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TheBranchChurch
You, your friends, and your family are invited to share in the joy of Christmas with our church family at one of our Christmas Candlelight Services this December. Enjoy singing the classic Christmas hymns as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. With the lighting of candles, we signify His light coming into the world. It’s a powerful evening that will lift spirits and touch the hearts of visitors and guests. Remember to be a host and welcome those who may be visiting for the first time. Stay after the service and enjoy coffee, hot chocolate, and Christmas cookies! This is a great time of year to invite someone you know! Tell them about Christmas Candlelight Services at The Branch Church.
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Find out more at thebranchchurch.org Join the Christmas Choir Farmers Branch Campus Rehearsals: Sunday, December 13 and 20 at 1:00 pm If you love to sing and would like to be a part of our Christmas Choir for the Candlelight Services at the Farmers Branch Campus this year, join us for these two special rehearsals. We will meet in the “Cinema” Room (large Kids Branch room upstairs with a stage). The only requirements to join the choir are a passion for singing Christmas carols and mandatory attendance at both rehearsals AND both Candlelight services on Wednesday, December 23 and 24 at the Farmers Branch Campus. Both services will be at 6:00 pm, and choir members will need to arrive at 5:00 pm. *Please note, the choir is only for the Candlelight Services at the Farmers Branch Campus. Questions? Contact James Asplund: jasplund@thebranchchurch.org or Adam Toy: atoy@thebranchchurch.org
Angel Tree Wrap Party and Sack Christmas Hunger Saturday, December 12
Farmers Branch Campus 9:30 am Come help wrap the Angel Tree gifts that have been donated and Sack Christmas Hunger at the Farmers Branch Campus. Our Go Team will have the Angel Tree gifts organized into groups for each family, and will have easy instructions printed out for you.
Please bring scissors, tape, bows, wrapping paper, and boxes. *Note: There will not be a wrap party at the Vista Ridge Campus. Everyone is invited to come help at the Farmers Branch Campus.
Learn more at:
thebranchchurch.org/angel-tree thebranchchurch.org/sack-hunger
New Year’s Eve Party Thursday, December 31
Both Campuses Vista Ridge • 8:00 pm - Midnight Farmers Branch • 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Midnight Come hang out with us at either campus on New Year’s Eve! We’ll spend the evening playing games, eating, and watching the ball drop together. Bring potluck dishes, games, and friends! Come for a little while or stay through the stroke of midnight. Everyone is welcome! Learn more at: thebranchchurch.org/nye
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THE BRANCH FAMILY NEWS You will find the following in the lobby: Prayer Requests | Monthly Birthdays | Shower Info
Baptisms: 11/1/15 11/1/15 11/1/15 11/1/15 11/1/15 11/1/15 11/1/15 11/1/15 11/1/15 11/8/15 11/8/15 11/8/15 11/8/15 11/8/15 11/15/15 11/15/15 11/15/15
Noah Harris Joe Fex Cody Masters Jimmy Fex Landri Hubble Tim Bushnell Philip Vann Daniel Lindstrom Carl Reichel Keaton Hougen Ashley Gilmer Melissa Pomeroy Julius Washington Julius Washington II Ed Myers Josh Martin Gwen Gardner
11/17/15 11/17/15 11/22/15
Dayna Morales Danny Smith Brighton Lee
We Mourn With: • Roxanne Moore and her family in the loss of her mother, Jean Wheeler, on October 30. • Mike, Mark, and the Skaggs family in the loss of their
mother, Delores (Dee) Skaggs, on November 9.
Births: 11/25/15
Major Ogilvie (M) Parents: Cade and Brooke Ogilvie
Weekend Stats - November 2015: Attendance Average: 1719 Contribution Total: $316,000
Job Opening: Administrative Assistant We are currently seeking someone to work alongside Campus Minister Tim Ketchersid as an Administrative Assistant at the Farmers Branch Campus. If you have experience in task management, are detail oriented, and have a heart for ministry, please visit our website to view a job description for this position and fill out an application. Please email Mona Swofford with any questions: mswofford@thebranchchurch.org Learn more: thebranchchurch.org/job-openings
Go Team Recognized Our Go Team was recognized for coordinating the Sack Summer Hunger program at the Metrocrest Services Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on October 26. Our Farmers Branch Campus Go Team Coordinators, the Dovers and Brewers, were especially recognized and honored with a plaque and recognition from Farmers Branch Mayor Bob Phelps, as well as Metrocrest Services. Pictured from left to right: Eddy Ketchersid, Mayor Bob Phelps, Jeremy and Stephenie Brewer, Meagan and Jon Dover, and Metrocrest Services Chair Susan Watson.
