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 9, 2025

Presbyterians are Christians who believe:
• Studying the bible prayerfully and together helps us figure out which things matter more than other things;
• Grace happens;
• God’s grace invites response;
• God gave us brains and expects us to use them;
• We are beloved, gifted, capable, and safe.  Already.  Right now;
• God calls us to be on the side of the ones who are having the hardest time;
• Nobody’s perfect;
• There’s more Holy Spirit in a bunch of us than in any single one of us;
• God isn’t finished;
• and God’s love is not limited to our particular faith community.

Members and Friends of Valley,

The list above has been passed around Presbyterian circles for a while now; long enough that it is hard to know for sure who originally put it together.  It is not – and likely will never be – an official statement or confession of our church.  But there are still many things I like about it.

First, I like that it begins with the claim that studying, discerning, and living out scripture is a communal activity; if the Bible is to be taken seriously, its reading and application cannot be done alone.

Second, I like that the list is filled with humility.  Though all are gifted, nobody is perfect.  Though God loves us, it is not limited to us; nor to those who look or think like us.  And if God is not finished, then how can we be?

And finally, our faith is grounded and centered in God’s grace, but does not end there.  We are called to respond:  with praise, thanksgiving, and prayer; with thinking and feeling; with service and mercy.

Over the next couple weeks – leading up to Reformation Sunday on October 26 – we are going to be looking at what are the core principles and practices in churches of our particular denomination; in other words, our why and our what (or what now).  We will do this through the lens of a much older, but still quite relevant, list from our Book of Order entitled, “The Great Ends of the Church.”

No church – including those of our particular denominational stripe – does everything well; we all have strengths and weaknesses, insights and blind-spots.  But I believe that ours is a thinking and transforming faith – one that has and should continue to re-evaluate to what and to whom we are now being called.

Thank you for being a part of this sacred endeavor; I certainly second what is stated above:  “There is more Holy Spirit in a bunch of us than in any single one of us.”

In Peace,
Pastor John

________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

Passing of Larry Graham

Larry Graham passed away peacefully at his home at South Franklin Circle on Monday, October 7.  A memorial service at Valley will be planned for a later date.  Please be in prayer for his wife, Janet, and the rest of the Graham family.

Passing of Jim Paisley

Former Valley member and long-time Men’s Prayer Breakfast participant, Jim Paisley, passed away on Tuesday, October 8.  Visiting hours are this Friday, 3-7 p.m. at Chapel Shorts Crislip Funeral Home in Ravenna and on Saturday there is a time of reception at 10 and funeral service at 10:30 a.m. at Pioneer Memorial Church in Solon.

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 12 & 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 12 & 26

Noon in the Church Sanctuary

Mid-week Lunch Group – October 14

All are welcome to gather for lunch together at Buckeye Café (located across from the church in Tanglewood Square) at noon on the second Tuesday of each month (October 14, November 11, December 9, etc.) for a time of good food, great coffee, and even better conversations.

Sarah Circle 2025-26

We’d love to have you join us!

The meeting will be:
Tuesday, October 14

Our study for the upcoming year is:
PCUSA:  Finding Resilience, Joy, and Our Identity in Jesus Christ

Meet September — May the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Church Library.  Books are available and cost $14.00.  To order a book or for more information, please contact Glenna Pool at 419-789-9446 or e-mail gpool205@yahoo.com.

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

________________________________________

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 12, 2025 service bulletin

September 30, 2025

The bulletin for this coming Sunday, October 5th, is below.  See October Valley Voice newsletter for more announcements and Pastor letter.

________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

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 12 & 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 12 & 26

Noon in the Church Sanctuary

Mid-week Lunch Group – October 14

All are welcome to gather for lunch together at Buckeye Café (located across from the church in Tanglewood Square) at noon on the second Tuesday of each month (October 14, November 11, December 9, etc.) for a time of good food, great coffee, and even better conversations.

Sarah Circle 2025-26

We’d love to have you join us!

The meeting will be:
Tuesday, October 14

Our study for the upcoming year is:
PCUSA:  Finding Resilience, Joy, and Our Identity in Jesus Christ

Meet September — May the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Church Library.  Books are available and cost $14.00.  To order a book or for more information, please contact Glenna Pool at 419-789-9446 or e-mail gpool205@yahoo.com.

________________________________________

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 5, 2025, service bulletin

September 25, 2025

“Then Jesus told them a parable.” (Luke 12:16)

Members and Friends of Valley,

In the so-called Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), Jesus often teaches his disciples and followers using parables.  These short stories – something like fables for the faithful – can be challenging to interpret.  They are often like the proverbial onion:  for, when you peel away one layer of a parable’s meaning, you always find another underneath.

Over the past weeks, and for several more to come, we have been looking at the parables of Luke, seeking to find in these ancient teachings some relevant meaning for our lives today.  Often, we try to determine which character speaks most to us.  Sometimes, like in the Parable of the Prodigal Son(s) that we looked at a couple of weeks back, we probably saw a little of ourselves in each family member.

New Testament scholar Alyce McKenzie, in her book The Parables for Today, writes this about interpreting these mysterious sayings of Jesus:

Just when we think we have pinned one down to a single, definitive, permanent meaning, like a dead butterfly to a display board, it slips from our hands like the greased watermelon in the rugby game at a youth retreat.

Given all the complexities and uncertainties of life, it is tempting to wish that Jesus (and the scriptures, in general) would speak to us with more clarity or simplicity.  Because of this common desire to pin things down, it is wise to be wary of Christians who claim they (and maybe they alone) know the clear meaning of the scriptures.

I feel privileged to be part of a Christian tradition that welcomes questions and encourages debate; and that believes biblical interpretation takes place most faithfully in conversation with one another.  We will not always agree – our beliefs are not static – and that is a good thing.

And so, I invite you to join me in the mysterious process of interpreting God’s word; and to the challenging work of living out that which, together, we believe it to mean for the way we live our lives inside and beyond the walls of the church.

In Christ,
Pastor John

________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

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 12 & 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 12 & 26

Noon in the Church Sanctuary

Mid-week Lunch Group – October 14

All are welcome to gather for lunch together at Buckeye Café (located across from the church in Tanglewood Square) at noon on the second Tuesday of each month (October 14, November 11, December 9, etc.) for a time of good food, great coffee, and even better conversations.

Sarah Circle 2025-26

We’d love to have you join us!

The meeting will be:
Tuesday, October 14

Our study for the upcoming year is:
PCUSA:  Finding Resilience, Joy, and Our Identity in Jesus Christ

Meet September — May the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Church Library.  Books are available and cost $14.00.  To order a book or for more information, please contact Glenna Pool at 419-789-9446 or e-mail gpool205@yahoo.com.

________________________________________

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, September 28, 2025 service bulletin

Pass-It-On Mission Store