December 11, 2016
"Prepare to Exalt"
Dr. Larry Parsley, Senior Pastor
CHRISTMAS STORE SERVE OPPORTUNITIES
THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY!  |   CLICK HERE TO SERVE
GPS TRAINING TODAY AT 6:00 PM IN SANCTUARY
 
The Christmas Store is almost here! There are still many great opportunities to be hilariously generous with your time and to help bring Christmas and the good news to those in need this holiday season.  The most serve opportunities are available in the following positions: 

GPS (Friday and Saturday) - CLICK HERE  (Friday) / CLICK HERE (Saturday)
Primary responsibilities of a GPS include shopping for gifts with Christmas Store guests and sharing and praying one-on-one with them. Training is provided and strongly encouraged. The last  GPS training session is tonight at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary. 

GUEST AND PACKAGE TRANSPORTATION (Friday and Saturday) - CLICK HERE
Drivers needed to transport guests to/from VRBC and Cornerstone in a 15-passenger rental van. Additionally, d rivers with large, closed vehicles (such as Suburbans, Expeditions, etc.) are needed to transport gift packages from VRBC to Cornerstone.  
 
KIDS' KORNER TRANSPORTATION (Saturday) - CLICK HERE
Drivers needed to transport students to/from Kids' Korner at Cornerstone in a 15-passenger rental van. 

KIDS' KORNER ADULT VOLUNTEERS (Saturday) - CLICK HERE
Adults needed at Cornerstone to care for and do various activities with children while their parents shop at the Christmas Store.

FOR ALL AVAILABLE SERVE OPPORTUNITIES (Friday and Saturday) -  CLICK HERE 
There are many ways to serve at the Christmas Store! And d o n't forget to invite  f riends, family members, and coworkers to come join the fun by serving!  For questions about volunteering at the Christmas Store, please contact Sharla Struffolino at sstruff@msn.com.  

CHRISTMAS STORE SHIRT SALES
Christmas Store shirts are available for purchase  from the church office receptionist at any time during regular business hours this week. Costs are $10 for a short-sleeve shirt and $15 for long-sleeve. All proceeds from shirt sales support the Christmas Store ministry.
MIX, MINGLE, & BE MERRY!
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 | REGISTRATION STILL OPEN

Ladies and their guests are cordially invited to an evening of fellowship, delicious treats, and Christmas crafting on Monday, December 12, from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. Even if you don't consider yourself to be a creative person, this is a fun opportunity to just spend some time with the gals in your Grow Group or even bring a friend, your sister, mother, or daughter with you!

The cost to attend this event is $15 per person. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share with the group.

***Because this is a night out for adult women, we ask that you please do not bring children.

CLICK HERE to reserve your spot.   For additional questions, contact Karen Simmang at ksimmang@vrbc.net .
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24 | 6:00 PM

You are cordially invited to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ on Christmas Eve at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary.  
 
During this family-friendly service, we will sing Christmas carols, read Scripture, enjoy a children's message, and more. The service will culminate with a candlelight ceremony symbolizing the light of Christ spreading from person to person and illuminating the world.  Childcare will be available for children ages three and under.

EVITE INVITATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
As part of our strategy to invite diverse and disconnected people to passionately follow Jesus together, electronic invitation cards are available. CLICK HERE for a mobile-friendly version of the invitation that you can share share via email, text, or even Facebook!
WINTER WEEKEND 2017
JANUARY 13-15
STUDENT REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

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. WW is always a blast, so invite a friend to join you!
 
What does it cost to attend WW?
Register early to take advantage of the best pricing:  
November 14 -December 18 Regular Registration $120
December 19-January 3 Late Registration $140

I'm in! So, how do I register for WW?
CLICK HERE and scroll down to register!  Visit  vrbcrefuge.net/winterweekend to find out more about WW 2017.
NEW YEAR KICK-OFF TAILGATE
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8

There's no better way to kick off a new year of ministry at VRBC--and the start of the NFL playoff season--than by sporting your favorite team jersey and coming out for a football tailgate celebration lunch on Sunday, January 8, immediately following the worship service. We'll have football featured on the big screens in the lobby and FREE fan fare including  hot dogs, homemade Boy Scout chili, chips, and cupcakes! 

This is a great opportunity to invite your family (kids welcome!), friends, and fellow sports fans to enjoy some fun and fellowship as we kick off the new year! 
MORE BLESSED SPECIAL OFFERING UPDATE
NOW THROUGH JANUARY 22, 2017

With over $100,000 already given, the MORE BLESSED Special Offering is well on its way to meeting our God-sized goal of $225,000! THANK YOU to the many hilariously generous VRBC members and attenders who have already supported the special offering.

In case you haven't heard, MORE BLESSED is an invitation to sacrificial giving for the purpose of expanding VRBC's ministries to impact more lives for Christ in 2017. VRBC's mission is to invite diverse and disconnected people locally and around the world to passionately follow Jesus, and if we reach our goal, we will be able to do this by fully funding the following five ministry initiatives next year:
  • Planting and supporting new churches
  • Resourcing our missionaries to make the most impact
  • Serving the poor
  • Expanding next generation ministries and equipping our leaders
  • Enhancing our worship environment and the worship experience for guests
CLICK HERE for a detailed explanation of these initiatives and the MORE BLESSED Special Offering, or visit vrbc.net/more-blessed.

How can I support the MORE BLESSED Special Offering?
1. PRAY!  
Please pray that as a church we will not only reach, but even surpass, our goal of $225,000, and pray specifically about what amount God would have you give. 
2. GIVE!
  There are several ways to give to the MORE BLESSED Special Offering between now and January 22.  Here's how:
  • Online at www.vrbc.net/more-blessed. Just click on the "Give" link found at the top, right-hand corner of the page and log in to your Fellowship One account or sign up for a new account. Be sure to designate "Year-End Special Offering - MORE BLESSED" in the drop-down menu.
  • Use your offering envelope to give at any worship service. Just write the amount on the MORE BLESSED offering line.
  • Mail in your offering envelope at any time during the week free of charge with the amount in the MORE BLESSED offering line.
  • Increase the amount you normally give through your Auto Debit. To find out more, just call our office at (972) 304-8722 x154 or email Buzz Lupton, Business Administrator, at blupton@vrbc.net .
  • Give an in-kind gift of stocks/bonds to the Special Offering. To find out more, just call our office at (972) 304-8722 x154 or email Buzz Lupton, Business Administrator, at blupton@vrbc.net .
 Reaching the MORE BLESSED goal of $225,000 (or more!) will be a celebration of what God can do through us when we stretch our faith in accordance with His goodness!  If you have any additional questions about MORE BLESSED, please contact Jordan Schumacher, Executive Pastor, at jordans@vrbc.net or 972-304-8722 ext. 144.
UPCOMING HOLIDAY SERVE OPPORTUNITIES AT CORNERSTONE

During the upcoming holidays, we have several opportunities for you and your family or Grow Group to serve the homeless through our partnership with Cornerstone Baptist Church. Help us serve a holiday meal at the Cornerstone Kitchen (already cooked and ready to serve), or guide and assist the homeless through Cornerstone's Clothes Closet. Click the links below to learn more about these serve opportunities and to sign up to serve:
 
CHRISTMAS:
FIRST THURSDAYS:
We also invite you to join us in serving a meal at Cornerstone on the first Thursday of each month. We prepare food in the VRBC kitchen at 9:00 am, then leave for Cornerstone around 10:30 am to serve lunch. We return to VRBC around 2:00 pm. You may volunteer to prepare food, serve food, or both!