Thanks to everyone who made the Woodbury Days Parade a success. The band did an incredible job! We braved the heat and conquered the route while passing out candy and VCC cards to spectators.
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It’s hard to believe summer is winding down and Fall is right around the corner. The new school year begins and so does a new season for VCSTUDENT. Our first event of the 2010-11 school year is Fall Retreat September 17-19. We’re going camping at Interstate Park. The cost is $40. We’ll be leaving Oak-Land Jr High at 4pm on the 17th and returning by the end of Sunday morning service on the 19th. Look for more information at http://vcstudent.com/retreat
We are getting very excited for the kick-off of our fall semester of small groups. Each year we choose one semester where every group goes through the same small group study which correlates with Pastor Trent’s Sunday message series. This fall semester is going to be incredible as we dive in and discuss more in-depth the scripture and Biblical truths we learn on Sundays.
If you haven’t yet been involved in a small group, we encourage you to check it out this fall. We are convinced small group night could easily become your favorite night of the week. Fall semester starts the week of September 13 and ends the week of November 29th. Registration begins next Sunday, September 5th. Be sure to register quickly as many groups, especially those with onsite childcare, fill-up fast.
If you have any questions about VC Small Groups, you can email Pastor Mac at mac@valleycreekchurch.com.
We’re inviting all teens and their parents to our last youth group (VCSTUDENT) Wednesday night of the summer before school begins. It’s happening September 1, 2010 at 6:30pm at Mike and Laurie Cherry’s home in Lake Elmo. While the teens enjoy swimming in the pool, parents can meet fellow parents and find out about the next year for VCSTUDENT.
I hope ALL parents are able to attend. Our lead pastor, Trent Redmann will be there and you’ll also get to meet the team of volunteers that helps make youth group happen. You’ll hear from Jill and I about EVERYTHING in youth group… vision, events, small groups, services and more.
RSVP by calling or texting me at 763-516-7689 or e-mailing matt@valleycreekchurch.com. Once you RSVP, I’ll send you directions to the Cherry’s home.
Our fall kick-off services start Sept 8th at Oak-Land Jr High, but in the meantime we’re still outside. August 18th at 7:00pm will be at Seasons Park in Woodbury and August 25th will be at the Bumgardners at 6:30pm. Look for directions to be posted at http://facebook.com/vcstudent
Strap the baby in the stroller, don your “You Matter…” t-shirt and walk with us in the 2010 Woodbury Days Parade. Similar to previous years, we will be handing out candy and flyers while the band rocks out on the float. If you weren’t with us last year and didn’t get a VCC t-shirt, we will have one for you.
Keep posted for more details, but be sure to mark Sunday, Aug 29th in your calendar and join us for our biggest outreach of the year!
Sunday evening following our Block Party we’ll be having our third Night of Worship of the year. It starts at 6:00pm on August 15th in the auditorium at Oak-Land Jr High. It’s a night filled with music, prayer, and Scripture that will encourage and inspire. It’s a quarterly event that you don’t want to miss.
A favorite passage of Scripture is Matthew 5, the Beatitudes, where Jesus says “blessed are the___” and then proceeds to list the various states of humanity. We are, according to this chapter, “poor in spirit,” “those who mourn,” and “persecuted.” Those are pretty miserable conditions. But we are also “meek,” “peacemakers,” and “merciful.” In a few short verses Jesus describes the general scope of who we are, each and all of us, on any given day.
The verses are not a critique of human nature. They are a set of remedies for our woes and promises for our future. When we are experiencing any of these conditions, Jesus tells us we are (already) BLESSED. He even explains how: we will “inherit the kingdom of heaven,” and we will “be comforted,” and we will “see God.” When we “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” we “will be filled.” He has it all covered, good and bad. He knows all about us. He knows our problems and our strengths, our fears and our dreams. And in all of those, if we are in Christ, we are BLESSED.
Jesus goes beyond what is “happy”. We find satisfaction in Him, not in our circumstances. The scenery of life changes daily. But the divine favor of His blessing is consistent. Jesus knows all about our struggles, as the hymn says, and He does not immunize us from trouble; instead, He goes with us and makes us stronger. Wherever your day takes you, know in your heart that you are BLESSED. The Word says so.
Church has big plans for 20-acre Afton site
By BRIAN JOHNSON
Pastor Trent Redmann says Valley Creek Church has a contract for deed on a 20-acre property in Afton and is in the process of raising money for the $3 million project. (Staff photo: Bill Klotz)
Right now, it’s just a big open cornfield on the outskirts of the east metro – and it will probably stay that way for a least a couple more years.
But if Valley Creek Church’s plans for the 20-acre property near Valley Creek Road and Manning Avenue in Afton come to fruition, a house of worship will someday rise up on the land, providing a home for a congregation that now meets in a nearby junior high school.
A sign on the property lets passersby know that the wind-swept site is the future campus of Valley Creek Church, which was started in 2001 by Pastor Trent Redmann and his wife, Melinda, as a church for “those who don’t like to go to church.”
“We would love to build our facility in that location two years from now,” said Redmann, senior pastor of Valley Creek Church. “We are in the process of growing as a church family and envision that it would be about two years until we are ready.”
The church, which has about 250 regular attendees, has a contract for deed on the land and is in the process of raising funds for the approximately $3 million project, according to Redmann.
He said that while the church hasn’t settled on a design yet, members of the congregation have been talking with a number of architects, sharing their vision for a building the fits the needs of numerous young families.
“We are looking at a 30,000-square-foot facility that will be engaging for kids and adults,” he said. “We … value great music and having an experience with God that people will remember during the week.”
The project is in its early stages, however, and the church has not made a formal application to the city, according to Sara Irvine, assistant city administrator for the city of Afton.
“I really have not seen any plans,” Irvine said.
Churches are allowed in the zoning, she said. But one thing to keep in mind, she added, is that part of the property is in a flood plain, which could complicate plans for future construction.
Redmann said the church is aware of the flood-plain issue and has been working with a local hydrologist on soil investigation. Bottom line, church officials are confident that the issue won’t dampen their building plans.
If and when the new church opens, it will be good news for the backs of some church members who devote part of their Sunday each week to setting up worship space within Oak-Land Junior High in Lake Elmo.
Moreover, the new building will give Valley Creek more of a sense of permanence within the community.
“It is a lot of work to transform a school into a church each week,” Redmann said. “We have a great team that loves to do that. But it is helpful to know, have a place to point to, where our church will be.”
We’ve turned our annual church picnic into a block party. Immediately following Sunday morning service on August 15, we’re excited to host the party in the ball field and parking lot at Oak-Land. It will run from Noon-2:00pm and will be filled with games, inflatable jump houses, free food, and prizes. We’re inviting neighbors from the Lake Elmo area surrounding Oak-Land Junior High.
Your help will make this day a success! Don’t miss an opportunity to make a difference in the community. Click here to view volunteer positions.
I hope you like the new look of valleycreekchurch.com. Our new look makes it easier for you to find all the information you’re looking for from VCC. Our home page has links to most everything we could think of… facebook, giving, current series, top three videos, messages, online community login, and so much more.
We’ll continue to keep fresh content flowing from the site so make sure you bookmark it. We’ll keep you updated every step of the way. Enjoy!