September is quickly approaching and with so much coming in the next month we are releasing this newsletter a bit early so you can plan accordingly. There is a lot here so let’s dive in.
AUGUST SCHEDULE
August 17 – Matthew Burkholder will be speaking from 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3-9, entitled Reality Check.
August 24 – Mathew Burkholder concludes our Summer Sampler series with a look at Hebrews 13:5-16, on the legacy of faith.
August 31 – This is a Celebration Sunday where we celebrate spiritual milestones such as baptisms, memberships, and parental dedications, just to name a few. These are services that remind us of God’s ongoing faithfulness. If you are interested in being part of the service you can contact the church at office@villagegreenchurch.com.
SUNDAY PICNICS IN AUGUST
The August 17 picnic will be held at the home of Shirley Ella. Remember to bring a lunch and chair and a bathing suit if you want to go swimming.
The August 24 picnic will be held at the church. The Men’s Group are supplying the food so all are welcome to come and stay for a free BBQ lunch. Remember to bring a chair.
The final picnic of the year is scheduled for August 31 at the home of Jon and Darlene Korkidakis, who reside just outside of Mt. Brydges. Remember to bring a lunch and lawn chair, and a BBQ is also available if needed.
SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE
September 7 – This is our Communion Sunday service.
We will also be introducing the entire leadership of the church at this service as well. If you want a visual of the people who serve on the various boards, staff, or ministry leaders, you will see them introduced on this Sunday.
September 14, 21, 28 – We begin a new 10-part series on the Book of Ecclesiastes on September 14, entitled, The Search for Meaning: A Journey Through Life’s Questions. Whether you’re seeking answers, grappling with life’s mysteries, or simply curious about the profound messages of the Bible, this series is for you. We embark on a spiritual exploration that promises to inspire and challenge your understanding of what it means to live with meaning and purpose. In a world filled with distractions and relentless pursuits, Ecclesiastes reminds us to pause and ponder the essence of life.
LIFE GROUPS
The Fall Session of Life Groups begins the week of September 14. Sign-up sheets are available in the foyer beginning Sunday, August 17. Make sure to grab your spot so you don’t miss out. If you are interested in leading or hosting a group, or if you have any further questions, please contact the church at office@villagegreenchurch.com
NEW THIS FALL – ALPHA
Starting Sunday, September 21, at 7:00 pm is the Alpha course for those who are new to Christianity. The course is being led by Matthew Burkholder and will be hosted in the large room downstairs.
There will be sign-up sheets available in the foyer beginning Sunday, August 17. We anticipate the evening will be approximately 1 1/2 hours and the course to last for 10 weeks.
MEET JULIA WATSON
We are excited to introduce Julia Watson, our new Kids Connection Coordinator. Julia has been a part of Village Green for a while now, and she brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. We are looking forward to having her as part of the team here at Village Green.
Julia Watson is a graduate from Western University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Disability Studies. Along with her role as Kid’s Connection Coordinator, she works as a supply educational assistant for the Thames Valley District School Board and as a teaching assistant at King’s College University. Julia serves as a leader at Village Green’s youth group, Power to Change Western and Adullam Camps. She has a heart for discipling and walking alongside children and youth as they grow in their faith.
If you see her, please take time to encourage her and say, welcome!
YOUTH MINISTRY IN SEPTEMBER
Monday night youth begins again on September 15 at the church from 7 – 9 pm. The Sunday morning youth studies with begin with the Jr. High on September 21, followed by the Sr. High on September 28.
COFFEE MINISTRY
The Coffee Ministry will once again be serving you a fresh cup of your favorite brew for your Sunday morning experience. The crew starts brewing again on Sunday, September 7.
If you are interested in serving on this team, simply contact the church at office@villagegreenchurch.com, or fill out a Connection Card (There is a link later in this newsletter).
