NEW SERMON SERIES: "OUTWARD BOUND"
SUNDAYS THROUGH FEBRUARY 7

As we begin 2016, we will resume our study of the Gospel of Mark. In this portion of our study which will cover Chapters 8 through 10, we will embark on a new sermon series entitled "Outward Bound." We will examine how the call to follow Jesus isn't always easy or comfortable. In fact, Jesus tells us that to follow Him often involves denying ourselves and carrying a cross. But as we do, we will find that this temporary hardship leads to glory beyond anything we can imagine. Join us for "Outward Bound!"

LEADERS GATHERING
TONIGHT!

Please join us tonight at 6:30 pm in the student auditorium for our next Leaders Gathering!  At these sessions, we share cool stories of how God is working among us, hear from Larry and the staff on how God is speaking to them, solicit feedback on important issues, pray together, and more.  At this installment, we'll be digging more deeply into the results of the Listening Sessions and the GROW/WORSHIP online survey, as well as talking about some of our next steps.  We would love to have you join us! You don't have to be currently holding an official leadership position at VRBC, and you don't have to register to attend . . . everyone is welcome. 
LISTENING SESSION/SURVEY RECAP

During November, we published an online survey and held five Listening Sessions designed to help us get feedback and ideas in our "Grow" and "Worship" areas.  Thanks so much to those of you who participated!  The entire process has been extremely helpful, and we look forward to implementing many of the good ideas discussed in these forums in 2016. To read a brief recap of the results of the survey and Listening Sessions, click here.  For further detail, mark your calendar for the Leaders Gathering to be held on Wednesday, January 6, at 6:30 pm.  At that meeting, we'll dig a little deeper into the results and talk about where we're headed.  We'd love to have you join us!
re|engage
LAUNCHES JANUARY 18 

re|engage is for all married couples who want to reignite, reconnect, or resurrect their marriages. It is a marriage enrichment program which examines God's design for marriage and applies principles from the Bible to guide couples towards growth in their relationship with each other.

re|engage will meet Monday evenings, beginning January 18, from 7:00 to 8:45 pm.  Sessions will conclude in May.  Childcare is available for children from birth through fifth grade.  Come and find out how to re|engage! 

Click here to watch a short video about re|engage. Questions? Please contact Karen McCord, Susan Rutledge, or Gary Dixon at [email protected]. Please also let us know if you will need childcare.
WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY: A SEASON OF JOY
BEGINS JANUARY 13 

Ladies, start your year with joy! Even if you did not attend in the fall, it is the perfect time to join us for the continuation of our study of Philippians, LAUGH AGAIN: Experience Outrageous Joy, by Dr. Charles Swindoll. We will begin an in-depth study of Chapters 3 and 4 of Paul's letter of joy.
 
Our study begins Wednesday, January 13, from 7:00-8:30 pm downstairs in the seminar room and will meet weekly for seven weeks. Come for a time of enriching fellowship in the study of God's Word! Phyllis Jones will leads us in group study, and there will be small group discussions at the tables, as well as joint prayer and times of praise. Even if you can't be there every week, you will still be blessed by this study.
 
Preregistration is not required. Contact Teresa Brundige at [email protected] or 972-304-8722 for more information about the study or to purchase a $10 workbook.
IF:COPPELL
FEBRUARY 5 AND 6
 
What IF we lived like Jesus? What IF you went deeper in your relationship with Him? What IF one weekend of focused time spent with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and with other Christian women from around the globe could greatly impact your life and change the world? 

Come and find out! The VRBC Women's Ministry invites all women to join us for IF:COPPELL on Friday and Saturday, February 5 and 6. Take some time out of your busy schedule to be with Jesus and with other women in our community to strengthen the most important relationship in your life. See what can happen!
 
Visit vrbc.net/events to register. For more information or questions, email Brenda Swinton at [email protected].
PARK FRIDAY
JANUARY 8

Preschoolers and their parents are invited to come and play this Friday, January 8, from 9:30-10:30 am at the play area inside Vista Ridge Mall in Lewisville. The play area is located downstairs between Dillard's and JCPenney.

Have you seen any visitors at VRBC that might enjoy Park Fridays? Invite them and introduce them to other moms and dads with preschoolers! This is a great way to get them connected with other families in the church.

Park Fridays is a ministry at VRBC for preschoolers and their parents. We meet at different parks in and around the Coppell area on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, following the school district calendar. For more information or to suggest places to play, please email Johanna Hewlett at [email protected].

