Tonight:

• Children's Choirs begin at 6:15 PM!
• Youth Missions Group meets at 6:15 PM to work for Keystone.
• IMPORTANT: There is NO Weeknight Worship tonight. Travis is still recovering from the flu. We will plan to meet next Wednesday, February 12th.
• Chancel Choir rehearsal is at 7:30 PM. We will spend the first 40 minutes on our Palm Sunday Musical, "Celebrate Life"! All vocalists are welcome to join us!

This Sunday @ VBC

Please join us for Sunday School at 9:15 AM. Click here for our current Sunday School brochure.

This Sunday Travis is scheduled to continue his series on evangelism. The message is "Listeners," and the scripture is Numbers 27:1-11. We will also hear from our Youth Choir. If you can't join us in person for worship, livestream is available through the Vinton Baptist Church app, at www.vintonbaptistchurch.org, and through our Facebook page.

We will have Youth Choir rehearsal at 11:45 AM Sunday, along with a Deacons' meeting at noon, 4:00 PM Weeknight Worship rehearsal, and 5:00 PM Handbells rehearsal. There will be NO Youth Dinner/Extreme.

Fun & the Son Valentine Exchange

Newborn - PreK children and their adults are invited to join us Thursday, February 13th, 9:30 - 10:30 AM for a special play group that celebrates our love for our friends. We will have special snacks and a valentine exchange, too!

Soup for Seniors

Thank you once again, Vinton Baptist, for your overwhelming generosity during the "Soup for Seniors" campaign. VBC was able to contribute 884 different items and $115 in monetary donations to support our local seniors in need. "If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday." Isaiah 58:10. A special thanks to Marissa and the youth for helping pack and count items and to Ken Stump for helping with the delivery. The JOY Council wants to thank all of you for doing God's work.

Upcoming JOY Senior Events:

Day Trip to God's Pit Crew Tuesday, February 18th

We will travel to Danville to tour God's Pit Crew and have lunch at their facility. Lunch will be prepared by their personal chef. We will depart VBC at 9:30 AM, have lunch, tour the facility, and return home. The cost of the entire trip is only $12/person. The deadline to sign up and pay is February 16th or when the bus is full, although you are also welcome to drive and meet us there.

Senior Break Out Tuesday, February 25th

We will travel to Mac & Bob's in Salem for lunch. The cost of this trip is whatever you spend on lunch. Sign up at the JOY Senior table by February 23rd.

An updated 2025 JOY Seniors brochure is available at the JOY Senior table in the Welcome Center, or just click here. It includes new details about the Biltmore/Billy Graham Library trip.

Upcoming Youth Events

There will be no Extreme this Sunday due to the Superbowl; however, we WILL have Youth Choir at 11:45 AM.

February 13th we will attend Winter Jam at the Berglund Center! The church bus will leave at 5:30 PM. The cost is $15/person. Parents and siblings are welcome, too. Be prepared to purchase your dinner from the concessions stands at the concert. The lineup includes Skillet, Anne Wilson, KB, Colton Dixon, Newsong, and Micah Tyler!

February 23rd is Youth Sunday! Our praise band will lead in worship, and our seniors will preach. Our youth will also help teach Sunday School.

Youth Volleyball practice begins February 23rd, 1:30 - 3:00 PM. We will practice March 2nd, 16th, and 30th, as well as April 6th, 13th, and 27th.

Mark your calendars for DNOW weekend March 7th - 9th. Click the following links for more details and for the registration form.

The Dr. Charlie J. Lovelace, III

Memorial College Scholarship

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Lovelace Scholarship, which is awarded each year to a graduating senior who is a member of Vinton Baptist and who will attend a four-year college or university. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded for the student's first year of school. Applications are available in the church office and by clicking here. Completed forms must be returned to the church office no later than 4:00 PM March 19th.

Thursday Morning Small Group

Travis' Thursday Morning Small Group has been POSTPONED until next week since he is still recovering from the flu. This group is informal in nature and is open to all adults. We meet at 10:00 AM to discuss various subjects, and no topic is off limits. On the first Thursday of each month, we move over to Pok-E-Joe's for lunch and continued discussion at 11:00 AM (for those who choose to have lunch with us).

Preteen Spring Schedule

On February 23rd, the Preteens will meet at Firehouse Skate & Play at 3:00 PM for laser tag and skating. The cost is $20/person. Pickup is 5:00 PM.

