Youth Missions Group and Children's Choirs will meet tonight at 6:15 PM. There will be no Weeknight Worship or Adult Bible Study tonight, as last week was the last meeting for both of those events for this season. Chancel Choir rehearsal will take place at 7:30 PM.

Bible Reading Plan

Folks, mark your calendars for next Wednesday, May 15th, when we will begin the New Testament! If you have not been able to walk through the Old Testament with us for the past year and a half, now is your chance to join us for the New Testament only, which will wrap up by the end of this year. We will read straight through from Matthew to Revelation (although a passage from either Psalms or Proverbs will also be part of your daily reading). Summer is a great time to get started because schedules tend to be a little less hectic than the school year. There are copies of our plan available at the Welcome Center, or you can click here for an online version. Just find Matthew 1 on page 10. (The date says May 16th, but we will actually begin on May 15th due to 2024 being a leap year.) Keep in mind that you can also access our Bible Reading Plan through the VBC app on your mobile device. You can download it from your app store by searching Vinton Baptist Church VA. The Bible Reading Plan is available on the bottom menu, and you can even have your mobile device read it to you!

In the meantime, over the next week we will finish out Zechariah and Malachi in the Old Testament. Zechariah lived and prophesied during the same time frame as Haggai, specifically to those who had returned from the exile in Babylon/Persia. Following is Fee & Stuart's concise summary in How to Read the Bible Book by Book: Zechariah is a book of "visions aimed at encouraging the postexilic community, especially the leadership, to rebuild the temple, plus oracles about the future coming King who would be slain and eventually triumph." They explain further, "God is with the remnant community of people who have returned from exile; God will prosper her leaders; the future of Jerusalem and Judah is bright and full of peace and glory; Israel's King will come back to Jerusalem in triumph, yet he will be slain for the sins of the people; God will punish his people's enemies, yet many of the nations will come to know the Lord."

Malachi also appears to address the people who have returned from exile, although its exact time frame is questionable. Its emphasis, per Fee & Stuart, is on the disagreement between God (Yahweh) and the Jewish people about the faithfulness of one to the other. The people question God about his fidelity to them, and he points out their ongoing apostasy. "Yahweh is a covenant-keeping God and requires the same of his people; God's people show disdain for God by their apathy and moral and religious decline; God will judge his people in justice for their halfhearted obedience."

Congratulations to those who have read through the Old Testament with us! And welcome to all those who will start the New Testament with us next week!

-- Kim

This Sunday @ VBC

Join us this weekend for a very musical Mother's Day worship service! We will hear from the Chancel Choir, the Chancel Choir Men, and a number of other soloists, duos, and groups. Chris will bring this Sunday's message while the Russells are out of town for Travis' graduation from Duke. The sermon title is "What Shall We Sing?" and the scripture is Colossians 3:16. If you cannot join us in person at 10:30 AM, you can livestream at www.vintonbaptistchurch.org and on our Facebook group page.

There will be no Youth Choir rehearsal this Sunday, and no other afternoon or evening activities.

JOY Seniors Activities

You do not want to miss the May luncheon! Our entertainment will be "The Brothers Young," a bluegrass group of two young brothers. Our lunch will be provided by McAlister's Deli, and the cost is $12. The date is May 21st (a bit earlier than usual due to Memorial Day), so sign up at the JOY Senior table, mark your calendars, and come enjoy the fun and fellowship.

September 24th - 26th, the JOY Seniors will take a trip to Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Since this is a shared trip with Bonsack Baptist, seats are limited; there is now a wait list. See the JOY Senior brochure (located at the JOY Senior table) for details about costs and itinerary.

Thursday Morning Small Group Study

Please note that there will be no small group study tomorrow morning, May 9th, as Travis and his family will be on the way to his graduation at Duke. There will also be no small group study May 30th.

Ministry Matters

We have our next Ministry Matters meeting scheduled for Sunday, May 19th at 5:00 PM in the gym. Among other business, we will have a brief overview of Realm, our church management software, and how it can be utilized for better communication among our church family. If you would like to get set up on Realm, bring your phone, tablet, laptop, or other mobile device, and we'll walk you through the process. (You will need access to your email if you have not already signed up for Realm.)

May Preteen Event (Plus Youth!)

On Sunday, May 19th, 4:00 - 6:00 PM, the Preteens are inviting the youth to join them to make VBS decorations. Please meet in the Preteen room. See Jessie Burgess with any questions.

WBHS Baccalaureate

The 2024 William Byrd High School Baccalaureate, presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, will be hosted by Vinton Baptist Sunday, May 19th at 6:00 PM in the sanctuary.

