VALLEY VINE Valley Presbyterian Church
October 2016
Volume 61, Number 9
Dear friends, When presidents enter office, they have an immediate agenda and a limited horizon. There are campaign praises to be honored, supporters to be rewarded, constituencies to be repaid, and of course, opponents to be out-maneuvered. But at some point in every presidency, the focus shifts from the immediate political landscape towards the future. The horizon becomes historical. Each president asks the question—“What will be my legacy?” It should be the same in every life, particularly every life shaped by the call and character of Jesus. We have so much to do in our lives, there are promises to keep, mortgages to be repaid, obligations to fulfill, problems to be solved. But at some point, every wise follower asks the question “What will be my legacy?” Flourishing Christian lives make an impact, they have an influence, they leave a Kingdom legacy. In what we do now, we can create this impact, determine this influence, and build this legacy. This is true of what we do in our relationships, our vocation, and our church connection. To see this, we have to look no further than our life together at VPC. We have inherited so much from our predecessors—beautiful buildings, flourishing ministry partnerships, living traditions of worship, service, and fellowship. Our spiritual ancestors have given us a legacy, through their faith and their commitment, and their generosity. This is visible in the two meanings of the word legacy. Legacy refers to anything inherited from the past, including institutions, ideas, traditions, and practices. And it also signifies a concrete gift of money or resources in a will. These two meanings are connected in our history. Legacy bequests have helped our church fund ministries, bless missions, and shape our campus—keeping alive our traditions and building our history.
and through our church over three generations. One great way to join in this celebration is to ask “What will be our legacy for those who come after us?” What kind of ministry partnerships, living traditions, and campus blessings will we leave? As it did for our ancestors, it will be faith, commitment, and generosity that will shape our legacy here in this place. This fall, we have created an opportunity called “60 for 60.” We are aiming to add at least 60 new members to our Valley Legacy Society. This Society is made up of people who have decided to bless our future by leaving a gift to our church in their wills. We have just under 120 members right now. The first opportunity to be part of “60 for 60” was given to our staff and leadership this summer, and already 29 individuals have responded, including Julia and me. Anyone interested in joining has to face the legal hurdle of altering or creating a will. A wonderful group of lawyers in our midst have given the gift of their services for free to help this happen. The new will my wife and I signed, with a gift provision for VPC, would have cost $2,500 regularly! Much of the impact we will have on future generations will be intangible, as a result of the way we nurture, help, guide, and lead. But it is exciting to know that some of our influence can be tangible, a gift given to God’s future that will begin right here, at that moment when we claim our heavenly inheritance and join in the legacy of eternal life given to us by our Lord and Savior. If you want to be part of “60 for 60,” contact Kris Bahr at krisb@vpc.church. There is so much we can do TOGETHER for TOMORROW. Yours faithfully,
This fall, in just a month, on November 6, we will celebrate our 60th Anniversary, expressing our gratitude for everything God has done in our church
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