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“Unleashing the Power of The Cross” The Women’s Bible Study this term is investigating the power of The Cross. Through the four vantage points of the Gospels, we uncover the depth of the necessity of The Cross and the power it can have in our lives. Join us in discovering how the end is just the beginning. Learn more: thebranchchurch.org/wbs
**We are pleased to offer Children’s Bible Study for those attending the Farmers Branch WBS with children. If you did not register your child last fall, please contact Lisa Castello to discuss openings: lrcastello@hotmail.com or 214-288-5542.
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“I Wish You Knew...The Power of Words” Mother/Daughter Event Fri-Sat, January 13-14 Vista Ridge Campus Cost: $12 per person Mothers of girls (5th grade through college age) are invited (along with their daughters) to attend this special event hosted by both the Women’s Ministry and the NextGen Ministry at The Branch. The event will explore the Power of Words in mother/daughter relationships, with special guest speaker Annie Downs. Annie is a flawed but funny Christian writer and speaker. She uses her writing to highlight the everyday goodness of a real and present God. Register today at: thebranchchurch.org/mother-daughter
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Fight Night • Marriage Event Sunday, February 12 6:00 - 8:30pm Vista Ridge Campus Cost: FREE Let’s face it, all couples fight. Learn how to fight a Good Fight. Join us for a fun event filled with humor, fresh insight, and new strategies for your relationship. Fight Night: How to Fight Fair is for everyone – newlyweds, “oldyweds,” seriously dating, engaged couples – anyone wanting to make a good relationship great. We are hosting this live simulcast at our Vista Ridge Campus, and it is open to anyone in the community who wants to attend. Learn more at: thebranchchurch.org/fight-night
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Farmers Branch Campus Saturdays Beginning January 7 7:30 am
Vista Ridge Campus Saturdays Beginning January 14 7:30 am Spend your Saturday morning with other men from The Branch! Men of all ages are welcome for breakfast, Bible study, and prayer. The Farmers Branch Campus group meets in the Branch CafĂŠ, while the Vista Ridge Campus group meets in the Kids Branch area. Take your next step and get connected to one of these study groups. No need to register, just come! Farmers Branch Campus: Contact Bro. Eddy Ketchersid: eketchersid@thebranchchurch.org
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Vista Ridge Campus: Contact Terry Grimm: terry.grimm@thebranchchurch.org
Join Us On The Journey For the first several weeks of the year, we’ll be walking through this gospel in our weekend services, small groups, and individual Bible studies. In other words, we’ll all be in the gospel of John together! Please invite a friend to join us on the journey at The Branch in January of 2017! We’re giving away free copies of a book we’ve produced that contains the entire gospel of John. We will give one to every person who attends. This is an opportunity for us to gradually read through this gospel – a little bit each day. But this is about more than reading Scripture for a couple of minutes each day. It’s about reflecting on what it is we’re reading. For each daily reading, I’ve included a few questions to help you reflect on what you’ve read. The things within the gospel of John have been written “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31) Note the word “believing.” It’s a continual thing. Don’t stop. There’s more life than we can possibly imagine in the Son.
To get the most out of this journey, you need to be on it with other people. We are encouraging all of our existing Small Groups to process the gospel of John together using the book. This will provide a place for you to share with your group what you are experiencing and hear how God is speaking to others. Jump in with us and make 2017 your year to grow in your capacity to listen and obey!
Don’t have a Small Group yet? We can help you get one started or get you connected with an existing group!
Tim Ketchersid
Ryan Rainey
FB Campus Minister
VR Campus Minister
tketchersid@thebranchchurch.org
rrainey@thebranchchurch.org
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Student Body Bowl Saturday, February 4 1:00 pm Vista Ridge Campus Fields Cost: $15 per person We’re playing Flag Football! Grab your cleats and join us for the 3rd Annual Branch Student Body Bowl! Anyone who has completed 5th grade is eligible to play. We’ll compile the teams based on age and experience. Each team is guaranteed three games of pool play, and then they will be seeded in a single-elimination tournament. Plus, the final game will be the Vista Ridge Student Body versus the Farmers Branch Student Body! You MUST register to compete. Registration includes a Branch Student Body shirt. Register today at: thebranchchurch.org/football
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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!
Tim Scott NextGen Minister
Kristan Renshaw Brittany Moore Farmers Branch Kids Minister
Vista Ridge Kids Minister
tscott@thebranchchurch.org krenshaw@thebranchchurch.org bmoore@thebranchchurch.org
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 their leaders. This is critical to their development as followers of Christ.