VILLAGE GREEN GOLF DAY
The Village Green Golf Day is on Saturday, September 6, at 1:30 pm at the Fanshawe Quarry course. The cost for 18 holes is $70 if you ride in an electric cart or 48.75 if you are walking the course. Please pay at the Pro Shop when you arrive at the course. We are not planning a meal or prizes in order to keep it simple, but we will have an opportunity to visit on the patio with drinks and refreshments after golfing.
We will need to know if you and any friends are coming by Wednesday, August 27th, so we can book the right number of reserved tee times. Also, let us know of any requests for those of you who want to play with a certain person or group. We will do our best to arrange groups as requested. For more information, contact the church at office@villagegreenchurch.com.
BIBLE STUDY AND DISCUSSION GROUP
The Wednesday morning Ladies Bible Study begins on Wednesday, September 17 at 9:30 am. This is an 8 week study on the book of Galatian’s with Elizabeth Woodson’s guide Live Free.
The cost of the study is $35 including the study book (which is highly recommended) or $5 without the book. If you are attending the ladies luncheon on August 20, please bring your cash then.
The Men’s Discussion Group will also return on September 17 at 9:30 am. This is a good time to connect with other men in the church.
THEOLOGY JAM
New content has been added during the summer months. Matthew and I (Jon) discuss whether the Bible affirms alien life, and in another episode, we wrestle with the theological implications of the Israeli-Gaza conflict. As a follow-up to that discussion, we had Harvy Katz, a Jewish-Christian and one of the founders of Open Doors church to discuss the conflict from his cultural and theological perspective.
You can find Theology Jam on your favourite platform and you can contact us with requests and comments at theologyjam@gmail.com.
BASEBALL GAME AND TOURNAMENT
The final regular season game for the year is Tuesday, August 19 at the main diamond at Weldon Park in Area. The game starts at 6:15 pm.
This year’s final tournament will be held on Saturday, September 13 at Weldon Park, starting at 9:00 am. This is a wonderful time to come out, cheer our team on, and enjoy a great day of baseball.
NEWCOMER LUNCHEON
Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 5 as we will be holding a Newcomers Luncheon after the morning service.
If you are new (or relatively new) we would love to meet you and introduce you to the ministry of Village Green. You will have an opportunity to ask questions about the church and its various ministries. We hope you can join us for lunch and a time of getting to know one another.
CONNECT WITH US
If there is an area where you would like to serve or would like more information, contact the church at office@villagegreenchurch.com or fill out a Connection Card. Simply click the link to a Connection Car below.
A reminder that another Celebration Service is coming in November, so if you are looking to be baptized, or become a member, dedicate a child, we would love to talk further with you. You can contact the church at office@villagegreenchurch.com.
UPDATE ON REVELATION RELEASE
My latest book, Revelation from 30,000 Feet: Reclaiming the Most Abused and Misused Book of the Bible is on track for a pre-Christmas release. Once again, I am offering a free chapter from the book, The Interpretive Challenges of Revelation and you can grab it from the link below.
I am starting to take pre-orders for the book for those who are interested in grabbing a copy. You can add you name to the pre-order list by emailing axia.pub@gmail.com with your name and the number of copies you would like. The cost of the book is $25.00 but payment is not required until the books are ready to go, this is only a list for letting us know to reserve you a copy. It would also be nice to know if you would like a paperbook, ebook, or audio version. There will be discounts for multiple books but that is yet to be determined.
An e-book version will be available and the audio version of the book is expected to be ready soon after the release of the physical book. We will keep you posted on the scheduled release dates. Here’s your free chapter, and as always, I would love to know your thoughts on what you’ve read so far.
Lastly, my book, The Trojan Horse of Leadership: Battling the Enemy We All Face is now available as an audiobook. You can grab your audio version below.
THANKS AGAIN
This newsletter has had a lot of information about all that is coming up in the month of September. We hope you are able to find a ministry, study group, or service area that you can connect with and contribute to.
Thank you as well for your support and service to the Lord, and the way that you all help to make Village Green such a blessing to be a part of. We certainly could not do it without your love, support, and service to this church.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Jon Korkidakis