EXPLORERS! showcase
EXPLORERS! end-of-semester showcase Tuesday, December 5, 5PM, Chapel vpc.church/explorers The EXPLORERS! have been working all semester for you to come hear them! These kids have been learning all about music, playing games, and having a great time learning about God at VPC.
Stay healthy with a blood pressure test
Today 8AM, Chapel 9AM, Fireside Room 10:30AM, Landes Patio
Need prayer?
VPC prayer chain We welcome requests confidentially for you or someone else. Please have permission from the individual before placing your request. Church office: 480-991-6424 prayers@vpc.church
VPC Mental Health Team
Thank you for your commitment
CHRISTMAS MEMORIALS We invite you to donate a Christmas poinsettia in honor of loved ones. Deadline for acknowledgement in Christmas Eve bulletin is Monday, December 18. Plants will festively decorate our worship centers. We will be accepting donations ($15) through Christmas. Proceeds will benefit Family Promise.
Thank you to everyone who turned in over 400 pledge cards for 2018. Your commitment ensures that God will be glorified and His work will continue at VPC. If you haven't yet taken the opportunity to indicate your support for VPC in 2018, email Kris Bahr: krisb@vpc.church or visit our website: vpc.church/give.
Order online: vpc.church under ‘What’s New’ or fill out order form and return.
Coping with Stress During the Holidays (adapted from Mayo Clinic resources) • Set realistic goals and be flexible. The holidays are about love and caring for one another. • The holidays remind us that our God welcomes the stranger and the outcast and loves us just as we are. • Live in the now! Let go of past regrets and experiences and find joy in the present moment.
Elizabeth Weiss: esweiss1231@gmail.com, 713-203-5544 Mental Health 24-hour Crisis Line: 602-222-9444
Care & Support
New Daily Devotional available today
week of December 3, 2017
Christmas Eve Service times:
3PM* • 5PM* 7PM • 9PM *Childcare for 0-2 years available
Sunday Morning
9:30AM, Sanctuary
VPC News If you own an IRA and are 70½ years old or older, you may transfer a large annual amount directly from your financial institution to Valley Presbyterian Church or the Valley Presbyterian Foundation. For more information go to vpc.church/give or email Kris Bahr: krisb@vpc.church
Transfer shares of stock to support VPC
Did you know you can transfer shares of stock you own directly to VPC? Your donation receives a charitable contribution equal to the value when donated. Please contact krisb@vpc.church if you’re interested in learning more about this unique way you can support God’s work in our community.
Want to join the VPC staff team?
VPC is looking for full-time custodial help. Interested? Email your resume to Kris Bahr: krisb@vpc.church
Visit VPC Session page!
Read bios and see photos of the Session team.
vpc.church/session
Please pray for those recovering from recent medical procedures:
Marilyn Armstrong, Carol Bedillion, Bobbie Bischoff, Linda Brady, Howard Briggs, Ginger Bunker (Jody Hass’ mother), John Churley, Dick Coffelt, Bob Combs, Marti Combs, Helen Farmin, Bill Gass, Sandra Gerlach, Gary Green, Lee Henry, Barbara Jewett, Helen Lawlus, Jim Lawrence, Mary Lorenz, Dee Melde, Dorothy Nern, Ruth Rehfeldt, Charlotte Reynolds (Debbie Cox’ great-niece), Neil Smith, Nancy Sumner, Virginia Tatum, Marjory Terrey, Ellie Van Denburgh, Liz Walter Helen Adams, Don Akins, Carolyn Bathurst, Kathryn Bennett, John Berta, Joyce Black, Charles Buckley, Dottie Cober, Mary Corbin, Jane Corley, Bonnie Domaz, Lorraine Fercho, Donna Gardner, Luella Gross, Carol Hanson, Jean Hiser, Jeannette Huggins, Evelyn Jenkins, Jo Ann Jones, Claire Kooi, Jim Lorenz, Lois Nuernberg, Joyce Newlon, Todd (Helen) Orme, Judy Owens, Charlotte Phillips, Martha Sarchett, Mary Strasser, Edna Thomas, Jane White For more information about those in our community, call Tammy: 480-991-6424 x163 Church office: 480-991-6424, prayers@vpc.church We welcome requests confidentially for you or someone else. Please have permission from the individual before placing your request.
Learn more about these events inside the FOCUS:
ADVENT.ure A great way to start the Christmas season
Today, 4:30-6:30PM, Landes Center VPC's Advent Wreath & Luminaria party!
