Rev. Deb

Seder Service

What a great Seder Service we had tonight at VWC.  We had around 200 people that had signed up to come.  Pastor Phillip Bottomly from The Church of St Peter and St Paul led the service.  If you attended I know you learned a lot that makes this week more meaningful.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to prepare the sanctuary, prepare the food, cleaned up etc.  It took a lot of planning and people to put this together.   A special thank you to LInda and her team.  You all always do a great job. 

Enjoy the pics!

Seder service pics

 
 
 

Seder Service

As most of you know next Wednesday night we will be hosting a Seder service here at VWC.

Rev. Phillip Bottomly from the Anglican Church on Peters Creek Rd will be leading the service.  We are encouraging all our families to come out because even the children will be involved in the activities of the evening.

After the telling of the Story, our meal will be served.  This is what our meal will probably consist of:  salad, chicken soup, beef brisket, egg dish, honeyed carrots, fruit and macaroon cookies, tea, water and coffee to drink. 

There is so much symbolism in the Seder meal and I know we will all gain a better understanding as we go through the meal and activities of the evening.

It starts at 6 p.m. and will end around 8 p.m.

YOU NEED TO CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE BY TODAY (THURSDAY MARCH 25) IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND AND LET LANA KNOW SO WE WILL KNOW HOW MANY TO PREPARE FOR!

Hope to see you there.

We are all laborers

Last night Pastor shared a message called "Laborers in the Field".  He shared several stories about how people have been impacted by our loving and caring congregation.

It is so important that we all reach out to the people around us with the love of Jesus.  Not only to our Church family but everyone that God has put in your life. 

Another thing that Pastor shared last night is that people are always watching us.  Especially if they know you are a Christian.  Many times people judge God by us.  If we are loving they see God as loving, if we are mean spirited then they see a judgmental God.  What kind of God are we portraying? 

When we were on the cruise the first night we ordered our meal and while we were waiting for the food to come we said our "blessing" over it.  We didn't make a big deal about it we just took hands, bowed our heads and Pastor prayed just loud enough for us to hear.  People at the table noticed though and after that some of them started praying over their meals the following evening.  We were at a table with four other couples and not everyone professed to be Christians, but after we prayed over our meal there were some who were open to talk about spiritual things.   I don't remember it ever coming up that we were Pastors, we just lived our faith out before them, we didn't try to preach to them. 

People want to see if what we believe is really real, they don't want to be condemned or preached at.  They want to know that God really does love them.  Let's continue to show people that God loves them by loving and serving them as we have opportunities.  I just want to say that I love being part of a Church that shows God's love in such practical ways. 

Sunday's Message

Last Sunday, Pastor ministered on Phil. 1:6 in a way that gave me a whole new perspective on this verse.

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:."

Pastor shared that we need to be confident and in faith that the spiritual work started in us is being completed. 

The word good in this verse means "perfect or excellence, good with benefits".  So the work that the Holy Spirit is doing in me is excellent and has benefits. 

I need to do my part but also know that the Spirit is doing His part in me.  Many times in our life we don't understand the season we are in. Usually when we look back on our lives, the job we were working in or what we were learning, we understand later what the purpose was for that time or season. 

One of his main points in the message was "Let your purpose rule your life, let it be first."  To hear the entire message go to Valley Word Church website and click on Media.

A Good Movie

Yesterday I went to see a movie that I had heard about from someone on Facebook.

The movie was "To Save A Life" and it would be worth your time to see.  I am not sure how much longer it will be playing in theaters but if you miss it I would rent or buy the DVD.  This movie would be especially interesting for those who have teens or pre-teens. 

The story is about a high school senior who is greatly affected by another teen's suicide.  In it a Youth Pastor and his church reach out to this young man and others to get them through this crisis and others.  The movie is very moving and shares Jesus without being preachy.

Even if you don't have a teen, I think you will really enjoy the message in this movie.  I encourage you see to see it and share it with anyone you think it might help.

Faith food

This morning I took a long walk and was listening to a great faith building sermon on my Ipod.

As I was walking along this phrase caught my attention.

"Carnal Christians don't chew."  I have been thinking about this phrase all day, remember in the NT Paul talks about the fact that some Christians can only receive the milk of the Word.  Those who are more mature though can take the meat. 

Which category do you find yourself in?  Are you just looking for a sweet little devotional everyday to  make you feel good.  Or are you digging into the Word for the things you need, meditating on the Word.  When you MEDITATE on the Word you are chewing and getting it into your spirit.

If we are going to have good success, we must chew or meditate the Word on a daily basis.  Let's not be satisfied for anything less than God's best.

Our Trip

Hi Everyone, we are back from our first cruise vacation.  It was really great and we look forward to taking another one. 

We took a four night cruise from Tampa to Cozumel Mexico.  We were on a smaller cruise ship and so you we very much aware of "the motion in the ocean" as our captain called it. We were told that the new ships are three times the size of the one we were on and you can't feel the motion on those.  It was great but after being on the ship for almost five days and two flights home yesterday, I feel like I am still moving when I sit down. 

The ship had eleven levels and lots to do.  I referred to it several times as the big floating buffet.  I had to be very disciplined because there is always food available.  The food on this ship was very  good and our waiters and porter were very attentive.  The only thing that saved me from gaining some pounds was working out in the fitness center almost everyday and taking the steps everywhere instead of riding the elevators.

One of the most interesting things that happened to us on board was getting an invitation to go on the bridge and meet the Captain of the ship.  We were escorted up by security at a certain time with a small group and the Captain showed us around and talked and answered questions for over an hour.  We really enjoyed the view from up there and got to ask everything you would want to know from a Captain. 

We were really grateful to be able to vacation last week and want to thank everyone who took care of things at VWC while we were gone.  We thank God everyday for such a great staff, leadership and Church family.

   

Awakening Prayer

Awakening Prayer

Monday March 15

Leader - Rodney Anders

Join Rodney and our Prayer team every first and third Monday night for this Prayer time.  That meet in the VWC prayer room at 7 p.m.

We have been having some great prayer times and seeing  good things happen because of them.  See you there!

Time Change

Daylight Saving Time begins.

Don't forget to move your clock ahead one hour tonight before you go to bed.

See you at Church on time in the morning!