Weekly Update

 

 

 

Please arrive at 9:30am if you are helping to setup chairs and tables in the lower level for today's second hour potluck meal.

 

10:00am Worship & Livestream at Valleyview

 

Theme: Revelation Series Begins: The Church at Ephesus

Focus: Losing first love - connected with Luke 14:15-24, where people have lost interest and commitment.

 

Worship Leader: Tom P
Speaker: Pastor Marv

Song Leader: Donelda F

Musician: Elenor T
Reader: Evan B

Tech Team: Shelley K, Heather P

Ushers: Don T, Allison H, Helen D

Counters: Ben R, Evan B

Coffee Host: Helen D

 

Order of Service

Prelude

Announcements

Invocation & Welcome

Lighting of the Christ Candle

Call to Worship/Opening Prayer

Hymn: VT6 - Let's Walk Together

Scripture: Luke 14: 15-24

Pray of Confession

Assurance of Forgiveness

Hymn: VT511 - Come On, Children, to the Gospel Feast

Children's Time

Message: Priorities and Excuses Pastor Marv

Hymn: VT458 - The Water is Ready

Offertory prayer

Offering

Community Sharing & Prayer

Hymn: VT408 - Crown him with many crowns.

Benediction

11:00am Second Hour: Potluck Meal

 

Following our worship, everyone is invited to a potluck lunch downstairs.

 

What to Bring: 

•      Food to Share (Peanut Free, Sesame Free) for potluck lunch 

•      Your own dishes, cups, and cutlery

•      Please bring a serving dish and utensil for your potluck contribution. Label your dish with your name and be sure to collect it before leaving.

 

Coffee and water will be provided. We look forward to our time together over a shared meal.

 

 

 

Wed, January 15 - 10:0am
January Gathering for Valley Seniors

We will begin our 2025 Seniors Program with a Crokinole Tournament on Wednesday, January 15 at 10AM at the church.

If you have a crokinole board, buttons and a card table please let Eleanor G. or Carol D. know.

If you have any leftover Christmas goodies you would like to share, please bring them along.

We hope you will come and join the fun and fellowship.

 

 

10:00am Worship & Livestream at Valleyview

 

Theme: The Church at Smyrna

Focus: Hanging in there during great struggles - connected with Luke 18:1-7, and the story of the persistent widow.

 

Worship Leader: Jacques P
Speaker: Russ Sawatsky

Song Leader: Heidi W

Musician: Krisanne N

Reader: Mary Faye S

Tech Team: Dan H, Heather P

Ushers: Tim F, Brian C, Mary Faye S

Counters: Helen D, Erin W

Coffee Host: Helen D

11:00am Second Hour

Upstairs: Fellowship Time

 

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

Snack Host: Jess & Dan H

Children's Sunday School (JK-Gr 4) Teacher: David H
Junior Youth (Gr 5-7) Teacher: Lanette FW

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

 

 

Winter 2025 Worship Preview

Revelations Series: Letters to the Seven Churches aligned with Parables from Luke

We begin a series of services looking at two chapters of the biblical book Revelations, written around 96 CE, more than 50 or 60 years after Jesus' death. The author was probably a Christian from Ephesus known as "John the Elder." According to the Book, this John was on the island of Patmos, not far from the coast of Asia Minor. Each week we will look at one of the letters which author John said was revealed to him by Jesus and think about the letter in the context of one of Luke s parables.

Jan 12:  The Church at Ephesus

Focus: Losing first love - connected with Luke 14:15-24, where people have lost interest and commitment.

Jan 19:  The Church at Smyrna

Focus: Hanging in there during great struggles - connected with Luke 18:1-7, the story of the persistent widow.

Jan 26:  The Church at Pergamum

Focus: Following false teachers with a false message - connected with Luke 12:16-21, the rich fool who sells out.

Feb 2:  The Church at Thyatira

Focus: Needing to repent of destructive ways - connected with Luke 13:1-9, the parable of the fig tree.

Feb 9:  The Church at Sardis

Focus: Being spiritually asleep - connected with Luke 12:35-40, about keeping watch and being alert.

Feb 16:  The Church at Philadelphia

Focus: With little strength, one can still be faithful - connected with Luke 14:25-33, the cost of discipleship: is it worth it?

