• Features
  • News
  • Print
  • Home
  • Features
  • Perspectives
  • News
  • Lifestyle
  • Gallery
  • Family
    • Weddings
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Share a story
  • Contact us
  • Sign in

Latest News

  • A young woman in a green jumper smiles while surrounded by books at home. The cozy indoor environment suggests a calming and enjoyable study session, perfect for exam preparation.

    Endless Education: A Life of Learning

    December 15, 2025, by Nicole Dominguez
  • Open Bible on a wooden board near the river.

    Bible Reading Plan 2026

    December 09, 2025
  • Healthy Heart Habits Lead to Super Bowl Surprise for KSDA Student

    December 09, 2025, by Laurie Yoshihara

Print magazine

Fall Fun at PVC Fosters Community

By Melinda Holland, December 22, 2021

The halls rang with laughter and conversation at Pleasant Valley Church on Saturday evening, Oct. 30, 2021. The Fall Fun event, with games, crafts and food, had an attendance far beyond expectations. Initially planned for 100 people, the team serving dinner found themselves with the positive problem — the need to find more food for a growing line of people.

As the isolation of 2020 rolled into 2021, individuals and families came seeking a sense of normalcy, community, companionship and camaraderie. People found relief in the invitation to come and enjoy themselves while catching up with friends or meeting new ones. Folks who had not entered PVC in two years came and chatted with old friends. Several new faces were also welcomed!

Among the crowd were adults, teenagers and children dressed in family-friendly costumes. They enjoyed a variety of booths: Pumpkin Decorating, Scarecrow Building, a Cake Walk, two Nerf booths, a "Walk the Plank" game, Apple Bobbing (with chopsticks!) and a “Don’t Let ‘Em Drop!” Glow-in-the-Dark Balloon Challenge. Outside, a cozy fire pit welcomed guests, complete with s’mores! For those hoping for a more low-key evening, card and board games were enjoyed after dinner.

A heartfelt "thank-you" goes to everyone who attended, and to the many who volunteered their time and talents to make the evening a blessing to so many people. It was a night that everybody had something to savor, but even more important, it was the sense of fellowship and togetherness that fed their souls.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Print Friendly and PDF

Featured in: January/February 2022

Author

Melinda Holland

Pleasant Valley Church member
Section
Oregon Conference
Tags
Church, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Fall festival

You may also like

  • PAA Prepares Students for College Success

    December 08, 2025, by U'Lee Brown
  • The Dalles Church Pays Off Mortgage Early

    December 03, 2025, by Kaleb Eisele
  • Albany Church Hosts Kenyan Mission Sabbath

    December 02, 2025, by Jeanie Hooper Reed
  • Oregon Pastors Recognized at Annual Retreat

    December 01, 2025, by Kaleb Eisele
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Submit
  • Reprint/Repost Request
  • Style Guide
  • Change of Address
  • Subscriptions
  • Sunset
  • RSS
  • Contributor Login
  • Contact

The Gleaner is a gathering place with news and inspiration for Seventh-day Adventist members and friends throughout the northwestern United States. It is an important communication channel for the North Pacific Union Conference — the regional church support headquarters for Adventist ministry throughout Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The original printed Gleaner was first published in 1906, and has since expanded to a full magazine with a monthly circulation of more than 40,000. Through its extended online and social media presence, the Gleaner also provides valuable content and connections for interested individuals around the world.

Copyright 2025, North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. All rights reserved. Legal disclaimer & privacy policy.