Tonight:

• There are NO Children's Choirs until February 5th. (Weeknight Worship also begins February 5th.)
• We WILL have Youth Missions Group tonight. Meet at 6:15 PM in the church parking lot. We will be conducting Children's Chapel at the Rescue Mission and will return around 7:30 PM.
• We WILL have Chancel Choir rehearsal at 7:30 PM.

A Higher Note

Experience the triumphant return of the beloved 1970s musical masterpiece "Celebrate Life" this Psalm Sunday, April 13th, as the Chancel Choir brings the timeless story of Jesus to life! This moving production weaves together the powerful journey of Christ's birth, ministry, death, and resurrection through stunning musical arrangements that have touched hearts for generations.

Whether you've sung these cherished melodies before or are discovering them for the first time, we invite you to be part of this extraordinary presentation! All voices from our community are welcome to join our choir family. Come be part of something very special!

Rehearsals take place Wednesday nights at 7:30 PM, using just 40 minutes of our regular practice time. Don't miss this chance to be part of a truly unforgettable musical celebration!

-- Chris Monroe

This Sunday @ VBC

Please join us for Sunday School at 9:15 AM. Click here for our current Sunday School brochure.

This Sunday's worship service is focused on the ordination of our brand new deacons - Jodi Estienne, Robert Mauck, Tray Rives, and Neil Zimmerman - and the installation of all new deacons beginning their three-year term this month (those mentioned above, plus Terri Cundiff, Wayne Foster, Teresa Nicely, David Semones, and Wayne Sink). Travis' message is "Challengers," and the scripture is Jeremiah 7:1-7.

If you have not had an opportunity to write a note of affirmation, encouragement, prayer, or scripture for our deacons being ordained, please do so at the table in the Welcome Center as soon as possible.

If you can't join us in person for worship, livestream is available through the Vinton Baptist Church app, at www.vintonbaptistchurch.org, and through our Facebook page.

The Preteens (3rd - 5th graders) will have an Open Gym & Pizza Dinner this Sunday, 4:00 - 5:30 PM. Whitney will have sign-up sheets available for Passport Camp, 2025 medical forms, and a Preteen schedule for the remainder of this semester.

Also, Youth Choir will rehearse at 11:45 AM. Handbells will rehearse at 5:00 PM. Youth Dinner/Extreme will take place at 5:30 PM.

Wednesday Women Update

Please note that Wednesday Women has opted to postpone their Bible study, The Chosen 4: God's Goodness to the Chosen, for warmer weather. They will begin March 12th and run through April 30th. If you would like to sign up, there is plenty of time; please give us a call in the church office at 540-343-7685.

Soup for Seniors

The annual LOA Soup for Seniors Drive, sponsored by the JOY Seniors, is beginning to wind down. You have until Friday, January 31st to make your donations of low-salt, nutritious items such as soup, peanut butter, canned meats, canned fruit, canned vegetables, crackers, oatmeal, and Boost/Ensure. Collection boxes are available in the Welcome Center and by the elevator in the New Ministries Building. Thank you in advance for helping meet the needs of seniors in our community.

Upcoming JOY Senior Events:

Beans & Cornbread Luncheon Tuesday, January 28th at noon

Beat the cold and enjoy the fun and fellowship found at the annual JOY Senior Beans & Cornbread Luncheon! We will have winter games with prizes, and our meal will be a variety of beans, cornbread, slaw, apples, and dessert, with condiments to include chow chow. The cost is $12/person. The luncheon date is Tuesday, January 28th starting at noon. You will also learn about trips and activities planned for 2025. Come early to visit with friends. Please sign up and pay at the JOY Senior table.

Day Trip to God's Pit Crew Tuesday, February 18th

We will travel to Danville to tour God's Pit Crew and have lunch at their facility. Lunch will be prepared by their personal chef. We will depart VBC at 9:30 AM, have lunch, tour the facility, and return home. The cost of the entire trip is only $12/person. Sign up ASAP to reserve a spot on the bus.

Senior Break Out Tuesday, February 25th

We will travel to Mac & Bob's in Salem for lunch. The cost of this trip is whatever you spend on lunch. Sign up at the JOY Senior table. Remember, as always, your payment is your reservation!

Youth Ski Trip Deadline This Friday

The youth will head to Wintergreen for a ski weekend January 31st - February 2nd. Participants will stay in condos across from Devil's Knob. Skiers will be able to ski all day Saturday and have the option of adding on night skiing for Saturday night. Non-skiers will be able to go tubing and hang out at the resort, which includes an indoor swimming pool and indoor pickleball courts. Click here for the sign-up sheet, which includes the details. (Please note that the hours listed beside full-day skiing are incorrect; those are night skiing hours instead.) If you haven't already done so, please complete the 2025 Medical Release form, as well.

Thursday Morning Small Group

Travis' Thursday Morning Small Group will resume regular weekly meetings at 10:00 AM February 6th. This group is informal in nature and is open to all adults. We discuss various subjects, and no topic is off limits. On the first Thursday of each month, we generally move over to Pok-E-Joe's for lunch and continued discussion at 11:00 AM (for those who choose to have lunch with us). See Travis or call the church office with any questions.

