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"Following the Farmer"
John Hewlett, Associate Pastor, Worship
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DEACON AND CHURCH COUNCIL NOMINATIONS
OCTOBER 4-18
Deacon and Church Council nominations begin Sunday, October 4, and continue through Sunday, October 18. Ballots and instructions for both will be distributed in all ABFs (in the ABF folders) this Sunday and next, along with Deacon and Church Council "fact sheets." In addition, Church Council ballots will be handed out both weeks in the worship service and are also available at the Welcome Center.
Please return your completed ballots to your ABF in the marked envelope (in the ABF folder) or as you exit the worship service.
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TAKE THE MISSION STATEMENT CHALLENGE!
NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 15
Have you taken the mission statement challenge yet?? This fall we'd like every Valley Rancher to memorize our new mission statement. To encourage participation and have some fun, we've set up a memory challenge display in the lobby to track our progress.
Every Valley Rancher is challenged to visit the display, recite the mission statement, sign one of the plastic balls from the "before" tower in the display, and then toss it into the "after" tower between now and November 15. We look forward to watching the "before" tower shrink and the "after" tower grow as we memorize the mission statement and passionately follow Jesus together!
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FAMILY FALL FEST
SAVE-THE-DATE: OCTOBER 25
Back by popular demand! Family Fall Fest will be held Sunday, October 25, from 5:00-7:00 pm and promises to be another great evening for the entire family! There will be live music and lots of fun activities including inflatables for the kids, a chili cook-off for the adults, and more for all ages!
Mark your calendar now, and watch for more details coming soon!
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VRBC DATE NIGHT
SAVE-THE-DATE: NOVEMBER 7
Another Date Night is coming to VRBC on Saturday, November 7!
In our continuing commitment to build and maintain strong, healthy marriages within our congregation, we are planning fun and meaningful activities for you and your spouse . . . and two lucky couples will each win a $50 Visa gift card!
More details to follow, but mark your calendar now for this exciting evening!
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WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY: A SEASON OF JOY
BEGINS OCTOBER 7 | CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Are the burdens of life weighing you down?
Has it been a while since you enjoyed a good laugh?
Has your glass become half-empty rather than half-full?
Then come and invite a friend to join other VRBC women as we learn to relax, enjoy life, and laugh again in this seven-week study of Philippians, Paul's letter about the joy of Jesus! Based on Dr. Charles R. Swindoll's best-selling book, LAUGH AGAIN: Experience Outrageous Joy, we will discover ways to live in the present and realize that, while no one's life is perfect, joy and humor can be inspirational.
This study, led by Phyllis Jones, will meet Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 pm in Room 241, beginning October 7 and will conclude November 18. Workbooks will be available for purchase the week prior to the start of the study, but are not required to attend. Click here to register for what promises to be a life-changing study!
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MEN'S MINISTRY BREAKFAST
OCTOBER 17
VRBC men (middle school-age and older) and their guests are invited to join us Saturday, October 17, at 8:00 am at the church as we continue the video series and discussion of "How to Be God's Man" by Todd Wagner of Watermark Church. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided.
Be sure to mark your calendar for our next Men's Breakfast on Saturday, November 21, to hear special guest speaker Bob Sturm talk about "God's Men at Work."
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VRBC BLOOD AND BONE MARROW DRIVE
OCTOBER 18
On Sunday, October 18, VRBC is jointly hosting a blood drive through Carter Blood Care and a bone marrow/stem cell drive through Gift of Life from 4:00-8:00 pm. There is NO COST to donate through either organization.
DONATING BLOOD
- Donating blood is done on-site and takes about 20 minutes.
- Click here to sign up for a blood donation appointment time.
DONATING BONE MARROW OR STEM CELLS
- To register as a bone marrow/stem cell donor, all it takes is a quick mouth swab to be entered into the donor registry.
- You must be between the ages of 18 and 45 and in good health.
- For more information about bone marrow donation, please click here.
- You do not need an appointment to register as a bone marrow donor. Simply show up for the donor drive on October 18!
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LITTLE LIGHT NOTE-WRITING MINISTRY
OCTOBER 4
The Little Light Women's Ministry writes notes of encouragement and affirmation to people who need special care and love. This may be, for example, because of a death, an illness, or perhaps a blessed event, such as the birth of a child.
