faith journey with us today,
then will be welcomed into membership during worship on Sunday, December 22.
**Lower Level: Youth, Jr Youth & Children s Sunday School
Classes
Snack
Host: Jess
A & Dan H
Children s
Sunday School (JK-Gr 4) Teacher: Kristibeth K & Maria P
Junior Youth (Gr 5-7) Teacher: Lanette FW
Youth
Meetup (Gr 8-12) Leader:
Jacob M/Sarah D
**December 15: Safe Church Policy Audit
Observation Day
An appointed Board member acting as Auditor of our
Safe Church Policy will observe Sunday School operations. While observing, the
Auditor may approach or contact volunteers at random to conduct short
interviews regarding their interaction with the Safe Church Policy.
This
Week at Valleyview
Tuesday, December 17th
7:00pm, Board Meeting
Please bring a plate of Christmas cookies
or treats to share during fellowship time after the service. Due to
allergies, no sesame or peanut products.
Next: Sunday December 22, 2024
10:00am Worship at Valleyview
Theme: Advent 4 - Embodying God's spirit: Who lends a
hand?
Worship Leader: Rachel C
Speaker: Pastor Marv
Song Leader: Derek M
Musician: Krisanne N
Reader: Gloria J
Tech Team: Heather P, John S
Ushers: Tim F, Brian C,
Mary Faye S
Counters: Ben R, Heather P
Coffee Host: Eleanor G
11:00am Second Hour
Upstairs: Second Hour: Members of
Board/Council/Committees will share stories of their work.
Lower Level: Youth Meetup, and
Children/Junior Youth Sunday School Class
Snack Host: TBD (see Snack Host sign-up sheet on
library counter)
Children s Sunday School (JK-Gr 4) Teacher: Kristibeth
K & Maria P
Junior Youth (Gr 5-7) Teacher: Lanette FW
Youth Meetup (Gr 8-12) Leader: Jacob
M/Sarah D
Worship Preview
During this season of Advent and Christmas
through Epiphany, we are invited to join together on a
journey, travelling toward a deeper understanding of our faith. Our
visuals and children's time will take us along a path of discovery where we
will encounter smooth, easy sections as well as parts that are rough and
challenging. As we explore the themes of hope, joy and faithfulness, we
will be reminded of the loving God who walks with us on this journey.
Dec 22, Advent 4: Embodying God's spirit: Who lends a
hand?
Second Hour: Members of Board/Council/Committees will share stories of their
work.
Dec 24, Christmas Eve @
6:30 pm: Celebrating Christ's birth
Dec 29: Keeping
promises: Who sees it?
Jan 5, Epiphany: Nurturing faith: From whom do we learn?
Donations to the Church
Budget
For ways to donate please visit www.valleyviewmc.ca/Give.
Total
donations received Year-to-Date: $300,567
2024 Annual
donations target: $289,897
As you consider your end of year donations,
please note the following:
1.
Due to the Canada Post strike, we
will not be able to accept postage marked donations this year. As a
result, the last in-person offering in 2024 will be on Sunday Dec 29th at
the 10am service. Any cheques or cash received after that service,
will be deposited, and receipted in 2025 financial year.
2.
Digital/online donations by
e-transfer, PayPal or the Valleyview website can be made up until Dec 31 at end
of day.
3.
If you are expecting the donation
to be included in your 2024 tax receipt (issued January 2025), please ensure
your donation meets these timelines.
I want to express much gratitude for your stable and consistent
giving to our church in 2024. As you can see from the weekly
updates, we have tracked well and will be exceeding our annual donation target
as of mid-December. Thank-you.
As you consider your end of year donations, I would like to
highlight the following additional needs:
1.
Refugee Fund: To support the refugee sponsorship application.
(Designation: Refugee Fund)
2.
