valley vine
Valley Presbyterian Church October 2017 Volume sixty-two, Number nine
Dear friends, My first years in Arizona I missed the feel of an eastern autumn. Every fall there would be a swift change. The heat and humidity would go away, and crisp sunny days would find their complement in cool evenings. The trees would turn from green to orange, red and yellow, adding riotous color to every park and yard. But best of all these changes heralded a fresh start to the rhythm of social and church life. There was a homecoming weekend in early September signaling the beginning of school and initiating the church year. Life together felt as if it began again! Now I have come to appreciate a different kind of rhythm. The changes in our temperatures are more gradual, leading slowly from high heat to perfect days and evenings that last for six months. There is no sudden autumn with a single feel of a fresh start. Instead, there are multiple beginnings! School starts in August, and families return to Valley Day School. This year, we welcomed 49 new families and added 25% more students. MOPS and Women’s Bible Studies restarted, once again having to accommodate record numbers of babies and infants.
Snowbirds come back as well, and their arrivals add to our energy through November. There are new beginnings and fresh starts every month! This year, there is also the prospect of a large scale renewal since our Session has adopted a Master Plan for our campus. In the coming weeks, we will assess the feasibility of a proposed phase one transformation of the heart of our facilities. We will have a model of potential changes for you to see and respond to. And we will delineate costs and determine our financial capacity. As I look at the plans, my heart beats faster and my eyes light up! I can see the generations coming together, the warmth and welcome of Valley multiplied and a new level of life and ministry realized together. Thank you to all of you who have contributed ideas through surveys and workshops. Thank you to our great Master Plan Committee. Thank you to our architects—Jones Studio. Pray for our Session to combine faith and feasibility in just the right way so we can initiate not just a new season at VPC but a new era. Faithfully yours,
September saw our fourth worship service at 11:45AM return once more, Presbyterian Women kicked off their circles of care and connection, and Sunday School began anew. Wednesday adult enrichment launched with 60 folks studying the Reformation and a new raft of couples learning to do marriage more deeply. Explorers! initiated their year of music and growth for elementary ages. Student Ministry started with Midweek gatherings. October will see another beginning with Encore University welcoming new and returning adults to the semester with a special celebration on October 3.
6947 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253-5342 Phone: 480-991-6424 Fax: 480-991-6427 Email: church@vpc.church Website: vpc.church