the
Valley Vine April 2022 Vol. 67, No. 2 Valley Presbyterian Church
IN THIS ISSUE: Easter Changes Everything Pastor David Joynt Holy Week & Easter @VPC Marking the Pieces of Holy Week VPC Pastors How I Mark Easter, and How Easter has Marked Me Susie Huseth, Penne McKee, & Anne Trauter Using the VPC Mobile App Candy Unruh VPF College Scholarships Susan Chappell March Session Report Karen Meyer Financial Update Kris Bahr
Senior Pastor
DAVID JOYNT
Dear friends, This newsletter is always written weeks ahead. I am writing this April newsletter in March, on St. Patrick’s Day, so I can’t resist sharing my favorite Irish warning: “Remember, puns on St. Patrick’s Day don’t just shame you, they seamus all!” (Now you are equipped to make someone groan next March).
In writing newsletters, it takes some considerable mental eortformetofastforwardintothenextseasonandth nextsermonseriestocomposesomethingthatwill4tf a moment that is not yet here. But not when I am writing a newsletter for April. April is Easter time—and Easter is the most important thing to remember and focus on every day of every month of every year.
Easter changes everything. For a Christian, the resurrection of Jesus is not just a compelling story or a single event to be cherished and remembered. No! It turns religionintorelationship,anda4gurefromthepastin present tense friend. It makes death a beginning and not an ending. It validates servant leadership and transforms suering.tshiftsourpictureofGodandaltersour relationship to time, redeeming the past, and creating a new future.
Our April this year at VPC has annual highlights and new experiences. On April 9 we will welcome hundreds for Bunny Business, just before Holy Week. We will host new members and feature the children’s processional on Palm Sunday the following day. We will gather on Maundy Thursday(April)and 41 GoodFriday(April)for 51 moving, solemn services where we will experience the power of grace and forgiveness to free and change us. We will pack our new sanctuary on Easter morning to celebrate the wayGodinChristovercomesdeathandsinthroughthe strength of His life and love. This year, the week after Easter is special, too! Often called “Low Sunday,” in cynical anticipation of poor attendance, this year it is not to be missed for any reason. We will have one service on April 24 at 9:30AM. Rev. Dr. Bruce Main will lead our services, backed up by an international choir of Urban Promise Fellows. Their lives and testimonies are living proof that Jesus reigns and calls us to change the world. I pray that this April will deepen your faith, lighten your burdens, expand your vision, enlarge your heart, and put a song on your lips. Yours Faithfully,
2 Cover art by Evie Shaffer, Pexels.
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Sunday, April 24 One Worship Service 9:30AM, Sanctuary
Bruce Main preaching, Worship music by Urban Promise Fellows (international student leaders) 4
Reception following worship, Awaken Café
Highlighte d
EVENTS
Friday, April 29, 5:30—7:30PM Bill & Kay Keck's Home RSVP today: vpc.church/opendoor Open Door exists to connect people in a relaxed social atmosphere, where we have the time to get to know people better.
Valley Presbyterian Church
2021-2022
Concert Series
The Collingsworth Family Saturday, April 30, 6PM, Sanctuary Tickets: vpc.church/music
The Collingsworth Family is an incredible Southern Gospel/ Inspirational music group. Their concerts bring excitement, spiritual anointing, and musical excellence. This event will be packed - make sure you get your tickets soon!
Service of REMEMBRANCE
FOR MILITARY VETERANS
Monday, May 30, 8AM Memorial Garden A “Roll Call” of names of deceased military veterans will be read, including names of vets affiliated with VPC or who were relatives of VPC members. Please provide names by Friday, April 29. To add a name to the Roll Call contact: Tammy Gallagher: tammyg@vpc.church, 480-991-6424 ext. 0163
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Marking The pieces of Holy Week
"Easter,"PalmSunday."Thesedates,theseeventseasilyrolloourtongue.Evenoccasionslike,"Maundy Thursday"and"GoodFriday"arefamiliartosomeofus.Toothers,thesetermsmightsoundforeignorconfusi Where do these terms originate? What do they mean for the Church, what do they mean for VPC? We had the VPC Pastors tell a little bit about what each of these special days means to them.
The first Sunday of Holy week is commonly called “Palm Sunday” or “Passion Sunday.” Those who call it “Palm Sunday” focus on Christ's entry into Jerusalem (Mark 11:9). Those whorefertothedayas' PassionSunday(tendtofocusonJesus$su ering.t$simportantt capture the irony of Palm Sunday. This is the day on which Jesus entered the city in triumph, but as a part of his journey to the cross; this is the week in which the crowd’s cries of “Hosanna” would soon turn to “Crucify him!”
