Volume 47
Issue 8
February 23, 2017
              
Children's Sunday
Our children will lead us in worship during the 8:30 and 11:00 traditional services this Sunday, February 26. This service is always such a blessing to all who attend. It is amazing to hear God's message from the mouths of His children. We hope you and your families will join us for this special day!
Boomer Spirituality Conference
This Saturday VHUMC will be hosting our very first Boomer ministries conference! Join us as Craig Kennet Miller shares insights from his new book: "Boomer Spirituality, Seven Values for the Second Half of Life." We'll discuss how the values and beliefs we hold affect the whole of our lives - relationships, work, goals, faith, and most fundamentally, our self-understanding. We'll explore the values of brokenness, loneliness, rootlessness, and self-seeking which form the spiritual roots of boomers. We'll have breakout sessions in the afternoon and finish the day with a dinner and a dance featuring The Beatlads (a Beatles cover band). The cost for this event is only $25 and you can register at www.vhumc.org .

Fat Tuesday Pancake Cook-Off
Everyone is invited as we celebrate our 4th annual Fat Tuesday Pancake Cook-off on Tuesday, February 28, starting at 6:00 pm, in the Fellowship Hall. We'll have pancakes, bacon, King Cakes, and some really hot jazz by the Pizitz Middle School Jazz Band directed by Kim Bain. Sunday School classes and other small groups are invited to enter the pancake cook-off competition with our own clergy judging the entries. This will be fun for your whole family! Tickets are $5 at the door ($20 family max). For questions or more information email Quint Harris (qharris@vhumc.org).
Sunday Morning Optional Class
This Sunday, February 26 Craig Kennet Miller will share Biblical insights on the importance of developing the spiritual life, and share a spiritual life template that he has developed. Craig is the Director of Congregational Development at Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Join us at 9:45 am in Tyson Hall.
Ash Wednesday at VHUMC
Through the centuries, Christians have carefully prepared for Easter with spiritual practices and a recommitment to our faith. We call this forty-day season of preparation Lent - a time for growing in our faith through repentance, fellowship, prayer, fasting and giving. It is a time to search our souls by reflecting and taking stock. Some Christians mark the Lenten season by "giving up" a specific food or something they are particularly attached to. Others add a new spiritual discipline or practice to their lives. In whatever way you choose to observe Lent, the season is designed to help followers of Christ understand God's redemptive act through Jesus Christ. 

Ash Wednesday (March 1) is the official beginning of Lent. On this day of penitence, ashes are placed on our forehead to represent our mortality. They are placed in the sign of the cross to remind us that as Christians we die in Christ and are saved by His amazing grace. We are providing two opportunities for you to embrace the sacred meaning of this holy day and receive the ashes on your forehead to begin your Lenten journey: 
  • 7:00-8:00 am - Come and Go Imposition of the Ashes * Rutland Memorial Chapel
  • 6:00-7:00 pm - Traditional Ash Wednesday Service * Sanctuary
Interacting with the Cross Throughout Lent
Throughout the season of Lent, all of our worship services will look forward to interacting with the cross. We will be focusing each week on the seven last words of Christ from the cross. Each Sunday, we will give you the opportunity to respond to those words by actively answering Jesus as we go. A post-it note will be included in every bulletin to give you the opportunity to write a response to Jesus and leave it on the cross which will be located in the center of each worship space. Our focus for each week will be:
  • March 5 - "Father, Forgive Them." We will respond with things for which we need forgiveness.
  • March 12 - "Today, You Will Be With Me In Heaven." We will respond with the ways that we can reveal Heaven here on Earth.
  • March 19 - "Behold Your Son, Behold Your Mother." We will respond by offering our relationships to God - those that need repairing and those we cherish.
  • March 26 - "My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?" We will respond by offering those people, places or times in our lives that have left us feeling alone and abandoned.
  • April 2 - "I Thirst." We will respond by offering those things that we long for in our lives.
  • April 9 - Palm Sunday. As we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we will leave worship with a Palm cross.
Each week after worship your responses will be taken off the cross and lifted up in prayer by our clergy. We look forward to our Lenten journey together and pray that each step we make toward the cross will bring you peace and hope so that our Easter Morning will allow you to celebrate the Risen Lord with great joy!
Sunday Evening Worship
Come as you are and join us Sunday Evening at 5:00 pm, as we sing, pray, and fellowship together in the Rutland-Memorial Chapel. Butch Williams will preach on "Eli's Coming!" from Matthew 7:1-9. Also, make plans to join us each Sunday evening of Lent where we'll receive the blessing of guest preachers Walter Cash (Jeremiah Stone's grandfather!), Steve Baccus (Hokes Bluff UMC), District Superintendent Rick Owen, and Dedric Cowser (New Beginnings UMC).
Daddy Daughter Dance
Our Daddy Daughter Dance is this Sunday, February 26, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, in the Lighthouse gym. Registration is available online by clicking the link below. The cost is $12 per person. This is an event for 4k through 5th grade girls and their fathers. If you have any questions contact Anne Strozier (astrozier@vhumc.org).

