The Notes - December 7, 2017

Volume 47

Issue 48

December 7, 2017

Sounds of the Season
Come join us this Sunday, December 10, at 5:00 pm, in Tyson Hall for a joyous evening of family Christmas music performed by The Four Docs and our VHUMC Music Staff. We'll also have a few special surprises, so bring the entire family!

Christmas Flower Memorials and Honorariums

In celebration of Christmas, the Flower and Altar Guilds will be adorning the worship services with poinsettias and fresh cut greens. You can participate by donating flowers in memory or honor of a loved one for $20. There will be a limited number of poinsettias available to be picked up after the last Christmas Eve service.

If you wish to make a memorial or honorarium tribute, you must contact Margaret Flowers by Monday, December 11. (769-0112 / [email protected]). Order forms will also be available in binders on the desk counter in the church office.

Advent Devotional Guides
An annual favorite, this booklet of daily devotions is designed for every family or individual to have a copy. It contains brief readings for each day in Advent, including a passage of Scripture, a short devotion, and a closing prayer. Donald K. McKim leads us along an Advent journey as people who live in darkness and are awaiting God's great light. Day by day, we get closer and closer to the light as we take time to read and reflect on Scripture throughout the Advent season. This calendar of devotions will help us focus on the Incarnation in the midst of so many distractions we face as we prepare for the birth of Christ.

NEXT Campaign Update
Thank you for responding to our NEXT Campaign pledge requests this past weekend. Since Sunday, we have received $282,620 in additional pledges! Our current tally of 322 pledges is $4,039,447. Because of your generosity, we have now commissioned the replacements of our failing HVAC systems. Since we are still short of our $5 million goal, we are working hard to decide among our remaining improvement projects.

Middle School Christmas Party
This Sunday Night join us for our Middle School Christmas party from 5:00 - 6:30 pm on the student ministries hall! We'll have lots of food, games, and a fun recap video of the year! Bring a $5 wrapped Dirty Santa gift and $5 for dinner! Don't forget to invite a friend. See you there!

Hilltoppers Meeting
Our next meeting is Tuesday, December 12, at 10:30 am, in the Fellowship Hall. The After Class Trio will be performing Christmas music for us. For information or to make a lunch reservation ($6.00) call Harriette Woodring (822-9318) or Margaret Flowers ([email protected] / 769-0112) no later than 11:00 am on Friday, December 8. Please note the price and, if possible, have correct change or an extra dollar bill.

Vestavia Hilltoppers is a VHUMC-sponsored organization for persons of retirement age, which meets each month for lunch and a program. They also sponsor trips and other activities that are publicized at meetings. Guests and new members are welcome.

Service of Healing and Light
The holly-jolly Christmas atmosphere can be difficult if we are experiencing the recent loss of a loved one or a significant life-changing event. We need the space to acknowledge our grief and hold it up to the light of the Christmas message: God is with us. Come be a part of this very special service on Thursday, December 21, at 6:00 pm, in the Chapel!

Run Mercedes with VHUMC
Lace up your running shoes, grab a friend, and join the VHUMC Runners during the Mercedes Marathon Weekend. Runners from the group will be participating in the relay and half marathon on Sunday, February 11. Not interested in running a half marathon? Join or form a marathon relay team. A 5-person running team will cover two 5K legs (3.1 miles), two 10K legs (6.2 miles), and one 12K leg (8 miles). Grab a friend, join a team, and run with us! Training plans, support, and group runs will be provided to each runner beginning on Monday, November 20. No prior running experience is required to join the group! Contact Megan Drumm ([email protected]) for additional details.

Christmas Eve at VHUMC

We would love for you to join us this Christmas for a powerful evening of worship, prayer, and celebration as we honor the birth of Jesus Christ. Services will be held at a variety of times throughout our campus, so find which time works best for you!

