HRBC is a host site for Chesterfield County Parks & Recreation Older Adult Programming on Mondays.  Through this partnership, we can benefit from the wonderful programming the county offers and more importantly, connect with other older adults in our community.  We encourage you to make an effort to attend one of the following events hosted at HRBC:

Games, Cards and Coffee
Mondays, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Bring your own game or join with another group.

Optima Health Screening
Monday, September 20, 10:00 a.m. – noon
Join us for a blood pressure check and cholesterol screening.  Register at least one week in advance by calling Catie Horne (339-2877)

Beginner Yoga
Mondays, 9:15 – 10:15 a.m.
October 11 – November 8 (Register with Catie Horne by October 4), $45
November 15 – December 13 (Register with Catie Horne by November 8), $45
Please bring a yoga mat or towel as we learn floor yoga for seniors that helps posture and balance.

The Five Elements of Tai Chi
Mondays, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
October 11 – December 13 (Register with Catie Horne by October 4), $90
Explore basic tai chi movement principles, access your inner awareness, integrate your mind and body while learning this complete form.

Fall Dance
Saturday, October 16, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., $9
Put on your dancing shoes and join us in the gym.  Music is provided by Lyrics.  Tickets will not be sold at the door so get yours early.  Contact Judy Jones for tickets and details (751-4135).

Aging Well Seminar
Monday, October 25, 10:30 a.m.
Join us for a presentation from ResCare HomeCare on aging, planning ahead, coping with loss, depression, support, and assistance.  Refreshments provided.

Fall Potluck
Monday, November 15, 11:00 a.m.
Pat Roble of the Chesterfield County Museum Association will present a program:  “What’s in a name – the Origin of Plant Names.”

Christmas Celebration
Monday, December 6, 11:00 a.m.
Now and Then will offer a holiday performance followed by light refreshments.

Beginner Bridge Lessons
We currently have a session underway but a new one will likely begin at the start of 2011.  Contact Catie Horne for details (339-2877).

Join us Friday, September 10, HRBC as we gather at Golden Corral on Midlothian Turnpike for our annual kickoff dinner.  Please join us anytime after 4:30 p.m. as we share dinner and information together.  Sign up is not required. See Tom Wyatt for details.

A huge THANK YOU to all who helped make this wonderful week of VBS such a rousing success. Our buildings were full of children and leaders who were learning about God’s Power and Light, and how we can see, follow, and share that light with others.

I hope you enjoy these stories of God’s Power & Light among us this week:

“Please don’t make me leave until after Bible Study!”

While adults sometimes find Bible Study boring or tedious, not so for the young people in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade Bible Study rotation, led by Martha and Beth Parker and Catie Lott! On Thursday, a family requested that they be able to pick their children up early so they could go to King’s Dominion for the day. Their 3rd grade son made the plea to be able to stay at least through his Bible Study time. When his mom came to pick him up, he was, indeed, in the middle of Bible Study. He made his case to be allowed to stay — and when the rotation was over, he happily went on to more fun. When was the last time YOU were so excited about studying the Bible????

From the mouths of babes . . .

Our preschool classes have the pleasure of having roving music teacher, Rose Browning, visit their classrooms each day. The children love Miss Rose’s visits each day, offering many hugs and happy greetings when she arrives. One day when Rose was leaving the classroom, a little 5-year-old sighed happily and said, “That woman has a heart of gold!” Indeed, she does! And so do all the other 109 volunteers who worked so hard this week!

“I wanted them to experience what we’ve experienced.”

There is a family that came to HRBC 10 months ago, and they not only brought their children to VBS, the mom accepted a leadership position, guiding children from rotation to rotation. As the week progressed, we heard many times from her how much she liked VBS and how much fun she was having. On Wednesday, she asked if it was okay to invite her neighbor’s family to Family Night, even though they didn’t come to VBS. She said she had told her friends about HRBC, but she wanted them to experience firsthand the love and welcome she and her family had felt from this church. We did, indeed, warmly welcome her friends and many others to a fun-filled Family Night!

And then there’s the tooth fairy . . .

