There are NO activities tonight. Enjoy your time off!

There is NO Chancel Choir tonight; we will meet again January 7th.

This Sunday @ VBC

Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy the Christmas Musical last Sunday. This Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we will return to our usual format. Travis' message is "One Yes," and the scripture is Luke 1:26-38. Wally & Melinda Mayo will also bless us with a special prelude and offertory. If you are unable to attend worship in person, please watch the livestream at www.vintonbaptistchurch.org or through our Facebook page.

We'd love to see you at Sunday School, as well, at 9:15 AM (Young Adults at 9 AM at RND Coffee).

There are no other activities this Sunday.

A Higher Note

I would like to thank the choir, orchestra, narrators, and tech team for a wonderful presentation of "A Celtic Christmas." The dedication of our choir members truly shines through in their musical presentations. Even in my absence in October while on the India mission trip, their rehearsals continued seamlessly with the help of Wally Mayo and Beth Meador. As always, Wanda and Gari Melchers were with us weekly, providing expert accompaniment and part rehearsals. Ken Nicely and Susan Foster did a marvelous job with their solos.

We never know exactly what the program will sound like until the orchestra joins us for our "Dress Rehearsal." It can be—and has been—a stressful hour and a half. However, this year, I knew it was going to be tremendous the moment we concluded the first song. It is truly a pleasure to work with such professionals.



These special services do take a village to produce. Thank you all for your unwavering support, and Merry Christmas!

-- Chris

Annual Giving Tree

THANK YOU to everyone who purchased Giving Tree gifts and/or helped with gift distribution this year! VBC served over 100 families this Christmas season with over 200 gifts for local children. You are a blessing!

Family Christmas Tree

Our Family Christmas Tree is located in the Welcome Center. If you are new to our church this year, or if you have never donated an ornament in the past that represents your family, we would love for you to add an ornament to our tree this Advent season! Please note your family’s name and the year “2025” somewhere on your ornament.

Poinsettia Orders

Thank you to everyone who ordered a poinsettia in honor or memory of a loved one. Please click here for the list of this year's memorials and honorariums. You are welcome to pick up your poinsettia and take it home with you after worship on December 28th.

Children's Ministry Update

Families are invited to join us at Valley View Grande this Saturday for the 3:00 PM showing of DAVID! Please purchase your tickets online ASAP and plan to meet us at the theater. Please let Jodi know if your family is coming so that she can be looking for you!

Fun & the Son's Jingle Bell Bash

All newborns - preschoolers, along with their adults, are invited to our Fun & the Son Christmas Party, the Jingle Bell Bash! It will take place TOMORROW, December 18th from 10 AM until 11:30 AM. This will be our last gathering of 2025. Questions? See Betty Jo Overstreet.

Church Holiday Office Hours

Please note that the church office will close at noon on Christmas Eve and remain closed until 9:00 AM Monday, December 29th. We will also be closed Thursday, January 1st.

Sunday, December 28th

On the last Sunday of 2025, there will be NO Sunday School and NO Nursery. The last Sunday of each year serves as a holiday for all of our Sunday School teachers and Nursery staff and volunteers. We will have a 10:30 AM Morning Worship service only. Next Step WILL be available for 3-year-olds. And 4-year-olds - 1st graders are welcome in Children's Church after we pass the Peace of Christ (there will be no Children's Sermon during worship). Our Mother's Lounge will also be available for parents and little ones who need a break during Morning Worship.

Youth Ski Trip

We are planning a Youth ski trip for February 6th - 8th at Wintergreen Resort! Click here for all the details, including costs and the actual registration form.

Sandra Williams

c/o Woodland Hills

3365 Ogden Road, Apt. 223

Roanoke VA 24018

Wednesday, December 10, 2025:

Children's Choirs: 39

Youth Missions Group: 15

Sunday, December 14, 2025:

Sunday School: 210

10:30 AM Worship

• in person: 401
• online: 806

Giving Deadlines for 2025 Reporting

Following are the final dates that we can accept donations and report them for the 2025 fiscal year:

• Sunday, December 28th for in-person (cash/check) donations
• Tuesday, December 30th for online donations through our website

Questions? Contact Jennifer in the church office at 540-343-7685.

