January 2017 vantage point

Vantage Point A Vanchurch publication

We are called to be like Christ in our world

January 2017

Table of Contents

2016: A Year in Review

2016: A Year in Review . . . . . . . pg 1-2

As we reflect on 2016, here’s a look back at some of the ways God was working through his people at Vanchurch

Didja Know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 2 Directory Updates. . . . . . . . . . . . .pg 3 By the Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg 3



Thank You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg 3 Uganda Food Relief . . . . . . . . . . . pg 3

 

January Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg 4 Upcoming Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg 4



 



 

Mar: hosted Easter Egg Hunt May: hosted Truck & Tractor Day with around 100 kids in attendance July: a new play structure was installed in the playground Sept: enrollment of 82 students for the 2016-17 year Sept: Vanchurch members were invited to pray for specific students and their families.

Sept: Vanchurch members donated school supplies and scholarships for students Oct: students went on a field trip to the Shaffer Farm Oct: Vanchurch Youth hosted a Fall Harvest Trick or Treat Open House for BBP

Vantage Point is a monthly publication of the Vancouver Church of Christ, 9019 NE 86th St., Vancouver, WA 98662. (360) 6960548. Lisa Anderson and Cherry Wilson, editors. To be added to our mailing list, contact the church office by phone or email at info@Vanchurch.org. All information is copyright of Vancouver Church and its staff unless otherwise noted.

To reproduce articles, please contact the church. DEADLINE for submitting a comment or announcement is the 20th of each month.













Truck & Tractor Day

May: donations from Vanchurch members and Rock Solid Kidz helped Adam & Niki Turner put a new roof on a neighbor’s house May-Oct: 120 plots were used in our Community Garden Aug: VBS! About 115 kids attended Cave Quest JesusLight of the World

Aug: Celebrate Recovery hosted a Back-to-School Picnic Sept: members donated new clothing for underprivileged students in Evergreen Public Schools Nov: Vanchurch provided 84 Thanksgiving baskets to families in need Dec: many community families were given gifts for Christmas through our Giving Tree program

2 (Continued from page 1)

mostly to be good to others.

When the Roman Empire took Christianity as its official state religion in the 4th century, these moral intentions were replaced with prayers and fasting.

Mission & Movement: 





  





Jan/Feb: Patty Slack, Andrea Baker, and Barbara Barnes went to Uganda to help the Martin’s welcome Baby Madelynn into the world June: Taylor & Kristi Belt moved from Texas for Taylor to serve as Worship and Media Minister July: Club Quest group went to Mexico for a 34th year of being hands and feet in El Zorillo July: teens went to Tuba City, AZ on mission to Navajo Reservation Aug: Gentry & Liz Morris moved to Reston, VA to work with a church plant Aug: middle school group helped with All of Creation Art Camp at Pacific Crest Church in Wenatchee, WA Sept: Pacific Crest Church plant launched 35th Anniversary of the Rogers in the mission field (currently in Ukraine)

New Logo

You are going to start seeing a new logo on our publications here at Vanchurch.

Thanks to all who contributed in creating this!

By Mike Sellers New Year’s resolutions. Do you make them? Do you keep them? Or, do you think they are a waste of time? I believe we all start in our early years making them but relax the practice if we have been unsuccessful. I understand losing weight is the number one New Year’s resolution. Sad to me. I’d think drawing closer to God and being healthy should top the list.

How about you?

So, where did New Year’s resolutions start? I looked it up. I am always fascinated with the trivia someone has researched.

Oh well, I digress. New Year’s Day celebrations began in preChristian times beginning with the Babylonians in March but changed to January by the Romans. January gets its name from Janus, the two-faced god who looks backward into the old year and forward into the new. His statue is on the bridge Ponte Fabricio which crosses the Tiber River in Rome to Tiber Island, where it survives from its original construction in 62 BC during the time of Julius Caesar.

The custom of setting New Year’s resolutions began during this period in Rome two millennia ago, as they made such resolutions with a moral flavor:

17th century Puritans urged their children to skip the revelry associated with New Year’s parties and instead spend time reflecting on the year past and contemplating the year to come. In this way, they adapted the old custom of making resolutions. These were commitments to better employ their talents, treat their neighbors with charity and avoid their habitual sins.

Hmmm……I think I will reevaluate my resolutions. Reflecting on my past year may help me better navigate the year ahead. Resolving to grow closer to God, love my neighbor and avoid sin are some big topics I need to drill down and put wheels on.

How about you? Working on any resolutions for 2017?

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.

Proverbs 27:19

3

Food Relief Effort People are starving to death in the Isingiro Region of Uganda, south of the Martins' work in Mbarara. This area has not had rain for the past two growing seasons. Hundreds of thousands are affected. The Martins and the church in Mbarara are working hard to help feed as many as possible.

