Echoes from the Valley

January 2018 Volume 45, No. 1

Pastor

Rev. Mike Roper

Music Director

Ms. Marcia McBride

Pianist

Mr. Thom Martin

Organist

Ms. Sandy Mize

Ministry Assistant

Mrs. Candy Rogers

Nursery Assistant

Mrs. Shelia Harkleroad

Housekeeper

Mrs. Brenda Waters

Our Church Staff

Valley Brook Baptist Church 1198 N. Valley Brook Road • Decatur, Georgia 30033

Voice: 404-292-0212 • Fax: 404-292-8459

Website: www.vbbchurch.com Email: valleybrook@vbbchurch.com

Facebook: fb.me/VbbcDecatur

Valley Brook is a place of grace, where everybody is somebody and Jesus is Lord.

“Rejoice in the Lord

always,

and again I say,

rejoice.”

- Philippians 4:4

I’ve always loved the excitement of a New Year, an open calendar, fresh opportunities, the hope and anticipation of improvement and great accomplishments in the days ahead. It is a time of positive outlook. As a church family we are facing a new year of challenges and opportuni-ties. Part of our preparation involves budgeting and planning expenditures. That has been done and our 2018 budget was approved by the church on Wednesday, December 13. It’s an ambitious, although slightly reduced, budget that will enable our ministry and mission work. I want to encourage each one who is a part of Valley Brook to review their financial commit- ment to the Lord’s work through our church. All we are able to accomplish depends upon your faithful support. We have no umbrella organization that supplements our efforts. It is, and always has been, just us! Missions is a priority in our planning, allowing us to partner in activities that we otherwise would not be able to accomplish. Our overall missions budget, which is very close to 10% of anticipated offerings, remains the same for 2018. We did though, add an additional missional opportunity; it is Tapestry Church in Atlanta, led by Matt Stacy. Their work is wide-ranging, and includes a weekly house church meeting in the Lake Claire community, as well as periodic worship gatherings in Little Five Points and Cabbagetown. They are also heavily involved in hands-on expressions of Christ’s love as they meet the practical needs of people in the area who are in difficult circumstances. It is this aspect of their mission that is particu- larly exciting to me. Please read the following post from the Tapestry Church Facebook page that describes their mission in a more personal way. (reprinted with permission) ____________________________________________________

“Another day in the life of Tapestry Church. We had people knocking at The Pantry’s door

earlier than usual. We thought it was the two gentlemen who live in tents that we tried to find yesterday. It wasn’t. But these two were also experiencing homelessness and have spent most of their 65+ years born and raised in this area. So, we got to sit, and have coffee and brownies with them.

One of our Pantry rituals is that Mr. Darryl and I hold hands with the guest we’ve helped pack food for and say a prayer with them before they leave. Sometimes when we’re busy, I’ll see someone standing by the door waiting patiently because they don’t want to miss our prayers.

One Gramma came, apologized for coming too early and asked only for prayers. She said that the devil was attacking her as soon as she woke, and all she could think of was to get on down to Tapestry so we could pray with her. Even though the Pastors are busy cooking for“2 Bros” on Wednesdays, they still come in and meet, pray, and love on our Pantry families.

Usually our guests are grandmothers, mamas with many children in their care, mothers of handicapped children, disabled gentlemen, veterans, and senior citizens – all who just don’t make enough monthly income to get all they need. They trickle in throughout the day wondering if they are at the right place. Today we met six men who have no roof over their heads. We had a disabled daddy, his wife and two of their nine children who most of this year have been homeless.

Picture young “Damien” from North Carolina. He’s a traveling fire dancer at music festivals who’s hit on hard times and lost his way. He was so hungry, he was dipping granola bars into ap-ple sauce and into a can of cold pop top soup. He hunched over it like we were going to take it from him. He tried to talk, his eyes welling with tears. I asked him to finish what was in front of him, and then he let me use baby wipes to clean his hands. He let us heat his soup for him and used a spoon and bowl this time. Darryl helped pack him a bag of food, etc., and he left after hugging me and praying with me outside.

