Let me begin this posting by saying 'thank you'!  Thank you for doing your part to practice good Covid protocols in order to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.  Thank you for you support and kind remarks regarding the recent interview I gave on Global BC in which I was seeking to present a more balanced perspective with regard to honoring public health orders, orders which have limited our ability to gather in-person.  I do understand that the gathering is fundamental to who we are as a church, that we are missing the joy that is ours to worship and fellowship together face-to-face.  Thank you for the sacrfices being made for the greater good.

In talking with many of you, I am encouraged and grateful for the way you are staying connected and seeking to support one another.  Some of us are feeling a measure of Covid fatigue, but we must continue to do the right thing until we are able to gather safely -- we need to continue to pray to that end.

This sense of feeling isolated, being tired of the restrictions in place and wanting to return to some semblance of normalcly is very real.  I look back over the past 10 months and would never imagined that we would be unable to gather for almost half of this time.  I think of friends who have gone home to be with the Lord and lament the inablity to have been able to come alongside them in their final days; in the inabitly to celebrate and honor their lives in community.  I think of friends who are even now dealing with health concerns or are just feeling lonely and while it is good to talk or pray with them on the phone, it's not quite the same as being able to sit with them.

With the current outbreak at Sunnybank, Janice and I are being extra-diligent, staying close to home, only being out when necessary. Even though I have worked from home for years, there is a sense of feeling cooped up a times.  And there of times when I lie awake a night thinking about and praying for the safety of my wife and children and for you, my church family.  I have watched, as I'm sure many of you have, all the events that have been unfolding in our nation and in the United States and sometimes I find myself angered by the blatant disregard for common courtesy and decency, the spirit of defiance I am seeing to often on the nightly news--there is just too much criticism and complaining, opposing and protesting; something within longs for a better day.

In all of this, the Word of God continues to bring rest to my soul.  There is great comfort in hearing God say in His Word...in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15)  There is a peace we experience in hearing Jesus say...Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

When wonder, how can we find our way forward, God says to us...Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path (Psalm 119:105).  And so we pray...Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (Psalm 25:4-5).

I share all of this with you, to encourage you to stay the course, to hold on to the vision of that day when we can gather again, take off our masks, sing loudly with great joy, take the hand of one another and bow together in prayer and hug one another!  Until that day, lets keep doing our part to lift up the spirits on one another, to comfort and encourage and support each other and above all to pray for each other.

I am so very proud of all of you!  In all that we have had to endure, I am seeing the character, the strength, the very heart of Valley; you are an amazing group of friends, caring, compassionate and generous and I guess I just wanted to say 'thank you' -- I thank God for you.

I received a call late last night from our son.  Scott had just finished a 16-hour shift, Tiffany and Riley were asleep when he got home and he just needed to debrief.  The ICU unit at the hospital where he works was at capacity; Covid patients who would normally be in the ICU were being sent to the Covid unit, which was also full, over-flowing to another floor, and a make-shift unit has been set up in the parking lot. That staff would feel overwhelmed would an understatement.  Adding to the burden of caring for these patients was a phone call to a family member to inform them their loved one was near death.

With the rising death count at McKinney Place and across our province, the alarming numbers south of the border and the staggering case counts and deaths globally, it's fair to say that Covid-19 has dominated our world in 2020.  Add to this pandemic the injustice, violence and unrest we have witnessed, it is no wonder we are eager to put this year behind us.  As we anticipate a New Year and pause and reflect on the year that has been, we have to work extra hard to identify the blessings that have been mingled with all of this sadness.

As we do just that, pause and reflect, to do as the hymnwriter exhorts, to count our blessings, there is much for which to give thanks.  While many have lost their jobs and have struggled to make ends meet, because of the faithfulness of you, the people of Valley, my salary has not been affected and we have been able to meet all of our expenses and obligations. Janice as an essential worker has continued to work throughout the year, as have all of our kids.  We have a roof over our heads, clothes on back and food on the table, the very things we should never take for granted.

In March we celebrated the arrival of our grandson, who we were able to visit prior to all the travel restrictions being put in place.  We have know the grace and favor of our God as we have called out to Him when Scott was hospitialized with Covid.  We have experienced the love and support of family and friends and in many ways the bond we have in Christ has been strengthened through all that has happened.

