Toy Drive
We invite you to be a part of the 38th Annual Dobie Toy and Book Drive. The Dobie Pre-K School is providing gifts for their students during the holiday season. This will be their final toy drive as the school is closing at the end of the school year. Please help us spread the joy of the season to these students by donating toys, books, or games for the toy/book drive! This school serves over 400 students, ages 3-5 in full day Pre-K and early childhood special education. The majority of the students and their families are considered to be below the poverty line, and for many of them, the only way they will have gifts to unwrap is if Dobie is able to provide them. Dobie provides EVERY child whose family qualifies at least one toy and book for the holiday season. The success of their program depends on the support of community partners.
Toy Recommendations:
educational games or books for young children
dress up outfits/costumes
board games (i.e. Memory, Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Scrabble Jr, Checkers, Connect Four)
alphabet game
stuffed animals
barnyard, zoo, house playsets
lacing cards
small basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, and Nerf balls
Little girls purse or dress-up items
Art sets
Educational toys (Leap Frog)
Activity Play Sets (doctor, vet, chef, soldier, Discovery toys, Fisher Price, Lakeshore Learning)
Lego Duplo or other large building block sets
Magnetic letters and/or numbers
Wooden Puzzles or floor puzzles (large size pieces)
Magnetic blocks
Simple Craft Sets
Play-dough and tools
Trucks/cars (Matchbox, Hot Wheels, remote control)
Dolls (baby dolls, fashion dolls, dress up dolls, dolls representing various cultures preferred)
Books in Spanish or English
Markers/Crayons and Coloring Books
Play foot sets
Magna doodles, Etch A Sketch
Please do not purchase toy weapons
Texas Boys Choir @ SVUMC
Exciting news! We are so excited to host the Texas Boys Choir again this year! They will be here with us on Saturday, December 7th at 7pm. The cost is $6 for students, $12 for adults. Buy tickets at https://www.artsacademics.org/tickets/
Cherub Choir
Fun news! If you didn't already know we have a "Cherub Choir" on Sunday mornings at 9am! Come sing, play, and dance with us as we learn fun songs and move to music. We welcome 3 & 4-year-olds!
United Methodist Committee on Relief
Wasn’t that a glorious cold front that blew through town Tuesday? And perfect timing: the day before, your church staff went to their second annual staff development day at the Great State Fait of Texas! Cold fronts make me think of comfort foods: chicken pot pie (had some last night), Frito pie, and stew. Thinking of stew, imagine sitting next to the fire, the Cowboys on TV, and enjoying a nice, warm bowl of:
Liquid laundry detergent
Liquid concentrate household cleaner
Dish soap
Air freshener
Insect repellent
Scrub brush
Re-useable cleaning wipes
Five scouring pads
Clothespins
Clothesline (cotton or plastic line)
Heavy-duty trash bags
Five N95 particulate respirator dust masks
Kitchen gloves
Work gloves
But instead of a soup bowl, it is served in a five-gallon plastic bucket. Doesn’t that sound yummy?
UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, recently announced a significant need for cleaning kits that contain all of the above. I have ordered everything on that list in multiples of 50, and as an act of congregational service, we will assemble following worship a week starting this Sunday, October 27. We will compile them in assembly line style, which should take only half an hour. Then they will be transported to the UMCOR Sager/Brown Depo in Baldwin, LA. If you are unable to participate, individuals, classes, and other groups are welcome to make a financial gift. Each kit costs about $75, meaning fifty of them cost $3300. Christy and I are giving $250. To give online, go here- and make sure you give Spring Valley UMC credit- https://advance.umcmission.org/p-616-material-resources.aspx
From the United Methodist News Service:
“United Methodists across the southeastern U.S. are doing their best to raise morale and get organized after many communities have been devastated by flooding from Hurricane Helene.
Historic rainfall, flooding, power outages, and 140 mph winds plagued the Southeast, with the mountains of western North Carolina particularly hard-hit. According to The Associated Press, at least 179 people over six states were killed as a result of the storm, which made landfall in the Big Bend area of the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm on September 26.
President Biden has promised resources including food, water, communications, and lifesaving equipment.
Bishop Ken Carter, who leads the Western North Carolina Conference, estimated that more than half of the 44 counties in the annual conference have been affected. “We want you to know that we see you, we are praying for you, and you will not be in this alone. Your well-being and recovery are the mission,” he said in a Facebook message.
The conference’s Council on Finance and Administration and Board of Pensions and Health Benefits have voted to contribute $1 million each to the relief and recovery of churches and communities. Local churches are also being asked to receive a special offering on October 6 for relief efforts.
