Current Series – 'til Death

Marriage is tough! Everyone who has ever been married understands this. But God’s goal for marriage still stands: He wants people to enjoy an ever-deepening love relationship between husband and wife. In our current message series, “`til Death,” we discover some of God’s ideas on how to move a marriage forward from any spot.

Hidden Valley–Dodgeville will hear the third message in the series this Sunday, and Hidden Valley–Richland Center the second. For additional reading and research, we recommend the following resources:

• www.marriagebuilders.com
• www.smalleyonline.com

Richland Center Grand Opening

Last Sunday, 176 people attended the Grand Opening of Hidden Valley–Richland Center at its new location, at 182 North Central Avenue, the former Richland Center city hall and auditorium. This was more than triple the number of people who had been attending our Richland Center video venue in the weeks prior to its Grand Opening.

In preparation for Sunday’s event, there were radio ads, newspaper ads, a front-page article in the Richland Observer, direct mail, tons of invite cards, and even more prayer. The results stunned us all. Five adults said they were putting their faith in Christ, and three more said they were recommitting their lives to Him. Many more wanted information about groups, classes, and ministry opportunities.

Jamie Johnson, our Richland Center site director, provides on-site leadership for this, our first, video venue. Since the spring of 2007, a team of members committed to this new venue had been building a worship team, ministry leadership, small groups, and services for children in preparation for Sunday’s launch.

Pray that in these first few weeks and months, we have the opportunity to be part of how God will reach many people who need to meet Jesus in Richland Center.

Big Sunday Recap (a letter from Pastor Brian)

On Sunday, September 30, we kicked off a brand new series called “‘til Death.” It’s a relationship series, and we were gearing up to reach out to our community in a significant way that included one of the largest direct mail campaigns we've ever done - 15,000 cards to Dodgeville. Unfortunately, the marketing company in California switched the mailing lists with our Richland Center mailing. So instead of 15,000 homes within a 25-mile radius of Dodgeville being invited, 15,000 homes within a 25-mile radius of Richland Center were invited to come to Dodgeville.

Despite the direct mail failure, we still had the sixth-largest Dodgeville attendance day in our history and by far the largest non-Easter Sunday in our church’s history. We had 408 people in church that day. We also saw four adults place their faith in Jesus. That shows just how much can happen through prayer and personal invitations.

An attempt to re-send the direct mail cards encountered more delays, but some of the cards reached Dodgeville area homes by the weekend. This past Sunday, 429 people were at our Dodgeville site. There were many first-time attenders, and two more adults became Christians, while another six recommitted their lives to Jesus.

I sure appreciate all you do, and I’m excited to see (again) what God will do this week when the rest of our direct mail arrives! I will keep you posted.

Brian Rudesill

CSI October 2007

Our CSI (Christian Service Ignited) team is organizing a CSI October mission to rake leaves for our Dodgeville neighbors. We will meet at church on Saturday, Oct. 20, by 9:00 a.m. Come with rakes, kids and friends to help rake and water lawns. After the work is done, refreshments will be served at Matt and Greta Byers' house at 510 West Chapel St. If the event is postponed because of rain, or if the leaves are not yet on the ground in full force, the re-schedule date is the following Saturday, October 27. (No refreshments planned for the rain date.) Contact Rae Ann Butteris if you are interested in participating, or simply write CSI on your welcome sheet this Sunday.

In November, CSI will distribute turkey dinner baskets to people who would otherwise not have a Thanksgiving dinner. The deliveries will take place between Nov. 17 and Nov. 22. We will also deliver turkey dinners from Culvers or Dicks to individual shut-ins.

Future CSI events tentatively scheduled are: Dec. 8 and 15, free gift-wrapping at Wal-mart; January, food drive and school supply collection; February, handing out free coffee and Sunday papers at Kwik Trip or Mr. T's; March, distributing ham dinners for Easter; and April, a community basketball tournament fundraiser for a local charity

Interested in helping out or becoming a regular part of our CSI team? Contact Rae Ann Butteris, Greta Byers, or Janet Clark.

Amanda Flessner to Staff HVCC Office During Janet’s Leave

Amanda Flessner will replace our administrative assistant Janet Clark during Janet’s maternity leave from Nov. 8 to Jan. 10. Amanda will begin work Oct. 23 and will assume all office duties Nov. 8. Her hours will be Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For administrative support during Janet’s leave, direct everything to Amanda using either the church's public e-mail address (hvcc@hiddenv.com) and telephone number (608) 930-4822 (HVCC) or Janet's e-mail address (jclark@hiddenv.com). Whichever method you currently use.

