We’ve been talking a lot about the Ministry Fair coming up next weekend (August 22 & 23) as we have been bringing in different ministry leaders to 7:24/whatever-the-new-name-is to talk about opportunities to volunteer.  I certainly encourage you to check out those ministries and others at the fair this weekend and to be in prayer about if and how God is calling you to invest your time and energy in serving at RBC on a regular basis.  But we also have the opportunity to assist with the set-up and running of the fair!

They need 6-7 people for each service to make and hand out sno cones, cotton candy, coffee, balloons, etc.  A few of those people will need to be available to set-up before the service as well.  We’ll need a total of at least 18 volunteers.

• Option 1 – Saturday set-up:  Those helping with set-up before the Saturday service will need to come by 4:30 to help set-up.
• Option 2 – Saturday fair & clean-up:  If you can’t come that early to set-up but would like to help with post-service fair, let me know – that’s fine too – you’ll need to be outside and at your station before 7:00p.m.  This group will also help put things away for the night.  Need 6 or 7 people.
• Option 3 – Sunday set-up:  Those helping to set-up before the 9a.m. service will need to be come by 8:00 to help set-up.
• Option 4 – Sunday fair between services:  Those helping at the fair between services will need to be outside and at your station before 10:00.  Need 6 or 7 people.
• Option 5 – Sunday fair after 2nd service & clean-up:  Those helping after the 11:00a.m. service will need to be outside and at your station before 12:00 noon.  Clean-up will probably be done by 2:00.  Need 6 or 7 people.

If you are interested in helping out in this way, please email me by Thursday night and let me know which option you would like to volunteer for.  If you are available to help with a combo of those options, that’s great (i.e. we will need a few people to do both Option 1 & 2, and both Option 3 & 4 – to help with set-up and the fair).  Note that you cannot attend church during the service you volunteer – or at least you will have to get in late and leave early and will need to sit in the back on aisle so you don’t disturb others.

Thanks so much!!  Let me know if you have any questions.

Renae

As many of you know, Reston Bible Church will be having its annual church picnic two Sundays from now on June 14th after the 11:00 service at Lake Fairfax Park (off Baron Cameron).  This event is being coordinated by the RBC Men’s Ministry and I have been talking with Kevin Marshall about ways that we can help.

For those of you who helped with the Spiritual Emphasis weekend, this event will be similar in the number of helpers and jobs needed.  Kevin listed some ways that we can help:

• Make signs for cars (to know where to turn, etc )
• Welcome table (hand out name tags, help wih gen info)
• Parking team to direct cars
• One person to run to Costco with the cook
• Move tables from church to picnic site (one person to help Kevin)
• Food table team (Organize food on tables as food arrivesa and keep people from eating the food prior to start time
• Beverage team (Keep the coolers full of lemonade, tea, etc)
• Clean-up crew (basic cleanup, labeling leftover re-usable items, wash out coolers, etc)
• Tear-down crew (stronger guys who can help with tear-down of the tent, move picnic tables back to original locations, etc)

Kevin did note that this is not an exhaustive list, so I am sure that there is more that we can help with!    Kevin would like to organize volunteers into teams with team leaders as there will be a lot that he will be responsible for on the day of the picnic and he would like to delegate some of the responsibility for specific areas.  I imagine that being a team leader will mean that you will need to know where things go/what needs to be done (Kevin, Angela, or I will make sure you have all the information you need) and be able to communicate that to the rest of the team.

If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know:  A)  What team would like you to help with (Welcome, Parking, Food, Beverage, Clean-up, Tear-down) and B) Are you willing to be the team leader for that team?  There’s a couple other tasks that don’t fit into teams (helping Kevin move tables, going to Costco, etc.) so if you’d like to do that instead of/in addition to being on a team, let me know.

Given how much work there is to do, I think there’s something for everyone to do – we could easily fill 20 volunteers positions.  If we have enough people, we will organize into shifts so that everyone only has to work a portion of the picnic.  So if you plan on coming, volunteer to help out for a little bit!  Please let me know by this Saturday how you would like to help!

Thanks so much!!

Renae

Men, Jason will be at Famous Dave’s in Sterling at 8:00pm for anyone interested in a late dinner.

I’m organizing an Old Rag Mt. hike for Memorial Day.  Hope you can make it.

We’ll be meeting promptly at 8:30am Monday morning at my house in Ashburn:
20468 Charter Oak Dr
Ashburn VA 20147

We’ll probably get back around 6:30pm (or later if people want to stop for dinner on the way back).

The hike will be at an “intermediate pace” with plenty of breaks.  I think most people in our group can do this hike, barring any injuries.  This won’t be a “death march”, but we do need to move at a reasonable rate.

Bring plenty of water! It is a 4-5 hour hike so BYO lunch and snacks. Check the weather report to see if you *might* need to bring a light rain jacket.

I believe the entrance fee is $8/person.  Unfortunately the park doesn’t allow pets.

