The Witness Volume 40, Issue 12 March 23, 2022

TONIGHT! At 6:15 PM in the gym this evening, we have another special presentation, "Exercise in Letting Go," this time from Danielle Alexander, Outreach Coordinator with Good Samaritan Hospice. We will be led through the last three months of our lives as we prepare for our own deaths. This exercise can be emotional and uncomfortable, but it creates an understanding of and empathy for the end-of-life process. We hope you'll join us for this important discussion Children's Choirs, Youth Worship Leadership class, as well as Praise Team and Chancel Choir rehearsals will continue as scheduled. If you need copies of resources from last Wednesday's presentation by Ann Cranwell, you may click here for the packet that Ann passed out, and click here for a blank Advance Medical Directive.

This Sunday, March 27th: Youth Sunday! We hope you'll plan to join us this weekend as our Youth lead worship at both morning services on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Emilie McCaskill will bring the message: "With God, We Cannot Lose," based in Romans 8:24-30.

Thrive Student Ministry Youth Volleyball: Come cheer for our volleyball teams tomorrow night beginning at 6:30 PM. There will be no volleyball practice this Sunday, March 27th; there will be no games next Thursday, March 31st due to spring break. Click here for the volleyball game schedule (note that there is a separate page for each of our two teams).

Youth Worship Leadership: Any and all youth can practice reading scripture and public speaking, writing prayers and litanies, and learning the role and importance of each element in worship. We are also preparing for Youth Sunday this weekend! DNOW: A weekend of missions and discipleship April 8th - 10th. Sign up ASAP to get a t-shirt. Cost is $60/person. Click here for the sign up sheet and more info. Summer Camp: Week of Hope Mission Trip June 26th - July 1st in Charleston, SC. Sign up NOW with a $100 deposit. There will be a Parent/Student Pre-trip Meeting April 24th at 4:00 PM. Click here for trip details and participation form.

Upcoming Children's Ministry Events THIS SUNDAY: Preteens event here at the church, 4:00 - 5:30 PM. Please meet in the gym. Preteens will meet again Sunday, April 24th for a fun afternoon at Treetop Quest in Explore Park. Cost is $19. Let Sarah know if you plan to attend so that we can be sure we have enough tickets. ALSO THIS SUNDAY: Last day to register for Passport Kids' Camp at Eagle Eyrie! APRIL 3RD: Art from the Heart (4:00 PM), Children's Pizza Dinner (5:00 PM), and CIA (5:30 PM) will all take place on the FIRST Sunday of April and will be our last meeting for this school year.

Passport Kids' Camp registration is due by this Sunday, March 27th. Registration can be completed by filling out the form (click here or find a copy in the church office) and submitting a $100 camp deposit. Camp will take place June 15 - 18 at Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg. Questions? Contact Sarah Hurt.

Wednesday Dinner, March 30th We WILL have Wednesday night activities next week even though schools are on spring break. Our dinner menu is ground beef & rice stuffed peppers, squash & onions, dinner rolls, & desserts. Travis is scheduled to begin a new adult Bible study, and Children's Choirs, Youth Worship class, and adult choir rehearsals will proceed according to the usual schedule.

Youth Choir Mission Tour The Youth Choir will tour their way to Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, FL June 4th-9th. The cost is $200 per participant. All participants need to sign up in the choir room and make full payment by April 3. Itineraries and permission forms will be available May 1.

JOY Seniors JOY Seniors Luncheon March 29th, featuring guest speaker Melissa Gaona of WDBJ7 and Street Ransom. Box lunches are available from McAlister's at a cost of $10/each, but you must sign up, make your sandwich selection, and pay by this Friday, March 25th in order to reserve a lunch. Crystal Springs Steam Pump Tour Tuesday, April 12th. We will depart VBC at 9:00 AM and will have lunch at The Roanoker. Your only cost is your lunch. Sign up today! Morehead City, NC trip May 10-12, including a visit to the History Museum of Carteret County, the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, wild horse dolphin cruise, Cape Lookout National Seashore, and other opportunities. Roundtrip motor coach transportation will be provided by Abbott bus. Costs are listed in the JOY Seniors brochure, and payments can be made in installations. Sign up at the JOY Seniors table.

Bill Barrett 489 Cameron Drive Vinton VA 24179-1913

Thanks to the Fellowship/Berean Class for their donation to Youth Summer Mission Camp.

Easter Offering This year's Easter Offering will be equally split between the following two ministries: VBC Blessing Box - The Blessing Box is the large, red, plastic box located in the edge of the Breezeway. Several times per week, the box is stocked with nonperishable food items and various toiletries for folks to come by and take what they need from the box. This ministry operates independently of the Food Pantry and does not share any Food Pantry funding. It is an alternative for individuals who cannot get to the Food Pantry during its designated hours, or who might need items in between Food Pantry visits. This local ministry has become important in meeting the needs of our community. BGAV Ukrainian Relief - The BGAV is collecting funds, which are being channeled through the European Baptist Federation, to meet the needs of Ukrainians through established partners. The BGAV has asked for both financial and prayer support for these efforts. Please click here for a video explaining how your gifts help. This national relief effort shares the love of Christ to a hurting, war-torn world.

