October 2017 Newsletter

Operation Christmas Child

It's shoebox packing season once again!

The world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, Operation Christmas Child, uses gift-filled shoeboxes to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child, has collected and delivered more than 135 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories. Through  Operation Christmas Child, lives get changed and kids from all over the world get to know how much they are loved with a shoebox full of little gifts at Christmastime. Once the shoeboxes reach their destinations, pastors around the world host shoebox distributions in places where people may not know Christ and invite them to follow Him. Other churches use the boxes as resources for outreach in orphanages and other at-risk areas. In many places, they also offer The Greatest Gift, a Gospel story booklet Samaritan’s Purse developed for shoebox recipients. 

Pick up your box/boxes, the list of suggested items for the gifts, and the tags to mark your box for boy/girl and ages at the table in front of the sound booth. NO candy or toothpaste please! They can’t go through customs! Please include $9 with each box you pack to cover shipping costs. Boxes must be packed and turned in by November 12th. Co-leaders Tanya Mangum (tanyamlcsw@gmail.com) and Sheryl Stewart (sheryl@barryhess.com) will be ready to receive your boxes any time!

Memorize Scripture

 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.

Deuteronomy 10:17-18 (NIV)

Fall 2017 LIFE Groups

Our LIFE groups are small groups for fellowship and discipleship. In small groups, each member enjoys Christian fellowship as we serve one another in love. Please contact Pastor Charles if you would like to lead and/or host a LIFE Group. There are currently 5 confirmed LIFE Groups being offered this Fall.

· 2:7 Series LIFE Group: led by Pastor Charles and elders @ VGC, Sundays @ 3pm-4pm

· Hayden LIFE Group: led by John Hayden @ Hayden home, Mondays @ 6pm-8pm

· Vista Sisters Daytime LIFE Group: led by Sheryl Stewart @ VGC, Tuesdays @ 10am-12pm, studying “The Rapture: Don’t be Deceived”

· Men’s LIFE Group: led by Pastor Charles Lord @ EMC, Wednesdays @ 7pm-8:30pm, studying “The Purpose Driven Life”

· Rapture Study: led by Karla Davis @ VGC, Wednesdays @ 7pm-8:30pm, studying “The Rapture: Don’t be Deceived”

TFI and Orphan Sunday

According to The Forgotten Initiative, there are 250,000 children entering the foster care system in the United States every year. These children need loving, caring foster families to pour into their lives, but this need is often left unmet because there are not enough foster families.

The role of foster parents is to love a child wholeheartedly and to care for his/her needs for as long as necessary. But they must also leave their arms open because the goal for this child (in most cases) is to return home to his/her parents. Foster parents have a beautiful opportunity to come alongside an entire family. Foster parenting can be mentally and physically exhausting, emotionally draining and easily misunderstood.

What if the Body of Christ rallied around foster parents? When the Church supports foster parents, they are encouraged and better equipped to serve the children in their care.

Orphan Sunday is November 12th. In preparation for this, The Forgotten Initiative would like to give some helpful gift cards to local foster care families who are working with the BAIR Foundation in Albuquerque to provide homes for New Mexico children in foster care. The goal is to reward hard-working families with something special so husband/wife can reconnect and regroup, and for foster families to have ways to bond together and have special memories made.

1. Gift cards to area "fun" places (like Hinkle's, Dave and Buster's, Main Event, Cliff's, etc).

2. Gift cards for restaurants and local hotels for monthly "foster family of the month".

Please contact our TFI advocate, Jen Bartz, if you want to donate gift cards or if you can make a monetary donation for these items. She can be reached at jenni.bartz@ gmail.com or 405-385-6341. To learn more about TFI, please visit their website, http://www.theforgotteninitiative.org/.

October Calendar Event Details

· Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29— 8:30am Service @ VGC, coffee fellowship @ 8am

· Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29— 10:30am Service @ VGC, coffee fellowship @ 10am

· Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29— 2:7 Series LIFE Group, 3pm-4pm @ VGC, contact Pastor Charles Lord w/ questions (505-206-3210)

· Oct 1, 8, 15, 22, 29— Youth Service, 5pm-7pm @ VGC

· Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30— Hayden LIFE Group, 6pm-8pm @ Hayden home, contact John Hayden w/ questions (505-249-3235)

· Oct 3, 10, 17, 24, 31— Vista Sisters Daytime LIFE Group, 10am-12pm @ VGC, studying “The Rapture: Don’t be Deceived,” contact Sheryl Stewart w/ questions (505-803-1510)

· Oct 4, 11, 18, 25— Prayer Meeting/Dinner, 5:30pm-6:15pm prayer and 6:15pm-7pm dinner @ VGC

· Oct 4, 11, 18, 25— Men’s LIFE Group, 7pm-8:30pm @ East Mountain Campus, studying “The Purpose-Driven Life,” contact Pastor Charles Lord w/ questions (505-206-3210)

· Oct 4, 11, 18, 25— Rapture Study, 7pm-8:30pm @ VGC, studying “The Rapture: Don’t be Deceived,” contact Karla Davis w/ questions (505-407-4505)

· Oct 5, 12, 19, 26— Worship Practice, 6pm-7pm @ VGC

· Oct 7— Men’s Breakfast, 8am-10am @ VGC, please RSVP with Tom Meluso (vista880@gmail.com)

· Oct 7— Beth Moore Simulcast, 9am-3:45pm @ FBC Tijeras, doors open @ 8:30am, cost is $20 per person, space is limited, BYO lunch or purchase for $5, please RSVP w/ Rose Alexa by 10/4 (505-281-3457)

· Oct 11, 25— Feed the Kids, 9:45am-11:30am @ First Baptist Church Tijeras Fellowship Hall, contact Sheryl Stewart w/ questions (505-803-1510)

· Oct 14— Vista Sisters Women’s Breakfast, 9am-10:30am @ VGC, theme is Fall Favorites, bring your favorite fall dish to share, please contact Christie Lord (crickandchas@yahoo.com) or Cyndi Leavitt (leavitt.    cynthia@gmail.com) w/ questions

· Oct 26— Storehouse Mobile Pantry, 3pm-4:30pm @ A. Montoya Elementary School, volunteers please arrive by 2:15pm to help set up, please contact Sheryl Stewart w/ questions (505-803-1510)