Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren

Transcription

1 Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren 91 Valley Church Road Weyers Cave, VA (540) Web: pleasantvalleyalive.org Proclaiming the Good News by being Christ in the world! Sunday Schedule Contemporary Worship 8:45-9:45 am Sunday School 9:50-10:50 am Traditional Worship 11:00 am Church Office Hours: Tuesday Friday 8:30am - 12:30 pm It was an evening like any other. Ordinary men were doing an ordinary job. Shepherds were keeping watch over their flock by night (Luke 2:8). Was it chilly? Were they tired? When angels appeared with news of a Savior, had the shepherds been talking about their troubles or sharing a good joke? Our Staff Pastor Matthew P. Fike Assoc. Minister of Children & Youth Ministries Steve Spire Director of Music David Tate Director/Accompanist for Contemporary Service Saul Rodriguez Accompanist Phil Roberts Administrative Assistant Anne Bowman How quickly, how mysteriously, how unexpectedly an ordinary night became the turning point of human history. How remarkable that God chose to set his great rescue plan in motion when only a young couple was paying attention and only a few shepherds were awake. God s work is sometimes so secret we may wonder if he s there or if he cares. The Christmas story tells us that God works out breathtaking plans for our lives in the dark, often while we re sleeping or going about our ordinary routines.

2 Anyone wishing to place flowers in the sanctuary during the month of December please call the church office at Amber Roberson Brown 3 Stacy Fike 4 Ella Shreckhise 4 Fred Houff 5 Elaine Tomlinson 5 Audrey Shreckhise 6 Elby Wilson 6 Doug Gimbert 9 Rachel Propst 9 Michelle Johnson 12 Carl Leake 12 Sonja Yankey 12 Emily Ashby 13 Brenda Seese 14 Hunter Ritchie 14 Susan Ribelin 15 Amanda Fagan Wilson 16 Don Garber 16 Gabe Miller 17 Elijah Emerson 18 Nathan Landes 18 Jeannie Shifflett 18 Jerry Painter 19 Milliard Wright 19 Carrie Barb 20 Matt Cavender 20 Ashley Huffman Dove 22 Jeannie Garber 24 Sara Houff 24 Barry Ritchie 24 Tom Dodson 26 Anne Gordon 27 Sarah Ritchie 27 Ronnie Ritchie 29 Daniel Shifflett 29 Justin Sutherland 29 William Houff 31 Children s Christmas Program December 18, :00 pm The Best Christmas Present Ever Produced by special arrangement with Contemporary Drama Service, Box 7710, Colorado Springs, CO Children s Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal Sunday December 4th at 4:00 pm Comfort Makers - Wed., December 14, 9 am Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Saturday, December 24, 2011, 7:00 pm Both Christmas and New Year s are on a Sunday this year. Each day, there will be a single combined worship service at 10:30 am with no Sunday School. December Nursery Helpers 11 am Worship 4 Hope, Alice, &/or Elaine 11 Teri Sumey 18 Beth Childs 25 Linda Scrogham

