The Link
Valley United Methodist Church
25133 E. Broadway, P.O. Box 337
Veneta, Oregon 97487
Phone: (541) 935-1614 Fax: (541) 935-1617
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.valleychurchveneta.org
Reverend Mike Gregor
February 2015
Valley United Methodist Church
PO Box 337
Veneta, OR 97487
Michael’s Message
“Praise be to the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion
and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort
those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how grateful my family and I
are for all the prayers, well wishes, words of comfort and support from our church
family at the loss of our dad/grandpa Vince. It’s a shame that you only got to meet
him a time or two. He was very proud of all his children and grandchildren and
when he came out west he loved to worship where I pastored.
Dad passed on December 29th, the same day his mother died in 1991. We
were all pretty sure that his prayers to God were asking for the Lord to take him
quickly before there was any more suffering. God seemed to honor that prayer
request by taking him home before he had to endure another uncomfortable move,
this time to a nursing home.
The more I think back on it, the more joyful I am for the two weeks that all of
us siblings got to spend together in November at Thanksgiving time. The joy on his
face was priceless and I know that the moments together were a huge blessing.
Dad could very well have rallied all his strength to make the most of that time
together and I find it interesting that he found his greatest comfort on worship and
his church.
Our church is in a time of collective grief.
We are grieving the loss of our good friends Guy
Ames and Adelaide Spencer. The prayers I have
felt from many of you reveal that there is grieving
for my dad too. We can acknowledge that and say
that we need one another as church friends, to
rely upon one another to help carry us through. In
his second letter to the people of Corinth, Paul
speaks of the comfort that God gives to us, and we
as followers respond to God’s gift by sharing them
with others. In our time of grief and sorrow, let us
help one another by sharing God’s love and
comfort with each other.
—Mike
Pastor Mike can be contacted by phone (503-396-6041) or email ([email protected]) ―
not to be confused with the church email ([email protected]).
Like the Valley UMC page on Facebook or go to the website: www.valleychurchveneta.org.
How Can We Grow Our Congregation?
The proven, most effective way to grow
our congregation is to invite friends and
neighbors to attend a Sunday service. My plan
for this year is to invite members who have left
our church and are still in the area to return
and see what they have been missing. This
week I have sent two cards though the mail to
two such families encouraging them to visit us
on a coming Sunday.
Our services are always welcoming and
Pastor Mike’s sermons are top notch. We are the most involved church in our
community and we conduct weekly Bible study on Wednesday with a Sunday
message that is scripturally based. Most of our former members know how
involved we are in the community but they may not know that care and welfare of
our congregation comes first to our pastor and church leadership.
Take a little extra time this month and drop a “wish you were here” card in
the mail to someone that you have not seen in church for a while. If some folks get
multiple cards, so much the better.
Blessings, Phil Groshong, Lay Leader
P.S. I have ordered special VUMC note cards. Once they arrive, a week or so, they
will be available for anyone in the congregation to use.
Update From Ethel Smith
We’ve had an update on Ethel. She is doing well in
Vancouver, Washington. Although her eyesight is
failing, her caretakers will read cards and letters to her.
As we reach out to each other to deepen our
connections, feel free to send a card to:
Ethel Smith c/o KLD Adult Family Home
2600 NE 163rd Court
Vancouver, WA 98684
From the Ames Family
Our many thanks to all who helped make
the day of Guy’s service a memorable one. To
all who fixed the delicious food, juggled tables
before and after, and who came out for the
service. Also to those who videotaped and
played the music before and after.
Thank you one and all,
Nancy Ames and the family: the Ameses and the Kings (all daughters)
Invite Our Youth to
Youth ’N Fusion
We have all heard great
stories about amazing people
and things near and far….
Have you ever wished you
had cool stories of your own?
You do…God gave each of
us a place in creation’s big story. Let’s learn more about who we are, where we fit
and how to talk about it.
This camp-style experience is for 6th-12th graders from all across Oregon on
March 13th-15th in Roseburg. Come discover more about your amazing story!
To register, go to https://ynforegon.wordpress.com/
Big Love, YNF 2015 Planning Team
Valley Indoor Playgroup
Ages 0-5 Tuesdays & Thursdays 10am-Noon
Email [email protected] or call Monica
Sheeler at 541-935-1897 for information or to assist. Look
for the list on Facebook: Valley Community Play Group.
