The Notes - February 22, 2018

Volume 48

Issue 8

February 22, 2018

Whale of A Sale Starts Today
The Spring 2018 Whale of a Sale starts today, February 22, with the sale opening to the public from 5:00 to 9:00 pm in the Lighthouse. Please join us and shop our huge selection of toys, baby items, and gently used clothing. Proceeds from the sale support Vestavia Day School, one of the strongest outreach ministries of the church. We will be open again on Friday, February 23, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm with our half-price sale starting at noon. Hope to see you there!

Walk the Via Dolorosa at VHUMC

On Friday morning of Holy Week, Jesus stood in the presence of Pontius Pilot, the Roman Governor of Judea, and was sentenced to die. The cross beam that would be used in his execution was placed on his shoulders and he began the walk through the city, out of the gate, to Golgotha. The route he would follow is called the Via Dolorosa, and was about 700 yards long.

Join us in the Lighthouse for prayer and reflection, as you walk seven laps around the Lighthouse Track, approximately the same distance our Lord walked to Golgotha. You will be provided a booklet with scripture, reflection questions, and prayer to help guide you through each lap on this spiritual journey. The prayer walk will be available during regular Lighthouse hours. Key cards to access the track can be obtained from the 1st floor Lighthouse desk. Prayer booklets will be located on the track and at the front desk. For more information, contact Megan Drumm ([email protected] / 769-0139).

To Help You Journey Through Lent
Come and explore the reflective spirit of the season by picking up a free copy of "The Sanctuary for Lent 2018." Copies are located throughout the church. The season of Lent is a time to center your heart on the things that God would have us evaluate and change in our lives. Our Lenten devotional contains brief reading for each day of the season including a short scripture reading, a devotion, and a prayer. Beginning Ash Wednesday through Easter day, we hope you will explore the wilderness of Lent to prepare to experience fully the joy of the resurrection.

40 Days of Lent - A Personal Response

The season of Lent began yesterday on Ash Wednesday and is a 40-day (the six Sundays of Lent are not included) period of time for personal reflection and preparation for Easter. During these 40 days, what can you do each day that will transform your life towards a more Christ-centered life of purpose? What people do you need to contact? What things should you be doing to add (or subtract) to the quality of your Christian walk?

We're providing a handy tool for you to use to capture those important steps in your faith journey. Pick up a copy at church or click the link for a downloadable file.

Ash Wednesday in the Parking Lot Was a Hit

153 people drove through to receive ashes and prayers in our first-ever parking lot imposition of ashes. The prayer requests from members and non-members were truly amazing and humbling. Thanks to Stephanie Casey, Chad Mize, Mike Harris, Billy Swanson, Suzanne Scott-Trammell, Jim Frazier, Sherry Harris, and Butch Williams for this outreach and Christ-sharing experience, preparing us for Easter.

David Cangelosi In Concert
Come and enjoy a free concert performed by one of the great voices of our time. David Cangelosi will be singing in the Sanctuary at 4:00 pm, this Sunday, February 25. David has performed with opera companies and symphonies all over the world including the Metropolitan Opera (New York) and the Boston Symphony.

Six Great Sunday Evenings of Lenten Preaching

We are thrilled to have Friar (Service Dog Extraordinaire) leading our 2nd week of The Six Great Sundays of Lenten Preaching! Joining Friar this Sunday will be Ted Leach with a sermon titled "Drop!"

Come as you are to the Rutland-Memorial Chapel at 5:00pm each Sunday during the Season of Lent, as we are blessed with the preaching of our wonderful VHUMC (former and current) preachers!

March 3 - Mickey Morgan
March 11 - Bill Bostick
March 18 - Sherry Harris
March 25 - Bill Brunson

Daddy Daughter Dance

Our Daddy Daughter Dance is this Sunday, February 25, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, in the Lighthouse gym. The cost is $25 per couple ($5 per additional daughter). This is an event for 4k through 5th grade girls and their fathers. If you have any questions contact Anne Strozier ([email protected]).