3 featuring music from his album Windows with selections from his holiday album Feels Like Christmas Monday, December 19, 2011 at 7:00 pm At Weyers Cave Community Center Doors open at 6:00 pm - Open seating Tickets $10 - available in church office A free-will offering will be collected and all proceeds from ticket sales and offering will go to Verona Food Pantry. It s that time of year again - the Worship focus team is looking for folks to serve in the usher, soundboard, and audiovisual ministries. Please contact Rhonda Harris, Lynda Sheffer, or Jon Garber if you re interested in those ministries. Also, if you are currently serving in those ministries, please advise a member of the focus team if you do not wish to be included in next year s schedule. Valley Mission 2012 Are you aware that our church members have been serving a meal once a month at Valley Mission for FOUR years?! Valley Mission is the homeless shelter in Staunton. The shelter has grown over those four years, so we hope to continue this outreach ministry in our community. Please consider signing up to help with one of the months in There will be a sheet in the narthex during the month of December. Contact Teri Sumey or Carol Wilson if you have questions. Breakfast with Santa!!! Saturday, December 10, 2011Weyers Cave Community Center, 7:30 10:30 AM Sponsored by: Weyers Cave Ruritan Club Come enjoy Pancakes, Sausage, Sausage Gravy, Biscuits, Juice and Coffee Cat-In-The-Hat will be there too!!! Free Gift from Santa for all the Kids! Bring Your Camera for a Picture with Santa! Donations Appreciated but Not Required Donations received will be given to the Food Pantry Identifying Your Risk = Disease Prevention will host a preventive health screening event for residents in and around your community. Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at Weyers Cave Community Center Preregiatration is required This event is also being sponsored by Carilion Clinic Life Line Screening will perform screenings for: 1) carotid artery blockage (stroke) 4) peripheral arterial disease 2) atrial fibrillation 5) osteoporosis (bone loss) 3) abdominal aortic aneurysm These screenings are recommended for anyone 50 and older, or 40 and over with cardiovascular risk factors. They are non-invasive, painless, and take minutes to complete. The results, which are mailed directly to you, will help you and your doctor protect your health. Stroke, Vascular and Heart Rhythm Packages range from $ to $ Call or visit to schedule your appointment

4 Contact Brethren Woods at (phone or fax) ( ) or on the web at Christmas Party - December 17 We want to invite YOU (that s pastors, current and former campers, old and new staff members, volunteers, and camp supporters of every age) to celebrate Christmas out here in the woods at camp s annual Christmas Party! We will be gathering at Brethren Woods on Saturday, December 17th starting at 5 pm for fellowship, dinner, singing, some games, sharing memories, a white elephant gift exchange, and a special Christmas story! Be sure to bring (in addition to yourself): a dish to share (it s a carry-in), your joyful noise voice, a white elephant gift (find something you d be willing to take home, you know, nice, but, well, not too nice!), some photos or stories to share, and a buddy, friend, acquaintance, significant other, spouse, relative, or complete stranger! We hope to see you (and your stranger!) there!!! Winter Camp - January 6-8, 2012 at Brethren Woods Campers in 4-8th grades are invited to head out to Brethren Woods for Winter Camp January 6-8, This special weekend is packed with all the activities that make camp great like crafts, nature study, recreation, campfires and Bible study, but there s more.. like snow-tubing at Massanutten, a mid-winter evening celebration, and a movie night complete with popcorn and snacks! $110 per person includes 5 meals, 2 snacks, snow-tubing & transportation, lodging, a long-sleeve T-shirt, and all supplies and materials. Registrations are due by December 16th! Winter Workday - January 28, 2012 There s wood to be chopped and woodsheds to fill! There s mailings to stuff and other indoor projects too! This important work (and maybe some more!) will take place on Saturday, January 28th starting at 8:00 am (hooray for coffee and donuts!) and ending about 3:00 pm. We need YOUR help to make it all happen. After a morning of work, we ll enjoy a wonderful lunch break to fellowship together and then head back out for another hour or two. Please give us a call and let us know you re coming so that we can have enough food for everyone, but, if you don t, come on anyway! Disaster Ministries Volunteers Still Needed! Ready to volunteer for a life-changing week (or day) of service? Our Disaster Ministries Team still could use some willing workers to go to Pulaski, VA, and continue rebuilding homes in the area damaged by the tornado earlier this year. The team will be working in Pulaski from Dec Ready to go to work? Volunteers may sign up for the full week or take advantage of a daily bus connection from the District Office. Contact Warren Rodeffer at or Jerry Ruff at This is the last trip for Shenandoah District Disaster Ministries Auction May 18-19, 2012