Council Report
We began a new format for the
Council meetings in January. We will spend
the first half of each meeting in scripture,
prayer and sharing. Our hope is to build a
stronger group of leaders who can seek and
listen to what God is calling us to do in
order to increase our individual and
corporate spiritual lives as well as the ministries we may envision here in the Fern
Ridge area.
We only had about half of the Council members present for the January
meeting, but we began this new format. I think it was a very positive experience in
learning to share with each other—both our personal sharing and our corporate
scriptural responses. This prepared us to then focus on asking for, listening, and
hearing possibilities to grow our church.
The second part of the Council meetings will include brief reports from each
Board. It is our hope that suggestions, concerns, and questions can be resolved in
the individual Board meetings, rather than long discussions at Council. We are
asking that minutes from each Board meeting be copied and presented, so as to
save time in the Council meeting. This will also make them available to everyone
and provide a record for the files.
Please keep the following Council members in your prayers and share with
any of them your concerns and dreams for our church.
· Pastor Mike Gregor
· Finance Chair: Diane Smith
· Council Chair: Chris Rider
· Treasurer: Margie Groshong
· Council Vice Chair: Teri Watanabe
· SPRC and Foundation Chair: Michael
Foster
· Secretary: Gay Stevens
· Community Meal Planning Team
· Lay Leader: Phil Groshong
Chair: Monica Sheeler
· Trustees Chair: Bryan Phillips
Blessings, Chris Rider, Chair
Mission Update
We have received more than sufficient funds for
Pastor Mike’s mission trip to Guatemala with the
Cascade Medical Team. We ask you to hold him and
the team in prayer this month and next.
Sponsored by the Columbia and Vancouver Districts
Signs of Life: Reimagining the Church in the Pacific NW
Saturday, February 21, 2015 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Portland First United Methodist Church
Keynote: Rev. Duane Anders
Senior Pastor, Cathedral of the Rockies (FUMC Boise, ID)
"Together we are better. Our best days are ahead. The church is growing. No, I am not
drinking when I write this--This is the United Methodist Church that I am a part of and
believe in. This weekend we will dream, laugh, worship and envision our next
steps as we become the church."
Workshops and Conversations
Intentional Conversations on vitality and perseverance:
Getting off our Assets, Nonviolent conversations, spectating a young adult
conversation, crossing denominational lines, engaging the mission field, leading
beyond Sunday...and MORE. Led by our colleagues and partners in ministry in Oregon
and Washington.
LOCATION: Portland First United Methodist
1838 SW Jefferson
Portland, OR 97201
www.fumcpdx.org
COST:
$15 per person (includes lunch)
Click here to register and for more details!
If you’d like to attend, please contact Pastor Mike at
503-396-6041 or [email protected]
or Chris Rider at 541-935-4242 or [email protected].
Community Meal
The Community Meal Team can always use more volunteers as
we bring a warm meal and fellowship to those in need. Please
consider donating a small portion of your time or talent to help out.
You can sign up in the fellowship hall or on the web site:
http://www.fernridgecommunitydinners.org/. Blessings!
Eagle Project
Hi, my name is Daniel Phillips. I am starting my eagle
project for the Eagle Scout rank. My project will be fixing the
old worn out stairs going from the side of the sanctuary. I will
also be adding a curb alongside the wall so people can’t park so
close to the church. The biggest project that I will do is
finishing the drain line coming from the parking lot. You can
show your support by telling others about my project and
going to this link: www.GoFundMe.com/eagleproject-venet.
My project is for the grace of the church and it will give me a great learning
opportunity of doing such a larg thing. Thank you for having our venture crew in
the church and for being such a great church family.
—Daniel Phillips
February Birthdays
2 Harold Olson
15 Bob McKinney
17 Dorothy Fairchild
21 Tim Loftis
27 Bryan Phillips
27 Gayle Townsend
For opportunities to share your gift of service,
see the “Help Wanted” bulletin board in the Narthex.
Prayers
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· Joyous celebration of life for both Guy Ames
and Adelaide Spencer.
· Morgan Craig was chosen Student of the
Month.
· Prayers of joy for both Morgan and Riley
Craig for excellence in sports.
· Bryan Phillips is struggling with back pain.
Probable surgery on February 5th.
The Groshongs for a wonderful family reunion in Orlando.