United Methodists can help with Hurricane Helene relief efforts by donating to UMCOR’s U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief reports offering consultation and coordinative support to all affected conferences as communities begin to assess their needs. So far, grants have been awarded to the North and South Georgia, Western North Carolina, and Holston conferences.
“The devastation from Helene is heartbreaking, but it is in times like these that the church is called to embody hope,” said Roland Fernandes, top executive of UMCOR and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. “Emergency response teams are gearing up to work with those affected, to offer immediate relief and plan for long-term recovery.”
United Methodists in the Holston Conference, which encompasses eastern Tennessee and parts of Georgia and Virginia, have been busy assembling and distributing cleaning kits and raising money for relief efforts.
Three days after a conference flood relief fund was set up to help survivors in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, more than $36,000 has been received through the online giving link alone, reports Annette Spence, who has been providing live updates from the Holston Conference. According to the Rev. Mike Sluder, Holston connectional ministries director, additional funds are promised from local churches and United Methodist annual conferences. Neighboring conferences also are sharing cleaning kits.”
You can participate in the recovery effort by helping assemble the cleaning kits on October 27 or making a financial contribution to UMCOR. As always, thank you for your support of Spring Valley UMC and the United Methodist denomination!
- Pastor Frank
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Coming October 23rd, the Wednesday morning Bible study will begin the study of Hebrews by David DeSilva. This six-week study will run through December 4th, with a break during Thanksgiving week.
Pastor Frank will be preaching a sermon series on Hebrews during November and December, and this study allows us to prepare to listen more deeply to his messages.
Hebrews gives us a bold perspective on who Jesus is and what he has done for us.
When: Wednesday mornings, 9:30 – 11:00
Where: Conference Room
Facilitator: Pat Christley
Book: Hebrews: Grace and Gratitude.
To reserve your book, call 9214-498-5806) or email Pat by Wednesday, October 9. The cost is $13.00.
Youth Fall Retreat
Youth Fall Retreat
-Leaving Saturday Morning at 10 AM
-Returning Monday Afternoon.
-Location: Hatton’s Lake House in Shoals
-It is free for the youth this year
Contact Maeson Bryant with questions! mbryant@svumc.org
Wednesday Morning Bible Study
Coming October 23rd, the Wednesday morning Bible study will begin the study of Hebrews by David DeSilva. This six-week study will run through December 4th, with a break during Thanksgiving week.
Pastor Frank will be preaching a sermon series on Hebrews during November and December, and this study allows us to prepare to listen more deeply to his messages.
Hebrews gives us a bold perspective on who Jesus is and what he has done for us.
When: Wednesday mornings, 9:30 – 11:00
Where: Dining room
Facilitator: Pat Christley
Book: Hebrews: Grace and Gratitude.
To reserve your book, call 9214-498-5806) or email Pat by Wednesday, October 9. The cost is $13.00.
Annual Craft Fair and Bake Sale
Annual Craft Fair and Bake Sale
(benefitting the Mission Projects of the United Women of Faith)
When: Sunday, October 13th from 8:30am-Noon
Where: Wesley Hall
Come one, come all to the Annual UWF Craft Fair and Bake Sale! There will be handmade gifts, holiday decorations, delicious baked goods, and edible treats, such as cakes, cookies, pies, jams, jellies, and candies. We need Bakers! Please bring your delicious goodies to Wesley Hall before 8:30 am.
Buyers, bakers, and browsers, please help support our United Women of Faith!
October Sermon Series: Exploring the Apostles Creed
Join us October 13, 20, and 27 for a series about the Apostles Creede!
2024 Halloween Music Fest and Trunk-or-Treat
Join us on October 27th at 5:30 pm for our annual Halloween Music Fest & Trunk-or-Treat! We will have music, trick or treating, and hot dogs for all. If you’re interested in sponsoring a trunk, please let us know!
Blessing of the Animals
Join us in a Blessing of the Animals where our congregation bears witness to God’s and the Church’s love, care and concern for creation. As we recognize our mutual interdependence with God’s creatures, the Church’s witness of stewardship of creation is strengthened.
New Ministry at SVUMC
New Community Ministry coming to Spring Valley. Introducing Parents of Addicted Loved Ones for parents with adult children dealing with substance use disorder involving either drugs or alcohol. This is a place to find hope and support.
Meetings will be Thursdays, 6pm-7:30pm, beginning September 12th in the Tony Holiday Room. Meetings are available all over the country, and lives are being changed every day. It's not an easy journey, but you don't have to go it alone.
More info: palgroup.org
United Women in Faith
United Women in Faith begins their new year on Monday, September 9, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. in Asbury Hall. Bring a sack lunch; beverages and desserts will be provided.
