Grand Valley United Methodist Church
October 2026 Newsletter
Don’t forget to change your clocks before bedtime on Saturday, October 31st!
In this newsletter:
1. From the Pastor
2. Mission Minute
3. Birthdays
4. Calendar
5. Group Details
6. Church Reports
7. Just for Fun
From the Pastor….
I read this letter by Aaron and thought that it is worthwhile to pass on. It is a good reminder what church is supposed to be about.
Michael
By Aaron Loy
Let’s be honest, while there are some good reasons for leaving a church, there are a lot more bad ones. As a pastor, I hear some of them every now and then as people walk out the door. As a church pastor, I hear them constantly as people walk in the door.
If you’re thinking about looking for a new church home, please don’t use one of these five reasons to make the jump:
1. “I’m not being fed”
Do pastors have a responsibility to steward the scriptures and care for their church spiritually? You bet they do. And it can be all too easy to overlook this while trying to manage staff, build systems, meet needs, put out fires and develop leaders, all while overseeing the overall vision and direction of the church. But let’s be honest, if you own a smartphone, a personal computer or a library card, you have access to some of the best preaching and teaching in the world. You can even find teaching archives of some of the greatest preachers of all time. Christian, you have access to more “meat” than any other generation before you!
Your primary call in the church is to contribute, not just to consume. To leave a church because you’re not getting “enough” is a cop out. Your primary call in the church is to contribute, not just to consume. As a Christian, you shouldn’t require spoon-feeding for the rest of your life. Eventually you need to learn how to feed yourself so that, in time, you can actually feed others. Remember, your call is not just to be a disciple, but to make disciples.
2. “It’s getting too big”
I can appreciate the sense of loss that accompanies growth. When we first began, our church was little more than a small band of brothers and sisters meeting together in a living room. It feels very different now that we are a church of a few hundred people spread across multiple services. There are moments when I miss the intimacy and simplicity of those early days.
When churches are faithful to the Great Commission, lives will be changed and people will be added to their number. It may not happen rapidly, but growth is sometimes inevitable for faithful churches, given a long enough timeline. If you have a problem with big churches, you really wouldn’t have liked the first church, and you definitely won’t like heaven.
3. “I don’t agree with everything that is being preached”
You know what? Neither do I and I am the pastor. As such, I fully reserve the right to disagree with myself. And every now and then I do exactly that. Why? Because I’m learning. I’m growing. I’m asking questions. And my hope is that those I pastor are doing likewise.
If you insist that your pastor agree with you on every little thing under the sun, you are going to either hop from church to church for the rest of your life in perpetual disappointment or you will eventually give up and drop out altogether. Chances are you are not going to agree with everything that is preached anywhere. As long as your pastor isn’t preaching outright heresy, you can afford to disagree on secondary issues. The truth is when you choose to stay despite disagreeing on some things, you, your pastor and your church are better for it.
4. “My Needs Aren’t Being Met”
When someone lists this as a reason for leaving it is a dead giveaway that somewhere along the way they came to believe that the Church actually exists to serve their needs. They’ve bought in to the lie that, when it comes to church, it’s really about “me”. Here’s the problem: the Church actually isn’t about you. It’s about Jesus. It’s his Church. He came for it. He died for it. He redeemed it. He continues to build it. And one day, he’ll come back for it. It’s his.
The Church doesn’t exist to meet your needs. You are a part of the Church that exists to meet the needs of the world.
This is the same Jesus who came to seek and to save the lost and then commissioned his Church to go and do the same. The Church doesn’t exist to meet your needs. You are a part of the Church that exists to meet the needs of the world. Put away the shopping cart and pick up a shovel.
5.Unresolved Conflict
Wherever you find the community of sinning saints you will find conflict. Lots of it. The Church is one big family full of characters and misfits. Sometimes sisters argue. Sometimes brothers fight. Sometimes you want to bury your weird uncle in the backyard. But despite it all, family is supposed to be the place where you stick together. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
Paul addressed a lot of church conflict in his letters. No where do I hear him encouraging believers to bail on one another or move on down the road to a different church where it’ll be easier. Instead, much of his letters are his encouraging and coaching these ragamuffin communities in how to do this very hard and messy thing together.
