Weekly Update

 

 

 

10:00am Worship & Livestream at Valleyview

 

Theme: Lent 3 Christ collides with our priorities

 

Today we welcome Jacob & Dana M into Membership at Valleyview, sharing their faith story during the worship service.

 

Worship Leader: Maggie P
Speaker: Pastor Marv

Song Leader: Henry B

Musician: Rayne D

Reader: Joel FW

Tech Team: Heather P, Gary G

Ushers: Ben R, Paul W, Lynne W

Counters: Terry Z, Heather P

Coffee Host: Eleanor G

 

Order of Service

Announcements

Welcome

Lighting the Peace Candle

Hymn: VT#62 - God Is Here Among Us

Call To Worship

Confession And Words Of Assurance

Children s Time

Welcome Dana and Jacob into Membership

Hymn: VT#42 - Could It Be That God Is Singing 

Scripture: Luke 15:1-32

Message: Priorities, what does Jesus teach us? - Pastor Marv

Offering

Prayer of the Community

Hymn: VT#568 - Christ Has No Body Here but Ours

Benediction

 

11:00am Second Hour

Upstairs: Speaking Christian book study:

Chapters 7, 8, and 9 Jesus; The death of Jesus; Easter.

Reading ahead, next: Chapters 10-14; Believing and Faith, Mercy, Righteousness, Sin, Forgiveness and Repentance.

A reminder to keep asking yourself as you are reading:

1.     What resonates with you?

2.     What do you disagree with?

3.     What questions/observations do the readings raise for you?

 

Lower Level: Sunday School Children, Jr Youth, and Youth classes

Snack Host: Kristibeth K

Children s Sunday School (JK-Gr 4) Teacher: Dan H & Jess A
Junior Youth (Gr 5-7) Teacher: Lanette FW

Youth Meetup (Gr 8-12) Leader: Jacob M/Sarah D

 

 

 

 

Sunday, March 23, 12pm (noon) Lunch Bunch monthly gathering

All are welcome to attend this open group. March's Sunday Lunch Bunch will be hosted by Doris and Enos K. For address details see March 23 printed bulletin, or congregation email dated March 13^th. We will meet in the Elements Lounge on the 1st floor rather than their apartment. Drinks will be supplied. Please bring own dishes and a potluck item to share.

If you plan to attend, please let Doris know at edkipfer@yahoo.ca.

 

Wednesday, March 26

11:30am - 1:30pm - Welcome Wednesday, Rowntree United Church

Valleyview will be serving the Community meal at Rowntree United Church.

 

7:30pm Church Council Meeting

 

Thursday, March 27

7:00pm Male Chorus Rehearsal

Friday, March 28 *Youth please RSVP*

7:00pm Youth Gathering at Valleyview

Our next youth event will be gathering for games at the church.  Here are the details: 

When: Friday March 28th, at 7:00-9:00.  

Where: Valleyview Mennonite Church

What to wear: something you can run around in

Please RSVP to the youth email if you are able to make it. 

-Maria and Jacques, Allison and David

 

 

Friday, April 4, 7:00pm Wildflowers of Ontario presented by Don T

Join Don T on Zoom for a special slide show presentation of images and sharing! Link in email to congregation dated March 21^st.

After a long and snowy winter, we will soon have the beauty of spring flowers coming to life at our feet - with new flowers joining in summer and even into the autumn.

 

Saturday, April 12, 10:00am Annual General Meeting of Valleyview Mennonite Church

 

 

10:00am Worship & Livestream at Valleyview

 

Theme: Lent 4 - Christ collides with our selfishness

 

Worship Leader: Jacques P
Speaker: Pastor Marv

Song Leader: Donelda F

Musician: Elenor T

Reader: Elma F

Tech Team: Heather P, Tom P

Ushers: Paul A, Innocent M, Henry J

Counters: Russ S, David H

Coffee Host: Helen D

 

11:00am Second Hour

Upstairs: Speaking Christian book study #5:

Chapters 15-20

A reminder to keep asking yourself as you are reading:

4.     What resonates with you?

5.     What do you disagree with?

6.     What questions/observations do the readings raise for you?

 

Lower Level: Sunday School Children, Jr Youth, and Youth classes

Snack Host: Paul & Lynne W

Children s Sunday School (JK-Gr 4) Teacher: Erin W
Junior Youth (Gr 5-7) Teacher: Lanette FW

Youth Meetup (Gr 8-12) Leader: Jacob M/Sarah D

 

 

 

For the Sundays during Lent through Easter, our worship services will focus on Christ Collides using the resources provided in the Leader magazine. This year our Lenten Bible readings focus on Jesus telling a number of parables. The origin of the word parable is noted as two things colliding, and when listening to a parable, one feels the impact of a collision of thoughts or ideas. Our worship services will provide an opportunity to observe how Jesus teachings collide with us and our world today. And the cross in the sanctuary will remind us also of Christ s transforming power.

