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Commitment Sunday
This Sunday is the finale of our stewardship campaign that we call Commitment Sunday. As part of your spiritual discipline, reordering, and reprioritizing of your life, we invite you to make your financial commitment to the work of God though VHUMC. Together we can help each other, our community, and our world to find "Life Abundant" in Christ and to live a Christ-centered life of purpose. This is a very personal, individual or family decision. But our individual or family decisions are vitally related to the health of the church as a whole. We are the church together! So please join us in worship this Sunday as we share our commitment to this wonderful community. You can also make your pledge online today by visiting the link below.
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 Welcome Jeremiah Stone
We are excited to announce the newest member to our youth team, Jeremiah Stone, as the Assistant Director of Student Ministries, with a middle school focus. Jeremiah's first day in the office will be Tuesday, November 1 and his first program with students will be Wednesday, November 2 for our Prayer Breakfast and Wednesday night programs. We hope you will all extend a warm welcome to Jeremiah and spend some time getting to know him while he gets settled in at VHUMC! |
 Preparing for the Holidays
For those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, the holidays can be especially challenging. Please come join other grief survivors tonight (Thursday, October 27) at 6:00 pm in room 202. We will be led by the founder of The Amelia Center, George Elliott, in a gathering of Preparing for the Holidays. Following George's message, we'll share with others who have experienced the loss of a spouse, child, parent, or sibling; and then Bill Brunson will lead us in sharing Holy Communion. For more information please contact Cathie Amos ([email protected] / 908-2731) or Butch Williams at ([email protected] / 769-0102). There is no cost for attending this gathering.
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Stewardship Super Tasks - Week 3
Joy of Giving - Find 2 things you own that you love but never use. What friend or family member - or ministry - or organization - could use these special items? Sharing Meals - Notice where the food pantry drop off bins are located in the church. Look at the coupon and store specials. How many meals can you provide to the pantry if you save $10 this week?
One In, One Out - As your space becomes less cluttered, try a new discipline. For every new toy, outfit, or gadget you add to your home, find one to donate.
Home-Cooked Meal - Eat at home this week. Can you create an interesting meal from what you already have in your pantry and fridge? Put your restaurant savings in the jar/box/basket!
Closet Clutter - Clean out your closet. Look for coats you never wear and put them in your donation box. (Coats can be brought to the Mae Mae's Hugs donation boxes at the church)
BOGO - Go to the store and take advantage of Buying One and Getting One free - take your free non-perishable items and drop them in the food pantry donation bins at the church.
Too Expensive - About what have you said, "That was too expensive to give away." Well if you don't use it, don't need it, and it just takes up space - why don't you share it with someone else.
Super Task - Tackle One of the major areas on the fridge list.
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A Financial Perspective from Gary Westbrook
 I want to provide a snapshot of our financial status as we head towards the end of the year. As of the end of September, our church net operating results are more positive than budgeted by approximately $255,000. This is positive from an operating prudence standpoint, but less positive from a "how we get there" standpoint. The facts are that we are over $62,000 behind our budget in giving and $4,000 behind in other areas of revenue, including our auxiliary ministries.
Our general expenses are positive to budget by $321,000. While that sounds very positive, what it really means is that we have not spent monies on facilities and ministries to the level we had planned resulting in deferring some needed improvements or ministry enhancements until such time as we are certain of available cash. We have a historical giving pattern that suggests we receive approximately 33% of our annual gifts in the last three months of the year. Should this pattern hold true, we will end this year with $250,000 less than our planned giving.
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 Workday at Camp Sumatanga
Join us for a day of service as we travel to beautiful Camp Sumatanga this Saturday, October 29. We will meet in the church parking lot at 8:00 am and will arrive at camp around 9:00 am. We will work until 12:00 when they will provide lunch for our group. You can return home after lunch or you can stay and work until 5:00 pm. For more information please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected]g / 769-0126). |
 Balanced Parenting In a Wobbly World
Join us this Sunday from 10:00 - 10:40 am, in Tyson Hall for the final session of our parenting series. This time allows Sunday School classes joining the discussion to meet first for 15 minutes, or join up at the Coffee Shop. Dr. Wisely is a Psychologist and Director of Student Services for Mountain Brook High School. He is a person of faith and understands the real-life dilemmas of parents in our community.
