Sunday Services

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

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

Community Meal

Tuesday, September 16

The community-wide dinner is offered at no charge for anyone who is hungry, who is feeling stretched, or who might need to be reminded that they are loved.

Menu:  Chicken alfredo, pasta, salad, bread, dessert

If you are interested in helping, we will be cooking meals from 9:30-11:30 a.m.; assembling from 3-4 p.m.; and distributing / delivering from 4-5:30 p.m.  In addition, if you would like to bake a cake (your recipe of choice) at home, please drop off by 10 a.m. on September 16th.

To sign up to volunteer, click below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F44AAAA2BA4F49-free#/

To sign up for the meal, click below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9zX7xowpw-MmmvaEV_xFFUc024DWpUYb5oVNcFcPyB1teCA/viewform

October 23, 2025

“Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions, but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.” (Romans 12:17, Common English Bible)

Members and Friends of Valley,

Recently, I have overheard a number of conversations (in person and virtually) about the role of love in non-violence; asking if this is another moment in history that – like in the Civil Rights era – is calling Christians to be engaged in peaceful protest.

Father Richard Rohr, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, writes this:

Part of the genius of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., inspired by the teachings of Jesus and Gandhi, was that he was able to show thoughtful people that violence was not only immoral but actually impractical and, finally, futile. In the long run, it doesn’t achieve its stated purposes, because it only deepens bitterness on both sides and leaves them in an endless and impossible cycle of violence that cannot be stopped by itself. Instead, some neutralizing force must be inserted from outside to stop the cycle and point us in a new direction.

In “Refusing the Gift,” Rev. Cameron Trimble writes this:

There’s a story told of the Buddha and an angry man. The man came hurling insults, full of fury, demanding a fight. But the Buddha stood calm, rooted in stillness. When the man finally paused for breath, the Buddha said softly:

“If someone offers you a gift and you do not accept it, to whom does the gift belong?”

“To the one who offered it,” the man replied.

“Exactly,” said the Buddha. “So it is with your anger—I do not accept it. It remains yours.”

We live in a time of provocation, and it is all-too-easy to respond with outrage, fear, and despair. But not every gift must be received; not every insult dignified with our energy and passion. To not receive the gift of anger or contempt is a sacred act of resistance. It is not passivity; it is choosing not to mirror cruelty; it is refusing to be controlled by someone else’s attitude of hate.

When we are invited to engage in dialogue or debate, how do we respond? Will we accept anger when offered to us? Will we respond to evil with evil? Will our protests be made with voices and signs, through peaceful resistance or acts of kindness? Or is there another way to show our love for God and others by respecting what is good?

Friends, in unsettling and tumultuous times, I pray for peace – of body, mind, and spirit – for us and for all God’s children.

In Christ,
Pastor John

________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

Please Welcome our Guest Preacher This Sunday

Rev. Zoë Garry, Associate Director of Theological Education Funds Development for the Presbyterian Foundation.  Rev. Garry is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and most recently served as Campus Minister and Director for NOLA Wesley & Labyrinth Café in New Orleans, ministering to students at Tulane and Loyola Universities.  A year ago, Zoë relocated to Cleveland and is an active member of Western Reserve Presbytery.

Knitting For Others

Inviting all folks from 12-100 years of age, who like to knit or who would like to learn, to be a part of Valley’s Knitting Group.

The group will meet Sundays, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.:
October 26

This group has been busy knitting prayer blankets and shawls for members of our congregation.  It takes a lot of yarn to knit or crochet these items.  Many of us have made items in the past but not used quite all of the yarn.  Knitting for Others can use the leftover yarn to make items to share with others.  If you have any worsted size-4 or bulky size-5 yarn that you will not be using and could share with Knitting for Others, we certainly would appreciate your donation.  Yarn can be left in the box marked “yarn” in the Library.  Thank you so much for your help.

For questions, please call one of our Co-Chairs, Beverly or Bev:
Beverly Wahl  – 502-553-7255

Bev Keough – 330-888-5385

2025 Year-long Bible Study

Everyday for Everyone
365 Devotions from Genesis to Revelation

This collection of reflections encompasses the entirety of the Bible – taking you on a journey from the beginnings of creation and humanity’s journey with God in Genesis through the history of Israel to the life of Jesus and the birth of the church in the New Testament.

Each daily devotion includes:

· Scripture Reference (usually not more than 1 chapter)
· A one-page, thoughtful commentary on that day’s passage
· A prayer echoing the Scripture and reflection from that day

Join Pastor John on a 2025 journey through the Bible; group times for discussion will be planned throughout the year.  Books are available through the church office for $17.

Every Day for Everyone – Daily Bible Study discussion

Those participating in the Every Day for Everyone Daily Bible Study (and anyone else interested) are invited to gather for questions and discussion:

Group Discussion Times

Sunday, October 26

Noon in the Church Sanctuary

Festival Choir – The Christmas Gift

Valley’s Festival Choir would like to invite you to
join us this year in preparing for our Christmas Program

“THE CHRISTMAS GIFT”

to be presented during the church service on December 14th, 2025.
Rehearsals are at 7:45 p.m. on Thursdays.

The Festival Choir is a chance for you to sing and share the
experience of Christ’s birth, “The Gift” of Jesus; the Messiah.

Chagrin Valley Council of Churches

Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast
Saturday, November 8, 2025
9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Valley Presbyterian Church – Fellowship Hall

Come join members of local churches for a time of fellowship and sharing.

Recognition of Veterans / Guest Speaker:  Join us for a special presentation as Melinda shares her father’s powerful story of courage and endurance during his time as a Prisoner of War.

