Newsletter
The Voice
The Valley of Peace congregational newsletter, The Voice, contains news of the congregation, upcoming events and other items of interest. Published monthly, it is also posted on this web site on a monthly basis. The current issue of The Voice follows.
Page Index
Remembering in Prayer
 | Susan Durrant and family, including her parents, Dave and Florence Tuff;
Paul and Kathy Boesen and family; Doris Senstad, Isobel Anderson, Winnie
Christenson, Audrey Sevald, Pat Hoyt, Elaine Huotari |
| John and Diane Hinderlie as they grieve the death of John’s sister,
Mary; Sandy and Tim Gadbois, as they grieve the death of Sandy’s sister,
Mary |
| Those who are living with chemical dependency, mental health challenges,
depression, chronic illness, family difficulties |
| The children of Valley of Peace and the members who lift them up in
prayer on a regular basis |
| Our mission partners, the people of Honduras, those in war-torn lands,
and the leaders of nations, that all will work for peace and restoration of
life. |
| The ministry of All God’s Children Learning Center |
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New Member Reception We have scheduled a reception for new members for Sunday, May 18, at the 10:15 service. If you have been visiting VOP, we invite you to join in the ministry of this congregation. Please talk with Pastor John at your earliest convenience. 763-588-4611 or jhallin@valleyofpeace.org.
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Committee Reports Needed
Committee Chairs/Officers/Organization leaders are asked to turn in
reports to be included in the Annual Report to the congregation by
May 5. Sending them electronically is the easiest –
jhilden@valleyofpeace.org. The Annual Report will be available at
the semi-annual meeting of the congregation on May 18.
Wednesday Night Book Club
WEDNESDAY NIGHT BOOK CLUB - 6:30 pm, Fireside Room
Luther’s Catechism is the topic of the book club in May. It is included in the
new hymnal so no purchase is necessary.
All are welcome to join what should be a lively discussion. Even if you can't
make it to each Wednesday session, we welcome you to come when you can.
Sunday School Invitation
The incoming Sunday School Superintendents invite you to come to a
thank you luncheon/information meeting on May 18 in Fellowship Hall right
after the semi-annual meeting. There will be a light lunch and a movie for the
kids to watch during the adult gathering. It is intended to be a way to say
“thank you” to all who made this a great year and also to learn more about the
next Sunday School year. We hope to see many of you!
Jenny Pennington and Shennon Black
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Adult Forum
Pastor Cruys continues the study of Galatians in the Sunday morning Adult Forum – 9:00, Fireside Room. Everyone is Welcome!
Vacation Bible School
WHEN: July 21-25 from 9-12 AM!
WHO: Kids from 3 years old through 5th grade are invited. Bring
your neighbors, cousins, friends!
COST: Free-will offering
Who's Venison?
There are several packages of venison in the freezer at VOP. Somebody must be supposed to pick them up. If it is you, or if you are the donor, please contact Joan. Soon we will throw them out. They’ve been there quite a while!
All God's Children Learning Center
PLEASE PRAY DAILY FOR THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
WHICH WILL ENABLE THE PROCESS OF MAKING
OUR VALLEY OF PEACE BUILDING
ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL.
Generous and loving God, you call us to be disciples
of your Son Jesus and good stewards of all your many gifts.
Open our minds and hearts to a greater awareness
and deeper appreciation of your countless blessings.
Transform us through the power of your Spirit
to nurture a stewardship way of life
marked by faith-filled prayer,
service to our neighbor, and generous sharing.
We ask that you surround and guide the many members
working on this effort to enable
more accessible ministry here at Valley of Peace: involved with events,
communications, phone calling,
spiritual emphasis, table hosts
and follow-up to the campaign.
