TONIGHT:

6:15 PM Children's Choirs & Youth Missions Group (serving at the Agape Center)

6:30 PM Weeknight Worship (Exodus 3:4, "Deliverance")

7:30 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal

A Higher Note

I would like to say thank you to all of the VBC folks that helped with the joint concert with Melrose Baptist this past Sunday evening. Especially to Terry Hough for preparing dinner for both groups. Mark Hough and Mark Olsen, thank you for giving two evenings to be at the rehearsal and performance to run our technical components. Thanks to Wanda and Gari Melchers for their professional accompaniment along with Susan Matney. I'd like to thank the Chancel Choir for the extra time and effort to come to extra rehearsals for the special event. Thanks to Sharon Gibbs for organizing and securing ushers for us. Andy Nicely, thank you for setting up tables and making sure the facility was ready for groups. Finally, to all who came out to hear the concert on a less than desirable weather evening. The concert is available on our church website under the livestream tab. -- Chris Monroe

This Sunday @ VBC

Morning worship begins at 10:30 AM (Sunday School at 9:15 AM). Travis will preach the last sermon in our current series: "Swing the Bat" based in Matthew 25:14-30. If you can't join us in person, livestream is available through our app, at www.vintonbaptistchurch.org, and through our Facebook page.

It's going to be another full Sunday afternoon/evening at VBC:

• After morning worship we will have our second Youth Choir Luncheon Fundraiser: salad and baked potato with all the fixings! TODAY (Wednesday, October 2nd) is the last day to sign up; call the church office at 540-343-7685 if you'd like to have lunch with us on Sunday to support the Youth Choir Mission Tour. $10/person. Carryout available (fix your own salad/potato).
• The Deacons will meet at noon in the small dining room.
• Art from the Heart & Mission Kids will meet 4 - 5:30 PM. Drop-off and pick-up will be in the gym.
• Handbells rehearsal is at 5 PM, as usual.
• Our Youth Supper will take place at 5:30 PM. At 6 PM is our special event: A Conversation with Trip Ison, presented in conjunction with Nancy Hans and Partnership for Community Wellness. Trip is a WBHS graduate who will share his story of addiction and recovery. Afterward students will have a Q&A session with Trip while parents have their own session with Nancy Hans.
• Weeknight Worship rehearsal will take place at 6 PM.

Operation Reach Out is Back!

Come, help us minister to our community the morning of October 19th from 9 AM until noon. Please click here for the registration form, which includes a list of projects that you can pick from. We will offer both breakfast (8:30 AM) and lunch (12:30 PM). And you have the option of purchasing a t-shirt if your form is returned TODAY. Please note that children as young as 3 years old are invited to participate. Please print and complete the registration form (copies are also be available at the church) and return it to Whitney as soon as possible. Questions? Contact Whitney.

JOY Seniors Schedule

The Wohlfahrt Haus trip on November 9th is officially full! However, if you are interested, please sign up at the JOY Senior table for the wait list. If someone drops out - or if we are able to secure more tickets - you may have an opportunity to go. Those who have already signed up must be sure to pay ($70/person, including dinner, the play, and a tip) by this Sunday, October 6th. When signing up on the wait list, please indicate whether you prefer to ride the bus (if seats are available) or drive.

Are you ready for a fun fall trip? On October 15th the JOY Seniors will take their annual fall trip to Fincastle, to include Heritage Market, Ikenberry Orchards, and a new location - Scripture Truth Book Company. We will conclude with lunch at Cracker Barrel. The only cost for this trip is what you spend. You can sign up to ride the bus or plan to drive. Either way, join the fun and fellowship by signing up at the JOY Senior table.

Preteens October Event

Preteens (all 3rd - 5th graders) are invited to join us for a trip to Layman Farms Sunday, October 20th. We will depart VBC at 2 PM on the church bus and plan to return at 4:30 PM. The cost is $20/person. Questions? See Jessie Burgess.

Little Pumpkins Jamboree

Fun & the Son invites all newborns - PreK kids and their parents/guardians to our annual fall party on Monday, October 28th, 10 - 11:30 AM! Put on your favorite costume, and come join us for some fun games, festive snacks, and a fabulous craft. All little pumpkins are welcome! See Betty Jo Overstreet with questions.

Trunk-or-Treat

This year Trunk-or-Treat falls on Wednesday, October 30th. We've already begun collecting bags of candy. They can be dropped off in the black tubs at the Missions Tables and in the New Ministries Building lobby.

Please click here to sign up to host a trunk for this event! We need 20+ volunteer trunks to make this event a success.

Blood Drive

We're excited to announce that we are hosting a blood drive in connection with our Trunk-or-Treat event this year! The Blood Connection, which partners with Carilion to provide blood to local organizations, will have their mobile unit open at VBC from 12:00 PM to 7:30 PM on October 30th. Click here to register today! This link is open to VBC members/attenders, as well as the community. ALL are encouraged to "give the gift of life"!

Save the Date

This year's Christmas Craft & Vendor Show is scheduled for Sunday, December 1st. Click here for more info, including a vendor registration form.

