September 2017 Newsletter

New School Year for Feed The Kids

Feed the Kids is back and we’re ready to pack! The dates for September FTK packing are 9/13 and 9/27. We meet at the First Baptist Tijeras Fellowship Hall for packing, 9:45am-10:00am. Delivery to the schools is immediately after packing. If anyone wants to help with this, please stick around!

If you can’t be with us to pack, would you do this for us, please?

*PRAY —

1. For the kids.

2. The FTK program has more needs than we can fill. Schools are calling asking for help and we don’t have all the resources in place…yet!

3. For the schools and Bible Clubs.

*Sponsor a child through your church giving — designate FTK and an amount on the memo line. $20 a month sponsors a child for every weekend of the month!

*Donate foods — shop for us and with us. We have grocery lists available that specify the foods we pack regularly. You can download a list by visiting the “Feed the Kids” webpage on the church website.

*Help us deliver the food bags.

*Shop online using AmazonSmile — designate Vista Grande Church as your charity and Amazon will donate 0.5% of all eligible purchases to Feed the Kids. Please visit the “Feed the Kids” webpage on the church website for step-by-step instructions.

*Tell people about FTK — encourage others to get involved and pray for us!

-Sheryl Stewart

Memorize Scripture

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

Fall 2017 LIFE Groups

With the school year in full swing, LIFE Groups are kicking off in September. 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 lead and/or host a LIFE Group. There are currently 4 confirmed LIFE Groups being offered this Fall.

The Hayden LIFE Group will be led by John Hayden at the Hayden’s home on Mondays at 6pm-8pm. This LIFE Group starts on September 11th. Initially, the group will meet to answer these questions:

1. What should the major focus of our group be (for/within the group, for the neighborhood, for (as a part of) VGC, and for the East Mountain community)?

2. How can we as a group encourage and nurture each other in identifying and supporting areas (personal/spiritual) of growth/expansion/renewal?

3. What area/issue/project can we commit to actively serving – in other words, how can we lend a needed hand? 

4. How do we guide/model our study to support one or more of the results/needs from our discussion?

5. How do we ensure that our worship and prayer time is centered on our Lord Jesus?

The Vista Sisters Daytime LIFE Group will be led by Sheryl Stewart at VGC on Tuesdays at 10am-12pm, and starts on September 12th. This women’s only study will be working through a 14-week DVD series entitled, “The Rapture: Don’t Be Deceived,” by Pastor Billy Crone. The first 7 lessons will be completed in the Fall semester and the remaining 7 lessons will be completed in the Spring semester. Study guides are $15; please reserve your copy by signing up on the back table at church on 9/3 or contact Sheryl Stewart. Childcare is available for this LIFE Group. Please let Sheryl know if you will need childcare. Sher can be reached at sheryl@barryhess.com or 505-803-1510.

“The Rapture: Don’t Be Deceived” will also be offered on Wednesday nights at VGC at 7pm-8:30pm. This study will be led by Karla Davis and will begin on September 13th. Please reserve your study guide by signing up on the back table at church on 9/3 or contact Karla Davis. She can be reached at kirk.karla@gmail.com or 505-407-4505.

The VGC Men’s LIFE Group will be led by Charles Lord at VGC (location subject to change) on Wednesdays at 7pm-8:30pm. Starting in September, the Men’s LIFE Group will be working through the book of Jude and will begin “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren in October.

Beginning September 13th, Prayer Meeting will return to 5:30pm-6:15pm and we will resume offering a free dinner meal at 6:15pm-7pm.

Annual Labor Day Picnic

Join us on Monday, 9/4, for our annual Labor Day Picnic! It will be at the Capulin/Snowplay Picnic Area at Sandia Crest starting at 10:30am. 

At the junction of Hwy 14-N, take the winding Sandia Crest Road for 8 miles to the Capulin/Snowplay Picnic Area. Turn right at the Fee Station to pay the parking fee. Park in the large parking area straight ahead.

What to bring: $3 per vehicle, beverage, chair, and a dish to share!

Please sign up at PerfectPotluck.com to bring a dish to share. Burgers, hot dogs, and condiments are provided. Visit www.perfectpotluck. com and use the “Find” option. Type in “Harding” for Coordinator Last Name and “1234” for the Password. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Terry Nunneley at 505-238-0857.

