V a l l e y V i e w s

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1 V a l l e y V i e w s A m o n t h l y p u b l i c a t i o n o f V a l l e y U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h A s h w o r t h R o a d W e s t D e s M o i n e s, I A O F F I C E P H O N E : O F F I C E F A X : W e b s i t e : w w w. v a l l e y u m c. o r g O F F I C E H O U R S : M o n - T h u r s 9 : 0 0 a. m. - 3 : 0 0 p. m. F r i 9 : 0 0 a. m. n o o n V o l u m e 45, I s s u e 1 J a n u a r y 1, W o r s h i p : 9 : 0 0 a m ( T r a d i t i o n a l ) a n d 1 1 : 1 5 a m ( P r a i s e ) S u n d a y S c h o o l f o r a l l a g e s : 1 0 : 1 5 a m W e a r e h a n d i c a p a c c e s s i b l e a n d c h i l d c a r e i s p r o v i d e d. It always seems impossible until it s done. - Nelson Mandela My Friends The new year is upon us, both in the secular world (January 1) and the Christian year with Christ s birth. How the year proceeds and opens to us is, as it always has been, open to our desire to be led by the Spirit of God. Rufus Jones offers this: It is a primary truth of Christianity that God reaches us directly. No person is insulated. As ocean floods the inlets, as sunlight environs the plant, so God enfolds and enwreathes the finite spirit. There is this difference, however, inlet and plant are penetrated whether they will or not. Sea and sunshine crowd themselves in a tergo. Not so with God. He can be received only through appreciation and conscious appropriation. He comes only through doors that are purposely opened for him. A person may live as near God as the bubble is to the ocean and yet not find him. He may be closer than breathing, nearer than hands or feet, and still be missed. Historical Christianity is dry and formal when it lacks the immediate and inward response to our Great Companion; but our spirits are trained to know him, to appreciate him, by the mediation of historical revelation. A person s spiritual life is always dwarfed when cut apart from history. Mysticism is empty unless it is enriched by outward and historical revelation. The supreme education of the soul comes through an intimate acquaintance with Jesus Christ of history. Shalom, Pastor Ken Church Staff Pastor Kenneth Ferguson kferguson@valleyumc.org Admin. Coordinators Sheila Madsen office@valleyumc.org Anne Elly aelly@valleyumc.org Choir Director David Rozendaal Handbell Director Lynelle Meyer Organist Karen Hutzell Admin Council Chair Phyllis Pearson Lay Leader Michael Hommer Financial Secretary Rose Donati Treasurer Valley Views Editor Sheila Madsen Custodian Missy Williams JANUARY LECTIONARY January 7 Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-7, Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 January 14 1 Sam 3:1-10 (11-20) Psalm139:1-6, Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51 January 21 Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62: Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20 January 28 Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm Corinthians 8:1-13 Mark 1:21-28 Next VV Deadline: January 16, 2018

2 P a g e 2 MISSION AND OUTREACH COG CHILDREN S SHOPPING SPREE Your enthusiastic response helped share the spirit of Christmas on Saturday, December 9, with 95 children and volunteers from our community. Thanks so much for your generous donations totaling $780, and to these representatives of our congregation who offered to serve as chaperones for the annual COG children s shopping spree: Susan and John Bruckshaw, Mike Bruckshaw, Mitch Bruckshaw, Rose Helm, Cyndee Johnson, Stephanie Owen, Deb Stensrud, Karen, Joel, Kyle and Jillian Wolcott. DMARC FOOD PANTRY Thank you for your generosity and to Wayne and Milly Blewitt for faithfully delivering the items to DMARC each month! $150 Food Pantry Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of the month. Larry and Marge Stevens would like to thank everyone for the prayers, cards, phone calls and visits the past few months while they were both recuperating from illness and surgery. Your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated as Larry continues treatment and recovery. COG a coalition of West Des Moines churches actively and collaboratively involved in Christian community service since the 1960s. PERSONAL CARE ITEM DRIVE Together we sent 57 toothbrushes, 36 tubes of toothpaste, along with other much-needed items to West Des Moines Human Services as a result of our November collections. At the end of December, Larry will transport the shampoo and other donations collected during the month. During January, please consider providing bars of soap and shaving cream just place containers in the tubs located in the mission central area in the St. Andrews fellowship hall. While any item is welcome at any time, here is a list of target items for upcoming months to help with your planning February: toilet paper; March: laundry detergent; and April: deodorant. There also is a great need for diapers, sizes 5 and 6. Larry and Marge Stevens Those in need this Holiday Season Pastor Ken and Valley UMC leaders Women at the Well UMC Those affected by natural disasters and wildfires

3 P a g e 3 Reaching Out at Valley UMC CFUM SUPPER CLUB AT TRINITY UMC The Missions Team served the December CFUM Meal. A delicious menu of meatball sandwiches, potato chips, fruit salad, tossed green salad and cookies was enjoyed by the 142 guests. Thanks to our volunteers who either prepared or served the meal: Bill Hillyard, Linda Mentzer, Les and Cindy Ottervanger, Dave and Deb Stensrud and Lynda Hommer. Next Up: Missions January 12 Music Groups February 9 Men s Group March 9 WORSHIP AT WOMEN AT THE WELL UMC On Thursday, February 22, we have the opportunity to worship with Women at the Well at ICIW in Mitchellville. This is always uplifting, spirit-filled evening. You will be greeted warmly by the women, especially those who are members of the Inside Council. You will join them in praising and worshipping God. You will pass the peace and share communion with these sisters. If you are interested in joining us, you will need to have a background check. A form will be available with the information needed. This form must be returned to the church office by January 22. We will leave Valley at 5:45 pm and return home by 10:00 pm. If you have any questions, please see Lynda Hommer ADVENT MISSIONS (As of December 17, 2017) Heifer International: $2,207 Missionary Larry Kies: $125 Women at the Well: $655 Undesignated: $960 HOLIDAY FOOD BASKET DONATIONS FOR WDM HUMAN SERVICES JANUARY BRUNCH Panettone French Toast Chicken Apple Gouda Sausage Lasagna Green Salad Fruit Sweets With the January 7 brunch, we will be focusing on more support for CFUM (Trinity Meals). It is important that we support this mission work to help feed those who are less fortunate than we are. As the year progresses, each month we will be focusing on a different mission and the proceeds after expenses will be donated to whatever mission we are focusing on for that particular month. We look forward to everyone attending the monthly brunches, not only for the support, but because it is a great time for fellowship! Please remember to sign up for brunches via the connect, phone call or . $181 Donations $50 Hy-Vee Gift cards JOIN THE MISSION TEAM! Do you have a heart for missions? Join us at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10 for our 2018 planning meeting. A light meal will be served. Please contact Deb Stensrud if you have questions.

4 SPRING RETREAT AT VALLEY UMC Exciting news to share: Plans are under way for a LIVING THE ADVENTURE event in 2018! The weekend after Easter (April 7-10) has been selected as the start for the event. Saturday, April 7, will be a one day Christian Ashram. Ashram is a Sanskrit word for retreat. When Methodist missionary E. Stanley Jones was in India, he observed that the Hindus were strengthened in their faith and culture when they attended Ashrams, where the people sat at the feet of a guru to listen and absorb the teaching. VUMC MEN S GROUP CHILI/SOUP CHALLENGE Sunday, February 11 Chili/Soup Challenge 5:00 p.m. All Church Birthday Party 6:00 p.m. E. Stanley Jones began to conduct Christian Ashrams for the Christians to gather together to sit at the feet of Jesus in the form of evangelists and Bible teachers. The movement was effective and began to spread, including in the United States. Our one-day event will follow the Ashram model and mission. The intent of the Christian Ashram is to Experience the Kingdom of God in Miniature. Please plan to attend this event! Inspiration guaranteed! On Sunday, April 8, our evangelist will be speaking in the Sunday morning services. The retreat will continue with services on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings. It s possible we may have an event for children and youth on Sunday afternoon. The evangelist will be Rev. Matt Henson from Albion, IL. Matt is an ordained minister in the Southern Illinois Conference of the All Valley UMC members and guests are invited to this annual fun event and fundraiser! People or church groups are invited to join the Men s Group in bringing crock pots of chili or soup to enter into the Challenge at 4:45 p.m. People attending the event will vote for their favorite chili/soup with donations to Valley United Methodist Church (checks payable to VUMC). Money raised will help fund Valley UMC needs to be identified. Watch for details soon on the All Church Birthday Party sign-up. United Methodist Church, and serves as a traveling evangelist rather than under appointment to local churches. Matt is the founder and director of Living the Adventure Ministries which seeks to work for the transformation of the world through the awakening of the Church, evangelistic preaching, and Christian people putting their faith into action through mission experiences around the world. Matt has special gifts with children, youth and families. His presentations will be particularly helpful to them. But that doesn t mean we older people won t benefit. All will be inspired and energized by Matt s unique and lively presence! Guaranteed! Mark your calendar! Clare DeBoef, Evangelist-at-heart. FLOWERS FOR WORSHIP Sign up outside the church office if you would like to provide flowers for worship in Contact the church office or WE Team member if you have questions. WEATHER POLICY If WDM Schools are closed for the day or close early, all Valley UMC activities for the day or evening will be cancelled. REACHING UP, REACHING OUT, REACHING IN At Valley UMC we re REACHING UP to experience a bold, passionate, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ, REACHING OUT to witness through nurture and service, and REACHING IN to challenge ourselves toward discipleship and spiritual growth.

5 P a g e 5 The Valley UMC Men s Group meets for fellowship, video study and discussion in the Valley UMC St. Andrews Fellowship Hall. Meetings run from 7:30-8:45 a.m. All Valley UMC men and guests are invited to join us! Our new video study is titled David presented by Pastor Andy Stanley. Winter Schedule: Saturday, January 6 Saturday, January 20 Saturday, February 10 Sunday, February 11 Chili/Soup Challenge Saturday, February 24 Saturday, March 10 Contact Les Ottervanger (lottervanger@aol.com) or Perry Meyer (meyerp@ihaonline.org) UMW CIRCLES Faith Circle will meet Tuesday, January 2 at 12:30 p.m. in the Pommrehn Lounge. Searchers Circle will meet Thursday, January 4 at 9:30 a.m. at the church. All are welcome! Please be reminded of the Valley UMC NO NUTS Policy Thank You! 2017 NO ROOM AT THE INN God truly smiled down on Valley UMC in so many ways during our 14 th annual No Room at the Inn event the first weekend in December! The weather was great. We had almost 1000 guests and collected over $3500 for Habitat for Humanity! We were thrilled to display over 470 nativity sets from all over the world and to entertain our guests with musical talent and refreshments to reflect on their special Advent experience with family and friends they met. An extra blessing for us, was a first-time visitor (a grandmother and her two grandchildren) took the time to write a beautiful letter expressing how much this event meant to them. She wrote how impressed she was by the breathtaking nativity displays, the make and take nativity crafts, the hands-on area for children, the variety of ages of those involved (our greeters), the talent and refreshment areas. She went on to share the impression the event meant to her grandkids and how they went home, created a No Room event in their own bedrooms (lights and embellishments too) and even invited their parents to see their own No Room at the Inn event. Thank you to all who loaned their nativity sets, the many donations of food, your talent and your time. Valley friends and family, you made this happen, bless you! JUST A LITTLE CHRISTMAS Our small, but mighty, little Sunday School classes pulled off a heartwarming (and oh so cute) performance of Just a Little Christmas play and sing-along of Christmas hymns during the December 10 worship service. The children remained in costume and joined us following the performance with their parents hosting fellowship time. Thank you to Margaret Forster for putting together this year s children s Christmas program. This included writing and directing the play, making costumes and rehearsing with the children. Thank you, Margaret, for your dedication to the young people of our church by investing your time and talents in them. The children loved being part of this Christmas program!