THE 2015 CHRISTMAS STORE
DECEMBER 11 AND 12
VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED--CLICK HERE!

The Christmas Store provides the opportunity for us to share the joy and hope of Jesus Christ, as well as hospitality, prayer, and tangible Christmas gifts, to approximately 1,300 children and their families each year. This requires over 1,250 volunteer shifts, plus over 150 donated food items

HIGH NEEDS:
GPS: Thank you to those who have already signed up to guide, pray, and serve guests as they shop at the Christmas Store. Even with 86 out of the 288 shifts now filled, there are still over 200, or almost 70%, of the GPS shifts still needing volunteers.

KIDS KORNER: Another high need area is adult volunteers to serve at Kids Korner. Kids Korner is a ministry at Cornerstone Baptist Church for children, ages twelve and under, whose parents are shopping at the VRBC Christmas Store. We need over 60 volunteers to help at Cornerstone with snacks, games, crafts, a nursery, and more.

WE NEED YOU! Serving at the Christmas Store is a great way to put our values of Hilariously Generous and Happily Third into action. Won't you help?  Click here to volunteer!
"HANGING OF THE GREENS" SERVICE
THIS SUNDAY AT 6:30 PM

We invite you and your family to join us this Sunday, November 29, at 6:30 pm as we prepare the sanctuary and our hearts for the season of Advent. 

During this service, we will prepare for our celebration of Christ's coming by hanging wreaths and by lighting candles and Christmas trees throughout the sanctuary. Evergreens are traditionally hung during the Advent season to symbolize the eternal life that Christ brings, and candlelight represents the coming of Jesus, the light of the world.  

This participatory, family-friendly service will also include Scripture, prayer, and the singing of Christmas carols.  Childcare will be provided for children ages three and under. Please join us!
FAST. GIVE. PRAY.
FIFTH SUNDAY BENEVOLENCE OFFERING
THIS SUNDAY

VRBC helps meet the financial requests of those in need through a designated benevolence fund collected on fifth Sundays throughout the year. This Sunday, November 29, we will collect the FAST GIVE PRAY Fifth Sunday Benevolence Offering.
 
In preparation for this Sunday, we ask that you FAST from one meal and use that time to consider those in need, GIVE at least the cost of the meal to the benevolence fund, and PRAY for those in need and for wisdom for VRBC as we minister to our members and community. 
 
Please drop any cash, coins, or check you feel is appropriate in the basket as you exit the worship service. Baskets will also be available at the Welcome Center for your convenience.
VR KIDS CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP
DECEMBER 4 AT 6:30 PM
DEADLINE TO REGISTER: SUNDAY
 
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.  Christmas Workshop will be held on Friday, December 4, from 6:30-8:30 pm and is for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade.  

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.

Cost to attend is $30. Spaces are limited, so please don't delay in signing up. Deadline to register is November 29. 

Click here to register!  If you have any questions, contact Karen Simmang at [email protected].
CHRISTMAS STORE SHIRT SALES
DECEMBER 6

If you haven't gotten your Christmas Store shirt yet, you will have another opportunity to purchase on Sunday, December 6, before and after the worship service in the lobby. Costs are $10 for a short-sleeve shirt and $15 for long-sleeve. Proceeds from shirt sales will support the Christmas Store ministry.

WINTER WEEKEND 2016
JANUARY 15-17
STUDENT REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Hey middle and high schoolers, student registration for Winter Weekend 2016 is now open! Register now to take advantage of early bird discount pricing.

FAQs
Hey, what exactly is WW?
Perhaps the most talked about event of Refuge Student Ministries each year, Winter Weekend is a growth experience with disciple-making as our focus. Whether you have been a Christian for two months or twelve years or are perhaps just beginning to check out what following Christ is all about, Winter Weekend is guaranteed to be a spiritual pillar that God can use to help you meet Him and be changed. Invite a friend to join you!

What does it cost to attend WW?
November 22-28
Early Bird Registration
$100
November 29-December 12Regular Registration$120
December 13-January 3Late Registration$140
So, how do I register for WW?
CLICK HERE to register!  Visit vrbcrefuge.net/winterweekend to find out more about WW 2016.



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]. 




THANKSGIVING DAY MEAL SERVERS NEEDED

Cornerstone Baptist Church in South Dallas will be hosting lunch for the homeless on both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Over a dozen servers are still needed to staff the Thanksgiving Day meal. 

Volunteers serve meals from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Families with children ages five and older (young ones must be accompanied by a parent at all times) are welcome to serve together. Your help would be greatly appreciated!

To serve on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26: CLICK HERE.

To serve on Christmas, Friday, December 25: CLICK HERE.
GOOD NEWS CLUB VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We have a tremendous opportunity to share the good news of the gospel with children at Tom Landry Elementary School. Every Monday from 2:45 to 4:00 pm, over sixty children attend Good News Club at the school to learn the Bible, memorize Scripture, sing, eat a snack, and meet in small groups. 

For over eight years the program has been led by teachers with community volunteer assistance. Due to school district policy, however, teachers now are no longer allowed to run Good News Club. Volunteer leaders are urgently needed to step up and seize this opportunity to keep the ministry thriving. 

Please contact Sharon Bartley at [email protected] for more information on how you can help.
CORNERSTONE SERVING OPPORTUNITIES

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

MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT:CHARLOTTE WOOTTON

As the coordinator for Ministry to Children with e3 Partners, Charlotte develops materials and training to effectively minister to children and helps establish a children's ministry with each new church plant. This often involves being a part of an e3 expedition in a country where children's ministry has not been introduced. She does this by modeling how to implement children's ministry and demonstrating the rich benefits to be reaped when children are led to accept Christ at an early age. 

Charlotte is embarking on a brand-new ministry initiative in the area of special needs orphan care.  She will be leading a team to Tanzania in February 2016 and requests prayers for creativity, sensitivity, and wisdom as she writes curriculum and plans for this trip.  

If you are interested in traveling with Charlotte on this or another mission trip, please contact her at [email protected] or 214-803-0463.

Click here to watch a short video message from Charlotte. You can also learn more about Charlotte and her ministry at vrbc.net/missionaries/.  
PRAYERS FOR PERU MISSION TRIP 

Please be in prayer for the group of VRBCers who will be taking a mission trip to Lima to help our sister church, El Buen Pastor, with the Peru Christmas Store and to serve with our Peru missionariesThe group departs December 1 and returns December 8. The Peru Christmas Store, known locally as "La Tienda de Navidad," will be held on December 5.

The Peru Christmas Store takes place each year on the first weekend of December. If you are interested in going on this mission trip next year, please save the dates November 29 through December 6, 2016 to join us! Contact Amy Wilkins at [email protected] for more information.

To learn more about our ministry in Peru, visit vrbc.net/peru.
MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITIES
GERMANY
JULY 22-30, 2016

Share God's story and demonstrate God's love to refugees in Germany. They need the hope that only Christ can give. We will equip you to maximize your ministry to these families. Experience God in extraordinary ways through worship, through God's Word, and by demonstrating God's love.

The trip departs July 22 and returns July 30, 2016. Cost will be approximately $3,000 per person.  This trip is family-friendly. To inquire about children less than ten years old or for more information, contact Claudia Adame at [email protected] or 214-440-1140. CLICK HERE for a detailed flyer about the trip.
RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND INDONESIA
Plans are underway for a mission trip to the Rio Grande Valley in March of 2016, as well as a trip to Indonesia in October 2016. To learn more about these trips, visit vrbc.net/mission-trips.

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 November 22, 2015
Worship Service