Sometimes it's all about getting one's house in order. That's what we're about, or more specifically helping others to get their house in order. Check out the announcement about our Bucket Brigade coming up Sept. 24, along with the other announcements of the week.
Welcome to the Table
Vine Street Christian Church will join Christians around the world when we celebrate World Communion Sunday on Oct. 1. Diversity and inclusivity around the table of Christ are central to our faith, and on this day we place special emphasis on this grace. Celebrate what Christ is doing to overcome division in the world today! Make plans to join us on World Communion Sunday!
Children's Ministry Ignites With New Curriculum
Wondering where all the children have gone? If it’s 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning, they’re probably in Sunday school. The Children’s Ministry Committee of Vine Street is off to a strong start this season with classes for all ages!
Our new Genesis class for younger children is taught by Johanna Keith in Room 2 of the Children’s Wing. In Room 5, Helen Trabue and Malinda Moseley are leading the Seekers class for older elementary students. Both classes are learning through use of Spark Classroom, published by Sparkhouse, a division of 1517 media, the ministry of publishing within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Spark Classroom is a two-year curriculum. Our children explore Old Testament stories each fall and New Testament stories in winter and spring. A few of our lessons this fall include: Creation, Isaac’s Blessing, the Red Sea, Ten Commandments, and Ruth & Naomi. Each week, kids and their leaders gather to explore their Bible, enjoy fun activities, pray and grow in faith.
Our Middle School Class, under the care of Jeff Miller, is experimenting with a recently available Sparkhouse curriculum titled Colaborate. No, it’s not a misspelling. It’s an interactive, comprehensive Bible study encouraging compelling conversation about God and what it means to follow Jesus as students dig into the Bible. By encouraging questions and taking an honest look at the holy mystery and complexity of Scripture, Colaborate moves learners onto a path of growth and discovery to help them build a faith that stays with them long after they leave Mr. Jeff’s class. You can find these collaborators in Room 3 of the Children’s Wing.
The High School Class is diligently working through Echo the Story, a curriculum inviting students to experience the biblical narrative through storytelling, creative reflection and dialogue. The class is currently studying the Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Bible. If you want to join them, look in the columbarium where you’ll find the group actively engaged in the scriptures. Their curriculum is also a product of Sparkhouse.
For more information about these materials check out www.wearesparkhouse.org.
Children’s ministry is a dynamic part of the Vine Street community and new classmates are always welcome! Adults interested in seeing what all the hype is about can schedule a date to attend the class of their choice. Let’s grow together in our faith!
In the News
• Volunteers are needed Monday, Sept. 25 as we serve with Luke 14: 12. We will serve lunch with this ministry from 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. To sign up, contact Jeff Miller (jeff.miller@img.com; 615/268-5195). We’ll meet on the Room in the Inn campus, 705 Drexel Street, 37203.
• The Official Board will have it’s next meeting Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
• Women’s Night Out will meet on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. at Blue Moon Waterfront Grill located at 525 Basswood Avenue. Questions? Contact Jan Volk (janvolk.agla@gmail.com).
Week of Compassion: You Are There
Clean up has begun in—you can fill in the blank with a lot of places, can’t you? Week of Compassion is responding to needs in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and beyond. Donations are being received in our Sunday worship offering and at WeekofCompassion.org.
The Vine Street Bucket Brigade
We want to do our part to help families and communities clean up after the devastation and mess left by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Church World Service keeps emergency clean-up buckets stored for moments like this, and you can imagine that they are flying off the loading docks of their warehouses right now. We will meet on Sunday, Sept. 24, after worship to assemble 50 clean-up buckets - they will either go straight to help meet current needs or replenish the stock.
These buckets are a meaningful way for people of all ages to participate in the recovery: we will need many hands to help assemble them as well as donors to contribute the money for the supplies. It costs $75 to put together, process, and ship one bucket. It is our goal to contribute 50. We hope that many of our families will be able to contribute the equivalent of one bucket, but every contribution will help us raise the almost $4,000 that will be needed.
Each clean-up kit consists of one five-gallon bucket with a resealable lid, filled with trash bags, gloves, dust masks, detergent, sponges, scouring pads, and other essential items, including insect repellent. You can see all that goes into the kit on this video https://youtube/7UxIKgSZRWQ. The church will purchase all the items in bulk in advance, and we will set up an assembly line in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, September 24, immediately following worship.
Can you help with transportation? If you have a truck and trailer, or if you are willing to drive a rental to the nearest warehouse (in Little Rock, AR or Dexter, MO), please get in touch with the church office or any staff member.
Join the Vine Street Bucket Brigade on September 24!