 

March 9 - Lent 1:  Christ Collides with our bias

March 16 - Lent 2:  Christ Collides with our condemnation

March 23 Lent 3: Christ Collides with our priorities

March 30 Lent 4: Christ Collides with our selfishness

April 6 Lent 5: Christ Collides with our blinders

 

 

April 13 @ 10 am - Palm Sunday: Christ Collides with our expectations

Join us for a joyful service filled with Hosannas and children waving palm branches.

Families: Children are invited to participate in a procession to begin the worship service. Please arrive a few minutes early and have children remain in the upper foyer to receive a palm branch. They will join families in seats again after the procession.

 

April 18 @ 10 am - Good Friday: The Passion of Christ

We remember the Last Supper with communion and then move into the Tenebrae service for a time of readings and reflection, ending in silence and darkness.

 

Easter Breakfast April 20 from 8:30-9:30am downstairs

Enjoy breakfast and conversation prior to the Easter Worship service.

Please bring finger foods to share (muffins, Paska or other baked goods, cheese & crackers, fruit).

Coffee and juice will be provided.

Please remember to bring your own dishes for your family plates, cutlery, glasses/mugs.

 

April 20 @ 10am - Easter Sunday: Christ collides with death

Returning to the sanctuary as it was on Good Friday, we enter in quiet and darkness while waiting for the announcement of the empty tomb with Christ is Risen He is Risen Indeed.

 

We invite you to bring tulips and daffodils to decorate the sanctuary.

Due to many scent allergies, please ensure floral arrangements do not include any other flowers.

Please keep the flowers with you at your seat. There will be a time to bring them up front after the start of the service.

 

 

For ways to donate please visit www.valleyviewmc.ca/Give.

 

Donations received in March: $23,536

Total donations received Year-to-Date: $70,178

2025 Annual donations target: $311,863

Announcements

New and updated announcements are marked with purple font.

 

 

AGM Notice

This is notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Members to be held on Saturday, April 12th, 2025, at 10:00 am. As a reminder, this meeting has a new format as we are combining the previous AGM and ABM meetings. This meeting will encompass topics from both the Board and Church Council. 

 

The purpose of this meeting will be to approve the 2024 financial statements as a result of the Review Engagement, approve the election of Directors and of a slate of volunteers, affirm or adjust the 2025 Budget (if required), and any other business. Please see the meeting notice and proxy attached. The agenda and meeting materials will be sent to the congregation at the end of March.

 

Please join us after the meeting for lunch and social time. We will be organizing a wiener roast! 

 

Blessings,

The Board of Directors and Church Council

 

YOUTH VOLUNTEERS REQUEST:

We are seeking youth volunteers to offer helping adult supervisor to look after any children during the AGM.  This would allow more parents of young children to attend.  Please let Maria P know if you are interested. (Youth/Parents, see Maria s email dated March 18^th)

 

Valleyview Male Chorus Upcoming Events

Community Hymn Sing

Valleyview Male Chorus is a special guest at the Community Hymn Sing at First Baptist Church, 568 Richmond Street, on Sunday, April 10^th at 4:00pm. This is an opportunity to join your voices to sing the great hymns of faith.

Please see the poster on the bulletin board in the Valleyview church upper foyer for more details.

Spring Concert Save the Date!

The Valleyview Male Chorus will be performing its 29^th Spring concert on May 31, 2025 starting at 7:30 p.m.  This year it is being held at First Baptist Church, 568 Richmond Street in London.  The program will consist of a range of songs sung by male voices including songs of faith, spirituals, meditative numbers, folk songs and contemporary music, all with the goal of inspiring hope, faith and joy in the listener.  All are welcome to this Annual event. Tickets $20 at the door. 

 

 

 

You re Invited! Special Screening Event:

"Where the Cottonwoods Grow" will be screening in Aylmer, Ontario. Join us for this inspiring and meaningful event. Following the screening, there will be a Q&A session with the Director, Dale Hildebrand.

 

Date & Time: Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.

Location: Aylmer EMMC Church 50619 Talbot Line, Aylmer, Ont.

Admission: $20:00 at the door. Rush seating.

 

What is Where the Cottonwoods Grow about? In the 1870s, Mennonites embarked on a 20,000 km journey from Imperial Russia (now Ukraine) to the West. This incredible migration, marked by faith, resilience, and determination, not only shaped the lives of those who undertook it but also laid the foundation for generations to come. The documentary Where the Cottonwoods Grow brings this story to life, highlighting the courage, sacrifice, and deep faith of those early pioneers. For more information, please refer to our website: https://mmhs.org/cottonwoods/ 

Silver Lake Mennonite Camp  (slmc.ca)

Summer Camp: Registration** is ongoing for overnight camps and day camps! Visit slmc.ca/summer-camp to have a look at the 2025 schedule and program descriptions. Still spots available in most camps!