Thank you to the Fellowship/Berean Sunday School class for their donation to the Food Pantry.

Christian sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Joe Brugh, who passed away November 30th; to Becky & Jeff Mason and family in the loss of her father, Elbert "Mike" Spillman, December 10th; and to Josh & Carmen Salmon and sons in the death of Josh's father, Charles Everett "Skip" Salmon, Jr., December 13th.

Please join us in welcoming new member Melanie Shanks, who joined VBC December 7th! Melanie's address is 108 Southampton Drive, Vinton VA 24179. Melanie, we are thrilled to have you as part of our fellowship!

WMU Mission Projects October - November 2025

$ 125.00       WMU Foundation - use where needed

$ 50.00         Mark Hough for India Trip

$ 50.00         Keystone Thanksgiving Boxes

                    William Byrd Middle School Food Pantry

                    Keystone Community Center - Food for Thanksgiving Boxes

                    Cards and visits to shut-ins

The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is collected annually to support international missions, and goes directly to the mission field. There are special envelopes in your box of envelopes and also in the pew pockets. Our church goal is $5,200.00.

The Lottie Moon Post Office is now available at the Missions Tables in the office lobby. The cost is 50 cents per card, and it is for church members only. There is an envelope in the lower right corner for your money. Please sort your cards alphabetically by last name, put in appropriate slots, and add your donation of 50 cents per card to the collection envelope. Please check the post office for any cards you may have received.

Juanita Barbour

Bible Reading Plan

Now that we have finished the gospels, I hope that you are enjoying the various daily readings from the Lectionary. Between now and the end of the year, we will read selections from Isaiah, Psalms, Romans, the gospels, and James. These readings tend to be shorter than the full chapters we've grown accustomed to in the gospels. Hopefully that will allow you more time to meditate on what you're reading each day, or simply to catch up if you're behind.

I am partial to Psalm 122, which was yesterday's reading. It expresses joy in going to God's house, and that's something that I think most of us feel when we gather with our church family to worship, especially this time of year. Advent is a season of joy as we anticipate the birth of the Christ child. Psalm 122 also discusses peace and urges its hearers to pray for the peace that only God can bring. Peace is a focus of Advent, as well, because only the salvation found in Jesus allows God's peace to enter our lives.

As we walk through this Advent season and look forward to the birth of Christ, may we all be ministers of the joy and peace that God provides through his son. May the Holy Spirit use each one of us to express the hope, joy, peace, and love of God to others.

-- Kim

Dear Pastor and Congregation,

I want to take this time to wish everyone a very glorious, safe, and Merry Christmas. I also want to thank each and every one who has supported the Keystone Community Center this past year through prayer, volunteer time, and finances. It has been a very blessed year for so many who have served Christ, especially by volunteering. I hear many times from those who give their time to help in so many ways - from the gardens to preparing a meal - that they receive a blessing for being here. When your church participates in the 3-times-a-year food box drive, you have helped over 600 people. And this year I had 33 children on our angel tree that had a gift under the tree because of the love from your church family. I look forward to seeing more servants in 2026 to serve and help me share Christ. I wish everyone a safe and healthy 2026, and be on mission serving Christ. Matthew 28:18-20.

Serving Christ, Pat Carter

 Director, Keystone Community Center

Dear Church Family,

Thank you so much for the prayers, calls, visits, and texts you sent. Betty and I are so glad to be a part of VBC.

In Christian love, Ed Boothe

An abbreviated edition of The Witness WILL be published next Wednesday, December 24th. The Witness will NOT be published Wednesday, December 31st. If you have announcements that need to appear in The Witness before the first week of January (January 7th), please send them to Kim Yonce no later than noon Monday, December 22nd. Thank you!