Belle Valley Belle Newsletter - Dec. 2008

December 2008 Church Calendar

The Pastor’s Searchlight—December, 2008

In a New York Times Magazine article, Nancy V. Raine shared this story that she had heard 25 years earlier from a friend named George:

In those days, work crews marked construction sites by putting out smudge pots with open flames. George's four-year-old daughter got too close to one and her pants caught fire like the Straw Man's stuffing. The scars running the length and breadth of Sarah's legs looked like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. In the third grade she was asked, "If you could have one wish, what would it be?" Sarah wrote: "I want everyone to have legs like mine."

When we suffer, we want others to understand. We want others to be like us so they can identify with us. We don't want to be alone. God understands our suffering…God identifies with our human struggle…God doesn't leave us alone! When Jesus became a man, he gave up his right to his heavenly throne, his divine splendor, and his majestic honor to stoop down to our level…in fact even lower, for he came to be a servant…to us! He took on our human struggle to prove that we weren't alone, that He did understand, and that He could feel our pain. This Advent, we celebrate the God who comes…who comes to us, when we had no hope of reaching Him, and touches our pain, touches our loneliness, touches our lostness. He embraced it all and held it to His heart, until he could remove it all from us by carrying it to the cross!

Join together with us as we journey to the manger of Bethlehem to receive God's Christmas Touch! O Come, Let us adore Him!

Yours In Christ, Dave
P.S. My family thanks you all from the bottom of our hearts for the gracious gift given in October as an expression of Pastors Appreciation Month. We enjoyed a very relaxing dinner together at Longhorn Steakhouse, and we plan to take in a movie together this season as a part of our family tradition on Christmas day! You gave us more than gift cards…you gave us the gift of time together as a family, for which I am humbly grateful this Thanksgiving!

Don't forget! The Deacons have special envelopes in the pew racks for all those who wish to donate to their caring & assistance ministry during communion Sunday each month.
Dec. 7: (Communion) "The Christmas Touch" Advent Series: "Honor the Overlooked" (Lk. 2:8-14)
Dec. 14: (New Member Reception, Cong'l. Mtg. to elect officers) "The Christmas Touch" Advent Series:
"Love a Family Member" (Matt. 1:18-25)
Dec. 21: "The Christmas Touch" Advent Series: ""Seek a Fresh Touch from God" (Lk. 1:5-25)
Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service w/Chancel Choir's Choral Cantata, "Reach Toward Heaven" (Lk. 1:26-56)
Dec. 28: "The Christmas Touch" Advent Series: "Embrace the World" (Lk. 2:21-35, 39-40)

UPCOMING EVENTS: (Sunday schedule: 9:30 Sunday School, 11am worship)
**Recycling: drop-offs anytime (newspaper trailer out front, cardboard/magazine dumpsters, cans/metals under pavilion-bagged)-12/12 (4:30pm)/13 (8am) unload newspapers onto truck for redemption **Communion, 1st Sun. monthly **Session, Dec. 8, 6pm
**Deacons, 2nd Sun. monthly (after worship) **TOPS, Weds., 5-7pm **Adult Study Group, Dec. 4, 18
**Penny Sunday, last Sunday monthly-change for mission! **Choir rehearsals, Weds.'s @ 7pm (except 12/24,31)
**Dec. 6, 9-11am, Hanging of the Greens (breakfast provided)-Join the fun of decorating our church!
**Dec. 7, Pancake & Sausage Brunch after worship **Dec. 13, "Christmas Memories" Fellowship Event @ The Station, 6pm
**Dec. 14, New Member Reception & Annual Cong'l Mtg. (to elect officers) after worship
**Dec. 21, Christmas Caroling to Shut-Ins (after worship) **Dec. 24, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service w/Choral Cantata, 7pm

The Hanging of the Greens! Dec. 6, 9-11am (breakfast provided). Please join in the family fun of gathering for breakfast and decking our halls for the Advent/Christmas season, while Christmas music plays in the background. Many hands make light the task of putting up the sanctuary tree w/chrismons, the many wreaths, the nativities, the garlands w/poinsettias, and knick knacks that adorn our foyer.

The Belle Valley Deacons are having a Pancake Brunch Fundraiser!...Dec. 7 (Sunday) following worship;
$5 each, kids under 5 are free, and families pay no more than $25.00. Menu includes: pancakes, sausage, juice/coffee/tea/milk. The monies raised will support our Mercy Center Christmas Gift Tree (gift tags that are left over after members' selections), and also enable us to continue our hospital outreach, funeral care ministry, or helping anyone in need in general. The Deacons are committed to being there when help is needed. The Deacons would like to thank all of you in advance for all you do in helping to support the many Deacons' ministries of Belle Valley Church. If you have any questions, please call Kim Ragen (392-5831).