5 Youth Peace Travel Team? College-age young adults (ages 19-22) are invited to apply to be members of the Youth Peace Travel Team for the summer of The team moves from one Church of the Brethren camp or conference to another, talking with young people about the Christian message and the Brethren tradition of peacemaking. A stipend is paid to team members. The travel team is sponsored by the Youth/Young Adult Ministry office, Brethren Volunteer Service, On Earth Peace and the Outdoor Ministries Association. Applications are due Jan. 13, Go to for application forms and more information Waynesboro Church of the Brethren s Annual Cookie and Craft Bazaar is scheduled 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 3. In addition to dozens of cookies, the bake sale will feature coconut cakes, fruit cakes, breads and other items. Other treats will include candy, snacks, ham sandwiches and super sweet garlic pickles. Crafts, Christmas items, puzzles and paperbacks will be available and the Cookie Monster will make a guest appearance. Proceeds benefit local agencies, including the Shenandoah District Disaster Ministries Auction. Bethel Church of the Brethren at Mayland will present a dinner theater, Christmas Hang-Ups, Saturday, Dec, 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11, at the church. This humorous and engaging play features delightful songs and a solid salvation message sure to enrich your holiday. On Dec. 10, dinner is at 5:30 and the show is at 7 p.m.; on Dec. 11, the matinee meal is at 3 p.m. with the play at 4:30 p.m. An offering will be received to benefit the church s music and worship committee. RSVPs are due by Dec. 9 to Crystal at or mscrys1@comcast.net. The church is located at Phillips Store Road, Broadway. Mt. Pleasant Church of the Brethren invites you to relive the historic night when our Savior was born. Take a tour through the streets of Bethlehem and see merchants and townspeople in the square. Walk through the town of Bethlehem to an outdoor re-creation of the manger scene to witness the miracle of Christ s birth. The children will enjoy the live animal nativity and the whole family will be blessed with this night of music and fun. Guided tour in seven outdoor scenes: Thursday & Friday, December 8 & 9-7:00-8:00 pm Saturday, December 10-6:30-8:00 pm Special music each night: Thursday - Shenandoah Valley Minstrels, Friday - Goodtime Gospel Quartet, Saturday - Adoration. Crafters will have items for sale in the marketplace. Live animal nativity - Free Admission Questions, call or Taylor Spring Lane, Harrisonburg, VA Directions: Port Republic Road to Boyers Road, About 1/2 mile on left. CrossRoads Events Old-Fashioned Christmas, Dec. 9 and 10: CrossRoads Heritage Center is offering self-guided candlelight tours of the historic buildings decorated for Christmas, with re-enactors and musicians, 7-9 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 10. Tour fee is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and under, $25 for a family of four ($2.50 for each additional child). Candlelight Dinners, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 16 and 17: The CrossRoads Heritage Center is offering a traditional 1850s full-course Christmas dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 16 and 17 in the Burkholder-Myers house, now restored to the pre-civil War era. The dinners will be catered by the Rhodes sisters. Cost is $50 per person. Seating is limited and by reservation only by calling to check availability.

