DEACON AND CHURCH COUNCIL NOMINATIONS
DUE THIS SUNDAY


Deacon and Church Council nominations end this Sunday, October 18. Ballots and instructions for both are available in all ABFs, along with Deacon and Church Council "fact sheets."  In addition, Church Council ballots will be handed out in the worship service and are also available at the Welcome Center. 

If you have not already done so, please return your completed ballots to your ABF in the marked envelope or as you exit the worship service this Sunday.
MISSION STATEMENT VIDEO CONTEST

In addition to taking the Mission Statement Challenge in the church lobby, we invite you to participate in the Mission Statement Video Contest!  Here's how it works:
  1. Film a short video of yourself saying the VRBC mission statement.
  2. Post it to Facebook or Twitter, using the hashtag #vrbcmission.
  3. Your video will be entered in a drawing for a gift card to a local restaurant!
  4. We'll have a new winner each week. Extra chances to win if your video is creative or funny! :)
For more information, check out Jason's video by clicking here.

FAMILY FALL FEST
OCTOBER 25

Back by popular demand! Family Fall Fest returns 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!

RE|ENGAGE INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
OCTOBER 26 AND NOVEMBER 1
 
re|engage is a marriage enrichment program that examines God's design for marriage and applies principles from the Bible to guide couples towards growth in their relationship with each other. So, whether you are struggling to get along, your marriage is broken, or you simply want to grow closer as a couple, re|engage is for you.

Want to learn more by getting a glimpse into what this ministry is all about? Join us for an informational session on either Monday, October 26, or Monday, November 9, from 7:00-8:30 pm.  No registration is required.

Childcare is available, but space is limited and by reservation only.  For childcare, contact Karen McCord at [email protected] by October 18 for the October meeting or by November 1 for the November meeting.     
VRBC DATE NIGHT
NOVEMBER 7

Another Date Night is coming to VRBC on Saturday, November, from 6:30-9:00 pm! 

In our continuing commitment to build and maintain strong, healthy marriages within our congregation, Date Night is geared towards you and your spouse focusing on just each other for the evening.  We will provide you with conversation starters along with tools used in making marriages healthy. Additionally, two lucky couples will each win a $50 Visa gift card.

Childcare will be available for this event, but is limited and requires a reservation. Please contact Karen Simmang at [email protected] to make sure we have a spot saved for your little ones.
MEN'S MINISTRY BREAKFAST
OCTOBER 17

Our Men's Breakfast for this month will be held this Saturday, October 17, at 8:00 am at the church. We will be finishing up the video series "How to be God's Man" by Todd Wagner of Watermark Community Church.
 
There will be bagels and coffee for you, so come out for a time of fellowship, conversation, and study. We will conclude by 9:15 am, so you will have plenty of time for chores, college football, or whatever the day holds for you!
 
Next month we will meet on November 21. We will have a special speaker, Bob Sturm, talking to us about "God's Men at Work." Please mark your calendar for that event.

Please RSVP to Buzz Lupton at [email protected] if you will attend.

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY: A SEASON OF JOY

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 are discovering 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, meets Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 pm in Room 241 through November 18. Workbooks are available for purchase, but are not required to attend.  
IF: COPPELL 2016
SAVE-THE-DATES: FEBRUARY 5-6

The IF:Gathering seeks to gather, equip, and unleash women to live out God's calling on their lives. On Friday and Saturday, February 5-6, 2016, join this global gathering of women across denominations, generations, and cultures as we come together in the name of Jesus. 

More details will be forthcoming, but here is some important information:
  • Doors will open at 1:30 pm on Friday and 9:30 am on Saturday.
  • Cost to attend is $40, however scholarships are available.
  • Registration is now open!   Click here to register or to learn more.  
  • For additional information or questions, contact Brenda Swinton at  [email protected].
Mark your calendars now for this dynamic event designed to make the name of Jesus great in and through the women of our church, neighborhood, and city!
VR KIDS CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP
DECEMBER 4
 
Start the Christmas season off right by making and giving gifts to others! At Christmas Workshop your child will have the opportunity to make six gifts to give to friends and family on Friday, December 4, from 6:30-8:30 pm.

They will also make a Care Kit to give to people in our community that are having a really hard time AND make additional Care Kits for the church to have on hand when people come to the church asking for help. We will round out the evening with a little pizza fun with friends.

Click here to register for Christmas Workshop! Cost to attend is $30. Spaces are limited, so please don't delay in signing up.
 
If you have any questions, contact Karen Simmang at [email protected].
PARENT CHILD DEDICATION
NOVEMBER 15
 
At VRBC, we believe children are a gift from God, and Parent Child Dedication provides an opportunity to express publicly the desire to lead and spiritually nurture our children, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, so that our children will develop a desire to love God and love others. 
 
Our next Parent Child Dedication will take place during the worship service on Sunday, November 15.  To participate, please click here to register your child. 
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Karen Simmang at [email protected].
VRBC BLOOD AND BONE MARROW DRIVE
THIS SUNDAY

On this Sunday, October 18VRBC 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!
Tom Stickney, Director of ACO, with the ACO Coast Director and his wife, and the ACO Campus Staff person.
PRAY FOR OUR VRBC MISSIONARIES
STICKNEY AND WOOTTON MISSION TRIPS

TOM STICKNEY of African Christian Outreach
  • Pray for Tom as he travels north of Kenya to more of a "heavy" country to check in on a few graduates living intentionally.
  • Tom will be meeting ACO's new Rwanda staff later this week as they settle and begin ministry. Pray for open doors and open hearts.
  • Pray for Tom's wife Kerry and his kids Sydney and Raegan while their dad is gone for three weeks. 
CHARLOTTE WOOTTON of e3 Partners

Charlotte is currently on a mission trip to Jordan. Please click here to view a calendar of daily events and prayers requests while she is ministering there.