For many 2020 will go down as the year of Covid. For those of us who walk with God, this has been a year in which we have seen His great faithfulness, mercy and love. As we dwell on this truth, His Word reinforces just how blessed we have been.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)

You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in him.  (Nahum 1:7)

He is the God who leads us to green pastures and still waters, who restores our our souls and renews our hope (Psalm 23:2-3; Isaiah 40:31).   He is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1).  The Lord watches over all who love him (Psalm 14:20).

Friends, for we who know God, who are in a covenant relationship with Him there is always a reason to give thanks, to praise our God for HIs abundant goodness.  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 106:1)

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says...in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)

May you rest in the shadow of the Almighty as we journey together in 2021.

Happy New Year!

At the very core of the Christian faith is an element of sacrifice; giving up our rights for the benefits of others.

The supreme example of this truth is found in the Lord Jesus.  The Apostle Paul speaks of His sacrifice in his words to the church at Philippi:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself   by becoming obedient to death--even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)

Paul preceeds these words by exhorting the church to:  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  (Philippians 2:3-4)

As I have watched in recent weeks as a number of churches have defied the directives of our Provincial Health Officer by opening their doors for in-person gatherings, I have to admit such actions are troublesome to me.  While the Bible does allow for a measure of civil disobedience when the actions of our governing bodies violate the Word of God, the actions of these churches do not, in my opinion, meet this threshold. 

In Acts 5:29 Peter declares:  We ought to obey God rather than men.  His words were in response to a directive to stop preaching the truth about Jesus.  Such a directive does violate the Word of God and Peter is right in defying such an order.  Our health and government officials are not shutting the doors of churches to oppress them but to protect them and our communties.  Communities of faith may be correct in declaring we have a Consitutional right to gather but when does the Constitution trump the Bible.  The Word of God is clear, we are to honor those who govern us. 

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.  Give to everyone what you owe them:  If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1-7)

Interestingly, I have not heard any leader or member in these churches who are taking such a stand, reference this text from the Bible, but rather demands to protect our Constitutional rights.  Something in all of this is not aligning for me.  Even more troubling is how the church is being viewed.  When neighbors and those outside the church use words like 'irresponsible' and 'selfish' to describe the actions of these churches, what does that do for the witness of the church?  Every community of faith has been negatively affected by the actions of a few.  I cannot help but wonder is this really honorable to our Lord?  Our Savior's name had been dragged through the mud and I just cannot see anything honorable in all of this.  

Instead I see the church drawn into controversy, strife and division; these things are not of God.  The devil in hell must be laughing and the heart of our God must be grieved.

I know the gathering of the church is absolutely fundamental to our faith, but friends we are abiding by these directives to protect one another, to protect our communties and most importantly to honor our Lord.  The most-loving, Christ-like way of responding is NOT to gather, to protect the church, our families and the the broader community. At Valley, we will do our part, we will stay on the solution-side and find ways to adapt until we can gather again.

Thank you for doing that which is right and honorable and that which sends a positive message that we care about our communties.

Stay safe and stay connected, until we meet again.

Like many of you, Covid-19 has created a new way of connecting, communicating and learning for me.  Over the past few months I have engaged in numerous Zoom meetings, virtual and simulated gatherings and  learning opportunies via online links.  Very recently, I watched an online session by Earl Lewis, a Professor of History at the University of Michigan; an address he entitled, Leading in an Age of Chaos and Change: Building a Community of Grace.  

In his address he described 2020 as the blending of the 1918 pandemic with the 1968 social and political unrest, wrapped in the 2008 econcomic collapse.  One such crisis can throw our lives into chaos.  To be bombarded on several fronts is almost overwhelming.  Our hearts and minds have been overloaded with fear and uncertainty, hatred and violence, more that we were ever created to endure. 

What is missing in our world today?  In a word, 'GRACE'.

The Bible says, there is a grace in our lives because of his grace (John 1:16 - J.B. Philips New Testament).  And because of that grace, we can and must lead the way in building communities of grace.  Lewis notes that a grace-filled community demands multliple architects. We have both the opportunity and responsibility to be conduits of HIs grace, perhaps more so than at any other time in our lifetime.  This is a season for many of us, who are in the third third of our lives, to be difference makers as we manifest patience and understanding, caring and compassion in the face of fear and uncertainty; to show to a hurting world that God has a better way, to pray for grace and love to triumph over fear and anxiety.

