From the Pastor’s Desk

Try this: Go to a local high school football game this Friday night. Then, as you sit in the stands surrounded by hundreds of people, ask yourself how many of those people go to church. The number will be extremely small. That’s southwest Wisconsin. Yet, there’s hope!

Recently, I was thrilled to stand by a young man in Richland Center as he was baptized into the faith. As he stood in the water, waiting for his moment, we heard the story of his spiritual journey. Here it is:

My single greatest struggle in life has been my desperate desire to control my own life and destiny. I have always been fiercely independent, and my refusal to let others into my life often hurt me more than it helped, in the long run.

I was crushed, emotionally, physically, and financially and was left with no choice but to return here, to my hometown. Immediately upon my return, I was greeted by friends and family, but I didn’t want to be here, and my heart and mind were closed to all of them, save one. This friend has always been there for me, and he invited me to come with him to meet some of his other friends. Reluctantly, I accepted, and when I arrived I was surrounded by smiles and laughter, and I started to feel that maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. One of these new friends of mine then proceeded to invite me to this church, and it was the first service I attended here that I realized what was truly happening in my life. I realized I needed to abandon my foolish desire to control my own life, and put it in God’s hands. That Sunday morning, I recommitted my life to Jesus.

In the three weeks since I first came to this church, my life has been a series of radical changes. It seems everywhere I look, something is different, in an unexpected and wonderful way. I feel as though a huge weight has been taken from my shoulders, and I feel more alive and at peace with myself and my life than ever before. I know now that God has a plan for me, and that I can trust Him to guide me, no matter what, and that He will never abandon me. I know there will be struggles ahead, but I now understand that I am not alone, and I am not afraid to face them, with God guiding my steps. I am finally ready to embrace His perfect plan for my life, and my determination to succeed on my own has become a drive to do His will.

That’s why we’re here at both locations. We’re trying to create a place that unchurched people LOVE attending. We’re out to serve them and earn the right to tell them about His love! That’s why we’re working SO hard and giving SO much. That’s the goal and it’s slowly starting to work. However, you know there are still many thousands more like this young man floating around southwest Wisconsin, and they are still looking for something that can bring meaning to their lives. God wants you to participate with Him in reaching out to them. Here are some things you can do:

• Ask God who you should invite to come to church with you.
• Begin praying every day for five people who don’t know Jesus yet.
• Set a goal to invite one new family to come with you to church every month. (There are some in the church that do that every week!)

Time is short and passing quickly. Pick one of these actions and let’s start making a difference. As we serve together, you will hear more and more stories like this one. Thanks for all you do!

Brian Rudesill

“30 Days to Live” Begins Oct. 5 in Dodgeville, Oct. 12 in Richland Center

Who have you invited to join you at church for the start of our “30 Days to Live” series? Our fall Big Sunday is this Sunday (October 5) in Dodgeville and October 12 in Richland Center.

Bring your unchurched friends as we examine how having only 30 days to live can show us what’s really important in life. This new message series will explore how to make the types of changes Jesus calls us to make in order to have the right focus every day.

Big Thursday Prayer Is This Week

Join us this Thursday, October 2, at HVCC in Dodgeville for a time of fellowship and mountain-moving prayer for our upcoming Big Sunday outreach. On that day we ask you to fast (go without food or anything you can temporarily give up to focus on God) and pray throughout the day for people who have been invited to Hidden Valley.

At 6:00 we will share a meal together at church, and at 7:00 we will have a time of prayer and celebration together.

HV-RC Holds First Baptismal Ceremony September 21

Ten people were baptized at Hidden Valley – Richland Center’s first baptismal ceremony September 21. Over 100 people came out to witness the event at the Symons Recreation Center swimming pool on the UW-Richland campus. We also had three baby dedications. It was a very exciting night in our church history. Already, eight more people have asked to be baptized.

In other September activities, we accepted two more people into membership. We had a strong turnout for our women’s night event, where at least 22 women came to Pizza Hut to enjoy one another’s fellowship and to plan for future events. On the middle school front, we hosted an auction to help raise funds for our planned trip to Costa Rica next year. A big thanks goes to Gary Kershner for helping us stretch our dollars, as we raised over $2,300. About 45 people stayed after the auction to watch the always-inspiring movie “Facing the Giants.”

Upcoming HV-Richland Center Events

On October 4, the HV-RC middle school group will have a bake sale during the Family Fun Day for the Color Fiesta Weekend in Richland Center. On that same day, we will hand out glow bracelets at the community parade. The theme for the parade is 70’s Disco Night, so we have a float designed on the theme of a popular 70’s song entitled, “We Are Family,” which we feel represents us.