Worship on Passion/Palm Sunday, as well as other Holy Week services, often invites members of the congregation to think of themselves as participants in a kind of dramatic reenactment of scriptural events. At VPC, our children are invited to process while shouting “Hosanna!” In some settings the entire congregation may be invited to speak the words, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (certainly one of the most unsettling actions in any worship Pastor Travis Kingma NextGenerationMinistryservice).Thegoalofsuchreenactmentistorecognizethesigni4canceofthenarrati whattheyteachusaboutJesus$ministry,aboutGod$sbeingandcharacter,andaboutt & Contemporary Worship nature and scope of redemption in Christ. travisk@vpc.church During Holy Week we celebrate an event called “Maundy Thursday.” But what does that mean? The term Maundy is derived from the Latin term Man-datum which means “command.” So “Maundy Thursday” refers to the command Jesus gives his disciples at the Last Supper on the night he was arrested—that they are to love one another as he has loved them.
t$sacalltoloveandserveotherswithhumilityandgratitudeinresponsetoGod unmerited love poured out for us. This was demonstrated at the Passover meal that Jesus shared with his disciples when he rose from the table, wrapped a towel around his waist, and with a humble spirit began to wash his disciple’s feet.
Pastor David Turner Congregational Care davidt@vpc.church
Afterhe4nished,hetoldthemthatjustashe,theirLordandTeacher,haswashedth so too they are to serve one another, and as they do this others will know that they are his disciples.
Good Friday is the day we remember the crucifixion of Jesus. The hours of noon to 3 PMareparticularlysigni4cantastheycommemoratethetimeJesushungonthecross GoodFriday,werememberthedayJesuswillinglysu eredanddiedbycruci4xionasthe ultimatesacri4ceforourbrokenness-thecrossiswhereweseetheconvergenceofg su eringandGod$sforgiveness.
TheServiceforGoodFridaydrawsworshipersintothestoryofthepassionofChrist The service is crafted around contrasting elements; solemn readings of Holy scripture, contemplative moments to permit the power of silence to speak to our souls, beautiful music to carry through the theme and a hopeful look toward the resurrection. It is an especially important time to pray for the church and the world for whom Christ gave his life.
JesusenduredthecrossonGoodFriday,knowingitledtohisresurrection,oursalva andthebeginningofGod$sreignofrighteousnessandpeace.nthisaction,Godentersi oursu eringandbringsuscomfortandhope.ToexperiencethejoythatisEasterwemus DiscipleshipSpiritual & Growth gothroughthedizculttaskofnamingandowningourbrokenness. chrisw@vpc.church t'sFriday,butSundayiscoming-Romans:362-
Pastor Chris Woodard
Easter is the one event in human history that changes how we think about everything. It is a shock because every human life ends the same way. Every biography is limited by thelossofitssubject.Everygenerationisde4nedbyitsbriefmomentinthesun.Eve endsindarkness.Everybreathisoneclosertothe4nalbreath.Everydestinyofever creatureisidenticalandinevitable;birthstartsthestoryanddeath4nishe
Until Easter. The shock of the women who look for the “living among the dead” is the greatest surprise. The resurrection reverses every reasonable expectation since the beginning of time. Life and death are no longer known quantities. A new kind of unconquerablelifehasmadeitsappearance.Hopehasanentirelynewbasis.Onthe4r EasterSunday,thegravegaveforthaSon,the4rstbornfromthedead.Lovetriumphs!
Pastor David Joynt 6
Senior Pastor davidj@vpc.church
Love is not simply a strategy for dealing with darkness and death, it is their conqueror. Love is not simply a command, it is a song of joy and gladness. We sing on Easter because we knowthat,ultimately,nothingcansilenceoursong.WithGod,deathhasno4naldomin andsinno4nalcorruptingpower.ThepastcannotdetermineGod$sfutureforusorfort Creation. Easter is shock and awe. Easter is assurance. Easter is hope. Easter is joy.
HOW I MARK EASTER, AND HOW EASTER HAS MARKED ME
AT HOME IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE Susie Huseth
Children's Ministry Assistant Member since 2014
Whenwas4rstdatingmyhusband,Ward,heinvitedmetotheGoodFridayandEasterservice atthechurchhebelongedtoinDenver,Colorado.wasimmediatelyterri4ed.hadneverb to church before and I was scared that I would be called out for being out of place.
