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Thank you.  Those are two words missing from our society.  We don't hear them enough.  Businesses don't often say those words to their clients.  Families often take one another for granted.  Many parents go months without hearing those words from their children and many marriages lack these life giving words.  People feel taken for granted.  Used.

Unfortunately, that often enters the church as well.  I know I'm guilty of this problem.  I'm a task driven guy.  I literally feel good deep down inside when I check off my lists.  I have a sense of accomplishment and even joy.  Task driven people like me are often the worst at this.  We can sometimes convey that people are just a means to an end.  In other words, I need you, but only to help me get another task done.  Then, once the task is done, you are unimportant again as I move on to the next task.  That hurts.  If I have every conveyed that to you, I am sorry.

People are not a means to an end...they are the end.  It's all about relationships here on earth.  Even the tasks are supposed to be about improving the relationships.

This last Sunday night, the staff of HVCC picked up a serving towel as one of our ways of saying a HUGE "thank you" to all who serve here at HVCC.  It's not enough.  You deserve to hear it far more than just this one time.  Without all the people serving, there is NO HVCC.  You make everything happen.  The list of things I don't do each week is enormous and I'm sincerely grateful for all of you.

For all of you who were not able to come this last Sunday night, I want you to know that I'm very thankful for what you do.  You don't hear that enough.  I'm sorry for that.  I will get better at expressing appreciation.

Thanks for all you do. Without you, there is no church.

Brian

Cassie and her family know first-hand what it is like to go without.  Relocating to Dodgeville to care for Cassie's mom, they found themselves homeless after she passed away from pancreatitis.  Camping became a way to survive for Cassie, her two boys Keigan and Ivan and her husband Bo.  "It was really rough, we didn't have a fridge, cooler or stove...it drained us emotionally, physically and lowered our self-esteem.  It's hard to look for work when you come home to a tent and don't have clean clothes."

I asked Cassie how the experience of being homeless changed her.  She stated that she was almost grateful for what had happened.  "It puts a whole new outlook on life and what we have.  I feel for other people who are in those kinds of situations...it opened my eyes that while we were camping, we were fortunate to have a tent, blankets and some cookware."

Cassie and her family began attending HVCC later in the summer of 2011.  Things began to turn around as both she and her husband Bo found employment.  One Sunday she learned about Feed My Starving Children and felt compelled to act.  God has gifted her with a talent for cooking and baking.  She looked out at her father's farm fields, filled with pumpkins nobody wanted and decided that turning them into pies and selling them was one thing she could do to save the lives of starving kids.

"Pumpkin pie is easy and everyone loves having them over the holidays.  I wanted to be able to do something that would actually benefit someone else and save a life."  she determined that she would make 100 pies, sell them at $10.00 a piece and provide 4,000 meals for kids in need.  "I had to do it, I felt compelled.  The pictures of starving children are heartbreaking.  I have dealt with not knowing how to feed our family, I've been there."

Making 100 pies was a huge task, and to keep herself motivated, Cassie would write notes to herself.  On the outside of bags filled with pumpkin pie filling she would write, "This bag will provide 240 meals for starving children.  If you wonder why I'm doing this, look at the number and you'll have your answer."  It was a lot of hard work, but when I asked her if she would do it again she said, "I can't wait to do it again actually - but next year, I would like to set a higher goal."  She looks forward to recruiting others to help her with preparing the pumpkin, baking pies and donating ingredients.

Cassie is a living example of what God can do with someone willing to offer what they have.  She saw a field of unwanted pumpkins and created delicious pumpkin pies.  God has gifted you in unique and special ways.  You also have the power to impact those around you.  It's not necessary to have a lot, but it is vital that you give what you have.  In God's hands, your little can become much.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on what we have to be thankful for.  We'd like to give you a glimpse into what the HVCC staff is personally thankful for this year in their work and personal lives.

Lorie Rule - Director of Video Editing

I'm so thankful for my husband, who loves me unconditionally and gives me the gift of laughter and adventure every day.  My beautiful children who I am in awe of and my grandchildren who remind me of how precious family relationships are.

Working at HVCC has been the most challenging and rewarding work experience of my life.  I can hardly express the gratitude I feel for the other staff members, for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful group of people.  but foremost and over all, I am thankful to God for wanting me to be a part of His family and for giving me all these wonderful people in my life.

Shanna Ahrens - Financial Administrator

I am thankful for a church that believes and teaches that even though I'm not perfect, and far from it, I can still be used to bring people closer to Jesus.  I am also thankful to have a family who loves me dispite my gigantor lack of perfection.  Spell check is telling me gigantor isn't a word, but I'm going to use it anyway.

Jamie Johnson - Richland Center Site Director

I'm so thankful that God has recently moved in my life on some personal things we as a family have been praying for, specifically that my wife Shari was able to get close to full-time hours.

I have been able to meet so many neat people who were willing to take a risk on something new like a video venue.  I am so thankful for the many people that call Hidden Valley their home, and who brighten my Sunday mornings.

Cherie Rudesill - Connections Director

I'm so thankful that I am able to eat everyday.  It sounds like a little thing, but the fact that I never worry about not having food to eat is an amazing privilege and blessing so many in our world do not have.  I'm also thankful for my incredible and slightly crazy family, who make me laugh everyday, and my dog Scooby - who makes me feel like a million bucks everytime I come home, no matter how long I have been away.

Hidden Valley is an amazing place, filled with incredibly sacrificial people.  I'm humbled by how they serve and care for those in need around them.  What an honor to serve along side them as we work together to serve our community and tell people about our limitless God.

Kevin Ziebarth - Director of Buildings and Maintenance

I'm so thankful that the good Lord gave the doctors the gifts and talents to be able to fix my back so that I am able to walk yet this day.

I'm also thankful for the people that attend HVCC, their giving hearts and their willingness to step out and help anyone in need.  Without the love of the church, i would not be the man I am today.

Patrick Lissner - Worship & Media Director

I am so thankful that God brought my family and I to Hidden Valley Community Church.  We have experienced nothing but overwhelming love and friendship from all of you.  It has been an amazing year and even though our paths are parting ways, I know that we are journeying together in Christ. Thank you all so much for modeling the heart of a true servant before my family and I.  For you and all you are, we are extremely grateful this Thanksgiving!

Brian Rudesill - Senior Pastor

I'm very thankful for the chance to get together with friends and family, eat LOTS of great food and watch a fun Packer game.  I will definitely be enjoying a lot of pecan pie.

I'm also very grateful for all the people who are volunteering around HVCC.  So many people are so generous with their time, talents and abilities.  You are what makes HVCC work.

A team of people left for Haiti on November 25th and returned on December 3rd.  Each time they go, their lives are impacted by those God has brought into their path.  Operation Go-Haiti team member Carol Halma has written a letter documenting her time there, you can read her account at this link.   hiddenv.com/docs/mission2011Haiti.pdf

Summer is a great time in Wisconsin to get away and relax.  However, it’s easy when we start kicking back to just leave God out of the picture.  Don’t let that happen to you.  Your soul is the most important part of who you are.  Make sure you are taking time to keep your soul connected to God.

Here are some simple ways to do that:

• Use your “Dive-in” kit and keep reading a little from the Bible every day.
• Pick up a good Christian biography at the Christian bookstore and let them inspire you.
• Check out a new church in the area where you are vacationing and look for good ideas we can “borrow” at HVCC.
• Keep serving…your spiritual passion depends on it!  Serve with the local CSI events, Feed My Starving Children event, serving one another in the church.