Spotlight on Upcoming Small Groups:

Grief Support Group

GRIEF – Just the word alone is heavy. What thoughts or feelings does it bring to your mind?

Intense pain, anger, confusion, loneliness, isolation, regret, worry, and sadness are just a few of the initial ones that surface. Along with the many thoughts, feelings, and actions associated with grief, we experience grief for a plethora of reasons. Traditionally, the death of a loved one, whether a person or another living entity, is most common to bring about grief. However, there are as many losses in our lives as there are days that could bring about those deep feelings of grief.

We as humans experience grief in the loss of things we hold dear and sometimes those not so close to our hearts, but important nonetheless.  Grief is as individual as the color of your skin, hair and eyes. Some hold on to that intense pain for years, while others experience it, process it, and move on from it much faster than some people deem "appropriate." Sometimes we tend to be judged - or we judge the other person - based on what we know, believe, or do.

Whether you’re grieving the loss of a loved one you’ve spent years, decades or a lifetime with; whether it’s the loss of a job or the breakup of a marriage or other significant relationship; whether it’s the death of a pet, the loss of your health, or the loss of a personal skill or talent you’ve spent years honing, one thing’s for sure. Grief and loss most often go hand in hand.

On September 20^th, we will begin an 8-week Grief Support Group led by Cathy Abraham on Wednesday evenings, 6:15 -7:15 PM in the church library.  Cathy is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Christian therapist who would love to help you through this season of your life.  No matter the initial reason for your grief or the length or depth of your grief, you are invited to come sit with us, participate with us, or choose to be vocal or silent with us. Please don’t put this off. 

In order to ensure privacy and an atmosphere of trust, this group will be limited to a maximum of 15 people. A sign-up sheet is available in the church office, and sign-ups will close when we reach a total of 15 or on September 19th, whichever comes first. You are welcome to call the church office at 540-343-7685 to sign up.

This Sunday @ VBC

We hope you'll come worship with us Sunday at 8:45 or 11:00 AM. Travis continues his current sermon series with "Second Teaching: Faith," based in Matthew 7:21-23. If you can't make it in person, you can find our livestream at www.vintonbaptistchurch.org or on our Facebook group page. Sunday School begins at 9:50 AM. If you need help finding a Sunday School class, just let us know. You can click here for the latest list of our Sunday School options.

JOY Seniors

Are you a history buff? Join the JOY Seniors for a trip to Lynchburg on August 24th. We will have a guided tour related to Civil War history and the Civil War Medical Museum. Following the tour, we will enjoy lunch at Liberty Station in Bedford. The cost of this trip is $8 plus lunch. We will depart VBC at 8:30 AM. Please sign up and pay as soon as possible!

Good food, friends, and fellowship will be found at the August 29th JOY Senior Luncheon. We will be entertained by Kyle Edgell, caricature artist and humor therapist. Lunch will be provided by Three Lil' Pigs, to include a BBQ sandwich, baked beans, coleslaw, and dessert. The cost is $10. Make your way to the JOY Senior table to sign up and pay for the luncheon, which will begin at noon. Come early to enjoy the fellowship. Please sign up and pay by Friday, August 25th.

Wednesday Women

Wednesday Women will begin September 20th and will meet 10 AM - 12 PM in the Disciple Center, led by Susan Jones. Our Bible study book is When You Pray: A Study of Six Prayers in the Bible, by Kelly Minter, Jackie Hill Perry, Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Jada Edwards, and Kristi McLelland.

In this 7-session study, join with six beloved Bible teachers who will help you study prayers in the Bible that can inspire your own. You'll learn that God welcomes your praise and lament, your thanksgiving and intercessions. You'll see examples of how to pray when you're alone and when you're gathered with others. Above all, you'll notice there's no one right way to pray. As you draw near to God through prayer, you'll find your faith strengthened and your heart united to Christ.

Please sign up in the church office so that we will know how many ladies to expect, and plan to purchase your own book. If you cannot obtain your own book, let us know when you sign up and we will purchase it for you. Each book is $25, and payment is due when you sign up or on the first day of our study.

Walk with Jesus

A new Walk with Jesus class will begin September 10th for 3rd - 5th graders who are interested in learning more about baptism and next steps with Christ. Class will take place in the library during the Sunday School hour through October 15th. Please let Whitney know if your child would like to attend.

Fun & the Son Play Group

Our play group has been going strong all summer, and we're excited about new opportunities and new friends this fall. We meet Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30 - 10:30 AM at the church. Our group is open to newborn - PreK children. Each child must be supervised by an adult parent, grandparent, or guardian for the full hour. This is a great opportunity for families to connect and make new friends. You do not have to attend Vinton Baptist in order to come to Fun & the Son. Everyone is welcome!