2:00 pm - Candlelight Communion Service | Sanctuary | Children's Choir
4:00 pm - Candlelight Communion Service | Sanctuary | Chancel Choir
4:00 pm - Candlelight Communion Service | Tyson Hall | Ensemble
6:00 pm - Candlelight Communion Service | Sanctuary | New Life Singers
8:00 pm - Chapel Communion Service (30 Minute Service) | Chapel
11:00 pm - Candlelight Communion Service | Sanctuary

This year Christmas Eve is on a Sunday. We will have two services that morning, both at 10:00 am in Tyson Hall and the Sanctuary. There will be no Sunday School. We also will not have services on Christmas day, December 25.

The following Sunday, December 31, we will have one service in the Sanctuary at 10:00 am and no Sunday School.

Confirmation Registration is Now Open

January is right around the corner and each new year brings with it new opportunities, adventures, and challenges. One of those opportunities and adventures for our 6th graders is the Confirmation process!

Confirmation 2018 begins on Sunday, January 21, in the Fellowship Hall. Each lesson will be on a Sunday night from 5:00 - 6:30 pm, includes dinner, and is facilitated by one of our clergy members. Click on the link for a schedule of when we will meet. We will hold a parent meeting on Sunday, January 7, at 5:00 pm, in the Fellowship Hall.

Our Confirmation Retreat is scheduled for February 2-3 at Camp Sumatanga. This is truly a transformational retreat where the students learn more about themselves, each other, and the United Methodist faith. The total cost for Confirmation is $115 and includes the retreat, 8 dinners, and a t-shirt. Register online by clicking the link.

Confirmation Mentors Needed
On January 21 our 6th graders will begin a discernment process of their faith through the journey known as Confirmation. This is a significant event in their life, and we need mentors who will make their journey richer by listening, guiding, and enjoying the process with them. If you are interested in serving as a Confirmation Mentor to walk alongside these 6th graders, please contact Jeremiah Stone ([email protected]). Mentors will lead family group discussions of 6-8 students with another mentor. They are asked to commit to each Sunday night of the Confirmation semester and also participate in one family group outing. Thank you for being a part of our students' lives!

Kindermusik
COA is proud to be offering Kindermusik to the Vestavia community. Kindermusik with Michele & Friends has a passion for educating young families through music! In every Kindermusik class, your child is welcomed into a playful and nurturing environment where they will sing, move, play instruments, and hear stories-all while developing social skills, problem-solving skills, pre-math skills, and a foundation for reading. Our research-based curriculum focuses on whole-child development and helps you understand how your child is developing musically, cognitively, and socially. Kindermusik is the world's leading music and movement program for children birth through pre-instrumental with the 6 years old. Don't miss out on this spectacular program!

Registration opened this week for the winter/spring session. Classes will be held on Sunday afternoons and Monday mornings. Check us out on www.kmwithmichele.com or call 568-6702.

December Memory Verse
Our 1st - 5th graders learn a different verse each month, and have the opportunity to recite the verse before or after Sunday School in the elementary office for a sweet treat! December's memory verse is: For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us (Isaiah 9:6). At the end of the school year we will give a grand prize to one boy and one girl. We hope that these verses help to guide them throughout their lives.

College Scholarship Opportunity
Dick Kelly Scholarship Fund is one of our Foundation Funds with the purpose of "providing college scholarships for church members." We have developed new guidelines over the past year for giving up to $5,000 total each year. If you are a student or have a student already attending college or entering college next fall, we invite you to submit an application. Applications are available through the link and completed applications should be sent or given to Gary Wyatt ([email protected]). Awards will be based on both merit and need. The deadline for applications is January 10. Donations are also welcome to continue replenishing the fund.

Extra Safety and Security
We have invited a member of the Vestavia Hills Police Department to be here on Sunday mornings and worship with us. We are very excited about our relationship with VHPD and their willingness to partner with us. The extra-duty officer will be in uniform, will park a police vehicle in our parking lot, and will be moving throughout our building during worship and Sunday School. Please greet them and make them feel welcome as you would any guest.

