THE VINE CONNECTION NEWSLETTER

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1 THE VINE CONNECTION NEWSLETTER The Vine Connection is all about reaching out to each other and our community JANUARY 2014 VOL.2 # ISSUE #1 PRAYER MINISTRY This Month s Ministry Focus: The Hour of Power Prayer Ministry meets every other Wednesday evening at church starting at 7:00 pm. This ministry has been in place at The Vine even before we opened our doors in Smithsburg. It started with a group of 4 that met on Sunday evenings, and then gradually bloomed into every other week. The Hour of Power has become a time of worship and prayer, rarely lasting just an hour. The prayer warriors that attend have experienced many GOD sightings on those evenings. This is a time when we can pray over our brothers and sisters who are in need of healing and uplifting. We seek guidance as situations arise and we do life together. Throughout the year we also have services that include foot washings and prayer over those who participate. We have also taken it to the streets for prayer walks and to meet people in need of prayer. Our prayer warriors don t just stay within our walls, but go out into the community to minister with prayer to anyone in need. Please consider joining us on Wednesday evenings and be a part of this living ministry as we go through this life s journey together. Praying to see you there. Every other Wednesday night in 2014 starting this January 15th at 7:00 pm. Morris - Prayer Ministry Leader Everything that happens at the prayer meetings stays at the prayer meetings. The atmosphere is very casual, and all who come feel comfortable sharing their struggles and concerns with the group. Throughout the week we continue to lift those requests up in prayer. The Vine Church 1 S. Main Street Page 1.

2 The Vine Church Vision Statement is to connect people to Jesus Christ, who is The Vine, so that they may connect to each other and the community around them in order to have a growing relationship with The Vine. MINISTRY IN ACTION December 2013 The Pastor s Ponderments Pastor Mark Smithsburg Hometown Christmas Children s Program & Family Christmas Party Candles & Carols What will 2014 bring your way? At this time of year it is natural for many of us to consider the year ahead. Many people will start a new diet, or try to quit smoking, only to realize that by the end of January they are back in their normal routines. While all those things are good, could it be that something was missing? Did you know that Jesus is really interested in what you do on a daily basis and wants to help you be successful? Could 2014 bring you a renewed focus on who Jesus is in your life? Think about this for a moment: To get help from someone who is not going to leave you or belittle you; to get help from someone who is always going to be by your side, regardless of the situation. What an amazing idea! This could be your year! This could be the year when you experience a deep heartfelt relationship with the only person who can really help! Check this verse out: Ps 37:5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. As we begin this new year we could focus on a lot of things. But if we start here, if we start with simply committing everything we do to the Lord, everything else will be built on this truth. Are you looking for work or a better job? Are you looking for a meaningful relationship or hoping for a renewed spark in your marriage? Are you looking for peace in your life? Then why not start your year with a new foundation. When we commit everything we do to the Lord and truly trust Him, there is an incredible iron clad promise that will follow. It is a promise that cannot be broken. It is a promise that will not be modified by anything. This promise is that Jesus will help you! Yes, that is correct, He will help you through your entire year when you simply trust Him and commit what you do each day to Him. What will 2014 bring for you? It can bring you help from Jesus if you reach out and accept it! Wow what a great start for the New Year! Pastor Mark Page 2