On September 12th, we will take a field trip! We'll meet at 10 AM at Beaver Dam Sunflower Farm, followed by a picnic at Troutville Park. Questions? Contact Betty Jo Overstreet at 540-312-7235.

September Dates to Remember

Much of our regular programming resumes in September, and there are also new opportunities for engagement. Following are some dates to keep in mind:

• Wednesday, September 6th: Weekly Praise Team (6:30 PM) and Chancel Choir (7:30 PM) rehearsals resume.
• Sunday, September 10th: Walk with Jesus class begins; Sunday night activities (like Youth Choir and Extreme) begin; and we'll have Art from the Heart and Mission Kids (formerly CIA) starting at 4:00 PM.
• Tuesday, September 12th: Weeknight Worship begins at 7:00 PM and will be offered every Tuesday evening through mid-November.
• Wednesday, September 13th: Children's Choirs resume (6:15 - 7:15 PM), and we will have a Ministry Matters meeting at 6:15 PM. (Reminder: there will be no Wednesday night dinners.)
• Wednesday, September 20th: Fall small groups begin (Wednesday Women @ 10 AM; Grief Support Group @ 6:15 PM; and Travis' study on faith formation in the home @ 6:15 PM).
• Saturday, September 23rd: Deacon training at First Baptist Martinsville.
• Fridays & Saturdays, September 22nd, 23rd, 29th and 30th, as well as October 13th and 14th: Pictures will be taken for a new pictorial directory.
• Sunday, September 24th: Preteen devotion and dinner at 4 PM.

Peggy P. Stovall

c/o Berkshire Health Care Center

705 Clearview Drive #41

Vinton VA 24179

Thank you to the Helen Siner Wood group for their donation to the Community Church Playground.

Thank you to the Pairs & Spares class for their donation to the Food Pantry.

Christian sympathy is extended to Barry & Nancy Trent and family in the death of his mother, Elsie Trent.

Children's Worship Volunteers Needed

Every Sunday we need one teacher and one helper at each morning worship service to lead Children's Worship for Pre-K - 1st graders. This does NOT involve doing the children's sermon in the sanctuary; this opportunity involves teaching or assisting in Children's Worship on the second floor once children are dismissed from the sanctuary. Please click here to sign up, or contact Whitney if you have questions. Thank you!

Church Directory

This Sunday volunteers will be available in the Welcome Center to make pictorial appointments for those who have not yet done so. Our appointment dates are September 22nd, 23rd, 29th, and 30th, as well as October 13th and 14th. Every family photographed will receive a free copy of the directory, as well as a free 8x10 portrait. You will have the opportunity to purchase additional pictures, but are certainly not obligated to do so. You do not have to be a member of Vinton Baptist to participate; we'd like to include everyone who calls VBC "home," whether you are formally a member or not. If you would like to set up an appointment before Sunday, call the church office at 540-343-7685.

Boys & Girls Club Request

The Boys & Girls Club has requested that we collect newspapers and magazines over the next several weeks for upcoming projects. Donations can be dropped in the appropriate bin at the Missions Tables. Thank you!

Bible Reading Plan

With school starting last week and the busy season that entails, I have gotten a couple days behind in my Bible reading. If you're in the same situation, don't despair. Just keep reading, and those built-in catch-up days will come back around soon. Fortunately, this is not a race. We're reading the Bible for the long haul and for the long term benefits. Even if you're more than a few days behind, just keep reading. You will be blessed.

I am SO glad that we're done with all the genealogies in 1 Chronicles 1 - 9. While I recognized a few names along the way, I generally found those chapters very hard to comprehend because I would zone out in the middle of the longs lists of names. However, Fee & Stuart (How to Read the Bible Book by Book) note the importance of those extensive lists. Much of what they have to say about Chronicles is summarized in this brief video from BibleProject. Please take a few minutes to watch it. It builds on the framework we discussed last week and helps orient Chronicles in the larger narrative of scripture.

Happy reading!

Updated List of Blessing Box Needs

Following is a current list of items needed for the Blessing Box: grits, pancake mix, dish soap, sloppy joe sauce, fruit (any kind/size - easy-open tops are particularly helpful for our homeless friends), and individual snack items. Donations can be dropped in the appropriate bin at the Missions Tables. Thank you so much for your support!

Dear Vinton Baptist Church Family,

We want to express our sincere gratitude for your prayers, visits, and the lovely artwork by Marissa Brewer during Mom's stay in the hospital and Richfield Living. Your support has meant the world to us. Mom is doing better and will be returning home today [Saturday, August 12th], and we truly appreciate the love and care you've shown us. With heartfelt thanks,

The Nance Family