We would like to fill 100 buckets by. September 30th. Funds for supplies will be collected through. September 30th.

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 We would like to fill 100 buckets by September 30th. Church Office Hours: Tuesday Friday 8:30am - 12:30 pm 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 Funds for supplies will be collected through September 30th. Monies can be placed in the large children s jar or through the brown pew envelopes. Please help us fill those buckets.

2 Anyone interested in placing flowers in the sanctuary in August please call Ann Shultz at Andrea Miller Ron Reich Matthew Fike Alexis King Dennis Miller Jan Roberson Brian Shifflett Luke Via Keith Wilson Nathan Shifflett Rollin Eutsler Sarah Flora Greg Miller Robert Manning Justin Shifflett Jamie Claytor Amy Meyerhoeffer Jackie Woolf Samuel Garber Tracy Mullins Michael Wright Donna Tutwiler Karaline Sumner Derek Rubush Virginia Shreckhise Loren Miller Frankie Ashby, Jr. Shannon Huffman Peggy Jenkins Ruth Mitchell Vickie Parkinson Eric Miller Ned Greene Renea Harlow Carole Landes Valerie Mongold Anna Smith August Nursery Helpers 11:00 am Service Crib Toddler 7 Hope, Alice, &/or Elaine Linda Scrogham Teri Sumey 28 Linda Scrogham Valley Mission Dinner Group for August 20th Todd & Sarah Ritchie Hope Sayre Teri Sumey Cheryl Shifflett Comfort Makers - Wed., August 10th at 9 am Start saving your aluminum cans! The children will be collecting cans in August! A bulletin/paper recycle box has been placed in the narthex for your use. In summer, the song sings itself. William Carlos Williams The Prodigal God Small Group Bible studies (6 weeks) will begin on September 18th. Sign ups will begin in August.

3 The apple tree growing in the narthex is full of apples to help fund the start up costs for Karis. Pick an apple with the amount & area you would like your donation used or choose a blank apple and fill in your donation. Place your donation and apple in an envelope making sure you designate it for Karis! Donations are needed now so work can begin! Homecoming Weekend - September 10 and 11, 2011 Mark your calendars now Saturday, September 1o, Music and Activities Sunday, September 12, Combined Worship in the Grove Summit Church of the Brethren, through its Community Project Committee, is purchasing a new handicapped-accessible mobile home for a couple living near the church. If you would like to help the church meet the cost, donations may be sent to Summit Church of the Brethren, 314 Summit Church Road, Bridgewater, VA 22812, in care of the Community Fund Project. July 2-6, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Wrap Up Special Response items are returned, 83 paper reaffirmed The 2011 Annual Conference acted on two business items related to sexuality A Statement of Confession and Commitment and Query: Language on Same-Sex Covenantal Relationships which have been the subject of a two-year Special Response Process across the Church of the Brethren. The Conference approved the following recommendation from the Standing Committee of district delegates, along with an amendment that added a sentence to that recommendation: In light of the Special Response process, as outlined by the 2009 paper A Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues, the Standing Committee recommends to the 2011 Annual Conference that A Statement of Confession and Commitment and Query: Language on Same-Sex Covenantal Relationships be returned. It is further recommended that the 2011 Annual Conference reaffirm the entire 1983 Statement on Human Sexuality from a Christian Perspective and that we continue deeper conversations concerning human sexuality outside of the query process. The recommendation to return both items was put on the floor the morning of July 5, in Step 4 of the five Special Response steps with which the business was processed. More amendments were attempted as the Special Response business extended into the afternoon, but all were rejected in a process that suspended Robert s Rules of Order. The delegates voted whether or not to process each motion before discussion was allowed. Numerous points of order were called from the floor, as well as questions of clarification and about how the business was conducted. Decision to return Conference secretary Fred Swartz explained what it means to return business. It is one of seven possible responses to new business. To return an item may indicate several things, he said, among them that the concern already has been answered, that the concern may not be appropriate, or that it has prompted another way of responding other than a simple yes or no. In this case, he said, Standing Committee felt the concern was answered in another way. To return an item of business is not synonymous with rejection, he added, saying the Forms Reception Committee report indicated both query and statement served valuable functions. (continued)