WalkingintotheGoodFridayservice,wassonervousthatsomeonewouldnoticethatd belong.Theservicewasdarkandsolemnas ( GoodFridayservicesusuallyare)andtheanxi I felt from being there meant I didn’t even really take in what was going on around me. I just kept waiting for the moment someone noticed I was there and asked me to leave. Reluctantly, I nervously went back to the church on Easter morning. I remember thinking that maybe since I wasn$tsingledoutduringtheGoodFridayservice,thathadachanceofblendinginduri service,too.Eastermorningwassunnyandbeautiful,andtheinsideofthesanctuarywa withRowers,colors,andbeauty.rememberbeingtakenabackbythechangeintheentiref on Easter morning.
Whenoneofthe4rstsongsbegan,thechoirbegantosing,thetrumpetsbegantoplayandt congregationstartedsinging'JesusChristisrisentoday,Alleluia(.immediatelyfelt through my body and instantly felt wrapped in the warm embrace of the Lord. I couldn’t tell you the rest of the words to the song because all I heard was “Susie, you do belong here and I love you so much! Thank you for coming!” I cried and truly knew I was home in the Father’s house.
I had felt for a long time that I had a void in my heart. That void was immediately, irrevocably, inspirationally4lledthatEaster.Myanxietyaboutattendingchurchdidn$timmedia but my overwhelming fear that I would be called out for not belonging did.
startedstudyingtheBible,andoneofthe4rstversesthatstuckwithmewas1Peter all your anxieties on Him because he cares for you.” I was so anxious about my new journey growingclosertoGod,ittookmeawhiletorealizethatwhowasdrawingclosertoisth whowantedtotakethoseanxietiesfromme.Sincethenamstronger,morecon4dent,and happier.
My role in Children’s Ministry is especially important to me—I don’t want any child feel like they don$tbelongatVPC.wantthemtoknowthattheyarelovedandwillalways4ndcomfortin If you see me on Easter Sunday with a tear in my eye when we sing “Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Alleluia,(it'sbecauseitremindsmeofthedayGodmarkedmeasoneofHisown,andbecause know He will use this Easter and this church to mark someone else as one of his own. 7
HOW I MARK EASTER, AND HOW EASTER HAS MARKED ME
A DEEPER MESSAGE OF ULTIMATE SACRIFICE Penne McKee
VPC Stephen Ministry Leader Membersince79 1
How I have marked Easter and how it has marked me?
As a child in Lynchburg, Virginia, Easter meant Spring was here. Flower buds, warm days, and moreoutsideplayingwerenear.Crocusanddaodilsbloomingwerethemuchawaitedsign For me, Easter meant a new dress, shiny patent leather shoes and a new hat! First Presbyterian Church had all of the Sunday School crafts you would expect to help express the real essence of Easter, but to a young child the bunny and candy far overshadowed any deeper meaning. Who got how many chocolate eggs and jelly beans in their basket was the measure of how “good” you had been recently. Of course there was the neighborhood egg hunt—using real eggs we had hardboiled and dyed. The dilemma of hiding the eggs hard enough for the older kids but making some accessible for the younger tykes was always a challenge.
Asgrewinageandunderstanding,Eastertookonadeepermessageofultimatesacri4ce Easter message morphed from what I was getting, into what I was going to give in response to the gift I had been given—Christ'ssacri4ceformysins.Christ$sdeathseemedalmost unfathomable in the mental images of agony it aroused. That any human, not to mention a perfectly innocent one, would endure that for me was beyond imagination. But it was the ultimate gift to the world for all who would accept it. With age and maturity my frame of reference changed completely from receiving the trappings of Easter to gratitude for receiving renewal by His redeeming forgiveness. I am grateful daily to have the privilege of paying that gratitude forward. In actuality, Christ paid it forward and we are called to respond in acceptance of His gift. When your day begins with blessing counting and continues to be Lord led, you are truly “marked” to build His kingdom. 8
HOW I MARK EASTER, AND HOW EASTER HAS MARKED ME
ANSWERED PRAYERS FROM THE BACK PEW Anne Trauter
VPC Deacon Member since 2021
So... I cried in front of many of you last month. If you were at church for Deacon Sunday or watched online, you witnessed my tears. This was embarrassing, of course, but it was good for me. Those tears were expressions of answers to questions I've been asking for decades.
