Pastor Jake's Retirement Celebration

After 19 years of being our Pastor, Grace Valley celebrated with Pastor Jake as he moves into retirement. We thank him and Priscilla for their service, and the ways that God has used him to pastor our church.

Here is a video our mission team put together highlighting some of the projects we have done over the last year, and some of the missionaries we support.  We look forward to continuing to find ways to serve God both locally, and around the world.

Men's Basketball

We have started playing basketball on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 in our gym.   This is for pretty much all skill levels, and ages probably high school and up.  Come join us, make some friends, and get a little exercise.

Grace Valley Community Gym

In April, Grace Valley voted to build an addition to our facilities.  The plans included a gym, 4 class rooms, and an additional handicap accesible/family bathroom.  Other than a few finishing touches, the building is now complete.  We look forward to sharing this space with our community in the years to come.

For more info about using this facility, please send us an email at gvcrc.gym@gmail.com

Baptism

One of the joys of being a family is welcoming a new member to the family.  For a church, that happens at baptism.  So this past Sunday was a celebration for us at Grace Valley.  We got to baptize Kinslee, and welcome her into God's family at Grace Valley.  It was a wonderful day for their family and ours.

 

April 22 Grace Valley Work Day

On April 22 we sent crews out to several different spots to help some members of our community with projects that they weren't able to do on their own.

One group helped paint a barn, another worked to clean the German Valley Food Pantry, and a couple more groups did some handyman projects and yard cleanups.  

This is what it means to be a family.  We take time to help each other.

 

German Valley Family Fun Night

This week we had our second monthly German Valley Family Fun Night at the German Valley Elementary School.  The unseasonably warm weather probably contributed to keeping a few people home, but it also allowed us to us be able to play outside.  

We played on the playground, tried to fly a kite, played kickball, and of course there was basketball in the gym.

We all had a great time, and I hope you can join us when we do it again in March.

Senior Sunday 2017

Grace Valley has been through a lot of changes in the last 15 years.  We have had big changes in our building, in our worship, and in the way we do ministry.  We wanted to honor some of our senior members who have continued to be faithful through all of these changes, even if they might not be what they would choose.  Cathy Ross played the organ, we sang some hymns, and we celebrated God's faithfulness through generations.  After worship, our youth served them lunch.  We are so thankful for these Saints who have gone before us and have paved the way for the future of Grace Valley CRC.

Northern Illinois Food Bank

The Northern Illinois Food bank works with grocery stores, and food manufacturers to provide very low cost food to various local Food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens.  

A group of us went and served by helping pack bags that go home from school with students on the weekends, and helped them sort cans for distribution to those who need it.  

It's always fun to be together, doing something that will benefit others.

Rockford Rescue Mission

We had the opportunity as a church family to host the chapel service, and serve dinner at the Rockford  Rescue Mission on Sunday.  

 

Here is most of the crew

 

Here we are loading and setting up.

 

 

   

 

Thanks to everyone who came out to help.  Thank you to everyone who brought bag lunches, and gallons of milk.

 

Thanks also to Bob and Nancy Tuten  did a great job coordinating everything.

Thanks to Bob and the Worship team for leading the chapel.

 

It is great to be a part of a community of people so willing to give up their time and resources on behalf of those who need it.