On Sunday, July 31, 2016, Pastor Stuart Nice shared a powerful message on the little know gift of encouraging yourself in the Lord. Please click here to view the entry on our VLC Conversations page.
Guatemala Mission Sunday, July 17, 2016
The 20 members of our mission team to Guatemala returned home last Sunday evening, July 3. It was a fruitful trip. Many families were blessed through the service of our volunteers and many children heard the good news of Jesus during the VBS program. Hear these stories and much more as the team shares on Sunday, July 17, at our 10am worship gathering.
You can also view daily team slideshows at nowisthetimeformissions.com.
VLC Shared Meal on Sunday, April 24, 2016 | Let's Have a Picnic!
Let's Have a Picnic!
On Sunday, April 24, we will be having a shared meal after our worship gathering. Please bring a side dish, salad, main dish, dessert, or finger food to share.
The theme for the April's shared meal is Family Picnic!
What's your favorite picnic food? What's your family's "must have" when you're planning a picnic? I'm looking forward to sandwiches, salads of all kinds, fresh fruit, and maybe even pie!
Please click here to let us know what you plan on bringing. Thanks for sharing your Family Picnic dishes with us on Sunday, April 24.
Cheers,
Brook
Collecting Donations for the Guatemala Mission this Summer
Now is the time to bring in donations for Guatemala!
We have begun collecting donations for this year’s mission to Guatemala. These donations help to make a difference in the lives of families in extreme poverty near Antigua, Guatemala.
Children’s Clothing Items We’re Collecting:
New Items:
- Socks
- Underwear
- T-shirts/undershirts
- Anything from the list below.
New or Gently Used Items:
- Non-branded shoes for school or sports
- Fleece jackets
- Conservative children's clothes
- School uniforms
Please click here to go to our online sign-up sheet. As you see in the picture below, there are five categories to choose from. Please select a category and then one or more items to donate. Do this for one or all five categories. By signing up, it helps us in the overall collecting effort. Thank you for your participation! And, don't forget to share this with your family and friends!
Shawn Smith at VLC
On Sunday, April 10, Shawn and Damaris Smith will be joining us at our worship gathering to share about this year's mission to Guatemala through Now Is The Time missions organization.
Shawn always comes with uplifting music and an encouragement to follow Jesus' lead, whether it's across the street or across the globe. We will also get to hear what this year's mission to Guatemala will entail.
This will be a family style gathering with a "south of the border" lunch prepared by the SCCS chef, Cesar Alvarado. This is a gathering that you won't want to miss. All are welcome!
A Family Easter Celebration
Sunday, March 27, 10am — 12pm
Easter is a time of celebration! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to invite all our Santa Clara neighbors to join in with us.
Bring your family and friends and help us celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This gathering is a family friendly church service with live music, dance performances, goodie bags for the kids, and refreshments for everyone after the service.
We will be gathering outside, so please come prepared for the elements.
Our hope is that as you join us, you will not only enjoy yourself, but will experience God’s love as we spend time celebrating the new life offered to us all in Jesus Christ.
Rodney Gonsalves on the VLC Sunday Podcast
We had the privilege of listening to our special guest speaker, Rodney Gonsalves, who is a long standing member and servant leader of VLC. Click here to go the the download page for the talk he shared with us on Sunday, February 28, 2016.
Are You Thirsty? | VLC News for Sunday, February 28, 2016
Click here to see the newsletter for Sunday February 28, 2016.
Holding on to Jesus in the Tough Times
As sure as there are good days and good seasons, there will be bad ones too. God is fully aware of this and has given us Jesus to walk us through the tough times. This week Pastor Stuart shares with us lessons from the Scriptures reminding us to not be afraid, but rather reach out to Jesus, who is with us always.
Click here to view the digest of Pastor Stuart's Daily Scripture Reading email devotionals for the third week of February, 2016.
Happy Valentine's Day! | VLC News for February 14, 2016
Click here to see the newsletter for Sunday, February 14, 2016
Letting Jesus Show Us How to Live and Love
God cares about how we live our lives, and has given us Jesus as our exemplar of the God-first life. This week Pastor Stuart shares with us lessons from the Scriptures on how to live and love as God's people in the world.
Click here to view the digest of Pastor Stuart's Daily Scripture Reading email devotionals for the second week of February, 2016.
Listening to Jesus Through the Scriptures
Quite often we are able to see ourselves in the Scriptures as we read them. This week Pastor Stuart leads us in listening to Jesus as we set our hearts to understand the Scriptures for ourselves.
Click here to view the digest of Pastor Stuart's Daily Scripture Reading email devotionals for the first week of February, 2016.