I’ve been searching for answers since my mom died when I was eight. Who loved me now? Could I love myself? I spent my childhood trying to prove that I was worthy and able to earn love. I excelled at sports and academics, I was a good girl and didn’t get in trouble. When I grew up, I tried hard, had great jobs, excelled, and started my own company. In my spare time I was President of a charity organization. Today, I own two companies, have 40 employees, and lots of pressure.Butevenwithallthat,stilldidn$tfeelworthyofGod,Hislove,ormyownself-l
When I was nominated to become a Deacon, I felt like an impostor. How could I help others seeGodlovesthem,nomatterwhat,whencouldbarelyadmitthattomyself?can$tearnm way into His love, regardless what I do in my business or who I try to impress. But it just hit me recently,andm ' stilltryingto4gureitalloutamworthyofHislove,ofmyownlove,andtha enough.Hallelujah!Only5years 4 ofwonderingandhoping! Love like that compounds. I get the added bonus of the love of my husband, Clinton, my two young children, Addison and Preston, and my friends and family! I’m the most fortunate person intheworld.m $ blessedandGodwantsmetoknowiteveryday,everyminute.Whenwas standing in front of the church, it hit me like a ton of bricks—look at how deeply loved and blessed I am! Look at all of these people in our church supporting me: my family, my friends, and myGod.Heisthereandalwayshasbeen.
10 years ago on Easter at VPC I sat by myself in the back of church. I felt so alone. I prayed that I could sit in church one day with a husband and children. Today, that feeling of loneliness is gone, 4lledwithastronghusband,twoadorablepreschoolers,andGod.OhhowHe4llsmyheart lovemyselfnow,whichknowHeishappyabout.willcontinuetotaketimetonotloseGod,o myself; now that I have found both, I cannot let go! EasterwillalwaysremindmeofmydaysbeforeGod,butmarkthatSundaywithallthe gratitudeintheworld.GodhasmadeHiswayintomyheart,andthereisroomthereformy family, and for myself. It will always mark me as a woman who found what she was searching for. 9
USING THE MOBILE APP COMMITTEE TO GIVE @VPC Stewardship
VPC's Mobile App is a great new way to stay connected! You can 4ndtheAM 8&9 OrderofWorship,getimportantinformationabout resources and events, and listen to daily devotionals and previous sermons. I also wanted to show you how the app can be used to give. It's simple, convenient, and secure: 1. Open the VPC Mobile App and select 'Give' along the icons on the bottom of the screen
Jim & Candy Unruh
Candy Unruh
Stewardship Committee Chair
2. Touch the 'Give' image on the next screen (select 'Continue' to be taken to VPC's EasyTithe page) 3. Using VPC's EasyTithe giving portal, give the amount with which you want to support VPC! (you will have the opportunity to input credit/debit card information)
Valley Presby terian
FOUNDATION
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
Since the early 2000’s, Valley Presbyterian Foundation has been pleased tooerscholarshipstoVPCmembers.
Overthepast0years, 2 0di 7 erentstudentshavereceivedacademic scholarships,withmanystudentsbeingmulti-yearrecipients.Ato 83scholarships 1 totaling59,0 1have $ beenawarded.Likewise,many students who would not otherwise have been able to participate in student trips received partial or full scholarships.
Susan Chappell
VPF Scholarship Chair
WeareacceptingapplicationsnowthroughApril5for 1 the20VPF Scholarship at: vpc.church/vpf. Weencourageyoutodowhatsomanyothershavedonesince6,and 79 1 consider including VPF in your estate planning, thus becoming part of the Valley Legacy Society. Contact Kris Bahr for details: krisb@vpc.church.
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MARCH MEETING REPORT
News from
SESSION
Sessionmovedtoco-opt,KayKeckandJackOppenhuizenontothe WorshipCommitteeandDavidGullenontoPlanning&Organizatio Committee.
SessionwillcontractforcoatingrestorationoftheRatroo CrossingBuilding,whichwasresurfacedin2015.
Karen Gill Meyer Clerk of Session 4 8 0 -3 6 8 - 6 5 7
There will be a Congregational Meeting to elect a Foundation Trustee to replace Dick Lockwood, who has resigned. If you have any question or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Blessings,KarenGillMeyer
Finances &
OPERATIONS
FINANCIAL UPDATE
VPC finances year-to-date as of February 28, 2022: Income
Kris Bahr
Finance & Operations Director 4 80 -916 4ext. 2 21 krisb@vpc.church
Actual $ Budget $ Variance $ Faith Giving 0 6 , 9 4 Other Income 13,900 Total Income 513,500
490,000 9,000 499,000
4,900 14,500
Pastoral Ministry 0 0 , 9 7 0 7,97 Admin & Facility 0 3 , 5 7 1 0 2,581 Mission, Outreach, Cong. Care 3,100 0 2,7 Christian Education 0 4 , 6 5 0 5,96 Worship & Music 0 7 , 3 5 0 7,35 Total Expense 367,500 395,300
07 9,900 4,100 13,100 0 27,800
Expense
Net Income less Expense
146,000
103,700
0 6,9
42,300
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