We will have all usual activities and meetings tonight.

Tonight's Adult Bible Study will be on the disciplines of simplicity and solitude.

Amen

What are the words that you typically use to close a prayer? Personally, the closing words of my prayers depend on the type of prayer I am offering and the setting in which it is spoken. Am I petitioning God to act, asking for clarity, praising God for blessings and provisions, or lamenting to God about life’s struggles, uncertainties, and tragedies? Is it a prayer offered while I am alone with God, during family devotions in our home, or together as a congregation in worship? All of these factors may create variations in how I finish my prayers, but there is one word that is always the last word of every prayer—Amen.

I have always understood amen as a type of punctuation mark. Amen signals the end of a thought, petition, or prayer. It is the final word used to transition from praying to whatever activity may come next. Though amen can be found in Scripture in the closing words of prayers—“And let all the people say, ‘Amen’” (Ps 106:48)—its meaning is far deeper and richer than a nice and neat way to indicate our prayer is finished.

The English word amen is derived from the Hebrew word, “aman” (ah-MAHN). It shows up countless times through the Old Testament, most often in the book of Deuteronomy. One of the first and most profound stories that reveals the richness of this word is found in Abraham’s response to God following the promise of God’s covenant. After God assured Abraham and Sarah of a multitude of descendants, despite Abraham’s age and Sarah’s barrenness, the author of Genesis declares, “And he believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness” (Gn 15:6).

In Paul’s letter to Christians living in Rome, he defends the gospel’s availability to the Gentiles by quoting this very passage (Rm 4:3). He argues that Abraham’s righteousness before God did not come through circumcision, but “belief.” Circumcision was merely an outward sign of his inward decision to “believe the Lord.” Thus, Paul wanted the circumcised Jews to accept the uncircumcised Gentiles based on their shared “belief” in Christ above all else.

The Hebrew word used in Genesis for Abraham’s “belief” is aman. Only the ancients understood belief differently than we do today. We often use the word belief synonymously with something we accept to be true. What we believe about God is discussed in terms of doctrine, creeds, and different branches of theology. Though what we believe about God is significant to our walk with Christ, the literal translation for aman is “let it be so,” “truly,” and “it is true.” Thus, Abraham’s “belief” was reckoned to him as righteousness because he chose to trust God, despite the improbability of God’s promise. Rather than signaling that he understood God’s promise, Abraham’s amen was a declaration of profound trust in God: “Lord, let it be so; I trust you.” As author Peter Enns notes, “Abraham ‘amened’ God to come through—not simply that God was able to pull it off, but he trusted God to pull it off.”

What we “think” about God is important to our belief in God. Paul declared, “Let us not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Rm 12:2). One of the major goals of Scripture is to help us better understand who God is. But that goal is a means to an end. The purpose of understanding more about God is intended to lead us deeper into our relationship with God. “Believing the Lord,” as Abraham chose to do, is far greater than a mental exercise; it is choosing to “trust the Lord” when our mental capabilities fall short. It is choosing to be all in with God even when we do not understand; to have faith that our house will not fall in the midst of the storm, not because of our ability to know the right answer or figure out a solution, but because our house is built on “the rock” (Mt. 7:25).

In the coming days, as we close our prayers with a simple amen, may we remember that this word is far more than a punctuation mark; it is a declaration of faith. Rather than trusting that God will do what we ask, or answer our prayers in the way we hope, we are “amening” God to come through. We are proclaiming our trust in God regardless of the outcome, and whether or not we understand. In response to a God who proved on a cross that he is all in with us, we are declaring that we are all in with him: “Lord, let it be so; I trust you.”

And let all the people say, Amen.

-- Travis

This Sunday @ VBC:

Join us this Sunday at 10:30 AM for morning worship. We'll hear from the Jubilate Handbell Choir, recognize our longtime ushers, and jump into the fruits of the Spirit. Travis' message is "Love?" and the scripture is John 13:1-15. If you cannot join us in person, you can livestream at www.vintonbaptistchurch.org and on our Facebook group page.

Following is a list of our veteran ushers who have served Vinton Baptist Church anywhere from 5 years to 30+ years in this capacity: Chip Bolton, Galen Conner, Marvin Foster, Hootie Kelley, Jack Kendrick, Velma Kendrick, Sam Lewis, Charlie Lovelace, Ron Martin, Robert Pedigo, Sonny Smith, Fred Swisher, Buddy Thurman, Charles West, Russell Wise, and Don Hough. Please help us honor them on Sunday.