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Thank you to all who have made the Sack Hunger program a success!
Follow Chris on Twitter twitter.com/chrisseidman
Single Branches Single Branches is our ministry for active widowed, divorced, and single adults who are 50+ years of age. The aim of the ministry is to provide a variety of monthly social events so that Branch singles may meet each other and build friendships. December Event: WHEN:
Saturday, December 12 at 6:00 pm
WHERE: 3424 High Vista Drive, Dallas, TX 75234 (Call 214-533-4330) BRING: •
Food - Bring your favorite appetizer (preferably homemade) ready to serve on a holiday table.
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Ornament - Bring an ornament for the ornament exchange. Your ornament should be wrapped or placed in a gift bag; $10 limit.
•
Gift - Bring an inexpensive gift to exchange. Gifts can be from a dollar store and should be something fun or something practical. Please wrap your gift in tissue inside a small Christmas gift bag the size of a lunch bag.
Please RSVP to Paulette Travis: ptravis0822@yahoo.com Learn more and see updates at: thebranchchurch.org/single-branches
The Branch en Español es una iglesia para toda la familia, guiada por el Espíritu Santo para alcanzar la comunidad latina para Cristo. Si te sientes más cómodo adorando a Dios y fortaleciendo tu fe en el idioma español, acompáñanos en nuestras actividades:
The Branch Church En Español Farmers Branch Campus • Domingos de Adoración – 9:00 am (clases bíblicas para niños de 3 meses hasta quinto grado) • Martes de Oración – 7:00 pm • Miércoles de Estudio Bíblico – 7:00 pm (clases bíblicas para niños) Esperamos verte pronto. ¡Nos encantará saludarte en persona!
thebranchchurch.org/espanol
Luis y Schalee Sánchez lsanchez@thebranchchurch.org
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Branch Cares is a ministry designed to look after, and take care of, people within our church body. The vision for this ministry is to reach out, help, and connect with: Widows • Widowers • Single parents • Shut-ins • Caregivers • Those who are grieving If you are interested in becoming a Branch Cares ministry volunteer, or if you know of someone who is connected to The Branch Church and may be interested in having one of our ministry members contact them, you can fill out the Volunteer Application or Referral Form online.
Learn more: thebranchchurch.org/cares
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get. No more. No less. I was surrounded by all the blessings but it didn’t make a difference. It was always winter. There was no Christmas. I could experience happiness, but joy — true joy — was out of reach. But God was thawing things out. I began to understand that He had something in store for me, and it didn’t involve dark, cold and fearful things. I remember journaling one day, “Maybe I deserve better than what I have settled for.”
Why I Love Christmas Time Ryan Rainey I’m the guy who counts down the days (and hours) to Christmas. Every day. All year. Every year. I am perpetually looking forward to Christmas time. I can’t wait to be in that time of year, and I am always looking forward to it. I enjoy the weather, the lights, the music, the movies and the gifts. But what I really look forward to is that feeling — I wish there was a word for it. People ask me all the time, “Ryan, what is it about Christmas for you?” It is a difficult answer: I absolutely love experiencing that inner warmth no matter how cold it is, the blissful peace, the sweet feeling of nostalgia and promise — that indescribable presence of Christmas spirit. Every year it happens and every day I look forward to it.
back, it causes me to remember a line from The Chronicles of Narnia, “Always winter, but never Christmas.” That is the best way to describe it — always winter but never Christmas. We tried our hardest to get that feeling of Christmas, but no amount of lights or songs or gifts seemed to work. We had the look of Christmas but we definitely didn’t have that feeling. We had lost it and we didn’t know how to get it back.
“I guess things really changed for me when I believed that God had more for me.”
But it hasn’t always been that way…
When I went to college, I noticed that something was wrong. All of my friends embraced the season and enjoyed it. It seemed to be the greatest time of the year for them. It was just another time for me — maybe even a little worse.
When I was 13, my family suffered a tragedy and, as a result, Christmases began to fade away. We went through the motions, but each Christmas slowly became less and less special. Looking
By the time I was married and starting my own family, I had resigned to the fact that life — especially Christmas time — was as good as it was going to
I wish I could tell you of a moment where Christmas became real again for me. It would make a great movie-moment if I could. It didn’t happen like that — all of a sudden. There were no epiphanies or Ghostof-Christmas-Whatever’s giving Christmas spirit back to me. Something started to shift. I guess things really changed for me when I believed that God had more for me. I will call it HOPE. There it is! That’s the word I’m looking for: HOPE. That is what I really love about Christmas. There is hope. There is a future. It is going to get better. Sure it is dark and it is cold. But there is always going to be light and warmth. That belief was gone for the longest time but now it is back and I am going to hold onto it. For years now, God has been reminding me of HOPE. Christmas time reminds me of hope, and that’s the reason I will always be looking forward to it. “Always winter, but never Christmas” is no way to live. I am holding on to a new quote this time of year. Jesus told me (and He told you, too), “Know that I am with you always, to the very end of time.” We are not alone and it is going to get better. That is a promise worth really counting on.
