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Valley News
October 26, 2018
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."
~ 1 Peter 1.18-19
     Even in the middle of an extended exhortation to holiness, Peter cannot refrain from loudly proclaiming the good news of the grace of God in and through Jesus Christ that implants within us the true holiness that empowers holy living. At the heart of this week's passage from Peter's first letter is the profound good news of our redemption by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the final, true sacrificial lamb without blemish or defect.. Though I didn't plan it this way (I'm not going to rule out the possibility that the Holy Spirit did!), this happens to fit wonderfully with the section of the Heidelberg Catechism's first question and answer that we'll be looking at Sunday evening: "He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil." Or, as Peter put it, we have been "redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors." Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by his precious blood he has set us free for the life of the redeemed!
     We will focus on verses 17 through 21, but I encourage you to read and reflect on the whole of 1 Peter 1.13-21 prior to our time together on Sunday.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities:

Leadership Team Meeting:
     The leadership team will meet on Tuesday, October 30 at 7:00 p.m.
 
Faith Formation Opportunities:
     
     We will continue our intergenerational faith formation class at 6:00 p.m. at the church building this Sunday (October 28). We will continue our careful exploration of the big (and beautiful) first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism together. The class is designed to be accessible to everyone roughly middle school (or even upper-elementary) through adulthood. If you missed the first class, don't hesitate to join us for future classes. We will begin with a short time of fellowship and light snacks and then proceed with the class. The remaining schedule for 2018 will be: October 28, November 11, and December 9. (We will not meet on November 25 due to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend).
     A week from Sunday (November 4) the teens will meet at 6:00 p.m. at the church building to continue their study, "Living Your Faith in a Messed Up World: a Look at the Contemporary Testimony."
Care Boxes for College
and Military Young Adults:
     I want to pass on word from the fellowship team of their gratitude to the congregation for your contributions to the care boxes for college and military kids. As you can see from the screenshot of Natalie's Instagram post above (and as word has been reported back from others), those who received the boxes are also very grateful! I encourage you to continue in prayer for those young adults.
Thanksgiving Feast:
     A week from this Sunday (on November 4th) we will have our annual thanksgiving feast, a time for continued fellowship and thanksgiving immediately following the service. Turkey, gravy, rolls and beverages will be provided by the fellowship team. Please sign up in the foyer or with a fellowship team member: Beth Cunningham-Blake, Charlyn Corgan, Debbie Harmon, Herleen DeYoung, Liz Bennett, Susan Comfort.

"It Takes a Teen to Fix a Road" - An Encouraging
and Inspiring Story
from Resonate Global Mission in Haiti:
     Certainly most of what makes the news cycle isn't good or encouraging. That's true here in the United States, and that's true most other places around the globe, including Haiti. However, there are truly encouraging things happening all the time all around the world. I encourage you to read this short story from Resonate Global Mission about a teenager in Haiti stepping up to make a positive difference in his community.

Valley Church

Gathered as God's family, we are sent into the world as agents of God's mission of renewal.
 
This Sunday:
Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.

Children pre-K through 5th grade will go to Sunday School following "Children's Time."

Intergenerational faith formation at 6:00 p.m. at the church building.
That we might better pray for one another and God's world:
 
     We continue to pray for healing and health for: Daryl Whitacre as she continues to recover from her surgery and as she will meet with her oncologist to discuss further treatments; also for Frank Lockwood, Peter DeYoung, Beth Blake, and Amy Beardsley.

     We continue to pray for those who have lost loved ones and property in the many natural disasters and also for those doing relief and recovery work in those places: Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Florence, Typhoon Mangkhut, the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, and an earthquake in Haiti.

     We pray for civility and peace in an increasingly divided nation and world.
 
We pray for friends
and family of Valley members:
     for healing for the de Jagers’ grand-nephew, Cole, who is undergoing treatment for leukemia; for Martheen Griffioen as she battles cancer; for healing for Jim and Becky Stocum's friend Eric who is battling brain cancer; for continued healing for the Monroes’ nephew, Joshua, and for peace for their extended family in Colorado; for Adam Derzanovich; for Alistair Krempel.
Sunday Morning Ministries
for October 28, 2018:

Greeter: Judy Zwierzynski

Ushers: Doug Aukema and Herleen DeYoung

Intercessory Prayer: George de Jager

Scripture Reader (1 Peter 1.13-21): Ana Monroe

Nursery: Jim & Sue Comfort
Church Telephone: 607.648.8224

Church email: valleychurchny@gmail.com

Church website: valleychurchny.org