Sunday Youth Gatherings
Gio & Lei Serrato will be gathering with the middle & high schoolers during our worship gathering this Sunday, February 7. It will be a fun introduction to a new season of getting together as young people! They have also scheduled Youth gatherings through April 2016.
February 14
February 28
March 6
March 13
April 3
April 17
Gio & Lei love spending time with the older kids in our church, sharing and encouraging them to live purposeful lives that bring glory to God and honor to those they come in contact with. Please click here if you have any questions.
VLC Mission Sunday, January 31, 2016
On Sunday, January 31, we will spend some time during our worship gathering to focus on missions. We will announce the details of our summer mission to Guatemala. In our conversation for the day we will talk about extending the mission of Jesus both home and abroad. The gathering will conclude with a south of the border lunch prepared by the SCCS chef, Cesar. We hope to see you there!
VLC Fellowship Sunday, January 24, 2016
On Sunday, January 24, we will be having a shared meal after our worship gathering. Please bring a side dish, salad, dessert, or finger food to share.
The theme for the January's shared meal is Fresh Start!
Please interpret the theme as you like, but here are some pointers. Have you resolved to change up your eating in the new year? Please share your favorite meal with us. Or, do you have a dish that is full of fresh ingredients that is your go to? We would love to try it!
Share your Fresh Start dish with us on Sunday, January 24. Click here so you can let us know what kind of dish you will be bringing!
It is fun to join other in their Fresh Start. Who knows it might be inspiring! Please share your Fresh Start dishes with us this Sunday, January 24! Thank you.
Use this button to let us know what you're bringing to the VLC Shared Meal on Sunday, January 24. Thanks!
Bible Reading Resources
In Pastor Stuart's Daily Scripture Reading email, he highlighted some resources to help with engaging the Scriptures on a daily basis. Follow the link's below to check them out.
You can now read the Bible on your computer, smart phone, or tablet. Here are some links to resources that you will find helpful.
YouVersion Bible App
https://www.bible.com/app
This is a Bible app with many versions and reading plans to choose from.
Bible in One Year
http://www.bibleinoneyear.org
This is a one year Bible reading plan with commentary.
Wanted: Christmas Cookies!
VLC Christmas Cookie Potluck, Sunday, December 20, 2015
Is there a Christmas cookie recipe or holiday treat that you have wanted to share with friends and family, but didn't have the opportunity? Well, now you do!
Since we are making Christmas a long weekend and not gathering on Sunday, December 27, we're moving our shared meal to this Sunday. Instead of bringing main dishes and salads, please bring Christmas cookies, treats, or a dessert to share! Thank you!
Cheers,
Brook
Make Christmas a Long Weekend!
With our Christmas Eve Gathering on Thursday and Christmas Day being on Friday, we have decided to make Sunday, December 27, a day of rest. Since we will not be gathering at VLC on Sunday, December 27, please join us for our other Christmas gatherings on Sunday, December 20, at 10am and/or Christmas Eve at 6pm. Both events will be here at VLC. All are welcome!
Please take this opportunity of a free Sunday to continue the Christmas celebration with your family and friends wherever you find yourself that morning.
VLC Christmas Sunday Gathering
The Sunday before Christmas, December 20, is our Christmas Sunday Celebration at VLC. It is part of our worship gathering at 10am.
This celebration is a fun family Christmas gathering full of carols, special Christmas presentations, and fun Christmas crafts for the kids! Invite family and friends and come celebrate Christmas with us at VLC!
Operation Christmas Child
Changing lives one shoebox gift at a time!
For the last few years Valley Life Church and Santa Clara Christian School have been partnering with Operation Christmas Child to provide shoebox gifts to children in developing countries, so that they can have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas and hear the story of God's love through Jesus.
This year we have the opportunity to either pack a shoebox gift on our own, pack shoebox gifts together, or both.
On Sunday, November 15, we will be collecting and packing Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts at our worship gathering. Our goal is at least 100 boxes. We will be filling boxes as a part of our worship gathering. Please click here to sign-up and to let us know what you would like to bring to contribute to the packing party.
We will be focusing on the 5–9 year old age group for our packing party. If you want to provide a shoebox gift for a younger or older child, please pack that at home with your family and add it to the collection on Sunday, November 15.
Please remember to provide a check for $7 made out to Samaritan's Purse (OCC on the memo line) for each box you bring in. We will have computers for you to make online donations at the packing party.
Please visit the Operation Christmas Child website for ideas and instructions on packing a shoebox gift. Thank you for your generosity and participation in helping children in need experience the love of Jesus.
Please click here to download a "How to Pack a Shoebox Gift" document.