It's Time to Rise Against Hunger

Join us in a powerful community effort to end hunger on April 15-17! to end hunger! Our meal packing event, known as Rise Against Hunger, can make a tremendous difference in lives of children that go to bed hungry. You, or a group, can sign up to fill a time-slot to help pack over 300,000 nutrient rich meals. There is something to do for every age!

There are three ways you can make a difference:

Money - Each meal costs only $0.29, so every dollar donated helps cover over 3 meals to a community in need.
Time - Sign up for a time slot by yourself or with friends. These meals aren't going to pack themselves!
Prayers - Please pray for the children who need our help so desperately.

This year will also mark a major milestone for VHUMC, as it will be the year that we will cross the MILLIONTH MEAL PACKED with Rise Against Hunger! Come be a part of this powerful event and help us cross the finish line to end world hunger.

Conservatory of the Arts Keeps Growing

From the beginning, our Conservatory of the Arts has been a success. They started with 72 students taking music lessons in the fall of 2012. Currently, they have 280 students involved in these areas: Piano (145), Guitar (31), Kindermusik (30), Voice (21), Percussion (14), Art Class (13), Violin (9), Theatre (6), Flute (5), Trumpet (4), and Saxophone (2).

Come take a class with them. All ages and nearly all instrument lessons are available. Click the link for more information.

Hiking to the Cross
Join the VHUMC Clergy at McCallum Park (on Rosemary Lane) on Saturday, March 17, at 9:00 am as we take a leisurely hike together. We will stop periodically to remember each of the 14 stations of the cross (the events that happened to Jesus from the Last Supper until his Resurrection on Easter Sunday). Invite your friends as we enjoy a beautiful spring morning. For more information please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).

Aid to Inmate Mothers

Did you know there are dedicated volunteers that drive children and caregivers to the prison to visit their mothers who are incarcerated? VHUMC has worked with Aid to Inmate Mothers (AIM) for many years to help fulfill their mission of providing services to Alabama's incarcerated women with an emphasis on enhancing personal growth and strengthening the bonds between inmate mothers and their children.

Suzanne Holmes has been serving this ministry for over eight years! She is moving on to other things and we want to say thanks to Suzanne for the numerous Saturday hours she has given to this cause. Lisa Holloway has also faithfully given of her time and dedication to minister to these mom's. Lisa will be continuing in this effort.

AIM needs more volunteers and would welcome your help. If you If you would like to know more about AIM, please contact Rachael Hayes ([email protected]).

Journeys of Paul Cruise Meeting

Dr. Bill Brunson and Rev. Sherry Harris will be leading a group from VHUMC on the Journeys of Paul Cruise September 26 - October 7, 2018. We have a few spots still available. If you or a friend are interested, then you will need to attend the final informational meeting on Sunday, March 4, at 4:00 pm, in room 316. For more information please contact Jim Frazier (769-0126 / [email protected]).

Vestavia Dance Performance Company Awards

Our Dance Performance Company had a fun and successful weekend at Encore Dance Competition! We brought 13 dance pieces that all scored in the two highest categories possible. We competed with nine other studios from around the Southeast. Our Junior Lyrical, Junior Jazz, Elite Hip Hop, Elite Jazz, Senior Hip Hop and Senior Lyrical group also Placed Top Overall in their divisions.

Three of our groups - Minis, Senior Lyrical and Production- each received Highest Category, Highest Score and Top Overall Awards. Also, two of our dancers, Meredith Robison and Skylar Holladay, received scholarships for $1,000 toward Encore's Discovery Spotlight program. We are eagerly preparing for our next competition, which will take place at the Alabama Theatre on March 2-4!

Questions About Baptism and Communion
Please join us in the chapel on March 11, at 9:45 am, to discuss the significance of these sacraments and what the Bible says and Methodists believe. Dr. Bill Brunson will lead us in this discussion and answer any questions you have. Contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell ([email protected] / 769-0136) for more information.