Our Program: Alice McElroy will tell us about the “Mission U” program, put on by the North Texas Conference of United Women in Faith, which she recently attended.
Our Collection: We will also be collecting new baby items such as onesies, receiving blankets, etc. (size premie through 3 months) for our annual Parkland Hospital Baby Shower, which benefits the Parkland Hospital Nursery’s newborn babies.
Hope to see you there!
Network of Community Ministries Golf Tournament
Network of Community Ministries 27th Annual Golf Event
IT'S BACK AGAIN!
Friday, September 13, 2024
Sherrill Park Golf Course | 2001 E. Lookout Drive | Richardson, TX 75082
Join us for Network of Community Ministries (NETWORK) 27th Annual Golf Outing!
1pm Shotgun Start
4 Person Scramble
Afterparty and Awards hosted by Bryan and Mauri Marsh
Beer and Margaritas Available
$125 per Player | $500 per Foursome
Sponsorship Opportunities Available!
For more information or to sponsor the outing, visit thenetwork.org/golf-outing/.
September Worship Series: Game of Thrones
In September, our worship series will shift. We will jump into a time machine and explore the early days of the monarchy of ancient Israel. You thought “Game of Thrones” was a fantasy TV show; oh no, it’s the real deal, featuring larger than life characters like Samuel, Saul, David and Solomon. The Israelite monarchy, the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital of the unified kingdom, the Ark of the Covenant… all this and more will be discussed each week. These are some of the most riveting, and controversial, narratives of the Hebrew Bible. Here is an outline:
Sept 1: 1 Samuel 8:4-20, 11:14-15
Sept 8: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:14
Sept 15: 2 Samuel 11:1-15
Sept 22: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Sept 29: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Spring Valley Recognized at RISD School Board
Spring Valley recognized at Richardson ISD School Board!
Maeson Bryant, our new Director of Community Engagement and Family Ministries, David Smith, Lay Leader and Missions Chair, and Pastor Frank received recognition on the church's behalf last Thursday. We participated in the Backpack Bash, raising $7500 to donate 375 backpacks filled with school supplies to families at Northwood Hills Elementary. Many thanks to David Smith for making this happen!
Pastor Frank's Silence Retreat
A couple of weeks ago I participated in a four day silence retreat at St Francis Springs, North Carolina (near Greensboro). This was for my continuing education for this appointive year. The Big Silence retreat is hosted twice a year by two Spiritual Directors, both of whom are elders in the Western North Carolina Conference.
I was the only person from Texas; there was one from Georgia, and the rest were from North Carolina.
After dinner Monday night, we began 3 1/2 days of silence: no phones, no side reading, no distractions. I spent a couple of hours Monday evening laying in the grass, listening to nature around me. The next couple of days there were opportunities to walk trails, while walking a prayer labyrinth, and spend time at grottos or stations of the cross.
I had never done anything like this before, and I suspect that is this case for many of us. When I shared my experiences, more than one person has said: there is no way I could do that! I bet you could if you tried. Like any worthwhile practice, it takes determination and focus.
Some of the prayer practices we observed were breath prayers, centering prayer, and Lectio Divina, a practice of reading scripture for prayer, rather than seeking knowledge. So for example, look up Ephesians 4:25-5:2, my scripture from last Sunday’s sermon. You would read the text aloud, and listen for any particular word or phrase that speaks to you. Say, “imitate,” or “one body.” Then read the scripture again, paying attention for your particular chosen word. When you hear it again: Why is this particular word standing out to you? What special meaning is God conveying to you?
The retreat was a very meaningful way to remember that prayer, scripture reading, time alone in nature are all ways God speaks to us- as long as we are focused and paying attention.
- Pastor Frank
World Communion Sunday & Parade of Nations
Join us on October 6th at 10am! World Communion Sunday is a denomination-wide celebration emphasizing the value of education and training. We commemorate this day by giving generously to support young adults and make a global impact for Christ. Half of the offering benefits World Communion scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students from the U.S. and other countries. The remainder provides grants to support training for worldwide inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.
Your gift is a practical expression of care, equipping students to shape a hopeful future. Supporting United Methodist students offers both financial and spiritual encouragement, demonstrating the church's confidence in their potential. On World Communion Sunday, we join ecumenically in acknowledging our unity in Christ as we gather around His table.
August Sermon Series: Back to School
Throughout the scriptures, we see God calling people to serve their community and giving them the gifts to do it. As a new school year begins, we reflect together on how God has blessed each child, youth and adult with specific gifts with which to bless their community.