1
We are excited to launch our new Thursday night service on August 18th at the Vista Ridge Campus! Though it’s technically on Chris Seidman a weeknight, the Senior Minister Thursday night service will be considered our “first service of the weekend.” It will have all the same features as our Sunday services — worship, communion, and the same message as well. The service will also have childcare for children up to 36 months. It will begin at 6:45 pm and, as an added bonus, will feature a meal beforehand.
2
Why have our “first service of the weekend” on Thursday nights? There is an emerging trend we’ve seen in our culture around us. According to some fairly solid research in the last couple of years among churches in metropolitan communities, regular guests and church members are attending church less frequently on a weekend-to-weekend basis. Some
studies reveal that the average church member attends 1.7 weekends per month. As an interesting aside, several years ago we surveyed The Branch and found that among our members the average was 2.3 weekends per month. There are a variety of factors that are affecting this trend — the proliferation of youth sports on Saturday and Sundays, the ever expanding weekend “work culture,” and the rising trend of people leaving town on the weekends for this, that, or the other. It’s our hope that people who are traveling on the weekend, working on the weekend, or volunteering at church on the weekend would see this as a new possibility. We’re also thinking, though, about those we know who may not be personally engaged with the Lord at this time and tend to use the “I’ve got weekend plans” as a “defense shield.” Have we got good news for them! It may not be possible for you to attend regularly on Thursday nights. If you anticipate your schedule allowing you to do so, I hope you’ll prayerfully
consider helping us launch Thursday nights beginning August 18. At the very least, I do hope you’ll keep this service in mind as an alternative for you to use in inviting people into the life of The Branch, or when you know you are going to be unable to attend on certain weekends throughout the year. Gathering together on a weekly basis for worship, encouragement, teaching, and testimony makes a difference for the better in our lives. It’s our hope that the offering of a service during the week will open new doors for reaching people, while also making it possible for others to experience a weekly worship gathering who are not always able to come on the weekends. Please be praying for the launch of Thursday night services beginning August 18! If you would like to be a part of the launch team, please contact Ryan Rainey at: rrainey@thebranchchurch.org
MOVING TO TUESDAYS BEGINNING TUESDAY, JULY 19! Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered recovery program that meets EVERY week — rain or shine! We all have hurts, habits, and hang-ups and CR is a program designed to help you find freedom. Come hear testimonies, find encouragement, and step forward in faith THIS WEEK! More about Celebrate Recovery: Celebrate Recovery (or CR) is based on God’s Word, the Bible. When Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, he began by stating “Eight Ways to Be Happy.” Today we call them the Beatitudes. From a conventional viewpoint, most of these statements didn’t make sense. They sounded like contradictions. But when we fully understand what Jesus is saying, we’ll realize that these eight principles are God’s road to recovery, wholeness, growth, and spiritual maturity. CR is forward-looking. Rather than wallowing in the past, or dredging up and rehearsing painful memories over and over, Celebrate Recovery focuses on the future. Regardless of what has already happened, the solution is to start making wise choices now and depend on Christ’s power to help us make those changes.
CR emphasizes personal responsibility. We cannot control all that happens to us. But we can control how we respond to everything. That is a secret of happiness. When we stop wasting time fixing the blame, we have more energy to fix the problem. When we stop hiding our own faults and stop hurling accusations at others, then the healing power of Christ can begin working in our minds, wills, and emotions.
Fellowship and accountability are two important components of spiritual growth.
CR utilizes the biblical truth that we need each other in order to grow spiritually and emotionally. It is built around small group interaction and the fellowship of a caring community. There are many therapies, growth programs, and counselors today that are built around one-on-one interaction. But Celebrate Recovery is built on the New Testament principle that we don’t get well by ourselves. We need each other.
We are seeing hopeless marriages restored and people set free from all kinds of sinful habits, hang-ups, and hurts as they allow Jesus to be Lord in every area of their lives. To God be the glory! We’ll be praying for you.
CR addresses all types of habits, hurts and hang-ups. Some recovery programs deal only with alcohol or drugs or another single problem. But Celebrate Recovery is a “large umbrella” program under which a limitless number of issues can be dealt with.
Learn more: thebranchchurch.org/cr
3
Rosemeade Rainforest Party Sunday, July 10 6:30 - 10:30 pm Rosemeade Rainforest Aquatic Complex
Cost: FREE! The whole church is invited to our annual Rosemeade Rainforest summer bash! Invite someone to come with you. We’ve reserved the whole park, including the lazy river, water tubes, and diving boards. We’ll have cannonball contests, volleyball games, and more! Hot dogs, chips, and drinks will be provided; please bring desserts! Learn more at: thebranchchurch.org/rosemeade
Kids Branch WATER DAY
Tuesday, July 26 and Tuesday, August 9 9:00 - 11:00 am Farmers Branch Campus Kids of all ages Cost: Free
Join us for some fun in the sun! On two special days this summer, kids of all ages are invited to come splash around with a water slide, kiddie pools, water soakers, and so much more! Learn more and register at: thebranchchurch.org/water-day
4
Spotlight Performance: Back to the Cross Friday, July 15 at 7:00 pm Farmers Branch Campus
Spotlight is a day-camp designed for kids to get the “camp experience” while having fun and learning a musical they get to perform for the church. Registration is now closed. Everyone is invited to the performance on Friday, July 15 at 7:00 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Learn more at: thebranchchurch.org/spotlight
Spotlight Schedule • Sun - Fri, July 10 - 15 Sunday • 2:00 - 6:00 pm (Everyone is invited to the Rosemeade Rainforest afterwards! See page 4.)