Capital Improvement Fund: We anticipate an increase in property repairs and improvements
in 2025 and beyond, including projects such as brickwork and repairs, replacing
the broken dishwasher, carpet repair or replacement, and addressing the
expiration of the AED machine. These projects will be discussed as a
congregation in the new year and during our upcoming AGM. However, it is clear that additional funding for capital improvements
will be necessary to complete all these essential projects.
3.
Any incremental giving to the
General Fund in 2024, will give the congregation
flexibility to decide how to allocate those dollars at our upcoming AGM.
Thank-you again for your generous giving to Valleyview s programs.
John Spenler
Treasurer
Announcements
New and updated announcements are
marked with purple font.
In and Around Valleyview
Hope Starts at
Home: An evening with Phyllis Webstad
March 24, 2025 at 6 pm, Bingemans Conference Centre, 425 Bingemans
Centre Dr, Kitchener
Join us on March 24 along with author and speaker, Phyllis Webstad,
the founder and ambassador of the Orange Shirt Society. Phyllis will share her
childhood of healing and reconciliation in Canada as we seek to restore
justice, foster belonging and address poverty in Ontario. Funds raised at the
event will supply MCC Ontario s new meat cannery. To learn more and order your
tickets, go to mcc.org/evening-with-phyllis-webstad.
Silver Lake Mennonite Camp
Winter and Spring Retreats registration now open. Go to slmc.ca/retreats for
more info. Coming up soon are:
Fathers & Kids Retreat (Jan
17-19) A weekend of snow fort building, snowshoeing through the woods,
roasting smores over the campfire, and playing games in the dining hall! Dads
enjoy free-time Saturday morning while staff provide programming with kids.
Women s Retreat (Jan
31-Feb 2) Come, experience the beauty of camp in winter. Be nourished by the
relaxed pace, good food and meaningful conversation. Play in the snow, breathe
deeply in yoga, cross country ski, go on a snowshoe hike through the woods.
Reflection time led by Wendy Janzen.
Summer
Camp: Registration for overnight camp and day
camp opens February 1 at 8am. Outtrip registration
opens Jan 7 sign up before Jan 30 to get $100 off! Visit slmc.ca/summer-camp to
have a look at the 2025 schedule.
Silver Lake
Mennonite Camp is
seeking a Fundraising & Communications Manager. This is a permanent,
half-time, hybrid position in Kitchener. If you would like to inspire and
engage SLMC's generous community, read more at slmc.ca/about/board-of-directors and apply soon!
MCEC:
1. Support MCEC s Future: Your Help Is Needed! This season, remember MCEC in your giving. We face a financial challenge
and need your support by January 31, 2025 to meet the
approved budget. Churches are finding renewed purpose and reimagining ministry,
and we re privileged to journey with them and we can t do it alone. Your
donation fuels MCEC s transformational work. Visit mcec.ca/annual-appeal to give today!
2. MCEC Intercultural Volleyball Tournament, Feb 1st, 2025, Rockway
Mennonite Collegiate, 110 Doon Rd., Kitchener. Come on out for a fun day of intercultural, intergenerational
volleyball, fellowship and fun with MCEC congregations. This event has been
growing since it started with more teams each year! More details soon.
For the
latest news and volunteer opportunities, visit links below:
MCC (Mennonite Central Committee): mcccanada.ca
MCEC (Mennonite Church Eastern Canada): mcec.ca
MDS (Mennonite Disaster Service): mds.mennonite.net
November
edition of On the Level: https://conta.cc/3ANNKy8
MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates):
www.meda.org
Attendance
Practices at Valleyview
Scent-Free
Zone: Severe Scent Allergy
Valleyview is a scent-free zone as many participants have strong
reactions to scented products. Please refrain from using all scented products:
cologne, perfume, hairspray, hand and body lotion.
No Peanuts: Allergy Alert
Some members in attendance experience serious peanut allergy. Please
refrain from bringing, eating, or serving any food labelled as containing
peanuts or with warning May contain peanuts .
Masking Policy at Valleyview
Please wear a facemask if you feel more comfortable and remember to stay
home if you are not feeling well.