**VALLEYVIEW FAMILIES See Email form the office dated January 31, 2025 for instructions on how to register for summer camp at SLMC and receive the Valleyview Camp Sponsorship subsidy. Reach out to Heather in the office for any questions. Notification of your camper s SLMC summer camp registration is due to Valleyview s Church Office no later than Sunday, March 23.

SLMC Retreats & Hikes: Go to slmc.ca/retreats for more info and to register.

Music Retreat (Mar 28-30) Come for the love of making music, go home with new songs to share! Campfire & Voices Together singalongs, plus an instrument petting zoo.

Spring Work Weekend (Apr 25-27) Help get camp ready for the summer season!

SLMC Group Rentals: The weekends of April 4-6 and May 23-25 have recently opened up and are available for rental. Perfect for a family reunion or church/youth retreat! Click here for more info  slmc.ca/retreats/group-rentals

In This Together Network

In This Together presents a webinar series...Faithfully at Variance: Engaging with the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. Webinar #3 takes place on Sunday March 30, 6pm CT, and will include stories of Mennonite Churches that have developed Being At Variance Statements and why this is important. We will facilitate two break out rooms; one that will strategize an addendum to article 19, and the other to brainstorm creative witness actions/events of being Faithfully at Variance during the upcoming Mennonite Church Canada gathering in Kitchener/Waterloo this July. To register, go to https://inthistogethernetwork.ca/news-and-events.

 

If you missed the previous webinars, you can check them out here: #1 and #2 (not required viewing in order to attend Webinar #3!).

 

MCEC Announcements

1. MCEC Annual Church Gathering 2025, Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 10 - 11:30 a.m., Zoom Online. Join us for this year's online business meeting, Called to Action by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Mark your calendars. Registration opens at the end of March.
   
   
2. MC Canada Gathering 2025 Registration is now open! Three exciting "tracks" for registration: Gathering 2025; U30 Gathering 2025 and Youth Gathering 2025. Check out the MC Canada website to read more about our speakers, workshop choices, child care information, Leadership Day, youth information, young adult opportunities and more!
   
3. MCEC is excited to host MC Canada Gathering 2025. Seeking volunteers of all ages, interested in welcoming and offering hospitality to MC Canada Gathering participants. For more information, please contact: gathering@mennonitechurch.ca. 
   
   

4.      MCEC Weekly Devotional: Receive weekly encouragement from MCEC pastors! Sign up for MCEC Connect to get a new devotional in your inbox each week.

 

MCC

Training Active Bystanders - Become a More Informed Bystander

April 27, 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., The First Mennonite Church, 3557 Rittenhouise, Rd., Vineland
As any bystander witnessing a potentially harmful situation knows, discerning how to move from passive observation to effective action is not easy. Training Active Bystanders (TAB) equips participants with the tools they need to prevent harm-doing and contribute to a healthier community. Join us at this community event - go to mcc.org/events/training-active-bystanders-niagara to learn more and to register today. Download a poster and bulletin insert to share with your congregation. *Please note change of location to The First Mennonite Church.

 

New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale Promotion Dinner

Monday, April 28 at 6 pm, Calvary United Church, 48 Hawkesville Rd, St. Jacobs N0B 2N0
More than just a meal, the NHMRS promotion dinner is your chance to connect with community and support MCC! Enjoy a delicious buffet dinner catered by Gracie's Country Oven and hear from representatives of Centro Cristiano de Reflexi n y Di logo (CCRD), MCC s partners in Cuba. They will share stories of resilience and impact, highlighting the ways MCC supports communities in Cuba. Tickets are $25 each and children aged 10 and under eat free! Donations will be gratefully accepted at the event in support of the relief sale. Visit mcc.org/nhmrs-dinner for tickets.

 

Lunch and Listen with Centro Cristiano de Reflexion y Dialogo

April 29 at 12 p.m., MCC Community Room, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener or on Facebook Live
Join us for a Lunch & Listen with Centro Cristiano de Reflexi n y Di logo (CCRD), MCC s partners in Cuba. Hear how MCC is supporting communities through sustainable farming and disaster response, including rebuilding homes after Hurricane Ian. Bring your lunch and be inspired! Learn more at mcc.org/events or join us on Facebook Live.

 

Fraser Lake Camp's 70th Anniversary Celebration

Join us on Saturday, April 5, at Waterloo North Mennonite Church for a camp cabaret and dessert potluck. Events start at 6:30 with music and stories shared by a variety of alumni and supporters of Fraser Lake throughout the years. Live stream is available for those who cannot attend in person. Visit willowgrove.ca/events/flc-70th to RSVP.

 

 

 

 

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

MARCH edition of On the Level:  https://conta.cc/3Y2fDL4

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.