Youth White Water Rafting

Mark your calendars for our PGA Rafting Trip to Camp Wild Ridge and the New River Gorge National Park July 19th - 21st! Two adventure levels are available. The cost is $225/person (or $105 without rafting). Chaperones are needed but will need to cover the cost of rafting only ($120). Please see Whitney for more details, registration forms, or if you're interested in being a chaperone. The deadline to sign up is June 5th.

Richard Newman

c/o Hermitage in Roanoke

1009 Old Country Club Road NW

Roanoke VA 24017

Congratulations to two lovely ladies who have birthdays this week!

• Marie Wheeler will turn 91 years old on May 10th.
• Bernice King will turn 95 years old on May 11th.

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Weeknight Worship: 28

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Sunday School: 208

10:30 AM Worship:

• 353 in person
• 112 online

Christian sympathy is extended to Buddy, John, Joanie, and families in the death of wife and mother Jean Williams Thurman on Thursday, May 2nd. The funeral is at 10 AM today.

Associational Missions Offering

The Annie Mae Broyles Associational Missions Offering is now underway, and we'd love to have your support. The funds from this offering are used for local initiatives here in the greater Roanoke Valley. In fact, two thirds of the money raised goes to support Keystone Community Center and the Friendship House. Our church goal is $2,200. The total offering goal for all churches combined is $15,000. Will you help folks in our community by giving? There are envelopes in the pew pockets in the sanctuary, as well as in your box of envelopes. Some specify "Annie Mae Broyles"; others simply say "Associational Missions." Both types of envelopes go to the same fund.

Graduate Info

Graduate Recognition Sunday is May 19th. If you or someone in your family is graduating from high school, college, or grad school this year, please email kim@vintonbaptistchurch.org or call the church office at 540-343-7685 to let us know the following: name of graduate, school, any special honors, type of degree, future plans (example: if/where they will attend college or military service, or what career they are pursuing), and whether they will be able to attend worship May 19th. If your graduate cannot attend May 19th, we would still like to have their information so that we can recognize them in The Witness.

Graduate Bibles for our senior high school students just came in and are ready for your notes of congratulations and affirmation, as well as highlighting your favorite verses. Please find these Bibles on the table in the Welcome Center and take a moment to share your encouragement with our high school graduates between now and Thursday, May 16th. Thank you!

Dinwiddie Youth Mission Trip:

Tools/Supplies Needed!

Please click here for a list of items needed for the Youth Mission Trip to Dinwiddie, Virginia. If you have any items on this list that our group could borrow, please label them, fill out the Tool Register located in the church office, and drop your items off at the church. We will return borrowed items when we return from our trip. Thank you!

Blessing Box Needs

Following is a list of items needed for the Blessing Box: fruit cups or cans of fruit (any type), individually wrapped snacks (like crackers, Teddy Grahams, chips, granola bars, fruit bars, etc.), cans of SpaghettiO's or other types of Chef Boyardee products, peanut butter, applesauce, and corn bread mixes. Cans with pop tops are particularly helpful for our homeless folks. Donations can be dropped off in the marked bin at the Missions Tables. Thank you!!

Please note that The Witness will NOT be published the first week in June, as Kim will be on vacation. Thanks for your understanding.

"Check out" these new books in the church library (all by Denise Hunter):

• Love, Unscripted
• Bookshop by the Sea
• Mending Places #1
• Saving Grace #2
• Finding Faith #3

From the Property Committee:

Thanks for your continued support, as we have been working hard on the heating and cooling systems, and also repairing the ceiling in the choir room and the baptistry. We have converted from heating to cooling. Please be mindful that the recommended temperature in any given room should be no less than 70 degrees. If you do turn the thermostat down, please turn it back up before leaving your room. Our electric bill is one of our major expenses. Thank you for your continued donations (above your normal giving) to the capital needs fund that have allowed us to continue our efforts to provide the best facilities possible.

Notice to Our Walkers

If you normally walk at VBC on weekdays, please be aware that our Boys & Girls Club will begin their full day summer session on June 10th, which means that the New Ministries Building will not be open to walkers. You are welcome to walk on any floor of the Children's Building, as well as in the sanctuary. The Boys & Girls Club summer session will end July 26th, at which time you can return to your usual routes through the building.

Vinton Baptist Church,

I want to thank my church family for the nice box of goodies I received at Easter. Also, I have enjoyed receiving cards and visits, but miss being in worship with you. God bless each of you.

Evelyn Welsh

Vinton Baptist Church,

Thank you for the nice box of useful items you gave me at Easter. Also, thanks for the many cards and visits.

Barbara Karnes