NOVEMBER 2013 VOL. 1# ISSUE #6

THE VINE CONNECTIONNEWSLETTER

“The Vine Connection is all about reaching out to each other and our community”

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The Vine Church 1 S. Main Street

This Month’s Ministry Focus:

COUPLE’S MINISTRY

The Vine Church has been developing life groups tomatch the needs of our community. The Couple’s LifeGroup was formed in April of 2013. Morris & Sheri Fraley,the leaders of the Couple’s Life Group, have been with TheVine since it was formed in 2007. Their hearts are for thefamilies of the church, and helping couples enrich theirmarriages and be transformed by God’s word.

The group has just successfully completed their firststudy, “The Art of Marriage”, which was such a blessing toall who participated. There were 7 couples who completedthe study and learned life style changes according to thebiblical view of marriages. The conversations were healthyand promoted many ministry opportunities within thegroup. The accountability and confidentiality of the groupmade it a safe environment for all who attended.

Morris shared that the men need to step up to thechallenge of leading their marriages, families and others.God’s view of the man as the head of his household is notto be an overbearing and controlling person, as perceivedby the world today, but rather to love and nurture theirrelationships in a Godly manner.

Sheri shared that the group is walking together on thisjourney with the goal of reflecting God’s biblical roles formen and women in their marriages. With God as the head,the love between a man and a woman is a three strandcord that cannot be broken.

The Couple’s Life Group meets every first Tuesday ofthe month starting at 6:30 pm at the home of Morris andSheri. They will be starting a new series called “MarriageOneness” on November 5��. All couples are encouraged tojoin our group next month.

Couple’s Bowling Night

MINISTRY IN ACTION

PastorMark

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The Vine Church Vision Statement is to connect people to JesusChrist, who is The Vine, so that they may connect to each other andthe community around them in order to have a growing relationship

with The Vine.

The Awesomeness of Nature

Family Camping Weekend

Oct 4 -5-6th, 2013The Pastor’s

Ponderments

Does what you believe have any real impact on what you do?For many people, what you believe simply means that you go to acertain church on Sunday morning. However, as an authenticcommunity of believers, we are called to do so much more. Ourbeliefs should actually impact how we talk to our kids and ourfriends. Our beliefs should impact the way we live our lives in theprivacy of our homes and in the parking lot at Walmart. We get aglimpse of this in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15: “14 For Christ's love compelsus, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore alldied. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer livefor themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again”.Imagine an authentic community of believers doing things for othersbecause of the love of Jesus in them!

As Brethren in Christ (BIC) we also have a unique opportunity toembrace our Core Values. These Core Values can be found on ourweb site at www.thevinebic.com. Recently, Bishop Perry Engleaddressed a new team of BIC members and reflected on theimportance of our Core Values. This is an excerpt of his message:

Four Things I Like About Our Core Values

1. Our Core Values are experiential, not just doctrinal. Our faith is not something we only believe; it is something we live out.

2. Our Core Values are rooted in community, not just in individual experience. Our faith is not simply something we do by ourselves, but something we do together.

3. Our Core Values reflect the life and teaching of Jesus. Ourfaith is not only rooted in Scripture, but it is also centeredin Christ.

4. Our Core Values are completely relevant for today’s world.

Will you allow the love of Christ to change the way you engage yourworld? Will you allow the love of Christ to change the way youexperience community in an honest and authentic manner? Whenwe allow the love of Christ and His Word to engage our hearts andour actions, our routines and life will look different. They will lookmore like Jesus and express love in a fresh, compassionate way!

COME &GET IT

C.H.O.S.E.N.

Some pretty cool things havebeen going on lately withC.H.O.S.E.N. The Vine Church hadtheir camping weekend and many ofus got to spend the entire, warmweekend at Roxbury Holiness Camp.

We were able to spend time in the creek as well as have abonfire. Who doesn’t like burning stuff (in a controlled area ofcourse)? A few of us decided that it was time that we took apublic stance on our love for Jesus and our desire to live our livesfor Him. The way that we do this is being baptized. Baptism isa public showing of your love and desire to follow Jesus. We dida lesson where we were shown that it is like being a pickle.Pickles begin as cucumbers , then they are put in vinegar and

some other stuff, and eventuallybecome pickles. The pickle is still acucumber, but it has a different tasteto it. Just like before baptism we liveour lives one way, and then afterbaptism we are choosing to live ourlives another. We are still who we arebut now our insides are different and

we want others to know it.

C.H.O.S.E.N. also had a lot of fun when we went to a corn mazein Hagerstown. There were 3 mazes altogether. The first 2 wewent through in the daylight. By the time we were on the 3�� itwas dark, which added a little bit more excitement. Have youever tried going somewhere in the dark? With the light of Jesusinside of us we can be bright and shine wherever we go.

Check out the pictures below and judge for yourself. Wewould love to have more teens joinus!!

GOD SIGHTINGS

The following are reflections from members of The Vine Churchthat describe a time in their lives when God was real, andbeyond a doubt, the Author of their lives!

I had just finished a Men’s Emmaus weekend, filled with theHoly Spirit! Then a few Sunday’s later at church I noticed that ayoung couple that usually attended hadn’t shown up yet. I felt anudging from the Holy Spirit that something was just not right.The need to go to that family was intense. And in obedience toGod’s prompting, I took my wife and another couple who wereprayer warriors to their home as church was beginning. Weprayed before we left to have God’s revealing of spiritual truth,wisdom and discernment. We left church and pulled in theirdriveway… we knocked on the door and the wife opened the doorin tears. She said, “ How did you know we needed prayer rightnow”?

