Thank You

Summer Activities for Children a Success!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped either with our trip to Passportkids! camp or our Vacation Bible School. Whether you helped by sending snacks or letters, collecting empty water bottles or newspapers, teaching or shepherding students, or praying for the students involved, these opportunities for ministry with our children could not happen without your participation!

We had 9 students go to Passportkids! where they learned how they can actively be part of God's revolution of love in the world and 54 students attend our VBS where they learned to splash in Godís word. As we learned about water during VBS, the students collected an offering of $350 to Watering Malawi (www.wateringmalawi.org), a ministry that seeks long-term solutions to extreme poverty and hunger in Malawi through the access to clean water, simple irrigation and sanitation systems. Thank you for joining us in our learning of how we can actively love God and other people this summer!

Save the Date

Church Picnic September 13

Exciting plans are underway for our church picnic on Sunday, September 13, from 4-7 pm on the VBC lawn.  Come join us for good eating, live music, games for all ages and fun fellowship! Since seating is limited, bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets. We have two resident chefs preparing their specialties. Jerry West will feature his famous Texas barbecue brisket and Alison Dunn Almaguer will prepare her signature recipe for Carnitas  (Mexican pulled pork). Hot dogs will also be sizzling on the grill. 

You are also invited to share a favorite dish. Visit our picnic sign up site or call the church office at 703-281-4400 to sign up for various items such as a side dish or dessert. Volunteers are needed to help with set up, grilling and clean up. Cash donations are also welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Picnic Team
Alison Dunn Almaguer
Emily Miller
Carla Toenniessen
Jerry West

Women's Fellowship

Date Change for September

Due to Labor Day, for the month of September the Women's Fellowship will be meeting on the second Monday, September 14, instead of September 7. For more information on the monthly Women's Fellowship, please contact Nancy Curtis.

Join the Choir!

Chancel Choir Rehearsals Resume

The Chancel Choir will resume rehearsals this Thursday, September 3, and rehearses each Thursday night from 7-9 p.m. in the choir room. All singers of high school age and above are welcome to join us. There are also opportunities throughout the year to join the choir for special Sundays. Contact Music Minister CJ Redden-Liotta in the church office for more information.

Chapel Dedication

Join Us As We Dedicate the Duane Chapel at Lost River

The new outdoor chapel is about complete at the Lost River Retreat Center. You are invited to join us in celebrating its completion and also remembering 35 years of retreating at Lost River on Saturday, Oct. 3. Lunch will be served at 12:30PM and the service starts at 2:00PM.

The chapel is a covered worship area with a deck overlooking the creek behind the North Lodge, and is being dedicated to the memory of Jerry Duane and honoring Trula Duane for their years of service to the retreat center. Jerry and Trula long held a dream of just such a chapel being constructed at the retreat center. Many contributed to the Jerry Duane Memorial Fund. In addition we have received a grant from the Duke Street Trinity Baptist Memorial Foundation, a special gift at the end of 2014, and a most recent generous gift from Gladys Wiley. 

Please reserve your place for lunch and/or the service by visiting our Eventbrite page. We need lunch reservations by Monday, September 28. We will receive contributions at Lost River for the cost of lunch. Letting us know if you plan on attending the service will be helpful but if at the last minute you decide to come - please do. The chapel is handicap-accessible with a drop off located within steps of the worship area. 

VBC Book Club

Resumes September 12

Join us for the next gathering of the VBC Book Club on the second Saturday of the month, September 12 from 3-4:30 pm at the Dorcus residence.  We will discuss The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, winner of the Pulitzer Prize.  According to The New York Times Book Review, "The Goldfinch is a rarity that comes along perhaps half a dozen times per decade, a smartly written literary novel that connects with the heart as well as the mind" For further information, contact Nancy Curtis or Carla Toenniessen.

Meeting Minutes

Regular Business Meeting Minutes
The minutes of the June 28, 2015 regular business meeting can be found here. Please send corrections to Linda Gooding, Clerk. 

Church Council Meeting Minutes
The minutes from the July 27 Church Council Meeting can be found here.