3 Bronx Mission Trip Nov 14-17, 2013: The Vine s very first mission trip!!! Our Bronx Team: Front row: Selena, Esther, Priority 1 Staff Amber, Lori, Back Row: Pam, Anthony, Nancy, Marty, Pastor Mark, Mike We assembled over 200 Family Food Kits at World Vision Connecting to students at the Inwood Charter after school program! Serving meals on the streets from the trunk of a car Helping at the Mana of Life Soup Kitchen GOD SIGHTINGS The following are reflections from members of The Vine Church that describe a time in their lives when God was real, and beyond a doubt, the Author of their lives! The Vine had their first mission trip in November We had a team of nine people including Anthony, Pam, Nancy, Esther, Mike, Selena, Marty, Lori and Pastor Mark. During our experience, we had the opportunity to assemble family food resource kits for World Vision, engage youth at an after school program, prepare home- made soup and sandwiches for a soup kitchen, distribute food to day workers on the streets, participate in a prayer walk around the city, and attend Sunday worship services in the Bronx. During this experience there were many God sightings! The challenge of living out of our suitcases, sleeping on couches, and using one bathroom was a bit difficult. However, during this time, we saw team members helping each other, adjusting their needs for others, and even making sure we were safe! We could see hearts connecting to hearts as our team members would reach out to total strangers. We could see God in action when our team provided comfort to a crying woman on the streets. We could see God in action when we witnessed our team praying for others on the streets. This happened individually and as a group as folks on the street would seek our team out for prayer. We saw God in action when a team member shared the story of how Jesus is changing them in a relevant, practical manner in order to help a teen in distress. We saw how Christ s love would bond hearts of total strangers and join them as brothers and sisters in Christ. It was a pleasure to watch hearts touching hearts and hands providing meaningful help to others! Because nine people left home to help out others in the Bronx, God was seen in many ways. Now those same nine folks are back at home living out their desire to be the heart and hands of Jesus in action! PRAYER FOCUS CORNER Unity of the Church (world & home) For the church body to be united in God s word, to love one another with Christ s love and to share his word by the way it was written. To help others see Jesus in our actions by the way we love each other and how we stand on God s word, not straying to the left or the right 1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. Page 3

4 Who kissed his brothers in a tearful reunion? Last months answer: 8 days DID YOU KNOW? That the smallest animal mentioned in the Bible was a GNAT? WORD OF THE MONTH Fast (fahst) 1. to abstain from all food. 2. to eat only sparingly or of certain kinds of food, especially as a religious observance. Why Fast? Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, saying "when you fast," not if you fast. Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ. Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting." Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life. Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience. 1. C E E P A BIBLE WORD SCRAMBLE 2. HTNUTAIPRM 3. DMKNOIG 4. HCLAVYRA 5. LGGIAL New Search Game: Last months answers: FIND THE FISH! Where s the fish? It is hidden somewhere in the newsletter. 1. Angels 2. Christmas 3. Advent 4. Immanuel 5. Bethlehem. AROUND THE BIC News and events happening with our larger Brethren In Christ Family! Help Spread God s Word to Nepal: Bibles for New Believers Project #0068. The need represented by this project is providing either New Testaments or full Bibles for our church planters to give to new converts and also those who are interested in knowing more about Jesus but do not have money to buy a Bible. We would like to provide at least 400 Bibles every year to distribute to each mission field for Nepal and Tibet. Women s Life Group -BIBLE STUDY - meets first and third Monday of the month at church from 6:30-8:00 / contact Karen Shade facilitator (717) or Lori Sewell (717) for more information. Men s Life Group - meets every other Wednesday at the church from 7:00-8:30 / contact Pastor Mark (717) for more information. Prayer HOUR OF POWER - meets the other Wednesday at church 7:00-8:30 / contact Morris Fraley (301) for more information. Student Life Group CHOSEN - meets at the church every Thursday night from 6:30-8:00 / contact Esther Fairall (443) or Debbie Kelly (717) for more information. Couple s Life Group - meets every first Tuesday of the month at the leaders home from 6:30-8:00 / contact Morris & Sheri Fraley (301) for more information. MORE PLACES TO US CHECK OUT FOLLOW US: Check out the Website: 1 South Main St. Smithsburg, MD (301) Join us on Sundays at 10:00am Comments - Suggestions - Feedback thevineconnection_newsletter@yahoo.com Page 4

5 January 2014 MEMORY VERSE Ps 20:4-5: May He grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. 5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers. NLT Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 New Year's Day 2 CHOSEN 6:30 PM Ladies Christmas Party 2:00 PM 6 Women s Life Group 7 Couples Life Group 8 Men s Life Group 7:00 pm CHOSEN NEW YEARS PARTY 6:00 pm Debbie Kelly BD 15 Hour of Power 7:00 Rhonda DeVore BD 16 CHOSEN 6:00 pm FAMILY BOWLING NIGHT 6:00 PM Mike Wingert BD Trent Sewell BD Martin Luther King Day Womens Life Group 21 Glenn Eden BD 22 Men s Life Group 7:00 pm 23 CHOSEN Snow Tubing 6:00 pm Mike Fairall BD 26 Congregational Meeting 12:30 pm Hour of Power 7:00 30 CHOSEN 6:30 PM 31 Cassidy Quinn BD Page 5 C