She invited us in and we sat and listened, prayed andcomforted her. They were having marital issues, and it was a timethat was a crucial turning point in their marriage. We don’t knowthe whole story and probably never will, but we do know that Godprompted us to go and to share his word, his love, his comfort,and his forgiveness.

A marriage was saved , a family restored, and the couple isstill together today! We give PRAISE TO GOD and to him alone.God has always spoken in a still small voice and I know I have tobe obedient to his calling/nudging, because I know it has to bevery important. Morris

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PRAYER FOCUS CORNER:

SPIRITUAL REVIVAL IN THIS COUNTRY

As we listen to the news around our country and the shape it is in, weknow the God needs to be exalted, praised and claimed to the nations. Peoplewho believe in Jesus need to stand up for God’s word and not to sit back andlet things happen. Our country needs to go back to GODLY principles tofunction as America was intended to be. Pray that God will create a spirit ofhumility and brokenness among the believers (Isaiah 57:15; James 4:6). Godwill not revive those who are self-sufficient and proud. The believers mustcome to see their spiritual bankruptcy and utter dependence on God.

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I willpour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”Isaiah 44:3.

DID YOU KNOW?

WORD OF THE MONTH

Believe (Greek: pisteuo): to have confidence or faith inthe truth; give credence to; to have confidence in theassertions of (a person); to have a conviction.Rom 10:9-11 “That if you confess with your mouth,"Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raisedhim from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is withyour heart that you believe and are justified, and it iswith your mouth that you confess and are saved”. NIV

What are the top three things that you truly believe in??

Women’s Life Group -BIBLE STUDY - meets first Monday of the month atchurch from 6:30 - 8:00 / contact Karen Shade facilitator (717)762-9363 or Lori Sewell (717)580-4529 for more information.

Men’s Life Group - meets every other Wednesday at the church from7:00 - 8:30 / contact Pastor Mark (717)357-0389 for moreinformation.

Prayer HOUR OF POWER - meets the other Wednesday at church 7:00

Student Life Group CHOSEN - meets at the church every Thursday nightfrom 6:30 - 8:00 / contact Esther Fairall (443)-889-6624 or DebbieKelly (717)352-7822 for more information.

Couple’s Life Group - meets every first Tuesday of the month at theleaders home from 6:30 - 8:00 / contact Morris & Sheri Fraley(301)991-3506 for more information.

“What did Noah see in the sky?

Last months answer: A ladder

The Book of Revelation is the youngest book of theNew Testament, written about 95 A.D

AROUND THE BICNews and events happening with our

larger Brethren In Christ Family!

The people with BIC World Missions have been praying for theacquisition of a new store front in Hoyo, Spain, where achurch has been planted by God's great grace. They havefound a place in the center of town at an incredible price forthe area. They have asked for a loan and met all theconditions, yet recent developments threaten the process.Members have fasted and prayed and raised moneythemselves. Pray earnestly that this opportunity is not lost.

MORE PLACES TO US CHECK OUT

FOLLOW US:

Check out the Website: www.thevinebic.com

1 South Main St. Smithsburg, MD 21783 (301) 824-7770

Join us on Sundays at 10:00am

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Comments - Suggestions - Feedback

Email: thevineconnection_newsletter@yahoo.com

BIBLE WORD SCRAMBLE

1. RIAHSMSTC ____________

2. DGO ____________

3. EIJROCH ____________

4. AO’HSNKRA ____________

5. IENEGSS ____________

Last months answers:

1. Noah 2. Sarah 3. Anna 4. Moses 5. Titus

New Search Game: FIND THE FISH!

Where’s the fish? It is hidden somewhere in the newsletter.Enjoy the hunt.

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November 2013

Rom 10:9-11 “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will besaved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved”. NIV

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

39:00 Prayer

10:00 Worship

46:30 Women’s

Bible Study

56:30 Couples Life

Group

Madisyn SnivelyBD

67:00 Men’s Bible

Study

76:30 CHOSEN

8 9

109:00 Prayer

10:00 Worship

11Veterans Day

12 137:00 Hour of

Power

146:30 CHOSENBronx Mission

Trip

15Bronx Mission

Trip

16Bronx Mission

Trip

179:00 Prayer

10:00 WorshipBronx Mission

Trip

18 19 207:00 Men’s Bible

Study

216:30 CHOSEN

6:30 Newsletterstaff Meeting

22 234:45 New HopeShelter Dinner

249:00 Prayer

10:00 Worship

25 266:30 Leadership

Meeting

Ralphie Kelly BD

277:00 Hour of

Power

Anthony & PamBrooks Annv.

28Thanksgiving

29 30

November 2013

Rom 10:9-11 “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will besaved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved”. NIV

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

39:00 Prayer

10:00 Worship

46:30 Women’s

Bible Study

56:30 Couples Life

Group

67:00 Men’s Bible

Study

76:30 CHOSEN

8 9

109:00 Prayer

10:00 Worship

11Veterans Day

12 137:00 Hour of

Power

146:30 CHOSENBronx Mission

Trip

15Bronx Mission

Trip

16Bronx Mission

Trip

179:00 Prayer

10:00 WorshipBronx Mission

Trip

18 19 207:00 Men’s Bible

Study

216:30 CHOSEN

6:30 Newsletterstaff Meeting

22 234:45 New HopeShelter Dinner

249:00 Prayer

10:00 Worship

25 266:30 Leadership

Meeting

277:00 Hour of

Power

28Thanksgiving

29 30