Judy Thomas

c/o Brookdale Roanoke

1127 Persinger Road SW

Garden House Room #25

Roanoke VA 24015

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Worship: 70

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Sunday School: 227

10:30 AM Worship

• in person: 313
• online: 316

6:30 PM SingShare Concert

• in person: 179
• online: 129

Thank you to the Fellowship/Berean Class for their donation to the General Budget.

Alma Hunt Offering for State Missions

The WMU invites you to contribute to the Alma Hunt State Missions Offering; our church goal is $2,200. For more info, go to almahunt.org. Special envelopes for this fund are in your box of church envelopes (they specify "state missions") and also in the church pews. Thanks in advance for helping us meet our goal.

Christian sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Joyce Keaton, who passed away September 28th.

Operation Christmas Child

This year's Operation Christmas Child campaign is underway. There are several ways you can help:

• VOLUNTEER - Our Operation Christmas Child volunteers are busy wrapping shoeboxes Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:00 AM - noon in room 109 of the New Ministries Building. Anyone is welcome to drop in and help.
• DONATE - If you have empty shoeboxes to donate, please drop them at the Missions Tables at the church or contact Darlene McCaskill (540-890-6748) so that she can arrange to pick them up. We are also collecting items to go in the shoeboxes (small toys, combs, washcloths, toothbrushes, school supplies, socks, sunglasses, etc.) at the Missions Tables.
• PACK YOUR OWN BOX - There are empty, wrapped shoeboxes available at the Missions Tables, along with brochures explaining how to pack a box and what to put in it. The brochure also includes a label for your box, or you can pay for shipping online and print a label that can be tracked. Feel free to pick up a couple of boxes and fill them with your family. Then return them to the Missions Tables (with labels attached) by November 3rd. We will make sure they get to our local drop-off center by the deadline in November.

Bible Reading Plan

We went through Galatians quickly, and now we're on to Ephesians. According to Fee & Stuart (How to Read the Bible Book by Book), this particular letter was most likely written by Paul in the early 60's C.E. while he was in prison in Rome. Its messenger is Tychicus; he is also delivering the letters of Colossians and Philemon to Colosse. Fee & Stuart explain the following:

"The churches of Asia Minor are in a period of difficulty. Some outside influences are putting pressure on Gentile believers to conform to Jewish identity markers (circumcision, food laws, religious calendar ...). Others are discouraged, distressed by magic and the power of the demonic ('the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,' Paul calls them, Eph 6:12), which had held them in their grip for so many years. As Paul is in prison thinking about these things and reflecting on the grandeur of Christ as expressed in his letter to the Colossians, his heart soars, and what he sees he writes down as encouragement for these churches."

I hope you enjoy Ephesians; it will take us less than a week to read. Then we're on to Philippians and Colossians.

-- Kim

Vinton Breakfast Lions Club Fundraiser

The Vinton Lions Club invites you to attend their fundraiser breakfast on October 12th between the hours of 7 AM and 11 AM. Tickets are $7/adult, $4 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Come support this group that does so much for our community. Please see Gary Myers or Chris McCarty for tickets!

Disaster Response Opportunities

We know that our congregation has been praying diligently for those affected by flooding from Hurricane Helene and that many folks would also like to help in more tangible ways. Following is a post (edited for space) from CBF Virginia that may help you determine the best way you can help:

We, like you, are heartbroken over the havoc our neighbors are experiencing. Although we are not a disaster response organization, several partners provide a variety of ways to respond to short-term and long-term needs. Here are a few ways you can help:

Pray- Pray continuously for all those affected, who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods, for those who have not been able to contact family in the devastated areas, for responders and local leaders as they determine the best course of action, for ministers, counselors, chaplains, and churches as they care for individuals impacted.

Give- Give to vetted organizations that support disaster response efforts

CBF Global’s Disaster Response focuses on long-term impact. “In keeping with CBF’s focus on long-term impact, CBF Disaster Response participates in networks seeking to help communities after a devastating event, but employs most of its resources on the long-term recovery, rehabilitation, and resiliency of a community after first responders have finished their work.” https://www.classy.org/give/524668/#!/donation/checkout

CBF North Carolina: Support disaster response efforts through CBFNC at: https://cbfnc.org/give/ Please select "Disaster Response" in the dropdown menu when asked where to direct your support.

Together for Hope: TFH is raising funds to give directly to local partners in affected regions. https://givebutter.com/TFHRELIEF

Go- Plan to engage through hands-on opportunities

Baptist General Association Virginia (BGAV): Impact Missions Disaster Response seeks volunteers who can serve in all areas- feeding, assessment, cleanup, chainsaw, and crisis care. On-site training provided https://impactmissionsmovement.org/on-alert-disaster.../

Disaster Relief Buckets: CBFNC is collecting buckets. “Organizing a disaster relief bucket ‘brigade’ is one-way church groups can do something to help."

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Also, please be aware that VBC and other local churches are considering ways that we can partner to help flood victims on a long-term basis (such as the possibility of packing the buckets mentioned above). Travis has a meeting scheduled with other local pastors. Please stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.

We want to thank our church for all the cards, prayers, and meals that have been given to support our family during the past month. You have truly been a blessing!

-- Jessie, Matt, Lydia, & Atlas Burgess

Thank you to the GFWC Vinton Women's Club for their generous donations to the Blessing Box!