Solomon asks:  What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 2:22-23).

Peter reminds us, there is another way, a better way to face the uncertaines of our day:  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 4:6-7).

And Paul exhorts us to not become weary in doing good...as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6;9-10).

We all have a role in building and sustaining a grace-filled community.  It is why, in good times and bad, many of us find ourselves turning to that old standby -- born of a different era, challenged by a different code of ethics, framed by a world of cruel encounters and confrontation...'Amazing Grace how sweet the sound'.  (Earl Lewis)

Grace, it can make all the difference!  In the words of former U.S. President Barak Obama:  May we find ourselvs worthy of that extraordinary gift as long as our lives endure.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
                                                                                                                                                  Psalm 57:9-11

With all the attention focused on a global pandemic, world-side unrest and a provincial election, it is not suprising that the anniversary of the church has quietly come upon us, catching us somewhat off guard. For those of you who have shared in the 30-year history of the church, I can only imagine the memories you must hold in your hearts as you reflect on the early years, all the changes through the years and yet are mindful of the one constant, God's faithfulness. 

For those of us who have been part of the more-recent history of the church, we too recognize God's hand of blessing, past and present and because the essential nature of God does not change, we can confidently predict His faithfulness will continue to guide us in the days ahead.  How blessed we are to be able to rest in HIs faithful love  and to know whatever tomorrow may bring, we are secure in Him; that we can claim His promise to us.  You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you (Isaiah 26:3).

As I reflect back on the 13+ years we have been at Valley and the blessings that have been mine as the pastor here, it's not so much any particular event we have experienced together that stands out in my mind  (there have been many such events/ gatherings), but rather the people that we have shared the journey with us. Even as I type these words the names and faces are flashing across my mind and it brings to me a smile.  What makes the church such a wonderful is experience is not the building we have, although we are incredibly blessed to have the structure on Black Sage road as a place to call 'home'. It is not the gatherings in and of themselves that make the church so special; although we have had some wonderful times of worship and fellowship.  It's not even the blessings we have shared as God has surprised us with His grace and kindness and has allowed us to bless others through the ministries of the church.  What is most heart-warming is to have shared the presence of God among us, to see Him at work and experience more of His faithful love over the years.

As we celebrate this coming Lord's Day and move toward the season of Thanksgiving, I want to encourage you to pause and reflect on all of God's goodness to us as a church and to you and as you do, I ask you again, 'what do you say'?

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
                                                                                                                                                      Psalm 36:1

In Romans 13:1, we read: Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

We don't always have to agree with our leaders, in fact, there are times, when we will not agree with the their policies or practices, but we are still called to respect our leaders and pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1-2).  There may be a place for civil disobedience when policies and procedures violate the Word of God, but for the most part we are to be a people who obey the lands of the land.

In this time of a global pandemic, when we see many disgregarding the advice and directives of our governing leaders and health care officials, I want to commend you, the people of Valley, for cooperating with and following those measure implented to mitigate the spread of this virus; for doing your part to help keep one another and our communties safe.  Thank you for following the protocols in place as we gather each week for worship; for you understanding regarding decisions to restrict the sharing of communion elements, the sharing of meals together, limiting our fellowship and small group/ in-home gatherings.  And thank you for your faithfulness in financially supporting the local church and the work of our Lord.  Because of your faithfulness we have been able to meet all of our obligations and cover all of our expenses to date.

We all recognize this has indeed been unprecidented; for many of us we have never experienced anything like this before.  We as a Leadership Team and people at Valley are seeking to navigate our way through uncharted waters.  I want to commend our Elders and Deacons and all of you for doing your part to make things work as we have regathered for worship and as we cotinually wrestle with how best to minister to one another during this time.  Thank you for caring and for praying.  

I received an email from a collegue who offered this insight:  More than ever, church leaders have been feeling the pressure of leadership, especially now in this difficult global season.  At first glance, COVID-19 cancelled all kinds of meetings and calendars cleared.  It looked like you suddenly had all kinds of time.  But then you soon discovered the "new normal" actually took more effort than ever.  Some in the circles you lead are calling for more action, others are calling for less.  Add to that the increased demands, restrictions, and expecations of this season and leaders are feeling deeply tired, taxed, drained in their emotional reserve and for some, isolated.  I have felt this, and perhaps you have as well.

