NO BIBLE STUDY ON APR 19

There will be no Bible study on April 19th.

ITALIAN FEAST FUNDRAISER A DELICIOUS SUCCESS

Italian Feast Fundraiser – a delicious success

(1 Peter 2:4-5) “Come to Him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourself be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

It seemed we took a little trip to Italy together for this time of fundraising and fellowship. The décor, the music, the food all brought a festive feeling to the afternoon and extra dollars to our Building Fund.

It took a lot of work and planning to make it all happen and Shepherd of the Valley would like to thank all of those who helped in anyway. Your energies, support, and teamwork are greatly appreciated. There were so many who worked in all sorts of capacities, showing how God uses the varied talents and gifts within a congregation to make a beautiful Building. (1 Corinthians 3:9 - For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. ESV)

COMMUNITY ROADSIDE CLEANUP

McAdory/McCalla Roadside Cleanup

 

April 23, 2016 - 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Volunteers Needed
 
Six hours of community Service available for participation

Meet at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church

RUSSIAN FOLK MUSIC PERFORMANCE

Aleksandra and Dina Kasman will be performing Russian Folk Music at the Bessemer Music Club Meeting on April 13th at the Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church. Aleksandra (Sasha) is the Winner of many AFMC Junior and Senior/Collegiate awards as well as several NFMC awards. She has also won several International awards. She has played solo performances and with her father, Yakov Kasman, with symphonies in Russia, China, Korea and France. Younger sister, Dina has also won AFMC and other awards. They both study with their father.

This is a good opportunity for the Music Club to show appreciation to the congregation for the use of this beautiful building by inviting them to this very special program including food and fellowship.

BIBLE READING MARATHON

This will be the sixth year of the Birmingham Bible Reading Marathon and we as a church family will once again be participating. It is an international, annual event where people, young and old, read the entire Bible (Genesis through Revelation) aloud for 90 continuous hours, without commentary. Each volunteer will read aloud for 15 minutes and then pass the reading, like a baton, to the next person. Approximately 360 volunteers are required to complete the reading of the entire Bible.

This takes place on the front steps of Southside Baptist Church in Birmingham.  The reading begins Sunday, May 1 at 6:00pm and continues around the clock through Thursday, May 5 (the National Day of Prayer) at 11:30am. Some of our members will be reading on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Even some of our children and youth will be participating and some of our members will be there in the wee-hours of the morning and also serving as monitors.

Reading God's Word out to the world from those steps at Southside Baptist in the middle of Birmingham is a moment you do not forget. You do not know if someone may hear the scriptures read for the very first time, ever. Or your reading may be exactly what a passers-by hurting heart needs to hear. Or, you may feel that it is just you reading for God's pleasure as He listens to His children speaking His Words to honor Him. It is a blessing for so many and we appreciate all who make this event possible.

  

SPRING HANDBELL CONCERT

Join us for our annual Spring Handbell Concert on Sunday, May 1st, at 3:00 in the afternoon. There will be a wide array of music from beautiful hymns and negro spirituals to the great movie classics! This group of talented and dedicated musicians have inspired us and brought us much joy through the years and they continue to do so today. Bring your family and friends for a lovely afternoon of music and a cookie reception to follow.

ITALIAN DINNER FUNDRAISER

Italian Dinner Fundraiser

Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Noon

Tickets on sale now! $12.00 adults, $3.00 for children 12 and under

We will all enjoy a wonderful Italian meal and have the chance to purchase specially designed gift baskets for every personality, occasion, hobby, and interest to help support our building fund at SVPC. Please call the church office for information and tickets.

COMMITTING

I saw a statue of Jesus today.

He was hanging on the cross,

From bolts of iron in His wrists and feet.

His crown of thorns wedged tightly on His head.

His precious body scourged and torn,

Flesh hanging from His very limbs.

A sponge of gall and vinegar nearby,

The cat-o-nine with metal sharp,

Spread wide to show its evil intent.

And, while my heart was broken in grief

Knowing what He did for me,

My soul and spirit rose to Him

In love; for His dying for me.

How much He must love me overwhelms my mind;

How unworthy am I; Yet He made me His.

What can I do for YOU, Abba?

Look into me and see.

Purpose me for YOUR plan alone.

Strengthen and show me the way.

I commit myself to You my God.

For You are my purpose to live.

 

By Kay Stephens

 

 

EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES

Join us for a SUNRISE SERVICE

at 6:30 AM (a light breakfast will follow).
Worship Service starts at 11:00 AM
 

 

MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE

Join us for a Maundy Thursday Service

March 24 at Seven O'clock in the evening

CROSS DEDICATION

CROSS DEDICATION

Palm Sunday, March 20, 10:45 AM

EGG HUNT

Egg Hunt and Lunch for the Whole Church Family and Friends
 
Palm Sunday, March 20, 12:05 PM

PURE LOVE

PURE LOVE
Lord Jesus, Your love flows through me.
Let me search and find those in need
To touch, to hold, to hug them,

Just as You always have done for me.