Mercy Center for Women/Children "Angel Tree" The tree in the foyer carries gift tags for women and children of the Mercy Center for Women (shelter services for battered or addicted women). The Deacons oversee this Christmas gift ministry from our church to these healing families. Please join in and take a tag (or more) and fill out your name on the sign-up sheets on the foyer table, then return the unwrapped gifts with the tags taped to them individually by Dec. 7! Cash donations for those who can't shop can be given to Kim Ragen and the Deacons will shop on your behalf.

"Christmas Memories" Fellowship Event! Join in the festive fun of The Station Dinner Theatre (Peach @ W. Gore Rds.) as we coordinate a group to attend the 12/13 (Sat., 6pm) performance of "Christmas Memories" (a musical comedy romp through the favorite Christmas memories of the readers of a community newspaper, as the staff picks out the best one for an award). Dinner includes: Corn chowder soup, salad, bread, ham in pineapple sauce, chicken tarragon, green beans, ginger rice, and pumpkin crunch. Tickets are ; please sign up in the foyer by Sunday, 12/7 or by email (reved87@aol.com)/phone (397-1861) to Pastor Dave by Weds., 12/10.

Christmas Caroling for Our Shut-Ins…We would like to reach out to our homebound members (approx. 6) on Sun., Dec. 21 following worship (and lunch in the fellowship hall) to share the grace of Jesus Christ through song, prayer, and fellowship. If you'd be available to carol together, sign up on the list in the foyer. We need a volunteer to help coordinate this effort (not much to it), please speak w/Pastor Dave for more info (397-1861).

Interested in Exploring?…What it means to become a member in full standing? Please see Pastor Dave (397-1861) to get details. We can receive new members at any time after you've received appropriate preparation.
Any Church Family Needs… sickness, hospitalization, funeral reception after the loss of a loved one, financial need, etc. Please contact the Deacons through Kim Ragen (825-4554 or 392-5831) or contact Pastor Dave (397-1861) if concerned about anonymity!

Church Steeple Fund Raiser: To raise money to offset this building project, the Building & Grounds Committee has planned the following fundraiser: Dedicate a carillon hymn/praise piece! You can dedicate any of the songs listed in the new carillon to yourself or a loved one for just $10 each. This is also a great way for those who weren't able, to participate directly in our steeple project. Contact Rick Leasure for more information (739-2485).

Are you or anyone you know in any kind of emotional crisis or grief over loss (of loved one, employment, mobility, independence, etc.)? We have access to trained Stephen Ministers who can journey alongside you as you face your crisis or loss. A SM is a gifted listener/encourager just for you alone, without cost, and completely confidential. Contact Pastor Dave for more information (397-1861 or email at reved87@aol.com).

Belle Valley's Recycling Ministry Needs YOU! Unloading the newspaper trailer onto a delivery truck normally takes place on that 2nd Friday each month at 4:30pm, and that Saturday at 8am. If you can be available to help with our recycling efforts each month, then contact Charlie Blanchard (825-3925) for more information!

Please pray for: (Please contact us with any changes to or removals from this list) Kira Oberlin, Rob Causgrove family, Hazel Imig, Barb Doyle, Lou Barton, Ashley Smith, Chloe Connor, Keith Fisher, Bruce Marzka, Kristi Miller, Brendan Shadle, Charles Lavelle, Gianna Smith, Debi Johnson, Jen Askins, Dave Schmidt, Kim Drake, George Wellsby, Doris Jumper, Amy Lucchini, armed services personnel around the world (especially Justin Bonnie, Jonathan Etienne, Rev. Dennis Kitterman, Emily Feaster, Thomas Eccles, Sean Young & Blake Myers); peace & healing in Sudan (Darfur crisis), and the Middle East; the Gulf reconstruction; CA fire victims. Presbytery prayer list: Revs. Stephen Morse, Penney Fujii & Viktoria Berlik (cancer), Harmonsburg church (fire), Warren-First church (Rev. David Leininger) and Rev. Emily Rodgers (MAL).To contact the prayer chain, call Norma Hitchcock at 825-7513.

Belle Valley's Prayer Chain Ministry Needs YOU! Our prayer chain is in need of some new members. This ministry is called upon whenever there is an emergency prayer need brought to our attention from members. If you would be available to be a "prayer warrior" to offer prayer for those in need whenever asked, please contact Norma Hitchcock (825-7513) for more information!