Please pray for those at home or in a care facility:
Prayer Chain
FOCUS
valley presbyterian church
A unique charitable opportunity: IRA Rollover
BLOOD PRESSURE TESTS
Member Marti Combs and a group of nursing students from Brookline College will be performing Blood Pressure Tests and providing educational materials.
A beautiful Christmas tradition
valley presbyterian church A Community Where Jesus Christ Transforms Lives 6947 East McDonald Drive Paradise Valley, AZ 85253, 480-991-6424 vpc.church Pastors: David M. Joynt, David L. Turner, Kelly Nieto, Mike Nieto
MENTORKIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY
Saturday, December 9, 10AM, Landes Center VPC will be gifting hundreds of Bibles, personalized with notes by you!
Welcome to VPC New to VPC? We’re glad you’re here! Let us know about you by filling out the Friendship Pad. We invite you to visit the Welcome Center after worship to learn more about VPC!
If you’re here with kids We have several fun and safe opportunities for kids from birth-high school: Nursery: Infants-2 years 8:45-11:45AM Sunday School: 3 years-5th grade 9:15-10:15 & 10:45-11:45AM The Gathering: Jr. & Sr. High, 9AM, Landes Basement If your kids stay in worship, check out the worship activity cart in each worship center.
The most wonderful time of year!
Nativity Pageant, December 17 9AM & 10:30AM Worship services Rehearsal: December 16, 10AM-12PM Kids 3y.o.-5th grade are invited to join us for this time honored tradition retelling the Nativity Story! If your child would like to join us please contact tinag@vpc.church for more information.
Adventures in Lifelong Learning™
Winter Term: January 23-February 22, 2018 Spring Term: March 6-April 12, 2018 Catalogs available Register online: encoreuniv.org Mike Nieto: miken@vpc.church Shelby Trimaloff: shelbyt@vpc.church We offer a diverse program of courses, lectures, speakers, travel and seminars designed to engage persons “50 and better." So come along and experience the adventure!
Who We Are: experience the music of Christmas Why we are here VPC is a community that believes God calls us to be in relationship. Sunday morning worship is a time to gather, connect, and give thanks to the Creator who loves us without end.
Get connected at VPC Want to learn more about what’s going on at VPC? Grab a Ministry Brochure, go to the Welcome Center after worship or visit vpc.church for information about classes, events, opportunities to serve, and anything you see in the FOCUS.
*childcare available by reservation: nursery@vpc.church
Advent Study
Advent Study: The Trinity* Wednesdays, November 29-December 13 6:30–7:30PM, Calvin Center Registration & Childcare: vpc.church/classes, or kellyn@vpc.church
The season of Advent is a time of anticipation, waiting for God’s kingdom to come. Jesus Christ, God made flesh, is the physical representation of a spiritual community in the triune God. Each week, we will explore the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in preparing to celebrate Christ’s birth!
A prayerful advent opportunity
Advent: Preparing our Hearts for Christmas Thursdays during Advent December 7, 14, & 21, Chapel, 6:30-8PM No Santa, no Jingle Bells, no shopping. You are invited to a weekly Advent opportunity for self-guided, individual reflection and contemplation. A quiet place to make space in the busyness of the Season. Come and go as your schedule permits.
Christmas Concerts @ VPC vpc 2017 - 18 concert series
During the Christmas season, we are filled with music. Christmas music is such a unique and special way to encounter Christ as we look forward to celebrating His birth. This year we have three outstanding musical Christmas opportunities that I hope you will be a part of. The VPC Chancel Choir will present Son of the Highest: A Christmas Cantata with actors re-telling the Christmas story. You will hear familiar and new Christmas songs, accompanied by full orchestra, on this journey to Bethlehem. -Jennifer Hamm, Minister of Music
Son of the Highest: A Christmas Cantata* VPC Chancel Choir featuring Phoenix Symphony members Monday, December 11, 7PM, Sanctuary, Free *Childcare (0-5) available by reservation: nursery@vpc.church. Other Christmas concerts @ VPC:
A Merry English Christmas Phoenix Girls Chorus Saturday, December 9, 4PM, Sanctuary girlschorus.org/tickets A great way to start the season
ADVENT.ure Sunday, December 3 4:30-6:30PM, Landes Center Tina Gilbreath: tinag@vpc.church Join us for our annual Advent Wreath and Luminaria Party! Email Tina to reserve your wreath supplies. We'll also assemble 1,000 luminarias for Christmas Eve. Bring an appetizer or dessert to share.