More than ever we need to support and encourage and cheer one another on as we continue to walk this uncertain pathway.  As we seek to be the church to one another and in our communties, I want to encourage you with these words from the Apostle Paul:  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:9-10).

As a church family at Valley, we join with many across our nation, in the United States and around the world to pray for God’s mercy and grace into the lives of so many who are broken and deeply wounded; who are experiencing grief and sorrow.  We lament the brutal and senseless death of Mr. George Floyd and many others who have died unjustly. We know that such injustice and division grieve the heart of God and stand in contrast to His love and His Word.
 
We pray for comfort for those mourning.  We pray for forgiveness, healing and reconciliation--those things that reflect the truth we find in the Holy Scriptures; that reflect God’s heart to all mankind.  We affirm the truth of Colossians 1:20 that reminds us that God, through the Lord Jesus was pleased to reconcile to himself all things…by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 
 
We, as the people of God reject inequality as being contrary to God’s will and ways.  We recognize this as a problem not only beyond the borders of our nation but within our borders as well.  As we listen to the voices of minority groups in our land, we cannot dismiss the truth that racial prejudice affects many Canadians.  We affirm God’s desire to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.  (Ephesians 1:10)
 
We confess and declare the truth of the Bible that all human beings are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and as such, everyone has value and dignity.  Further, we confess and declare that there is no place for the kind of hostility and division that is so prevalent today.  While we condemn any abuse of power, we also recognize that there are those in authority over us (Romans 13:1-7).  They deserve our respect and cooperation.  We give thanks for police officers, firefighters and first responders who serve with honor and routinely put their lives on the line to protect and serve our communities.
 
Our commitment at Valley is to be a people and place where all are treated with Christ-like love, and where we honor and serve one another as we are exhorted to do in the Bible (Romans 12:10; Galatians 5:13). To this end, we will listen and learn that we may be part of the solution and agents of blessing in a hurting world.  Where we have fallen short, we ask for forgiveness.  We accept our responsibility to embrace and proclaim the truth of the Gospel and its implications regarding racial diversity, for we are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28).
 
We humble ourselves and seek God’s wisdom and guidance, for He has said, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.     (2 Chronicles 7:14)

As Christians we hold as sacred and precious the Bible, the Word of God, given to us to show us how to live; how to be rightly related to our Creator and His creation, including one another.  The Bible is for us, our source of authoritative truth, it guides our lives day-by-day.  In the pages of the Bible, God is revealed to us, His faithfulness, compassion and love, as well as His holiness, justice and righteous anger -- in it, we see the heart of God.

Early in the storyline of the Bible we read:  Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (Genesis 6:5-6 - NKJV)  The turning away from God, from the ways of God and from the truth of His Word, the evil and injustices in our world today must grieve the heart of God, as in the days of Noah.

The Bible tells of a time when Jesus approached the city of Jerusalem...as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it. (Luke 19:41 - NKJV)  He wept because things were not the way they were supposed to be.  Once again the people had turned away from God, they were not in a place where they could receive His message of peace and grace.  I think Jesus would weep today as He sees what is going on in our nation, in the nation to the south of us and in countries around the world.  Today Jesus weeps for a world divided by hatred, racism and injustice; where instead of celebrating and embracing diversity, we treat one another with contempt.  The manifestation of what can only be labelled as pure evil grieves the heart of our Lord.

As a boy, growing up about 80km from Detroit, I remember the images of the riots of 1967, as the city burned.  I remember the unrest a year later when Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy  were assassinated.  50 years later, the streets still burn, has anything really changed?  People are still gripped by fear and a deep-seeded anger, fueled by a longing for change.   We are long way from Dr. King's dream.

In 1996 I had the privilege of attending the Promise Keepers Clergy Conference in Atlanta where nearly 40,000 pastors gathered to worship and hear from God.  At one point, the racial discord in the nation and in the Church was addressed, and in a powerful moment of healing and reconciliation men of different color and race joined hands as we sang with Steve Green, 'Let the Walls Come Down'.  (See the link on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTISgin4_Ww)  Today, we need to pray again, 'let the walls come down'.

