The Notes - March 1, 2018

Volume 48

Issue 9

March 1, 2018

Welcome New Members
Please join me in welcoming eight new families into VHUMC:

Ed and Natalie Cotter, Kathryn (5)
Keith and Eileen Oliver
Chris and Laura Vinson, Blake (6), Emily (3)
Jason and Lee Ellen Rocks, Haley (13)
Joe and Amanda Harris, Beau (5)
Chad and Danielle Darley, Hilton (3), Hudson (6)
Pam and Larry Cochran
Patrick and Katie Kellogg, Charlotte (10), Audrey (6)

Sunday Evening Worship Lenten Preaching

Our former VHUMC Senior Pastor, Mickey Morgan, will be preaching for us this Sunday Evening at 5:00pm in the Chapel, as we continue our special Lenten messages! Mickey will preach "One Clear Call" from Mark 1:14-20. We'll sing the great old hymns of the church as we journey together on this 3rd Sunday of Lent. Come as you are and join us!

March 11 - Bill Bostick
March 18 - Sherry Harris
March 25 - Bill Brunson

Freedom from Addiction Breakfast
Please join the Mayors of Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Homewood, and Mountain Brook on Tuesday, March 13 from 8:00-9:00 am in the VHUMC Fellowship Hall. We will hear from guest speakers who share their stories and discuss how to collectively address this growing opioid and addiction problem.

Easter Egg Hunt
Neighbors and friends, mark your calendars to come join us for the VHUMC Easter Egg Hunt! We will gather Saturday, March 31, at 10:00 am, in the Lighthouse gym. All toddlers thru 3rd grade are invited to bring a basket and camera to take pictures with the Easter Bunny and of course have fun with each other as we hunt eggs together!

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.

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).

Seeking Shalom
Join us next Wednesday, March 7, for our "Seeking Shalom" series as R.G. Lyons kicks off the evening. This series will explore the opportunities that we encounter each day, where we want to help or give, but not sure if we are really making a difference. The series is at 6:00 pm in room 202. Join us as we learn together over the next four weeks how to build those relationships that transform lives and restore communities.

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.

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]).

Fidget Mats
We are excited about a new ministry to supply fidget mats to Alzheimer's/Dementia patients. These are wonderful activity mats crafted from stimulating items (pockets, loops, textured fabrics, etc.) that are used by these patients for comfort and enjoyment! But we need your help to make this ministry possible! We need faded/used dishtowels and placemats. You can drop them off in any of the Food Pantry/Oak Mountain Mission containers.

If you, or your group, would like to help make these please contact either Peggy Patton ([email protected] / 335-5097) or Butch Williams ([email protected] / 769-0102).

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]).

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.

Questions about Methodism and Key Beliefs
Please join Dr. Bill Brunson in the chapel on March 11, at 9:45 am to discuss the Methodist denomination - how we got our name, what motivated and fueled John Wesley to found this new denomination, and what differentiates us to this day. Contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell ([email protected] / 769-0136) for more information.

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 and 21 and then again on April 4 and 11.

Grand Camps at Sumatanga
Jim Frazier will be leading two Grand Camps at Sumatanga this Summer. The dates are July 8-10 and July 11-13. This is a great opportunity for grandparents to spend quality time with their grandchildren. For more information please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126). Space is limited. To register please click on the link below.

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

Explore, learn, and practice various styles of prayer as we gather with others across the UMC Conference on this day for Prayerful Living in a Broken World. Participate on Saturday, March 10, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Clearbranch UMC with two prayer workshops or a self-guided prayer activity to deepen your prayer life. Please click the link to register online.

Memorials and Honorariums
Click on the link below or visit www.vhumc.org to see the memorials and honorariums given last month. Thanks to everyone who has given to help the church in recognition of a loved one.

Gospel Jubilee Singers
This Sunday our Gospel Jubilee Singers will gather in the Chapel at 4:00 pm, before Sunday Evening Worship, to sing some of the great songs of our faith. We hope to see you there!

Growing Pains: Renovating for Our Future

Progress continues in Tyson Hall and the first floor below Tyson Hall. We did not plan to upgrade the Tyson Hall Lobby, but when some wallpaper was removed, we found and have replaced some damaged sheetrock. So, that area will get a fresh coat of paint. Pipes and air handling units are being replaced on the first floor and it is totally closed for now. It is exciting to see all the progress. 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.

Check out our 360 degree photo of the work in Tyson so far by clicking the link below.

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 thanks all the Whale of a Sale vendors who donated so much children's clothing last week! Our families are very grateful. We currently need full-size toiletry items (shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes). Please place them in the wooden bins around the church. We 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!

Wednesday Night Menu

March 7 - Salad, country fried steak OR baked chicken, mashed potatoes, english peas, ice cream. Kids: chicken nuggets, mac & cheese
March 14 - Salad, chili OR gumbo, baked potato, trifle. Kids: pizza
March 21 - Salad, swedish meatballs OR baked chicken, roasted potatoes, glazed carrots, roll, assorted desserts. Kids: chicken nuggets, mac & cheese
March 28 - Salad, baked ham OR fried flounder, rice pilaf, sautéed veggies, bread, ice cream. Kids: pizza