Thank you for your gift of money given to our 2016 Northwest Change Can Campaign. You are an encouragement to our ministry. ~from Randy Schow Executive Director of Mountain States Children’s Home

Church by the Numbers, December Date

Attendance: 137/156

Updates:

Contribution

1st/2nd service

12/4

Directory

$ 11,890.45

12/11 118/169

$

8,650.40

12/18 155/139

$ 14,739.00

12/25 121/74

$

8,639.00

David & Natasha Allen 10816 NE 106th Street Vancouver, WA 98662 Rollin & Amanda Perrigo 4307 NE 118th Street Vancouver, WA 98686

Andrew & Aimee Jo Martin & family will feed a whole family for a month.

will feed a family until the next expected harvest.

To lend your help, give to Vancouver Church of Christ, and write "Uganda Food Relief" on the check.

WE THANK OUR GOD FOR YOU! Dear Kairos friend and supporter, A note of thanksgiving from me and all of the Kairos Church Planting staff, Gena Granberg, patty Slack, Bruce Bates, and Neil Reynolds. We are so thankful for you. Your generosity is a constant reminder to us of God’s Kingdom blessing. Every time we see a check come to the mailbox or an electronic beep that says a new deposit is made we are thankful.

Those beeps remind me of the angel Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life who says every time a bell sounds an angel gets his or her wings. You deliver angelic blessings with each donation.

Through Jesus, Stanley E. Granberg Kairos Executive Director

4

January 2017 Nathan Fussel 1/1 Paula Hawthorne 1/1 Lillyan Deal 1/2 Melanie Bailey 1/6 Emma Bell 1/6 Benjamin Hill 1/10 Sabrina Noel 1/10 Reid Getting 1/12 Bryan Housley 1/12 Kolbi Natzel 1/12 Justin Alcatraz 1/13 Tammy Tisdale 1/13 Erik Reinhardt 1/14 Paulette Montes 1/15 Weli Onsomu 1/15 Marilee Cash 1/17 Lyndi Hornbuckle 1/17 Madelynn Martin 1/17

Ron Roberts 1/17 Sam Tisdale 1/19 Mike Sellers 1/21 Cortana Fowler 1/22 Jay Baker 1/23 Kelly Cash 1/23 Evan Martin 1/23 Brad Perrigo 1/23 Jonathan Bell 1/24 Lilyanne Obias 1/24 David Allen 1/25 Autumn Beecher 1/26 Tabitha Slack 1/26 Donnie Alcatraz 1/28 Jay Don Rogers 1/28 Paul Baldwin 1/29 Virginia Hoffman 1/30 Jenifer Natzel 1/30

Numbers 6:24-25

Every week at Vanchurch Sunday, 1/1 only All other Sundays Monday, starts 1/9 Tuesday, starts 1/10 Wednesday

Thursday Saturday

9:00am 10:30am 8:30am 10:00am 11:15am 6:30pm 9:00am 9:00am 6-9pm 10:00am 7:00am

Acapella Worship Instrumental Worship Acapella Worship Bible Class Instrumental Worship WOW Bible Study WOW Bible Study MOMS Group Celebrate Recovery Th. Morning Bible Men’s Bible Study

Upcoming Events: January 1 New Year’s Day (Sunday) 2 BBP & church office closed 8 Huddle, 1 pm 12 Quilters, 4-10 pm 15 The Prayer Gathering, 5-6 pm 16 BBP closed for Martin Luther King Day 24 Senior Saints’ Breakfast, Cameo, 8 am 25-29 Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO) 31 Group from Korea visiting February 1-6 Group from Korea visiting 5 Senior Saints’ Brunch, 11:15 am Huddle, 1 pm 9 Quilters, 4-10 pm 12 Prayer Gathering, 5 pm 20 BBP closed for Presidents’ Day 28 Senior Saints’ Breakfast, Cameo, 8 am March 1 Ash Wednesday 5 Senior Saints’ Brunch, 11:15 am

9 12 28

Huddle, 1 pm Quilters, 4-10 pm Daylight Saving Time begins Prayer Gathering, 5 pm Senior Saints’ Breakfast, Cameo, 8 am

April 2 Senior Saints’ Brunch, 11:15 am Huddle, 1 pm 3-7 BBP closed for Spring Break 9 Palm Sunday Prayer Gathering, 5 pm 13 Quilters, 4-10 pm 14 Good Friday 16 Easter Sunday 25 Senior Saints’ Breakfast, Cameo, 8 am May 7 11 14 23 29

Senior Saints’ Brunch, 11:15 am Huddle, 1 pm Quilters, 4-10 pm Prayer Gathering, 5 pm Senior Saints’ Breakfast, Cameo, 8 am BBP closed for Memorial Day

VANCHURCH, 360-696-0548, 9019 NE 86th St., Vancouver, WA 98662, www.Vanchurch.org