Daily prayer requests:
  • God to be glorified, clear guidance from the Holy Spirit, spiritual warfare against the Enemy, and boldness and clarity.
  • Successful planning with nationals, open doors of opportunity for God's purpose, churches and believers in Jordan to be encouraged, and communications, especially across cultures.
  • Protection and care for families at home.
  • Good health, safety, and protection.
BLENDED FAMILY EVENING STUDY
BEGINS NOVEMBER 1

Blending a family is a lot like dumping a bunch of stuff into a blender and pushing the mix button--the turbulent process of blending those two families into one can get loud and crazy, and even unpleasant. A blended family is a continual work in progress, but the result can be pretty terrific!

Whether you are considering remarriage or have already done so, this evening study is for you. Join us on Sundays at 5:00 pm beginning November 1 for a 13-week study entitled "The Smart Stepfamily Marriage" written by leading blended family authority Ron Deal and marriage expert David Olson. We will learn the keys to success in a blended family and the tools you need at any stage to create a remarriage that will last. Together we will support each other as couples and discover how to enhance our relationships. 

For more information, please contact Gayle Ritch Scoggins at 972-971-8653 or [email protected].
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. 

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. 

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.

For additional information or questions about attending Grace Group at VRBC, contact Paula Thompson at [email protected] (Family Grace Group) or Scott Ward at  [email protected] (Living Grace Group).
CURRENT WEEKLY PRAYER GROUPS
  • Sunday Morning Prayer Partners - Every Sunday at 8:00 am in the Prayer Chapel (Room 241).



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 [email protected]. 




"RELAY FOR REFUGEES" I AM SECOND RUN
NOVEMBER 7

Join the "Relay for Refugees" at the I Am Second Run (10K, 5K, or Fun Run) on Saturday, November 7, at Oak Point Park in Plano, Texas and run/walk to help raise funds to support the important work of e3 Partners missionary teams ministering directly to refugee families in Germany in the name of Christ. 

Can't make it on November 7? You can register to do an off-site run/walk anywhere, anytime that is convenient for you OR you can even do a "sleep in" that morning and still make a contribution!

Click here to register to participate in any one of the three ways.  Ministering to the overwhelming number of refugees is truly a team effort . . . won't you help?
WINTER WEEKEND 2016 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
JANUARY 15-17

We are already planning Winter Weekend 2016!  Each year this is an inspiring weekend, not only for the students, but for the volunteers as well.  We could not make Winter Weekend so successful with out the help of our parents and church family.  

Below is a list of the help we will need to pull off another great weekend. Can you give us a hand?
 
Host Homes - One needed for each grade and gender (and a few back ups). Please be prepared to have a large number of students in your home and be available to help transport students to and from the church and events for the weekend.
 
Registration - One Leader and five check-in people needed on Friday only. This position involves being at the church Friday evening from 6:00-7:30 pm.
 
Notary - One to two needed for check-in Friday night.
 
Luggage Transportation - One leader and multiple transporters for Friday night. This position involves being available Friday night for an hour and a half in the VRBC parking lot and transporting the student luggage to a host home.  
 
Please email Julie McCord at  [email protected]. if you can help out.  If several people email about the same group to host, it will be first-come, first-served. Please note student registration begins November 22; more details will be available soon. Thank you for your support!!!
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 am2-year-olds and 4/5-year-olds

10:30 am2-year-olds

Please come join us for tons of fun!  To volunteer or learn more, contact Karen Simmang, Minister to Children, at [email protected] or 972-304-8722. 
 
 
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, entr�e, side, bread, or dessert) on our last remaining day, November 1. Thank you for your support!
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 [email protected] or 214-215-1796 to learn more or to reserve a plot.

A CALL FOR ESL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
NOW ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY MORNINGS!

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 Monday and Thursday mornings 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! More information is available at vrbc.net/esl or by contacting VRBC ESL Coordinator, Jay Bischoff, at [email protected] or 859-489-1082.
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 [email protected] or 972-304-8722.
CORNERSTONE SERVING OPPORTUNITIES

We have several opportunities each month to serve alongside Cornerstone Baptist Church, our sister church in South Dallas:

MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT: THE HUGHEYS

Clay Hughey directs Zambian Operations for Family Legacy, a ministry that reaches out to Zambian children and families through Camp Life, child sponsorship and development, and a Tree of Life Children's Village that provides a safe haven and hope for children rescued from the most severe cases of poverty and abuse. Called out of the promotional products industry, Clay and his family are living in Zambia and coordinating all of the ministry on a daily basis.You can learn more about the Hugheys on their website at www.clayanderinhughey.com.


Click here to watch a short video from Clay. You can learn more about the Hugheys and their ministry at vrbc.net/missionaries/.
UPCOMING MISSION TRIPS
LAST CALL FOR PERU MISSION TRIP SIGN-UPS!
 
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 Amy Wilkins at [email protected] or 972-304-8722 (ext 142).

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. 



 
Check out VR Kids events:  vrbc.net/ministries/vrkids/
Stay up-to-date on all things Refuge: 
Find an Adult Bible Fellowship class:  vrbc.net/ministries/abf/

 

Through October 11, 2015
Worship Service