When we leave at the first sign of real conflict, it shortchanges God’s best work in our midst. It sidesteps the process of repentance, forgiveness and grace. It negates the power of the Gospel to bring reconciliation where reconciliation might seem impossible. We and those around us miss out on all of it when we just leave.
I do know that not all conflict is resolvable. I know that reconciliation is impossible where there is not repentance. I get that. But remember, repentance starts with us. And so does the extending of grace. And when we resolve to stick around and keep on repenting and extending grace, I think God can do far more than we often give Him credit for. Some of God’s best work happens in the mess.
Mission Minute
Our next Special Giving Sunday is October 4th – World Communion Day. On this Sunday, United Methodists join Christians around the world in celebrating Holy Communion, remembering that we are one in Christ, no matter our background, language, or culture. But it’s more than just worship. It’s also a time to support scholarships and leadership training for students from underrepresented communities—helping the Church become more inclusive and better equipped to serve. Please consider a special giving on that day.
In November, we also have a Special Giving Sunday on November 29 – United Methodist Student Day. United Methodist Student Day is a churchwide Special Sunday that encourages the congregation to support student education and leadership development. 100% of the offerings collected fund scholarships for undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students. It is the denomination’s original Special Sunday, dating back to 1872.
October Birthdays
10 – Mary Jane Wahlman
12 – Allison Kohn
13 – Jane Chapman
16 – Lee Wegner
19 – Michelle Foster & Howie Orona
Our Seekers Class(Adult Sunday School) meets every Sunday morning at 8:30. We invite all to attend.
Our Tuesday Bible Study meets at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday and are doing a study on Faith. We would love to have you join us, even if you can’t make every Tuesday.
Choir meets at 4:00 Wednesday afternoons and bells meet when necessary. We are always looking for participants, so if you would like to join either of these wonderful musical groups, please contact the office at (970)285-9892 or by email: office@grandvalleyumc.com
Prayer Partners meet the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 10:30 at Mesa Vista. If you have anyone that you would like to add to the Prayer Partner list, please contact the office.
Church Council Report
The meeting was brought to order by president Ron Olson at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8th. Pastor Ingersoll led us in prayer. In attendance were Ron Olson, John Chapman, Michael Ingersoll, Michelle Foster, and Penelope Olson.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report – It was a very good month. The Church is ahead of budget on income and under budget on expenses.
Finance – The pledge letters will go out in November.
Missions – The committee has chosen 80 children for Christmas gifts. They will be asking for donations starting November 1st and go shopping December 3rd.
Music – The bells will be playing in October.
Trustees – The preliminary application for a grant to replace the windows in the fellowship hall and improve lighting in the sanctuary has been sent in. John would like to go ahead and get a quote for these things.
The Charge Conference report is done.
John will get with our custodian to go over the job description with her.
The Faith House basement flooded a bit with the heavy rains because the sump pump was full of dirt. It has been cleaned out and in now working properly. Nothing was damaged.
The weed killer and fertilizer will be put on the grass once it is cooler.
Worship – The Charge Conference is September 30th. The Worship Committee decided to put on a hot dog, chip and sundae luncheon preceding the meeting. Council liked the idea. It will begin at noon.
Pastor – We need to get the nominations done.
Michael will not be here for Thanksgiving. He will see if Randy will preach.
The SPRC needs to get together to discuss salary and fill out forms that are needed.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:35 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Penelope E. Olson
Acting Secretary
Treasurer
Another Good Month
I am going to sound like a broken record, but August was another good financial month for GVUMC. A total of $1,850 was added to our income for the month. Total income for the first eight months of the year was $15,750 plus we add in $13,175 from the increase in our investments for a total income of $28,950. All of these numbers are great and I thank you for your generosity. In addition, another $810 came in for the special funds, bringing that total for the year to $6,900. You hear God calling you and you have answered. Thank you.
Some lines to ponder…..
**People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
**Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.
**God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
**Some minds are like concrete – thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
**Peace starts with a smile.
**We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
**Be ye fishers of men. You catch them – He’ll clean them.
**Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
**Don’t put a question mark where God put a period.
**Forbidden fruits create many jams.
**God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
**God grades on the cross, not the curve.
**God loves everyone, but probably prefers “fruit of the spirit” over “religious nuts”!
Church Contact Information
PO Box 125
Parachute CO 81635
(970)285-9892
office@grandvalleyumc.com
www.GrandValleyUMC.com
OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday – Friday
9:00 – noon