Dear members and friends of Valley Park,
Our Palm Sunday Service, our celebration of the Last Supper, and our celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus were amazing this year. We had the best attendance in all three services in years and I believe we displayed that the spirit of Valley Park was unhindered by the pandemic. We are moving. God is present. I am personally very encouraged. There are reasons to be encouraged and to be grateful for what God is doing at Valley Park.
- Despite several years of isolation because of the pandemic, our members have retained their faith and commitment to trusting God and doing God’s work. We are strong as a church family.
- Our worship team has grown with very talented musicians who love God and love what Valley Park is doing. They are excited to be part of Valley Park and are growing as a TEAM (Together Embracing A Mission). Make sure you get to know our TEAM: Angelica, Anny, Bill J., Bill L., Chris, Christian, Latisha, Miguel, Nathan and Rod. They all love Jesus and the church of the Living God at Valley Park.
- I believe God is answering our prayers offered to Him throughout the pandemic: “that God would expand our ministries and increase our relevance to our community after the pandemic.” He is doing this through new gifted people among us and the rededication of those who have served VP for years. I sense God is doing something new. Let’s continue to pray.
I am personally challenged to help, as Pastor, manage the newness God is entrusting to us. Things I consider I need to focus upon are: 1) Help “New Comers” understand who we are and what we are trying to do as a church, 2) Nurture every person in the church in faith and understanding of Jesus, 3) Help encourage and equip every member and friend attending VP to contribute in new ways to the life of the church, 4) Create “Life Groups” where we can connect with each other and grow as the Family of God. We are God’s Children growing as the Family of God! What are the things I can do that will encourage us to Grow Strong?
There are two very important teachings in scripture that inform how God builds His Church. Consider how these teachings challenge you as God’s child:
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
I Corinthians 12:4-7
This teaching of the Apostle Paul is meaningful because it stresses the role and commitment of the Spirit of God in the life of the church from beginning to end. We do not make things happen without the Holy Spirit. He is present in all Gifts… Ministries… and Effects. The church is the Spirit’s Business.
Most significantly, Paul states the Spirit is in every Christian and intends to manifest Himself through them in the life of the church. “To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” means that you personally have something to give. The “common good” is the lives of others in the church. So, every one of us has something to give, to provide, to offer in service that will impact the life of the church. It is our shared vision and goal to offer up ourselves for the life of the church. We need to ask ourselves what we are able to give.
The second important passage I encourage you to consider this month is that serving involves creativity and thoughts of doing things in new ways.
22 let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:22-25
This verse stresses that my Christian walk is not just about me but needs to “consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds.” It is one of my life priorities to consider how my life is helping others to be more loving and serving. It involves “considering,” thinking about, assessing ways that might be new to bring out the best in others in the family of God. I can be creative. I can use my imagination.
I believe God is doing something new at VP and we are becoming a different kind of church. Of course, the church will always be family as it was when it started with just Jesus and the twelve disciples. But the Holy Spirit can, and will, if we are willing, lead us to do things in new ways in the Body of Christ. How is He leading you to serve at VP? What can you offer that will encourage? I believe the newness at VP will be encouraged and nurtured in new ways as we seek to build what God has entrusted to us. What can you do to help?
Remember what the Church is!!! It is the Body of Christ, the Family of God, the Temple in whom God’s dwells, the People of God, the Bride of Jesus; a Holy Priesthood; and God’s precious possession. Let us rejoice in what God is doing, is going to do and will do through each one of us if we are willing.
“We are God’s TEAM” (Together Embracing A Mission)
Pastor Kevyn
Valley Park Ministries: Pray for the Following Ministries
- Valley Park’s Life Groups (Sundays to Fridays, May 15 to June 12)
Sundays 5 p.m. at the church in the chapel
Tuesdays 10 a.m. at the church in the Conference Room
ALSO on ZOOM
Wednesday Nights 7 p.m. at the church in the Conference Room
o In Person
o OR on ZOOM with Pastor Kevyn
o OR on Zoom with Vivian Rude
Friday Nights 7 p.m. at Mamu’s Residence Multi-purpose Room
Felisa Pasco (Mamu)
- Children’s Ministry- Diana Nason
Children join parents in the sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. for music and worship. They are dismissed to their class at 11:00 a.m. (during the greeting time before the sermon)
Parents can sign in and pick up their children in Room 4 (1st -5th grade) or the nursery in Room 2.
- Youth Ministry- Victor Paz
Meeting Location- Ranch House
Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sundays from 10:30 A.M. to 12 p.m.
- Thursday Fellowship for Seniors – Started back January 13
Join us at the church for our Seniors and Friends Fellowship on Thursdays at 10 a.m. in the church courtyard.
- Men’s Fellowship and Bible Study-
Come down to the church on Saturdays for our Men’s Bible Study and Fellowship at 9 a.m. in the Church courtyard and/or conference room
Valley Park’s May Birthdays: Members, Friends and Youth
02 Julia Honles
02 Marcus Green
04 Jehan Eugenio
06 Jamie Navarro (child)
08 Ann Jones
11 Kreshell Ramey
14 Dan Han
15 Camille Ramirez
15 Sebastion Paz (youth)
21 Jesse Hallak (child)
23 Megan Lavachek (youth)
25 Dilcia Junior