4 Five-step decision process The five-step decision process is part of the Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues. This is the first time the process has been used. Steps 1 and 2 on July 3 included an introduction by Annual Conference moderator Robert E. Alley, the Forms Reception Committee report summarizing findings from hearings held across the 23 church districts, and the Standing Committee report and recommendation, followed by time for questions of clarification. (Find reports at Step 3 was held the next day in a sandwich approach that began with statements of affirmation, then concerns or changes needed, then more affirmation. In Step 5, after the vote, the moderator gave a statement of closure, expressed appreciation to those who contributed to the process, and led in prayer. Conference acts on congregational ethics, Afghan war, climate change The 2011 Conference asked for a revision of the 1993 Ethics in Congregations paper, adopted a resolution against the war in Afghanistan and a query on climate change, and returned a query on proper decorum. In other business, the Standing Committee of district delegates accepted a new vision statement for the Church of the Brethren. Resolution on war in Afghanistan The resolution was received from the Mission and Ministry Board. The last time the Church of the Brethren spoke on Afghanistan was when the former General Board issued a resolution after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The current resolution in part responds to encouragement from the National Council of Churches and ecumenical colleagues to provide a peace church response to the war. It calls on the US President and Congress to begin immediate withdrawal of combat troops, and to instead invest resources into the development of the Afghan people and infrastructure. A list of other recommendations urge the church to become more engaged in areas such as humanitarian aid, alternatives to violence, ministry to those affected by the war, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and study, prayer, and action related to just peacemaking. Congregational ethics In response to the Guidelines for Implementation of the Congregational Ethics Paper query adopted in 2010, the Conference approved a study committee recommendation that the 1993 Ethics in Congregations paper be reviewed, revised, and updated. Revisions will be facilitated by Congregational Life Ministries staff in collaboration with the Council of District Executives and the Office of Ministry, and will come to a future Annual Conference for approval. Climate change Delegates adopted Query: Guidance for Responding to the Changing of Earth s Climate from Circle of Peace Church of the Brethren and Pacific Southwest District. The query asked for a position on climate change and guidance about how individuals, congregations, and the denomination can take action and offer leadership on the issue. Standing Committee s recommendation was adopted, that the query should be referred to the Washington Advocacy Office of the Global Mission Partnerships. Proper decorum The Conference returned Query: Proper Decorum to Mountain Grove Church of the Brethren and Shenandoah District. It petitioned for rules of proper decorum relating to persons positions on issues before Annual Conference. The recommendation from Standing Committee was adopted, that the query be returned with appreciation and that the district be referred to the section in the Annual Conference booklet entitled Accountability to One Another. New vision statement for the decade The Standing Committee accepted a new vision statement for the Church of the Brethren for this decade. The committee has recommended the statement to the 2012 Annual Conference for adoption. The statement reads: Through Scripture, Jesus calls us to live as courageous disciples by word and action: To surrender ourselves to God, to embrace one another, to express God s love for all creation. One of the delegates consults scripture during discussion of Annual Conference business. Each of the main business items received lively discussion from the delegate body.

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6 Tubing Adventure Day - August 20 Join us for a fun adventure of tubing on the Shenandoah River! Due to the popularity of this Adventure Day in 2010, we are offering a morning and afternoon group in 2011! Participants will gather at the Mountain View - McGaheysville Church of the Brethren at either 9 am or 1 pm and then head down to the river. Brethren Woods staff, including a certified lifeguard, will provide a brief orientation to tubing and safety on the river. Then the group will float together down a stretch of the river from Power Dam Road to Island Ford. We ll return to Mountain View COB about 12 pm or 4 pm to head for home. Call Brethren Woods for more info. Registrations are due by August 12th! Bridgewater Auxiliary Luncheon Wednesday, August 3, :00 am - 1:00 pm at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren Cost: $5.00 (Carry-outs too!) Menu: Grilled Gourmet Hamburgers, Broccoli Salad, Potato Chips, Ice Cream Sundaes, Iced Tea or Lemonade Prepared & Served by the Bridgewater Office of Edward Jones to benefit the Bridgewater Home Auxiliary Second Floor Nursing Care Peaceful Living & Gardner Wing Training Program Disaster fund gives $30,000 to start Pulaski rebuilding project. Brethren Disaster Ministries has received a grant of $30,000 from the Church of the Brethren s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to start a new home rebuilding project site in Pulaski County, Va., following two devastating tornadoes. The tornadoes caused widespread damage in the towns of Pulaski and Draper in Pulaski County, Va. Local recovery officials in Pulaski have requested the Brethren ministry to establish a national project in the area to assist with rebuild efforts. BDM expects to establish this national project this summer to repair and rebuild homes for families in need of permanent housing. Pulaski, VA has now been declared a national disaster site!

