The Notes - September 21, 2017

Volume 47

Issue 38

September 21, 2017

Hootenanny This Sunday Night
Our 5th Annual Hootenanny event will be this Sunday, September 24, at 5:30 pm, and we are taking it on the road! Wear your best western or redneck attire and come ride the mechanical bull, play games, enjoy the petting zoo, and eat good food. Don't forget to bring a friend! Cost is $10 and we will return to the church at 8:30 pm.

Register by clicking the link below. Due to transportation planning, all students are required to register to attend this event. If you would like to help with this year's event, please email Juli Hansen ([email protected]).

Mae Mae's Hugs Coat Drive
Mae Mae's Hugs will be collecting coats for children and adults during the month of October. Would you help? If you are cleaning out your closet and have gently worn coats to donate, please wash them and bring them to the church. Or, if you are purchasing new coats, would you consider purchasing an extra coat for this effort? Bright purple boxes will be placed at the Chapel, Preschool and Tyson Hall doors. Coats of all sizes are needed for young children and youth. You can also make a donation online and new coats will be purchased with these funds. It's our hope that through this ministry, the children across the state, can receive winter coats to keep them warm, as if receiving a warm, loving hug from Mae Mae and VHUMC. Email any questions to Anne Strozier ([email protected]).

Flood Buckets are Here
Thank you to everyone at VHUMC who contributed to the Hurricane Harvey relief. We had contributions from Sunday school classes, youth offerings, and individuals. It would not have been possible without your support. Our donations of fans, masks, wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, sprayers, and 240 hygiene kits have already been delivered to the UMCOR disaster relief warehouse in Decatur by our wonderful volunteers, Hank and Mary Patterson and Lee Williams.

The last of the supplies arrive this week, so please join us on Wednesday, September 27, at 4:30 pm (right before dinner), in the Fellowship Hall to help pack flood buckets. We should be able to complete 200 flood buckets to help those in need in Texas and Florida.

Seniors Only 2018
We want your high school senior to be a part of our "Seniors Only 2018" program at VHUMC. We will be discussing life after high school, college, and other life-related topics that will help our Seniors grow in their faith and prepare them for their next step in becoming adults. In addition to discussions with Jeremy, we will bring in outside speakers who are extremely knowledgeable in the topics we will be discussing.

We hope that your Senior will take advantage of this opportunity to ensure that they are prepared to live a responsible and faith-filled life away from home. We will meet on the first Tuesday of every month starting on October 3, at 7:00 pm, in the Cafe. The cost is $50 for the entire year and covers all food and expenses. To register, click on the link below.

Middle School Retreat
You don't want to miss our upcoming Middle School Retreat October 27-28 at Camp Lee. The cost is $100 and includes transportation, meals, t-shirt, and all activities. The deadline to register is October 13. This is a very special time for your middle schooler and we are inviting you to enjoy this experience with them by being a chaperone. We need ten adult helpers for this event. Please email Juli Hansen ([email protected]) if you are interested!

49 Bibles
It was such an honor to be able to present Bibles to 49 of our 3rd graders last Sunday! We are also glad that so many of them and their parents were able to join us for our "How to Use Your Bible" workshop that afternoon. We pray that the children will call upon God's word and allow it to guide them throughout their lives. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ~Psalm 119:105

October Midweek Connection Classes
We have several classes starting in October.

October 4 - Do-ers of the Word: Love in Action. Room 202

This six-week study, written by Suzanne Scott-Trammell, will focus is on experiences which help us live out our faith as Christ-followers, based on James 1:22 (don't be hearers only, but do-ers of the Word).

October 4 - World Religions. Room 206

This four-week class will study the histories of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and several lesser known religions. Our teacher will be Mr. Ben Osborne teacher of AP World History at Vestavia Hills High School.

October 18 - Women's Bible Study. Room 208

Jesus cares about our spiritual wrestling, but He also wants to step in and see you through it. Join us as we explore the seven I AM statements of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. Through this interactive, six-week, in-depth study we will be trading feelings of emptiness and depletion for the fullness of knowing who Jesus is like never before.

October 18 - Cold vs. Flu Seminar with Flu Shots. Room 245

Learn the difference between a cold and the flu and get your flu shot, too.

Please Join Our Fellowship
One of the ways many people prefer to join our church is to attend an "Informal Joining Service" where we meet after church at 12:15 pm in the Chapel to go over membership vows and share a meal together in the Fellowship Hall. Our next service is October 1. Please contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell if you are interested in learning more about this option or if you have any questions about Methodism or VHUMC (769-0136 / [email protected]).

World Communion Sunday
Over the last few months, there have been many needs in our country with hurricanes and disaster relief efforts to UMCOR. Sunday, October 1 is World Communion Sunday where we will celebrate the church around the world. As we celebrate the church, we will honor our friends in Tanzania and Vienna with a special offering. This offering will be for our missionary that we heard speak this summer from Tanzania and for our friends in Vienna at the ESUMC. VHUMC has partnered with both of these church communities to continue the kingdom work around the world. Please join us Sunday, October 1 for World Communion Sunday.

