As part of our emphasis on discipleship and living out our faith as well as our focus on peace and social justice, we are involved in a number of organizations and activities outside our congregation.
WELCOME WEDNESDAY
In October of 2008, Valleyview joined together with a number of other area churches and groups to form a community lunch and fellowship program known as Welcome Wednesday. Welcome Wednesday provides a weekly nutritious meal as well as the opportunity for fellowship and games to anyone who wants to come.
MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE (MCC)
Mennonite Central Committee is the relief and development arm of the North American Mennonite Church. MCC seeks to demonstrate God’s love throughout the world by working among people suffering from poverty, conflict, oppression and natural disaster. MCC strives for peace, justice and the dignity of all people by sharing our experiences, resources and faith in Jesus Christ.
MENNONITE DISASTER SERVICE (MDS)
Mennonite Disaster Service recruits, organizes and empowers volunteers to repair and rebuild homes of those impacted by disasters in the United States and Canada. As Christians, we love to serve people who would not otherwise have the means to recover, our goal is to restore hope and bring people home.
COMMUNITY PEACEMAKER TEAMS (CPT)
As part of our commitment to Peace and Justice, a number of Valleyviewers participate in Community Peacemaker Teams. CPT is an organization that strives for spiritually centered peacemaking through actions such as public witness, nonviolent direct action, and protection of human rights.
LONDON COMMUNITY CHAPLAINCY
The London Community Chaplaincy is just one of the many community groups that Valleyview supports. It is an ecumenical community ministry in the heart of the publicly subsidized housing complex at the corner of Southdale Road East and Millbank Drive in the southeast corner of London, as well as serving the Limberlost housing community of northwest London. Through the work of the chaplain and many volunteers, they focus on strengthening families and providing programs to school age children.
LUSO COMMUNITY SERVICES
Valleyview supports LUSO Community Services, a northeast London non-profit multicultural neighbourhood resource centre dedicated to promoting inclusiveness, well-being and the prosperity of the London community. The Valleyview building is used for LUSO programs and events, as well as additional support by many volunteers from the congregation. Activities have included an arts and literacy program for children, community meals for new families to London, as well as an occasional "pop-up" free produce market.
Valleyviewers are represented on The North East Basic Needs program of London, coordinated by LUSO. Activities have included providing meals to children at public Summer Day Camps in 3 low income neighbourhoods. Volunteers prepare and deliver healthy snacks and food for the elementary age attendants.
AGAPE FELLOWSHIP
Agape Fellowship is a small congregation that meets at Valleyview for worship and fellowship on Sundays in the late afternoon and over supper. Many of the participants experience lower income or disability related social isolation. Through Agape, they have created an important place of community and support.
SERVICE TRIPS
Valleyviewers have gone on a number of service trips together to other parts of North America. Often these trips have included youth. Volunteering in other locations helps us to see situations and needs in a way that we don’t necessarily in our own city. In the past few years, Valleyviewers have gone on service trips to places like Chicago, Atlanta, Denver as part of the DOOR program and to New Orleans with Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS).