NEWSLETTER. Thanksgiving has come and gone. A Blessed Thanksgiving Begins A Glorious Christmas Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro

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1 Valley Isle Fellowship Love God, Love His Church, Love His World 1033 Waiale Road - PO Box 886 Wailuku, HI Phone: (808) Fax: (808) NEWSLETTER November 26, A Blessed Thanksgiving Begins A Glorious Christmas Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro Thanksgiving has come and gone and I pray that you were blessed during this very special week. We serve a great and mighty God who loves us with an undying love. I pray that you were able to thank Him for his awesome love and grace. Thanksgiving kicks off the Christmas season where we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The birth of the Jesus Christ brings about visions of warmth and grace. Feelings of love and peace for all men comes from the King of peace and love. His life begins with this warmth and love but ends with the fulfillment of the greatest of sacrificial love and grace. Christmas would lose all of its meaning if it were not for the manner and fashion in which Jesus life ended. His love for you and me was played out in full when He laid down His life for you and me. Because of His death and resurrection, stories of bringing peace to men on earth abounds. There is the story where on Christmas Eve, troops battling against each other laid down their arms and gathered together to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace and Lord of lords. There is another story of a couple on the verge of divorce, realizing on Christmas Eve that they were both so wrong to allow their bitterness for each other to build up into such an overwhelming mountain. They then spend Christmas Day making many of the wrong things right. Then there is finally the story of a church who finds that selfish discord and anger has caused them to cease being a church that brings glory and honor to the Lord. But then on Christmas Eve, they are confronted with the hypocrisy of their selfish love and foolish anger. They end their Christmas Eve service with an emotional but exhilarating time of confession and forgiveness. Jesus Christ was a solitary life who made a difference like no one else in all of history. He hardly had any earthly possessions. He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place of His birth. When He died, He was buried in a borrowed tomb. In fact, all the traits that connect one to greatjesuness do not belong to Jesus. Yet, He becomes the central figure in all of history. This precious little baby that we envision at Christmas, matures to be this one solitary life. Yes, Christmas is a blessed time, a time of warm and fuzzy feelings and goodwill towards all men. However, it is also a time when we can all be so distracted by the things of Jesus that we miss Jesus Himself. Getting all wrapped up in the shopping, partying, and the ambience of the Christmas season could cause us to miss out on Jesus, who we are supposed to celebrate. Before we commit to an over burdened schedule, we should reevaluate the best way that we can remember Jesus and celebrate His birth. His birth signals God becoming man by being born of a virgin just as scriptures from the Old Testament foretold. It begins the unfolding of God s greatest and last provision for the salvation of mankind. For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son. That whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. WOW! What tremendous love and grace! Christmas is but just a few weeks away. I want to urge and encourage you not to miss out on any opportunity to center on Jesus and to do that which will glorify Him. He is worthy of all of our praise and affection. Yes, there are many forces that are trying to distract us and get us to focus (continued next page) IN THIS ISSUE: 1-2 A Blessed Thanksgiving Begins A Glorious Christmas 2-4 Announcements 3 From the Pastorʻs Heart 5 Missional Opportunities 6 VIF Calendar 7 Sermon Notes

2 A Blessed Thanksgiving Begins A Glorious Christmas Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro on good things in order to get us to miss the main thing. Don t focus on the good, but focus on the best and the best is Jesus. He truly is the reason for the season. God bless you as you seek to glorify and please Him. Alert, Church Members! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Annual Church Business Meeting Sunday, November 26, p.m. Revised agenda and handouts on literature table. VIF Seniors Annual Christmas Luncheon Thursday, December 7, 2017 at the Kahili Golf Course Restaurant 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Cost is $22 per person (including coffee or tea, tax and tip) Seating is limited Sign-up at back table by November 26, 2017 Give your cash payment to Lillian Takaki Seniors = at least 55 years old ***Please bring a $5.00 grab bag gift*** Friday, December 1, :00 p.m. For more information contact (808) Women...donʻt miss this special time! Friday, December 8 6-7:30 pm Please note rescheduled date

3 From the Pastorʻs Heart... Dear People of VIF, Tonight, we have our Annual Business meeting. These Annual Meetings are important to the life of Valley Isle Fellowship because we all have a chance to see the proposed budget and calendar which sets a direction for the ministries that we believe God is moving us towards. Your input is very important. Therefore, it is important that you be in prayer for all of the decisions that will be voted on and that you attend and participate in tonight s meeting. Materials that will help you prepare for this meeting are located on the literature table. Please pick up these materials and prayerfully read them so that we can all be prepared to move forward with planning for the up-coming year. Only members are allowed to vote. If you are not a member, you will not be given the opportunity to vote. However, we want to encourage you to become a member so that you can enter fully into the ministries of VIF. In order to become a member of VIF, there is a process that you need to go through. It involves reading through some materials that present who we are and our philosophy of ministry. Also, included is our Constitution and By-Laws. After reading through these materials you will need to sit with one of our Pastors to have a question and answer period where you will have a chance to ask questions and our Pastors will also have a chance to ask you some questions. Then if you are still in agreement with who we are as a church, there is a Membership Covenant that you have to agree to and sign. We want to encourage you to consider and pray about becoming a member. God bless you all. ~ ~ ~ Pastor Stephen Be in the know! Join our text alerts... To receive messages via text on your cell phone: A) If you have a smartphone, get push notifications. On your iphone or Android phone, open your web browser and go to rmd.at/mrvif Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You ll be prompted to download the mobile app. B) If you don t have a smartphone, get text notifications. Text the to the number or (808) C) Give your cell number to the office and request to be added. *Standard text message rate may apply. For more information or help call the Church - 3 -

4 Announcements Childcare Ministry Schedule Today, Nov 26 Team 2: Wendy C, Christine B, Lauryn I Dec 3 Team 3: Jennifer B, Francis C, Jaydee G, Jules G Dec 10 Team 4: Hawea R, Cheeng S, Jezra S, Danae O Dec 17 Team 1: Karen F, Kolbe F, Alysha F, Melanie F Volunteers Needed! Join a team to be part of this vital ministry caring for our little ones (on a rotation basis) during morning worship service. Sign-up sheet at the back table. For more information, contact Coffee Bar Ministry Part-time (8 am - 9 am and 10:30 am - 11:30 am) Requirement A heart to love and serve God Job Description Set-up/Host/Clean-up Benefits Joy and Fellowship Contact Rosy Olaso ( ) for more info and to sign-up Church Cleaning Schedule Week of Nov 30-Dec 2 Team 4 Hawea R, Wendy I, Lyette K, Anna G, Stephen K*, Priscilla T, Thelma W, Alvina M, Amelia T-K Week of Dec 7-9 Team 5 Carol Sn, Marion K, Makanani C, Josie Y, Bautista Ohana, Kathy W Week of Dec Team 6 Stephen K*, Hubert I, Leslie T, Ernie P, David P, Chad K Week of Dec Team 1 Yeiko E, Elaine Y, Teri C, Pauline H, Cecile H, Cathy D, Kenneth K, Lucille K* *Key Monitor Sign-up on the back table to be a part of this ministry

5 MISSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES NAMB Missionary Spotlight: Portland, OR Pray that God would raise up Sending Churches from within Portland that will raise up indigenous planters to be sent out into their communities to plant. - Clay Holcomb, Portland Send City Missionary. Pray for persons of peace in our neighborhood and city and that the beauty of the gospel will break through the hearts of Portlanders who are looking for beauty and wholeness. 2,630,343 people live in the metro Portland area 69.3% are unaffiliated with any religious body 11.2% are affiliated with an evangelical church 1 SBC church for every 27,399 Portland residents SBC Chaplaincy Spotlight: International Mission Board Connecting in Prayer *Please pray for President Danilo Medina Sanchez of Domini- can Republic (island southeast of Cuba) *South Asian Peoples-Pray for the Baptist convention in a state in southern India. This fellowship of churches in that state is 40 years old and has struggled with divisions and dissension over the years. Pray for revival. Plead for a renewed commitment among the churches to focus on outreach to the 60 million people in the state. *Thailand-Ask the Lord to do a mighty work in Thailand for the sake of his name. Pray that he will awaken the people spiritually to the futility of their religion. May they know that he is real, loving, compassionate, gracious, and forgiving. Ask him to give them the faith to believe, a commitment to him that leads to discipleship, and a desire to know him and please him. Pray that he will raise up true disciples in the church who will lead out in evangelism. Petition for discipleship on all levels and multiplying churches that will make Christ known throughout Southeast Asia. *Mumbai, India (moom-bye) - Pastor Binod* oversees six different churches in Mumbai, but his true heart is for the villages in his state. His desire is to see a church planted in each of the 42,000 villages in his state (population: approximately 123 million). From his congregations, he has sent more than 120 missionaries into the villages to reach the lost. Pray for Pastor Binod as he leads and encourages his people. Petition for more pastors throughout South Asia to have a deep desire to see the lost become found! Lift up the 120-plus missionaries who have gone out into the villages. Pray that many more will be called and sent out to reach the more than 120 million lost people in Pastor Binod s state. (*name changed) PrayerConnect Connect with missionaries and chaplains by praying for them and their work, either through specific ministry prayer requests or on their birthdays. Aderemi Badru First Baptist Lane Laurel, MD Houseofhopeforallnations@gmail.com Aderemi Badru is a missionary planting a church that reaches out to internationals and immigrants in the city of Laurel, Md. Please pray that God will open doors of ministry in the city of Laurel. Pray that the Lord will open unto us the door of utterance that we may boldly declare the gospel of Jesus Christ and that the Lord will open unto us the door of faith in the hearts of the people to receive the gospel and become disciples of Jesus. Pray for us that God will send laborers who will be committed to the mandate that God has given us to bring people to true hope that can only be found in Jesus. Pray for us that God will provide resources for us to effectively and efficiently serve Him in this city. Please pray for us that the Lord will crush every opposition and obstacle to our ministry in this city. -5-

6 Valley Isle Fellowship Calendar November :00 am - Worship Service - Ordinance of Lordʻs Supper 6:00 pm - VIF Annual Business Meeting 27 6:30 pm - Prayer Meeting 29 6:30 pm - Youth Night December Office closed Fridays 5:00 pm - MOvinG Men of God Menʻs Ministry 3-9 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Week of Prayer 3 9:00 am - Worship Service 12 noon - Discipleship Leaders Meeting 6:00 pm - Evening Service/Study 4 6:30 pm - Prayer Meeting 6 6:30 pm - Youth Night 8 Office closed Fridays 6:00 pm - Sweet Life Cafe 10 9:00 am - Worship Service 12 noon - Trustees Meeting 6:00 pm - Evening Service/Study 11 6:30 pm - Prayer Meeting 13 6:30 pm - Youth Night 15 Office closed Fridays 17 9:00 am - Worship Service 6:00 pm - Evening Service/Study 18 6:30 pm - Prayer Meeting 20 6:30 pm - Youth Night 24 9:00 am - Worship Service 6:00 pm - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 25 Christmas Day - Office CLOSED Prayer Meeting - CANCELLED 27 6:30 pm - Youth Night Valley Isle Fellowship 1033 Waiale Rd., PO Box 886, Wailuku, HI ph: (808) vifoffice@vifmauihawaii.com - SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE Worship Service - 9:00 am Sunday School - 10:30 am * * * * * Senior Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro cell: (808) icastephen@gmail.com Associate Pastor Darren Sarmiento cell: (808) darrens@vifmauihawaii.com SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE Worship/Study 6:00 pm - 6 -

7 A Journey of Compassion Luke 2:1-7 Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro I. A Decree Luke 2:1-3 A. A decision B. A order II. An Decree Luke 2:4 A. A trip B. A trip C. A trip III. but Luke 2:5-7 A. Mary was only his, but obviously B. Mary was almost at C. Got to Bethlehem in D. Did not get desired NOTES: As we will be looking at a Journey of Faith next Sunday, you can be prepared by reading Luke 1:26-56 this week