THE BELL TOWER

Ringing out the news from Valley Falls United Methodist Church

December 2025

All are welcome here. We are one of over 800 Methodist churches in the Upper New York Conference, whose vision is to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God's love with our neighbors in all places.

Pastor Dion's UPDATES and INSPIRATIONS

The angel said to the shepherds, ‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace.’ 

The last Sunday of the church year is the Reign of Christ, or Christ the King, Sunday. It is a time to consider how the birth of the Christ child still impacts all creation. Even when daily life feels heavy and weariness is chasing us, Christ’s Holy Light still shines, sparks, inspires, energizes, and makes new. For that, we give thanks; in that, we find joy. 

As the new Christian year begins with Advent, we look forward to the advent of the Christ once more. God drawing near, holy light breaking into earth once more. We look forward to a new year of being blessed with light, love, and creative energies that have the potential to transform our hearts and minds and open doors to possibility. 

In recent days, if steady ground has sometimes seemed elusive to you, know that you are not alone. In such times, seek supportive relationships with one another. Lean on the wisdom and ways of Christ, the compassionate merciful one. 

We will not always fully understand one another or agree on all matters, but we can set our intentions on blessing one another with Christ’s love light that shines through us. We can be intentional about sculpting welcoming spaces, setting welcome tables, and crafting joy-nurturing experiences in the neighborhoods of our lives. 

Perhaps this year you might add a “welcome” pillar candle to your home advent wreath—or simply light a welcome candle by itself. We have pillar candles at the church; just ask me for one. I suggest keeping that candle in a visible place and setting that candle on your dining table a few times this year. Watching the flames of the welcome candle just might encourage us to contemplate the welcome Christ offers all, and remind us of the love light that still burns through us and among us. 

I will be suggesting that we begin to gather in friendship groups this year to strengthen us from the inside out and refresh the love light of Christ that we bring to the world. As we look forward to a new year together in the Christ Spirit, may the joyful, caring light of Christ go with us wherever we roam. Amen. 



WORSHIP

Worship services are held each Sunday at 9 a.m. and are followed by a coffee hour in Fellowship Hall

Sunday, Nov. 30 - Advent Sunday. The service will include "Come, Lord Jesus, An Advent Candle Liturgy," by Shardae Henry and Shea Watts. LeeLee Rafferty will share in the lighting of the advent wreath. During coffee hour, helpers are invited to finish decorating the sanctuary for the season.

Sunday, Dec. 7 - Lighting the advent candle will be Hope Davis.

Before noon on Saturday, Dec. 13 - Bring your Christmas poinsettia or other seasonal plant (labeled with your name) to the church to beautify the altar for the coming weeks' events.

Sunday, Dec. 14, @ 3 p.m. Christmas cantata (See Special Event)

Sunday, Dec. 21, @ 6 p.m. Longest Night Service, adapted from "Exquisite Darkness: A Winter Solstice Liturgy by Ashley Goff and Rob Passow.

As described by Sarah Weber (our co-lay leader with Lisa Overocker), “This service is designed for anyone who is struggling and feeling apart from the joy of the season for any reason. All who are suffering from loss, depression, anxiety, financial issues, loneliness, insecurity, or just feeling "down" are encouraged to come for a bit of fellowship and a glimmer of light in the darkness. This service is open to everyone regardless of background, status, or religion.” 



Sunday, Dec. 24, @ 7 p.m. Christmas Eve candlelight service with special music, scriptures, and reflections taken from the writings of Kevin Thew and Kelly Isola.

SPECIAL EVENT

Choir Cantata

Rediscover the wonder of the Christmas story on Sunday, December 14, at 3 p.m., when the choir presents "The Ballad of Bethlehem: A timeless story of God's love."

In this, Pepper Choplin's most recent interpretation of Christ's birth, the composer has chosen the ballad form as a way of evoking "the flavor of an old folk song or vintage Gospel hymn." Be sure to include this moving performance in your list of "Must Sees" during the Advent season.

OTHER HAPPENINGS  

Advent Studies

A Child Is Born: A Beginner’s Guide to Nativity Stories by Amy Jill Levine. 

Tuesdays, Dec. 2, 9, 16, and 23, in person @ 11 a.m. or via Zoom at 6 p.m. See Pastor Dion for access to the study guide and video.

Or this online offering:

The Beginning of Another World: Advent Against Empire (Homebrewed Christianity). Tuesdays, Dec. 2, 9, 16, and 23 @ 2 p.m.

Each week, authors Diana Butler Bass and Tripp Fuller explore one gospel’s unique vision of the birth narrative, allowing the gospel writer to speak “about what it means for God to show up when empires think they’re in control.”

