VIENNA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | SEPTEMBER 2022
THE MONTHLY MESSENGER
FROM HOPE'S HEART... Welcome to fall! We have just been through an amazing summer filled with mission trips, youth conferences, Family Fun Nights, and the casting out of the mission of our church as we get back to our future which was thrown into a bit of chaos these last couple of years. Already our families with children are seeing a renewed energy and passion for Jesus as Maddie Schmidt takes the helm of Children’s Ministry. One of my best memories from this summer was getting to do the “Blessing of the Backpacks” for the first time at VPC! This marks the 14th consecutive year that I’ve had the great privilege to send children, youth, and faculty back to school in ways that remind them of God’s great love for them and to let them know that their pastor is always on their team! Ministry moves into high gear in the coming weeks and we’ll kick that off with our “Taste & See VPC” event on the 11th of September. This special day (which will include a time of remembrance at the beginning of worship) is an opportunity for everyone at VPC to “start again.” We know that sometimes, especially when you’ve been around awhile, that it might feel awkward to try and get connected. And when you’re new, you might not know where to start.
So, on the 11th, we’ll gather everyone together at one big service at 10:00am and then release everybody all over the building to not only explore all the space we have, but to interact with all of our different ministries. Look for all of the details inside! This is the time to get connected to a small group or a large group or a Sunday class or a class that meets on other days. It’s also the best time for our students and children to jump into youth group or children’s ministry! We’ll be rolling out a fellowship ministry for seniors this fall and the choir is always happy to have some new voices. There are mission trips coming up and local opportunities to serve. We’re going all-In on our brand-new mission to be “a caring fellowship bringing Christ into our diverse community through discipleship and service!” God is on the move at VPC and the Spirit is vibrantly alive! These are going to be days to enjoy together as this new season begins! I’m so glad that YOU and I are going to be a part of it all! In the Grip of Grace, Pastor Hope hope.lee@viennapres.org