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THIS DO FOR THE REVIEW U OF JAM NOT CONST
CCA to Purchase Portion of Vista Ridge Property Chris Seidman One of the things we have been prayerful about regarding the launch of a third campus concerns the financial aspect of it. We’ve been very blessed to be debt-free as a church for the last couple of years, and desire to continue in this rhythm. A few months ago, we were contacted by Carrollton Christian Academy regarding their desire to relocate, and inquiring about a small portion of our Vista Ridge property. Our eldership and their board had a lengthy meeting as well as prayer about this possibility. We recently entered into an agreement to sell CCA 3.5 acres of the Vista Ridge property along Huffines Road for $1.2 million. We will still retain 16 acres. This transaction will not close until early 2016. In the meantime, both leaderships are encouraged that this agreement will serve to bless both CCA and The Branch Church in the roles we seek to play in the mission of God in our city. We are anticipating the cost of a facility for the third campus being in the neighborhood of $3.5 million. Presently, we have $560,000 set aside toward the third campus. The additional $1.2 million will help us get closer to our goal of launching the third campus in a way that is financially responsible. Let us stay prayerful, thankful, and watchful for the ways God is working and the opportunities He puts before us in our daily lives. For more details about the third campus or the sale of the acreage, please contact our Executive Minister, David Teutsch: dteutsch@thebranchchurch.org
Our Exciting Partnership with Liverpool FC The Branch Church would like to welcome the Liverpool FC International Academy to our family. Liverpool FC has leased a portion of our land at the Vista Ridge Campus to use for practice and training. They have installed several soccer fields complete with goals, fences, lights, and a small turf area. They will primarily be using their facility on weeknights, and we couldn’t be happier with the idea of more new friends on our property. It is also a wonderful thing for us to be able to use these fields for various church and ministry events. This is a beautiful arrangement. Liverpool FC America is a youth soccer club that is committed to their players, their community, and their pledge to conduct their actions and words with character, a continuous turn toward quality, and to honor the history and traditions of Liverpool FC England.
*Please do not use the fields without permission. Contact Ryan Rainey for more info: rrainey@thebranchchurch.org
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Third Campus
Prayer Specifics When it comes to the mission of God in the world, we often make our greatest advances on our knees. When the early church was waiting for the next move of the Spirit of God, they devoted themselves to a season of continual prayer (Acts 1:12-14). We are in such a season right now as we move toward the launch of our third campus. Please join us in several different prayers listed below. There is much to be done and, therefore, much to lift up in prayer. Thank you!
Our Focus
For Elders
• That we will keep it “front and center.” We are missionaries in a “land of religion” helping people to become, and live as, disciples of Jesus. (Matthew 28:18-20)
• That they would be identified for service at the third campus.
For 250 People For The Hearts In The Vicinity Of The Third Campus • That they will be open to respond to the message of Jesus. (Acts 16:14) • Prayerfully imagine the faces of those you personally know in the area.
For Our Hearts • That we have the vision of Jesus – see people as He sees them – and are filled with compassion for those who are spiritually lost. (Matthew 9:35-38)
• That we will be filled with the Spirit for the purpose of being His witnesses. (Acts 1:8) • That the Lord will stir up the spirit of His people at The Branch to engage in this effort, whether it be through serving in some capacity, praying, giving, being a part of the launch team, etc. (Haggai 1:13-14)
For Key Personnel • That we would discern the right people to fill the roles of Campus Minister, Worship Leader, Kids Branch Coordinator, and Student Minister.
• Adults and children who answer this call and make up the launch team. • That volunteers are identified, equipped, and cared for.
For Our Existing Campuses • That our existing campuses will continue to thrive, and new servants will rise up to fill the holes that are left by those who join the launch team.
For Funding And Wisdom In Regard To Funding • That our trust in God’s provision remains strong, as well as our faithfulness to go “first and ten.”
For The Location Of The Campus • That we would find the right place.
For The Facility • That it would be well-suited for our mission and approach.