A few years ago, Janice and I were part of a Leadership Summit in Chicago.  In the closing session we shared communion with church leaders from around the world. It still remains in my mind one of the most powerful images of what heaven will be like, when...a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues (Revelation 7:9) will declare with one voice the praises of our God.
Today, we need to pray for more of heaven here on earth.

As Christians we are called to carry a message of healing and grace and mercy, a message of reconciliation and peace to a hurting world. The Bible says....if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14).  There is no government program that can heal the hatred and violence and racial divide we are seeing today. Only God can change a hate-filled heart; the heart of God is reconciliation and peace.

So my friends at Valley, pray for peace, pray for reconciliation, pray for healing, for good to triumph over evil.  Pray for calm and wise leadership.  Pray for the Church, that we might be His instrument to bring grace and hope to our world.  Pray the words of Jesus in John 17:  I pray...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)

We have all seen the images from this past weekend of thousands gathering in public places and ignoring physical distancing guidelines; images that make me uneasy.  We have seen and heard the messages of protest; some that seem selfish and reckless.  We understand the restrictive measures we are under have tested the resolve of some Canadians and many around the world.  We recognize the impact Covid - 19 has had on our economy, that there are many who are not working, who are struggling to pay their rent and to put food on the table, to care for their families.  I see all of this and wonder how do we respond as a people of faith, as the Church?

While I appreciate the concerns being expressed as we as a province and nation try to find the balance between protecting the health of our citizens and providing for our economic stability, I have to confess those images and statements that put individual choice above the well-being of others are to me disturbing.  I see the signs, 'my body, my choice'; I hear the comments, 'I have a right to work' or what I would consider a careless and reckless statement that 'I'm not afraid of the virus', and I want to shout, 'it's not just about you'!  We as citizens of this province and as Canadians, have a responsibility to one another.

Certainly this is a core value of the Church, a value rooted in the Word of God.  The Apostle Paul would write to the church in Philippi:  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)  I may be feeling well, but I have a responsibility to you, the people of Valley and to my wife and the residents she serves at Sunnybank Centre, and to our communities -- a responsibility to abide by the directives in place and to exercise wisdom in the choices I make.  James writes:  Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  (James 3:13)

Like many of you, I long to gather to worship once again.  As we discuss this as a Leadership Team and people, this value of being responsible in our choices is a critical factor in the decisions we make.  Please pray for wisdom and guidance, that any decision to re-gather is balanced by care and concern and by good practices that protect one another. 

Ambassador Matthew Rycroft in an address to the Untied Nations Security Council makes this observation: How a society treats its most vulnerable – whether children, the infirm or the elderly – is always the measure of its humanity. Even more so during instability and conflict. When a society begins to disregard the vulnerable and their rights, instability and conflict will only grow.  Is it any wonder we are seeing greater levels of instability and conflict today?  

May it be said of Valley and churches across our nation that we were of shining example of love and care during one of the darkest times in the history of our nation; that we looked to God for His protection and provision and that we loved one another deeply.  My friends at Valley, as we continue to walk through this together, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

As you read Paul's letters to the young believers in Thessalonica, it is very personal in nature, there is a tenderness in his words and he celebrates their faith and seeks to build then up in that faith.  Much like us, they were not perfect but there was an undeniable bond of love they shared.  I imagine they celebrated the  joy of just being together, as we do at Valley; I wonder if they sang a first-century version of the Family of God as they worshipped in community with one another! 

I think this church would have been able to relate to what we are experiencing in our day -- the profound disappointment of not being able to gather.  But much like us, they would have found ways to encourage and build up one another.  One of the great joys coming out of this current reality for is in seeing the strength and resolve of Valley; your faithfulness in supporting one another and continuing the work of the church has been a blessing to me as I continue to hear story after story of our people just being the church.

I want to express my appreciation to our Leadership Team for their faithfulness in giving strong and consistent guidance during this unprecedented 'shut down'; we continue to enjoy a spirit of unity and joy as we work together.  And I want to thank you, our people for staying in touch, for your prayers, support and words of encouragement, particularly during the time when Scott was hospitalized and he and Riley were recovering from the Covid - 19 virus.  (We have received hundreds of emails and messages during the last few weeks.)  We ought not be surprised by such encouragement for we have seen it over and over and over again in our time with you, but still there is an overwhelming sense of gratitude and appreciation for your love and support.  Thank you, Valley!  We miss gathering with you and cannot wait to meet again!!

