August 12 , 2018
"Integrity in the Midst of Temptation"
VRBC BACKPACK DRIVE
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO PICK ONE UP!

Thank you for providing much-needed school supplies for our neighborhood children! Please return all filled backpacks if possible this Sunday, August 12, for delivery next week. Backpacks can be dropped off in the lobby on Sunday morning or anytime this week during normal business hours (8:30 am to 4:30 pm).

A few empty backpacks are still available for pick-up in the church lobby. A school supply list is 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! Also, if you are having trouble locating alcohol-free hand sanitizer, you may be able to find it at Walgreens or Buy Buy Baby. All backpacks should be returned no later than Wednesday, August 15.

Thank you for blessing our neighborhood school children!  For more  information, contact Amy Wilkins at [email protected]. 
ORDINATION SERVICE FOR ARTHUR MENDES
TONIGHT | AUGUST 8 | 7:00 PM 
For the last two years, Arthur has humbly and faithfully served VRBC as our Serve and Invite Intern. During that time, he has also been working on a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry at Dallas Baptist University. This week, Arthur is graduating, and TONIGHT, Wednesday, August 8, we have the privilege of ordaining him to ministry. An ordination service is a special time of prayer and celebration when the church commissions a person for full-time vocational ministry, and this service promises to be a special time for Arthur and our church family. Please join us for this meaningful experience as we ordain Arthur! Childcare is available.
SACK SUMMER HUNGER
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO SERVE?
There are only two weeks left of Sack Summer Hunger and volunteers are still needed for both weeks! Over the summer, this program has blessed more than 70 children and we have prayed and developed relationships with many families. Volunteers are needed to help this Saturday (August 11) to assemble and deliver nutritious food sacks and next Saturday (August 18) to deliver filled backpacks.
 
SERVE OPPORTUNITY
This is a great serve opportunity for everyone, including families with young children and students. CLICK HERE to learn more and to sign up!

GROWTH SEMINAR
SUNDAY | AUGUST 19 | 9:30 AM | SEMINAR ROOM
Join us at 9:30 am on Sunday, August 19,  in the Seminar Room for this semester's installment of our Growth Seminar series. Designed as a supplement to your Grow Group experience, these seminars help us dig deeper in a particular area of following Jesus. This time, we'll be exploring the intersection of faith and work. At the seminar:  
  • We'll unpack several of the most-common myths about work.
  • You'll hear the faith/work stories of several real-life VRBCers.
  • We'll give you four simple, practical, non-threatening ways to share Jesus with your co-workers that you can start using the very next day.
  • You'll discuss your own vocation with fellow participants and identify specific ways you can integrate your faith into your work.
To register, check the box on your Connection Card in worship, or visit us online at at vrbc.net/gs .
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP PRODUCTION
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE TEAM?
 
The Worship Production Team is looking for volunteers to help with Sunday morning worship services. If you are tech-savvy and would like to work behind the scenes during the worship services, then serving in the production booth might be just the opportunity for you! For more information, please contact Jason Thomas at [email protected].
SUNDAE FUNDAE
THIS SUNDAY | AUGUST 12 | 9:30 AND 11:00 AM  
 
This Sunday, we'll be celebrating as our children move to their new classes for the upcoming year. The morning will be full of fun activities for all the kids with lessons, games, a puppet show, and ICE CREAM SUNDAES. 

Please contact Karen Simmang at [email protected] for more information.
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.
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] .