Monday • 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Tuesday • 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Wednesday • 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Thursday • 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Friday • 9:00 am - Performance at 7:00 pm (Kids stay all day, Friday! Performance is followed by a family reception.)
5
Sack Summer Hunger Saturdays, June 11 - August 6 9:30 am - 12:00 pm Farmers Branch Campus We need willing hands to bless families in our community any Saturday this summer! Every week is an opportunity for you and your family to lend a hand! We purchase food from Metrocrest Services and provide it to kids who usually rely on free or reduced-cost school lunches during the school year, but don’t have that during the summer. All you have to do is help us sack and deliver. You won’t believe how easy and rewarding this experience is!
How It Works Come to the Farmers Branch Campus, and enter the building through the double doors under the carport, and walk into the Family Life Center. Volunteers will organize the food into an assembly line. You will grab a sack with a unique label and go through the line filling your sack with food items such as cereal, bread, peanut butter, and vegetables. When that sack is full, you will take it to the designated spot with the corresponding label. Once all the bags are filled, everyone will help check these bags to make sure they have the appropriate items in them. Once the bags are filled and checked, teams will be formed in order to travel to homes in the area for distribution. Team leaders will be given a map and a route with the family names and corresponding sack labels. Learn more at: thebranchchurch.org/sack-hunger
6
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. We have several ways for students to connect including weekly gatherings, occasional activities, and special events like Branch Camp, retreats, and overnighters!
D/GROUPS DISCIPLESHIP GROUPS
D/GROUPS THE BRANCH STUDENT BODY
Farmers Branch
Vista Ridge
High School • Wednesdays at 6:30 pm Middle School • Sundays at 9:00 am or Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
High School • Wednesdays at 6:30 pm Middle School • Sundays at 9:30 am
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.
EQUIP
12:30 - 2:00 pm on Tuesdays Both campuses this summer! Beginning June 7, this weekly gathering will equip students with the ability to study the Bible for themselves. The end goal of Equip is to equip the students with a method of studying the Bible that gives them confidence when they approach every part of the Word of God. Bring a lunch/snack to eat. We will hang out for 1530 minutes, then dive into a new passage each week and learn how to study the Bible by studying the Bible! We are doing Equip every week in order to create Bible-reading habits that will allow us to find truth in the Bible and apply those truths to our lives.
Questions? Ask us! Kyle Poff
Josh Brake
Ketch Smith
kpoff@thebranchchurch.org
jbrake@thebranchchurch.org
ksmith@thebranchchurch.org
Student Minister Vista Ridge Campus
Student Minister Farmers Branch Campus
Student Outreach Minister
7
Each year, we partner with local elementary schools to provide uniforms for students who cannot afford their own. Â This is a great ministry to these kids and their families, and gives kids a great start for their school year. Beginning the weekend of July 24, take a tag from the Clothes for Kids display in the lobby, and follow the instructions on the back of it. Then bring your items to the church on or before August 21, and put them in the containers by the displays. Thanks for you help in this effort!
JuLy 24 to
August 21 8
thebranchchurch.org/espanol The Branch Church en Español - Farmers Branch Campus The Branch en Español. Somos tu Familia en Cristo. 2016: Año de Crecimiento Espiritual Permite que el Espíritu Santo te guíe a alcanzar tus imposibles. Acompáñanos y adoremos a Dios y fortalezcamos nuestra fe en Cristo en el idioma español. Actividades durante la semana: • Dos Servicios de Adoración DOMINGOS 9:00 AM y 10:45 AM (clases bíblicas para niños de 3 meses hasta quinto grado en inglés)
• Martes de Oración – 7:00 pm (niños y jóvenes también participan)
• Miércoles de Estudio Bíblico – 7:00 pm (clases bíblicas para niños en español y reunión de jóvenes en inglés)
Esperamos verte pronto. ¡Nos encantará saludarte en persona!
Luis y Schalee Sánchez lsanchez@thebranchchurch.org
Branch Cares is a ministry designed to look after, and take care of, people within our church body. It is rooted in James 1:27: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress….” The vision for this ministry is to reach out, help, and connect with:
Widows • Widowers • Single parents • Homebound • Caregivers • Those who are grieving Ministry volunteers will also deliver communion to the homebound and any others who are unable to attend services.
How Do We Reach Out? One or more of our volunteer ministry members will call and/or visit the person. The ministry member will attempt to find out how the person is doing, if they have any needs (house repairs, help with transportation to the store, doctor visits, etc.), and also offer to pray for/with them if they so desire. 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 on our website listed below.