RSVP at eburns@loloh.org.

North Church Partnership

One of Valley’s most enduring and impactful ministry partnerships is with North Presbyterian Church in the St. Clair neighborhood of Cleveland.  This spring, Rev. Charlie Hurst retired, and North Church welcomed its new pastor, Rev. Katherine Chilcote.

North Church is a predominantly homeless and housing insecure population.  Four Sundays each year, Valley prepares and serves a meal at North; Sunday volunteers depart from Valley at 10 a.m. (taking prepared food with them) to attend the 11 a.m. worship service at North, and help serve the lunch to participants following.  Three-to-five people are requested for each Sunday.

Upcoming Dates

Sunday, November 16 (cooking on Friday, November 14, at 9:30 a.m.)
Sunday, December 21 (cooking on Friday, December 19, at 9:30 a.m.)

________________________________________

LINKS

Link to Services at Valley:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYF6JWnNARixsYXmVVp-ImA

Link to Facebook

Link to Prayer Request List

Link to Sermons

Link to Service Bulletin:

Sunday, October 26, 2025 service bulletin

October 16, 2025

Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Common English Bible)

Members and Friends of Valley –

When challenged to name what was the essence of the (Hebrew) scriptures, Jesus famously responded that we are to love God and love our neighbor.

If we were to be asked the same – to name the heart of scriptures as we know them (Old and New Testament) we might well reference this passage from Timothy:  “so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.”

If Jesus tells us to put our focus on loving God and others, then we should want to use every tool available to help us to do good; we ought to seek out what will teach us, correct our mistakes, and mold our character to be the best neighbors to others that we can possibly be.

But, we wonder, is every scripture really useful in this way?  What about all the examples of sinfulness and violence?  What of the mysterious or even unbelievable parts?  Does this mean we believe the world was made in six literal days?  Or, that God really would have instructed conquering Israelis to slaughter every man, woman, and child in a city?

This Sunday, we will continue to talk about our denonimation’s Six Great Ends of the Church – the fourth of which is “The Preservation of Truth.”  Is there any objective truth?, we wonder.  Does truth have to mean blind acceptance?

As Christians, we believe that truth was revealed to us by God through the incarnation of Jesus.  Therefore, truth is personal, it is contextual, its authority is living and breathing.  And just as God was revealed in a particular place and time, Jesus continues to live in and among and through us as His body, the church.  Truth is constantly being renewed and redefined for our own lives and contexts as we ask:  how do we do good by loving God and our neighbors today?

Thank you for joining with me on this continuing project of discovery for how the scriptures can show us how to do good – how to love God and others – in this time and place.

In Christ,
Pastor John

________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

Welcome Home Fair Housing Workshop

Brought to you by the Networks of the Presbytery of the Western Reserve and the Fair Housing Center for Rights and Research.

October 18, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
North Presbyterian Church, 4515 Superior Avenue, Cleveland

Join others from around the Presbytery to learn about issues in housing in the greater Cleveland area and how your congregation can engage.  Tanesha Seaborn and Frank Ford, from the Fair Housing Center, will present, answer questions, and provide opportunities for action.  Tanesha will be talking about how well (or not) your community supports affordable housing and what you can do about that, and Frank will be sharing his research on banking and lending policies and how that could be affecting people in your community.

Registration and refreshments will be available beginning at 8:30; the program will begin at 9:00 with a mid-morning snack and bio break; and we will wrap up by 12:30.  Grab a few folks from your church or your neighborhood and spend the morning at North Church, learning how your engagement could make a difference!

Register at:

https://www.preswesres.org/fairhousing

Knitting For Others

Inviting all folks from 12-100 years of age, who like to knit or who would like to learn, to be a part of Valley’s Knitting Group.

The group will meet Sundays, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.:
October 26

This group has been busy knitting prayer blankets and shawls for members of our congregation.  It takes a lot of yarn to knit or crochet these items.  Many of us have made items in the past but not used quite all of the yarn.  Knitting for Others can use the leftover yarn to make items to share with others.  If you have any worsted size-4 or bulky size-5 yarn that you will not be using and could share with Knitting for Others, we certainly would appreciate your donation.  Yarn can be left in the box marked “yarn” in the Library.  Thank you so much for your help.

For questions, please call one of our Co-Chairs, Beverly or Bev:
Beverly Wahl  – 502-553-7255

Bev Keough – 330-888-5385

2025 Year-long Bible Study

Everyday for Everyone
365 Devotions from Genesis to Revelation

This collection of reflections encompasses the entirety of the Bible – taking you on a journey from the beginnings of creation and humanity’s journey with God in Genesis through the history of Israel to the life of Jesus and the birth of the church in the New Testament.

Each daily devotion includes:

· Scripture Reference (usually not more than 1 chapter)
· A one-page, thoughtful commentary on that day’s passage
· A prayer echoing the Scripture and reflection from that day

Join Pastor John on a 2025 journey through the Bible; group times for discussion will be planned throughout the year.  Books are available through the church office for $17.

Every Day for Everyone – Daily Bible Study discussion

Those participating in the Every Day for Everyone Daily Bible Study (and anyone else interested) are invited to gather for questions and discussion:

Group Discussion Times

Sunday, October 26

Noon in the Church Sanctuary

________________________________________

LINKS

Link to Services at Valley:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYF6JWnNARixsYXmVVp-ImA

Link to Facebook

Link to Prayer Request List

Link to Sermons

Link to Service Bulletin:

Sunday, October 19, 2025 service bulletin

Pass-It-On Mission Store