BREAKFAST & BIBLE 7:45 am on Tuesdays at the Farmers Branch Campus BREAKFAST & BIBLE THE BRANCH STUDENT BODY
Come with your friends to Breakfast & Bible! Enjoy breakfast and an encouraging word from Josh Brake. Plus everyone will ride together to Vivian Field just in time for class! Breakfast & Bible is open to students from both campuses!
Kyle Poff
Josh Brake
Student Minister Vista Ridge Campus
Student Minister Farmers Branch Campus
kpoff@thebranchchurch.org
jbrake@thebranchchurch.org
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What is an Elder? Elders at The Branch serve four-year terms as volunteer sources of accountability and wisdom for, and alongside of, the Senior Minister. These men are also charged with:
• Caring for those who are hurting • Mentoring those longing to grow spiritually • Equipping future leaders Elder Selection Each year, we enter into a prayerful process, as a church, of discerning who it is that God is raising up to be a shepherd at The Branch Church. This includes scriptural criteria, congregational recommendations and approval, willingness on the part of the prospective elder, and the collective wisdom of the present elders and Senior Minister. After four years of service, each elder will observe at least a one-year sabbatical. Except in the case of the Senior Minister, elders are not financially compensated and serve voluntarily. You can read further about the nature and qualities of an elder in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
The Shepherding Council Every elder at The Branch is a part of The Shepherding Council. Because The Branch is a multi-site church, our elders want to pay particular attention to shepherding the individual needs of the people at each location. For this reason, we have adopted a system that allows site-specific shepherding elders at each of our campuses.
The Governance Council Within The Shepherding Council, there are two elders from each campus who are chosen to join with the Senior Minister and Executive Minister to govern The Branch as a whole. This council serves as governing elders in matters of finance, budgeting, and staffing. Currently, the Governance Council includes Kevin Drew, John Krantz, Jeff Pratt, and Doug Nash, along with Senior Minister Chris Seidman and Executive Minister David Teutsch.
Recommendation Forms Accepted January 15 - February 5 You will find the Elder Recommendation Form in the lobby, through our app (click the “More...” button), or online. This form outlines the qualifications and scripture to use as tools in making your recommendations. All recommendations must be submitted by Sunday, February 5.
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More information at: thebranchchurch.org/elders
The Branch Elders This is our current group of elders and their wives. The highlighted couples below have faithfully served for the past four years. Over the next few months, they will be rotating out for at least a year-long sabbatical. Please join us in thanking them for their service. Our elder selection process is meant to identify qualified couples to join this team in the coming months.
Ron and Mary Beth Cash
Blake and Amy Crowell
Kevin and Becky Drew
Chris and Cindy Goodspeed
Farmers Branch Campus ron.cash@thebranchchurch.org
Vista Ridge Campus blake.crowell@thebranchchurch.org
Farmers Branch Campus kevin.drew@thebranchchurch.org
Farmers Branch Campus chris.goodspeed@thebranchchurch.org
John and Tracy Krantz
Chris and Kelly Leverett
Bruce and Deana Long
Vista Ridge Campus john.krantz@thebranchchurch.org
Vista RIdge Campus chris.leverett@thebranchchurch.org
Vista RIdge Campus bruce.long@thebranchchurch.org
Doug and Jan Nash Farmers Branch Campus doug.nash@thebranchchurch.org
Mark and Kay Pope Farmers Branch Campus mark.pope@thebranchchurch.org
Jeff and Jennifer Pratt
Bryan and Kathy Rife
Clint and Jennifer Schumacher
Vista RIdge Campus jeff.pratt@thebranchchurch.org
Vista Ridge Campus bryan.rife@thebranchchurch.org
Farmers Branch Campus clint.schumacher@thebranchchurch.org
Jason and Kimberly Schumacher
Chris and Tara Seidman
Farmers Branch Campus jason.schumacher@thebranchchurch.org
cseidman@thebranchchurch.org
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Find out more at thebranchchurch.org
Young at Heart Valentine Luncheon Sunday, February 12 12:00 pm Farmers Branch Campus Cost: $10 per person
Lunch • Dave Tanner • Special Valentine Musical • Valentine Bingo • Door Prizes Bring a guest and make a reservation by putting your name and the number attending on your Communication Card, or by contacting Bro. Eddy Ketchersid at 972-345-1645. More details at: thebranchchurch.org/yah-valentine
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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. Join our group in Branch Connect for the latest news and updates! Questions? Contact Paulette Travis: ptravis0822@yahoo.com
VR SERVICE TIMES
TheBranch
ORIENTATION Interested in learning more about The Branch Church? Do you have questions about what we do and what we believe at The Branch Church? Are you ready to take the next step, become a member, and get more involved? We want everyone who attends The Branch Church to engage in the activities we do together, and also to commit and submit to this body of believers. This is how we CONNECT, GROW, SERVE, and GO together! Whether you have attended for a short time, or have been here for years, make it official! Join us for The Branch Orientation. Upcoming dates:
• January 29 (10:45 am Farmers Branch Campus, 12:30 pm Vista Ridge Campus) RSVP at thebranchchurch.org/tbo and let us know you’re coming. We look forward to having you!