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A Wonderful Place to Call Home
 Being a member of a church community allows us to collectively reach out and touch people across our community with outreach programs and mission projects. Become an official member of our fellowship this Sunday, October 30, at 12:15 pm, in the Chapel, as we seek to become the hands and feet of Christ, making a difference in His name. For more information contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell ([email protected] / 769-0136).
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 Join Us for Sunday Evening Worship
Come as you are and join us at 5:00 pm in the chapel for a joyful evening of worship - singing old, familiar hymns; sharing warm fellowship; and listening to a message from Tyler Hopkins on "The Danger in Seeking Jesus" from Luke 19:1-10. Butch Williams will be preaching on November 6.
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 Get Your Flu Shot
VHUMC and Walgreens are excited to be offering flu shots on Sunday, November 6, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, in the Fellowship Hall. Insurance is accepted and will be filed on your behalf. Please bring your insurance card with you. Private payment for the shot is also accepted for $32.99. Please contact Megan Drumm ([email protected]) with questions or to obtain the flu shot form early. We look forward to seeing you there!
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 VHUMC Blood Drive
Be part of a lifesaving journey by donating blood. VHUMC and the American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive on Sunday, November 6, from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, in the Fellowship Hall. To schedule an appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code "VHUMC". For more information or questions contact Megan Drumm ([email protected]). We look forward to seeing you there! |
 Stay in Shape this Holiday Season
Stay in shape during the holiday season by joining Ali Sanders' personal training classes. Ali offers both group and individual training sessions. Group personal training sessions are offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 5:15 am and Monday-Friday at 1:00 pm. The total cost for four weeks is $110 for two sessions/week or $150 for three sessions/week. New to the program? Your first session is free! Space is limited to 10 people per session. Individual personal training sessions are offered Monday-Friday and times are subject to availability. All training sessions are offered in the Lighthouse Fitness Center at VHUMC. Contact Megan Drumm ([email protected]) to sign up or for more details. |
 October Memory Verse
This is the final Sunday for 1st-5th graders to recite their October memory verse. The verse is: Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. ~Psalm 25:5. Kids can recite their verse before or after Sunday School in the sensory room next to the elementary office.
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Finding God in the Movies
Jim Frazier will be leading a 6-week study on Christian themes and Biblical truths that we can find in secular movies. The class will meet at 6:00 pm on Wednesday nights in room 203A.
- 11/2 - Shawshank Redemption
- 11/9 - The Wizard of OZ
- 11/16 - Captain America: Civil War
- 11/30 - A Christmas Story
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Student Ministries Survey
Thrive Student Ministries at VHUMC is here to provide the best programming to help strengthen the lives of our youth in their walk with Christ. In order to do that to the best of our ability, we want to hear what you (students, and parents of students) have to say. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey that applies to you.
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Magical Marketplace is Coming
 Get a head start on your holiday shopping at our 18th Annual Magical Marketplace on Friday, November 18, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Shop for art, jewelry, baked goods, stationery, clothing, baby gifts, holiday goodies, and much more from over 80 vendors. Many of your favorite vendors will be joining us and we will also welcome 17 new vendors!! Boxed lunches are available for $7. Proceeds from the sale this year will benefit the Mitchell's Place Scholarship Fund.
Once again, we will feature a wonderful bake sale and we would love to include your specialty items. If you are able to help us out by baking cakes, cookies, pies, or any other specialty goody, we would love to benefit from your skills. Baked items can be dropped off anytime Thursday, November 17, in the front office. |
Coping with Mental Health Challenges and Addictions in Families
Every family eventually faces a mental health or addiction challenge and most families are totally unprepared. The holidays increase stresses that can create a crisis point. We are offering a special session at two different times to help you prepare to help friends and family when that moment comes. Rev. Monica Harbarger (Director of United Counseling), Monica Carroll (attorney and church member who deals with mental health cases), and Rev. Kipp McClurg will look at how to recognize and point family members to help, and how to get legal help if all else fails. Join them on Sunday, November 13, at 9:45 am, in Tyson Hall, or on Wednesday evening, November 16, at 6:00 pm, in room 206. |
Who is Baby Jesus?