For the Smith boys home for Christmas.
Prayers for Nan and Carmella who both have the flu.
Thanks for all the help provided for the memorial service receptions.
For the Gregor family in the death of Pastor Mike’s father, Vince.
Monica gave thanks for the little kids present for the Christmas Eve service.
For District Superintendent Rev. Gwen Drake for leading us in worship on
January 4th while Pastor Mike went to his father’s memorial service.
For Dick Spencer and the Spencer family.
Prayers for Suzanne Kloehn, recently diagnosed with cancer and beginning
chemo and radiation. Prayers for JR as Suzanne begins chemo and radiation.
Suzanne is thankful for Jane organizing drivers and for those who have
volunteered to drive her for her upcoming radiation and chemo treatments.
Seth asked us to pray for peace between Christians and Muslims
Monica asked prayers for Dorothy, who is temporarily living with her. She is in
a wheelchair and is finding it hard to get into a foster home.
Wanda asked for prayers for Cheryl Podpeskar. Her husband passed away last
year and she is having a hard time.
For Jonathan Phillips who had his wisdom teeth extracted.
Millie Graves is thankful for her son saving the life of a person trapped in a
sinking car in a lake. He finds it hard to be a hero.
For Teri’s husband’s back – and for their marriage.
Seth: Joy in the high school wrestling team taking 1st place in the recent state
championships.
Suzan Webster’s granddaughter Tayler has pneumonia and for her son who
seeks employment.
Joy for a new Conference Camp Ministries Executive.
Prayers for the National Camp and Retreat gathering in Georgia which Pastor
Mike will attend. (January 26-30).
The Fosters ask prayers for nephew Shannon who lost job his job.
Mary asked prayers for her sister and gave thanks for prayers answered when
on 1/28 she finally called.
Prayers (Continued)
· The Stevens’ granddaughter is doing okay with the children after her husband
left her.
· Phil and Margie asked prayers for their daughter Cynthia’s father-in-law Roger
who passed away.
· Prayers for Doris Brandon who is having a hard time waiting to see a heart
doctor.
· Nancy Ames asked prayers for her grandson, age 23, who has had polio since he
was a young boy. His legs are deteriorating.
· Monica asks for prayers for her dad as he deals with prostate cancer treatments.
She also asks for prayers for her sister Pat who is having a difficult time.
· Karen Tallman asked for prayers for her headaches which are considerably
painful. The doctor says it is due to stress and a lengthy flu. She is waiting to
see another doctor.
· Wayne and Gay Stevens ask for continued prayers for Robert Knight, as he
deals with pancreatic cancer, given 3 months to live. He has been unable to find
decent housing as he has treatments in Portland.
· Prayers for the January birthday folks.
· Prayers for Mike and Nan’s son-in-law Kevin, who’s Uncle Matt has suffered
blocked blood vessels in the brain, causing seizures and other problems.
If you have a prayer for the prayer chain, call Karen Tallman (541-935-2769).
Announcements
· Brown Bag Bible Study, Wednesdays at noon (except the first Wednesday of the
month). Bring your lunch for a bite to eat and for a study of the Bible.
· Finance Meeting: February 9 at 6:15 pm.
· Church Council Meeting: February 10 at 7:00 pm.
· Crater Lake District Newsletter: Read about news from our district: http://umoiemail.brtapp.com/archivearea/96.
· LINK deadline is the 20th. Please send articles to Teri Watanabe,
[email protected]. If you wish to receive an email letting you know when
the newest link is available on the church’s web page, please email Teri.
· Calendar. Please add your events to the calendar on the wall next to the office or
email Chris Rider, [email protected].
We Are Invited!
In the spirit of welcoming and connecting with each other, Monroe
UMC invites us to a luncheon.
Contact Chris Rider:
[email protected], 541-935-4242
February 2015
Sunday
Monday
1
SCOUT SUNDAY
Praise Singing 10:15 am
WORSHIP 10:30 am
COMMUNION
FELLOWSHIP TIME follows
Tuesday
2
BOY SCOUTS 7–9 pm
Fellowship Hall
8
Friday
4
TOPS 8:30–10 am Basement
PLAY GROUP 10-Noon
WEIGHT WATCHERS
6–7 pm Fellowship Hall
TRUSTEES 6:30 p.m.