Save the Date for these Sunday Mornings

October 15 - Dale Wisely - Balanced Parenting in a Wobbly World #1
October 22 - Dale Wisely - Balanced Parenting in a Wobbly World #2
October 29 - NEXT Capital Campaign Kick-off
December 24 - Both the Traditional and Contemporary services will be at 10:00 am. We will not have Sunday School. Christmas Eve services will be at 2:00pm, 4:00 pm, 6:00pm, and 11:00 pm in the Sanctuary, 4:00 pm in Tyson Hall; and 8:00 pm in the Chapel.
December 31 - We will have one service in the Sanctuary at 10:00 am and no Sunday School.

Upward Basketball and Cheerleading

Join us for Upward Basketball and Cheerleading! Grades K5-4th can participate. The season will run from Nov 13 - Feb 3 with a break for the holidays. The cost is $105 ($115 for late registration). The deadline for registration is October 24.

Men's Prayer Breakfast
Our next Men's Prayer Breakfast will be held in the Fellowship Hall, at 6:45 am, on Wednesday, October 11. Our guest speaker will be Mark Ingram, the UAB Athletics Director. The cost is $5 if you want breakfast. If you plan on attending please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).

Panama Mission Trip 2018
VHUMC's 2018 Panama Mission Team is looking for a few good men and women for a work trip to Camp Cielito, El Espino, Panama. This will be the fourth year in a row VHUMC has sent a mission team to this camp. The team leaves May 19 and returns on May 27. The camp, which is under development by the Panamanian Methodist Church, will be able to house, feed and support large groups of youth and adults for a true summer camp experience. The VHUMC team will be working on the dining hall/kitchen combination building which it started during the 2016 work trip. The team will also continue its great relationships with area families and their children engaging in recreational and other fun activities each afternoon. If you are interested in being a team member, please contact either Jim Frazier ([email protected]) or Jarry and Janet Taylor ([email protected]).

September Memory Verse
Our Elementary Bible Verse memorization program has begun again! Our 1st - 5th graders will be taught 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! September's memory verse is: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." -Psalm 119:105

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. Parents, you should have received an email with more information. If you have any questions please contact Jamie Meeks ([email protected]).

Upcoming Women's Conference

Save the date for our upcoming women's conference, "Praying Girls...Because We are All Little Girls at Heart." We hope mothers and daughters of all ages will join us for a morning of inspiration and breakout sessions that will help you through each season of life. Join us on Saturday, October 28, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, to hear our keynote speaker, Teri Lynne Underwood, and our breakout session leaders. Registration will begin in September. We hope you will join us for this incredible morning of faith and prayer formation.

Hannah Prayer Team
The Hannah Prayer Team continues to pray for mothers expecting babies and for their babies. If you are expecting, please let us know and we will be glad to pray for you and your family during this time. Please contact Ty Howell ([email protected] / 529-1262) if we can pray for you or if you would like to join our team to pray for these young moms and their babies.

Journeys of Paul Cruise
VHUMC will be taking the Journeys of Paul cruise through Greece, Italy, and Turkey September 26 through October 7, 2018 with Rev. Bill Brunson. Be sure and attend our informational meeting in room 316, on Sunday, October 8, at 4:00 pm.

Upcoming Boomer Event
Join us for "Retirement Communities vs. Staying at Home" on Tuesday, September 26, at 6:00 pm, in room 202. Kelly Lipford will help us understand the many options and clarify both home care and home health.

Cindy Monk (The Decluttering Lady) is coordinating this event. Cindy has a passion for helping Boomers and Older Adults and has been organizing events around Vestavia for years. There is no charge and the event is purely educational. For more information contact Jim Frazier at 769-0126 or [email protected].

Let's Be Good Neighbors

It is exciting to see our parking lots fill up on Sunday mornings and people parking on the streets to attend our worship and Sunday School meetings. If you find it necessary to park on the street, please be careful not to park on our neighbors' grass. We appreciate their patience with all the cars and do not want to damage their yards in the process.

Ongoing Outreach

Food Pantry

Thank you to the Unless U students for doubling hundreds of grocery bags for us. That really saved us a lot of time. Thanks also to the Vestavia Hills Library for 10 boxes of food from their recent food drive! We are still serving 150 families every Wednesday and appreciate your continued support.

Oak Mountain Mission

Thank you to the sellers from our Whale of a Sale who donated some of their items to the mission. The children will love having new clothes. They still need more boy's clothes.

Helping with Habitat for Humanity

The VHHS Habitat Club has resumed its fall work schedule with Habitat for Humanity. If you would like to join us for all or part of a Saturday, contact Cynthia McGough ([email protected] / 901-0956).

Wednesday Night Menu

Sept 27 - Hamburger OR Hot Dogs, Tater Tots, Toppings. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese.
October 4 - Salad, Lemon-Pepper Chicken OR Roast Pork Loin, Honey Glazed Carrots, Roasted Potatoes, Roll, Ice Cream Bar. Kids: Pizza.
October 11 - Tacos OR Grilled Chicken, Spanish Rice, Black Beans, Toppings Brownie. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese.
October 18 - Salad, Orecchiette w/ Bolognese Sauce OR Chicken Alfredo, Sautéed Veggies, Cobbler. Kids: Pizza.
October 25 - Salad, Chicken Parmesan OR Country Fried Steak, Egg Noodles, Broccoli Amandine, Bread, Cherry Trifle. Kids: Nuggets, Mac & Cheese.