The Notes - October 26, 2017

Volume 47

Issue 43

October 26, 2017

Don't Miss What's NEXT
For the first time in 17 years, VHUMC is undertaking a Capital Campaign! There are vital repairs and replacements necessary to our heating/cooling systems as well as plans to enhance both of our large worship spaces - the Sanctuary and Tyson Hall.

The leadership of the church is incredibly excited to share with you the vision for this project as we kick off the NEXT campaign this Sunday, October 29, at 9:30, in the Fellowship Hall. This campaign is proving to be one of the most exciting and engaging campaigns we have ever undertaken as a congregation, and we want you to be a part of it.

Make plans now to attend on Sunday to learn more about the projects and learn how much of our goal has already been committed through leadership giving. Also, look for information about the NEXT campaign and our annual stewardship over the next few Sundays:

Property Improvement Sunday - November 5
Annual Budget Sunday - November 12
Commitment Sunday - November 19

Clean Out Challenge
It is that time of year again to go from Holy Mess to Holiness! It is time to de-clutter our lives and make room for what God wants for us in our lives. Please join us this Saturday, October 28, from 9-11 am, in the lower back parking lot of the church for our 3rd Annual Clean Out Challenge. Please visit www.vhumc.org for a list of all items not accepted. The following organizations will be with us to take your stuff:

Shred-It will have the truck that shreds on site here for us.
ATR Recycling will haul away your electronics.
Mae Mae's Hugs will be accepting gently used or new coats for children.
Habitat will take any of your home remodeling project items (except paint).
The Foundry will take your household items and clothes.

Sunday Evening Worship
Come as you are and join us on Sunday Evening at 5:00 pm in the Chapel, as Bill Brunson leads our worship! We'll share warm fellowship and joyful singing of many of the old, familiar hymns.

Live2Lead Leadership Event
Don't miss this half-day, leadership development simulcast held at VHUMC on November 2, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The event will be filled with perspectives and tools from such world-class experts as: John Maxwell, Dave Ramsey, Warrick Dunn, and Cheryl Bachelder. Registration is available online by clicking the link below. Cost is $25 with snacks and lunch provided. Contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell ([email protected] / 769-0136) for more details.

Mae Mae's Hugs Coat Drive
Mae Mae's Hugs is 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 are 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]).

Coping with Loss at the Holidays
The holiday season can be a very challenging time for all of us, especially when we have experienced the loss of a loved one. We struggle to find the "new normal," and holiday dynamics with families and friends can be overwhelming at times.

We are hosting a special evening devoted specifically to helping you with those challenges on November 2. Preparing for the Holidays will start at 6:00 pm in room 202. We'll have some light snacks and beverages, and members of our Grief Support Ministry Team - all of whom are grief survivors of spouses, children, parents, siblings, and other loved ones - will be there to greet you and share in this evening with you. We'll have a brief presentation on preparing for the approaching holidays, and we'll also provide you with a helpful handout of useful suggestions. After the presentation, we'll spend some time in small groups with others who have suffered losses similar to yours, and then we'll complete the evening with a message from our Senior Pastor (and fellow grief survivor) Bill Brunson.

To register for this free event simply click on the link below. For more information, please contact either Cathie Amos (908-2731 / [email protected]) or Butch Williams (769-0102 / [email protected]). We greatly look forward to sharing this time with you.

Welcome New Members
Welcome to our newest members: Sara Beth Hagler, Kimberly & Brian Robbins, with Adeline (23 months), and Sady & Jacob Mauldin, with Arden (7) and Penn (2). VHUMC is a great place to call home, so please stop by the bulletin board outside the office to see how our family is growing.

Wednesday Sessions About Children and Students

Don't Worry About a Thing: Anxiety in Children and Students and What to Do. Anxiety is a common topic of discussion among preschool, elementary, and student ministries and families. Learn more information and coping strategies from Psychiatrist, Karen Callahan, MD and Licensed Counselor, John Douglass, MA, LPC. November 1; 6:00 pm; Room 206.
"Screenagers:" Raising Kids in the Digital Age - Screen time is a hot topic in our society. Join us for this extended class as we watch the movie, "Screenagers," and leave feeling confident to empower your children to best navigate the digital world and find balance. For parents of all ages. November 8; 5:30-7:00 pm. Reservations are required for reserving your spot for viewing, childcare, and boxed dinners in case you won't make it in time to enjoy dinner in Fellowship Hall.

All Saints' Sunday
All Saints' Sunday, on November 5, is an occasion to remember our heritage, those who have gone before us, and recognize our responsibility to carry Christianity forward as the living saints of today. If you would like to honor someone in your life who has been, or is a saint in your faith journey, we invite you to include them in our Bell Banner. Prior to worship on All Saints' Sunday, we will have a banner in the narthex and outside of Tyson Hall. There will be a table beside the banners which will have baskets of small bells. To remember your loved one, please take a bell from the basket and pin it onto one of the banner streamers. During the processional, the banners will be brought into worship and placed near the front pews. If you don't have the opportunity to place a bell on one of the banners, you may do so after you take holy communion.

At the end of our worship services, our gathering of saints will also go forward to symbolize the witness of those who have gone before us and those living today who remind us to follow Christ in the World.

Bring Loved Ones Photo for Our Table of Saints
November 5 is All Saints' Sunday and while our loved ones are gone from this earth, we know they are not forgotten. If you would like to bring in a picture of a loved one to share with the congregation, we will have a table set up in the Fellowship Hall so we can all remember the wonderful people who have made a difference in your walk with Christ as well as those who have led our church throughout the years. We know that so many of your family members played a significant role in your life and also in the lives of our church, community and world.

