The Vine of Bel Air United Methodist Church

11:00 Worship in McComas Hall

Welcome to The Vine! We’re glad you’re here. We are building something new at BAUMC and as we do,
there are both plenty of questions and plenty of opportunities. On this page you’ll find both — a series of answers to our most asked
questions and a list of ways you can help make this worship community your own. Because we are new, we’re still a little rough around
the edges—we aren’t “perfect” but then again, who is? We are a work in progress and that’s a good thing. So if you’re not perfect and
know God’s not done with you yet, then you’ve found the right place! Come join us as we journey together to become the kind of Christ-
followers we were created to be. Get connected to the Vine! (John 15)

Some things you should know . . .

The Vine team thought you might have some questions about how the service works so here's our best stab at answering them.
where's the order of worship? with everything on the screen, there's no need to be distracted by "what's next?" Live in the
moment and let others guide you in worship - everything you need to worship will be provided. This week will even be a little differ-
ent than last week and next week will be different from this one.
Our Mission—to love and to share
the early bird gets the donut. we want everyone to have a
donut on us, but we also decided to put the donuts away during wor- The mission of The Vine is
ship time (hard to clap your hands and hold a donut) so COME EARLY to love people into a relationship with Jesus Christ
so you won't miss the pre-worship gathering, the cool openings, your and to share all God has given us with our world.
chance to serve, or the donuts!
We are a ragtag collection of surrendered and trans-
coffee anytime! have a cup anytime. we serve only fair trade coffee formed people who love God and others, captivated
(pick up a brochure) so coffee farmers receive a fair price (livable by the idea that this is not about us, but all about
wage) for our American coffee habit. Please consider "pay it forward" Jesus. We are gripped by His story and His heart for
- your coffee donation helps purchase the next person's cup of joe, our community.
which eventually gets back to the coffee farmers.
We are seed-throwers and faith-cultivators, fruit-
children? we value having our kids worship with us. We want fami- bearers and grace-givers, risk-takers and dream-
lies to be together. So your grade school age children will worship sowers, young and old, rich and poor, diverse yet
with you before being dismissed for Kingdom Kidz (or they can stay unified. We link arms with anyone who connects to
with you if you prefer). Register at the Kidz table. For security reasons, the story of Jesus and long for everyone to be con-
your "kidz" can be picked up in room 101 after the service. Pick up a nected to Jesus, the True Vine.
Kingdom Kidz brochure for more info.
visit connect-to-the-vine.blospot.com
prayer. prayer is foundational to everything we hope to accomplish
at The Vine. It centers us and connects us to God and one another. to find out more.
You are invited during times of corporate song or contemplative mo-
ments to light a candle at our prayer stations (candles represent our prayers for those we love.) At the station, you can also fill out a
prayer request knowing that others will also pray for your requests throughout the week (or ask for confidential prayer that only the
pastors see). We also offer prayer after the service for any who need peace, healing or direction. Just look for prayer team mem-
bers stationed near the left wall. If God is nudging you into conversation, don’t hesitate to respond! Listen. Respond. Repent. Re-
flect. An encounter with God is why we’re here.
communion? the United Methodist Church offers an open table to all who hunger for more of Jesus Christ in their lives. You are
welcome to partake of this “sacrament" (sacred mystery). We believe Jesus Christ is spiritually present in this meal, so it's not to be
taken lightly nor without contemplation, reflection, and examination. But that doesn't mean we have to be perfect or have our "act
together" to receive (who is or who has?). The meal is a gift from God and a celebration of God's mercy, so come! Some practical
thoughts . . . We will (most often) be serving by "intinction" - receiving the bread and dipping into the cup. Our servers practice
safe hygiene (washing up). We also offer gluten free elements for those with allergies and individual sealed packets for those who
must avoid any potentially harmful micro-organisms. Parents may choose to serve their children this meal. If unsure, please talk
with the pastor after the service.
The Vine — 11:00 Worship in McComas Hall Today’s texts — Philippians 2:3-4,
Mark 3:1-6 (NLT)
Today’s Story (November 21, 2010) . . . There’s a lot of talk today in 3
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress oth-
fitness circles that to be healthy you need to “strengthen your core,” in essence, hav- ers. Be humble, thinking of others as better
ing a “solid center” helps the rest of your body to function properly. The same could than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for
be said for the church—a healthy church your own interests, but take an interest in
Questions for the Road . . . others, too. Your must have the same atti-
is only as strong as the people who
1. Read Mark 3:1-6. How does this story tude Christ Jesus had . . .
make her up and especially those who
(Jesus’ words and actions) inform how you ———-
are at the core—servant leaders, pastors,
should live your life? about serving? about Jesus went into the synagogue again and
justice? about unfair laws? compassion? teachers and the like.
noticed a man with a deformed hand. 2 Since
2. How well do you recognize and act on the Today, we continue our eight part wor- it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched
needs you see around you? in church? at ship series and dialog that engages with him closely. If he healed the man’s hand,
home? in your neighborhood? work? the what we will be at our core—core values they planned to accuse him of working on
marketplace? Is it easy or hard for you to that will guide us and bind us into a bibli- the Sabbath.
serve others? cally functioning community. What val-
3. Where does your heart lie? What moves ues will make us uniquely The Vine and 3
Jesus said to the man with the deformed
you? Are there injustices in the world that how will those values be lived out in the hand, “Come and stand in front of every-
quicken your heart beat? How can you turn behaviors that will bear fruit for the King- one.” 4 Then he turned to his critics and
that passion into Outward Focus? (often our asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on
dom of God?
call is born out of our own life experience the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is
and pain) What will be at our core? What values
this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But
4. What outreach ministries would you like to will help us make wise (godly) decisions they wouldn’t answer him.
see The Vine engage in - local? national? that will lead us in to our future, into
international? God’s vision for the Vine? This is an 5
He looked around at them angrily and was
5. Please continue to pray and process over historic series, and you will be asked to deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then
your decision to send or be sent to our help us refine and design what it means he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So
offsite-mission. FAQs and discernment to be a missional church. Be in prayer. the man held out his hand, and it was re-
guides are available at the welcome center What is God calling you to do? stored! 6 At once the Pharisees went away
or go online to http://connect-to-the- Our series is called @ the Core— and met with the supporters of Herod to plot
vine.blogspot.com. We need to reach clar- how to kill Jesus.
Exploring the Values that Will
ity over who will be called to stay in McCo-
mas and those called to go offsite. Your
Grow Us into Community.
completed discernment card can be Today’s message is Outward Focus Is Everything.
brought to the basket at the altar or
placed in an offering basket at any @ the Core is a SEED.
time. God is infusing The Vine with a unique DNA, the genetic markers that we will need
to live and thrive in this place that God has planted us.
God is calling us to be SOWERS—sowers of grace, mercy, hope, love and peace,
sowers of the Gospel.
These are the values that will produce Kingdom fruit in us and through us

Spiritual Transformation (an expectation for all Christ-followers)

Outward Focus (a natural response to Christ’s love)
Worship (a 24-7 Christ-honoring lifestyle)
Empowered Service (all Christ-followers embracing the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit)
Risk-taking (as missional experimenters modeling Christ’s incarnation)
Sharing Community (living out Christ’s call to generosity, simplicity and authenticity)

Next week — @ the Core—Exploring the Values that will Grow Us into Community
— Worship Is a Way of Life