Hurricane Harvey Support

In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, thousands of people are without shelter, food, water, and other basic necessities. There are several ways that we can help meet these needs.

First, you can donate financially through the North American Mission Board, the Baptist Convention of New Mexico, Samaritan's Purse, and a host of other avenues. Second, you can volunteer to travel to Texas and/or SW Louisiana to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

NAMB donation and volunteer information: https://www.namb.net/send-relief/disaster-relief/hurricane-harvey

BCNM donation information: Individuals may text the words "BCNM HARVEY" to 73256 on their smart phones. A return text contains a link they may use to specify their gift amount ($3 minimum) and enter their credit card information. The website through which the gift is made (pay.acts.com) is a service used by the convention for online payments of various kinds. The system will provide confirmation of the gift via return text. Individuals can also make donations through their local church by designating "Hurricane Harvey Relief" on their checks/envelopes.

BCNM volunteer information: Individuals interested in receiving training to serve as Disaster Relief volunteers should contact the BCNM Missions Mobilization office at (505) 924-2315 or (800) 898-8544. Trainings are being planned across the state. Only trained DR volunteers with current badges and background checks can participate in DR relief work. Information about training opportunities will be emailed to churches and posted at www.gobnm. com and bcnm.com, as well as released through social media channels.

Samaritan's Purse donation and volunteer information: https://spvolunteernetwork. samaritanspurse.org/hurricane-harvey-reponse/

Calendar Event Details

· Sep 2— Men’s Breakfast, 8am-10am @ VGC, please RSVP with Tom Meluso (vista880@gmail.com)

· Sep 3, 10, 17, 24— 8:30am Service @ VGC, coffee fellowship @ 8am

· Sep 3, 10, 17, 24— 10:30am Service @ VGC, coffee fellowship @ 10am

· Sep 3, 10, 17, 24— Youth Service, 5pm-7pm @ VGC

· Sep 4— Labor Day Picnic, 10:30am-2pm @ Capulin/Snowplay Picnic Area at Sandia Crest, please bring dish to share, contact Mr. Terry Nunneley w/ questions (505-238-0857)

· Sep 6— Prayer Meeting, 6pm @ VGC

· Sep 6, 13, 20, 27— Men’s Study, 7pm @ VGC (location subject to change)

· Sep 7, 14, 21, 28— Worship Practice, 6pm-7pm @ VGC

· Sep 8-9— Women’s Weekender, overnight event @ First Baptist Church Ruidoso, 5pm Friday to 3pm Saturday, cost is $40, visit https://www. nmbch.com/wmu-ww/ to register, contact Connie Dixon w/ questions (cdixon@ nmbch.com)

· Sep 11, 18, 25— Hayden LIFE Group, 6pm @ Hayden home, contact John Hayden w/ questions (505-249-3235)

· Sep 12, 19, 26— Vista Sisters Daytime LIFE Group, 10am-12pm @ VGC, contact Sheryl Stewart w/ questions (505-803-1510)

· Sep 12, 19— “Follow the Son” Training Workshop, contact Gayle DeRose for more information (deyellowrose@hot mail.com)

· Sep 13, 27— Feed the Kids, 9:45am-11:30am @ First Baptist Church Tijeras Fellowship Hall, contact Sheryl Stewart w/ questions

· Sep 13, 20, 27— Prayer Meeting/Dinner, 5:30pm-6:15pm prayer and 6:15pm-7pm dinner @ VGC

· Sep 13, 20, 27— Rapture Study, 7pm-8:30pm @ VGC, contact Karla Davis w/ questions (505-407-4505)

· Sep 15-16— Megapalooza of Children’s Ministry Training, 6pm-8:30pm Friday and 8:15am-1pm Saturday @ Del Norte Baptist Church, contact Gayle DeRose for more information

· Sep 22-23— R.E.A.L. Women’s Conference, 6pm-9pm Friday and 8am-2:30pm Saturday @ Sandia Baptist Church, cost is $45,  visit  http://www.getrealwithgod.com/ to register, contact Sara Ghormley w/ questions (sara.ghormley @gmail.com)

· Sep 23— “Dare 2 Share Live” Teen Evangelism Conference, 10am-5:30pm @ Eastern Hills Baptist Church, $10 per student, contact Mike Harding to RSVP by 9/3 (mharding2@liberty.edu)