OPEN CARRY LAWS
 
As you may be aware, during the 84th Session of the Texas Legislature, our State Congress enacted House Bill 910 authorizing individuals to obtain a license to openly carry a handgun in the same places that allow the licensed carrying of a concealed handgun with some exceptions. While our church has the right to prohibit the open carry of handguns by posting the proper legal signage, we prefer to deal with any issues on an individual basis.

While it may be legal, we would respectfully ask our members and attendees not to open carry a handgun on church premises. We feel this would be distracting to most of those in attendance and would not enhance, but rather detract from, the worship experience.
GRACE GROUPS
THURSDAYS AT 7 PM

At VRBC, two Grace Groups meet 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 support group for the families and friends of those living with a person struggling with a mental health difficulty or disorder. Living Grace Group (LGG) is structured like FGG but is intended for persons living with the mental health difficulty or disorder.
 
For additional information or questions about attending Grace Group, contact Paula Thompson at [email protected] (for FGG) or Scott Ward at  [email protected]  (for LGG).



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]. 




TORNADO RECOVERY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Volunteers are being actively mobilized by Texas Baptists Disaster Recovery to help communities rebuild after the December 26 tornadoes that devastated parts of North Texas. Volunteer teams from churches are immediately needed locally to assist in debris clearing and clean-up in Rowlett and Garland. Could a team from your ABF or small group help?

In addition, Texas Baptists will be working in the long-term recovery phase of this disaster. Funds will be a continuous need throughout the recovery process. 

Click here to learn more about volunteering, to receive recovery and volunteer opportunity updates, and to give to recovery and relief efforts. For more information, you can also contact Amy Wilkins at  [email protected].
CORNERSTONE SERVING OPPORTUNITIES

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

MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT: THE BEJAR FAMILY

The Bejars host North American churches on mission trips in Peru to experience the transforming power of evangelism and discipleship alongside national church members. They are currently focused on training and equipping pastors and leaders in Peru, Ecuador, and Cuba. They also train young people for missions through a three-year training program. 

The Bejars ask for prayer for their health, strength, and obtaining Cuba religious visas. At VRBC, the Bejars are partnered with the Williford ABF. Click here to watch a short video from the Bejars.

COME AND MEET THE BEJARS!
The Bejars will be visiting VRBC during this Sunday's worship service. Come and hear about their ministry, then meet them after the service!
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: CLAIRE MOSLEY

Beginning this January, VRBC member and recent Baylor graduate, Claire Mosley will be spending a year with Buckner International as a long-term volunteer in Lima, Peru.  While there she will be working as an assistant volunteer alongside Buckner's Missions Coordinator in its Peruvian central office and two Family Hope Centers. Her work will include assisting with marketing and volunteer coordinating in their central office, planning and facilitating activities at the Family Hope Centers, and planning and coordinating all short-term mission trips Buckner hosts this year.

Please pray for Claire as she is "outward bound" on this great adventure!  Click here to visit Claire's blog to learn more about her journey and how to support her this year.
$500 GERMANY MISSION TRIP CREDIT AVAILABLE
e3 PARTNERS' TOGETHER WE GO WEEKEND
JANUARY 15-17  

Sign up for an e3 Partners' mission trip (like the Germany trip below) during Together We Go Weekend and receive a $500 credit towards your trip for having one or more friends, who have never gone on an e3 trip before, sign up with you.  Friends will get $500 off their trips, too!  Together We Go Weekend begins 12 noon CST January 15 and ends 12 midnight CST on January 17.

Already registered for a 2016 trip? Great! You can still encourage others who have never been on an e3 trip to sign up this weekend and if they do, you will be eligible to receive a $500 referral credit and your friend will be eligible for a $500 trip credit.

This offer is limited to the first 150 eligible trip credit claims received during Together We Go weekend on a first-come, first-served basis. It is highly recommended that participants sign up for the trip and submit credit claims within the first 30 minutes of Together We Go Weekend, i.e., by 12:30 pm CST on January 15, for the best chance to receive the credit.

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE $500 CREDIT:
Click here to register for the Germany trip, then visit www.e3partners.org/togetherwego by 12 midnight January 17 to file your claim formAll credits must be used for 2016 e3 Partners'  trips.
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. Click here to register.

*Register by midnight January 17 to be eligible to receive a $500 credit through e3 Partners' Together We Go Weekend. Visit www.e3partners.org/togetherwego for more details.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND INDONESIA
Plans are underway for a mission trip to the Rio Grande Valley in March, 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, then scroll down to the bottom of the page 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 January 3, 2016
Worship Service