Inclement Weather Plans
Before we get our first big cold front, we wanted to remind you of our inclement weather policies. Any time that Vestavia Hills Schools close, our Vestavia Day School, Vestavia Dance, Lighthouse, and Conservatory of the Arts will also close. The Kitchen will also close for breakfast meetings (although lunches and dinners may still be served). In some instances, these church departments may close when schools are still open. If so, all parents will be notified. School closures do not necessarily mean that church services or meetings are cancelled or that the offices are closed. Look for notices of closure by email, on our website, social media, or on local TV stations (ABC, CBS, and NBC). Always use caution and common sense going to and from church. Our Vestavia "Hills" become dangerous quickly with moisture and freezing temperatures.

Julian Family Recital
The Julian family would like to invite you to their annual Family Recital in the Sanctuary, on Tuesday, December 19, at 7:00 pm. The evening will feature Rachel Julian and Katrina Julian Booth on the organ, Karl Julian on the piano, and Kyle Julian on the French horn. A reception will follow the performance in the church parlor.

Boomer Bible Study
In the fall of 1960, America was introduced to the town of Mayberry and in many ways we've never left. When reflecting on The Andy Griffith Show most people say that the show represented a time to which they would like to return. However, even a casual look back at the decade in which the series originated reveals a very turbulent time in the history of our country. We will be watching one episode per week and looking at how it relates to the Bible and what lessons we can learn. The class will meet on Thursdays at 6:30 pm, in room 322, from January 4 - February 8. For more information please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126). Join us as we find our way back to Mayberry!

Walk to Emmaus
The VHUMC Emmaus community would like to welcome and congratulate Diane Sausen who completed the Walk to Emmaus in October. Diane was sponsored by Dot Walker. If you are interested in the Walk to Emmaus please contact Harry Dinken ([email protected]).

Mission Trip to Tanzania
In 2018, VHUMC will partner with Trinity UMC to visit our missionary friends in Tanzania. Last summer we had the privilege of hearing Eric and Liz Soard speak about their efforts and the ways that God has called them to be missionaries in Africa. We will be offering a new mission trip to Tanzania in 2018 to see their work first hand and to work with them in the Geita district. If you are interested in hearing more about this trip, led by Paulette West, please mark your calendars and join us on Sunday, January 21, at 4:00 pm, for an introductory meeting.

Mother and Son Dinner
Come be a part of our Mother and Son Dinner on Thursday, February 8, at 6:00 pm, in Tyson Hall. Tickets are $15 per person. This is an event for 5k through 5th grade boys and their mothers. If you have any questions, contact Anne Strozier ([email protected]). The deadline to register is February 1.

Soups and Stories is Coming
Our annual Soup and Stories luncheon with Dolores Hydock will be on Sunday, January 28, at 12:15 pm. If you would like to help, please contact Barbara Porter ([email protected]). Tickets will be sold the first week of January.

Ongoing Outreach

Food Pantry

424 turkeys! That's how many the food pantry gave away last week to all of our families for Thanksgiving. Thanks so much to a generous church member who made this happen. Thanks also to Vestavia West and Central schools for the great food drives before Thanksgiving! We are still shelving the cans donated. We certainly appreciate your continued support every year!

Oak Mountain Mission

Oak Mountain Mission is a non-profit mission demonstrating Christ's love by helping clients referred by shelters, social service agencies, and faith-support churches. Everything belongs to God and is provided to clients free of charge. Thank you for your donations. Needed items are linens, kitchen items, new toys for Christmas, and boys' jeans. For furniture pick-up, please call Brenda at OMM (685-5757).

Wednesday Night Menu

December 13 - Salad, Swedish Meatballs OR Baked Chicken, Roasted Potatoes,
Glazed Carrots, Roll, Assorted Desserts. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese