Welcome to the month of September and to our most recent newsletter! As usual, we have a lot of exciting news so without further delay, let’s get you up to date!
COMMUNION REMINDER
Village Green celebrates Communion on the first Sunday of every month. We celebrate open communion, meaning the only requirement for participating is belief in Jesus Christ. If you are part of the online community and want to participate, please make sure to have the elements ready. For those of you attending in person, pick up your communion cup as you enter the auditorium.
SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE
September 4 – We conclude our series, Wisdom by the Book. The series received a lot of encouraging comments so thank you to those who said they were blessed by this look at biblical wisdom. This is also a Communion service.
September 11 – Our missionary partner, Jacob Paul, will be speaking on this Sunday. We will also be having a meet and greet after the service. A tent will be set up where we will have pre-packaged treats and bottled water. More importantly, this will be a time to meet others and hopefully build deeper community connections. We look forward to seeing you there!
September 18 – This is launch day. We launch into a brand new series as well as launching the next session of Life Groups. Not only that, but we are also introducing a new format for Kids Connection. Details are below.
The series is entitled Messy Life: Finding Our Way Back to the Stress-Free Zone. In this 10-part series, we take an honest look at what makes life messy and what happens when life doesn’t match our hopes or expectations. Though life is often messy, it is in the midst of those moments when we experience grace in all its fullness.
Here is the promo video for the series in case you are interested in learning more.
Life Groups begin on September 18 as well. There are sign-up sheets at the back of the church if you are attending in person or you can contact the church at office@villagegreenchurch.com to get your name added to a group. We have groups meeting in person as well as virtually. You can grab the material for the groups on our website at www.villagegreenchurch.com or on the YouVersion Bible app. Below is the list of days and format of the various Life Groups.
Sunday
In Person (leaders – Al & Ally Vanderlaan/Ashley & Chris Zietsma) Right after church
Tuesday
Virtual Group (leaders – Jennifer Charlton/Don and Jane Shirley) 7:00 pm
Virtual Group (leaders – Ralph & Krista Allen/Brent & Jennifer Paul) 6:30 pm
In Person (leaders – Jon & Darlene Korkidakis) 6:30 pm at Church
Thursday
Virtual Group (Scott & Mary Ann Rowe) 7:00 pm
Hybrid Group (In-person & virtual) ( Dale and Janet Mackness) 7:00 pm at Church
Kids Connection. Starting on September 18, the grades 1-5 group will be part of the worship service and will be excused prior to the message. Parents will still have to check in with their children prior to the service. The younger children will continue to stay downstairs from the beginning of the service.
KIDS CONNECTION TRAINING
On Sunday, September 18, and Saturday, September 24, there will be training from 11:30 to 1:00 pm for all Kids Connection volunteers.
Lunch and drinks will be provided. There will be an email sent to all volunteers and leaders so please make sure to RSVP so we know how many people are attending each session. Thank you to everyone who volunteers in this vital ministry.
YOUTH UPDATE
There is another change happening in September and this one concerns the day that the youth will be meeting. Starting on September 12, the weekly youth meetings move from Tuesdays to Mondays.
The youth will also be starting their Sunday morning studies but a specific date has not yet been determined. We will announce the date when we have the information.
SUMMER INTERNS
This summer we had three interns helping out here at Village Green. We deeply appreciate their work and the many ways they helped in updating, improving, and maintaining the various ministries.
Our thanks go out to:
Evangeline Harrisgreen
Aiden Wiebe
Lukas Horton
THEOLOGY JAM
Check out the podcast hosted by Jon Korkidakis and Matthew Burkholder where they discuss relevant topics affecting our spiritual lives and the church.
You can find them on your favourite podcast apps such as Spotify, Anchor, and iTunes. If you have an idea for a topic or a question, you can contact them at theologyjam@gmail.com.
ONTARIO GRANT
The Ontario government has offered a grant to non-profit organizations and churches to update their security. For some time, Village Green has recognized the need for security cameras, especially on the exterior of the building. Our building is often the recipient of trash, dumping, and even vandalism. We have had significant damage done to our building and property in the past without ever having any idea who the individuals were.
The church applied for the grant and we were awarded the maximum of $10,000 to install a new security system at the church. So, we are in the process of determining our needs and getting the right system in place.
This will greatly enhance the safety of not only those who use the building, but for the community around us as well. We believe the cameras will be a significant deterrent to the small minority who may want to do harm to our property.
WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU!
As we move into the Fall season, it also signals the beginning of a new season of ministry. Holidays are done and people are beginning to return to more regular schedules.
Our hope is this also means a return for many to regular church attendance. So with the anticipated influx of new people, it also opens up new opportunities for you to serve. We know from experience, that service is one of the best vehicles for growing your faith deeper.
If you have been wondering about serving, we have many places where you can exercise your giftedness. From impacting children in our Kids Connection and youth programs, to helping to deliver our services to a virtual audience, there is a place for you to serve and grow, while touching others with biblical truth.
Start your serving journey by contacting the church at office@villagegreenchurch.com
GIVING WHERE IT MATTERS
We appreciate very much your faithful giving as you partner with us here at Village Green. Here are the ways you can help us to continue making a difference.
1. Drop off your offering at the church in the basket when entering service on Sunday mornings. You can also simply drop off your offering in the mailbox at the church.
2. Use the following link to go to the Giving Page on our website, www.villagegreenchurch.com.
3. You can give through e-transfer by going to envelopes@villagegreenchurch.com. please make sure your address is up to date and on file if you use this option.
LASTLY, A REPEATED APPEAL TO ALL OF US TO CONTINUE TO BUILD COMMUNITY
We continue to see a steady stream of guests to our church. Please take a moment to say hi and to make them feel at home here. In a post-Covid world, people are looking for authentic connections in order to start feeling visible and valuable again.
I also want to remind you to “like” and/or “share” the services and any social media posts from the church. They help us to get the message of the Gospel to a wider audience. Thanks to those who continue to share and support the ministry of Village Green.
Lastly, if you have not subscribed to our newsletter or YouTube channel then why not add your name and stay connected to all that is happening at the church. You can find our newsletter signups on our webpage at www.villagegreenchurch.com and our YouTube channel by searching Village Green Community Church on YouTube.
Thank you and may the Lord richly bless you
Jon Korkidakis
One Comment
Isobel Shearer
This is the best letter you’ve written Pastor Jon. Thanks for including all the news. I hope to be there more often.
God bless Village Church and for what it stands, Hope!