This breakfast is for all women of Greenbrier – come and enjoy a fabulous full-service breakfast prepared and served by the men of Greenbrier Church! The men go all out on this occasion to bless our ladies and make it a “can’t-miss” event! All you have to do is rsvp, show up and enjoy! To rsvp, simply respond to the evite or email: women@greenbrierchurch.com.
We can’t wait to see you there!

Greenbrier Church Women’s Christmas Gathering

Saturday, December 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Brew Ranch, 2133 Johnstown Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322

Ladies, take a break from the holiday busyness – Join us for a festive, casual (continental) breakfast, warm holiday beverages, and great fellowship! If you have not yet responded via evite, feel free to respond to this email to RSVP!

We’ll be exchanging “white elephant” gifts at our gathering this Saturday morning. Please bring a wrapped item you currently own and think another Greenbrier sister would enjoy. Think along the lines of a book you’ve enjoyed but no longer want to keep, a scarf you no longer wear, a decorative item…anything that would make a nice “recycled” present to share.

In addition, we’ll enjoy a yummy continental breakfast – please sign up (via email or evite) to bring one of the following “finger food” breakfast items to share:

• Pastry/Sweets
• Muffins/Bagels
• Fruit
• Croissant/Biscuit Sandwiches (egg, cheese, meat)

Coffee, Tea and Juice will also be provided.

We look forward to an encouraging time of fellowship and reflection with other sisters in Christ during the busy holiday season!

Hope to see you there!

Here are directions to Geneva Community Center:

1) Travel I-64 East towards Suffolk.
2) Take the 296A exit and merge onto George Washington Highway
3) Turn left at Camelot Boulevard
4) Turn right onto Deep Creek Blvd
5) At the fork continue right to stay on Deep Creek Blvd
6) Turn right into the Geneva Mobile Home Park. The community center is located towards the back of Geneva Mobile Home Park.

Schedule @ Geneva:

6:15 pm Assemble Turkey Baskets
6:30 pm Life Groups arrive
6:45 pm Pray for Families
7:00 pm Deliver Turkey Baskets to Families
8:15 pm ThanksGiving Outreach @ Geneva ends

Come out and be a part of this awesome outreach!

If you are interested in helping present this experience to our community, please contact Sheri Gaughan at sherigaughan@greenbrierchurch.com or call the church office at 819-1070.

After such a busy time, our new series is quite timely.  This week we will begin our teaching entitled ”Pause”.   Here is an overview of what we’ll be talking about. Listed below the summary is a “parent cue” to help you talk with your child about the session. The question is intended not just to be asked by you, but to be responded to by BOTH of you. Use this opportunity to find out what God is teaching your child, and allow your child to see what God is teaching you as well. 

Series Overview

Ever feel like life is moving, or rather, rushing forward at an unsustainable pace? It seems like more often than not, that is just the way things are. But in effort to keep up with everything and everyone around us, it may be that we are missing out on experiencing God’s presence. What would it take for you to pause? To stop? To just “be,” long enough to take note of the living God in the midst of our spinning world?

Session One: Breathe (November 2)

What’s on your “to do” list today? A big test? Practice after school? Work? What about breathing? Have you scheduled time to just stop and breathe? “Uh, sure,” you’re thinking, “I am going to breathe today. What kind of question is that?” But what if you took time today to pause and really enjoy the moments you are in? Instead of thinking about whatever is next, you decide to really “be” where you are and soak up every second. What if you decided to pause . . . and then breathe?

Session One Parent Cue: How do you “pause”—and how often do you do it? What benefits do you see afterwards?  

Session Two: Search (November 9)

The Bible says that God is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere at all times. Sometimes we are in such a rush, we don’t even notice Him. But what if life became a big search? What if, as you went through every day, you paused and looked for God to show up everywhere you went? And what if you realized that no matter where you go or what you do, He is there? It might completely change the way you look at life—even the most mundane, ordinary parts of your day. So today, pause . . . and then search.

Session Two Parent Cue: Have you “seen” God lately? Where did He show up? Were you surprised to see Him where you did? Why or why not?

Session Three: Discover (November 16)

Last week, we talked about how God is everywhere and if we pause and look, we can find Him. But sometimes that’s really hard to do, isn’t it? Sometimes life gets really hard. Sometimes life hurts a lot. Sometimes pain and disappointment seem pretty intense and God seems really far away. But even in those moments, God is there. In fact, God is known for taking even the worst situations and bringing something good out of them. We just can’t always see that until we pause . . . and then discover that God is closer than your breath.

Session Three Parent Cue: Have you ever seen God during a really tough time? If so, explain.

CROSSTONE FALL RETREAT

FINAL INFORMATION 

We are SO excited that your child will be attending the CrosStone retreat this weekend!

Our guest speaker for the weekend is Marc Santom.  By way of introduction, Marc is a ’92 English Education graduate of Geneva College (Beaver Falls, PA) and an ’02 graduate of the Regent University School of Divinity (M.A. Practical Theology). Formerly the National Student Ministries Director for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination, he is now in the process of completing his Master of Divinity here while working for the School of Divinity as the Associate Director of Admissions and Recruiting. Marc currently resides in Virginia Beach with his wife, Tina, and two children, Rachel (7) and Ethan (5), where they are members of Kempsville Presbyterian Church.
Marc will be teaching on the deeply interconnected relationship between loving God and loving others–and how the Greatest Commandment is incomplete without both aspects of this commandment of Jesus.

Our worship leader for the retreat is Clay Orander.  Clay is a freshman at Anderson University in Indiana.  To quote Clay, “I just want my life to be defined by Jesus and how much he loves me… which is a TON!  There’s nothing I want more in life than Him.”

Please plan to arrive at Triple R Ranch by 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2011.  Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. 

According to MapQuest, it should take approximately 25 minutes to drive from the Church to Triple R Ranch.  I would suggest allowing a little more time due to Friday afternoon traffic.  Directions to the ranch are contained on the attached page. 

Directions To Triple R Ranch (3531 Bunch Walnuts Road, Chesapeake, Va.) from Greenbrier Church parking lot:

     1.   Start out going EAST on VOLVO PKWY toward BROOKSIDE LNDG.  0.1 mi    

     2.   Make a U-TURN at BROOKSIDE LNDG onto VOLVO PKWY.  0.3 mi  

     3.   Turn LEFT onto GREENBRIER PKWY.  1.8 mi  

     4.   Turn RIGHT onto KEMPSVILLE RD/VA-190 W.  1.3 mi  

     5.   Turn LEFT onto BATTLEFIELD BLVD N/VA-168-BR.  1.5 mi  

     6.   Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto JOHNSTOWN RD/VA-634.  6.0 mi  

     7.   Turn RIGHT onto BENEFIT RD.  0.4 mi  

     8.   Turn LEFT onto BUNCH WALNUTS RD.  2.1 mi  

     9.   3531 BUNCH WALNUTS RD is on the LEFT. 

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU TO TRIPLE R RANCH

• Sleeping bag and pillow (or sheets and a blanket)
• Towels and toiletries
• Casual, comfortable clothes and shoes
• Jacket for cool evenings
• Flashlight
• Snack to share with the group (cookies, brownies, chips, etc.)
• Bible and notebook
• Small amount of money if they wish to make snack purchases at the Ranch store

 Do not bring:

• Electronic devices (Ipods, games, etc.)
• Camping  “tools” (pocket knives, axes, etc.–we’re not roughing it–all food and firewood are provided!) 

Cell phones will be permitted only for contact with parents.  Students should not be texting or talking with friends during the retreat weekend.

Should you need to reach us during the retreat, our cell phone numbers are listed below:

            Debbie Carlucci                      201-0601

            Jeff Carlucci                            201-0596

Thank you for allowing your child to participate in our annual retreat.  We look forward to spending time with your child and are prayerful that he/she will be blessed as a result of the teaching and fellowship of the weekend.  If.you have not completed the medical release form, you may print out the copy shown below and bring it with you to Triple R Ranch.

                                                                                    Jeff and Debbie Carlucci, CrosStone Youth Leaders

Medical Authorization Form

Medical Information

Insurance:

            Triple R caries normal insurance for liability.  Your coverage is primary for accidental injury and illness. 

            In the event of injury, Leaders are responsible to determine immediately if EMS services are necessary and act accordingly.  For minor injuries requiring medical attention, a member of the ranch staff must be notified before transportation is initiated. 

            We strongly recommend that each participant have a “permission to treat” form, signed by their parent or guardian, on file with the retreat leader.

———————————————————————————————————

Medical Authorization Form

Participant’s Name:_______________________________________Age:________

Address:____________________________________________________________

Home Phone:__________Parents’ cell:______________________Work:________

Medications/Medical Problems:  (Please label all medications clearly with name and dosage requirements.)

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Medical Release:  In the event that I am unavailable at the time, I hereby give my permission to the physician which my child’s retreat leader chooses to perform any emergency medical treatment as may be necessary.

Effective Dates:  November 4-6, 2011

Signature of Parent/Legal Guardian:________________________Date:_________

Men of Greenbrier UNITE!
Come spend an awesome day @ the Brew Ranch with the Men of Greenbrier. There will be team competitions, grilled meat, a challenging message, and a bonfire. FUN, FOOD, and FIRE!!! Every guy should save the date and make sure to join us for this special time.

Here’s the schedule:
2:00 PM Welcome
2:15 PM Team Competitions
5:15 PM Awards Ceremony
5:30 PM Meal Time
6:15 PM Worship
6:30 PM Message
7:00 PM Smore Fellowship
7:30 PM Head over to Triple R
7:45 PM Pray over our Teens
8:00 PM End

YOU don’t want to miss it! Get your ticket this Sunday @ the Information Center. For more information, contact Pastor Curtis @ 819-1070.

Si

Greenbrier Ladies, have you marked your calendar for October 14-15 for our Fall Women’s Retreat at Triple R Ranch? The cost for this year’s retreat is $80.  Registration can be done following the 9 & 11 am services at the information table in the lobby. We’re excited about the new developments in place for this year’s retreat – don’t miss it! If needed, a payment plan is available.

• When: Friday, October 14th- Saturday, October 15th
• Where: Triple R Ranch, Chesapeake, VA
• Cost: $80
• Sign ups: each Sunday in the lobby after 9 & 11 am services
• Contact: Melanie Bedogne

This is a casual gathering of Greenbrier Ladies for a time of encouraging fellowship! Grab a friend and come on by!

• When: Tuesday, 8/16, 7:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
• Where: Cafe Moca, 5705 Lynnhaven Parkway (@ Centerville), Virginia Beach

*Note: location change since previous announcement.