Weekly Update

 

 

 

10:00am Worship & Livestream at Valleyview

 

Theme: The Church at Thyatira

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

 

Worship Leader: Shelley K
Speaker: Pastor Marv

Song Leader: Heidi W

Musician: Elenor T

Reader: Elma F

Tech Team: Heather P, Gary G

Ushers: Paul A, Innocent M, Henry J

Counters: David H, Russ S

Coffee Host: David H

 

Order of Service

Prelude

Welcome/Announcements

Singing: VT98 - Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

Scripture Reading: Luke 13:1-9

Invocation 

Light the Christ Candle

Prayer

Singing: VT585 - Faith Begins by Letting Go

Children s story

Scripture Reading: Revelation 2:18-29

Message: Talking Politics - Pastor Marv

Singing: VT758 - Who Will Speak a Word of Warning

Offering

Congregational Sharing and Prayer

Singing: VT549 - Be Thou My Vision (vv. 1,2,4,5)

Benediction

 

11:00am Second Hour

Upstairs: Speaking Christian book study #1 Introduction, Ch. 1 & 2

This week we begin our exploration of Marcus Borg s Speaking Christian. Please read the Introduction and Chapters 1 and 2. This will be an interactive study. I will begin with a brief summary of the first two chapters and then invite us to form into smaller groups to discuss what we read focusing on a few things:

1.     What resonates with you?

2.     What did you disagree with?

3.     What questions did the reading raise for you?

We will then re-gather and do some large group sharing as a wrap-up to our conversations.

Blessings,

Marv

 

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

Snack Host: Elma F

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

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

 

 

 

Friday, January 31 *YOUTH*

      6:30pm Youth Monthly Gathering

Meeting at the Parent's house at 6:30pm for games, hot chocolate and snacks.  Pick up at 9:00pm. 
UPDATED: Due to rain this tobogganing activity has been cancelled, moving to an indoor gathering. 

 

Thursday, February 6

      7:00pm Male Chorus Rehearsal

 

 

Friday, February 7 *YOUTH*

Youth hang-out night at the Parent s house. A low-key time for the youth to hang out together and play games if they wish. Snacks will be provided, but there won t be an organized activity. Youth, please RSVP to Maria s email if you plan to attend.

 

Friday, February 21 *YOUTH*

Youth Monthly Gathering (details to come)

 

 

10:00am Worship & Livestream at Valleyview

 

Theme: The Church at Sardis

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

 

Worship Leader: Rachel C
Speaker: Pastor Marv

Song Leader: Maggie P

Musician: Rayne D

Reader: Evan B

Tech Team: Heather P, John S

Ushers: Don T, Allison H, Helen D

Counters: Ben R, Evan B

Coffee Host: David H

 

11:00am Second Hour: Potluck meal for all No Sunday School

 

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.

 

 

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

Our winter worship series looks 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.

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

 

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

 

Total donations received in January/Year-to-Date: $16,808
2025 Annual donations target: $311,863

 

Amount required to meet target: $295,055

Announcements

New and updated announcements are marked with purple font.

 

 

Kitchen Cleaning Request for Volunteers

It's time for a deep clean of our church kitchen. I have booked Monday, February 24th from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Would you like to join me? Please email me at brendafriesen1963@gmail.com if you could help at all that day. Anywhere from 1 to 3 hours would be great!

 

Thanks for your consideration,

Brenda F

 

Blessing Bags final Sunday to donate: February 2

The London Community Chaplaincy is once again preparing "blessing bags" as a gesture of caring to single parents living at Limberlost and Southdale Housing complexes. For those who would like to donate one or more blessing bags, we are requested to include a $5 Tim Hortons gift card and other small items, such as chocolates, tea, fuzzy socks, bubble bath, hand cream.

 

Elenor T will be collecting the blessing bags until February 2. Alternative arrangements for pick-up may be made. Please let Elenor know if you plan to donate one or more bags (elenortaves@gmail.com). Thanks!

 

February SCRIP Orders

Thank you to all who participated in the November/December SCRIP fundraiser for Valleyview's Missions Fund which supports our Food Distribution program among other worthy projects. Now it is time to see how much we can raise in 2025 beginning with our February 2nd order which is due this Sunday. Please refer to the congregation email sent Wednesday, January 29^th for full details of how to sign up, payment methods, and a copy of the SCRIP form.

 

Orders due Sunday, February 2^nd:

-Cheque Payments are due by 11:00am (the end of worship, before Second Hour begins).

-E-transfer payment orders are due by 6:00pm.

 

Your order will generally be ready for you to pick up one week after the ordering deadline. This time I expect to have them for you on Sunday, February 9^th. We will generally have a SCRIP order once every two months.

 

If you have questions, please contact gloria.janzen@yahoo.ca.

 

Thank you for supporting Valleyview's mission projects.

Gloria J

 

Silver Lake Mennonite Camp  (slmc.ca)

Summer Camp: Set your alarms! Registration for overnight camp and day camp opens this weekend, February 1 at 8am. Visit slmc.ca/summer-camp to have a look at the 2025 schedule and to read important registration tips. Excited to see your kids at Silver Lake this summer!

Winter and Spring Retreats registration now open. Go to slmc.ca/retreats for more info. Coming up soon: Winter Camp for Grown-Ups (Feb 28-Mar 2) This weekend is for 20 & 30 somethings who want to do camp again! This choose your own adventure weekend is the perfect winter escape and is a collaborative project between PiE (Pastors in Exile) and SLMC.

MCC

Stones Cry Out Peace Camp
March 10-15 at the MCC Welcoming Place, Akron, PA
Calling all young adults (ages 18-30)! Join us at the Stones Cry Out Peace Camp to explore the intersection of climate change and migration. Engage in group discussions, fun nature activities, advocacy training and a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with Congress.

📍 Where: MCC Welcoming Place, Akron, PA
💵 Registration: $250 (MCC covers travel, lodging, and meals)
🔗 Learn more at mcc.org/events.

MCEC

1. MCEC Prayers for the Earth. You are invited to join in an online prayer for climate justice on the second Thursday of the month, for half an hour beginning at 11:15a.m. Our next prayer time is Thursday, February 13th. To receive a link please contact Herb Sawatzky at pastor@bethanymennonite.ca. Written prayers are also welcome.
   
   

2.      Creation Care Book Study. Join the MCEC Creation Care Working Group for a book study of Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by Katharine Hayhoe. The first meeting will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. and will run for just over one hour. Subsequent meetings will be held on Thursday evening for five weeks, concluding on March 6, 2025. Sign up here.

Family Day Open House at Hidden Acres

On Mon February 17th from 10am-3:30pm Hidden Acres is hosting a free Family Day Open House. Bring your family for a day of indoor and outdoor activities such as crafts, sledding, snowshoeing, pretzel making, games, and more! Bring a bag lunch or purchase a hot lunch for $6/person. Please RSVP to info@hiddenacres.ca. More information at hiddenacres.ca

 

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

January edition of On the Level:  https://conta.cc/3DTzoxh

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.