Bible Reading Plan

I don't know about you, but I am finding the history and themes of Nehemiah incredibly interesting! It's another short book, so we'll be done with it by this time next week. Did you notice that in the middle of the lists of men who worked on the city walls and gates, we find Nehemiah 3:12: "Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters" (italics mine). Just a little encouragement for you ladies out there!

While Fee & Stuart, in How to Read the Bible Book by Book, offer much helpful information about the history recorded in Ezra-Nehemiah, BibleProject also offers a great deal of background and interpretation, especially recognizing some of the idiosyncracies found in the narrative. You can find the BibleProject's short video on Ezra-Nehemiah here.

Just a reminder that if you are using our VBC app (available through your app store by searching Vinton Baptist Church VA), you can click on Bible Reading Plan (along the bottom menu), then click on Plan, click the current day's reading (or any day prior), and click the play icon, and the scripture for that day will be read to you. I listen to each day's reading as I'm getting ready for work each morning. If you're finding it hard to make time to sit down and read the scripture yourself, feel free to have the app read it to you. Let me know if you have any trouble with that process, and I'll be happy to help. Happy reading/listening!

-- Kim

Tonight's Lineup:

Grief Support Group @ 6:15 in the library (for those who signed up).

Faith Formation at Home @ 6:15 in the small dining room. Everyone is welcome!

Children's Choirs @ 6:15 PM (age 3 - 5th grade).

Nursery is available for the above events.

Praise Team rehearses @ 6:30 PM.

Chancel Choir rehearses @ 7:30 PM.

Sunday @ VBC

You're invited to worship with us at 8:45 and/or 11:00 AM (Sunday School at 9:50 AM) this Sunday, October 1st, which will be Call Sunday for Jessie Burgess, our candidate for Minister of Children & Families. Jessie will share with us at both worship services. Travis' message is "A Kneader," and the scripture is Matthew 13:33. We will have a Called Business Meeting at the conclusion of each service to vote on the Minister of Children & Families.

If you can't make it to church in person, you can find our livestream at www.vintonbaptistchurch.org or on our Facebook group page.

Church Directory

Church directory portraits will continue to be taken this Friday and Saturday, as well as October 13th - 14th. If you have not yet made your appointment, please do so ASAP by calling the church office at 540-343-7685.

JOY Seniors

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 26th, when the JOY Seniors will be taking the October luncheon on the road to Fincastle to shop at the Heritage Market, The Pie Shoppe, and Ikenberry Orchard, with lunch at Cracker Barrel. Your cost is whatever you spend. Departure from VBC will be 9:30 AM.

We will see Elf the Musical at the Mill Mountain Theater Sunday, December 3rd. The bus will depart the church at 1:00 PM. The cost is $42, and there are a limited number of tickets available, so sign up and pay at the JOY Senior table as soon as possible.

Please note: Travis will be doing a Bible study about the ark. Although it was designed for folks going on the Ark Encounter trip, EVERYONE is invited to attend. It will take place Thursday, October 12th, 10 - 11:30 AM in the small dining room. A follow-up study will be held Thursday, November 2nd, 10 - 11:30 AM in the small dining room. We hope you can attend.

Thrive Youth Ministry

Check out our upcoming events:

• Tonight is Mission Night: we will be cleaning buses at the local bus lot and making thank you notes for our local bus drivers. Please meet at the church at 6 PM; we will return at 7:15 PM.
• This Sunday: Meet at the church at 5 PM; we'll go to dinner @ Chipotle, and then we'll head to Northside for Fields of Faith. (No Youth Choir.)
• October 8th: We'll eat lunch together after the 11 AM worship service, then take the bus to the Crop Walk at First Evangelical Presbyterian Church (start time is 2 PM). Youth Choir will take place at 5 PM, but there will be no Extreme.
• Fall Retreat sign-ups are open! Our dates are November 10-12, and we'll be at Camp Wilderness Adventure in New Castle. Click here for more info, and click here to sign up for Fall Retreat.

REMINDER: Weeknight Worship will continue every Tuesday at 7:00 PM through November 14th. Invite your friends and family to participate in this Holy Experiment.

Seniors on the Move Exercise Group

The Seniors on the Move Exercise Group resumes next Thursday afternoon, October 5th at 1:00 PM in the church gym. It is a 35-minute "joint ventures" movement class to stretch, loosen up, and meet friends. We do not lie on the floor. We stand, sit, push off the wall, do side kicks, and use weights of your choice. No judgement - just come do what you can and enjoy! If you have any questions, call Ski Shelton at 540-580-3962.

