Weekly Update

 

 

 

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: Erin W, Heather P

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

 

 

 

Tuesday, January 21^st

7:00pm Board Meeting (online)

 

Wednesday, January 22^nd

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

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

 

 

Thursday, January 23^rd

7:00pm Male Chorus Rehearsal

 

 

Sunday, January 26th - Sunday Lunch Bunch

This month's Lunch Bunch gathering will be at 12:30pm on January 26th. This is an Open Group which means that all Valleyview attendees are invited to join in. Don and Elenor T will be hosting us this month. Their address was communicated by email on January 16^th (or see that Jan 26^th back of paper bulletin).

 

The meal is potluck, so please bring something to share. Drinks will be provided.

 

If you plan to attend Lunch Bunch on the 26th, please RSVP to Don and Elenor at elenortaves@gmail.com .

 

We hope to see you there.

Gloria J

 

 

10:00am Worship & Livestream at Valleyview

 

Theme: The Church at Pergamum

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

 

Worship Leader: Linda W
Speaker: Pastor Marv

Song Leader: Derek M

Musician: Rayne D

Reader: Gloria J

Tech Team: Shelley K, Tom P

Ushers: Ben R, Paul W, Lynne W

Counters: Terry Z, Heather P

Coffee Host: Ken & Carol D

11:00am Second Hour

Upstairs: Congregational Meeting of the Members (see Announcements for details)

 

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

Snack Host: Susan BP

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

 

 

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.

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: $177,960

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.

 

 

Second Hour Study Book: Speaking Christian

For those of you who ordered a copy of Speaking Christian, by Marcus Borg focus for our Second Hour book study series - you will find a copy in your church mailbox.

If you would prefer to follow along with an e-book or audiobook, click here to connect with available options from the publisher.

Our first session will be on Sunday, February 2 and you are invited to read the Introduction, along with Chapters 1 & 2 in preparation.

With thanks,

Marv

 

Blessing Bags

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 for the next three Sundays, 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!

Congregational Meeting Notice: Sunday January 26^th Second Hour

This is notice of the Congregational Meeting of the Members, on Sunday, January 26^th, 2025, during the second hour (11:00 am).

 

The purpose of this meeting is to accept by membership motion the 2025 Budget, review Capital Improvement Projects, and ask the congregation to affirm/adjust the Board of Director s recommended allocation of the 2024 surplus - required before external auditors start their review.

 

If you are unable to attend and wish to have a proxy represent you, please complete the proxy form and return it to Heather at office@valleyviewmc.ca prior to the meeting.

 

 

Anabaptism at 500 special Worship

Come celebrate 500 years! On Tuesday, January 21, we will celebrate 500 years of the Anabaptist movement. You and your congregation are invited to join us in person or online for a special worship service at 7:00 p.m. EST at College Mennonite Church in Goshen, Indiana. Click here to join us via livestream. Our website has bulletin announcements about the celebration available here. 

MCC

Exciting News! The New MCC Meat Cannery is ready!
Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 1:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., 65 Heritage Dr., New Hamburg
After months of hard work and anticipation, the MCC Meat Cannery in New Hamburg is complete and it s time to celebrate!

🎉 Join us for the grand dedication event 🎉
✨ Explore the new facility.
🌎 Discover the life-changing impact of MCC s canned meat around the world.
🍴 Enjoy delicious refreshments and appetizers.

No need to RSVP just come as you are and be part of this special moment. For details, visit mcc.org/meat-cannery-dedication. We can t wait to celebrate with you!

 

Time is running out...apply today for SALT!
August 2025 - July 2026
Serving and Learning Together (SALT) is a year long service experience with one of MCC s international partners. SALT service opportunities for 2025-2026 include a Refugee Caseworker in Egypt, Nurse and Midwifery Assistant in Bangladesh, Peacebuilder in South Korea and many more. Apply by February 15 for the best assignment selection and to be guaranteed consideration for 2025 placements. Go to mcc.org/salt to learn more.

In This Together presents a webinar series...Faithfully at Variance: Engaging with the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective. Webinar #2 takes place on Sunday February 2, 6pm CT. We will be discussing Queer Relationships to the Confession. Theologian and MCEC Pastor Eliot Chandler Burns will reflect on historical and current impacts of the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective on Queer Mennonites, followed by responses by Anita Fast and Nessa Schattman. For more details and to register, visit inthistogethernetwork.ca/news-and-events

If you missed the first webinar, you can check it out here (not required viewing in order to attend Webinar #2!).

Canadian Mennonite University (CMU)

2025 John and Margaret Friesen Lecture Series  A two-part lecture series titled,  Anabaptist Peace Witness Historical Significance and Today's Mission,  with Dr. Astrid von Schlachta, Head of the Mennonite Research Center and lecturer at the University of Regensburg, takes place on Thursday, January 23 at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM at CMU. Visit cmu.ca/friesenlectures for more information and livestream feeds.

 

Xplore  CMU s Xplore extended education program investigates dimensions of the Christian faith, our world, and life in it all without assignments or exams! Join one or more in-person or online courses beginning February 18 in topics such as loneliness, Indigenous spirituality and Christian faith, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and more. Churches may consider hosting an Xplore watch party with people from the community. For more information and to register, visit cmu.ca/xplore.

MCEC

1. 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. 
   
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.
   

3.     Did you know that MCEC has a weekly devotional? Released on every Wednesday on our website and through MCEC Connect, Transformed. Inspired. Called. is a devotional series written by a different MCEC pastor each week. Read this weeks devotion, Something New by Kara Carter or sign up for our weekly newsletter MCEC Connect to get the weekly devotional directly to your inbox. 

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

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

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.