January 7, 2018
"New Look"
NEW YEAR KICK-OFF TAILGATE CELEBRATION
THIS SUNDAY | FOOTBALL AND FREE LUNCH!
 
Show  your team spirit and wear your favorite football jersey to church this Sunday, January 7, to help us kick off the start of the NFL playoff season--and a new year of ministry at VRBC! Our big, celebratory lunch begins immediately following the 11:00 am worship service. We'll have all kinds of tailgate food, FREE for every fan!
 
This is a great opportunity to invite your family (all kids welcome!), friends, and fellow sports fans to enjoy some fun and fellowship as we kick off the new year. There is no need to register for this event --just come!

NEW TEACHING SERIES STARTS THIS SUNDAY
HOME IMPROVEMENT: BUILDING BETTER FAMILIES

After a few years of wear and tear, every house needs a repair or two. And it's not just true for our houses--it's also true for the people who live in them!

Beginning this Sunday morning, January 7, we will explore together the Bible's blueprint for "home improvement." We'll look at some really practical ways that Jesus can radically transform our home lives. Help your family kick off the new year on the right foot . . . join us for Home Improvement: Building Better Families.



VRBC SPRING GROWTH SEMINAR
THREE HABITS TO ACCELERATE YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
JANUARY 21 | 12:15 TO 2:15 PM | FREE TO ATTEND

Would you like to turbocharge your relationship with Christ  in 2018? Then j oin us at our first VRBC Growth Seminar: Three Habits to Accelerate Your Spiritual Growth. On Sunday, January 21, from 12:15 to 2:15 pm, we will visit together about three powerful habits that will make a significant difference in your day-to-day life in the new year. 

This interactive and engaging seminar will not only talk about the biblical case for these three habits, but we'll also get really practical about how to incorporate them into your life and schedule. And don't worry . . . these habits don't require a Ph.D. or any special training. You just need a desire to follow Jesus more passionately than ever before.   

The seminar is FREE and includes lunch, childcare, and loads of practical resources  to help you get started with these habits. To register, CLICK HERE or just check the box on the back of your Connection Card this Sunday during worship. Guests are very  welcome, and everyone can benefit from this seminar, so be sure to invite someone you know to come along with you! 
MORE BLESSED SPECIAL OFFERING UPDATE
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT TO GIVE

Thanks to the hilarious generosity of many of you at year-end, $280,000 has now been given to the MORE BLESSED Special Offering! With just ten days remaining,  we are very close to reaching our goal of $300,000 to support four key ministry initiatives in 2018:
  • Expand God's Kingdom by planting new churches and extending the reach of our missionaries and missions partners
  • Empower the Poor by caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of underserved people locally and globally
  • Equip Our People by mobilizing VRBC attenders to engage in our mission through catalytic training events and growth opportunities
  • Extend Hilarious Hospitality by building bridges to the community through investing in outreach events and enhancing our facility
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY GIVEN, IS GOD CALLING YOU TO HELP REACH OUR GOAL BY GENEROUSLY SUPPORTING THE MORE BLESSED SPECIAL OFFERING?
There are several easy ways you can give between now and January 14, 2018:
  • Give online at  vrbc.net/moreblessed .  Just click the "GIVE ONLINE" link and log in to your Fellowship One account or create a new account. Be sure to designate "Year-end Special Offering - MORE BLESSED" in the drop-down menu.
  • Use your offering envelope at any VRBC worship service. Just write the amount on the MORE BLESSED offering line.
  • Mail in your offering envelope at any time free of charge.
  • Increase the amount you normally give through your bank's automatic debit. To find out more, just call our office at 972-304-8722 or email Donna at [email protected].
  • Give an in-kind gift of stocks/bonds. To find out more, just call our office at 972-304-8722 or email Donna at [email protected].
  • Or just click below to give now!
 
   
More details about the  MORE BLESSED  initiatives and answers to many FAQs can be found at   vrbc.net/moreblessed . 
NEWCOMERS RECEPTION
JANUARY 14 | 12:15 TO 12:45 PM

If you are new to VRBC, you are invited to a Newcomers Reception in your  honor! At this informal 30-minute gathering after the worship service next Sunday,  January 14, you'll have the opportunity to get to know some of our church staff,  as well as to meet others who are new to the church. We promise you will  receive great hospitality and food, PLUS a chance to win some cool prizes. No  RSVP is required to attend--just come!

The reception will be held in the Seminar Room (located at the east end of the  church lobby). If you need help finding it, just ask one of our friendly Welcome  Team members in a red shirt for assistance. 

Children of all ages are welcome to  attend, so please pick up your children after the worship service and bring them  with you to the reception.  If you have any questions about the Newcomers Reception, please contact Amy Wilkins, Pastor of Serve & Invite, at [email protected].
FUN & FRIENDS: GAME NIGHT
JANUARY 18 | 7:00 TO 8:30 PM

Ladies, let's get all of our girlfriends together on Thursday, January 18, for a fun night playing a very easy-to-learn game, Bunco, while enjoying friendly conversation and yummy snacks, including a chocolate bar! Play begins at 7:00 pm in the Seminar Room (located at the east end of the church lobby) and will run until about 8:30 pm. Prizes will be given for high and low scores. Cost to attend is only $5.00.

CLICK HERE to register to attend. Please note: this is a ladies-only, adult (teenagers and older) event. Please leave little ones at home.

INVITE OPPORTUNITY!
Fun & Friends will be a great night of connecting with other women in our church and our community, so invite your friends and neighbors to join us! If you have any questions about Fun & Friends, please contact Karen Simmang at  [email protected].
MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT: CHARLOTTE WOOTTON

As a church planting coordinator with e3 Partners Ministry, Charlotte has the awesome privilege of taking North Americans on short-term missions trips and seeing their lives transformed as God uses their testimonies to tell a lost world about His love. 

In her role as coordinator for children's ministry, she is helping to develop materials and training for nationals to effectively minister to children and establish a children's ministry as each new church is planted. This often involves being a part of an e3 expedition in a country where children's ministry has not been introduced and modeling for the team, as well as the nationals, how children's ministry can be implemented and the rich benefits to be reaped when children are led to accept Christ at an early age.

Charlotte continues to co-lead teams on expeditions as a church planting coordinator to incorporate children's ministry as part of the new church plant. If you are interested in traveling with Charlotte on a mission trip, please contact her at  [email protected]  or 214-803-0463.
MISSION TRIP APPLICATIONS DUE JANUARY 15

Four exciting mission trips are planned for 2018. Why don't you come along and help support our missions partners as we spread God's love throughout the world?Click the links below for mission trip applications and details about each trip including costs, travel plans, and scholarship availability:
  • PERU | July 14-20, 2018
Applications for all 2018 trips are due January 15. If you have questions or need more information about going on a mission trip or the application process, please email Arthur at  [email protected] .