Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens/bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens/brown paper packages tied up with string/these are a few of my favorite things …

’Tis the season for Christmas music, and for some reason, this classic from The Sound of Music has been folded into the rotation. I can’t say that I mind—Julie Andrews never fails to brighten dreary winter days with her four-octave range and irrepressible optimism. 

It must be the “brown paper packages” line that ties the song into the Christmas season. The mystery and anticipation surrounding gifts, both giving and receiving, have delighted hearts of all ages since the first Gift came to dwell among us. A gift of pure love. Something worthy of celebration every year until He “makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love” at His second coming.

In the spirit of dwelling on “favorite things,” I asked the VBC staff to share some of their favorite things with you! We hope you are edified and discover something new to do with your family this season or implement into the new year!

Ben Orchard, Teaching Pastor

Bible Reading Plan - “The ReadingPlan app has a wide variety of Bible reading plans to choose from. There is something to meet everyone’s needs and schedules. I personally use the Five-Day Plan which takes me through the entire Bible in a year by reading five days a week. Each day has an Old and New Testament reading.”

Handbook to Prayer - Praying Scripture Back to God by Ken Boa.

Daily Prayer Journal - “Divides prayer requests into days of the week with a place to track requests and praise reports. Available at the VBC Welcome Counter.”

Chris Martin, Pastor of Youth

Dishman Hills Natural Area - “Since moving to the Valley, our family has loved the beauty and adventure of the Dishman Hills hiking trails. There is something new to see every season, and the trails (if we ever manage to stay on them...) are easy enough for even very young hikers to enjoy. Whether planning scavenger-hunt birthday parties or early morning walks with a brother in the Lord, I am thankful for our little outdoor gem on the edge of town.”

Pilgrim's Progress - “Written by perhaps the world's most famous tinker, the Pilgrim's Progress still provides one of the richest allegories for the Christian life. A fascinating book on many levels, I believe it deserves a place on every Christian's bookshelf. Whether you enjoy it for free online, in a (relatively) affordable heirloom edition, as a beautifully illustrated rendition for children, or even in movie form, there is an abundance of ways to consume this timeless tale. I enjoy many stories, but this will always be among my favorite.”

hymnary.org and my.Hymnary.org - “I appreciate these two online resources for bringing the massive wealth of Christian hymnody to our fingertips. With extensive search filters and indexes, it isn't hard to find hymns known and new for any occasion, Bible passage, or theme. I particularly enjoy my.Hymnary.org's ability to present hymns fullscreen with four part harmony and even musical accompaniment! I'm sure Watts, Wesley, Crosby, and Newton would be amazed and grateful to see such an extensive free ocean of song. I know I sure am.”

Caleb Klontz, Pastor of Discipleship

Bible Reading Plan - “Prof. Grant Horner’s Bible Reading Plan/System. This is by far the most ambitious plan I’ve ever done. My recommendation is don’t worry so much about getting through all ten chapters each day. It’s revolving, so it can be used year after year and you’ll never be in the same place twice.”

Book to read as a family with smaller kids - The Mighty Acts of God by Starr Mead

Book to read as a family with older kids - Concise Theology by J.I. Packer

Missionary Stories - Growing Up Yanomamö by Michael Dawson

Ben Doehle, Director of Corporate Worship

Biking - “One of our favorite ways to exercise is to get out and ride our bikes. Melody has her own carrier so she can enjoy the ride and the view! When the weather is nice, biking is a great way to exercise and see God's creation along different trails throughout the Northwest.”

Advent Reading - “One family tradition we do during the Advent season is to pick either a storybook or a family liturgy to do each night as time allows. A couple of resources that Kelli and I have enjoyed so far are Jotham’s Journey and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: A Liturgy for Daily Worship from Advent to Epiphany."

Favorite Child - “Melody.”

Chad Ingalls, Pastor of Counseling

Smells of the Season - “I like a good incense burner. Incense has a rich scriptural and theological basis, plus it just smells good! Scent is also deeply tied to memory, so try having a unique scent for different moments or seasons of life.”

Tactile Relaxation - “I love a good coloring book. You’d be surprised (perhaps) at the amount of adult coloring books available. Coloring can be a wonderful way to unplug, relax, enjoy something tactile, and produce beautiful things – individually and as a family.”

A Family Tradition - “A tradition we enjoy as a family is to decorate a shoebox and cut a slit in the top of it small enough to deposit a 3x5 card.  Throughout the year we write down bits of life that are amazing, but not necessarily the kind of things that stick in your memory long term.  Things like the way the fog swirled through your legs on an early morning walk, a goofy or kind or beautiful thing someone said, or the way the sunlight lit up the eyes of a loved one.  Then, on New Year’s Day, we sit down as a family and read through the beautiful moments we have collected through the year.”

Stephanie Painter, Office Administrator

Jigsaw puzzles - “I enjoy knowing that each piece has a special place, and I find great satisfaction seeing the finished product. I find joy in working on puzzles with others or by myself.”

Pound exercise class - “I enjoy seeing the joy on other ladies’ faces! It is encouraging to exercise with other ladies, and I really appreciate the short devotion that Jennifer Morton shares afterward.”

Buckeyes - "A family recipe from Ohio!"

Jennifer Dokken, Administrative Assistant and Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Bible Reading Plan - “I like the YouVersion app Bible Project Biblical Storyline right now. It gives devotions that are very visual with drawings and gives some background knowledge that helps along with the readings for the day.

Local Business I Support - “Hut 8. It might be because my daughter owns it and my other daughter manages it that I’m there a lot, but they have good quality used clothing without breaking the bank. I also love to be around my girls and help out in any way I can support the business, like loading clothes for sales and making crafty things to sell there, like ornaments and cups.”

Staying Active - “I like to go to Pound and HIIT classes at the church when I can, but I'd rather be outside when the weather is nice: hiking, walking, paddleboarding.”

Family Traditions - “When the kids were at home and younger, we let them each pick an item out of the Samaritan’s Purse gift catalog to give to someone in need, such as a dairy goat, chickens, or clean water. We also did an annual girls’ sleepover during the Christmas break at my sister’s house with our mom and our daughters. We stayed the night for 2-3 nights and just hung out watching movies, playing games, eating yummy food, and enjoying each other.”

Amanda Jarvis, Communications Coordinator

News Source - “If you want to stay informed on current news and be encouraged in your Christian worldview, ditch mainstream media and check out WORLD News Group (the company behind WORLD Magazine). I especially love The World and Everything in It podcast. WORLD produces sound journalism grounded in facts and biblical truth. Trained journalists report on current events—both global and national—so that readers and listeners can see how God is at work in the world, no matter the headlines.”

Bible Reading Plan - “This past year I read through the Bible using the Commuter Bible podcast. Each day includes a reading from the Old and New Testaments. The podcast schedule follows the typical work week so you can easily make it a part of your morning commute.”

Hearts of Fire - “This was on my 2023 book list, and it equally bolstered and challenged my faith. It chronicles the persecution and hardship of eight Christian women in different parts of the world and how they overcame with their faith intact.”

Birth of a King concert film - “I was introduced to Tommee Profitt’s work by Ben Doehle recently, and I didn’t realize how much I loved Christmas music until I heard this rendition of traditional Christmas hymns. The concert features a full choir, an orchestra, and powerhouse singers who showcase Profitt’s original arrangements. A project that was 15 years in the making, it was absolutely worth the wait and gives all the glory to the Reason for the Season.”