Until then, we grieve what is lost, we wait, we adjust, we pray and we hope.

The Lord bless you and keep you.  (Numbers 6:24)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (1 Thessalonians 5:28)


As we anticipate at least three more weeks before we will gather again, understanding that some may still not be ready to join in a more public way, I want to invite you to share a greeting, a message of appreciation, a word of encouragement or a prayer of blessing with one another.  Use the form below or email me and I will post your comment.

There is within all of us, an increasing desire to be together in the house of the Lord.  Just when that will happen is yet to be determined.  As the Leadership Team meets to begin discussing how we move forward together, we will be looking to you, the people of Valley for guidance.  In the short term we will continue to provide an 'Online Gathering' experience that you can view on Sunday morning.  It is not ideal, we were meant to gather and worship in community, but it is a way to stay connected and to stay under His Word.

I want to thank you for your kind and gracious response to what has been posted each week.  I have been blessed by your comments.  John Kobylnik sends me an encouraging note each week.  (I'm waiting for that week, when John says, 'nice try on this one, Ken, but you need to pick it up for next week'!)  On average our Message page is accessed nearly 60 times on Sunday and 15+ times/ per day, each week.  We have seen a spike in the use of website, with the Message, Blog, Prayer Corner and Photo pages being accessed regularly.

I was recently asked, how this all comes together.  A few have been on site as we have recorded; you've been given a glimpse into how the recorded pieces are created each week.  (Just as an aside, I've sought to let you know when we are recording, so you can stop by if you wish -- physical distancing procedures in place, of course.)  I want to thank those who have helped with these recording sessions -- John Unger, our camera man and those who have helped with piano recordings, prayers and readings.

Pulling this kind of experience together has taken up to 40 hours a week to prepare.  Preparation begins as any week would, with the drafting of an order of service, but now instead of relying our worship team for the music, I'm searching music files and downloading songs for our use.  Each song is being prepared in the format you've seen these last few weeks.  I'm using a software programs that allows me to choose a background, then add the music file and words.  Each song takes 30-45 minutes to prepare -- the editing process is sometimes tedious and time consuming to get the words coming in at just the right time and to cut or fade the music as needed.  When the song is complete, I then save it as video. (As an added 'bonus' this is our 6 month period to report our activity for our copyright licence -- every copyrighted song has to be added to our report each week!)

The same program allows me to insert each individual song into a file that becomes what you see on Sunday morning. I then add the recorded pieces from the church or a video, like the one we showed yesterday for Mother's Day, into the appropriate place.  When all the individual clips are in place, I check the timing and then save that file to a video.  But, that video file is too big for our website, so I convert it to a different format.  The final step is to upload the video to our website, which often takes several minutes to complete as the file is also encoded for use on the site.

This morning, Monday, May 11th, I've spend 4 hours preparing the order of service and creating the first 3 songs for this week...five more to go!  And then there's the usual message prep, which is now completed by Friday morning, so we can record in the afternoon.  My preparation routine has been drastically changed!  I'm lost on Sundays!!  (Perhaps a reminder that this is not the way it should be.)

I am grateful we have this means to stay connected and commend you for doing just that.  As Dr. Henry has said, 'this is not forever, just for now'!  We do not want to become complacent and settle for something less; we need to be together, sitting in front of a computer screen or television just isn't the same, so lets keep praying for that day when we will be together again!


Some of us haven't seen each other for several week, so in the next few days, I will be creating a blog posting in which we can share an encouraging word with one another.  I want to invite you to add your note or greeting and include a photo if you are able to do so.  You can use the form on our website or send me an email and I will post it for you.  I hope we hear from many of you in the coming days!!  Your words to each other will serve to bless one another, the way so many of you have done for me with your words of appreciation and encouragement!

The Word of God exhorts us to trust in Him at all times and not rely solely on our own instincts and judgements.  We are however to use God-given wisdom and common sense as we navigate our way through life, particularly during times when we face challenges and concerns, as we are now.  The COVID – 19 pandemic threatens on a world-wide scale; it is a concern we must take seriously – we are well advised to listen to/ heed the advice of our health officials.
 