If you would like to participate in our Table of Saints, we ask that you please bring a framed photo to the main church office the week of October 29 through November 3 and pick up your loved one's photo after the 11:00 worship services.

5 Minute Missions
Our next 5-Minute Missions will be Sunday, November 5, during the coffee hour. Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Fall Festival and brought school supplies. We will be packing those school supplies for other children. This is a great hands-on mission opportunity for any age. You are never too young to learn to serve and give back to others.

Magical Marketplace
Magical Marketplace is coming November 17 with great selections from over 80 vendors (including some of your favorites from years past and 17 new vendors)! This is a wonderful time to come shop for all of your Christmas gifts from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, in both Tyson and Fellowship Halls.

We will also feature a wonderful bake sale and we would love to have your specialty items to sell. If you are able to help us by baking cakes, cookies, pies, or any other specialty goody, we would love to benefit from your skills and tasty creations. Baked items can be dropped off anytime on Thursday, November 16, in the front office.

Tablescapes Is Back
Join us on Tuesday, November 28, for Tablescapes! Rev. Monica Harbarger will be helping us find ways to go through the craziness of Advent with Christ in our hearts. This special time of the year deserves great preparation to remind us of why we celebrate. Groups and individuals may purchase a table of eight for $120, or individual tickets may be purchased for open seating at $15.

We need you to decorate a table for your group of eight ladies. This year we are asking everyone to decorate their table with a Christmas Theme using your barely used Christmas dishes. Don't have Christmas dishes? That's ok! Let's get creative by using plastic or paper from Party City! Let your imagination run wild for Christmas! For information on hosting a table, please contact Amy Parker ([email protected]). Childcare may be reserved (lunch not provided) by emailing Ann Strozier ([email protected]).

Upward Basketball and Cheerleading

Join us for Upward Basketball and Cheerleading! Grades K5-4th can participate. The season will run from November 13 - February 3 with a break for the holidays. The cost is $105 ($115 for late registration). The deadline for registration is October 31.

Lighthouse Girls Basketball League
Registration is open for Lighthouse Girls Basketball on the VHUMC website! This league is for 6th-8th Graders, and will be running from December 4 through February 2, with a break for the holidays. The cost is $105 and the deadline to register is November 14. Please contact Miles Erbe ([email protected] / 769-0134) for any questions.

A New Young Couples Class
We are excited to be starting a new class for couples in their early 30's with small children! If you are not currently in a class and are interested in joining one, come to our meet and greet on Sunday, November 5, in room 201 (Small Dining Room). We will have refreshments and discuss future plans to grow in our faith together! Questions? Contact Lane de Kozan ([email protected]) or Kimberly Robbins ([email protected]). We look forward to our time together!

Men's Hiking Ministry 15th Anniversary Dinner

On Monday, November 13, we will be celebrating 15 years of 'The Wesley Wanderers" men's hiking ministry with a potluck dinner at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. If you have ever hiked with us or are interested in learning more about the ministry, then you are invited to join us. Just contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).

Questions About Methodism
Please join us in the Chapel on Sunday, November 5, at 9:45 am, where we will discuss the Methodist denomination. We will tackle topics like how we got our name, what motivated and fueled John Wesley to found this new denomination, and what differentiates us to this day. Dr. Bill Brunson will lead us in this discussion and answer any questions you have. Contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell ([email protected]) for more information.

ManCave Tailgate Success
This past Friday night Thrive Student Ministries hosted a Middle School ManCave Tailgate at the VHHS vs. Hoover game! It was a huge success! A big thank you to all of the dads who helped make this event possible. If you are interested in helping out with Middle School ManCave or any other events of Thrive Student Ministries, contact Juli Hansen ([email protected]).

Student Ministries Parent Meeting

Please join the Thrive Student Ministry Staff and Council for a Student Ministries Parent Meeting on Sunday, December 3, at 9:45 am, in Tyson Hall or at 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. This will be a time to discuss our upcoming Christian View of Sex (CVS) program that will take place on Saturday, January 6. We feel strongly that parents of students who plan to attend be at this meeting.

We would also like to discuss our summer mission opportunities for our students and the dates of these events. We are excited to get these going and hope that you will be there to learn more about them!

Annual Student Ministries Fundraiser
Save the date for The Student Ministries Annual Fundraiser on Friday, February 9, 2018. This fundraiser helps supplement our mission trips for all of our students. Due to the coming construction, we will be off-site! We hope that you will be able to help support our students by attending this great event! For more information or to help by serving on the committee, please contact Emily Boles ([email protected]).

Ongoing Outreach

Food Pantry

Food Pantry needs more help with our monthly Food Bank pick-up. Do you have a pick-up truck and/or two hours free on the second Monday of each month? We could use your help. It takes seven trucks for our order. More details, contact Barbara Porter ([email protected] / 444-9793). Thank you!

Oak Mountain Mission

Oak Mountain Mission needs boys jeans. No other clothing please. They desperately need furniture (sofas, chairs, dressers, chests). Please call Brenda (685-5757) for pick-up.

Wednesday Night Menu

November 1 - Hamburger OR Hot Dogs, French Fries, Toppings. Kids: Pizza
November 8 - Salad, Roast Beef OR Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, English Peas, Biscuit, Cobbler. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese
November 15 - Salad, Turkey & Dressing, Green Bean Casserole, Roll, Chocolate Cake. Kids: Pizza