Join us this Sunday, October 4, from 5:00-6:00 pm in the VRBC conference room to help write notes. You do not have to commit to come each month--just come when you can and help us spread the light of God's love!
For more information, contact Dawn Massey at dmassey@verizon.net (214-693-5813), or Martha Allen at marthasallen@gmail.com (214-549-0482).
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GRACE GROUPS
THURSDAYS AT 7 PM
Two new Grace Groups are meeting at VRBC Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:15 pm to provide support for those who are affected directly or indirectly by mental health challenges. Although Grace Groups are Christian support groups, people of all faiths are welcome.
Family Grace Group (FGG) is a curriculum-based support group for the families and friends of those living with a person struggling with a mental health difficulty or disorder. FGG provides psycho-education and practical tools within a supportive community. Topics will rotate in a fourteen-week cycle and include: Building Your Faith, Communication, Medication, Crisis & Problem Solving, Enabling vs. Empowering, and more. Confidentiality is observed, and the person you love need not be revealed.
Living Grace Group (LGG) is structured like FGG but is intended for persons living with the mental health difficulty or disorder. Topics are similar but focused on the individual and will rotate every twelve weeks.
Grace Groups were developed by the Mental Health Grace Alliance. Visit mentalhealthgracealliance.org to learn more.
For additional information or questions about attending Grace Group at VRBC, contact Paula Thompson at paulapthompson@gmail.com ( Family Grace Group) or Scott Ward at iccrgb@gmail.com (Living Grace Group).
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BAPTISM SUNDAY
OCTOBER 11
Each month, we have the privilege of celebrating believer's baptism together in our worship service. Baptism is a beautiful picture of what happens in the life of a person who gives his or her life to Christ. As the pastor lowers the person into the water, we are reminded that the old life is dead and buried. As the person is lifted out of the water, we celebrate the fact that Christ has given the believer new life. This "outward picture of an inward reality" is a cause for celebration for the church and is a significant spiritual moment for the person being baptized.
Upcoming baptism dates are October 11, November 8, and December 13. If you're interested in getting baptized, or would just like to learn more about baptism, please contact John Hewlett at jhewlett@vrbc.net.
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VRBC T-SHIRTS NOW AVAILABLE!
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Adult-size t-shirts with the new VRBC logo are now available! Shirts may be purchased from the church receptionist during normal business hours or in the lobby after the worship service this Sunday, October 4. Cost is $10. You may pay by cash or check payable to "VRBC." Proceeds benefit the Benevolence Fund.
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VRBC CARE NETWORK
Do you have a prayer request or care ministry need (e.g., illness, death in the family, marital struggle, etc.) you'd like the staff to know about? Email the pastor on call confidentially at care@vrbc.net.
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VR KIDS CHILDREN'S MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS
PRESCHOOL HELPERS STILL NEEDED
We are almost fully staffed, but we still need loving volunteers to help in the following VR Kids preschool classes:
9:00 am: 2-year-olds and 4/5-year-olds
10:30 am: 2-year-olds
Please come join us for tons of fun! To volunteer or learn more, contact Karen Simmang, Minister to Children, at ksimmang@vrbc.net or 972-304-8722.
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JOBS FOR LIFE - SUNDAY MEALS NEEDED
Jobs for Life is off to a great start, but we could still use your help! Each Sunday evening, dinner is provided for all students, instructors, and mentors in the program. Could you help feed these dedicated participants?
Please click here to sign up to provide a portion of a meal (salad, entrée, side, bread, or dessert) on any Sunday through November 8. Thank you for your support!
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VRBC GARDEN: FALL IS HARVEST TIME!
For the past five years, the VRBC Community Garden, located at 1701 E. Belt Line Road (just east of the church behind the 1701 building), has provided fresh produce to Metrocrest Services' Food Pantry and Cornerstone Baptist Church in an effort to support healthy eating in our local community. There are also usually several small plots available each spring for planting by church families to grow food for personal use.
This fall we are harvesting onions, potatoes, peppers, and other produce from the garden and would love your help! Please contact Doris Patrick at txpat@msn.com or 214-215-1796 to learn more or to reserve a plot.
