Give thanks to the Lord almighty, for the Lord is good; His love endures forever Jeremiah 33:11

Transcription

1 In The Loop Valley Life Community Church Connecting with God, Growing in Christ, Serving Others February 2012 Give thanks to the Lord almighty, for the Lord is good; His love endures forever Jeremiah 33:11 LAST CALL FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS! There is still room in our existing Community Groups. Join church family members in a home setting to Grow in Christ and to Serve Others. Groups are meeting in Eagle, Meridian and Nampa. Please contact Aden Seidlitz if you have any questions or need more information. Wednesday Night Live! Wednesday Night Live! For February continues the 4-part seminar called How to Love Your Mormon Neighbor. Presented by Mark Cares of The Truth in Love Ministry, this is an exciting opportunity for you to receive some incredible training. Join us on Wednesdays Feb 1st and 15.

2 From the desk of PT... February has long been considered as the month of hearts by most people, and it's a great time to send congratulations to those married the longest at VLCC! Lyle and Judi Gessford will be celebrating their 49th this coming June; Bill and Carol Van Dam their 46th in August; Wayne and Sharon their 46th in November; Mike and Nancy May their 43rd also in August; Peter and Mary Vander Zee their 42nd just last month! We tip our hats to these couples and salute their commitment to each other and to God. We especially appreciate how you model your love for one another before all of us and our families. Norine and I aren't quite there yet, but this year will be our 34th--WOW, how it flies! My favorite comment from when I called couples to ask how long they've been married came from Dennis Moon (who by the way, has been married to Linda for 29 years!) was-- he said, "Not long enough!" NICE! John Jacob wrote in the American Way (Oct. 2004) seven tips for a healthy marriage. I share them with the hope that we'll see many more 30, 40, and 50+ year anniversaries in the years to come! 1. Show appreciation constantly, even for things you think should be taken for granted. 2. Avoid blaming, critical comments. Words like stupid, selfish, idiot or any of their unprintable relatives should never be used. 3. Don't exaggerate. 4. Work toward compromising, not winning. 5. Focus on giving more, not waiting to see what the other person will give. 6. Learn to listen well, without racing to respond or defend. 7. Forgive the other person quickly. Don't hang on to anger or resentment. A good marriage is such a great gift and privilege from God--and not everyone's been given that gift. But it's also a great source of blessing and joy for our whole congregation. So if you're married, please keep working to make yours better. The rest of us are looking up to you! Have a wonderful February, sharing YOUR heart with those closest to you! PT

3 KREW NEWS February 2012 Spring is just around the corner and we are getting ready for some pretty exciting events. But in the meantime we would like to invite all kids ages preschool to 5 th grade to join us in the KREW. Come listen to some awesome Bible stories, fun games, activities and have some fun with your friends here at Valley Life. The KREW meets during the 9:15am and 11:00am service. A Big Welcome to our new Nursery Coordinator Wilma Brown. Wilma will be assisting Dawn with scheduling and running the nursery. If you see Wilma please welcome her to her new position! Thank you Wilma! GOODBYE The KREW would like to say goodbye and give a big thank you to Ms Jessica Eisenhower, leader in our 3-4 s preschool classroom. Jessica has been a leader for over a year now and will be moving to Texas to be close to family. She will be greatly missed. We will need a fabulous volunteer, such as you, to fill Jessica s position. Please contact Dawn Joseph. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The KREW is always in need of volunteers, adults and young adults with the gift to serve the youngest members of our church. If you have a desire in your heart for each child to have a personal relationship with Jesus, then write your name on the Get Connected card on Sunday. Please indicate where you would like to serve; Nursery or KREW. Questions on how to get connected in this Ministry, see Dawn Joseph or contact her at

4 Growing in Christ at Valley Life Tuesday Morning Women s Bible Study We meet Tuesdays at 10a.m. Our study for this month is Living Words of the Bible. Please contact Wendy Johnson for more information Men s Group is meeting again after the holiday break. We meet on the 2 nd and 4 th Wednesday of each month in room 25. We have started a new study called "The Bible on Trial". This study explores the historical accuracies discovered and explains why we as Christians can and do believe that the Bible is truly God's word. Prayer Ministry Training will be held again on February 2 nd from 7-9 here at VLCC. If you would like to gain more confidence in praying with family and friends or in your private prayers please contact Norine Katsma for more information We have also set Feb 25 th as a tentative night for bowling at Pins in Meridian. Contact Dan Iverson or Jason Phelps GROWING SPIRITUALLY MATURE - CLASS 201: How can I become spiritually mature? In what ways can I grow stronger and more spiritually fit? What are the next steps in developing my faith in Jesus? If these are your questions and you d like solid help in following Jesus closer, this class is for YOU! Everyone s invited to join us for a 2 week study on Wednesday nights, 2/22 & 29, 7-9 pm. Taught by Pastor Tom in room 25. If you would like more information contact Pastor Tom or the Church Office Sign up today to reserve your spot online or on the Get Connected card. The Current! The Current meets again on Wednesday Feb 1 and 15 and we will continue the study How to Love your Mormon Neighbor. This study will help you learn not only what your Mormon friends believe but also how to witness to them effectively. This study is being lead by Mark Cares. Be sure to invite your friends to this one. Have an idea for a February outing? Let one of your leaders know today!

5 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God s varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10 Our Praise Team Ministry is made up of adults and teens who seek to glorify God through corporate worship. If you like to sing or play an instrument, come and join the fun! It is a great group of spirit lead people. For an audition please contact Kathy McCandless ( ). "The Lord has put a song in your heart Praise Him with it!" CD Ministry is always looking for volunteers to help with this ministry that blesses those who serve us on Sunday mornings. Please use your Get Connected Card or call the church office CONGRATULATIONS to those recently baptized: Shirley Slayton of Garden City, Shante Pacheco and Natalie Slagowski, both of Meridian. God bless you and help you as you as you grow in Jesus! A SPECIAL THANKS from Boise Rescue Mission! 39 Hams were donated in Valley Life s name to feed the hungry. A HUGE THANKS for the volunteers who recently helped paint the lobby and front hallway: Cat Anderson, Lyle, Judi, & Andrew Gessford, Genice Johnson, Dennis Moon, Ron Nead, Charles Osgood & PT. Well done! Visit us at to get information on Sunday worship, how you can volunteer or more details on the ministries here at Valley Life.