As Elders at Valley we are aware of the current threat and are in discussion as to any possible response we might need to make as a local church.  Should our region be exposed to community spread of the virus we are prepared to respond appropriately.
 
At this point, we would encourage you to:
 
PRAY for wisdom as we all make choices to protect ourselves and the people we care about; pray especially for those who are ‘high risk’. Pray for those who are ill and for those who have lost a loved one to this disease. Pray for our government leaders and health care officials and those on the front lines, our doctors and nurses and support staff.  While we cannot escape the consequences of living in a fallen world, we can call out to God for mercy and grace and we can be a calm voice amidst the growing sense of panic we are seeing around us, for we trust the One who is the Sovereign Ruler of this world.
 
Exercise good judgment in what information you take in and how you respond; verify facts (not everything you hear or read on the internet may be accurate).  Use caution and sound judgment, but don’t panic!
 
WASH YOUR HANDS!  Practice good preventative measures to help protect yourself and others.  Remember we are still in flu season; it is important to continue good hygiene practices.
 
If you’re not feeling well, stay home and follow up appropriately, particularly if you have reason to believe you may have been exposed to the virus – call your health care provider or 8-1-1.
 
As we seek to limit contact/ social interaction, recognize some may not be comfortable with a hand shake or embrace; those choices must be respected – no one is going to be offended if you ‘put up a stop sign’ or choose to create a little extra space between you and the person beside you or choose to wear a face mask for protection.
 
Watch out for one another; regularly check in with friends and neighbors, particularly those who may be alone/ vulnerable.
 
Should we need to consider suspending our Coffee Time or lunches or Small Groups or even our Worship Gathering, we will take the appropriate measures at the appropriate time, seeking to exercise an abundance of caution.  If any such decisions are made, we will do our best to communicate with everyone.  We would encourage you to continue to faithfully support the church, even if there is a disruption in our gatherings. 
 
Each of us will make our own choices regarding social distancing.  While we need interaction with others, we must act wisely given the severity of the current threat.
 
If you become ill and need support contact a friend at Valley or any of our Elders.
​
Friends, these are scary times, but…we have One who is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  (Psalm 46:1)
 
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you…in God I trust and am not afraid.  (Psalm 56:3-4)
 
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense.  (Isaiah 12:2)
 
 
Information that may be helpful to you:
 
HealthLinkBC:  www.healthlinkbc.ca/
 
Government of Canada:  www.canada.ca/coronavirus
 
World Health Organization: www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:  www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Over the last few days, I have been reading Jimmy Draper's book, Don't Quit Before You Finish.  Draper has been pastoring/ serving in a ministry setting for over 60 years.  As someone who has been serving in the church for 40 years now, his words have given to me both a measure of encouragement and challenge as I seek to honor the One who has called me and continues to lead my life and ministry. 

I started serving in the church as a new Christian in my late teens and through that experience I began to sense a nudging from God to attend Bible College. After a year and half of wrestling with God, I launched out on a journey that would see Him confirm His calling in my life; a calling to pastoral ministry.  Over the years it is this calling that has sustained me, when I might otherwise have bailed out.  As Draper observes:  The sacrificial life of ministry is simply too demanding and too stressful to endure with the certainty of a calling directly from the Lord.  You simply cannot maintain your commitment to serve without this assurance.

I have known God's blessing, I have experienced His grace and been strengthened by His Spirit all along my journey.  He has gifted me to serve and has given more of His grace when my gifting and abilities and my own strength has not been enough.  'God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called.'  In this I often go back to a verse of Scripture that has been a foundation for my life and ministry:  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)  That others would say they have been blessed by my ministry is simply a testimony to the grace of God and His faithfulness to those He calls.

I have not made this journey alone; Janice has been by my side now for almost 38 years; we began ministry together -- no one celebrated my graduation from Bible College more than she did (maybe because I would now be able to get a job!) -- and she continues to be my ministry partner; a source of encouragement and blessing.  God knew that I could not do this without her.

