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, November 18

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:  Pulled pork BBQ, mac and cheese, green beans, cornbread, assorted pies

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 pie (your recipe of choice) at home, please drop off by 10 a.m. on November 18th.

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

November 20, 2025

“Give thanks to the Lord because God is good, because God’s steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1, Common English Bible)

Members and Friends of Valley,

When I was taking food this week to Next Step – a residential program for young adults transitioning out of foster care, and a ministry partner of Valley – one of the young men offered to carry the box, and after looking inside, said with excitement:  “You guys are life-savers, you have no idea!”

After thinking about that interaction on the way home, I tend to agree:  I really have no idea what it must be like to grow up in an unstable environment, without the loving support of parents, without the consistent guidance of other adults, without the certainty of where you will sleep or whether there will be a next meal, possibly the literal – not just figurative – need for a life-saver.

The two bulletins attached to this email – for Sundays, November 23 (Christ the King Sunday) and November 30 (First Sunday of Advent) – wrap around the Thanksgiving holiday.  Many of us will attend gatherings for food and fellowship with family and friends; maybe with more or less of them than you would hope or imagine.  We will have opportunities to reflect on and offer thanks for the blessings given, received, and shared in our lives.  And we can pray and work for abundance and thanksgiving to spread even into the places and circumstances where we really have no idea.

Please take note of the giving opportunities that are listed in these bulletins and the forthcoming December Valley Voice newsletter where we might each find a way to be life-givers, life-sustainers, and life-savers.  And let us all remember to offer God thanks for the people and the ways in our lives that we have been and continue to be guided, supported, and loved.

Below, you will find a copy of the Thanksgiving Prayer that was sent out with our community meal this week; it is adapted from Jill Duffield’s prayer in the Presbyterian Outlook. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your beloved.

In Christ
Pastor John

A Thanksgiving Prayer

We thank you, Lord of all, for the beauty of the earth and all the resources we enjoy from creation.  We thank you for blessings, large and small, that reveal to us your unending grace.

We thank you, God of mercy, for the gift of community in all its varied forms; and for the hope of faith that carries us forward.  Help us to forgive as we have been forgiven, trusting of the unity of all things in Christ.

We thank you, God, in all circumstances and for all blessings:  the lovely, the complicated, the unexpected; the overflowing and the abundant, today and every day.  Amen.

________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

Decorating the Sanctuary for Advent/Christmas

If you can, please stay after worship this Sunday, November 23, as we “trim” the tree and decorate the sanctuary for the season.

Advent Devotional

This year’s Advent Devotionals contain, artwork, poems, hymns, scripture and reflection prompts.  It is intended to be read at your own pace throughout the season of Advent and Christmas, and it concludes with Epiphany.  Printed copies will be available on Sunday, November 30.

Our friends at A Sanctified Art have provided a special e-reader version of this year’s Advent devotional, which you can access on your computer and mobile devices:  http://online.flippingbook.com/view/361593675/.

In order to protect their work, please refrain from sharing this link or posting it on social media.

2025 Poinsettia Order Form

The Poinsettia Order Form for the Christmas Eve service is below.  All orders are due into the office no later than Sunday, December 7, 2025.  See Marilyn Rodenhausen with questions.

Poinsettia Order Form

Annual Christmas Angel Tree Project

Each Christmas season Valley has an Angel Tree project.  This year, we will be supporting Geauga County Family Services.

We are collecting gift cards this year.  The suggested cards are Amazon, Giant Eagle, Walmart, Aldi.  There will be a box in the Narthex for the gift cards.  Please return the gift cards by Sunday, December 7.

Thank you so much for your support. In Christ, The Mission Commission

$5 for Feet, Fingers, and Fares for North Church

In this season of giving, we can give the gift of warmth to our neighbors at North Church in Cleveland.  Your contributions will provide hats, gloves, socks, and fares for those in need.  Envelopes will be available in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall beginning Sunday, November 23 through Sunday, December 14.  Thank you for generously supporting this mission. In Christ, your Mission Commission

Here We Come A Caroling!!!!!

The Valley Church Choir and the Musicians from the Bainbridge Community Church would like to invite any Valley Church members who are interested to go CAROLING with us immediately after the service on December 7th.  There will be a light lunch at the UCC Church, and then we will be going to two Nursing Homes (TBA) in the area.  If you are interested, please contact Nancy Sullivan for more information.

Alternative Gift Giving

If you are considering giving alternative gifts, there are some brochures on the Mission bulletin board in the hallway.  Heifer, Habitat for Humanity, and Presbyterian Gift Catalogs are there for you to look at.  You can copy down their website or phone number, if you are interested. Mission Commission

Knitting For Others

The group will not be meeting in December.

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, December 7

5:00 p.m. in the Church Library

Festival Choir – The Christmas Gift

Valley’s Festival Choir would like to invite you to our Christmas Program

“THE CHRISTMAS GIFT”

to be presented during the church service on

Sunday, December 14th, 2025.

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 Date

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, November 23, 2025 service bulletin

Sunday, November 30, 2025 service bulletin

November 13, 2025

“Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them.” (Luke 6:30 from Common English Bible)

Members and Friends of Valley,

On its face, this sounds like pretty bad advice; think of all the loaned-out stuff we’ll never get back.  Here in Luke’s gospel, in what is called the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus is expanding on what we call the Golden Rule:  treating others – friends, enemies, and strangers alike – in the way you would want them to treat you.

In the news, recently, was a story about a woman who was calling churches saying that she did not have enough money to buy infant formula for her baby; would they be willing to help?  It turns out that this was a scam; the woman made the story up and was looking for churches that she could make look bad.

Some of my clergy colleagues responded to this story by explaining they probably would have been able to tell if the woman was lying; that enough people approach churches with needs – legitimate or made-up – that pastors can often tell whether it’s the truth or a lie.  Furthermore, clergy might be compelled to offer something different than what was requested; looking to address the true need – material or spiritual – rather than putting a bandage on a deeper wound.

Jesus provides the freedom to address the needs of our neighbors creatively; saying that when someone slaps you in the face, turn the other cheek; when someone takes your cloak, give them your coat as well; that even a cold drink of water can make a huge difference.  He says, here, that we should give to everyone who asks, though not necessarily what everyone asks.  Give what you won’t expect to give back; offer what can lead to healing, wholeness, and joy.

Next Tuesday, we are offering to the community a free dinner.  We like to say it is for anyone and everyone who hungers in any way:  physical hunger or poverty or emotional exhaustion; as an antidote to isolation or a means of saying thank you.  You are encouraged to think creatively about who, through this meal, might hear that God loves them, that they are not forgotten, that they are not expected to give anything back in return.  The link to sign up yourself and/or others for the meal is above.

Today, also, happens to be World Kindness Day.  If you are looking for some more ideas about how to live out Jesus’ teachings about the Golden Rule, click this link: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/.

In Christ,
Pastor John

________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(additional announcements are in the bulletin and newsletter)

Celebration of Life for Larry Graham

Saturday, November 15, at Valley Presbyterian

Visitation with Family at 10:00 a.m.; Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. with luncheon in Fellowship Hall to follow.

Private Interment will be at a later date.

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 Sunday, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.:
November 23

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, November 16

5:00 p.m. in the Church Library

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.)

Annual Christmas Angel Tree Project

Each Christmas season Valley has an Angel Tree project.  This year, we will be supporting Geauga County Family Services.

We are collecting gift cards this year.  The suggested cards are Amazon, Giant Eagle, Walmart, Aldi.  There will be a box in the Narthex for the gift cards.  Please return the gift cards by Sunday, December 7.

Thank you so much for your support. In Christ, The Mission Commission

________________________________________

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, November 16, 2025, service bulletin

Pass-It-On Mission Store