6 Church Board Meeting The Church Board met on November 13th at 7:00 p.m. with the following members present: Chairman, Chuck Flick, Bryan Wilson, Lynda Sheffer, Anna Manikus, Glenda Ritchie, Gary Huffman, Beth Gimbert, John Childs, Neil Houff, Pastor Matthew, Sharon Reich, Don Landes, Dennis Miller, Keith Wilson, Karen Meyerhoeffer, Rhonda Harris, Cindy Wright, Alan Landes, Steve Spire, Ann Shultz, Donna Tutweiler, Jon Garber, and Jackie Woolf. Pastor Matthew led a short bible study on Psalm 95. Minutes from the previous Board meeting were approved. Treasurer s Report Alan Landes reported an equity of $65,922. Focus Team Reports: Stewardship Dennis Miller The 2012 budget was passed at the Congregational Business Meeting in October. A proposal is forthcoming on the purchase of playground equipment. The church is experiencing some boiler problems downstairs and they are working on these. Fellowship Glenda Ritchie Presently working on plans for the Christmas Eve fellowship. Ministry Ann Shultz The teams goals for 2011 have been completed. They are currently working on a social awareness program for the new year. Deacon Representative Gary Huffman The deacons are working hard on ways to strengthen their ministry. Pastor Matthew reported that the deacons are presently discussing the formation of care groups in the new year to enhance the deacon ministry. Gary stated he was concerned about the declining attendance at Love Feast. Worship Jon Garber All church decorating will take place this Sunday with a fellowship meal following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. This will be a great opportunity for fun and fellowship. Jon reported that the Christmas Day service will be a combined service at 10:30 a.m. with David Tate leading the music and the New Year s Day service will be a combined service as well with Saul leading the music. Discipleship John Childs Bible study The Prodigal God has been completed. John said there was a smaller response than previous studies. The focus team is hoping to find ways to encourage people to attend Sunday school. Life Development Beth Gimbert Beth stated that their focus team is continuing their work on the youth model for the Jr. and Sr. Highs. Old Business Pastor Matthew stated that the opening weekend at Karis was a success and that Karis is off to a good start. He expressed his thanks to Ann Shultz, Teri Sumey and Don Garber for their efforts as assistant managers and manager. The coffee shop is expected to open in the next couple of weeks. Pastor Matthew said he has been in conversation with Brad McMullen concerning joint projects under the umbrella of Karis. He feels there are several different ways to utilize the space at Karis to impact the community and to do the work God is calling us to do. One such project is Back Pack Pals. This makes food available for the weekend for children receiving free and reduced lunches. More information will be forthcoming on this project. New Business Discussion was held concerning Church Board and Focus team appointments to positions and/or committees for Chuck asked that suggestions for Church Board appointments be submitted to him before the end of November. It was decided that new members coming onto the Board for 2012 will be invited to the Church Board meeting on December 11 th. A date for the Church Board retreat will be decided at that time. Options for the retreat were discussed. No further business. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Jeannie Garber, Church Clerk

7 December 2011 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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9 Youth Page Senior High Christmas Party/Meeting The Senior High Youth will meet Sunday, December 4, 6:30-8:30, for a Youth Meeting and Christmas Party, at the home of Ben & Will Houff (6806 Cross Keys Rd; Mt Crawford). Bring a Christmas goodie snack or drink to share; a present (around $10) for the gift exchange; and your Christmas spirit. December 2011 SUN MO TUE WE TH 1 FRI SAT Junior High Lock-in The Junior High Youth will have a lock-in at church Friday, December 2, to Saturday morning, December 3. We will start at 7:00 pm on Friday evening and end at 8:00 on Saturday morning. Bring a snack or drink to share. We will be playing several interesting games, watching movies, having devotions, and much more. Contact Steve for more info or for the consent form. Junior High Meeting The Junior High youth will meet at the church on Tuesday, December 13 th, (6:45-8:15), for fellowship, yummy snacks, fun, groupbuilding, and lessons on character (habits & attitudes). Thanks Thank you to the Junior High Youth for the awesome job you did leading worship on National Junior High Sunday, November 6. We appreciate your leadership and your drama skills. Thank you to all the Youth who helped prepare, deliver, and serve the meal for Valley Mission on November 19. And thank you to the many people who supplied food items for the soup, sandwiches, and cake. Movie night Several Junior High and Senior High Youth gathered to watch Soul Surfer and The Blind Side in November. These movies are highly recommended inspirational movies. Children s Christmas Play Don t miss the Children s Christmas Play on Sunday evening, December 18. The play features our children, of course, with the help of some of the youth. And plan to stay for refreshments. Brethren Woods Winter Camp Winter Camp for 4 th -8 th graders will be January 6-8 at Brethren Woods. The weekend includes crafs, nature study, recreation, campfires, Bible study, snow-tubing at Massanutten, and movie night. Brochures/registrations forms are available at the church. Upcoming dates: Ice skating, possibly January 1 Senior Hi lock-in, January District Jr Hi Lock-in, January 27-28, Mill Creek COB District Sr Hi Retreat, February 10-12, Breth. Wds Skiing, February 17 Sr Hi Roundtable Regional Youth Conf., March Other events are in process of being scheduled.

10 May you have the Spirit of Christmas, which is Peace, The Gladness of Christmas, which is Hope, The Heart of Christmas, which is Love, The Gift of Christmas, which is Christ. Ada Hendricks Valley Highlights Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren 91 Valley Church Road Weyers Cave, VA Return Service Requested