Each year we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the infant of Mary. But who is Jesus and what does his birth really mean? Using the Disciple Bible curriculum, the pastoral staff will try to answer that question in a new series taught both on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. Join us Wednesdays at 6:00 pm, in room 202, on 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, and 11/30; or on Sundays at 10:00 am, in Tyson Hall, on 11/27, 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18 to learn about our God incarnate in Jesus Christ. |
 Come Share A Bear
All children are asked to bring a new teddy bear for our Fall Mission Project. Please bring the new teddy bear to the 8:30 or 11:00 worship service on November 20. Our teddy bears will be blessed by our ministers before they are donated to children at Children's Harbor and the YMCA. If you have any questions, contact Anne Strozier ([email protected]). |
 Upward Basketball and Cheerleading
Upward Basketball and Cheerleading registration is still open! The cost is $105. K5-4th grade play on Saturdays, and 5th-8th grade play on Friday nights. Practices begin the week of November 14 and games begin Friday, December 2. Games and practices are held at VHUMC in the Lighthouse gym.
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Outreach Corner
Thanks from Community Church Without Walls
 CCWW has a powerful ministry that transports kids to school, seniors to doctor appointments, young adults to GED programs, and so much more! So when our 15-passenger van bit the dust earlier this summer on the side of I-65, our van drivers and transportation coordinators had to make do with a minivan and a few personal vehicles. But thanks to Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, our transportation ministry is back in full swing. A few weeks ago VHUMC donated their seldom-used older van to us. The whole team was excited to have the transportation ministry back up to full capacity! Our United Methodist connection is an amazing thing! A huge thanks to friends and partners at VHUMC!
Food Pantry
The Food Pantry still needs plastic grocery bags (preferably doubled), new boxes of sandwich bags, and quart size bags for packing Panera items. Thanks so much to the students at VHHS for their recent food drive that provided us with 6,700 cans!
Oak Mountain Missions
Oak Mountain Mission needs pots and pans. Please use the three bins around the church. They still really need useable furniture that you can sit on, or eat on, or put your clothes into. Call Brenda (685-5757) at OMM for a pick-up. Thank you.
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Wednesday Night Menu
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Nov. 2 - Salad, Chili OR White Chili w/ Shrimp, Baked Potato, Crackers, Ice Cream Bar. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese.
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Nov. 9 - Salad, Country Fried Steak OR Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, English Peas, Biscuit, Cobbler. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese.
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Nov. 16 - Salad, Chicken Pot Pie OR Tamale Pie, Broccoli, Roll, Chocolate Cake. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese.
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Worship & Music Focus
8:30 am Traditional Service
"It's Time to Break Free
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Luke 16:10-13
Bill Brunson
9:45 am Service of Word and Table
"Zacchaeus & the Ostrich"
Luke 19:1-10
Butch Williams
11:00 am Traditional Service
"It's Time to Break Free"
Luke 16:10-13
Bill Brunson
11:00 am Contemporary Service
"Steward: Owning the Name"
Luke 16:10-14
Kipp McClurg
5:00 pm Sunday Evening Worship
"The Danger in Seeking Jesus"
Luke 19:1-10
Tyler Hopkins
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Our Time and Resources
Donations this past week
September YTD Summary
Donations
Other Income
Auxilary Ministries Net*
Total Income
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Actual
$32,533
$2,429,868
$156,625
($48,913)
$2,537,680
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Targeted
-$21,467
-$62,544
+$10,446
-$13,907
-$66,005
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(+) Better or (-) worse for the church than our target
* Includes COA, Summer Days, VDS, and Vestavia Dance
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Care and Support
Congratulations, hospitalizations and sympathies |
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Prayer Requests
Careline: 205-822-9336
Weekend or After-Hour Health Emergencies: 205-914-3121
Please be in prayer for the following persons:
Gussie Arnett
Pat Bendall
Margean Brasher
Chris Dibble
David Dixon
Angie Elias
Kendra Haddock
Fay Harbin
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Larry Hill
Mary Morgan
Cathy Nale
Paul Noto
Pablo Nunez
Mary Owens
Bill Phillips
Jim Sanders
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Diane Sausen
Sandra Sims
Stan Sims
Dr. Charles Smith
Annette Smith
Suzanne Stalnaker
Joy Wagner
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In an effort to keep the prayer request list current, names will be listed for two weeks unless we are otherwise notified. VHUMC will not publish the names and/or concerns of persons known to be minors (18 years of age or younger) without the permission of said minor's legal guardian. Thank you.
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