7 Together, We Reach Out With Jesus Through Disaster Ministries, we do reach out! On-site, we reach out with hammers, saws, paint rollers and compassion. Then, one weekend each year for the past 19 years, we have been reaching out with donations, purchases and hours upon hours of volunteer labor to make the Shenandoah District Disaster Ministries Auction a successful fund-raising and awareness-raising event. May 20 and 21 was another great success! Thanks to the coordinating committee ( Nancy Harlow, chair, and Cecil Wright, vice chair), golfers, auctioneers, cooks, servers, cashiers, all who donated items to be sold and all who came with generosity in their hearts and their checkbooks. The final proceeds and bills have not been tallied, but the initial estimate of $193,000 raised will underwrite our efforts to reach out to those who need our help rebuilding their lives. CrossRoads Heritage Center The Board of Directors of CrossRoads, the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center, has just called Joan L. Daggett, associate district executive of the Shenandoah District of the Church of the Brethren, as their new Executive Director. She will begin her new role on September 19. Calling All Cooks! Brethren Press is publishing a new edition of the Inglenook Cookbook and is requesting the best recipes from today s kitchens. The Inglenook Cookbook has been a favorite of Brethren families since 1901, a treasure passed from one generation to the next. Submit your recipes by Oct. 15 to continue the tradition. For more information, go to Bridgewater Home Auxiliary presents Fall Festival 2011 Saturday, September 17th, 7:30 am 1:30 pm at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds Benefit Auction: including art, quilts, and much more Begins at 9: 30 am Specialty Shops: Baked Goods Handcrafts Plants & Garden ReRun Shoppe Sale Cottage Gifts Silent Auction: featuring many gift baskets Begins at 7: 30 am FOOD: Breakfast served from 7:30 am - 10:00 am Omelets Made to Order, Beverages Applesauce, Homemade Bread, Jellies, Doughnuts Lunch begins at 10:00 am Assorted items, Fruit Pies, Ice Cream, Beverages ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT BRIDGEWATER HOME

8 Youth Page Senior High Meetings The Senior High Youth will meet Sunday, August 7 and 28, for summertime fun and devotion. Stay tuned for more details about location and time. Rising 9th graders can come to Sr Hi meetings Junior High Meetings The Junior High Youth will meet at the church on Tuesdays, August 9 and 23 (7-8:30), for fellowship, yummy snacks, and summertime fun and events. Rising 6th graders can come to the August 23 meeting. beginning with the August 28 meeting. August 2011 Su Mo Tu We Th Fri Sat Please contact me with any question, concern, or idea. I am generally in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10:30-2:30. Thanks, Steve Spire stevespire@hotmail.com Rockingham County Fair Trash Pickup Yippeee!!! It s that time again. July 15-22, we will be picking up trash and hauling out full trash bags each day of the Rockingham County Fair. We will again have 3 shifts each day. The first shift of the day starts bright and early at 6:00 am. Meet at Gate 4 in the back. What a great way to start the day!! The evening shifts take place about 5:30-7:30 and 8-9:30 each day. Since schools will not be in session, we need Youth (Jr Hi & Sr Hi) to work a couple of shifts during the week, hopefully a couple of morning shifts. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, so it takes a LOT of people. Please help out as much as you can. Signup sheets are at the church. Baptism at the river will take place in either August or September Stay tuned for a possible Back to School Bash. The Houff Dinner will be September 23. This schedule and info subject to change; other activities are in the works. See Steve for signups and more info. Promotion to Junior and Senior High Those entering the 6th grade can begin attending the JiHi Sunday School class on August 14; same for those entering the 9th grade moving to the Senior High class. You will also begin attending Jr Hi and Sr Hi Youth Meetings following August 14.

9 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT In summer, the song sings itself. William Carlos Williams

10 Valley Highlights Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren 91 Valley Church Road Weyers Cave, VA Return Service Requested