Feel free to invite others! Also consider if you’d like to drive (it is about 2 hours one way).  I’m assuming people will contribute gas money.

Also, Stephen Chiang is organizing a food run to Shoppers Food Warehouse this evening to replenish the RBC Food Bank. If you’re interested, meet at the RBC parking lot at 7:00 p.m.  Email Stephen for information.

ALL THE LADIES | Katie VanDorsten is hosting a women’s night of fellowship, teaching, prayer and dessert at the VanDorsten home on the last Tuesday of each month. Join us this Tuesday, Mar. 31 from 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. as Marsha Matthews will be sharing on love as a fruit of the Spirit.  This event is open not only to women involved in the 7:24 community, but also to young women churchwide in the college to 20’s age range.  Please email Katie VanDorsten to RSVP and for directions.

ALL THE FELLAS | Since the ladies are kicking him out of his house, join Jason for a late dinner at Famous Dave’s BBQ in Sterling.  He’ll be there at 8:15pm this Tuesday, March 31. Get directions here.

EVERYBODY | Join us for Conversations the evening of Tuesday, April 7.  The show starts at 7:30pm, but you’d better get there early if you want a seat. Can’t make it on Tuesday? No worries. There are shows all week.

Our first meeting will be Tuesday, February 24 from 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.  This event is open not only to women involved in the 7:24 community, but also to young women churchwide in the college to 20’s age range.  Please email Katie VanDorsten to RSVP or for more information.

[Get Directions]

I’ve been in touch with Barb Ruffner, who is coordinating the volunteer efforts for Conversations, and she would love to have 724 help out.  These are the areas that she needs help:

• Ushers
• Child care (nursery, preschool, school age)
• Bakery provisions for the coffee shop
• Dinner for the actors and crew

One idea is that since we have already committed Tuesday nights to be at RBC for 7:24 on a weekly basis, we could serve together that night.  Barb needs 6 ushers per night and at least as many child care workers.  If there’s enough interest, we could also probably also help with the baking or dinner for another night (or the same night).

I just want to get a feel for what the initial interest is so I can talk with Barb about how it would be best for us to help.  So please let me know…

1)  Are you interested/available in helping out as a group – probably on Tuesday, April 7?

2)  What of the four things above would you be most interested in?

Of course you can always volunteer as an individual (you can do that on the RBC website), but for those who would like to serve together as part of our 7:24 community – let me know what your thoughts are.  Reply by Wednesday please!  Let me know if you have any questions.

See you around…

Renae

On January 23-25, Reston Bible Church will be hosting a Spiritual Life conference featuring pastor Paul David Tripp titled “Portrait of a Struggle: Jesus, Others, and Everyday Life.”  First of all, you should come to this conference because it is going to be fabulous and I think you will be challenged and encouraged.  The topic is addressing difficulties in our daily life and God’s purpose for our good in those trials.  Paul Tripp is a great speaker!

In addition to that, however, there are many ways that 724 can serve at this event.  Specifically, they need people to
–assist with registration on Friday and Saturday
–set up the refreshment and coffee table, keep it replenished, and clean-up afterwards
–pass out surveys during the last session.

The conference is taking place at RBC on Friday, January 23 from 6:45 to 9:15 and on Saturday, January 24 from 8:45-12:15.  Paul Tripp will also speak on weekend services at RBC.

Helping at this event will require you to be there about an hour early before the sessions, but you will still be able to sit in the sessions.  Additionally, for those who volunteer, the registration fee of $15 will be waived.

If you are able to help at the Spiritual Life conference, please e-mail me and let me know if you are able to help only Friday, only Saturday, or both days.  If you volunteer, do not register for the conference – there is special system for volunteers, but I will have to tell you what to do later.

I need to let Cheryl Ryan know by the end of this week how many people from 724 she can count on.  So please respond by Thursday night!!  If you signed up at 724 on Tuesday, you don’t need to reply.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

For more info about the conference, go to http://www.restonbible.org/portrait – from there you can link to a promo video of the “Portrait of a Struggle” conference by Paul Tripp.  I watched it and it seems like it’s going to be great!  I’m super excited!

This will be a great way for the 724 community to serve RBC and many other people who come to this conference from other churches.

Let me know by Thursday if and when you can help.

Thanks,

Renae Smith

The doors open at 6:30.  We’ll do some caroling from 6:45-7:15 in my neighborhood.  I’ll have some song sheets and some gifts with Christmas tracts to hand out.  Not everybody needs to go caroling.  But if it’s just me singing, I’m not sure my neighbors will feel blessed.

I’m still debating whether or not to do a gift exchange.  Last year we had 35 people and it took a loooong time.  I’ll keep you posted!

Also if you want to help decorate or bake/cook something in my kitchen, please come around or after 3:00.

Let me know if you can make it and if you’re coming early.

Thank you and may the Lord bless you,

Jeff Walawender

20468 Charter Oak Dr, Ashburn VA 20147

walajaw@gmail.com

703-724-0619 (How cool is that to have “724″ as part of your phone number?)