A-frame Update
The renovations on the A-frame are nearly complete and we are planning to have our first service in our new facility in November! 
Thank you to all who have prayed over this process, have given financially, and have helped with the renovations at the building. A special thank you to Jim Brown, Manny Montano, and Jimmie Norris for volunteering their time, skills, and efforts to oversee the whole process as the project leaders.
Countless hours of hard work went into making the A-frame our new place of worship. In mid-June, we finally received all of the permits we needed in order to begin demolition and renovations. Since then, we have taken down walls, rewired electricity, removed flooring, put up new walls, painted the interior and exterior, added new plumbing, put in new windows, cleaned up the exterior, made countless trips to trash disposal, and many other tasks.
Before the flooring was installed, the members and regular attendees of Vista Grande Church were encouraged to stop by the A-frame to write Scripture or a prayer on the floor. This was a special opportunity to involve the entire church body in one more activity before our new facility received its final touches and cover our new worship area in prayer and Scripture.
Our first worship service at the A-frame is scheduled for Sunday, November 13th, with a special dedication service scheduled for Sunday, November 20th.
Youth Ministry Update
For the month of October, we have covered the topics of prayer (Matthew 6:1-15), being salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), and not being afraid or ashamed to identify with Christ (Luke 22:31-71).
Students broke up into their small groups after the lesson on prayer and were asked questions about the passage. They were then encouraged to evaluate their personal prayer lives.
Following the lesson on salt and light, students teamed up to create 1-2 minute skits on what it means to be salt and light. They were very creative and entertaining!
Students were challenged to not be afraid or ashamed to identify as a Christian after covering the passage where Peter denies Christ.
All youth messages are posted on the church website under the Youth Ministry tab.
Operation Christmas Child
Time is running out to pick up your box and fill it with goodies for the Operation Christmas Child boxes! The flat boxes and accompanying information will be on the table at the back of our worship area on Sundays and in the daytime women’s Bible study.
In the past, we’ve had the goal of 50 boxes and we hope to be able to do that again this year. The boxes are due back to VGC on Sunday, November 13th. Please bring them with a rubber band around them with the $7 needed to cover their costs of processing.
The flyer that is available next to the flat boxes has lots of great gift ideas that are safe, small enough to fit into a box, and appropriate for a boy or a girl of various ages.
If you have any questions, please let the Vista Sisters Daytime Bible Study know. You can also contact Sheryl Stewart directly at 505-803-1510.
Thank you for supporting this mission to get the Gospel message to the children around the world! For more information on Operation Christmas Child or on Samaritan’s Purse, please visit their website: https://www.samaritans purse.org/what-we-do/
Ministry Spotlight
Vista Sisters Women’s Ministry
Calling all women of VGC to join us for study, fellowship, and fun! What began as a brainstorming discussion of what women in VGC need and want, turned into a resurgence of an organized women’s ministry! By vote at our October breakfast fellowship, we have named ourselves Vista Sisters. We hope anytime you hear this name, you’ll know our ladies are up to something and you’ll want to be a part of it!
Here’s what we heard you want:
1. Bible study for women both during the day and in the evening. We scheduled the study, offering it twice a week. Come on Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. or on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. to study, discuss, and learn about the Tabernacle –“A Women’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place” study by Beth Moore.
2. We chose the word “Dwell” for our focus – Ephesians 3:17-19. As we study and go deeper, our desire is for Christ to dwell in our hearts and know His love.
3. Fellowship and Fun, time to visit and get to know one another more than we can on Sunday mornings. So we invite you to join us the second Saturday of each month for food, devotional, speaker, games = fun! Each month has a theme and the program varies from hosting speakers to playing games—always with food!
4. Serving together, making a difference. We support a couple of the ministries which are also supported by the church body – The Forgotten Initiative and Feed the Kids. Our intent is to look first at how we can support these ministries already established rather than begin another ministry and spread our resources too thin.
5. Supporting one another through the good times and challenging times. We pray for everything! We pray with one another and for one another. We look first in our group for the physical ministry of meals, visits – whatever need there is.
Join us anytime! Our next breakfast is Saturday, November 12th, at the East Mountain Campus, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. We’ll enjoy waffles and then hear Connie Dixon of the Women’s Missions Baptist Convention Office speak and show crafts made by women around the world. (Great Christmas shopping ideas!)
Questions? Contact Anna Buster, Karla Davis, Christie Lord, or Sheryl Stewart.
Fall 2016 LIFE Groups
Our LIFE groups are small groups for fellowship and discipleship. We help each other follow Christ together. In small groups, each member enjoys Christian fellowship as we serve one another in love. Please contact Pastor Charles if you would like to start a LIFE Group.
There are currently 8 LIFE Groups being offered this Fall:
· Hayden LIFE Group: led by Pastor Charles @ Hayden home, Mondays @ 6pm-8pm
· Women’s morning LIFE Group: led by Sheryl Stewart @ EMC*, Tuesdays @ 10am-12pm
· Prayer LIFE Group: led by Martha Woodfin at her home, Wednesdays @ 3:30pm-5pm
· Women’s evening LIFE Group: led by Karla Davis @ EMC*, Wednesdays @ 6pm-7:30pm
· Hope Ahead LIFE Group: led by Sara Ghormley @ Vineyard Church, Wednesdays @ 6:30pm-8pm
· College & Young Careers LIFE Group: led by Mike Harding @ Harding home, Wednesdays @ 6:30pm-8pm
· Teen Girls LIFE Group: led by Emily Harding @ EMC*, Thursdays @ 7pm-8pm
· Teen Guys LIFE Group: led by Mike Harding @ EMC*, Thursdays @ 7pm-8pm
*Location subject to change
Prayer Requests
· James Bartz Jr. and family: he’s off of his ventilator at night, praise God!
· Tina Farber: finished chemo, pray for a good report and healing
· Tito Manzanares: experienced severe side effects from chemo, doctors looking for alternative
· Bryan and Judy Folk: battling sicknesses on and off for several months
· Larry Harlan’s mother: in the hospital in Phoenix for tests
· Gayle DeRose: shoulder surgery went well, pray for continued healing
· Jimmie Norris: surgery went well, pray for continued healing
· A-frame renovation
November Calendar Event Details
· Nov 2, 16—Feed the Kids, 10am-12pm @ First Baptist Tijeras Fellowship Hall
· Nov 5—Men’s Breakfast, 8am-10am @ East Mountain Campus
· Nov 6—Daylight Savings Time Ends
· Nov 6— Sunday Worship, 9am-11am @ VGCC
· Nov 6, 13, 20—Youth Service, 5pm-7pm
· Nov 8—Election Day
· Nov 8—Winter Jam, 6pm-11pm @ Santa Ana Center in Rio Rancho, $10 per ticket
· Nov 12—Women’s Breakfast, 8:30am-10:30am @ East Mountain Campus
· Nov 13, 27—Sunday Worship, 9am-11am @ A-frame
· Nov 13—Operation Christmas Child Boxes due!
· Nov 20—A-frame Dedication Service, 9am-11am @ A-frame
· Nov 20—Church-wide Thanksgiving Potluck, 1pm-3pm @ A-frame, bring a dish to share, sign-up sheet coming soon!
· Nov 24—Happy Thanksgiving!