Playground Build: Volunteers Needed

We are so excited to be counting down the days to our scheduled playground build on the corner of E. Washington Avenue and S. Poplar Street (next to Lotz)! The dates are October 25th - 27th, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Volunteers are needed for full or half days, and our greatest need will be on Friday, October 27th. All volunteers must be of legal working age or older. The build will take place rain or shine. Please come prepared for the weather in clothes that are comfortable and can get dirty or stained with paint. Only closed-toe shoes will be allowed. Water, snacks, gloves, and masks (as needed) will be provided. Please click here to register. Many hands will make our work go faster and more smoothly. Come be a part of this special gift to our community!

Trunk-or-Treat:

October 29th, 4:30 - 6:30 PM

We're gearing up for this year's Trunk-or-Treat! There are two ways you can help:

1. Donate individually wrapped candy at the Missions Tables.
2. Plan to decorate a trunk and give out candy - sign up by clicking here!

Third Annual Christmas Craft & Vendor Fair

On Sunday, December 3rd from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM, VBC will host a craft & vendor fair in our gym to raise funds for summer camps. If you are a vendor who would like to participate, please click here for guidelines and the registration form. Questions? Please contact Whitney Russell.

Richard Newman

c/o Hermitage in Roanoke

1009 Old Country Club Road NW

Roanoke VA 24017

Christian sympathy is extended to Lecia & Bo Bohon in the death of her uncle Thomas Jackson on Sept. 20th.

Tuesday, September 26th: 64

Thank you to the Esther Sunday School Class for their donation to College Care Packages.

Thank you to the Dorcas Sunday School Class for their donations to College Care Packages and to Operation Christmas Child.

Copies of the 2023-24 approved budget are available in the church office.

College Care Packages

This Sunday, October 1st is the deadline for donating items for college care packages: Slim Jims, small packs of jerky, gummies, hard candy, gum, hot chocolate packets, Fruit Rollups/Gushers, small packs of Pringles, popcorn, individual packs of Cheez-Its, and sharpies/pens. Please drop items in the appropriate bin at the Missions Tables. Monetary donations assist with the cost of mailing care packages; please mark your gift to VBC with "college care packages" in the memo.

Note to parents of undergrad students: please call Patsy in the church office (540-343-7685) or email Joanna Harman 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.

Donations Requested for

Boys & Girls Club Project

Starting in October, the Boys & Girls Club is collecting water bottles and snacks for the Vinton Police Department. The Vinton PD will be meeting with Boys & Girls Club families at their October Family Night about ways to stay safe after school, and the children want to donate water and snacks to the department as a thank you for helping keep our community safe. There will be a box in the Welcome Center area and at the New Ministries Building glass doors for donations. Thank you!

Gloria Sink Memorial Coat Drive

Many years ago Gloria Sink, our friend and sister in Christ, had a vision that no child in the Vinton schools should be without a coat. As a result, she set out to make this happen, whether through donations or purchasing coats herself. With the permission of her husband, Wayne, the JOY Council continues this tradition and has renamed the annual coat drive in her honor and memory. This year's collection will run throughout the month of October. Donations can be placed on the coat rack in the Welcome Center beginning this Sunday. Specific requests for coats can be found on the JOY Senior bulletin board, although all like new or gently worn clean coats will be accepted. Thank you in advance for helping keep Gloria's dream alive and for keeping area kids warm this winter.

Operation Christmas Child

Shoebox wrapping takes place every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 10 AM - noon, in room 109; anyone is welcome to drop in and help on any day that you are available.

Empty shoeboxes can be dropped at the Missions Tables, or contact Darlene McCaskill (540-890-6748) so that she can arrange to pick them up.

Wrapped shoeboxes are available at the Missions Tables and in the first floor corridor to the New Ministries Building. Pick up a wrapped box and brochure, fill your box with goodies according to the instructions in the brochure, and return it to VBC.

We are collecting items such as small toys, stuffed animals, deflated soccer balls with pumps, toothbrushes, washcloths, combs/hairbrushes, pens, pencils, sharpeners, crayons, small coloring books and notebooks, socks, etc. to fill extra shoeboxes. These donations can be dropped off at the Missions Tables. We are also accepting monetary donations toward shoebox expenses.

Shoeboxes are due November 5th. If you have any questions, please contact Darlene McCaskill.

Andy Nicely, Ken Williamson, and Gari Melchers have gone over and above any expectations of custodial care for our Vinton Baptist Church facilities and property in the past months. Menial chores and lawn care, as well as beautification efforts, have been lovingly and generously done by these three men. Many others have stepped up to help at times, and the church deeply appreciates all of these efforts. Our custodial company is only here Tuesday and Thursday from 9 AM - 12 PM, so many, many things have to be done at other times. Thank you, guys, for your dedicated service to us all. God bless you!

Thank you to everyone who donated batteries for Fun & the Son's toys. Your donations will keep our toys working for a long time to come!