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| February 18, 2011 | Vol. 3, Iss. 5
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Reminder to All Worship Team Members and Sound Technicians
Mark your calendars for a rehearsal and sound system seminar that will be held simultaneously February 26, 1:00 to 4:00. Please plan to attend! World-renowned sound technician Jim Rivers will be here to help us optimize our equipment while the worship team provides a "real-world" sound check through rehearsal. Jim is extremely gracious to give us the benefit of his expertise --one of his most recent assignments was to travel to London to engineer the sound for Queen! Neal has been working for the past four months trying to coordinate schedules for Jim and all the WVCC members. Please don't miss it! |
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| You're Invited...If You're Old Enough!
At noon on Tuesday, February 22, everyone 65 years old or older is invited to a luncheon here at West Valley Community Church. A meal of grilled chicken, salads and dessert will be provided. Please come and join us for a special time of fellowship!
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News from ACGC
 The prayers of hundreds of people have been answered. Last week we received the good news that the medical/dental equipment that was shipped from Maine a year and a half ago had finally arrived in Mati, Davao Oriental, Philippines.
In the Fall of 2009, HealthEquip, a non-profit corporation founded by Joe and Pat Iriana in Maine, shipped dental equipment and an incubator to the Agape Orphanage in the Philippines. The dental equipment was to be installed in place at the orphanage, while the incubator was a donation to the Provincial Hospital in Mati. Now that the equipment has arrived, the dental equipment will be installed in an appropriate room at the Mati orphanage and will be used by dental teams from the States as well as local dentists to provide much needed dental care. The next dental team from the States will be in November of 2011. The incubator is a much needed piece of equipment, which is being given to the local provincial hospital as a donation. It is much needed because it will be the only incubator for infants in that brand new hospital, which was just opened in November of last year. Prior to that, in the old hospital, premature babies were placed in a basket with a blanket and a light bulb.
So, we are rejoicing that these much needed pieces of equipment have arrived safely and will soon be put to good use in helping to provide quality dental and medical care. In the days ahead we will present pictures of their installation and use. 
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Thank You!
Thanks to the youth and their leaders for a wonderful Valentines party. The atmosphere was lovely, including the decorations and music. The young people dressed in their nicest and provided excellent service all around. Clio and I went home feeling so proud of each one of you and blessed to have you as part of the church.
- Clio and Kathleen Thomas
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One-Minute Meditations
 Home - our favorite place to be - for those of us who are blessed to have a home. Our hearts go out to those who are homeless. As Christians we have a spiritual home with God as written in the Bible: "One thing I have desired of the Lord-that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." David, in his "Saws", expresses it this way: "We all arrive at your doorstep, God, sooner or later, loaded with guilt; our sins too much for us-but you get rid of them once and for all. We expect our fill of good things in your house, your heavenly mansion. All your salvation wonders are on display in your trophy room. Show me how you work, God. School me in your ways. Take me by the hand. Lead me down the path of truth. If I keep my eyes on you I won't trip over my feet. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. I'm asking you, God, for one thing, only one thing: To live with you in your house-my whole life long. I'll contemplate your beauty, I'll study at your feet. That's the only quiet place in a noisy world; The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic!" Thank you, God, for your tender love and care, and for the privilege of living in your wonderful home. |
Library Corner
Two donated books are now out. One is Barbara Johnson's experience with brain cancer surgery and treatment. She is the funny lady of the Women of Faith Ministries and finds joy in some of the terrible times in her life. PLANT A GERANIUM IN YOUR CRANIUM is the title of this encouraging and sometimes funny story. T.J. Jakes gives a heart warming tribute to women and mother's in MAMA MADE THE DIFFERENCE.
A group of books dealing with the Advent Christian Church, beliefs and doctrine have been pulled out for use. Two of the newer ones of the group are GOD'S STRANGE WORK by David Rowe who has thoroughly researched the life of William Miller, founder of our denomination. N.T. Wright's SURPRISED BY HOPE parallels many of the beliefs of our founding fathers. If you are curious about what our denomination is about, here are answers. There is also history of our beginnings and development up to this present time in which we worship together here at West Valley. This is an invitation to do a little mind stretching!
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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,
"Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God,...and my new name." (Rev. 3:12 NIV)
These words were spoken centuries ago by our Lord Jesus in a time of persecution. Today we can hardly read them without thinking of the countless people who have found them as a source of strength and courage.
The promise is to "Him who overcomes". It is the Savior Christ who is speaking. The Gospel story has long since been told. His work of incarnation and redemption is done. He is resurrected from the dead and ascended to the Father. From the Father's right hand He speaks to the men and women, boys and girls, here on earth who are engaged in the struggle for which He has prepared them. As Phillips Brooks, one of my favorite preachers explains, it is a special struggle. It is not the human fight that every person faces of sickness, pain, and death. It is not the struggle for position, place, knowledge, or esteem that every person craves. Nor is it the struggle after goodness as important and helpful as that may be.
I think the overcoming of which Jesus is speaking is that of the surrender of the self to an extent similar to what He Himself experienced in the Garden the night before His crucifixion. It was then that He prayed, "Not my will, but thy will be done". This is where the Christian faces his/her greatest struggles.
It is easy to do what we want to do. It is one thing to talk about doing God's will, and another thing to actually do it. It is easy to ask Jesus to bless the plans we have already made. God is not the helper of our plans. God is to be the sum total of plans that are centered in Him....that He has been allowed to help us draft. He is to be the end of all our wishes. Where we live, where we work, what motivates us, what we do with our lives, those are the issues in which Jesus is asking us to be overcomers.
We have to remember that He is Lord, and when He speaks these words in Revelation He also says earlier in that book, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, Who is, Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty". It is this Lord Who calls us to self surrender, and Who promises to make us into pillars in the temple of God.
May He richly bless you as you seek to serve Him!
Love in Him,
Pastor Clio
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Women's Ministry Spring Retreat
May 2011
Planning has begun for the Spring Retreat. It will be the weekend after Mother's Day this year. We will not be going to Oak Harbor as in the past and the cost will be a little more this year. I am trying to get the word out so we can save our money and find ways to get the ladies to this retreat. It has been a real blessing in my life and would encourage you to consider this retreat. The cost this year will be approximately $90.00. If you have questions come see me.
-- Pami Hanson |
Mark Your Calendars
- February 19, Women Together Group, 9 AM, Church
- February 19, Craft Day
- February 26, Worship Team and Sound Technician Training, 1-4 PM
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 Happy Birthday!
February:
16: Raisa Pleasants
26: Patricia McNeill
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| Classifieds
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 (office@westvalleychurch.org) 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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