Regarding Ukrainian relief funds, please note that we have closed our donation window for the Zubtsov missionary family (this family was not part of our Easter Offering). Any additional funding for Ukraine relief efforts can be funneled through our Easter Offering, as detailed above (our total Easter Offering will be split between the above listed projects). Please click here for a link to BGAV updates from Ukraine. If you would like to make a donation directly to BGAV for Ukraine relief, you will find a donate button at this link.

Christian sympathy is extended to Ted Falls, Jr. and family in the death of his mother, Edna Bryant Falls, on Saturday, March 19.

Can You Help Us Out? Please sign up to help out in Children's Worship and/or the Nursery. We need volunteers every Sunday. Click here for the sign-up sheet, with dates available through May.

Children's Corner Parents and grandparents, following is a list of resources that your family can use and reuse yearly to facilitate discussions at home about Holy Week, should you choose. All are reading materials and/or hands-on activities: Easter Story Egg - A family activity where each egg has a rhyming story that relates to a particular day in Holy Week, leading up to Easter Sunday. As the children open each egg they will discover the Easter story and the journey of Jesus through Holy Week. Click here to order. Cost is $39.99 and includes a hardcover book and 7 plastic/wood composite nesting eggs. Easter Love Letters from God - Guides children and families through Holy Week with seven beautifully illustrated Bible stories. Following each story, the child will find his or her own letter from God. Children will love the excitement of opening the letters, and parents will love how the letters elaborate on the Bible stories being told. Click here to order. Cost is 12.99 for a hard copy or $4.99 for a Kindle download through Amazon. Holy Week Stones - A family faith kit that involves reading a devotion each day in Holy Week and painting a stone that corresponds with each day. Click here to order. Cost is $10, which covers family devotions for Holy Week and painting stones activity cards and leader guide (digital download). He's Alive Playlist - Yancy Wideman Richmond is a musician and author who won Children's Album of the Year at the 52nd Dove Awards in 2021. She released her first book, Sweet Sound: the Power of Discipling Kids in Worship, in January 2022. You can download her Easter playlist by clicking here.

The Dr. Charlie J. Lovelace, III Memorial College Scholarship Attention: High School Seniors! Applications for the $1,000 Lovelace Scholarship are due Monday, April 11th. They are available in the church office, at WBHS, or by clicking here.

Pillows on Patrol We still have packets ready to be picked up at the Missions Tables to make pillows (a sewing machine is needed) for our local police officers to give to children who need comfort during officer involved calls. Please click here for a tutorial on making pillows. Questions? Please see Whitney Russell or Laura Lea Harris. Completed projects can be returned to the Missions Tables or church office. Many thanks go to all who have donated both pillows and fleece blankets!

Please click here for the registration form for Egg My Yard, which you can print, complete, and return with payment by April 6th. Forms are also available at the Welcome Center. Please also note that we are collecting plastic eggs and peanut-free candy or toys to stuff into the eggs. Please drop off donations at the Missions Tables.

Donations Needed for Homebound Easter Baskets Please drop off in the appropriate bin at the Missions Tables any of the following items to help fill our Easter baskets for our homebound folks: large print word search booklets, sugar free candies, small hand sanitizers, and small tissue packs. We also need folks who are willing to deliver these baskets the week of April 10-16. (Baskets will be ready for pickup at the church on Sunday, April 10th.) Please see Joanna Williamson if you can help.

Holy Week Devotional from BGAV Click here for a Holy Week devotional provided by BGAV. This devotional may be used beginning Palm Sunday, April 10th and will walk you through each day leading up to Easter. You can print the devotional from the above link or utilize it online.

Attention: Undergraduate Students & their Parents The VBC church family has a special Easter treat for each of our undergraduate college students to let them know that we're thinking of them this semester. However, we are in needs of names and addresses again. Please contact Joanna Williamson or the church office (540-343-7685) with your student's name and current address. We want to make sure that we include everyone, and we want to fully update our list of students. Thank you!

Youth Choir Mission Tour Fundraiser Charlie Chattin has once again been very busy on behalf of the Youth Choir! We have 30 handmade birdhouses available for sale to benefit the Youth Choir; stop by the Welcome Center and check them out. Now is a perfect time to place a birdhouse outside and fully enjoy the spring season. Each birdhouse is $20.

Vinton Baptist Church, Thank you for your prayers and your cards. I appreciate you thinking of me after my fall. Dot Ferguson

Please note that all articles and notices for The Witness are normally due by noon the Monday prior to publishing. Due to Kim's vacation schedule, articles and notices for the March 30th Witness will be due by tomorrow, March 24th at noon.

March 2022 Calendar

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