Sept. 4th Readings

First reading
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (NIV)
¹⁵ See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. ¹⁶ For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
¹⁷ But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸ I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.


Second reading


Philemon 1-21 (NIV)
¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— ² also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

³ Grace and peace to you^[a] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,^[b] who became my son while I was in chains. ¹¹ Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
¹² I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³ I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰ I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

Gospel Reading for Sunday, September 4th, 2016

Luke 14:25-33

New International Version (NIV)

The Cost of Being a Disciple

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Farewell to Pastor Dave and his family

This Sunday we are moving from the Valley Church to St. John's. After the Celebration Sunday service there will be an open house farewell potluck for Pastor Dave, Careen, Derek, and Ali. Bring lawn chairs in case there is a large turn out. 

The potluck will include pulled pork as the main course. Please bring casseroles, salads, and desserts and something to drink.

This is the last Sunday with Pastor Dave and his family. We hope to see everyone at the service and potluck.

MINISTRY for:   Sunday, August 28, 2016

Altar Care:  _______________________
Greeter/Usher:  Stutzman
Reader:  Verna
Communion Assistants:  Jennifer
Communion Set-Up: Verna
Fellowship:  Potluck Some people signed up, but we need more.  At this time, these are the foods that we have coming:  Pulled Pork and buns;  Stutzman, coleslaw; Verna, casserole; Dayle and Vivien, desserts;  Rosanna, cake;  Rosanna, broccoli salad.
Janitor:  congregation and Jennifer
Bulletin:  Verna

Thank you for all of your help, Friends!

Gospel Reading for Sunday, August 28th, 2016

Luke 14:1, 7-14

Jesus at a Pharisee’s House

14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Congregational Meeting Sunday, September 11th, After Worship

This Wednesday the church council met with Bishop Martin Wells in Genesee to discuss leadership for worship and emergency pastoral needs for our church community during our time of transition to a new pastor.  Bishop Wells provided clear direction for next steps as well as some exciting news about options for interim leadership!  He also reaffirmed that the most important thing we can do right now is support the Deckards in their transition and reflect on the many wonderful gifts we have been afforded by their presence in our community.

Through the call process we will be regularly updating our progress. We will also provide direction as to when the congregation will need to provide input about our needs for this next exciting chapter.  At this time we have a congregational meeting scheduled for Sunday September 11th after worship. Please reach out to the council if you have any questions regarding the path forward for our congregation. 

Gospel Reading for Sunday, August 21st, 2016

Luke 13:10-17

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Pastor Dave's Last Sunday Service August 28th

Our wonderful Pastor, David Deckard, is going to a new church in Boise. We want to thank him and his wife Careen for their wonderful years of service with and all they have given us. 

They will be greatly missed. We wish them success and happiness as they take this next step. Pastor Dave and Careen's last day will be August 28th. We would like invite everyone to come join us at St. John's to hear his last sermon.

The service will be followed by a fellowship meal. Please join us in wishing them well.