Feb 23:  The Church at Laodicea

Focus: Arrogance and pride - connected with Luke 18:10-14, thinking you are better than everyone else.

Mar 2:  Letter to Valleyview

 

2025 Total Pledge Target: $303,256

Total Pledges received to-date: $126,000

2025 Budget Pledge Campaign
Your pledge is important.  Click Here to find the 2025 Budget proposal for viewing, download or print.  Please take some time to review this document.

We invite your 2025 financial pledge.  We require pledges by end of day Sunday January 19, 2025.  Please register your pledge online at Register Pledge. 

Paper based pledge forms and print-outs of the church budget are available from the church office.   

Please join us for a congregational meeting on Sunday January 26, 2025 @ 11:00-12:00 to discuss and approve the budget.

Thank you,
Board of Directors

 

 

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

 

2024 Donation Receipts

Happy New Year! Thank-you for your financial contributions to Valleyview in 2024.

 

Your 2024 Tax Receipts are now available for you to download and print. It requires you to login to the Valleyview website, valleyviewmc.ca. We will provide paper copies of tax receipts on January 31 to only those donors that require a paper copy mailed.

 

Please login and indicate your preference by either downloading your tax receipt or selecting to have a paper copy mailed.

 

Any questions about your donation giving statement, please reach out to me.

John Spenler, Treasurer

Announcements

New and updated announcements are marked with purple font.

 

 

Congregational Meeting Notice: Sunday January 26^th Second Hour

And New AGM Schedule 2025

 

Greetings Valleyview congregation and members,

 

The Board of Directors, the Church Council Chair, and the Pastor have been discussing revised timelines for the Annual General Meeting of Valleyview Mennonite Church. In light of the new requirements for externally audited financials by our accountant: Famme and Co, in the form of a Review Engagement as directed at our September 2024 congregational meeting, we have decided on the following schedule for 2025.

 

Audited Financial Statements will not be available before the end of March from the external accountants and as a result, we will follow the timelines below for 2025:

 

1. The 2025 Proposed Church budget will be distributed in the first week of January. Pledges are requested by Sunday, January 19th. We are looking for pledges of 80% pledged.

 

2. A Congregational Meeting of the membership will occur on Sunday, January 26^th during the second hour (after worship):
1. We will approve the 2025 Budget by membership motion at this meeting.
2. Review Capital Improvement Projects.
3. Ask the congregation to affirm/adjust the board s recommended allocation on the 2024 surplus. This is required before the external auditors start their review.

 

3. AGM Report Booklets with Audited Financials will be distributed by the third week in March along with all committee reports.

 

4. On Saturday, April 12th there will be the Annual General Meeting of Valleyview Mennonite Church. This will combine the previously held February AGM and the May Council-led congregational meeting in one meeting followed by a fellowship lunch/activity.
1. This meeting will encompass both Board and Church Council topics.
2. Approval of Audited Financials.
3. Election of Directors and Approval of Slate of Volunteers.
4. Affirmation or adjustments to the 2025 Budget (if required).
5. Any other business.

 

This revised schedule will be evaluated and adjusted with membership feedback for 2026.

We hope everyone can join us for the congregational meeting in January and the AGM in April!

Blessings, 

Board of Directors

 

 

MCEC

MCEC Intercultural Volleyball Tournament, February 1, 2025, Kitchener. A day of intercultural, intergenerational volleyball, fellowship and fun with MCEC congregations. This event has been growing with more teams each year! Register on our website. 

Menno Singers/Menno Youth/Mennonite Children s Choir:

Sunday, January 26, 7pm - Join choristers and instrumentalists for a 3-Chiors Mid-Winter Hymn Sing at Waterloo North Mennonite Church, hosted by the Inter-Mennonite Children's Choir, Menno Singers and the newly-formed Menno Youth Ensemble. A variety of selections from the Voices Together hymnal and ample room for requests will be sure to warm your mid-winter spirits as we raise our voices in song. Admission is by donation.

 

Silver Lake Mennonite Camp 

Winter and Spring Retreats registration now open. Go to slmc.ca/retreats for more info. Coming up soon:

 

        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 is already open sign up before Jan 30 to get $100 off! Visit slmc.ca/summer-camp to have a look at the 2025 schedule.

 

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

December edition of On the Level:  https://conta.cc/3BJdOe3

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.