Remember those who have gone
Service of REMEMBRANCE
Dove Tree Service of Remembrance December 5, 2PM, Memorial Garden If you have lost a loved one, feel free to come to the Garden, write their name on a dove, place it on the tree, and offer a silent prayer. Paper doves and pens are available in the Memorial Garden.
Sing We Now of Christmas* The Royal Renaissance Singers Saturday, December 1 6PM, Landes Center Free
Special time for MentorKids!
MentorKids Christmas Party Volunteers Needed December 9, 10AM, Landes Center Be a part of putting together an amazing Christmas celebration for the children and families of MentorKids! Bouncies, climbing wall, popcorn, face-painting, snow, food, and much more! Volunteers are needed any length of time from 9:30AM-2PM to help set up, run the party, and clean up. Sign-up: vpc.church.church/mission
Women's Ornament Exchange
ORNAMENT EXCHANGE Sunday, December 10 4-6PM, Tina Gilbreath's home RSVP: kellyn@vpc.church Celebrate Christmas with the women of VPC! We'll relax with food and friends around the tree. Bring a snack, treat, or drink to share, and a wrapped ornament for the white elephant exchange.
Calendar of Events
Sunday, December 3 1st Sunday Advent Worship The Screwtape Letters Class Nursery (infant-2 y.o.) Brookline Blood Pressure Testing Worship The Gathering (6th-12th grade) 40s-50s Community Group Sunday School (3 y.o.-5th grade) Nursery (infant-2 y.o.) Worship 70s+ Community Group Bible Study Sunday School (3 y.o.-5th grade) Worship ADVENT.ure Boy Scout Troop 441
Chapel Fireside Room Nursery On Campus Sanctuary Youth Room Room 409 Rooms 404-417 Nursery Landes Center Calvin Center Rooms 404-417 Chapel Landes Center Room 409
8AM 8AM 8:45AM 8:30AM 9AM 9AM 9AM 9:15AM 10:15AM 10:30AM 10:30AM 10:45AM 11:45AM 4:30PM 6PM
Monday, December 4 Jumpbunch (ages 3-5) Jr. High Midweek
Landes Center Landes Center
2:15PM 6PM
Tuesday, December 5 Bridge & Mah Jongg B.O.Y.S. Club Valley Day School Chapel Jumpbunch Mini (age 2) Dove Tree Service of Remembrance Explorers! Pickleball Explorers! Concert Eagle Scout Court of Honor Boy Scout Troop 441
Fireside Room Chapel Parlor Chapel Landes Center Memorial Garden Calvin Center Landes Center Chapel Chapel Landes Center
9AM 9:30AM 11:15AM 12:10PM 2PM 3:45PM 4:30PM 5PM 7PM 7PM
Wednesday, December 6 Presbyterian Women Coordinating Team Valley Day School Chapel Sportball Valley Ringers Rehearsal Advent Study "Wired that Way" Sr. High Midweek Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Calvin Center Chapel Landes Center Bell Room Calvin Center Fireside Room Landes Center Sanctuary
9AM 11:15AM 2PM 5:30PM 6:30PM 6PM 7PM 7PM
Thursday, December 7 Men’s Basketball 70s+ Community Group Martial Arts Pickleball
Landes Center Fireside Room Calvin Center Landes Center
6:30AM 3PM 4:30PM 4:30PM
Friday, December 8 MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Line Dance Tumble Masters (age 2-3) Tumble Masters (age 3-5) Alcoholics Anonymous
Room 415-416 Landes Basement Room 409 Room 409 Landes Center
9AM 10AM 12:15PM 2:15PM 7:30PM
Saturday, December 9 MentorKids Christmas Party
Landes Center
10AM
Sunday, December 10 2nd Sunday Advent Worship The Screwtape Letters Class Nursery (infant-2 y.o.) Worship The Gathering (6th-12th grade) 40s-50s Community Group Sunday School (3 y.o.-5th grade) Nursery (infant-2 y.o.) Worship 70s+ Community Group Bible Study Sunday School (3 y.o.-5th grade) Worship
Chapel Fireside Room Nursery Sanctuary Youth Room Room 409 Rooms 404-417 Nursery Landes Center Calvin Center Rooms 404-417 Chapel
8AM 8AM 8:45AM 9AM 9AM 9AM 9:15AM 10:15AM 10:30AM 10:30AM 10:45AM 11:45AM