March Madness 2018
VHUMC Men's Ministry will host our annual NCAA Guys Night Out on Friday, March 16, at 6:00 pm, in the Fellowship Hall. We will watch basketball on the big screens and enjoy all you can eat Pizza, hot wings, chips and salsa. The cost is $10. Please make your reservation by contacting Jim Frazier (769-0126 / [email protected]).

February 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! February's memory verse is: "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you." -1 Thessalonians 3:12

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.

Giving to VHUMC from an IRA
Several people have asked recently about giving to the church from their required minimum distribution on an Individual Retirement Account. If you are 70½ or older and would like to explore this option, we have a new web page with information and instructions for giving to the church and reducing your taxable income. Click the link for more information.

What's Happening in the Day School
The Vestavia Day School is currently registering children for Part-Time Children's Day Out. For children ages 18 to 36 months (by September 1) the program is from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, MWF. For children ages 3-5 years old (by September 1) the program is from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm either MWF or Monday-Friday. Please call 769-0128 to find out more information.

Coats Collected for Mae Mae's Hugs

The children's coat drive was a huge success, collecting 993 coats! Because of your generosity, children and adults across the Birmingham and Dothan area, received warm coats this winter, thus fulfilling the mission statement of Mae Mae's Hugs: "True to the spirit of what Maegan Moore aspired to and worked to accomplish in her life, her heartfelt compassion for the less fortunate, and underprivileged children with inequities beyond their control."

Tanzania Mission Trip Rescheduled

Our Tanzania mission trip with Trinity UMC has been rescheduled for 2019. If you are interested in this trip, we want you to help up plan and answer some key questions. On Sunday, March 11, at 4:00 pm, at VHUMC, in the small dining room, with other members from VHUMC and Trinity UMC, we will be discussing some key questions like, "What time of year is best? How many days to serve? What type of service should our team provide? What are ways we can continue to support our missionaries in Tanzania, Eric and Liz Soard?" We hope you will join us and help us plan for this exciting trip.

All About Lent

Why do we celebrate Lent? When did it start? Why do the dates change each year? To find out the answers to these and other questions, plan on attending a special class led by the VHUMC Clergy on Wednesday, March 7, at 6:00 pm, in room 208. For more information please contact Jim Frazier (769-0126 / [email protected]).

Scientology: Fact or Science Fiction

Join Dr. Bill Brunson and Dr. Kipp McClurg as they lead a fascinating four-week study on Scientology. With the success of the Leah Remini series on TV, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered. We will meet in room 206, at 6:00 pm, on March 14 & 21 and then again on April 4 & 11.

Lenten Boomer Bible Study
The Boomer Bible study that meets on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm is studying Adam Hamilton's "24 Hours that Changed the World." We meet in room 203. For more information please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).

Growing Pains: Renovating for Our Future

Tyson Hall is officially a "construction zone" now that demolition is complete and we have our building permit. Half of the 1st floor below Tyson is also now a "hard hat only" area between 6:00 am and 4:00 pm as they are starting to instill the new HVAC pipes. For you own safety, don't go there. The Youth area is still open and operational.

The Contemporary Service will continue worshiping in the Fellowship Hall or the Gym until Tyson Hall renovations are complete. The Sanctuary Services will also be moving to the Fellowship Hall or the Gym in May or June.

We will give you a "heads up" here for any upcoming programming moves. We do have a lot of construction workers on the premises now, so use caution as you move around the building.

Ongoing Outreach

Food Pantry

Food pantry would love to have fresh items: apples, oranges, potatoes, carrots, etc. Our families appreciate those since we have no farmers market until spring. As always, we need spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and jelly.

Oak Mountain Mission

Oak Mountain Mission needs full-size toiletry items (shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes). Please place them in the wooden bins around the church. They are also very low on furniture (sofas, chairs, table & chairs, chests, and end tables). Please call Brenda at 685-5757 for furniture pick-up. Thank you!