This Sunday, we will be moving our location and time once again. Valley Church will meet at 5:30 PM at 36 Hadley Street, South Hadley, MA 01075. This is the same building that houses Stony Brook Community Church and we are honored to share the space with them.

Beyond the cold, hard facts of the move, I would like to address the necessity and heart for the move. As many of you know, we left the Middle School at the end of November and had planned to move into a local coffee shop beginning in December. That plan fell through and we met from December - Februaruy in our house. It really was a sweet time to gather together (too close together at times), pray, hear the Word preached, sing and fellowship together. However, as 2012 marches on and we add more people, it became too much for our house and was limiting what it seemed God wanted to do. So the elders and I began looking at other options. Two major factors came to the forefront of this search for a new location: time and money.

The first major hurdle was the availability of space and the cost. The space that was available was often too expensive and the space that was affordable was not available when we needed it. When all was said and done, we found a cost effective space that didn't fit our already established Sunday schedule. 

At this point, we had to make a choice. Our elders prayed and eventually decided that the move to Sunday Night would be the direction we need to go.

However, in the process, we have realized and adjusted a couple of things that we want to share with you. First, for the past year, we took the emphasis off of the Gospel community and work that was being done in the House Churches and redirected that time, effort and energy into a Sunday meeting time. This understanding forced us to reevaluate why we meet in House Churches during the week and worship corporately on Sundays. Our elders realized that both of these meeting times are Biblical and serve vital roles in the life of our church. House Churches work to connect people to one another and to the Gospel. This is where real Gospel work is done. We "grace" one another in this time by confessing sin and being encouraged by those in the House Church to see the finished work of Jesus in our lives and accept his forgiveness. Sunday Worship Gatherings are just that, a time to gather fully together to see that God is working and to corporately, together, worship Jesus, be encouraged and hear the Word preached. These two times in unison provide members of Valley Church a more full experience of growth and worship.

Second, we know that the change of time will be a challenge to many of you. Any change like this is not taken lightly from us because we realize the challenge that it presents for you and for us. However, we want to encourage you in a couple of ways as you consider this time and location change.

1. Plan your day around the priority of gathering in worship of Jesus. We believe that coming together during this time is really important and even supernatural. It is not to be taken lightly. One of the prayers that we have prayed at the beginning of each service Sunday is asking God to give us the eyes to see and the ears to hear Him on that day. He uses this meeting time to cut through the distractions and lies that we are forced to deal with during our week. Therefore, His work is done during this time. Changing from meeting in the morning to meeting at night does not change what God will do during this time.

2. Please consider whether choosing not to attend Valley Church anymore is based on convenience or necessity. It would be very easy to say this move is an inconvenience and find some place else to worship. However, I want to encourage you to press through and make gathering in worship the priority and plan everything else around this event. As a society, we will move heaven and earth to make time for a date, a movie start time and a ballgame, but the same cannot be said for gathering in worship of Jesus. The irony is that when we gather for these things, it is actually worship. Our heart is actually more fond of these experineces. If this is you, I encourage you to pray and ask God to lead you in considering whether you are simply being inconvenienced and not willing to trust Christ for this change.

3. If your day cannot be rescheduled to meet with Valley Church, find a church to attend. If you need help finding a church or need recommendations, we would be happy to talk with you about the wonderful churches in our area that we believe are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Finally, the elders and I would like to communicate that we believe this move will provide the stability that Valley Church needs to grow and flourish in Grace. Being somewhere for a period of time is important and this move at this time will help us be where God wants us to be we believe.

Thank you all and have a great week. See you Sunday at 5:30!

By His Grace,

Pastor Ryan

Psalm 127 speaks specifically about how to think about, treat and nuture children, but the Bible has lots to say about those other areas as well. However, the key to these areas becoming areas of worship and not idols that we hope will save us or make us happy, is found in the first two verses of Psalm 127.

Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
(Psalm 127:1-2 ESV)

Many of us live our lives daily pursuing, worrying about and planning how to make our children good, our relationships better or our career fulfilling. According to Psalm 127, unless God does these things, the work, worry and planning is in vain. 

Here is the secret: God is most concerned with His glory according to Isaiah 48 - 

“For my name's sake I defer my anger,
for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,
that I may not cut you off.
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.
For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
for how should my name be profaned?
My glory I will not give to another.
(Isaiah 48:9-11 ESV)

When we recognize, understand and submit the areas of our lives like children, relationships and careers to Christ and His glory, we truly surrender to the truth of Psalm 127. These areas are given to us to be a blessing to Jesus and bring glory to Him.

So how do we bring glory to God in these areas? We are satisfied by Him in these areas. We submit to Him and ask Him to show what will bring Him the most glory and satisfy us the most.

What are you worrying about, trying hard to make work out or pursuing today? Is it Christ and His glory or your own?

The food will be potluck, so please bring a main course dish or a dessert and make sure it is enough to feed multiple, multiple people. In other words, no bags of chips. Multiple bags of chips, dip, a serving bowl and tray do constitute multiple people. But the great part of the Christmas Party is that people don't just settle for chips and dip. They bring food prepared with love from the the woman that works at the hot bar at Big Y. 

The highlight of most Valley Church Christmas Parties is the incridble Yankee Swap gift exchange which has included footy-pajamas and a Scooby-Doo blow up punching bag. So, bring a cheap gift ($10 or less) and get ready to steal your way to a great gift, but keep in mind, you can have that gift stolen as easily as you stole that gift. As my Grandma used to say, "Don't hate the player, hate the game."

The night usually ends up with other fun games and Chrsitmas movies that make us laugh, so plan to join us and enjoy a great time with friends!

