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January 19
, 2020
The Power of Words:
"Words That Unite"
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GROW GROUP REGISTRATION IS UNDERWAY!
We are excited to announce that registration for our Spring 2020 Grow Groups is now open. Grow Groups are the lifeblood of VRBC, and they are the
best
way to get connected to all the great things God is doing here. If you've never been in a group before, this is the perfect time to give it a try! And if you've been in one in the past, you already know the tremendous impact it can have on your life, so sign up today!
DID YOU KNOW?
Here are a couple of groups you may not know about:
Young Couples
(Sundays after church in Coppell): This group is led by several young couples, including our student pastor, Corey Gummelt and his wife, Tenley. They meet for lunch (free!) after church each Sunday and would love to welcome new couples!
Single Adults (Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm): This group meets at VRBC and is filled with single adults over age 40. There are men and women in the group, some who have never been married and others who are widowed or divorced.
We're offering 29 fantastic Grow Groups at all different times of the week. You can check out all the groups and register on the VRBC app or online at
vrbc.net/grow
.
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We're in between Grow Group semesters, but that doesn't mean you have to put your spiritual growth on hold! This Sunday, we're hosting two different Growth Intensives at VRBC. These sessions are all great opportunities to dive deeper into a particular topic that impacts our spiritual growth. Whether you're interested in increasing your cultural intelligence or learning to see God in the movies, we have an intensive for you! Click
here or go to the VRBC app for more information and to register.
- Sunday, January 19, 11:00 am to 12:15 pm: "Cultural Intelligence," led by Carolyn Porterfield
- Sunday, January 19, 5:00 to 7:00 pm: "God in Movies," led by Don Harton
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THIS SUNDAY | JANUARY 19 | 12:15 PM
If you are new to VRBC, you are invited to a Newcomers Reception in your honor THIS Sunday, January 19! 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. We promise you will 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
awilkins@vrbc.net
.
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2020 VRBC LEADERS APPROVED
In the worship services this past Sunday, the membership of VRBC overwhelmingly voted to approve a new slate of leaders for 2020. Join us in our worship services on Sunday, January 26, for a special time of prayer for these new leaders! For a listing of our leaders for 2020, click
here.
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A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON MENTAL HEALTH
TOMORROW | JANUARY 16 | 6:45 PM TO 8:00 PM
Each year in the US, one in five adults will experience a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. And the vast majority of those who aren't personally suffering know someone who is. Many of these people struggle in silence, feeling hopeless and alone.
As Christians, we believe God is with us, even in the midst of our suffering! In this group, we will come together in a safe and supportive environment to encourage one another and explore the connection between mental health and our faith. The group meets at VRBC on the third Thursday of each month from 6:45 to 8:00 pm and is open to all those who suffer, as well as those who care about someone who suffers. Our next meeting will be held tomorrow, Thursday, January 16.
Note: This group is not designed to provide professional therapy for mental health issues; rather, it is a safe place to receive encouragement and prayer and to talk about how our faith connects with our mental health.
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SUNDAY | JANUARY 26 |
9:30 & 11:00 AM
On Sunday, January 26, we will celebrate baptism in both of our morning worship services, and we would love for you to be a part of it! If you are a follower of Jesus but have never been baptized, this is a great opportunity to take that step. If God has been nudging you to be baptized, we'd love to visit with you about it! For more information,
contact John Hewlett at jhewlett@vrbc.net.
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2020 MISSION TRIPS: IS GOD CALLING YOU?
ALL APPLICATIONS DUE TODAY | JANUARY 15
We have three exciting mission trips planned for 2020, and we'd love for you to come along to help support our missions partners and to spread God's love throughout the world. Where is God calling you to go?
On this trip, VRBC is partnering with UBC Houston and Buckner's Family Hope Center to host business development seminars and to build a home for a family.
Click
here
for a trip flyer.
VRBC is sending a team to work in a red-light district to rescue women who have been trafficked and enslaved. The team will also minister to women who have been rescued.
Please email
Amy Wilkins
at awilkins@vrbc.net for more details; we cannot specify the location online.
On this trip we
will be supporting their team of 20 field personnel from across Asia as they gather for their team meeting. We will do children's ministry with their children in our host city, as well as with small churches on a primitive island.
awilkins@vrbc.net
for
a trip flyer, as it cannot be posted online.
APPLICATIONS FOR ALL TRIPS ARE DUE JANUARY 15, 2020
To find the application form and details about costs, tra
vel, and financial assistance availability, click on the trip links above or visit
vrbc.net/serve
.
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SUNDAY | FEBRUARY 2 | REGISTRATION IS OPEN
At VRBC, we believe children are a gift from God, and Parent Child Dedication provides an opportunity to express publicly the desire to lead and spiritually nurture our children, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, so that our children will develop a desire to love God and love others.
Our next Parent Child Dedication will take place during both worship services on Sunday, February 2. The deadline to register to participate in this dedication is Monday, January 27. Click
here to register.
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In an effort to keep our congregation well informed on the state of current congregational giving and attendance trends, and in response to some good feedback we've received, the previous months' budget numbers are posted to our website for quick and easy viewing.
This information is regularly updated on the second week of each month.
Click
here
to see the latest report. Questions?
Please email
Donna Blankenship, Business Administrator, at
dblankenship@vrbc.net.
PRICELESS
WRAP-UP
Our final total for the PRICELESS Offering was $189,254.
Praise God for His abundant generosity!
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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.
As the coordinator for Ministry to Children with e3 Partners, Charlotte 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, 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.
As new churches are planted, nationals are also encouraged to start a program for children as well. Charlotte continues to co-lead teams on expeditions as a church-planting coordinator and incorporate the 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
charlotte.wootton@e3partners.org
or 214-803-0463. For more about Charlotte's work, check out her video here
!
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Mission trip applications due
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January 15
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Spring Grow Groups begin
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January 26
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Winter Weekend
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January 17-19 |
Baptism
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January 26
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Growth Intensives
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January 19 |
Parent Child Dedication |
February 2 |
Newcomers Reception
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January 19
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Explore Membership |
February 16 |
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