Student Ministries Fundraiser
Tickets are on sale now for our annual Youth Fundraiser on March 12, at 6:30 pm (doors open at 6:15). We are working hard on making this a successful event and are looking for trips, goods, services, and talents to be donated for this year's auction. It is the money we raise through this event that makes our mission trips possible. Individual tickets are $35 each, or you can purchase a reserved table of eight for $350. Tickets are available by visiting www.vhumc.org or click on the link below.

You can also donate using VHUMC's Text-To-Give by texting the word "Serve" to 205-900-3747.

Don't forget to bring your cash so you can participate in the always entertaining bead game for the chance to win a great gift! Students attending any of our mission trips are strongly encouraged to help serve dinner and sell beads for the bead game. Please sign up outside of the Student Ministries Office to volunteer. We hope you join us on this fun-filled evening!

Youth Silent Auction Donations
The New Life Singers will hold a silent auction in conjunction with the upcoming youth department dinner theatre on March 12. We are now collecting donated items to be sold silently at this event. If you have an item you would like to donate please drop it off in the main office of the church. Examples of items to donate would be signed sports memorabilia, electronic items, gift certificates, quality art, Sunday School baskets, etc. If you have any questions please contact Susan Sturdivant (sj4boys@aol.com).
ASP Registration Open
Summer is approaching and we are excited to serve another year with our long-term ministry partners, Appalachia Service Project. This is an amazing experience for High School Students to travel to a poverty-stricken area of Appalachia and spend the week making homes warmer, safer, and drier for families who need a helping hand. This year's trip will be July 15-22. In order for you to go this summer, you must return all required forms to the Student Ministries Office with a copy of the front and back of your insurance card and a $200 non-refundable deposit. All forms and a paperwork check-list are on the VHUMC website or by clicking the link below. All paperwork and the deposit must be turned in by March 1 to reserve a spot. The remaining balance will be due at the parent meeting, Sunday, May 7, at 9:45 am, in Tyson Hall. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jeremy Robuck (jrobuck@vhumc.org). We are looking forward to another year of serving with our High School Students!