Joe Brugh

316 E. Madison Avenue

Vinton VA 24179-4528

Sunday, January 19, 2025:

Sunday School: 188

10:30 AM Worship

• in person: 288
• online: 432

2024 Contribution Statements

Last year's contribution statements are ready to be picked up in the church office. You can pick them up during normal business hours (9 AM - 5 PM Monday - Friday) or on Sundays. If you are able to pick yours up during the next week, you will save us the postage of having to mail your statement. Thank you!

Offering Envelopes

We still have a number of boxes of assigned offering envelopes at the Missions Tables; if you usually use envelopes, please check there for yours. If you need offering envelopes and do not see yours, please make a note for Patsy on the tablet at the Missions Tables so that she can issue them for you.

Kroger Community Rewards

Do you shop at Kroger? Do you have a Kroger Shopper's Card? Then you can arrange to have a portion of your Kroger purchases donated to Vinton Baptist Church at no extra cost to you. Create or log into your Kroger account, and select Vinton Baptist Church as the beneficiary of your purchases. Just follow the directions located here. If you need help, call the church office.

Congratulations to parents Logan & Madee Gibbs Harrison and big brother Baylor in the birth of Tatum Brooke on January 20th, weighing 6 lbs., 8 ozs. Proud grandparents are William & Sharon Gibbs, and great grandparents are Galen & Laura Conner.

Please extend a warm welcome to Sherry & Chubby Wiggins, 828 Finney Drive, Vinton VA 24179. Both officially joined VBC by letter this past Sunday. Sherry & Chubby, we are so thankful for you and for your membership at Vinton Baptist Church!

Church Counseling

Just a reminder that we have individual adult and youth, family, and marriage counseling available at no charge for church members and their families. This ministry is offered by Cathy Abraham, LPC. If you, or someone you know, is interested, please call the church office at 540-343-7685 for more information. Days and times are flexible.

Bible Reading Plan

CONGRATULATIONS to Debbie Cooper, Rita Martin, and Barbara Slusher, who all notified me last week that they finished our two-year Bible Reading Plan! If YOU finished our 2023-24 plan, please let me know: kim@vintonbaptistchurch.org.

It's not too late to join our new 2025 reading plan. You can click here to save or print a copy; you can pick up a copy at the Welcome Center; or you can access our new plan on our VBC app (available through your app store - just search for Vinton Baptist Church VA).

Over the past week we have spent time learning about Isaac and Rebekah, their sons Jacob and Esau, and their sons' families. I have a few questions for you this week:

• How is God's covenant with Abraham reflected in the lives of Isaac and his sons?
• How does Isaac repeat some of the experiences and mistakes of his father?
• How do you think the family dynamics between Isaac and Rebekah contributed to the discord between their sons? Do you see similar family dynamics in our own culture?
• Who is in the wrong: Jacob or Esau?
• There are stories of Jacob getting what he wants by deception; how is Jacob also deceived by others?

I would love to get your feedback on these questions and any other topics that you find relevant in our reading. Please feel free to email me or post to our FB account.

-- Kim

AARP Tax-Aide

AARP will once again offer Tax-Aide free tax preparation on Thursday mornings at Vinton Baptist starting February 6th. There are two ways to make an appointment:

1. The easiest option is online at aarp.org/findtaxhelp. You can do that today.
2. The second option is to call 540-345-2820 starting Monday, January 27th to make an appointment by phone. Generally you will need to leave a message, and a Tax-Aide volunteer will return your call.

Please keep in mind that trained volunteers are preparing your taxes; however, if you have a complicated tax situation, they may refer you to a paid tax preparer. There are no age minimums or maximums for having AARP prepare your taxes. Once you make your appointment, you can stop by the church office to pick up your preliminary paperwork and fill it out ahead of your appointment.

I want to thank you for your generous donation and for your youth volunteering here at Agape Center. What you do makes a real difference in the lives of those in the community we serve. We are incredibly grateful for your commitment and support to our cause. We are deeply appreciative here at Agape of your ongoing support. Praying the Lord bless you all abundantly!

Ande Melton, Agape Center/Vinton-Roanoke

To the VBC Staff, HR & Finance Committees, and Church Family,

Thank you all so much for the very special recognition and generosity. It has been my honor and pleasure to serve alongside each of you. While my path has changed its course for the moment, I will be forever grateful for the many blessings and friendships I have received while being a part of Vinton Baptist Church. I wish you all health and happiness in this new year!

Love, Carrie Tolley

Vinton Baptist Church,

Thank you for the lovely peace lily sent to honor our mother, Peggy Page Stovall. We appreciated the support of Travis and Chris. She dearly loved her church family.

Much appreciated, Jeff & Mike Stovall and Family

"Check Out" These New Books in the Library

• "Extreme Measures" series by Lynette Eason (4 books)
• Seabreeze Inn by Jan Moran
• I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble
• A Year of Flowers by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Please note that the church office will close at 4 PM this Friday, January 24th in order to accommodate staff vacation schedules. Thanks for your understanding.