Cry Room
Pastor’s office hours
10-2
CODA 7–8 pm Library
AA 7–8 pm Basement
AA 7–8 pm Basement
5
9
Praise Singing 10:15 am
WORSHIP 10:30 am
FELLOWSHIP TIME follows
Pastor’s office hours
10-2
COMMUNITY MEAL 3–7 pm
FINANCE COMMITTEE
6:15 P.M
BOY SCOUTS 7–9 pm
Fellowship Hall
Saturday
6
7
PLAY GROUP 10-Noon
Community Meal Planning
7:00
CUB SCOUTS 6:30–7:30 pm
Fellowship Hall & Forvilly Rm
AA –7–8 pm Basement
AA – 5-6 pm Basement
6:30-7:00 Basement
AA – 5-6 pm Basement
6:30-7:00 Basement
Thursday
3
Pastor’s office hours
10-2
COMMUNITY MEAL 3–7 pm
Wednesday
VENTURE CREW
AA 9–10 am Basement
6:30–7:30 pm Forvilly Room
AA 6:30-7:30 pm
and Fellowship Hall
Basement
AA–7–8 pm Basement
NA 8–9 pm Basement
10
TOPS 8:30–10 am Basement
PLAY GROUP 10-Noon
WEIGHT WATCHERS
6–7 pm Fellowship Hall
11
Pastor’s office hours
10-2
12
13
CUB SCOUTS 6:30–7:30 pm
Fellowship Hall & Forvilly Rm
BROWN BAG BIBLE
STUDY-Noon
COUNCIL MEETING 7 P.M
VENTURE CREW
AA 9–10 am Basement
6:30–7:30 pm Forvilly Room AA 6:30-7:30 pm
and Fellowship Hall
Basement
AA 7–8 pm Basement
NA 8–9 pm Basement
AA–7–8 pm Basement
AA 7–8 pm Basement
CODA 7–8 pm Library
14
PLAY GROUP 10-Noon
AA 7–8 pm Basement
15
Praise Singing 10:15 am
WORSHIP 10:30 am
FELLOWSHIP TIME follows
16
Pastor’s office hours
10-2
COMMUNITY MEAL 3–7 pm
BOY SCOUTS 7–9 pm
Fellowship Hall
AA - 5–6 pm Basement
6:30-7:00 Basement
17
TOPS 8:30–10 am Basement
PLAY GROUP 10-Noon
WEIGHT WATCHERS
6–7 pm Fellowship Hall
CODA 7–8 pm Library
18
Pastor’s office hours
10-2
19
PLAY GROUP 10-Noon
BROWN BAG BIBLE
CUB SCOUTS 6:30–7:30 pm
STUDY-Noon
Fellowship Hall & Forvilly Rm
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
AA –7–8 pm Basement
7:00 PM
AA 7–8 pm Basement
20
AA 9–10 am Basement
AA 6:30-7:30 pm
Basement
AA–7–8 pm Basement
LINK DEADLINE
NA 8–9 pm Basement
AA 7–8 pm Basement
22
Praise Singing 10:15 am
WORSHIP 10:30 am
FELLOWSHIP TIME follows
February birthday celebration
COMMUNITY MEAL 3–7 pm
AA - 5–6 pm Basement
6:30-7:00 Basement
23
Pastor’s office hours
10-2
24
TOPS 8:30–10 am Basement
PLAY GROUP 10-Noon
WEIGHT WATCHERS
6–7 pm Fellowship Hall
BOY SCOUTS 7–9 pm
Fellowship Hall
25
Pastor’s office hours
10-2
BROWN BAG BIBLE
STUDY-Noon
CODA 7–8 pm Library
AA 7–8 pm Basement
21
SCOUT BLUE & GOLD
VENTURE CREW
BANQUET 3-8 p.m.
6:30–7:30 pm Forvilly Room Fellowship Hall
and Fellowship Hall
26
27
28
PLAY GROUP 10-Noon
CUB SCOUTS 6:30–7:30 pm
Fellowship Hall & Forvilly Rm
VENTURE CREW
AA 9–10 am Basement
6:30–7:30 pm Forvilly Room AA 6:30-7:30 pm
and Fellowship Hall
Basement
AA 7–8 pm Basement
AA 7–8 pm Basement
NA 8–9 pm Basement
AA–7–8 pm Basement
Updated 1/25/15