August 26 , 2018
" Faith in the Midst of Change "
NEWCOMERS RECEPTION
THIS SUNDAY | AUGUST 26 | 12:15 TO 12:45 PM
 
If you are new to VRBC, you are invited to a Newcomers Reception in your honor THIS Sunday, August 26! At this informal, 30-minute gathering after the worship service, you'll have the opportunity to get to know some of our church staff, as well as meet others who are new to the church. You'll receive great hospitality and food, PLUS you'll have a chance to win some cool prizes.
 
No RSVP is required to attend--just come! Children of all ages are also welcome, so please pick up your children after the worship service and bring them with you to the reception, held on the east side of the church lobby.
 
If you have any questions about the Newcomers Reception, please contact Amy Wilkins, Pastor of Serve & Invite, at [email protected].
ESL  CLASSES - INVITE A FRIEND
FALL CLASSES BEGIN SEPTEMBER 10
 
During the school year, VRBC offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced English classes for adult  speakers of other languages on Monday and Thursday mornings at 9:30 am . Class and childcare (for  children through age five) are FREE; textbook cost is about $20. Registration for fall classes will take  place Thursday, September 6 at 9:30 am .

INVITE OPPORTUNITY!
ESL classes are a wonderful way to build bridges with those who are diverse and disconnected in our  community. This is a great opportunity to invite your friends, neighbors, and others you have met who  could benefit from English classes. Printed cards are available for pickup in the church office so that  you can use them to invite people to attend. For more information about ESL, visit vrbc.net/esl .
FALL GROW GROUPS BEGIN SEPTEMBER 9
REGISTRATION IS UNDERWAY!

We are excited to announce that registration for our fall Grow Groups is underway! Groups begin the week of September 9, so we encourage you to sign up soon. We have tons of great groups that meet at different times and locations, so no matter your schedule, there's a group for you. You can check out the fall catalog online at vrbc.net/grow or provided in this week's worship folder. 

I'M NEW . . . WHAT 'S A GROW GROUP?
A Grow Group is a group of 10 to 20 people who meet together each week to grow to be more like Jesus, and it's definitely THE BEST way to get connected at VRBC.  In your group, you'll have the opportunity to meet some new friends, dig into God's word, and have some fun along the way! If you need more convincing, check out the latest Grow Group commercial here. 
 
HOW DO I REGISTER? THREE EASY WAYS--PICK ONE!
  • Visit the Grow Group booth in the church lobby this Sunday morning before or after the worship service.
  • Mark the Connection Card found in your Sunday worship folder.
REMINDER:  Even if you are planning on staying in the same Grow Group, you must register for the fall session. For more information, go to vrbc.net/grow. 
 
IF YOU ALREADY REGISTERED ONLINE . . .
Unfortunately, we had a problem with our registration system this week, and some people who tried to register weren't able to do so. If you didn't receive a confirmation email from us, your registration didn't go through. The issue has been resolved, so please take a moment to register again at vrbc.net/grow so we can make sure to include you in the list. We apologize for the inconvenience!
"DROP YOUR PANTS" MEN'S CLOTHING DRIVE
AUGUST 26 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 9 

Join our very own Bob Sturm from The Ticket's BaD Radio and The Hardline in dropping (and donating!) your pants, jeans, shorts, and other items of men's clothing you no longer need to the Cornerstone Clothes Closet, which serves more than 800 homeless men each month.  Click here to see a short video from Bob and hear a little more about the event!

"Drop Your Pants" will take place Tuesday, September 11, in front of the Victory Plaza broadcasting station by American Airlines Center (located near Valor Place and Olive Street in Dallas) from 12:00 to 5:30 pm. Just drive up and drop off your donation.

In advance of the "Big Day" at Victory Plaza, we will be hosting a clothing collection drive right here at VRBC! For your convenience, clothing donations may be dropped off at collection bins in the church lobby anytime from August 26 through September 9.

SERVE OPPORTUNITIES

AT THE EVENT: Volunteers are needed to intake, sort, and box clothing donations at the Victory Plaza broadcasting station from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm as listeners drive up and drop off clothing items. To volunteer, click here.

IN YOUR POCKET: To make a financial donation to the Clothes Closet in lieu of dropping your pants, click here.
COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY
TUESDAY EVENINGS | 7:00 TO 8:30 PM | BEGINS SEPT. 4 
 
For the past several years, VRBC has hosted Community Bible Study (CBS) on Tuesday evenings. As a supplement to your Grow Group experience, CBS can offer you a great opportunity to dive a little deeper into Bible study.

CBS offers men's, women's, co-ed, young adult, and kids' classes that meet during the school year on Tuesday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 pm right here at VRBC. You'll receive a course book that includes a commentary and home study questions for each week's lesson. Each week, you'll have the opportunity to participate in a small group discussion led by your Core Group Leader, and finish the evening by attending an all-class teaching time led by the CBS Teaching Director. 

Registration is only $35 for adults and $10 for kids (and covers all of the course materials you will need for the entire year). (Scholarships are available if your budget is tight.)  Come find out what can happen in  your  life when  you  grow  with  God  through the study of  His Word !

When: Tuesday evenings, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Dates: September 4 through April 30
Where: VRBC 
Study: Genesis
  
To register or for more information, click here.
LOGSDON PARTNERSHIP WITH VRBC
VRBC MEMBERS MAY AUDIT FALL CLASSES FOR FREE 
 
For the past several years, Logsdon Seminary has offered a selection of classes on-site at VRBC. Because of our church's arrangement with Logsdon, VRBC members can audit these courses for free. If you have an interest in preaching, sermons, or even just learning how to present Bible studies in a more effective way, you are welcome to join us (first come, first served). Please fill out this form and email it to Teresa Brundige at  [email protected] by August 27 to let us know of your interest.
 
If you missed it, Pastor Larry wrote a blog at Lonesome Pulpit about the class he will be teaching this fall as a part of the Logsdon curriculum. Click here to read and learn more about this wonderful partnership.