On March 30th, we will have Dinner & Devotion at the church, 4:00 - 5:30 PM.

On April 27th, we will go to Treetop Quest. The cost is $29/person.

Passport Kids Camp is scheduled for June 11th - 14th at Eagle Eyrie. The total cost is $200, and a $100 deposit is due March 31st; the balance is due May 1st.

Please see Whitney with any questions. All 3rd - 5th graders are invited to all Preteens events!

Lillie Johnston

Clearview Manor #402

1150 Vinyard Road

Vinton VA 24179

Christian sympathy is extended to Gordon Welsh and daughters Jeannie & Cindy, Juanita Barbour, Barbara Karnes, Marietta Meador, and families in the death of Evelyn Belcher Welsh on January 30th; to Heather & David Wray and family in the death of her stepfather, John Andrews; to Rita & Ron Martin and family in the death of her brother, Don Jamison, February 3rd; and to Barbara Slusher and family in the death of her sister, Ruth Housman, February 1st.

Happy birthday and congratulations to Audrey Ferguson, who will turn 100 years old next Wednesday, February 12th!

Sunday, February 2, 2025:

Sunday School: 210

10:30 AM Worship

• in person: 291
• online: 321

Kroger Community Rewards

Do you shop at Kroger? Do you have a Kroger Shopper's Card? Then you can arrange to have a portion of your Kroger purchases donated to Vinton Baptist Church at no extra cost to you. Create or log into your Kroger account, and select Vinton Baptist Church as the beneficiary of your purchases. Just follow the directions located here. If you need help, call the church office.

Church Counseling

Just a reminder that we have individual adult and youth, family, and marriage counseling available at no charge for church members and their families. This ministry is offered by Cathy Abraham, LPC. If you, or someone you know, is interested, please call the church office at 540-343-7685 for more information. Days and times are flexible.

Bible Reading Plan

We are finishing Genesis today and will move on to Exodus tomorrow. We have witnessed the death of Israel and of Joseph. Joseph's last recorded words in Genesis 50 look forward to the time when God will lead his family out of Egypt again, and Joseph makes his brothers promise to take his body with them when they leave. Through these words, we are being prepared for the Exodus.

A side note about the blessings of Jacob/Israel upon his children/grandchildren: I have read Genesis 49 numerous times, but this morning verse 8 jumped out at me. "'Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you.'" Do you remember when Joseph had his dreams (Genesis 37), in which his family bowed down to him? His brothers made fun of him because of them. Obviously, his dreams came true even though his family initially had no clue that they would. I find it interesting that Jacob/Israel blesses Judah with this same prophecy. As we know, Jesus is from the tribe of Judah; and the prophecy is ultimately fulfilled in Christ. I had simply never recognized the repetition of this language/prophecy before.

Modern scholars consider the Exodus to be the defining moment in Israelite history that makes this people into a nation. The Israelites become fully characterized by their covenant with YHWH as a result of the rescue he orchestrates for them and his guidance in the wilderness. As we begin Exodus and work up to God's miraculous deliverance of his people, consider the ways in which God makes himself known to his people and the faith it takes for them to follow YHWH.

I have created a Facebook group for those who are reading with us through our current reading plan. If you are on Facebook, please click here and ask to join. I would love to get your feedback on the passages we are reading.

-- Kim

AARP Tax-Aide

AARP will once again offer Tax-Aide free tax preparation on Thursday mornings at Vinton Baptist starting tomorrow. There are only a few appointments remaining, so please make your appointment ASAP, as follows:

1. The easiest option is online at aarp.org/findtaxhelp.
2. The second option is to call 540-345-2820. Generally you will need to leave a message, and a Tax-Aide volunteer will return your call.

Once you make your appointment, you can stop by the church office to pick up your preliminary paperwork and fill it out ahead of your appointment.

Blessing Box Needs

The following items are needed for the Blessing Box: spaghetti pasta, spaghetti sauce, Pop Tarts, and crackers. Your donations can be dropped in the marked bin at the Missions Tables. Thank you!

Finance Administrator Contact Info

Carrie Tolley's last day as Finance Administrator was Sunday, January 26th. Jennifer Williamson is temporarily serving in this position until a permanent replacement can be found. If you need to reach Jennifer, you can call the church office at 540-343-7685 or email fin.admin@vintonbaptistchurch.org.