Summer Worship Schedule begins May 27th!

Church Council

The Church Council is elected by the congregation at its semi-annual meeting each May. It consists of four officers of the congregation, the chairpersons of its nine standing committees, and the senior pastor. It serves to lead the mission and ministry of the Valley of Peace congregation. The president and president-elect are elected for one-year terms. The secretary, treasurer, and chairs of the nine standing committees are elected for two-year terms.

Council Committees

Christian Education Technology/Communications Evangelism
World Missions Property Committee Worship and Music
Social Ministry Youth and Family Stewardship

Christian Education

Mission Statement

The mission of the Christian Education Committee is to develop, promote, and conduct the teaching and educational life of the congregation. It embraces a variety of educational methods to bring the ministry of the Gospel to the children, youth and adults of our congregation.

Sunday School

Sunday school is offered on Sundays at 9:00 AM, September through May.

Children, three years old through sixth grade, meet in Fellowship Hall for an upbeat musical experience before going to their classrooms. The teaching model used each week, “Rotation Sunday School,” gives children the opportunity to learn Bible stories through a variety of methods, including story-telling, drama, computers and art. Refreshments are available immediately following Sunday school.

Highlights of the children’s year include an Advent Workshop, Christmas musical skit, and Vacation Bible School held each summer.

Participation of children in Sunday worship is encouraged through a variety of music experiences, children's sermons, and involvement with Sunday Service teams.

Youth

Youth, 7th through 12th graders, begin Sunday morning with choir rehearsal at 9:00, followed by devotional time and fellowship in the youth room. (See also information found under the Youth and Family Committee.)

Adult Forum

Offered during the Sunday school hour at 9:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room, forum offers a variety of learning experiences throughout the school year.

Bible Resources on the Web

Curious about a topic's reference in the Bible? Check out www.biblestudytools.net.

Questions, Concerns, or Ideas?

If you have ideas for adult forums, Christian education web sites, or other ideas or concerns about Christian education at Valley of Peace, please contact the church office or committee chairs.

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Evangelism

What is Evangelism, anyway?

Evangelism can be a scary word for some. It conjures up images of people on street corners belting out words of salvation while handing out pamphlets.

Evangelism actually means sharing the Good News.

For the Valley of Peace congregation evangelism is making a connection with others in a way that is loving, respectful and inclusive, so the love of Christ may be known.

Mission Statement

Evangelism is sharing the Gospel of Christ, making Him known, through a ministry focused on:

Some evangelism projects include:

Take a look at the new assortment of 'Care Notes' in a rack at the Welcome Center, which is located inside the front doors of the church. There may be topics discussed that would be helpful to you. Help yourself!

As you can see, evangelism offers a range of opportunities for involvement. You can participate in any part of these efforts by contacting the church office or committee chair.

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Property Committee

Purpose

The Property Committee serves the congregation by maintaining and upgrading the building and property, thus supporting its ministries. The facility is at an age where general building maintenance takes a fair amount of time.

The Wednesday NFL (No Free Lunch) team carries out weekly maintenance chores such as repair of door closers, lawn mowers; bathroom fixtures and pumps, signage installation and light bulb replacement.

The monthly NFL Saturday team works on projects on weekends such as the small garden area with park bench located near the lower level entrance.

Other Property Committee tasks include mowing, watering and seeding grass, snow removal, maintaining heating and air conditioning systems, keeping an eye out for all areas in need of repair, maintenance and renovation.

Increased participation in the tasks and projects of the Property Committee is always welcome, as are ideas for improvements. If you can help, contact the church office or a committee chair.

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Social Ministry Committee

Mission Statement

The Social Ministry Committee coordinates response of the congregation to social and economic needs in the community. Some agencies and programs we work with include:

PRISM

Located in Golden Valley, the services of this agency include an emergency food shelf and thrift store, clothing, and employment and financial counseling. At Valley of Peace, food is regularly donated throughout the year, with special emphasis on collections at Thanksgiving and during Minnesota FoodShare month in March. Prior to the beginning of the school year in the fall we collect school supplies, and our “Giving Tree” in December provides the opportunity to share books and toys for children in the community. PRISM receives monetary gifts from members of the congregation and from the budget of the committee.

Loaves & Fishes

This ministry operates out of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in north Minneapolis. A loyal cadre of congregational members prepare and serve meals there six times each year. Money for these meals is provided from the budget of the Social Ministry Committee.

Dinner at Your Door

DAYD serves in the suburban northwest area of Minneapolis, using volunteers to drive and deliver hot meals to persons unable to shop for food and prepare meals on their own. Valley of Peace is scheduled to drive every 3rd and 4th Tuesday and every 4th and 5th Friday. In addition, following Thanksgiving Eve worship at Valley of Peace, the Social Ministry Committee serves coffee and pie supplied by generous members of our congregation, with the proceeds from a free-will offering and supplemental funds from the committee’s budget, going to Dinner at Your Door.