Art from the Heart & Mission Kids will also meet this Sunday at 4:00 PM in the gym. Kindergarteners - 5th graders are invited to join us. Pickup will be at 5:30 PM (note time change) in the gym. See Jessie Burgess with questions.

Youth Choir Fundraiser:

Valentine's To-Go Meal

Now is the time to purchase your tickets for the VBC Youth Choir's Valentine's To-Go Meal on 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 meals. $10/ticket. See any Youth Choir member or stop by the church office to purchase your tickets by this Sunday.

Preteens Event

Preteens (3rd - 5th graders) will meet Sunday, February 25th at 2:00 PM for an outing to Defy Roanoke.

JOY Seniors News

This year the JOY Seniors are going to "break out" of their regular routine and experience the community. Our first Senior Break Out will be February 27th. Instead of having our luncheon at the church, we will go on a tour of PBS and then have lunch at Jersey Lily's in Salem. We will depart VBC at 9:30 AM. Please sign up at the JOY Senior table by February 25th. The only cost is the price of your lunch.

We are planning a trip to Charleston, SC with Bonsack Baptist for the week of March 18-22. This 5-day/4-night trip will include visits to Fort Sumter and tours of several plantations. Details and a sign-up sheet are available at the JOY Senior table. Please act fast, as the deadline to sign up for this trip is March 4th.

There are two lunch events hosted by Bonsack Baptist that our seniors have been invited to. Please click the following links to sign up and pay:

• Lunch & Movie Tuesday, February 20th, 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM. The movie is Testament: The Parables Retold. Lunch is a choice of soups, crackers, drinks, and dessert. $10/person. Click here to sign up and pay.
• Lunch & Seminar on Identity Theft & Fraud Tuesday, April 16th, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Shannon Abell will present on the topic of identity theft and fraud. Lunch is chicken parmesan. $15/person. Click here to sign up and pay.

Fun & the Son Play Group

All newborn - PreK children and their parents/guardians are invited to our "Love You to Pizzas" Valentine Party next 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.

Please note that our Fun & the Son Play Group parents, guardians, and children are also invited to morning worship February 18th, as we will be celebrating Fun & the Son's first anniversary! Please join us in welcoming these families to worship. A section of pews will be reserved for this group and their family members. They will have their own pizza party at the conclusion of worship.

Parent-Child Dedication Service

There is a Parent-Child Dedication planned for worship on Sunday, February 18th. If you are a parent who would like to formally dedicate your child to God in this service, please call the church office as soon as possible at 540-343-7685.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is next week. We will have Children's Choirs, as usual. We will also have Weeknight Worship at 6:30 PM, and both our Youth Missions Group and our Wednesday Adult Bible Study group are invited to attend worship, where the imposition of ashes will be offered. Even if you don't regularly attend Weeknight Worship, we invite you to join us February 14th as we observe Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season. Chancel Choir rehearsal will take place as scheduled.

Thrive Youth

If you signed up for the February 9th-10th ski trip, we plan to depart VBC at 5 PM Friday evening and return approximately 6 PM Saturday evening. There will be no Snack Supper/Extreme this Sunday evening.

Youth Sunday is February 25th! Our youth group members will be involved in every aspect of worship, including bringing the message(s). They will also bring the message(s) for Weeknight Worship on February 28th.

DNOW weekend is March 8th-10th. Click here for the agenda/details. Click here for the registration form.

We are also planning our summer mission trip to Dinwiddie, Virginia. Click here for all the details. Deposits are due by March 15th.

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 at aarp.org/findtaxhelp (preferred method) or by calling 540-345-2820. Please schedule your appointment soon, as most time slots for our location have already filled up.

Congratulations to Audrey Ferguson, our oldest church member, who will celebrate her 99th birthday on February 12th! Her address is 3120 Richard Avenue NE, Roanoke VA 24012-6323 if you would like to send her a card. Happy birthday, Audrey!

Verlie Hall

1009 Ruddell Road

Vinton VA 24179

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Weeknight Worship: 41

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Sunday School: 203

10:30 AM Worship:

• 319 in person
• 214 online

Thank you to the Dorcas Sunday School class for their donation to the Blessing Box.

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 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.

Congratulations to Brandon & Jessica Reynolds, as well as big sister Madison, in the birth of Avery Raylynn January 28th, weighing 6 lbs., 10 ozs. and measuring 19" long.

