We're thankful to have our regular Wednesday schedule tonight:

• Children's Choirs at 6:15 PM.
• Youth Mission Group at 6:15 PM; the youth will be visiting homebound members tonight.
• Weeknight Worship at 6:30 PM in the sanctuary.
• Adult Bible Study with Jessie at 6:30 PM in the small dining room. The focus tonight will be on the spiritual disciplines of meditation and prayer.
• Chancel Choir will rehearse at 7:30 PM.

We hope you'll join us tonight!

This Sunday @ VBC:

This Sunday is a special service in the life of our church: Deacon Ordination & Installation! Please join us at 10:30 AM as we ordain several new deacons: Jeff Carr, Ann Cranwell, Devan Harman, Tim Pinion, and Justin Rodgers. Please take a moment between now and Sunday to write a card of blessing and encouragement - or share a Bible verse - with each of these folks. (A table is set up beside the Welcome Center with note cards and pens provided.) We will install these individuals, along with those who have already been ordained (Erin Berry, Helen Foster, Rudy Jones, and Wally Mayo), as deacons for the term 2024-2026. Travis' message is "In a Manger," and the scripture is Matthew 14:22-27. If you cannot join us in person, you can livestream at www.vintonbaptistchurch.org and on our Facebook group page.

REMINDER for 3rd - 5th graders and parents:

• There is a Parent Meeting for Passport Kids' Camp this Sunday at 11:45 AM in the church library.
• The Preteens will have dinner and a devotion from 4:00 - 6:00 PM in the Preteens room (206).

Thursday Morning Small Group/Study

Reminder: Travis is offering a small group/Bible study on Thursdays at 10:00 AM in the small dining room. This study offers a chance to further discuss each week's sermon, digging deeper into the biblical text and probing additional questions that arise in our sermon series on spiritual disciplines. Our hope is that this time will be an opportunity to grow together through shared learning and conversation.

Soup for Seniors

You have one more week to donate non-perishable foods to the JOY Seniors' Soup for Seniors drive for LOA. We are collecting canned foods (soup, fruits, vegetables, as well as peanut butter and crackers) to provide meals for local seniors. Collection boxes can be found in the Welcome Center and inside the double glass doors of the New Ministries Building. All donations are appreciated through January 31st.

Thrive Youth

• Our new Extreme study: What is the Bible, and how do we read it? All middle and high school students are invited to join us at 6:00 PM Sundays for the Youth Snack Supper followed by Extreme.
• Youth Sunday is February 25th!
• DNOW weekend is March 8th-10th.
• We are also planning our summer mission trip to Dinwiddie, Virginia. Click here for all the details. Deposits are due by March 15th.

JOY Seniors

You're invited to our January JOY Luncheon for fellowship, lunch and fun activities. This will be our annual beans & cornbread meal, which also includes slaw, cooked apples, dessert, and water. Please plan to join us Tuesday, January 30th at noon in the gym. Lunch is $10, and you can sign up and pay at the JOY Senior table in the Welcome Center. Please sign up no later than this Sunday, January 28th.

Adult Steel Drums

Our Steel Drum Band, Pandemonium, is reorganizing and will be having rehearsals on Tuesday afternoons at 6:00 PM beginning January 30th. Rehearsals are usually 30-45 minutes. We have room for a few new players. Those who are curious and want to come and see what it’s all about are welcome, too. If you read music and would like to join the band for the spring, please see or contact Chris ASAP.

Fun & the Son Play Group

All newborn - PreK children and their parents/guardians are invited to our "Love You to Pizzas" Valentine Party Monday, February 12th, 9:30 - 11:00 AM. We'll have a valentine exchange and special snacks. Please see Betty Jo Overstreet with questions or if you need more info.

AARP TaxAide

AARP will offer free tax preparation to taxpayers of all ages on Thursday mornings at Vinton Baptist beginning February 8th. AARP membership is not required. Appointments ARE required. You can schedule an appointment now at aarp.org/findtaxhelp (preferred method) or by calling 540-345-2820 starting Monday, January 29th.

Youth Choir Fundraiser: Valentine's To-Go Meal

Help support the VBC Youth Choir by purchasing your ticket(s) for our Valentine's To-Go Meal Sunday, February 18th, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Our menu consists of chicken, potatoes, green beans, and dessert. All meals will be prepared to go. You can come to the kitchen after morning worship or simply drive up to the glass doors and we will collect your tickets and deliver your meal. $10/ticket. See any Youth Choir member or stop by the church office to purchase your ticket(s).