 

Human touch is necessary I am told.
How much more to be touched by You.
If I can be Your arms my Jesus,

Use me, Your will be done.

 

Let those whom I hug feel Your pure love,
And feel moved to follow You.
To feel Your peace, and seek Your grace, and

So, ask to be freed from their sin.

 

For, You alone are our Savior.
And, only You can save.
But, if a hug can help them see

You are waiting patiently,

 

Then, let me be Your arms, sweet Lord.
Let me live for You.
And, let me be Your disciple

To bring others closer to You.

 

By Kay Stephens

PRAYER MEETING

Prayer Meeting

We will gather for a special prayer meeting on Monday, February 29, at 6:00 PM. With 2016 being an election year, the Spiritual Life Team would like to use this time to pray for the upcoming Alabama Primary Election on Tuesday, March 1st. We will be praying for the candidates and God's guidance through this election year.

CENTRAL ALABAMA HANDBELL FESTIVAL

Central Alabama Handbell Festival

At Pleasant Hill Methodist Church
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 3:00 PM

Our talented and precious handbell choir will be performing with the other attendees of the festival on Saturday, March 5th at 3:00. They need to have your support of their fine work and dedication to this ministry of our church. Our new neighbors in McCalla also need to see us supporting this ministry and how important this group is to our faith family. It will be a wonderful music experience to hear all these bells ringing in one concert! We hope to see you there!

LENTEN TREE

 

Lenten Tree

 

We hope you will notice in the narthex that our 1st Anniversary Blessing Tree which was covered with notes from our members is changing for Lent. We pray that during this Lenten season we might emerge from our personal wildernesses and, leaning on His Word, be prepared to serve Him and His kingdom with new life. Watch our Lenten tree change these forty days and then as we welcome the risen Christ with joy on Easter Sunday!

 

As we enter into the season of Lent….

     setting aside the ordinary to focus on the extraordinary

     remembering Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness

     taking a somber journey of examination and confession….

 

We will see our Lenten Tree in the narthex change…..

     from barren as wilderness

     to covered in symbols of Christ’s love for us

     from all our little blessings gone

     to covered with the blessings of True Life!

 

 

EASTER LILIES

Easter Lilies

 

It is almost time to order Easter Lilies! Look for order forms in the February 28 and March 6 Sunday bulletins!

DEDICATION SUNDAY

Dedication Sunday

FEBRUARY 21
"And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." Ezra 25:8
Please join us for a special time of dedication during worship on Sunday, Feb. 21 when we will present memorial plaques in honor of several of our members who have made a significant impact at Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church:

 Dr. Leroy and Mrs. Jo Holt for our sanctuary/worship space

 Elizabeth and Martha Asbury for the office and education areas

 Mrs. Katherine Wickstrom for the covered porch project
Please join us as we recognize their contributions to the ministry of SVPC and as we honor their faithful dedication and willingness to give to the vision of growing Christ's Kingdom.
Our vision of Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian in McCalla was the climax of a long faith journey fueled by faith in God's calling us all to serve Him. Our Lord has blessed us in so many ways and this Sunday we will praise Him once again as we thank these servants for their gifts to this congregation.

THANK YOU TO OUR OUTGOING ELDERS

Thank You to our Outgoing Elders

 

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12)

 

The elders in the Presbyterian Church work "for the common good." As our newly installed and/or ordained elders begin their terms of service in SVPC, we would like to thank those who have finished their time as an elected representative of this congregation. Our outgoing Elders have served as our partners in ministry and we appreciate all that entails. As they have served Christ and His church, there may also have been needs in their lives, but they remained committed to this faith family. They have faithfully followed the teaching of Paul as he said to minister with all your hearts "as working for the Lord, not for men" (Col. 3:23). Thank you, sisters and brothers, for your commitment to Christ!

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN

Feed My Starving Children Event

Saturday, January 23, 11:00am to 1:00pm

McAdory Middle School

Bessemer/McCalla Kingdom Builders will be hosting a Feed My Starving Children packing event on Saturday, January 23rd. SVPC participated last year and we were all so glad that we did. It was an amazing day!

Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God's children hungry in body and spirit. The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and then these meals are shipped to their distribution partners. FMSC meals have reached nearly 70 countries around the world through the years.

We will join as a community to pack food that will be sent out to nourish those who are starving. If you would like to give to this ministry that feeds the body and spirit,you may donate through SVPC and mark your giving as "for FMSC." Your gift will be sent around the world in Jesus' name! Thank you for your support!