Thesis Summary

Rev. Dr. John Wahl Thesis Summary 5 15 22

Sunday Services

See below for a link to the live streaming of our services:

YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYF6JWnNARixsYXmVVp-ImA/?guided_help_flow=5

3/19/23 Sunday Service

Here is a link to this past Sunday’s service:

3/19/23 Service

Want to Help With Sunday Services?

Here is a link to signup to be a Liturgist or Greeter for Sunday services:

Liturgist / Greeter Signup

March 24, 2023

“As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15)

Members and Friends of Valley,

I had the pleasure of spending Mr. Rogers Day (March 20) at one of my favorite walking places – Montreat Conference Center in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina.

Fred Rogers was an ordained minister of word and sacrament for the PC(USA), a graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and is a notable public figure whose work around peace and reconciliation are worth remembering.  Rogers was a pioneer in the world of Christian education and formation of young children. March 20th was his birthday and the day that the PC(USA) has chosen to highlight all we can learn from his work.

For those of us who remember watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (or watching with our children, or both!), you will recall how, at the beginning of each show, he would change his shoes.  Some shoes are meant for working, but others for walking.  You may, also, recall some particular moments when Fred Rogers used his television platform to proclaim the gospel of peace:  whether in the form of compassion, acceptance, or reconciliation.

As we continue to walk our Lenten journeys, may we, likewise, be attentive to the ways our feet can lead us into opportunities for peace; and particularly the peace of Christ that can surpass human understanding.

In Christ,
Pastor John

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ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

Easter Lilies & Spring Flowers
The order form for Easter flowers is below.  Orders are due into the church office no later than this Sunday, March 26th.  If you have any questions, please call Marilyn Rodenhausen at 330-348-9415.

Guest Preacher – Sunday, March 26

Sunday, we welcome back Amber Balista, our former seminary intern, who has now completed her Master of Divinity studies at Dubuque Presbyterian Seminary and is on the road to ordination. Amber is an active member at Christ Presbyterian Church in Chesterland and is part of their contemplative prayer group.

Pass-it-on Resale Store

The store will be open on:
Friday, March 31, 2023 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Saturday, April 1, 2023 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
Pass-it-on is accepting donations. Please contact passitonamissionoflove@gmail.com.

Holy Week Schedule

April 2

Palm Sunday
Special Worship including Palm Procession and Percussion

April 6

Maundy Thursday
7 p.m. Tenebrae Communion Service in Fellowship Hall

April 7

Good Friday
Chagrin Valley Council of Churches
Ecumenical, Outdoor Stations of the Cross Walk – noon
Chagrin Falls Triangle Park

April 9

Easter Sunday Celebration Month

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LINKS

Church YouTube Channel

The livestream of the worship service is being broadcast via the Valley YouTube channel using this link:

Link to YouTube Live

Link to Facebook

Link to Prayer Request List

Link to Sermons

Link to service bulletin:

Sunday, March 26, 2023 bulletin

Devotions for Week Five:

2023 Devotions for Lent – Week Five

Easter Flowers Order Form:

Easter Flowers Order Form – Last Day to Order

March 17, 2023

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Matthew 22:38-39, Common English Bible)

Members and Friends of Valley –

March Madness arrived right on time yesterday. In the earliest set of games on the opening day of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, a small school of less than 3,000 students upset a national power, and a 15-seed toppled a 2-seed tournament favorite.

Unfortunately, from my point of view, that victorious small school was Furman, not Colgate, and the 2-seed that went down was Arizona, not Colgate’s first-round matchup, Texas.

Many of us have favorite sports teams; for whatever reason we feel an affinity for and care about them more than others; we want to see them win, even if it means someone else has to lose.

In Jerusalem, during his final week – what we call Holy Week – Jesus is asked by one of the religious leaders, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” (Matthew 22:36)  We are told that is an attempt to test Jesus; to try to trip him up, to make him choose one law out of many, when faithful Jews believed that all of God’s laws were important.

Jesus, of course, flips the question on its head.  Faithfulness is not about individual obedience or accomplishment, it is about relationship with God and others.  When it comes to the way we love, we are not allowed to pick favorites:  to favor those who are like us or near us and disfavor others; to root for some and not others.  Instead, God calls us to love every neighbor:  to respect and value all, to welcome and invite everyone, to see and listen to each.

This, of course, is challenging for us to do.  Like those religious leaders of old, we would rather hear Jesus employ the criteria of merit over grace; to pick and choose in ways that we can gain a favored position.  Instead, time and again, Jesus fails to discriminate according to rich or poor, good or bad, seemingly deserving or not.  Over and over, leading up to and during his final days in Jerusalem, Jesus teaches his followers – often in parables – what the kingdom of heaven, the way God intends for us to live in right relationship, is like.

And then, after telling us, Jesus shows us.  As God’s beloved, Jesus lovingly, willingly offers himself for the sake of others; for us and for each and all of our neighbors.  After being raised on the cross, Jesus will raise from the grave, showing us that love – the type of selfless, neighborly love that Jesus taught – ultimately conquers even death.  Thanks be to God.

In Christ,
Pastor John

________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

Easter Lilies & Spring Flowers
The order form for Easter flowers is below.  Orders are due into the church office no later than Sunday, March 26th.  If you have any questions, please call Marilyn Rodenhausen at 330-348-9415.

________________________________________

LINKS

Church YouTube Channel

The livestream of the worship service is being broadcast via the Valley YouTube channel using this link:

Link to YouTube Live

Link to Facebook

Link to Prayer Request List

Link to Sermons

Link to service bulletin:

Sunday, March 19, 2023 service bulletin

Devotions for Week Four:

2023 Devotions for Lent – Week Four

Easter Flowers Order Form:

Easter Flowers Order Form

Pass-It-On Mission Store