One of our 1^st grade girls lost a tooth during VBS. She was very excited and told her mom that she couldn’t wait to put it under her pillow because the tooth fairy might bring her some money. And if the tooth fairy brought her money, she could give it to the offering to help people in other places hear the Bible. When asked how much she hoped to receive, she thought maybe $100 would be a good sum! Though she received somewhat less than $100, her generous spirit and those of the many other children and families who brought offering during the week helped us to collect over $850 to send to Faith Comes By Hearing, and as a result, 450 or more people will hear the New Testament in their own language!

The stories here are just a few of the many that happened during the week at VBS. Continue to pray for the children who experienced God’s love and our hospitality this week. We never know how God might use the stories and love that children experience during VBS to change not just their life, but that of their family, too. We also never know when a family will be drawn back to this congregation to learn more about God’s power and light - so be looking for new faces to welcome! Now go and shine YOUR light!!

A reception to honor Mrs. Janet Hamrick, who retires as Child Development Center Director on July 31st, will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 18, immediately following the Quarterly Congregational Meeting. Prepare a finger food goody and plan to join us as we express our love and appreciation to Janet.

On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, United Praise will travel to Eagle Eyrie to be the featured choir at the Virginia Baptist Music and Arts for Worship Camp. Each year, one guest choir or ensemble is chosen to perform at the one evening feature concert. This is indeed an honor for our choir to be chosen. Please pray for and encourage our students and adult leaders as we rehearse this summer and finish preparations to sing. Congratulations United Praise!

Have fun looking at all the great photos from our experiences on mission!!

Does anyone remember all of that snow we had just a few months ago? That seems a distant memory as we look at 100+ temperatures this week! Given the 100+ forecast for Wednesday, we are moving the older adult picnic to the gym at HRBC. Please bring your side dish, and we will begin eating at 5:30 p.m.

Please call those in your Sunday School class and pass the word along!

We look forward to seeing you Wednesday!!!

Please join us in the gym at 8:45 a.m. for our one combined worship service on July the 4th. Our pastor will bring a poignant message, we will partake in the Lord’s Supper and we will be led in worship by As One. Sunday school will follow at 10:00 a.m. Join us as we worship God on our nation’s birthday.

The church office will be closed on Monday, July 5, in celebration of Independence Day. Enjoy this time of celebrating our country’s birthday and giving thanks for the freedoms we enjoy in America. If you have an emergency during the holiday weekend, please contact a member of the ministerial staff.

This Tuesday marked week 2 of Be. Love. Serve. Summer Edition.  One group wrote encouraging notes to HRBC youth who will travel to Alpine Adventures next week.  They also delivered a prayer shawl and participated in a sing-along at Morningside.  The second group spent some time with another local mission partner at the African Christian Community Church.  Everyone returned tired but grateful for a good day of ministry in our community.

So how is this ministry impacting those who are participating?  Here’s a recent challenge from Wilton Johns to his Sunday School Class after his experience last week:  “This morning I am tired, but happy.  I spent last night with four wonderful ladies at BLS SE.  The five of us, none of whom I can ever remember talking with, took a trip over to a group home for mentally disabled adults to share dessert and play Bingo.  The residents had a great time and were excited and appreciative of our visit, but I think mostly appreciative of our time.  The Bingo was fun, the dessert was great, the experience was awesome.  We, the five from HRBC, were blessed by giving of our time and ourselves JUST BECAUSE (oh, and also because that is what we are called to do).  I was blessed by spending time with four members of the Healing Hearts group that chose to get out of their comfort zone.  Now, this part is a challenge...look at the rest of the Be Love Serve opportunities for the summer.  Come get involved DOING something in our community.  I would have loved to have some young people...children...or teens...or twenties...or thirties with me to share the time.  Folks, this is an opportunity to get out and show God's love.  Look into it.  Maybe I will see you there.” 

So, have you signed up yet?  If not, click here.

Check out pictures from our experiences on mission.  Click here.

Six girls and two chaperones left today for 4 days and 3 nights at Eagle Eyrie.  Please be in prayer for them as they learn about being “Barefoot” in God’s presence, and about people in Africa who need to hear of God’s love for them.  They will return Friday, July 2, ready to tell you all about it!