Other scheduled October events at HV-RC:

• Men’s Night on October 18
• October 19 Bowling party after church at the Phoenix Center from 12:30 to 2:30
• October 25 is Movie Night
• October 26 CLASS 301 is tentatively set
  

CSI Group to Offer Raking Service Day November 1

On Saturday, November 1, Hidden Valley – Dodgeville’s CSI (Christian Service Ignited) group will offer leaf raking and yard work for people who could use help with it. If you want to take part in this event, meet us at the church at 9:00 a.m. on that day and bring a rake. We'll work until about noon then have some hot chocolate and treats. If we have a rainy day on November 1, we will postpone the event until the following Saturday, November 8.

We are looking for names of people who could use our help. If you have suggestions, please contact either Travis Clark (tclark@hiddenv.com) or Rae Ann Butteris (timnrae@hotmail.com).

Benevolence Ministry Reworked

Our church often gets calls from people asking for financial help. Since the earliest days of HVCC, our Benevolence ministry has helped people to cope with temporary personal crises by paying for food, gas, utilities, and other needs. This ministry has now been re-tuned to focus more strongly on budgeting and financial management. The goal is not only to help people get through rough spots in their lives, but also to guide them on the road to financial stability and hope.

The new benevolence program, now called the Compassion Ministry, will ask every person who applies for aid to fill out a preliminary budget and to meet with a volunteer financial counselor to review that budget and tailor a recovery plan. Applicants will also be asked to take the Financial Peace University course, a 13-week program that helps people to make sound financial decisions.

HVCC will keep records of all help offered to under-resourced people to track their progress on personal financial management goals. Priority for aid will be given to people who are members or regular attenders of HVCC.

Funding for the Compassion Ministry comes from your offerings when you designate that fund on your offering envelope. This fund is currently labeled “Benevolence” on our offering envelopes; these will be relabeled soon to reflect the name change in the fund.

Know Your Camera Class Offered in Dodgeville

Join us Wednesday, October 8, at 7pm, at Hidden Valley Church in Dodgeville for a two-hour class designed to help you learn how to take great pictures with your camera. This hands-on workshop will be led by Todd Goers, a working professional photographer. Bring your questions, cameras, and manuals if available so you can learn new skills and techniques to use with your own equipment.

There will be a fee of $15 with proceeds to go to HVCC’s Compassion Ministry.

Women’s Movie Night Planned

Come on out for a vineyard tour at the Spurgeon Winery in Highland on Friday, October 3.  Carpool leaving HVCC at 4:30 p.m. and returning at 7:30 for a movie at Hidden Valley.  The movie is “Walk in the Clouds.”

We are also planning a Pink PJ Party in honor of breast cancer awareness on Friday, October 17. Stay overnight or late into the night having fun with other women. More details to come about this exciting event.

Club 678: Middle School Group

The next Club 678 meeting will be Sunday, October 12 at 12:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you then. Bring a friend! The next meeting after that will be November 2. If you have any questions, please e-mail Melissa Leef, our ministry leader, at club678@gmail.com or call (608) 341-9925.

Next Class 401 October 26

Class 401: Discover How to Share Your Faith with Others. Sunday, October 26, 9:00-10:30 a.m. The Bible calls us in 1 Peter 3:15 to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." In this class you will learn how to speak about God in a way that is comfortable with how God has made you. To sign up, email us on the Contact Us page, or call us at 930-4822.

It’s Slime Time at HVCC!

Kids! Join us Friday, October 31, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for a fun, wacky, FREE Fall Party called SLIME TIME, with games, tricks, treats, and LOTS OF SLIME. Come in your costume, or come as you are! Our team of silly scientists and their goofball assistants will be ready for you and your friends, with a ton of games, food and fall fun! Don’t miss it, and invite your family and friends! Pre-school and school-aged children welcome! To RSVP, e-mail the number of kids attending to hvcc@hiddenv.com (for a rough count so we know how much slime to brew….) RSVPs are NOT required to attend. Just come!!

Slime Time Volunteers, if you are goofy enough and slimey enough to join us, help with games, welcome, set up, tear down and ahead-of-time prep. Don’t miss your opportunity to get plugged into the Fall Fun at Slime Time! Call Dawn Gleichauf at 574-9717, or e-mail dawngleichauf@yahoo.com for information on volunteer opportunities.

How We’re Doing – September 2008

Following are some numbers that we track on a regular basis to help us to gauge our church’s health and progress.

First-time visitors: 34
Second-time visitors: 22
Third-time visitors: 10

Asked Jesus to forgive me: 16
Recommitted my life to Jesus: 7

Monthly Giving
Tithe $21,379 (budgeted $30,276)
2nd Mile (building) $1,906 (budgeted $4,000)
Benevolence $0 (not budgeted)
Other income, fees, and reimbursements $200 (budgeted $500)
Total $23,485 (budgeted $34,776)