• Home
    • Gathering Guidelines
    • Ways to Give
  • Prayer Corner
    • Share a Request
    • Memorial Tribute >
      • Hetty Postma
      • Edna Kirby
      • Norman Hunter
      • Ina Rottier
      • Dennis Brommeland
      • Norris Thompson
      • Irv Wood
      • Ann Vander Kooi
      • Jack Demorest
      • Yde Vander Kooi
      • Ainsley Rose Wollf
      • Dick Mayer
      • David Rusnell
      • Bob McKay
      • Guy Deschatelets
      • Chloe Kroeger
      • Ida Barisoff
      • Gerard Zandee
      • Nick Dikur
  • About Valley
    • Annual Reports >
      • 2022 Annual Report
      • 2021 Annual Report
      • 2020 Annual Report
      • 2019 Annual Report
      • 2018 Annual Report
    • Membership Information
    • Who We Are
    • What We Believe
    • How We Are Governed >
      • Constitution & Bylaws
    • Where We Are Going
  • Ministries
    • Leadership Team >
      • Nomination Committee
      • Benevolent Ministry
    • Finance and Property >
      • 2023 Budget
      • Current Quarterly Report
    • Missions >
      • Missions Guidelines
    • Caring and Connecting
    • Christian Education >
      • Library
    • Worship >
      • Heritage House
  • What's Happening
    • Bulletin
    • Links
  • Photos
    • Annual Celebration >
      • 2022
      • 2021
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
    • 30th Anniversary
    • 25th Anniversary
    • Follow the Duck 2014
    • Mexico 2013
    • Follow the Crown 2013
    • "The Bridge"
    • 20th Anniversary
  • Messages
    • Archived Messages 2023
    • Archived Messages 2022
    • Archived Messages 2021
    • Archived Messages 2020
    • Archived Messages 2019
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Directions
    • Directory
VALLEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

The Power of Encouragement

10/28/2022

0 Comments

 
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another,
be of one mind, live in peace.
 And the God of love and peace
 will be with you.
                                                                                                                                              2 Corinthians 13:11
These final words from the Apostle Paul to the believers in Corinth are simple, but powerful. While we might be tempted to overlook closing words, dismissing them as common conventions in ancient letter writing; typical of Paul's letters, his final greetings offer a summary of key messages within the letter.  Here, the Apostle closes this letter with five commands, to rejoice, to seek restoration, to encourage one another, to be of one mind and to live in peace.  Each command speaks to what it means to do live together in the church.  There is an emphasis on oneness, unity, fellowship and harmony and the promise of God's blessing...the God of love and peace will be with you.

You've heard me say many times, 'we are not perfect', we are an imperfect church led by an imperfect pastor.  There have been times in our fallenness we have not got it right, but despite our flaws, Valley remains a church that seeks to live in unity, to bless, to encourage one another.

Over the 15 years we have journeyed together with you, we have been blessed to be on the receiving end of such encouragement.  More recently we have been filled with joy through the cards, notes, emails and verbal expressions of love, concern and gratitude that you have shared with us.  At a time when I've been wrestling with thoughts of inadequacy, feeling like I have not, particularly over this past year, been able to do all I would have wanted to do because of an on-going health issue, your words of encouragement have touched me and Janice in a way words cannot adequately capture.

To read: We are so blessed to have you and Janice her with us!  You are loved and appreciated. We ae so fortunate and encouraged to be able to call you and Janice our friends. Thanks for all the good things you have brought into our lives. Thank you for your meaningful teaching and for being you. Your calling is a blessing from God! and all the other expressions of kindness has truly encouraged both Janice and me.  I find myself echoing the words shared by one of you, The Lord God has blessed you in all the work of your hands (Deuteronomy 2:7).

Thank you for cheering me on, for sharing in our journey as husband and wife and for the blessing you have been to our family; thank you for praying, for understanding and for the grace you have extended, particularly this past year.  Thank you for walking with Luke and Noah through their journey and for celebrating Charlie's arrival!  Thank you for being so good to us, for being to us the church -- I am so glad we are part of the family of God at Valley!

Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you’re in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:2 - The Message)




0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Ken Clarke has been the Pastor at Valley since 2007. He lives in the Oliver area 
    with his wife Janice. They have three adult children, Lisa, Scott & Tiffany (Riley, Charlie), Andrea & Jason (Noah, Luke).

    Categories

    All
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church
    Creation
    Easter
    Finishing Well
    Leadership
    Mexico
    Most Viewed
    Nature Of God
    Our Stories
    Parenting
    Prayer
    Relationships
    Worship

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

4312 Black Sage Road Box 1235 Oliver, BC V0H 1T0 250-498-4829 valleyccc@hotmail.com