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This January, we are supporting Sole4Soul’s winter coat program to help provide winter coats to people in need throughout the United States.
Every 10 Facebook check-ins will help provide a coat to someone in need. Soles4Souls collects and ships gently used winter coats to those that need it the most. There are 50 million Americans living in poverty today, and many of them will need a warm coat this winter. Take a second to check out Soles4Souls’s Facebook page and website to see how they are making a major impact in the lives of thousands of people. Learn more: soles4souls.org/our-impact or facebook.com/Soles4Souls The hashtag this month is #KeepAmericaWarm. Be sure to use it when you check-in! It’s a great way to remind your friends why you’re checking in.
How it works: We make a donation to a Kingdom-building cause every time our community checks in on Facebook. It’s a great way to tell your friends about The Branch Church, and do some good in the process. If you need some help checking in on Facebook, just ask any of our staff members and we’ll show you how.
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The Branch Church Farmers Branch Campus
The Branch Church Vista Ridge Campus
Follow Chris on Twitter twitter.com/chrisseidman
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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 connected to The Branch Church who 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
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)
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Esperamos verte pronto. ¡Nos encantará saludarte en persona!
Luis y Schalee Sánchez lsanchez@thebranchchurch.org
Current Serving Opportunities
Interested in serving at The Branch? Below are some areas of need.
Kitchen Host Where: Vista Ridge Campus When: Sundays 10:25 - 11:15 am Frequency: 1 month on, 1 month off, repeat Responsibilities: • Keep coffee service running. • Clean up coffee and donuts after service begins. Contact Rebekah Pitts: rpitts@thebranchchurch.org
Greeter Where: Vista Ridge Campus or Farmers Branch Campus When: Any service time Frequency: 1 month on, 1 month off, repeat Responsibilities: • Arrive 15 minutes before service to greet people entering the building, or hand them a bulletin as they enter the Worship Center. You will finish at your post 15 minutes after service begins. For VR, contact Rebekah Pitts: rpitts@thebranchchurch.org For FB, contact Tim Ketchersid: tketchersid@thebranchchurch.org
Parking Lot Greeter Where: Vista Ridge Campus When: Any service time Frequency: 1 month on, 1 month off, repeat Responsibilities: • Wave to people as they enter the parking lot and assist with any parking lot needs. (Example: Umbrella assistance on rainy days.) For VR, contact Rebekah Pitts: rpitts@thebranchchurch.org For FB, contact Tim Ketchersid: tketchersid@thebranchchurch.org
Electric Guitar Player Where: Vista Ridge Campus or Farmers Branch Campus When: Tuesday (Celebrate Recovery), Thursday and Sunday (services) Frequency: 2-4 times per month Responsibilities: • Practice music for the week at home and come prepared. • Be on time and ready to enthusiastically help lead the congregation in worship! Contact James Asplund: jasplund@thebranchchurch.org
Keyboard/Piano Player Where: Vista Ridge Campus or Farmers Branch Campus When: Tuesday (Celebrate Recovery), Thursday and Sunday (services) Frequency: 2-4 times per month Responsibilities: • Practice music for the week at home and come prepared. • Be on time and ready to enthusiastically help lead the congregation in worship! Contact James Asplund: jasplund@thebranchchurch.org
Kids Branch Check-In Greeter Sub Where: Farmers Branch Campus When: Before either Sunday service How Many Needed: 5 Frequency: Filling in as needed (< once a month) Responsibilities: • Greet families and assist them with the check-in process. • Enter new families into the system (no technical skills required). Contact Kristan Renshaw: krenshaw@thebranchchurch.org
Serving is a great way to get plugged in at The Branch. Contact us today! Kids Branch Classroom/Group Leader Frequency: Every Sunday during the 2016-2017 school year (through June 4, 2017) Responsibilities: • Arrive at least 15 minutes before service begins. • Build relationships with the kids in your group. • Lead your small group in reading the Bible story, games, crafts, and activities. • Know and care about your small group, pray for them during the week, and send them notes of encouragement. Vista Ridge Campus Contact Brittany Moore: bmoore@thebranchchurch.org When & How Many Needed: • Sundays 9:15 am - 2 x Preschool Classroom Leader - 1 x Kindergarten Small Group Leader - 4 x Substitutes •
Sundays 11:00 am - 1 x Preschool Classroom Leader - 1 x Elementary Small Group Leader - 1 x Elementary Small Group Co-Leader
Farmers Branch Campus Contact Kristan Renshaw: krenshaw@thebranchchurch.org When & How Many Needed: • Sundays 9:00 am - 1 x Nursery Leader •
Sundays 10:45 am - 2 x Nursery Leader - 2 x Toddler Teacher - 2 x 2-Year-Old Teacher - 4 x Elementary MALE Small Group Leaders
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THE BRANCH FAMILY NEWS
thebranchchurch.org/watch-listen
We Mourn With: • Melissa Stringer and her family in the loss of
her father, Dan Landry, on December 5.
