Operation Christmas Child: Bring your stuffed shoeboxes in this weekend! If you weren't able to pick up a shoebox last week, you may use a shoebox from home.  Items not to include this year are toothpaste and candy of any kind.  Shipping is $9.00 - you may include it in your box or pay online to "follow your box".  Print the label out and tape it to the lid, keeping the bar code clear of tape.  Placement of the label should be towards the end of the box top, not the center. If wrapping your box, wrap the bottom and lid separately.  Please remember to pray for your box(es), to arrive safely to the country God wants them to go to, and for the special little boy or girl who receives it.

Spaces are still available for our children's K-5th grade packing party on Sat., Nov. 11th during both the 9-10:30 or 10:30-12:00 time slots. An adult must be in attendance. We also have spaces open for our middle/high school girls packing party on Thurs., Nov. 16th from 3:30-5:00. To sign up for either one, e-mail Beth Stafford at bethann311@comcast.net. As always, donations for shipping costs and those extra stuffers you can't fit into your box are welcome.

Urbana Food Bank Thanksgiving Food Drive: Food donations are being accepted through the weekend services before Thanksgiving. Suggested items include stuffing mixes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, canned corn, cranberry sauce, gift cards to buy turkeys and hams, apples and oranges, canned green beans, or any other Thanksgiving-related staples. You may drop off items at the Urbana Help Table in the upstairs lobby. Gift cards may be given to Sandy Sherman or left with Pam Wilson in the church office. Questions? Please contactl Sandy Sherman at sandy1sherman@aol.com or 301-253-4334.

Dive-In: Group study continues Sunday at 9:15am in the adult classroom with our 12-week-long video series on the "Foundations of Apologetics." Join us to learn how to recognize the many worldviews influencing our culture and get equipped to challenge the assumptions they are founded upon in a winsome and effective manner.  Leif Dahl will be facilitating the discussion following the video.

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Abba's Hands and Heart: In recognition of Orphan Sunday, Abba's Hands & Heart is hosting a brunch this coming Saturday, November 11th, from 10:30am to 12:30pm in The Pit. We will be welcoming guest speaker JT Olson who is the author of the book "The Orphan, the Widow & Me" and founder of "Both Hands", a ministry for orphans, widows and adoptive families. JT is a positive, energetic, passionate speaker. Come be encouraged and challenged as JT shares about his journey from orphan to ministry leader.  Children are welcome. RSVP to orphan@mvccfrederick.com.

First Saturday Fellowship Returns: It's that time again for faith, food, and fellowship this Saturday after our 6:00pm service. Pleease join us for pizza, snacks, and soft drinks while sharing the faith with other members of our MVCC family. Bring along a friend or two so they, too, can experience the awesome church God has blessed us with as we continue to mark our 20th anniversary. 

Photos Needed: At MVCC, we strive to be authentic, warm, and welcoming to everyone inside and outside our church. We want to be real, and you can help us on the visual side by sending us your family photos for use in MVCC's current and future social media materials. Just send your pics to kim.kruger@mvccfrederick.com. 

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Expedition '17 Registration Deadline: Hey men of Mountain View, tomorrow (Thursday) is your last chance to register to be a part of EXPEDITION '17, MVCC's annual men's retreat. We're at 140 and counting our way to 200, so don't delay, click here and sign up today. For more details and the retreat itinery, click here. And if you're wondering what to expect, check out the video from Expedition '16 by clicking on this link. See you at Expedition '17! 

Bible Study: Friday, 6:30am, in The Pit. This week we will be continuing with STOP, an acrostic that stands for:

-Stopping

-Trust

-Obey

-Purpose

We need to stop and listen to God and reconnect with Him and our families, setting aside dedicated time daily, weekly, and annually. Even when we try to set aside these times, how do we make sure they aren’t just eaten up with TV or social media? Come a little early to join us for coffee, donuts, the "occasional breakfast burrito," and great Bible study and discussion; it’s a fantastic way to start out a Friday!

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Women's Christmas Brunch Registration: Online registration is now open for MVCC's annual Women's Christmas Brunch on Saturday, December 2nd, from 10:00am to Noon at the Ceresville Mansion. Cost is $25.00 per person; scholarships available based on need. Click here to fill out the online form and join us as we kick off the Christmas season with a special time of celebration and fellowship; Karen Rhea will share her testimony. Please invite friends and relatives. For questions or additional information, please email Joannie Chin at joanniewchin@gmail.com.

Bible Study: "Discerning the Voice of God" by Priscilla Shirer will be held Tuesday mornings from 9:30 -11:30  in the adult classroom. The remaining meeting dates are: 11/14, and 11/28. This study has a recently updated and revised DVD which we will watch each week in addition to discussing the homework questions. Child care is available. The book title is: Discerning the Voice of God -- Bible Study Book -- Revised: How to Recognize When God Speaks (August 15, 2017). Available at Lifeway.com and Amazon.com for $12.99. Questions? Please email lori.loux@yahoo.com.

Weekly Prayer Group: Meets weekly, Tuesday mornings, from 9:00-10:00am in the Prayer & Comfort Room.  Please contact Jan Drass, jdrass2@comcast.net if you have questions. Child care is not available.

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Serving Opportunities: From helping victims of Hurricanes Harvey, to ministering orphans in Honduras, to bringing the Gospel and light construction skills to South Africa, there is a great need for members of our church community to serve during these upcoming Missions trips. Please click here to go to our web page to learn about missions trip opportunities and more.

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God's Fruit Stand Reopens: God’s Fruit Stand is open this weekend!  Kids, don't forget to bring in your "Backyard Bucks" to spend on all sorts of items at the stand. Each week, our young ones have multiple ways to earn their backyard bucks during both services of church, through memory verses, class participation, and more. They can then spend them at God's Fruit Stand, which opens after the Saturday night service and both Sunday services.

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MOPS 2017-2018: The new MOPS season is underway,  exploring the theme “Free Indeed.” Spaces in the MOPS Kids program are filled, but moms can still join if childcare is not needed. If you have questions about registration, or you would like to have your name put on a waiting list, please email Rebekah Collogan at  rebekah.collogan@gmail.com. Click here to register online. For general questions about MOPS, please contact Lynn Jerore by email: l_jerore@comcast.net. On an additional note, for those of you who missed the June 25th Congregational Meeting, here is a link to Pastor Guy’s presentation about where MVCC currently stands with MOPS, and why we as a church have decided to “phase out” of MOPS over the next 12 months.

MOPS Volunteers: MOPS Volunteers are needed to care for babies and preschoolers one morning each month while moms attend MOPS (2nd Mondays, now through June, 9:15-11:15am). For more info, email Debbi Augustine at debbi.augustine@mvccfrederick.com.

Congregational Care: If you or someone you know is seeking cousel or assistance, please email the church office, office@mvccfrederick.com.

Prayer Requests: Here at MVCC, we welcome the opportunity to partner with you and lift up personal and community prayers..."They all joined together constantly in prayer..." Acts 1:14 (NIV)  If you have a need or know others in need of prayer, our prayer team awaits any requests you have. Please send to prayer@mvccfrederick.com.

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves...Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:10-13.

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