What’s this world come to when people are this hungry, this cold? (continued on next page)

-

January Dates to Remember

01 Happy New Year! Church Office closed 02 7:55 am - OTH - Oak Grove Meat Market 03 10:00 am - Prayer Warriors 6:00 pm - Prayer Meeting 06 Epiphany ————————————————– 07 4:30 pm - Deacons’ Meeting 6:00 pm - Family Night “Soup Supper” 09 7:55 am - OTH - Bojangles 9:30 am - Water Color Class 10 10:00 am - Prayer Warriors 6:00 pm - Prayer Meeting 13 10:30 am - Community Bike Ride ————————————————- 14 5:00 pm - Finance Committee Meeting 5:30 pm - Church Council Meeting 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday 16 7:55 am - OTH - McDonalds in Tucker 9:30 am - Water Color Class 17 10:00 am - Prayer Warriors 6:00 pm - Prayer Meeting/Conference 18 12:00 noon - Keenagers 20 8:00 am - Mens’ Breakfast at Old Hickory House (with ladies) ———————————————— 23 7:55 am - OTH - Chick-fil-A 9:30 am - Water Color Class 12:00 noon - W.M.U. 24 10:00 am - Prayer Warriors 6:00 pm - Prayer Meeting 26 7:00 pm - Movie Night 27 10:30 am - Community Bike Ride ———————————————— 30 7:55 am - OTH - Bojangles (with ladies) 9:30 am - Water Color Class 31 10:00 am - Prayer Warriors 6:00 pm - Prayer Meeting

January Birthdays

01/04 Lynn Eddy 01/06 Lee McCool 01/22 Helen Morgan 01/23 Fred Guthrie

Before we were done here, Damien was back with a tall, shy gentleman named “Spirit.” He came for a blanket but left with much more. Today was definitely an answer to our prayers. We’ve wondered if we should have a hot meal on Wednesdays. Here’s our sign! I could go on, of course, because every single person He puts in our path are human and have a story. They’re each someone special. I’ll tell you more stories another day. Thanks again to all our supporters, Boog’s Blankets, the sweet souls who provide food, the little ministries who send toiletry kits, our friends in Buford who bring truckloads of good-ness, the crocheted hats by Gram, Papa G’s Bike Ministry in Waycross, the groups who send socks and hand warmers. To all of you who pray constantly for us and the people we meet, bless you! Every single item and prayer is needed and graciously accepted. Because of you, we are able to serve and love on people daily.” _____________________________________________________

What will 2018 look like for Valley Brook? We will have to wait until December 31 to answer that question. But, we can go forward, knowing that our journey is undertaken in the presence of God, and that we are equipped for the jour-ney. We have been called to a mission, and that mission is to proclaim and live out the Good News brought to us in Jesus Christ. May 2018 be a beneficial year for all! May love show itself fully in our lives! May we live togeth-er with grace as our guide! May peace reign, with Christ ruling our hearts! Happy New Year!

Valley Brook A Loving, Accepting, Affirming Baptist Church

1198 N. Valley Brook Road - Decatur, Georgia 30033

Contact Us

Voice: 404-292-0212

Fax: 404-292-8459

Email: valleybrook@vbbchurch.com

Website: www.vbbchurch.com

Facebook: fb.me/VbbcDecatur

Sunday Morning/Evening

Sunday School Bible Study 9:45 A.M.

Morning Worship 11:00 A.M.

Evening Worship 6:00 P.M.

Wednesday Night

Prayer Meeting/Bible Study 6:00 P.M.

Worship with Us

Monthly Financial Report (as of November 2017)

Receipts - $15,547 Expenses - $17,487

YTD Receipts - $172,009 YTD Expenses -$180,124

Resolutions for a Happy, Healthy New Year

It's almost the end of the year and you know what that means? It's time to get your pen and paper out and write down your New Year's resolutions. Before you do, take a look at some realistic and achievable New Year's resolutions for Christians that you should definitely have on your list: 1. Read God’s word more. To learn more about God and His story, read a verse or a chapter each day. 2. Pray more. Open the line of communication by pouring out your heart and mind to the Lord. 3. Be more compassionate. Remember Mark 12:31 - “Love your neighbor as yourself…” 4. Give and give more. Be charitable and have a heart to help others as God commanded. 5. Make church a priority. Your participation should not be limited to Sunday mornings. Be part of our other activities in order to learn more about your brothers and sisters in Christ. Try putting a little effort into these New Year’s resolutions and see how easy they are to achieve. Make a promise to yourself and to God. By doing so, you can make 2018 your year for spiritual growth.