Questions? Farmers Branch Email: fbcares@thebranchchurch.org Vista Ridge Email: vrcares@thebranchchurch.org Church Office: (972) 247-2109
9
10
Follow Chris on Twitter twitter.com/chrisseidman
Financial Peace University Begins Sunday, August 7 9:00 am Farmers Branch Campus Cost: $93 per family (Covers all materials) Financial Peace University is a biblically based, video-driven small group study that teaches families to beat debt, build wealth, and give like never before! This program is for YOU if . . . • • • • • •
Your credit cards ARE your emergency fund. Your dog responds to the name “Ebay.” You’re intrigued by the word “plasectomy.” You want to know what God says about money. You have to sell your house to put your kids through college. Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds are friends you haven’t met yet.
If you need childcare during the class, please email Nanci Inman at ninman@thebranchchurch.org and indicate the number and ages of the children.
Register at: thebranchchurch.org/fpu
11
THE BRANCH FAMILY NEWS
thebranchchurch.org/watch-listen
We Mourn With: • Tammy Daves and her family in the loss of her
grandmother, Mary Lou Gregg, on May 19. • Ron Moss and his family in the loss of his father, Jack Moss, on June 17. • Tim Scott and his family in the loss of his grandmother, Barbara “Murr” Oldroyd, on June 25. • Don and Linda Burnham in the loss of their son-inlaw, Mark Babb, on June 28.
Births: 6/03/16
Caleb Wade Sensing (M) Parents: Graham and Jennifer Sensing
Baptisms: 5/22/16 6/5/16 6/5/16 6/12/16 6/12/16 6/12/16 6/12/16 6/18/16
Lydia Billingsley Clay Tramel Koby Breese Karla Sanchez Eva del Rosario Vasquez Alejandro Perez Evelyn Martinez Mark Tharp
Weekend Stats - June 2016: Attendance Average: 1750 Total Giving: $461,338
12
W A T C H + L I S T E N Did you miss a message, want to share it with a friend, or just want to hear it again? Visit our website or download our app where you can find audio and video content of our previous messages.
13
Young at Heart: Salad & Sundae Supper Friday, July 29 Farmers Branch Campus 6:30 - 8:30 pm We are excited to host a very relaxing way to meet and get to know our newest members at The Branch Church, as well as any other guests who may attend. Please bring your favorite salad. The dessert: Ice cream and all the toppings will be provided by the Young at Heart Ministry. Our program will include a brief update about the ministries at The Branch Church, as well as continuing education brought to us by our own Mark Sutherland regarding “Senior Benefits� that most do not know about or take advantage of. We will have some rousing games of BINGO with great prizes (feel free to bring a door prize with you if you like). Contact Bro. Eddy Ketchersid for more info: (972) 345-1645
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. For more information, contact Paulette Travis: ptravis0822@yahoo.com
14
Please continue to be in prayer for clarity, direction, and provision in our Third Campus initiative. 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.
15
Upcoming Events Calendar Days
Dates
Event (Location)
Times
Sun
7/10
Spotlight Kick-off (Farmers Branch Campus)
2:00 - 6:00 pm
Sun
7/10
Rosemeade Rainforest Family Night
6:30 - 10:30 pm
Spotlight (Musical Camp for Kids) (Farmers Branch Campus)
6 Days
Mon-Fri
7/11-15
Fri
7/15
Spotlight Performance (Farmers Branch Campus)
7:00 pm
Tues
7/19
Celebrate Recovery Moves to Tuesdays (Vista Ridge Campus)
7:00 pm
Hispanic National Christian Convention (Farmers Branch Campus)
3 Days
Tues-Thurs
7/19-21
Sun
7/24
School Uniform Drive Begins
---
Tues
7/26
Kids Branch Water Day (Farmers Branch Campus)
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Fri
7/29
Young at Heart:
Sun
8/7
Financial Peace University Begins (Farmers Branch Campus)
9:00 am
Tues
8/9
Kids Branch Water Day (Farmers Branch Campus)
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Thurs
8/18
Thursday Night Service Begins (Vista Ridge Campus)
6:45 pm
Sun
8/21
Back to School Weekend
---
Sun
8/21
School Uniform Drive Ends
---
Salad & Sundae Supper (Farmers Branch Campus)
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Weekly Events Calendar Sun
Early Service
Student Body: MS D/Groups
Tues
12:30 pm
Student Body: EQUIP (Both Campuses)
Wed
6:30 pm
Student Body: D/Groups (Both Campuses)
Thu
7:00 pm
Celebrate Recovery (Vista Ridge Campus)
Sat
9:30 am
Sack Summer Hunger (Farmers Branch Campus)
(Both Campuses)
Office: 972-247-2109
thebranchchurch.org
*Moving to Tuesdays starting July 19!
Email: info@thebranchchurch.org
Farmers Branch Campus
Vista Ridge Campus
3035 Valley View Lane Dallas, TX 75234
3601 Huffines Boulevard Carrollton, TX 75010
Sundays: 9:00 am & 10:45
Sundays: 9:30 & 11:15 am