The Forge Report: Vol 133, November 2011

Volume 133: November 2011

Christmas at Valley Forge

Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 7:30 pm

TICKETS REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION

You will not want to miss this year's spectacular Christmas at Valley Forge. The 7th annual event will be held on two nights, Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3. Both performances will take place in the Flower Chapel beginning at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:45 pm.

The evening will be filled with sounds of the season including selections from Handel's Messiah. The Valley Forge Christian College Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Handbells will be featured.

Plan to arrive early to enjoy hundreds of luminaries that light the way to the Flower Chapel.

Join us as we begin the holiday season with an evening celebrating the sounds of Christmas!

Dates: December 2 & 3, 2011
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Flower Chapel
1401 Charlestown Road
Phoenixville, PA 19460

Purchase your tickets today by calling 610.917.3954, or click here for online purchasing.

Homecoming 2011 Recap

VFCC welcomed alumni and their families back to campus beginning Tuesday, October 18 with featured guest artists Dave, Duane and Neil, formerly known as the Couriers. Wednesday featured the 2011 Distinguished Young Alumni Award recipient, Rev. Brigham Lee '06, as chapel speaker. Homecoming culminated with several athletic games and the crowning of the King and Queen.

Click here for the full Homecoming recap and photos »

VFCC Receives Community Greening Award

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) awarded VFCC with the 2011 PHS Community Greening Award last month. Over 80 nominated sites were recommended for this prestigious award.

The PHS recognizes greening and beautification efforts throughout the area that have benefitted their surrounding communities. The award acknowledges the efforts of those who improve their main streets, public parks, train stations, churches, schoolyards, libraries, and traffic islands. Nominated sites were judged on plant variety, design, use of space, and horticultural practices.

Walking the Red Carpet

Along with millions of Americans, Michael Gagliardo '07, loves to watch celebrities walk down the red carpets at celebrated awards shows. But unlike everyone else, Michael doesn't just watch - he actually gets to walk down the red carpet too.

Click here to read the full story »

Changing Lives in India...One Painting at a Time

When they first heard about the sex-slave industry in India, VFCC students Courtney Mortensen and Aubrey Short decided, without hesitation, that they needed to do something to help support Project Rescue, a ministry to women and children in sexual slavery focused on providing physical, emotional and spiritual rescue and holistic restoration. Under the ministry name of Inspire India, they started to paint pictures and sell them, with all proceeds going toward Project Rescue. "From that point on, we just watched God work."

Click here to read the full story »

Finding Freedom in Lewisburg

Tony Cruz '00, made the ultimate transformation. He went from being involved with street activity to giving his life to Jesus all before he was old enough to drive. By the time he was 16 years old, he knew exactly what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He had just experienced first-hand the impact of powerful preaching, and he wanted to have the privilege of being used by God in that same capacity. Now, years later, he opened the doors to Freedom Life Church in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, where he is fulfilling a dream and a mission.

Click here to read the full story »

Health Center Reminders

Daylight Savings Time Ends Sunday, November 6
Don't forget to set your clocks back. This is also a great time to replace batteries in your smoke alarms.

Cold Prevention Tip
Because germs and viruses cling to your bare hands, muffling coughs and sneezes with your hands results in passing along your germs to others. When you feel a sneeze or cough coming, use a tissue, then throw it away immediately. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow.

Flu Shots
It is not too late to get one. Parents are encouraged to share this information with their VFCC child. Several places in our area offer them, please call for more information.

Chester County Health Department
610.344.4533

Giant Pharmacy Phoenixville
610.917.9310

Save a Life -- Give Blood

VFCC will be hosting their annual American Red Cross Blood Drive on November 14, 2011 from 1 pm to 7 pm in the Flower Chapel. Local blood banks are at critically low levels and with your help lives can be saved. This event is open to anyone willing to donate, so come out and make a difference by saving a life. Our goal this year is 95 volunteers. We need 15 more volunteers!

Why should you donate blood?

- Every two seconds someone in the US needs blood.
- The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately three pints.
- A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.

Sign up today online. A confirmation email will be sent to you once you sign up.

1. Go to redcrossblood.org.
2. Click on Enter a Sponsor Code.
3. Enter the Sponsor Code: 2014 and click on GO.
4. Then go to the row that has Valley Forge Christian College info listed and click on the last column that says: Click here to schedule an appointment to donate.

Please note: There are two options for donating - one is for donating blood and double red cells and the other is for donating platelets. Choose the one you prefer.

5. On the next screen:
a. Type in your email address AND birth date.
b. Click on the login box.
6. On the next screen, click on: November 14, 2011.
7. On the next screen, click on time slot that works best for you.

We hope to see you in the VFCC Flower Chapel on November 14th!

Online Giving Tool

You can give to VFCC online through a tool at vfcc.edu/give. We can attest to the wisdom and faithfulness of every person who has invested in VFCC and we thank you sincerely for considering VFCC in your giving plans. Whatever the size, your gift truly matters and inspires others to give. Your contribution will help VFCC serve students and the world through Christ through education and spiritual formation. Thank you for faithfully lifting up VFCC in prayer. Your support, both spiritual and financial, will ensure that VFCC's light will shine brightly for years to come.

Click here to give now »

Forge Report Archives are Now Available

Have you missed a previous Forge Report email newsletter? Now you can access our archive by clicking the link below.

Click here to access the Forge Report archive »

Make a Lasting Impact on VFCC

Transform lives, reach your financial goals, and make a lasting impact on Valley Forge Christian College. Planned giving can make it happen. A variety of charitable options allow you to make a significant gift to VFCC and reach future financial goals for you and your family.

Options include: charitable remainder trust, endowment, charitable gift annuity and donor advised fund. VFCC is partnering with Assemblies of God Financial Services to provide professional planned giving services.

For information on how your gift can benefit VFCC, contact:

Kristie Overly
Director Annual Fund, Grants & Alumni Services
610.917.1414
Email

Leadership Tools by Dr. Don Meyer

Goldman, Ari L. The Search for God at Harvard. Times Books: United States, 1991.

Ari Goldman was an Orthodox Jew and was pursuing his writing career at The New York Times for 10 years when he was allowed a sabbatical in 1985 to study religion at Harvard. He had always been a very devout Jew, and while reporting for "The Times" he had always written with great accuracy, but little attachment or feeling. And so, "The Search for God at Harvard" is the memoir of his experience there, of opening up to dialogue, understanding himself, and faith.

Particularly in today's Post-Modern culture, religion has become a topic wide-open for discussion. Many are quick to talk on and on regarding their personal beliefs, yet very slow to patiently listen and understand others. This memoir is an open door to listen in on captivating dialogue and thoughts concerning God, belief and faith. Sometimes we need a good reminder that maybe talking isn't the most important thing.

DATES TO REMEMBER