VALLEY VINE Valley Presbyterian Church
August 2016
Volume 61, Number 7
Encouragement is oxygen to the soul. Dear friends, Thank you for your prayers, care, and encouragement. This has been an intense and challenging summer, with my wife, Julia, undergoing serious back surgery, and our son, Tristan, undertaking the second in a three-part series of oral surgeries. The wonderful support of the VPC community has made all the difference. Your cards have provided small bursts of warmth and joy. Your inquiries have given us the feeling of being encircled by concern. Your visits have brought smiles and cheer. Your cooking has relieved the pressure and added 12 pounds to my waistline! Your prayers have made all the difference. What could have been a time of sheer endurance, has been a time of blessing!
A member of our congregation helped us find and connect with Julia’s exceptional surgeon, Dr. Marciano. Another member helped Tristian through his trauma and his master’s thesis, with the gift of a laptop. There is a deep sense of compassion in our community and a remarkable generosity of spirit. We feel very blessed to be here! Our theme for the fall is “Together for Tomorrow.” It will be great fun to celebrate our 60th Anniversary on November 6, 2016, crowning six decades of faithfulness. And it will be exciting to look forward and consider all that God has brought us together for, at this moment, to accomplish. The U.S. landscape is littered with congregations that have succumbed to their generational challenges. They can celebrate their yesterdays, but due to decline, they are unable to embrace their tomorrows. But let me encourage you. VPC is a congregation that has not only a special past—it also has a great Kingdom future. Yours in faith,
SUMMER SERMON SERIES
Valley Presbyterian Church 6947 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253-5342 Phone: 480-991-6424 Fax: 480-991-6427 Email: church@vpc.church Website: vpc.church