Christian sympathy is extended to Teresa, Charles, Jr., Tiffany, and Lindy Peagler and families in the death of husband and father Charles E. Peagler, Sr. on February 2nd; and to the family and friends of Mike Deweese, who passed away January 31st.

Homebound Easter Packages

The following items are needed to prepare Easter boxes and bags for our homebound folks:

• small tissue packs
• sugar free candies
• large print word searches
• adult coloring books/colored pencils
• travel size hand sanitizer
• travel size hand lotion
• travel size lint rollers
• Band-aids
• lip balm

Donations are now being accepted in the marked bin at the Missions Tables. We plan to prepare about 20 boxes and 10 bags for our homebound folks. Please drop off your donations before March 10th. Packages will be assembled the following week and will be ready for delivery on March 17th. Please see Joanna Harman with any questions.

Bible Reading Plan

As I've been reading Jeremiah over the past week or two, I've gotten a little confused on the timeline. I consulted Fee & Stuart (How to Read the Bible Book by Book) and blueletterbible.org for clarification. King Josiah, of the line of David, reigned over Judah for 31 years (640-609), and Jeremiah was called as a prophet almost halfway through his reign. Josiah's son Jehoahaz took the throne after him, but he was only king for 3 months before the Egyptians dethroned him and made Jehoiakim (aka Eliakim) king. (Jehoiakim was also the son of Josiah.) He began to reign in 609 BC and continued for 11 years. Jehoiakim's son Jehoiachin (aka Jeconiah) then reigned for 3 months before he was taken to Babylon. Jehoiachin's uncle Zedekiah (Josiah's son) began to reign in 597 and continued for 11 years until Babylon took Jerusalem in 586 BC. I realize that's a lot of names (and variations of names), as well as a lot of dates, and it may not be helpful to you. For me, it helps give a framework to the reading. It also reflects the growing influences of both Egypt and Babylon over the people of Judah and the kings of Jerusalem, all the way up to the destruction of Jerusalem, including its temple, by the Babylonians.

One thing that I want to remind you of is that God had told Jeremiah to tell the Jewish people remaining in Judah that God himself was sending Babylon to conquer them (because of their disobedience) and that it was okay for them to go to Babylon and make lives for themselves there. That's what God wanted them to do. Jeremiah was trying to reassure the people of Judah that God would restore them to their own land one day, but that for now they were to live elsewhere. The people of Judah simply didn't want to hear it, and that's why they refused to listen to Jeremiah and why they persecuted him.

We have about a week of readings remaining in Jeremiah, then we'll jump into Lamentations and move on to Ezekiel. If you are trying to get into a Bible reading schedule and are having trouble getting started, feel free to jump in with us at the beginning of any book. You can find a schedule of our reading plan at the Welcome Center, or you can access it through our VBC app. Happy reading!

-- Kim

Boys & Girls Club Snacks

Boys & Girls Club will soon be at maximum capacity with a total of sixty students! We would love to collect snack items for them once again. They can use any type of pre-packaged, shelf stable snack items (except items with peanuts). A marked bin is available at the Missions Tables for your food donations. Thanks for continuing to bless our community through your support of Boys & Girls Club!

Volunteer Opportunities

The Rescue Mission is in need of volunteers for a number of positions. If you are concerned about homelessness in our area and/or are looking for a way to make an impact on our community, please click here for details.

Thank you to our church family for cards and prayers, and to the Preteens for their gifts. We enjoyed a visit from Ron & Rita. It was so nice to see them.

-- Fred & Jean Swisher

The JOY Seniors would like to say thank you to all who donated to the annual Soup for Seniors Drive! Due to your heartfelt giving, we collected a total of 698 items and an additional $255. This is 150 more items than last year. A special thanks goes to the LOA Sunday School class, the Helen Siner Wood Circle, and the JOY Council for your generous donations. We would like to thank the youth, under the direction of Whitney, for packing all the collected items and getting them ready for delivery. Once again, the love of Christ is evident through Vinton Baptist Church.

The Witness is one of the best ways to keep up with church services and activities. If you know someone who does not receive a copy of The Witness and would like to, there are several ways to get it:

• We can email it weekly. We just need to know the person's email address so that we can add it to our weekly list.
• Printed copies of The Witness are available in the plastic boxes next to the church mailbox (at the top of the steps leading to the office entrance). There are copies available in the office, as well.
• Homebound members (who cannot receive The Witness by email and cannot get to the church to pick up a hard copy) can have The Witness mailed weekly. Please call the office at 540-343-7685 with name and address.