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A CALL FOR ESL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE - MONDAY CLASS ONLY
Do you have friends or neighbors who would like to learn English? Would you enjoy the opportunity to build relationships with internationals in our community?
VRBC offers English for Speakers of other Languages (ESL) on Mondays at 9:30 am during the school year. We are looking for new students, teachers, and substitute teachers. Classes follow the Coppell ISD school schedule, and childcare is available for preschool children and younger. Classes began Monday, September 14, but it's not too late to join! We are still looking for new teachers so we can bring back Thursday ESL classes as well. More information is available at vrbc.net/esl or by contacting VRBC ESL Coordinator, Jay Bischoff, at esl@vrbc.net or 859-489-1082.
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RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL MIGRANT CRISIS
VRBC's missions partners are on the front lines of ministry with refugees from Syria and other nations and are equipped to respond to this global crisis. However, many of them are in need of additional funding due to the overwhelming number of migrants they are now serving. Here are how VRBC's partners are responding and how you can support their work:
- Claudia Adame and her e3 team are working with refugees in Germany for spiritual and emotional support, and transformation.
1. Pray - Click here to find prayer requests and updates on our ministry partner website, The Syrian Circle.
3. Give - Click here to contribute directly to the e3 Germany Fund. 4. Run/Walk - Participate in the "Relay for Refugees" I Am Second Run on November 7 in Plano. Or do a virtual run in your own neighborhood. Click here to register.
- The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is continuing long-term efforts to serve Syrian refugees through its field personnel and ministry partners in the Middle East and now Southeast Europe. Click here to learn more about the ministry to these refugees, and click here to download a prayer guide.
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BOOK COLLECTION FOR CORNERSTONE LIBRARY
NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 30
Cornerstone would like to add more books to its mini-library! Books on a variety of topics are needed to lend in the cafeteria serving its homeless ministry--Bibles (English and Spanish), art, photography, biographies, history, computer technology, literature, medicine, sports, and travel, as well as how-to, inspirational, sudoku, puzzle, and sketch books with pencils.
If you would like to donate gently used or new books, please drop off books on the front porch of the home of Amy and Jeff Suttle at 517 Meadowood Lane, Coppell, where a container will be provided. Collection will continue through October 30.
If you have any questions, please contact Teresa Brundige at tbrundige@vrbc.net or 972-304-8722.
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CORNERSTONE SERVING OPPORTUNITIES
We have several opportunities each month to serve alongside Cornerstone Baptist Church, our sister church in South Dallas:
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 MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT: THE STICKNEYS
Tom Stickney, former VRBC Minister to Students, and his wife Kerry serve as Executive Directors of African Christian Outreach (ACO). ACO is a ministry that was started by Tom's parents in the early 1970s in Kenya.
ACO focuses on equipping the next generation of students through evangelism and discipleship on campuses across Kenya. Fourteen national staff on eight campuses spend time knocking on doors sharing the Gospel, leading Bible studies, and spending one-on-one time with students. Students involved in the ministry are also plugged into the local community around them through partnerships with orphanages, high schools, slums, and agricultural ministries. Their prayer as a ministry is to equip and empower the next generation of leaders to change their own country and East Africa, particularly as they expand their ministry into Rwanda and Uganda.
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UPCOMING MISSION TRIPS
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR ADVENTURE TO BEGIN?
GO TO PERU FOR LA TIENDA DE NAVIDAD!
DECEMBER 1-8, 2015
Join us this December as we partner with sister church El Buen Pastor to hold the Christmas Store for Peruvian children in the coastal district of Chorrillos in Peru's capital city of Lima. We will also meet and serve with Peruvian missionaries Katty and Juvenal Bejar and Patricia and Javier Ibanez, as well as participate in the Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe distribution.
No special skills are needed for this trip, just a love for children and an interest in international missions! Also, you must be at least 14 years old.
Trip departs December 1 and returns December 8. Cost will be approximately $2,250. For more information, contact Janis Townsend at janltownsend@gmail.com or 972-251-0517.FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Funding assistance is available for international mission trips. Click here for more information and the application to request financial assistance. Please note the deadlines to apply.
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Stay up-to-date on all things Refuge:
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Through September 27, 2015
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Worship Service
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Budget
Difference | $2,980,107
$3,025,000
($44,893) | |
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