Over the last few Sundays I’ve asked everyone to consider giving extra to help the church come across the finish line of the financial year (September 30th) ahead of the game. On Sunday I was able to share the exciting news that we are going to end up about $35,000 ahead of expenses! That is a huge praise for me, for the Elders, for the Staff, and for the entire church. We’ve worked really hard the last two years to cut expenses and to be good stewards of the church’s resources. This has involved many of you giving your time, which has also helped the church reduce expenses.
I truly believe this is a significant milestone and turning point for Valley View. God is moving in our church, many are excited about how God is working in their lives, and many are responding generously to the work happening through the church. And there is so much happening right now. You may see a number of works-in-progress if you’re around the church this month. But if you haven’t noticed, here are just a few things:
- All the canopies around the church are having the fabric covering replaced.
- The large fire escape stairway on the outside of the children’s wing is being sand-blasted and receiving a fresh coat of paint.
- The front entrance to the children’s wing is receiving a new entry door and moulding trim updates to address areas of peeling paint and decayed wood.
- Our fall Landscape Day is coming up on Saturday, October 17th, when we apply fresh mulch throughout the church grounds.
- Our baptismal is having a new cover installed, which helps with moisture management in the sanctuary.
- Our baptism changing rooms are getting a refresh by a team cleaning the rooms, adding more personal touches, new paint, and creating a more celebratory environment for such an important moment in the life of those who are baptized.
Speaking of baptisms, right now we have seven people planning to be baptized on October 18th, so pray for the rooms to be finished by then. We have a few others still praying about baptism, so please pray for wisdom for them. If you have been thinking about baptism or want to know more about what it might mean, please reach out to the church office or catch me at church as we’d love to talk with you about it.
Because we’ve had quite a few people get baptized this year, I will be starting a discipleship study, beginning with the next round of dGroups on October 21st. This study will help those new to the faith grow in their personal relationship with Jesus. We will focus on some of the fundamental spiritual disciplines like Bible study, having a personal quiet time, growing in your faith with other Christians, memorizing Scripture, and building consistency in your spiritual life. The class is designed for those recently baptized, but is also for anyone hungry to build community and focus on the fundamental spiritual growth practices of the faith.
You can sign up for this group or any of our dGroups on the church website or at one of the tables in the lobby over the next two Sundays.
Psalm 107:1-3 says, “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands.” Pause for a moment right now and give thanks to the Lord, for His goodness, for His steadfast love, and for His provision. He is the one who has “gathered in from the lands” what Valley View needed this year! Praise Him!