• Shannon Brooks and her family in the loss of
her son, Stephen Egana, on December 11.
• Dale Mauch and his family in the loss of his
father, Karl Mauch, on December 15.
• Joe Young and his family in the loss of his
sister, Kay Crawford, on December 21.
• Lauren Collins and her family in the loss of
her mother, Marsha Allred, on December 25.
We Celebrate These Baptisms: 12/6/16 12/11/16 12/11/16
Sydney Whorton Grace Autry Maggie Jones
Weekend Stats - December 2016: Attendance Average: 1898 Giving Average: $110,491 Keep us in the loop! Send news and updates to:
kfox@thebranchchurch.org
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W A T C H + L I S T E N You can find audio and video of previous sermons on our website or through The Branch Church app.
NOW ON TUESDAYS Every week – even on holidays! 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. 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.
Fellowship and accountability are two important components of spiritual growth. 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. 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.
Learn more: thebranchchurch.org/cr
Weekly Schedule:
This Month at CR:
6:15 pm – Dinner
Jan 3 - Ryan Rainey: “Denial” Jan 10 - A testimony from Dezi Davis
7:00 pm – Worship & Large Group 8:00 pm – Open Share Groups
Jan 17 - Kevin Crank and Ryan Rainey: “Being Powerless” Jan 24 - Special guest testimony
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Featured Events Calendar Days
Fri-Sat
Dates
1/13-14
Event (Location)
Times
Mother/Daughter Event: “I
Wish You Knew...”(Vista Ridge Campus) 2 Days
Sun
1/15
Elder Recommendations Begin
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Fri
1/27
Father/Daughter Event: Princess
6:30 - 9:00 pm
Sun
1/29
The Branch Orientation (Both Campuses)
Farmers Branch 10:45 am Vista Ridge 12:30 pm
Sat
2/4
Student Body Bowl (Vista Ridge Campus)
1:00 pm
Sun
2/5
Elder Recommendation Forms Due
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Sun
2/12
Marriage Event: Fight
6:00 - 8:30 pm
Sun
2/12
Young at Heart: Valentines
Fri
2/24
Men’s Event:
Fri-Sun
3/3-5
Celebrate Recovery Retreat
3 Days
Sack Spring Break Hunger (Farmers Branch Campus)
9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Sat
3/11
Ball (Vista Ridge Campus)
Night (Vista Ridge Campus) Luncheon (Farmers Branch Campus)
MANCARD (Vista Ridge Campus)
12:00 pm 6:30 pm
Weekly Events Calendar Day
Time
Event (Location)
Start/End Date
Sun
Early Service
Student Body: MS D/Groups
Mon
6:30 pm
Women’s Bible Study (Vista Ridge)
Tues
7:00 pm
Celebrate Recovery (Vista Ridge)
Tues
7:45 am
Student Body: Breakfast & Bible (Farmers Branch)
Wed
9:45 am
Women’s Bible Study (Farmers Branch)
Wed
6:30 pm
Student Body: D/Groups (Both Campuses)
Thurs
6:45 pm
Thursday Night Church (Vista Ridge Campus)
Sat
7:30 am
Mighty Men Bible Study (Vista Ridge Campus)
Sat
7:30 am
Men’s Life Bible Study (Farmers Branch Campus)
(Both Campuses)
Office: 972-247-2109
thebranchchurch.org
*Begins January 9
*Begins January 11
*Begins January 14
Email: info@thebranchchurch.org
Farmers Branch Campus
Vista Ridge Campus
3035 Valley View Lane Farmers Branch, TX 75234
3601 Huffines Boulevard Carrollton, TX 75010
Sundays: 9:00 & 10:45 am
Thursdays: 6:45 pm Sundays: 9:15 & 11:00 am