Amanda is a perfect fit for this temporary role. She has supported various office and ministry functions for months in a volunteer capacity, and is very familiar with HVCC programs and procedures.

Ministry leaders who need Janet’s input in the coming months should contact her before Nov. 8.

Parking Lot Expansion

It’s been a tight squeeze in our parking lot on some busy Sundays, but that will soon change! Work is underway to create an additional 60 parking spaces for Hidden Valley attenders just north of our current parking lot. Stripping and filling began this week, and plans are to have a paved lower parking lot by spring. Private donations will cover a significant part of the cost, with the balance coming from funds given to Hidden Valley by the former First Baptist Church.

No Awana at HVCC This Year

You may have children who enjoyed the Awana Children’s Education Program held at Hidden Valley Community Church this past school year. Unfortunately, our Awana ministry leaders, Steve and Melissa Misciagno, moved out of the area over the summer. At this point, we’ve not yet identified someone who will lead an Awana program. Therefore, we will not have an Awana program at Hidden Valley this year. If you are interested in finding another Awana kids program in the area, visit the Awana website at www.awana.org and click on the link called “Find Awana in your Area.”

Baptismal Service November 3

We will be having a baptismal ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the church. If you have recently asked Jesus to be the leader of your life and you would like to be baptized, please contact the church office at 930-4822. If you would like more information about baptism and why you may want to take this next step, contact the church office for more information, or pick up one of our brochures in the church lobby entitled "Baptism."

Groups Vision

At Hidden Valley, we believe in growing smaller as we grow larger. By smaller, we mean small groups. Participating in a group is one of the best ways to develop new relationships, learn more about God’s plan for you, and grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. The following groups are either starting soon or in session. For a full list and details about upcoming groups, visit the Groups page at www.hiddenv.com. Or contact us at (608) 930-4822 or hvcc@hiddenv.com, and we’ll do our best to get you plugged in.

Groups for Women

• Fri 6:30-7:30am - Reading Everyone’s Normal Until You Get To Know Them by John Ortberg. To sign up, contact Cherie Rudesill at 930-0208, or email cherwi@mhtc.net
• Wed 8:15am - Studing the book of Daniel, a study by Beth Moore. To sign up, contact Vivian Bauman at email aceviv@verizon.net
  

Groups for Men
If you are interested in a group for men, please contact the church office at 930-4822 for more information about upcoming men’s groups.

Group for Youth & 20-somethings

• Tue 7:00pm - 20- & 30-somethings Bible Study of the Book of Acts. To sign up, contact Ryan or Niha Epperson at 817-966-6442 (Niha), or 608-778-8587 (Ryan). Or E-Mail nihaepperson@gmail.com or ryan.epperson@gmail.com
• Wed 7:00pm - Teen Group grades 9-12. Studying the book of Romans in the Bible. To sign up, contact Eric and Amanda Lockman at 341-7244 or email ealockman@merr.com

Financial Peace University (FPU) Groups

EXTENDED SIGN-UP DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 14!

This 13-week program based on Biblical principles will help you win with money. Find encouragement and support by meeting with other people who also desire to find financial freedom from debt. To sign up for one of the Financial Peace University Groups starting soon, contact the church office at 930-4822 (HVCC). Groups start this week unless otherwise noted!

• Sunday 9-10:45am Jim and Ann Auer. Meets at 601 E. North St. Beginning OCTOBER 21
• Sundays 7-9pm Leaders Benjamin and Amanda Flessner. Meets at 417 E. Walnut St. Dodgeville
• Mondays 6:30-8:30pm Leader Cindy Thomas. Meets at 135 Swayne St. Dodgeville. For singles or couples.
• Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm Leader Sam U’Ren. Meets at HVCC. For single or married WOMEN.
• Tuesdays 7-9pm. Leaders Ryan and Niha Epperson. Meets at 1010 N. Main St. Dodgeville. For 20-30 something singles or couples. STARTS IN NOVEMBER.
• Wednesdays 6:30-8:30pm Leaders Luther and Eileen Smith. Includes potluck dinner. Meets at 6248 Sunny Ridge Road, Mineral Point. For singles or couples.