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.
Page Index
Christian Education
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.
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:
 | community outreach; |
| fostering a welcoming and hospitable environment; |
| assisting the Valley of Peace congregation in its desire to grow; and |
| strengthening the Body of Christ. |
| publicity; |
| new member materials, installation and integration; |
| visitor correspondence; |
| "Thank you luncheon" for volunteers; |
| coordinating the mentoring/partnership program with new members; |
| St. Patrick's Day pancake breakfast; |
| banner outreach project; and |
| welcome center |
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.
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.
Using these 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?
Annually, in anticipation of a new year of
ministry, members are asked to make a pledge of financial support to the
congregational ministries.
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.
Service Teams
The
members of Valley of Peace are each part of one of the five “Service Teams.” The
teams help on Sunday mornings by providing ushers, greeters, readers,
refreshment hosts, communion assistants, and so forth. The Stewardship Committee
is currently seeking to strengthen Service Teams by identifying persons willing
to take leadership in each group, urging members towards greater service and
fellowship. Click
here for a listing of service team members and assignments for 2005-06.
If you are interested in helping the Stewardship
Committee, have questions or ideas, please contact the church office or
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:
| developing and maintaining the congregation’s internal computer network; |
| developing and maintaining the church’s web site, www.valleyofpeace.org; |
| software and technology training for office personnel; |
| purchase and implementation of technology-related products; and |
| building a service group of technology savvy individuals required to maintain current and future Valley of Peace technologies. |
What are we up to?
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.
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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
The World Missions Committee seeks to
| excite, energize and motivate the congregation to specific missionary
support and ELCA Mission Support Giving; |
| strengthen relationships with staff and other committees; and |
| have fun while serving God and striving to fulfill Christ's Great
Commission. |
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 StatementThe Worship and Music Committee is established to enable, encourage and provide for the coming together of the congregation and the public community to:
| worship God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit; |
| hear the Word of God; |
| receive the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion; |
| be renewed in faith, strength and peace; |
| provide strength to one another; and |
| share the diverse resources we have for the building of God's kingdom. |
Some Responsibilities and Events include:
| Sunday morning worship schedule; |
| altar care for all worship services; |
| planning worship throughout the church year; and |
| working with service teams to provide for lectors, communion assistants, children's sermon presenters, and pastoral assistants. |
Music Opportunities:
| choirs include the high school choir “Voices of Peace;” choirs for
children, and the Chancel (adult) Choir;| the Carillon bell ringers; and | opportunities for instrumental performance. | |
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.
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:
| Cultivate and foster an environment for families and youth that is safe, welcoming, and rooted in the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
|
| Seek out and provide opportunities for Christian fellowship, service, learning, and growth for families and youth.
|
| Plan and coordinate experiences that encourage youth to grow in relationship with God and one another, in personal awareness, and as disciples of Christ in the world.
|
A Sampling of Our Yearly Activities
| Chili Taste-Off—All are welcome to prepare their delicious chili recipes and "tasters" vote with dollar bills for their favorite ones. Hosted by our junior and senior high youth, proceeds from the Taste-Off are donated to local or national charities. We recently raised over $800 for the tsunami relief effort.
| Formal Dinner & Silent Auction—The dinner and auction are significant fundraisers for the Youth Summer Mission Trip. We transform our fellowship hall into a lovely restaurant where our youth serve full-course meals to our guests.
| 30 Hour Fast—Together with the youth from Faith Lilac Way Lutheran in Robbinsdale, we fast, pray, and learn about how we can help to alleviate hunger in our neighborhoods and the world.
| Summer Mission Trip—In the summer of 2005, 27 junior and senior high youth from Valley of Peace and Faith Lilac Way churches traveled to New York City to teach Vacation Bible School for a week at two churches in Brooklyn. In 2004, we attended a summer camp in Canada and had an amazing cross-cultural experience.
| Fall picnic—Youth host the annual fall picnic for the congregation, serving hot dogs and root beer floats.
| Confirmation Retreat—A yearly confirmation retreat is held, in conjunction with Faith Lilac Way Lutheran Church. | |