St. Anne’s Place

This is a small shelter in north Minneapolis which houses 16 families at a time. At Christmas time we sponsor a family, which would otherwise not have resources for gifts, in the Adopt-a-Family Christmas program,

Kinship

This mentoring program matches children from single parent families with positive adult role models. The Social Ministry Committee makes an annual donation to this organization.

Fair Trade Coffee, and Cookies

The cookies that we eat on Sunday mornings come from the Cookie Cart, a north Minneapolis program which provides teens with paid employment opportunities, teaching them about food preparation and operation management. The coffee that we drink is “fair trade coffee,” which, through Lutheran World Relief, directly supports coffee growers in third world countries. Coffee, as well as fair trade tea and cocoa, is available for sale most Sundays after worship.

Volunteers are always welcome to assist with the ministries supported by the Social Ministry Committee. In addition, with added support from the congregation, we can broaden our reach in current projects as well as other areas in the community.

If you are interested in helping with any of our projects, or initiate one of your own, please contact the church office or committee chairperson.

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Stewardship Committee

Mission Statement

Everything we have is a gift from God. Our challenge is to use our gifts meaningfully, in a manner that expresses our love for God, is a daily challenge. Through worship, learning and fellowship, Valley of Peace hopes to give members a deeper understanding in these matters. The Stewardship Committee addresses members' use of their gifts of time, talent and financial resources.

What happens?

Daily, we delight in members' enthusiasm and generosity in giving their time, talent and energy to many activities conducted within the church walls. That work extends outside our community in organized activities such as Loaves and Fishes and Dinner at your Door. It is most important in innumerable small ways- such as the manner in which we greet the grocery store cashier or interact with a co-worker. We strive to act with love and do many small good things that will demonstrate the peace and love we experience as beneficiaries of God's grace.

Annually, in anticipation of a new year of ministry, members are asked to make a pledge of financial support to the congregational ministries. Valley of Peace is financially sustained almost exclusively through members' donations. That support is supplemented by modest building use payments from the day care, funerals, wedding fees and AA group meetings. The church's largest expenditures relate to facility maintenance and staff salary/benefits.

Throughout the year, our ministries seek volunteers to participate in projects, tasks, committees and events, sharing their time and talents to make real the spirit of God in our congregation and in the larger community. Opportunities to be involved abound, in any size and level appropriate to your schedule. No gift is too small and will always be greatly appreciated.

Service Teams

The members of Valley of Peace are made part of one of the five several rotating Service Teams. During your team month, you have opportunity to help on Sunday mornings as ushers, greeters, readers, refreshment hosts, and communion assistants. Youth are encouraged to participate with or without a parent. The goal is wide community involvement not formality or perfection. It's an easy way to connect with other members. Click here for a listing of service team members and assignments for 2010-11.

If you are interested in helping the Stewardship Committee, have questions or ideas, please contact the church office for help to be connected to the current committee chair.

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Technology / Communications

The "Tech Committee" was formed to further the ministry of Valley of Peace via new technologies and improved communication.

The committee is responsible for:

What are we up to?

We have recently updated the computers in the church office and update this web site on an ongoing basis.

Publishing on www.valleyofpeace.org

If you would like to publish news, advertise on our web site, or make a donation to Valley of Peace, please e-mail webmaster@valleyofpeace.org.

Want to help? Have questions, concerns or ideas?

You can participate in any part of these efforts by contacting the church office or committee chair. Back to top

World Missions

It is ever more evident that wherever in this large world we are located, we are all one in the body of Christ. As we share the body and blood of our Lord in Holy Communion, we also share in the life of our brothers and sisters in every part of the world.

Vision Statement

Honduras Project

In partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Northeastern Minnesota Synod, we have teamed up with the Christian Commission for Development in Honduras which works to restore villages and infra structures damaged and destroyed during 1998 Hurricane Mitch. (The CDC is under the umbrella of Church World Service and the World Hunger Appeal of the ELCA.) This project began with education through “The Voice,” Mission Minute talks during worship, adult forum, and posters and bulletin boards, explaining how our funds are channeled through the ELCA’s Division for Global Mission. Our hope is that members from Valley of Peace will become part of teams going on poverty immersion trips in Honduras sometime in the future.

Things we do

Communication to the congregation includes Minute for Missions temple talks, bulletin boards; adult forums, bulletin inserts and articles in the Valley of Peace monthly newsletter. Congregational events include planning and coordinating mission activities, education, festivals and worship.

Want to help? Have questions, concerns or ideas?

You can participate by contacting the church office or committee chairpersons.

Please call or e-mail the church office if you have any questions or comments about World Missions.

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Worship and Music Committee

Mission Statement

The Worship and Music Committee is established to enable, encourage and provide for the coming together of the congregation and the public community to:

Some Responsibilities and Events include:

Want to help? Have questions, concerns or ideas?

Talk to the church office, the committee chairperson, or the pastor, music staff, or Altar Care Chairperson.

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Youth and Family Ministry Committee

Our Purpose

The Youth and Family Ministry Committee is called to encourage and strengthen the faith and well-being of families and youth in the congregation of Valley of Peace and the community.

Responsibilities

Together with the pastor and youth and family minister we:

A Sampling of Our Yearly Activities

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