We continue to accept contributions towards our 2010 Heritage Day Project. The project we seek to fund is window coverings for the sanctuary windows. Window treatments will keep the pews, cushions, and carpet from fading further; help control air conditioning cost; stop the glare for worshippers on Sunday mornings and other events; and make the use of the sanctuary more flexible through controlling the lighting. The goal for this project is to raise $30,000—the approximate cost of the window treatments.

Per our last congregational meeting, the architect is currently working on revised drawings of proposed new facilities at HRBC. Please continue to pray for our space needs as we discern how God is leading us to do kingdom work.

July 18 at 7:15 p.m. is the next time we gather to consider matters of business and congregational life. We will hear nominations for the deacon body and also nominations from the Member Development and Mobilization Team. There will be an update from the Space Needs Study Group concerning the building renovation/expansion proposal. Other matters will also be presented and discussed, so be present!

All members of the Church Council are urged to be present on Tuesday, July 6, at 7:00 p.m. for the annual calendar planning session. The church staff has prepared a working calendar for 2010 to be reviewed and adjusted as necessary. Any team, group or program leaders who have dates for the 2011 calendar or for fall 2010 may submit them to Linda Almond or a staff member by Friday, July 2.

Ashley was awarded the Jennifer Anderson Memorial Scholarship this year. The scholarship will help offset some of her costs as she pursues her passion of music at Virginia Tech this fall. Congrats Ashley!

We will not have our regular Wednesday evening activities on July 7. We encourage all older adults to be a part of the picnic at Bert & Rose Browning’s home (14320 Regatta Pointe Road). Fellowship begins at 4:30 p.m., and dinner is served at 5:30 p.m. Please bring a dish to share and a lawn chair. Sign up with Lorene Wyatt by Wednesday, June 30.

With the departure of Terry Maples as Associate Pastor for Education and Discipleship, what happens next? The Personnel Team is reviewing, along with the ministerial staff, current position descriptions to determine how best to meet the church’s current and future staff needs. The Personnel Team will also conduct a survey of the congregation in this regard.

In the interim, the existing ministerial staff has temporarily assumed the various responsibilities associated with this position. We anticipate it will be at least several months before the vacancy is filled. This will allow time for the congregation to adjust to Terry’s leaving and to make a healthy decision about the calling of a new person to the staff. Be prepared to fill out the survey coming your way soon.

The search process has begun for the church secretary position being vacated by Linda Almond upon her retirement. The office will be staffed temporarily by some of our able church members and volunteers. Please pray for the Personnel Team, for the staff and for the search processes.

Our college students are meeting weekly and digging through the rarely taught book of the Bible, Malachi. We are using work books to help us dive into the difference between an authentic faith and empty religion. This is a summer where we are aiming to dive deep. Pray for the girls Bible study as well as the guys Bible study as they dig into God’s word! GIrls and guys will meet separately at 8pm on Thursdays. The location will vary so if you are interested contactjon@hrbcrichmond.org to find out more.

The Vision Team recently called the church to think about ways we could expand our local missions offering. The Judea Team, along with all the age group ministry teams, are working together this summer to answer God’s call to go and serve our local community. Listed below are some frequently asked questions about this growth opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions:

When is it?

Every Tuesday, all summer!

What is it?

A chance to grow in your faith while serving others in our community and working alongside your church family!

When do I sign up?

At least a week in advance of each activity you plan to attend so we have materials and transportation for you.

How do I sign up?

On the church web site or via a flyer in Sunday School boxes or see Julie Carr (378-2133) or Melissa Fallen (272-2072 x15).

Do I have to bring anything?

Yes—a willing spirit and flexibility! Otherwise, all of the supplies are provided. Please note, a few of the activities ask that you bring your lunch.

Is transportation provided?

Yes, but make sure you are signed up!

How do I know what each activity is?

See an explanation of destinations on the web site or talk to a member of the Judea Team or Mission Strategy Team if you have questions.

So...What are you waiting for? Sign up today!