July 29 , 2018
"Faith & Friendship"
THE PLAY GROUNDS: 
OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER 
 
Improvements to our playground have begun! The Play Grounds: Outdoor Learning Center will combine play and learning, and will offer a great opportunity for kids in both our weekday preschool and our Children's Ministry to experience nature, be physically active, and explore their creativity. Work has already begun on our new pavilion and even bigger changes will be happening over the coming weeks. Changes will include a sand pit, a trike track, and a variety of activity stations. 

These exciting developments wouldn't be possible without your contributions to the More Blessed Special Offering. Thank you so much for your generous gifts!  For more information, please email Karen Simmang at   [email protected]   or Sarah Waters at   [email protected] .
PARENTS NIGHTS OUT - KIDS NIGHT IN
JULY 27 | 5:30 TO 8:00 PM | SIGN-UP DEADLINE IS TODAY!

"Parents Night Out - Kids Night In" gives busy parents a chance to have a FREE night on their own and lets their children enjoy a fun evening at VRBC. While parents enjoy a kid-free evening out, kids will have a great night of dinner, a movie, and other fun activities. "Parents Night Out - Kids Night In" will be held in the VRBC Children's area, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm on July 27. Infants through (just completed) 5th-grade children are welcome to attend. The deadline for signing up is TODAY. RSVP to [email protected]t by Wednesday, July 25.
VRBC BACKPACK DRIVE 
BEGINS THIS SUNDAY | JULY 29
 
Each year during VRBC's Backpack Drive, we deliver backpacks filled with school supplies to some of our neighboring children at Tom Landry Elementary School and the surrounding area who need assistance. This year our goal is to fill 272 backpacks, which will be given to students from five nearby schools and the families we have been serving through Sack Summer Hunger. The church will provide the backpacks, and the congregation is asked to provide the needed school supplies.
 
Empty backpacks will be available for pick-up in the church lobby after the worship service this Sunday, July 29. A school supply list will be enclosed for your use in purchasing school supplies. (Please note that the supply list varies by school, so if you pick up more than one backpack, they may include different supply lists. Feel free to pick up and fill as many backpacks as you would like!) Please return filled backpacks to the church on Sunday, August 5 or 12.  For more  information, contact Amy Wilkins at [email protected].
THE PAUL PROJECT 
AUGUST 3 | 7:30 PM | MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
 
Make plans now to join us at 7:30 pm on Friday, August 3, for a powerful night of entertainment  and inspiration as local actor Greg English gives us a window into the life of the a postle Paul. Greg, a gifted actor with many years of experience in the theater, will be performing an original one-man play based on the life  of Paul in his own words, directly from Scripture. To get a taste of what to expect, CLICK HERE.

INVITE OPPORTUNITY: This is not only a  great chance for you and your Grow Group to learn more about the apostle Paul, it is also a great opportunity to invite your  friends and neighbors who aren't connected to Christ or a local church. The  gospel will be presented clearly as part of the play, but the overall event will be  non-threatening and invite-friendly. Mark your calendars now for this FREE event! For more information,
"ROOTED" SUMMER TEACHING SERIES
MEMORY VERSE LOCK SCREEN NOW AVAILABLE
 
"Biblically Rooted" is one of VRBC's core values--we want everything we do, both personally and collectively, to be "rooted" in God's Word. Just as the roots of a tree provide stability and nourishment, we believe being rooted in Scripture helps us stay firmly planted where God wants us. By sinking our roots down deep into God's Word, we can grow into the people He wants us to be. 

We are in week three of this four-week sermon series, and just like in past years, it is a summer favorite! As before, each week we'll focus on a specific passage of Scripture that provides spiritual stability and nourishment, and we'll be challenged to memorize a portion of that Scripture. Join us as we commit together to be more biblically rooted! 

CLICK HERE to download this week's verse as wallpaper for your phone!
VRBC MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT:
THE CONDE FAMILY

Lou Conde Sandoval serves as the primary Peru contact for the two VRBC Christmas Stores in Lima, Peru. His sisters are leaders at one of our sister churches, El Buen Pastor, and Lou is the pastor of a more recent church plant, El Reino de Dios.  

In addition to parenting six-year-old Sammy, working as teachers in the community and leading in their church, Lou and Yesi have launched a preschool in their home for low-income children.  They are passionate about sharing Jesus with people in their community and discipling people in their faith. 
 
CLICK HERE to watch a short video from the Condes.