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.The Connection
December 18, 2011Vol. 3, Iss. 22

 

 

 

     

 

 

The Fourth Week of Advent:

 

Matt. 2: 1 -12

 

     After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem,  saying,

 

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east  and have come to worship Him."

 

When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.

 

 "In Bethlehem of Judea," they told him, "because this is what was written by the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the leaders of Judah:

because out of you will come a leader

who will shepherd My people Israel."

 

Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said,

 

"Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship Him."

 

 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was-the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him.

Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

 

UPCOMING WEST VALLEY EVENTS
 
 
 

Christmas Special Offering Designation 

 

Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies (BICS) is committed to training young people for a lifetime of  service to Christ. It may be as a lay leader or in a professional position.

 

At West Valley, we appreciate the value of BICS' unique approach to disciple-making, and have established the BICS Scholarship Fund to provide support to BICS students within our congregation. Lindsay Beck is an example of someone who benefits from the BICS Scholarship Fund and she will be with us Christmas Sunday to share some of her "BICS experiences!   

 

Currently, our BICS Scholarship Fund is depleted. The WVCC Catalyst Leadership Team has designated our annual Special Christmas Offering to the replenishment of this fund. Please give generously to this year's Christmas Offering, knowing your support has a direct impact on the lives of BICS students who have committed their lives to ministry, including Lindsay!

SONGS FROM WORSHIP

         - Selections for the Fourth Week of Advent 

 

    • O Come All Ye Faithful
    • Joyful Joyful
    • O Come, O Come Emmanuel
    • We Three Kings
    • Hope Was Born This Night
    • Angels We Have Heard On High
    • The Star Still Shines
    • Joy To The World

   

 

  

 

 

 
 
Cover Art

 

Last week's Advent Candle cover, "Light of the World" and this week's "Heavenly Peace" are both Stushie crayon art prints, used with permission of the artist. Additional art may be viewed at: www.stushieart.com   Our thanks to Stushie for sharing his gift with us.

 

Sunday Morning Family Hour-December schedule change

  

Our current schedule of lessons, studying the Book of Judges, will be paused for the next several weeks as we prepare to celebrate Christmas. Breakfast will still be served and we hope you will take this opportunity to visit and get to know each other better and perhaps share how God has worked in your life. Lessons will resume after the beginning of the new year.

 

Christmas Sunday  

For those of you who will be able to join us next Sunday, Christmas Day, we will serve a Continental breakfast at 10:30, followed by a service of celebration at 11:00 a.m. 

 

Christmas Dinner

Do You Have Plans for Christmas Dinner? If not...

You're welcome to join the Wheaton family for a traditional Dutch-Mongolian Christmas feast. The Wheaton family plan to celebrate Christmas with a meal at the Jasmine Mongolian Grill, 1:00, at the Federal Way Commons. The "Dutch" part of this tradition is you pay for yourself! Speak with Pastor Keith or Kathy to let them know if you're interested so that the correct number of reservations may be made."

 

 

 

 

 

Poinsettias Decorating the Sanctuary 

The beautiful poinsettias displayed throughout the sanctuary are shared with us:
 
 
In Memory of:
From:
Daddy, Aunt DoreenJan & Gary Erford
  
Alvin Lobb & June BrownJohn & Jody Fenlason
 Richard & Pami Hanson
Edward Maloney 
    Oliver & Ann Hanson
Our ParentsBrian & Pat Hogan
  
Keith & Kay ForbesMargaret and Lonnie Post
  
Auntie Mary, Auntie NetNeal & Ruth Tripp
    & Aunt Jane
Jack White & Pete UhlerTina & Don Ward
  
Mr. & Mrs. Gary WheatonKeith & Kathy Wheaton Family
     Mr. & Mrs. Robert Rock 
  
In Honor of:From:
MomJan & Gary Erford
  
Our Children, GrandchildrenClio & Kathleen Thomas
    & new Great Granddaughter 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

West Valley In Our Global Community 
 Service Opportunity!

 

Men's Breakfast

 

 

 

The next men's breakfast will be on Friday the 23rd - 7:00 am sharp -a great excuse to escape the hustle and bustle, relax and enjoy a conversation with "the guys" about what God is doing in your life.  No promises you'll enjoy Raindeer Donuts though - that's up to the cook...
 

One Minute Meditation  
 
For the Fourth Week of Advent

  

    

The angel Gabriel said to Mary,

 

 "Do not fear, Mary, you shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name Jesus.

 

 

 Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the Most High..."    ( Lk. 1)

 

  

 

O Jesus, I believe you were born of Mary and are God's Son.

 

 

 

Your mysterious coming is beyond understanding.  Yet like your holy

mother, Mary, I wish that you come to me, for you promised you will.

 

Let me serve you in any way I can and know that you are with me

day by day as my life goes by.

 

  

Like Mary, your mother, though I know you only by faith, may my whole being proclaim your greatness and my spirit rejoice in your favor to me.

 

     

O Wisdom, holy Word of God, Jesus Christ, holding all things

in your strong yet tender hands, come and show us the way to salvation.

 

 

 

 

Classifieds 

 

 

Free: Oak entertainment center - the kind with glass door cabinets for DVD player - in excellent condition. Just come and get it. 

Needed:: Tree cut down and removal.  Large pine tree beside our house needs to be cut down and removed.  Estimates welcome.

Both:  Contact Keith/Jan Eldridge   253-859-5469 

 

For sale: We have a 20 something year-old Kimball console piano in excellent condition that we would like to sell.  We are the original owners and Katie and David both learned to play on this instrument.  We use to have it tuned regularly but since it hasn't seen much use in the last few years it has been a while since it has been tuned.  We would like to get $600 but would consider offers.  I thought I would post it here before trying Craigslist.  Contact Scott or Betty Schleiffers.  (253) 838-6574 or email psa51 10@yahoo.com .

 

 

Listing items in the Classifieds

If you'd like to add items to a West Valley Classifieds list, please e-mail 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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