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thebranchchurch.org/watch-listen
W A T C H + L I S T E N Did you miss a message or just want to hear it again? Visit our website or download The Branch Church App to your device. There you can find audio and video content of our previous messages. 9
The Branch Student Body is our ministry to 6th - 12th grade students. This is an important time of transition into maturity in Christ, and we encourage all of our students to attend and serve in our weekend services with their families. The primary way The Branch Student Body meets is in weekly Discipleship Groups (D-Groups), where students grow closer to God, their peers, and to their leaders. This is critical to their development as followers of Christ. There are also several special events throughout the year, such as Branch Camp, retreats, and other fun activities.
Discipleship Groups: D/Groups Middle School Vista Ridge Campus | Sundays | 9:30 am Farmers Branch Campus | Wednesdays | 6:30 pm
High School Both Campuses | Wednesdays
*Holiday Schedule* No D/Groups on Wednesday 12/23 or 12/30 No VR Middle School D/Groups on Sunday, 12/27
| 6:30 pm
Questions? Ask us! Kyle Poff
Josh Brake
kpoff@thebranchchurch.org
jbrake@thebranchchurch.org
Student Minister Vista Ridge Campus
Kids Branch is what we do to teach kids about Jesus every weekend at The Branch Church. Our committed volunteers reinforce the values and teachings you work so hard to instill in your kids. We worship, play, and dive directly into the Bible each and every week. Your kids will grow to love engaging with God, while making great friends!
Student Minister Farmers Branch Campus
Interested in serving in Kids Branch? Go to thebranchchurch.org/serve, or simply send us an email.
Tim Scott Family Minister tscott@thebranchchurch.org
Kristan Renshaw Brittany Moore Kids Branch Coordinator Farmers Branch Campus
Kids Branch Coordinator Vista Ridge Campus
krenshaw@thebranchchurch.org
bmoore@thebranchchurch.org
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Upcoming Events Calendar Days
Dates
Event (Location)
Times
Sun
12/6
Angel Tree Gift Deadline
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Sun
12/6
Young at Heart Christmas Luncheon (Farmers Branch Campus)
12:00 pm
Sat
12/12
Angel Tree Wrap Party + Sack Christmas Hunger (Farmers Branch Campus)
9:30 am
Sun
12/13
Student Body Christmas Parties
12:30 - 3:00 pm
Wed
12/23
Christmas Candlelight Service (Farmers Branch Campus)
6:00 pm
Thurs
12/24
Christmas Candlelight Services (Vista Ridge Campus)
4:30 pm & 6:00 pm
Thurs
12/24
Christmas Candlelight Service (Farmers Branch Campus)
6:00 pm
Sat
12/26
No Saturday Service (Vista Ridge Campus)
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Sun
12/27
9:30 am Service/No Kids Branch (Farmers Branch Campus)
9:30 am only
Sun
12/27
10:30 am Service/No Kids Branch (Vista Ridge Campus)
10:30 am only
Thurs
12/31
New Year’s Eve Party (Farmers Branch Campus)
6:00 pm - Midnight
Thurs
12/31
New Year’s Eve Party (Vista Ridge Campus)
8:00 pm - Midnight
Sat
1/2
No Saturday Service (Vista Ridge Campus)
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Fri
1/8
Small Group Leader Summit (Both Campuses)
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Sun
1/23
The Branch Orientation (Vista Ridge Campus)
6:30 pm
Sun
1/24
The Branch Orientation (Both Campuses)
10:45 am FB, 12:30 pm VR
Fri
1/29
Princess Ball (Father Daughter Dance) (Vista Ridge Campus)
6:30 - 9:30 pm
Sat
2/6
Student Body Bowl (Flag Football) (Vista Ridge Campus)
TBD
Sun
2/7
Young at Heart Valentines Luncheon
12:00 pm
Tues
2/9
Night of Worship (Church-Wide) (Vista Ridge Campus)
7:00 pm
Weekly Events Calendar Sun
9:30 am
Middle School D/Groups
Wed
6:30 pm
Middle School D/Groups (Farmers Branch Campus)
*Not meeting Dec 23 or 30
Wed
6:30 pm
High School D/Groups (Both Campuses)
*Not meeting Dec 23 or 30
Thu
7:00 pm
Celebrate Recovery (Vista Ridge Campus)
*Times will be adjusted on Dec 24 and 31
(Vista Ridge Campus)
*Not meeting Dec 27
Office: 972-247-2109 | Email: info@thebranchchurch.org Farmers Branch Campus 3035 Valley View Lane Dallas, TX 75234
Vista Ridge Campus 3601 Huffines Boulevard Carrollton, TX 75010
thebranchchurch.org