Marietta Meador

5434 Mayfield Street

Roanoke VA 24019

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Weeknight Worship: 41

Sunday, January 14, 2024

Sunday School: 188

10:30 AM Worship:

• 300 in person
• 317 online

Thank You for Giving

Your regular giving, as well as special donations, are so very much appreciated to support all the ministries of Vinton Baptist.

2024 offering envelopes are available at the Missions Tables and can be picked up anytime the church is open. If you don't find your envelopes and would like some, please contact Patsy Talbert so that she can issue a box for you.

For those who prefer to give online, you may give a one-time gift or set up recurring giving at https://vintonbaptistchurch.org/give or through our VBC app.

If you are uncomfortable in donating through the church's website, you can do so directly through your financial institution. Please contact your bank or credit union and let them know that you would like to set up one-time or automatic, recurring giving to your church, and they can assist you in this process. Questions? Contact Carrie Tolley, our Finance Administrator, at 540-343-7685.

2023 Giving Statements

End-of-year giving statements are ready for pickup in the church office. Statements that are not picked up by this Sunday will have to be mailed. Please help us save postage by picking up your 2023 giving statement by this Sunday. Thanks so much!

Christian sympathy is extended to Annette Walls, Gwen Freeman, Andy Shorter, and families in the death of Louise Shorter, who passed away yesterday, January 23rd. Please click here for the obituary.

Blessing Box Needs

If you are able to help with provisions for the Blessing Box, following is an updated list of needs: any type of Hamburger Helper meals, boxes of crackers, Pop Tarts, mac & cheese, liquid dish soap, and toilet paper. Donations can be dropped in the marked box at the Missions Tables. Thank you!

Bible Reading Plan

It's not too late to start our Bible Reading Plan this year! You can access it by clicking here, by picking up a hard copy in the Welcome Center, or by accessing "Bible Reading Plan" from the bottom menu of our VBC app. On the print copies, look for "YEAR 2."

As I was listening to today's Bible reading this morning (Jeremiah 21-22), I had a mini-revelation of sorts. In this passage, Jeremiah specifically speaks God's words of judgment on Judah. Up until now, in both Isaiah and Jeremiah, the need for judgment has largely been blamed on the idolatry of God's people. In this particular passage, idolatry is again mentioned (22:9), but the main reason cited for the judgment coming upon Judah is their failure to act justly and treat people fairly: "Thus says the Lord: 'Execute justice in the morning, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed, lest my wrath go forth like fire ....'" (21:12b) Again, "Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place." (22:3). Finally, "'Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages....'" (22:13).

These verses make me wonder about how I treat others. I can easily say that I'm not bowing down to manmade images (although we all know that idolatry can be much more subtle than that). But can I say that I am treating people fairly? Am I treating them with love and kindness? Or do I take advantage of others? And even if I think I'm treating people kindly, how am I going out of my way to help the fatherless or the widow or those who are innocent and falsely accused? This passage gives us a lot to think about.

I'd love to hear how God is speaking to you through Jeremiah. Happy reading! -- Kim

Realm Invitations

One of our goals for 2024 is to more fully utilize the functions of Realm (our church database). While one of the most helpful features of Realm is having access to an online church directory, another feature that we have not used very much is the ability for groups (Sunday School classes, church committees, etc.) to be able to chat and share information with other members of your group. We are currently in the process of adding 2024 committees as groups in Realm. If you receive an invitation to Realm, we would love for you to accept that invitation by following the instructions in your email to set up a username and password for Realm access. If you have not yet received an invitation (or perhaps received one and didn't respond to it), let us know and we'll be happy to extend invitations to members and regular attenders. Invitations come through email, and there must be a distinct email for each person logging into Realm (shared emails between couples will only allow for one person to register). Once you have a Realm login, you can access it on your device by going to the website, or by downloading our VBC App (and clicking on the "Realm" button), or by downloading the Realm Connect app. If you have questions, please contact Kim Yonce by email or at 540-343-7685. Thank you!

Thank you to the LOA Sunday School class for their generous donation to the JOY Seniors' collection of Soup for Seniors!