Click below to register and join their discussion group or let Pastor Dion know you’re looking for a local group.

 https://homebrewedchristianity.lpages.co/advent-2025-info-page/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email 

***

Saturday, Dec. 6, from 1-4 p.m. Holiday Party at the VF library. Join the staff and board members for caroling, cookies, and a special visit from Santa!

Sunday, Dec. 7 - Please return your items for the Giving Tree. Coordinator Lynn Keyes thanks everyone for their enthusiastic generosity in providing gifts for over 24 families!

Thursday, Dec. 11, @ 10:30 a.m. - United Women in Faith will meet in Fellowship Hall to pack Christmas cookies. Bring 3-4 dozen pretty holiday cookies, in Ziplock snack bags to share as gifts, plus extras to enjoy with Judy Palmer's fruit medley.



OUTREACH

Are you looking for an alternative Christmas gift for a loved one? Please consider donating to these worthy charitable organizations that are dear to our hearts:

United Methodist Economic Ministry umeconomicministry.com

Skye Farm Camp and Retreat Center

skyefarmcamp.org

Joseph's House

josephshousetroy.org

Regional Food Bank

regionalfoodbank.net

CELEBRATING OUR CHURCH FAMILY

Conversation with Nancy Schreivogl (“It rhymes with bifocal.”)

Nancy grew up in Valley Falls but has lived in Johnstown since her marriage in 1976. The sister of John Faulkner, she has been attending church here since the deaths of their brother Jim, her nephew Kevin, and her sister-in-law Ellie. “It was hard to lose them,” said Nancy, and “Something wanted me to spend more time with John.” 

What would you like us to know about your childhood? I spent my early years in Halfmoon and lived in a house that my father built. He built every part of it, including a tower on top and a swing for me in the porte cochere. When I was nine, my parents divorced and I moved to Valley Falls with my mother, Jim, and John. We lived over the post office, across from the library, where I spent most of my time.

And your family now? My husband Mike is a quiet homebody and a good guy. He’s a carpenter, but a long-term illness keeps him from doing everything he would like. We have a son, Richard, who lives in South Carolina, and a daughter, Jade-Ella, who lives in Amsterdam. I’m very proud of both children, who were Navy vets. I also have four grandchildren.

How did you spend your working years? After graduating from HVHS in 1972, I went to Fulton-Montgomery Community College and worked at Johnstown Hospital as a nurse’s aide. I stayed in the medical field in the following years, eventually retiring from Maplewood Manor in 2012.

After retirement, I went to work at Walmart. I worked in apparel, so I always say I went from geriatrics to infants! I loved the job, especially at Christmas time. The best part was helping people, whether it was a Santa looking for white gloves, motorcyclists wanting stockings to cover their beards, or an elderly man seeking nighties for his wife in a nursing home. One time a man came in looking for a doll’s outfit for a girlfriend. I collect dolls, so that was fun and a touching event for me.

What does a day in your life look like? I look for joy in life. I like peace and quiet but enjoy one-day adventures, alone or with Mike.  In addition to collecting and dressing dolls, I also make teddy bears and clothes for one particular doll, "Edith", but her name changes each time! 

My other passions are gardening and nature photography, which I sometimes post on Facebook.  I have 22 garden plots in the city, each one with its own name, like Free Spirit and Wild Field. I call them “The Gardens of Rosewood Estate.” I’m a haphazard gardener and have a sign that says, “Pardon the Weeds, Feed the Bees." Come spring, I will again be volunteering with the Flower and Garden Club at Saratoga National Cemetery. It’s hard work at times to keep our Veterans' cemetery and their remembrance not left unnoticed, but it’s fun and the crew that works there is the tops!

Is there anyone special who helped to make you the person you are today? My mother Ruth passed away when I was only 22, but I remember how she looked at life. She was always positive, loved everyone, and the Bible was important to her. She could make something fun out of nothing. We raised chickens, and each Easter she would color the eggs under them so we would think the chickens had laid Easter eggs!

What has been the role of church in your life? I grew up in this church, and I got my foundation here. I remember Rev. Lambert and Rev. Smith, and I sang in the choir when Ruth Stover was the organist. I was baptized in the Episcopalian Church, became a Methodist when we lived here, attended a Presbyterian Church with Mike, and attended synagogue or the Catholic Church with friends. I’m a Christian, and the Lord has been a steadfast comfort in my life. 

As this is the December issue, do you have any Christmas traditions to share with us? Until I retired, I had to work a lot of Christmases, and now that my son and his family live in SC, it’s harder to get together. Wherever I am, though, we always decorate the tree on December 20th, my birthday, and the tree comes down on January 3rd, my son’s birthday.