Welcome to the Newsletter for June. We are already coming into the midway point of 2024, but as usual, we have lots of updates as we come into a brand new month.
JUNE SCHEDULE
June 2 – This is our Communion Sunday.
June 9 – This is the concluding Sunday for our most recent series, Navigating the Wilderness. It is also the final week for Life Groups until September.
June 16 – Jacob Paul, our missionary partner will be giving the message this morning. It is also Father’s Day.
June 23 – Matthew Burkholder will be giving the message this morning.
June 30 – This is a Celebration Sunday. It is a service reserved for celebrating significant spiritual milestones, both personally and corporately as a church. If you want to become a member, dedicate your children, or be baptized, please contact the church to let us know at office@villagegreenchurch.com.
June 30 is a very busy day at Village Green as the next two items in the newsletter will attest.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Immediately following the Celebration Service on June 30 is our Congregational Meeting. This is the meeting where the Auditor’s Report, the Annual Report, and the new slate are presented. The slate this year has two new Board of Directors, a new Chairman, and a new Church Clerk.
Please plan to attend this important meeting.
SUMMER PICNICS
Following the Congregational meeting on the 30th, we will be having our first picnic of the summer. The first one will be a Canada Day Celebration so we are asking everyone to wear red. Dessert will be provided as well as a BBQ (bring your own meat), and pool. Make sure to bring a lawn chair and swimsuit (and your own towels). If children are swimming there must be one parent present. Water and cold drinks will be provided.
If it rains the picnic will be cancelled. We will be announcing the location during the services but if you would like a schedule of the summer picnics, you can pick up a copy at the Welcome Center or contact the church at office@villagegreenchurch.com.
LEADERSHIP RETREAT
On May 25, the leadership gathered for a one-day Retreat. It was a day of reviewing the past year and seeking the Lord for the future. We also tallied up the survey responses and spent some time evaluating and discussing the implications of what had been submitted. Before I get to a summary of those, it was clear that we, as a church, are experiencing tremendous blessings and favour from the Lord, something we are all truly grateful for.
We received a total of 36 surveys and here is a basic summary of the results. For the question on what we do well, the top 3 responses were 1) Messages/Teaching 2) Life Groups, and 3) Community.
For the question of what we could do better, nothing stood out that was a red flag or a problem that people saw as needing immediate attention. Most had to do with being better at discipleship and outreach to the community.
I want to thank you for helping the leadership discern the strengths and weaknesses of our ministries, and how we can continue to be effective for the Kingdom in the years to come.
SUMMER DAY CAMPS
It’s that time of year to register the kids for Day Camp. We are hosting two camps this year, Forest Cliff and Adullum. Forest Cliff is running the week of July 8 to July 12. Adullum is running the week of July 29 to August 2.
For more information and to register, click the specific camp buttons below:
SPIRITUAL RETREAT
From June 16-30 I will be on my Spiritual Retreat. This is a time that I get to be refreshed and renewed in my walk with the Lord as well as prepare the next year of messages.
Thank you to those who have already sent suggestions for possible series. The input is much appreciated. I would also ask for prayer as I discern the Spirit’s wisdom and leading. I’m always concerned that whatever is planned will help people grow in their walk with Jesus and give fuel to the Life Groups. Thank you!
MAKING SPACE
In our lives, we can become so busy, so stressed, and so consumed with life that we can forget that God can do more in a few minutes than we can do in our entire lives.
The offering times at church (and the moments to give online) are really about making space and asking God to do a miracle each week. Just as God can do so much more with little time he can do so much more with whatever we give. For every dollar we give to God, we create room for Him to do what only He can do.
So, my question is how much space are you creating in your finances for God? This is not to make you feel bad, but a challenge to move you to a place of knowing the power of God in your life. When we intentionally make space for God, especially in our finances, we allow God to work through the church to make a difference in people’s lives.
I want to say thank you and pray a blessing on so many of you who regularly make space for God and the way it impacts our community for His Kingdom.
NEW SUMMER SERIES
Our series for the summer is entitled The Abundant Life based on the statement Jesus makes in John 10:10. The promo for the series is as follows:
When you ask most people the reason why Jesus came, the common answer is to give his life to save ours. As correct as that answer may be, Jesus came to give us much more as part of the gift of salvation. In this series, we look at what Jesus offers, when we place our faith in him.
I hope you are looking forward to this series as much as I am.
Thanks again for your partnership, service, and giving to Village Green. We are so blessed to have you as part of our church.
Jon Korkidakis.