And He has allowed me to serve and to lead in His church -- a privilege and responsibility I take very seriously.  I still believe to the core of my being that the church is the hope of the world and the only hope for the church is to remain faithful to His Word and for her people to be life-long worshippers of God.  This is my deep desire for Valley; which is why I continue to call you to stay faithful, to give and serve -- don't quit, don't bail out, don't give up, until you are finished -- until we cross the finish line and enter into the presence of our Lord and hear Him say, 'well done, good and faithful servant'.

It was an unusual Christmas greeting; the words at the end of a message from a friend caught my attention:  May the blessings of the season abide with you.

His words prompted me to pause and reflect, for truly Christmas gives to us cause to rejoice, for in the Babe of Bethlehem we find great blessing, both temporal and eternal, physical and spiritual.  

Paul writes:  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.  (Ephesians 1:3)  In the opening chapter of his letter to the believers in Ephesus he reminds them that they have been chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed and forgiven according to the riches of His grace.  In Him we a promised inheritance, the sure hope of heaven, sealed by the Holy Spirit who guarantees our inheritance. It's no wonder Paul offers words of thanks and prays that these believers would know Him better.

We are richly blessed in Christ Jesus!

Beyond the rich spiritual blessings we have in our Lord, we have also received many physical blessings; a measure of health and strength; a warm place to live, clothes to wear and food on the table.  We have been given so much!  

I was thinking about this as Janice and I did some grocery shopping in preparation for a Christmas dinner we will share with our family.  Our pantry is full, our fridge is full, we have more that enough and it's all a blessing from our good and gracious God.  

The Bible reminds us that everything we enjoy in life is a gift from God; life itself and all the earthly blessings we enjoy -- that we enjoy in abundance in the land in which we life.  May we not take these blessings for granted; may we find within us a desire to gives thanks to the One who is the source of all blessing and may we be a people who give generously to bless others.  You've heard me say this often before but it is still true, especially at this time of year...we have so much opportunity to do good.  

As you enjoy the company of family and friends, as we gather as His church in the coming days, may your heart be encouraged as we celebrate the coming of our Lord and the joy that is our to be 'in Christ'. 

For those who will experience feelings of both joy and sorrow because there is an empty chair around the table, may the memories of those who have gone before us bring to you a measure of joy as you give thanks for the time shared with them and for the hope that is our in Christ. (One day, we will meet again; and as we say so often around Valley, 'what day that will be'! 

May you be used of God to bring a smile to someone else who needs a word of blessing and encouragement, be it a family member, friend or neighbor or the a stranger who crosses your path.

May we all have those quiet moments when we pause and reflect on the blessings of the season.

​Merry Christmas, everyone!

The words are explicit and powerful:  They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)   They are words that describe the early church and words that speak to the church today.  This one verse gives to us four pillars of our faith as we seek to be the church in our world today.

The word 'devoted' expresses the idea of holding firmly and not letting go, persevering or exercising diligence and doing so a body of believers, sharing life together.

They held firmly to the message, the authoritative teaching and doctrine that was passed on to them.  In the same way, the church today must hold the message, the authoritative teaching and doctrine we find in the Word of God.  It is truly a pillar of our faith.

The early church understood the necessity and value of fellowship.  Read the story of the early church and you will be struck by the powerful image of togetherness; they had to stick together, they needed each other and so do we.  At a time when matters of faith have become personal and private we need to come back to this value of a shared experience in the community of faith and hold to it firmly as a critical pillar of our faith.  

The breaking of the bread is another example of togetherness, the gathering of God's people to worship and celebrate the very core of our faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is in and through the Lord Jesus that we find forgiveness of sin, a restored relationship with the Father and the hope of eternal life.  The coming together of God's people to worship and remember is absolutely critical to our spiritual well-being.  So hear me again, my friends at Valley...'whatever you do, don't miss the gathering'!

They also devoted themselves to prayer.  As we noted last Sunday, this is the same message declared by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 4:2:  Devote yourselves to prayer.  Prayer really is the pathway to God's presence and the pathway to God's power.  Prayer changes us and prayer changes what is possible.  And, as we saw last week we just never now when or how or in what way God is going to break through in answer to our prayers, so we must persistent in prayer.  It is one of the pillars of our faith.

Luke goes on in Acts 2 to reveal what happens we God's people devote themselves these things:  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.  (Acts 2:43-47)