I loved playing hide and go seek as a kid. My girls have caught onto that love as well and it is common for me to walk into a closet in our house to put away some clothes and have a voice from behind the hanging shirts and pants whisper, "Shhh, we are playing hide and go seek! Don't tell anyone!" 

One thing I never planned to do when we started Valley Church was play "Hide and Go Seek Church", but that feels like what we have done this week. As many of you know, we met two Sunday's ago and laid out a plan to begin meeting at the Thirsty Mind Coffee Shop. Well something happened on the way to the coffee shop and after some difficult conversations, Valley Church will not be able to meet at the Thirsty Mind after all. It was dissapointing, but we trust God is in control.

So after all the dust settled, Valley Church will meet for the month of December at the McCullah House. The address is 2 Berwyn Street Ext., South Hadley, MA 01075. We will pick up Sunday with week two of our Advent:Ruth Series and study Ruth Chapter 2 together.

The last bit of information is that we will go back to our normal meeting time of 10:30 AM. Plan to come all of December at this time and let's worship Jesus together!

By His Grace,

Ryan McCullah

Also, if you came to our Family Event at Heritage Park in Holyoke on Saturday, July 9, keep checking our Facebook page for pictures that will be uploaded soon.

Our friends Shane and Cheryl Symolon will soon be loading up a truck and moving to Dallas Theological Seminary where Shane will pursue theological studies. ValleyChurch has been so blessed for over two years now with wonderful relationships with Shane and Cheryl. Shane has led the Valley Church band as well as been an amazing leader in our church each week. Cheryl has been an incredible mentor and friend to many in Valley Church and we have been blessed by her service. 

This Sunday, Shane and Cheryl are hosting friends and family and have invited all of Valley Church to celebrate their time here by coming to their house for a BBQ. Please come to their house (30 River Road, Agawam, MA 01001) after church to enjoy this Texas sized BBQ and lots for laughs and a great goodbye to a very special couple.

June 26th - Church in the Park - 10:30 AM - Dufrense Park, Granby, MA

July 17th - Church in the Park - 3:00 PM - Dufrense Park, Granby, MA

July 24th - Church in the Park - 3:00 PM - Buttery Brook Park, South Hadley, MA

August 7th - Church in the Park - 3:00 PM - Buttery Brook Park, South Hadley, MA

August 21st - Church in the Park - 3:00 PM - TBD

Hope to see you all in the parks this summer!

Ryan

Date Field Time Opponent

04/28/11 Bethany 1 5:30 Westfield (Coed) 6:45 @ Westfield (Coed)

 05/05/11 Van Horn 3 5:30 Wellspring (Coed) 6:45 @ Wellspring (Coed)

 05/19/11 Life Point 5:45 @ Dwight Chapel (Coed) 7:00 Dwight Chapel (Coed)

 05/26/11 Bethany 2 5:45 @ Bethany #2 (Coed) 7:00 Bethany #2 (Coed)

 06/02/11 Van Horn 3 5:45 Bethany #1 (Coed) 7:00 @ Bethany #1 (Coed)

 06/09/11 Bethany 1 5:45 @ Redemption (Coed) 7:00 Redemption (Coed)

 06/16/11 Bethany 1 5:45 @ Westfield (Coed) 7:00 Westfield (Coed)

06/23/11 Van Horn 3 5:45 Wellspring (Coed) 7:00 @ Wellspring (Coed)

07/07/11 Life Point 5:45 @ Dwight Chapel (Coed) 7:00 Dwight Chapel (Coed)

07/14/11 Bethany 2 5:45 @ Bethany #2 (Coed) 7:00 Bethany #2 (Coed)

07/21/11 Van Horn 3 5:45 Bethany #1 (Coed) 7:00 @ Bethany #1 (Coed)

07/28/11 Bethany 1 5:45 @ Redemption (Coed) 7:00 Redemption (Coed)

If you are not playing, come out to support the Flying V's and hang out with the rest of Valley Church. It should be a blast!

I'm not sure if you have heard or not, but apparently we are in a recession or coming out of a recession or our hair lines are receding or something. Whatever the case, times are a bit tough financially right now. Sure, tough "financial times" in America are relative compared to the rest of the world. Despite what the experts say and the inflated "American Dream" idea of what is necessary to survive financially, we still have to decide what to do with our money.

Thankfully, the Bible gives us plenty of principles to live by when it comes to our money. This Sunday after our morning service, Valley Church will hold a "Surviving Financially in Difficult Times" workshop that will present these Biblical ideas and teach you some practical steps dealing with money.
This is a great workshop to bring your friends and neighbors to as well, so invite anyone who may be interested in learning more about managing money and making better financial decisions. So plan on joining us this Sunday at 1:30 at the Michael E. Smith Middle School.

Hope to see you then!
By His Grace,Pastor Ryan 

[24] And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

At Valley Church, we love to see visitors come through our doors, however, we believe if those visitors come to know Jesus and place their faith in him, it is biblical to support, encourage and love these believers as a local body. At Valley Church, we want to provide these things by inviting these fellow believers to be a part of our fellowship of believers.

Sunday, April 10th, we will have our Spring New Member's Class at 1:30 at our house. We would be honored to have you come to our house and join us as we present the history, beliefs, doctrine and mission of Valley Church. At this meeting, you will hear about each of these areas and have the opportunity to tell us about your story of coming to faith in Jesus. Finally, you will have the opportunity to read and sign our Valley Church member's covenant.

Please consider joining us in this very important meeting and hear about the great things happening at Valley Church!

Have a great week and see you Sunday!

By His Grace,

Pastor Ryan