Bless our work that we may grow with
a deepening devotion to prayer,
a growing commitment for service, and
generosity as we are able, to advance
the mission and ministry of
Valley of Peace
All God’s Children Learning Center
| During the week of April 14, we celebrated the Week of the Young Child
with fun events every day! The children always enjoy Mismatch and Wacky
Hair Day, Pajama Day and Imagination Day (when everyone dressed up as
what they wish to be when they grow up-we had a lot of baseball and
hockey player, ballerinas and one Ninja Turtle!). Actually, the staff
rather enjoys Pajama Day, as well! Where else can you be that
comfortable all day at work! We celebrated our very diverse family
cultural backgrounds with an International Potluck lunch. Families and
staff members brought in dishes to share, including tamales, sauerkraut
and sausage, lefse, Swedish rye bread, Kringle, Kase Spaetzle, Potica,
Bujiah, jambalya, fried rice and Tater Tot hotdish (from the “cultural
heritage” area called Southwestern Minnesota!).| At the end of the Week of the Young Child, our four and five year olds
enjoyed a wonderful visit to Orchestra Hall for a Minnesota Orchestra
Kinder Konzert. The children actually sat on the Orchestra Hall stage
with the musicians! About eight musicians demonstrated their instruments
and then played several selections of music chosen just for this young
audience. One piece was commissioned by the Orchestra for the Kinder
Konzerts this year, from the local composer, Stephen Paulus. | In preparation for our concert day, we enjoyed a visit by Linda Cherra,
along with her friends Bob Spector and Audrey Walberg, who played French
horn and clarinet for the children. And Ginna Watson, who teaches music
at VOP, brought her son and daughter and their violin, viola, cello and
a harp for our students to enjoy. We surely appreciate the partnership
of the musical talent available at our doorstep! | We are very grateful for the tremendous support of our Valley of Peace
community in our Spring Flower Sale! If you ordered plants, please plan
to pick them up on Thursday, May 8 between 12:00 and 6:00. We always can
use volunteer help with sorting out the flower orders. If you would
enjoy handling a lot of beautiful flowers, let me know! We’ll need help
all day, but especially in the morning between 9:00 and 12:00. | |
In the Lord’s service, in this ministry we share,
Barb Mikelson
How to Support AGCLC
Clip the Box Tops labels from General Mills products and
bring them in to the collection box near the Fireside Room! Box Tops
labels can now be found on Cottonelle tissue and Kleenex, in addition to
many food items.
Be kind to the earth and recycle your inkjet and laser printer
cartridges and old cell phones. Just drop them off in the box near the
AGCLC office!
Our preschool receives funding through both of these programs. Thank
You!
Furniture Donations & Host Families Needed
The Hospitality Center for Chinese is looking for gently
used furniture to give away to new Chinese students coming to MN this
summer. Beds, desks, chairs, tables and lamps are especially helpful.
Last year you helped furnish over 125 apartments! The Hospitality Center
for Chinese is a non-profit, Christian ministry located on the U of MN,
St. Paul campus at 1407 Clevelend Avenue N., St. Paul MN 55108. We can
pick up your furniture and provide a receipt for tqx purposes. In
addition, if you’re interested in hosting a Chinese student for 1 night
or up to 3 weeks, please contact Amy at 651-659-9740 or
amy@chinesehc.org. Host families are needed in July and August.
This is a unique way to share the Gospel and show hospitality to someone
in need.
Jennifer Gerth, Hospitality Center for Chinese, 651-659-9740
Volunteer Appreciation Tea
VOP folks who have donated time, money, or goods to Noble School are invited to the annual Volunteer Appreciation Tea: Monday, May 19, 3:45-4:45, Noble Media Center. RSVP: Janette at 763-504-4033 (please note that childcare will not be available). Stop by and meet the Noble staff, they appreciate all we do for the school!
Boy Scouts Annual Food Drive
Last Saturday, April 26, Boy Scout Troop # 268 collected 800 pounds of food in their annual food drive which was given to PRISM. Way to go, Scouts!
Cherishing Our Children
MCA Tests are coming up quickly! As part of our outreach
for Cherish Our Children, we continue to partner with Noble
School, providing supplies and treats for the children as they head into
this important testing season. It is a nice way to support the children,
and to make sure that all children have the same access to things that
will make the testing a better experience for them.
There are 13 days of testing divided between grades 3-5. Over 200
children will be tested during this period. VOP has agreed to provide
each child with a bottle of water to use for the duration of the tests,
and a couple of pieces of candy for each day of testing. Candy? Yes,
studies have shown that the use of Jolly Ranchers (sour) and Starlight
Peppermints (minty sweet) assist with concentration! And, it is a
tradition that also gives the students something to look forward to
during this stressful period. We also try to provide the school with
additional #2 pencils, erasers, and highlighters, for any children who
may be lacking these supplies at the time of the tests.
We are seeking the following items (or checks written to VOP, with
"Noble Test Supplies" written in the memo, and we'll do the shopping for
you!) no later than Sunday April 13 (tests begin on April 15):
Bottled Water: 12 cases (24/case, 12 ounce bottles)
Jolly Ranchers: 110/7 ounce bags (these are much cheaper in bulk
at Target or Sam's club, and I can also order them by the case to save
money).
Hard Peppermints (Star Light Mints): 50-75 bags (again, bulk is
cheaper, and I can order by the case).
#2 Pencils, Pink Erasers, Highlighters: Just some of each to have
on hand.
Please consider sponsoring these kids again. It is a wonderful way to do
a little bit of PR while making their testing experience go more
smoothly. All supplies and/or monetary donations can be dropped off at
the church office. Thank you for your support!
Nancy Rogness, Cherish Our Children