Welcome,
Welcome back,
and Welcome Home to
Ballard Vale United church
Please join us for worship every Sunday morning at 10:30AM.
Our worship is available live on our Facebook Page.
Please see our COVID-19 page for more details.
Last Week's Worship Service
The main part of the service begins after announcement slides scroll for several minutes
Every donation enables us to support not only our church
but local, national and international community efforts and charities as well.
Please prayerfully consider a donation to aid in our endeavors.
Special Offering for BVUC & Neighbors in Need
This Easter, we are asking for your support, as we often do, through a special offering. However, rather than retaining all of the funds to support the church directly, we are pleased to share half of the support for this special offering with a designated mission partner, Neighbors in Need.
This season, Neighbors in Need’s work includes operating its nine food pantries, all of which have reopened, as well as their Infants in Need program providing diapers, formula, and other baby products to families with small children.
We will celebrate and bless this special offering on April 4, Easter Sunday, so if you are able, please make your gift before then online or by mail. Please attend worship either by reservation in person at 9:00 or 10:30 that morning, or online at 10:30 so that we can bless this offering together. And next time you do come to worship in person, help to make up for weeks that we were unable to do our normal cereal collection and bring a box or two with you.
Finding Our "Why"
Book Study: "The Heart of Christianity"
Pastor Adam will lead a book study on The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith by Marcus Borg. An instant classic since its 2003 publication, this books helps us reclaim timeless elements of Christian faith in our contemporary, post-modern American context.
Open to people inside and outside the church, this study will take place on Monday evenings from 7:00PM-8:30PM from April 19 to May 24. You can purchase your own copy or buy one for $18 (by check to BVUC). We also have free copies.
Contact pastor@ bvuc.org to register and for the Zoom information.
Psalm 23 Project
- Record yourself reading Psalm 23. Use ANY translation you want, even in another language.
- Record with video and audio or just audio, whichever you prefer.
- Read the psalm at least a couple of times out loud before your record so you are familiar with it.
- Read more slowly than you think might be necessary.
- Return no later than the end of the day on Sunday, April 18.
- Send your recording to pastor@ bvuc.org (preferred) or upload the file to this Dropbox link. If you use the Dropbox link, also send an email to let Pastor Adam know you have uploaded a file there.
- We can also arrange a time for you to record at the church or in your home.
- Important!!! Allow for a few seconds of silence and stillness at the beginning and the end of each segment for a smooth video transition. That way we can edit out the sections of you turning your camera on and off.
- Record horizontal/landscape, not vertical/portrait
- If recording with your phone, consider using a tripod or something else that holds your phone steady
- Recording with the built-in camera on your computer can work well, although cameras on phones are generally better quality.
- I will sometimes record with my computer by propping it up on a bunch of books so the camera is looking a little down at me, which looks better than the camera looking up at you
- Understanding that you are reading, try to look into the camera as much as possible
- Pay attention to lighting in your space: to make sure you are not in shadow, have good lighting above or in front of you, and avoid being in a place with bright light or bright window behind you
New Revised Standard Version
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
Common English Bible
The Lord is my shepherd.
I lack nothing.
He lets me rest in grassy meadows;
he leads me to restful waters;
he keeps me alive.
He guides me in proper paths
for the sake of his good name.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff—
they protect me.
You set a table for me
right in front of my enemies.
You bathe my head in oil;
my cup is so full it spills over!
Yes, goodness and faithful love
will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the Lord’s house
as long as I live.
King James Version
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Inclusive Bible
YHWH, you are my shepherd—
I want nothing more.
You let me lie down in green meadows;
you lead me beside restful waters:
you refresh my soul.
You guide me to lush pastures
for the sake of your Name.
Even if I’m surrounded by shadows of Death,
I fear no danger, for you are with me.
Your rod and your staff—
they give me courage.
You spread a table for me
in the presence of my enemies,
and you anoint my head with oil—
my cup overflows!
Only goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in your house, YHWH,
for days without end.
Resuming In-Person Worship
Our worship is live streamed online every week. We also allow for up to 25 people to make a reservation to worship in person in our sanctuary. All of the details, including how to make a reservation, are on our COVID-19 page.
Calendar
Please see below for church & church-related events.