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Lots of Boxes!
A big thank you to all who brought in filled shoeboxes for Operation
Christmas Child. There were 24 in all--7 more than last year! Just
think of the smiles on the faces of 24 children throughout the world as
they open those boxes, and let's remember to pray for those children
that they may come to know how very much God loves them. |
Library News
Have you been looking for something new to read? Several new selections have arrived and been placed on the NEW BOOKS shelf. If you like historical fiction, take a look at The Russians series by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella. Another series is by Lori Wick, A Place Called Home. Both of these series grew from books donated by Melinda Lobb and have been added to for completion of each series.
Tracy Kidder has written Strength in What Remains, which gives a firsthand account of a young African man who survived civil war and found his way to NYC, where he lived a bare survival existence. He finally finished his education with the help of church and dedicated friends and is now building a medical work in his country. A powerful story of the strength of the human spirit.
What Difference Do It Make? is a sequel to Same Kind of Different as Me, a remarkable story of an unlikely friendship between an art dealer, his wife and a homeless man whose lives intertwined to create a huge awareness of the needs of the homeless. The second book is a sharing of many stories which the first precipitated when people were touched to give of their lives and resources sacrificially. Challenging and inspiring. Authors are Ron Hall and Denver Moore. You will also find more recent titles on the new book shelf.
CHRISTMAS BOOKS ARE OUT! Check the back table for a little bit of inspiration for the season. You deserve a little quite time to enjoy some seasonal reading. Something for everyone! There are many children's books too. Thanks to Elie Wheaton who helped arrange the children's section. |
| Animals for Stafford
The Stafford team is collecting new or gently used small stuffed
animals to give as gifts to each resident of Stafford who attends our
worship service on Christmas Sunday. If you have some you'd like to
donate, please place them in the box at the back of the church by
Sunday, Dec. 13th. We're also hoping to round up BELLS to use during
our holiday services. If you have some you could donate or loan, please
put those in the same box. If you'd like your BELLS returned to you,
please label them with your name. Thanks so much! |
Youth News
Fall Beach Retreat
We had a great trip to the Oregon Coast last weekend. 19 students and 3 adults made the trip south in the church van and another SUV. We had a great time of learning and worship. All reports I have heard from students have been extremely positive. Thank you, Tina Ward, for driving and helping all weekend!
Church Breakfast Is Back
We have had some youth working in the kitchen downstairs the last month!
 
Look for the work to change from creating a beautiful meeting room and kitchen, into creating a beautiful breakfast for your whole family to enjoy.
All Church breakfast will start up again on December 6. We will aim to serve at 10:00 am. Come for the good food and great fellowship.
Western Students
I have been lucky enough to go visit Stephanie and Lilly twice in the past couple of weeks to visit with them. Pastor Keith and I made a trip up for lunch one day and Becca and I made a trip up with Rachelle (one of their friends) another night. They are both doing well and looking forward to coming home for Thanksgiving.
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Classifieds- Graphic design services on a per-project basis - quick, creative, efficient design at reasonable rates. Services include logo design, corporate identity, brochures, specialty design, posters, flyers, etc. Contact Tracey Coon at 253-632-1085 if interested.
Listing items in the Classifieds
If you'd like to add items to a West Valley Classifieds list, please e-mail Tracey Coon in the church office for items in the following categories. Please also include your contact information and a detailed description.
- Help Wanted
- Work/Services Wanted
- For Sale
- Free Items
These items will be listed on a weekly basis in our e-news. If you have recurring items, please keep the church office informed on a weekly basis by the end of day Thursday.
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Mark Your Calendars
View calendar events online:
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From Our Pastor Emeritus, Clio Thomas
Pastor Clio Thomas serves as "Area Director" for the Asia/Pacific mission field of the Advent Christian Denomination. One of his duties is to encourage mission workers in a variety of settings throughout Asia. The following is a weekly installment of his letter, sent literally around the world to those in his charge.Dear Ones in Christ,
Following up on last
week's thoughts on neglecting the Church, there are several more serious
implications to be considered. The Statements of Faith that were
mentioned as not referring to the Church at all had a great deal of
emphasis on the nature of God, the person and sacrificial work of
Christ, and man's need of salvation. But for the most part there is
no mention of the saved individual becoming a part of God's plan to reach and
change the world. The Bible does not teach that Jesus forgives and
saves the individual just so he or she can have a place in His
eternal Kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. What Jesus has in
mind is bringing all the saved individuals together into His Body, which
is the Church. If this happens a mighty body of people will be set loose
to be His agents in a lost world. It is through the Church that the
Gospel is proclaimed, that the sacraments of Baptism and Communion
are shared, that believers are discipled and nurtured, and that
accountability and discipline are maintained. None of this is
effective apart from the Church. It is instructive that in all of
Paul's letters in the New Testament where he mentions the "saints"
of the churches it is always in the plural. Where he does use the
singular "saint" he implies the plural by writing "every
saint". And, parenthetically, saint does not refer to personal
piety, but to a righteousness granted by Jesus through faith in Him. If
we do not have Pastors and leaders who have a robust view of the Church, and
who lead their people to deep and abiding love and loyalty to the Church, we
will fail our Lord Who is the Head of the Church. Why in the world would
we neglect the Church when it is Christ's Bride? More next week.
May God bless and keep
you!
In His love,
Pastor Clio
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