Make Stopping Hunger Your Focus During Lent
During Lent, many of us give up something like soft drinks, desserts or social media. Have you ever thought of adding something, as well? Why not add saving lives to your daily goals? Each meal we pack during our Rise Against Hunger (formerly known as Stop Hunger Now) event, set for April 23-25, costs 29 cents. During Lent, look for ways to save $2.90, the cost of feeding 10 children, each day. Take a sandwich to work instead of going out for a burger. Put back the box of cookies you pick up in the grocery store. There are 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, so your impact would be significant. What better way to celebrate Christ's sacrifice for us? Remember, our Lenten offering will support our goal of providing 300,000 meals. Please mark "Rise Against Hunger" on your check or use the Lenten envelopes in the pew.Registration for volunteer shifts will be open very soon, so stay tuned!
Who We Are
On Sunday, March 5, at 9:45 in the chapel, we will discuss who we are as a congregation of the United Methodist Church and the greater congregation of disciples helping everyone live their Christ-centered lives of purpose. Come hear the story, so you can learn, tell, and live His story with us!
5 Minute Mission
Please join us for our first 5-Minute Missions, on March 5, during the coffee hour (9:45 am), in the Fellowship Hall. We will be packing bags for our teams that will be traveling to Panama and Honduras later this spring. We will also be packing hygiene kits for our mission partner, Bridge Ministry, that is here in Birmingham. Your time of 5 minutes will help many more in need.
Explosive COA Growth
Our Conservatory of the Arts has grown by leaps and bounds since opening in 2012 with 76 students. Combining a great coordination of teacher selection and screening, room availability, session dates/times, and financial details, our COA staff have seen tremendous parental response. They grew to 135 students in 2014, 173 students in 2015, and 201 students in 2016! In addition to voice lessons, they can find a teacher for almost any musical instrument that a student wants to learn. Lessons are now offered year-round for most any age student. They also offer classes in art, theatre, photography, and musicianship. Musicianship classes range from teaching beginners to read music to advanced music theory for experienced students.

This summer they are adding Kindermusik - a premier music and movement program for children birth to seven years old. Watch the NOTES for more information about this exciting new program! If you would like more information about taking music lessons or joining any of our ongoing classes, please contact Ellen Bryant (coa@vhumc.org / 769-0123).
Understanding World Religions
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. In 2010, he was granted a James Madison Fellowship to pursue advanced studies related to American Constitutional government. Mr. Osborne is known for bringing to life the subjects that he teaches, which include the history of the major religions of our world. Join us on Wednesday nights; March 8, 15, 22 and April 5; at 6:00 pm; in room 206.
24 Hours That Changed the World
This Lenten Study will focus on the last day of the life of Jesus, following the book and DVD by Adam Hamilton. Leaders will be the pastoral staff, including Dr. Bill Brunson and Dr. Kipp McClurg. Join us in room 202 on Wednesday nights, at 6:00 pm, from March 8 to April 26 (excluding Spring Break and Holy Week).
Give the Gift of Life
Be part of a lifesaving journey by donating blood! VHUMC and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers are hosting a blood drive on Sunday, March 19, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Megan Drumm (mdrumm@vhumc.org). We look forward to seeing you there!
Vacation Bible Camp 2017
Calling all heroes! Vacation Bible Camp is scheduled for June 12-16, and this year our theme is Hero Central. We will be learning how we can become truly heroic in God. You can register your 4k (by September 1, 2016) through 5th grader. Visit the link below to sign up!

We are also looking for leaders in our groups, crafts, snacks and other areas. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Jamie Meeks. We hope you can join us for the fun!

Veterans Care Kits
The Armed Services Ministry Committee of VHUMC is pleased to announce that it is coordinating the creation and distribution of Veterans Care Kits. These kits will contain basic items that will greatly help our Birmingham homeless and needy veterans. We are asking for item donations to help us fill these kits. Drop-off locations will be clearly marked throughout the church building. It is our goal to create 100 of these kits. If you would prefer to make a monetary donation for the committee to purchase items, please make your check payable to VHUMC and indicate "Veterans' Care Kits" on the memo line. Donations of items and your checks will be received through March 1. Items needed for the kits include:
  1. Travel-sized toiletries available for purchase in many drug stores, dollar stores, etc., or that you may already have on hand from your own travels (e.g. shampoo, soap, deodorant, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm/chap stick)
  2. First aid items (e.g., band aids, bandages/gauze, first aid ointment).
For more information, please contact Jarry Taylor (613-3875) or Butch Williams (bwilliams@vhumc.org / 769-0102).
Golf Cart Ministry
VHUMC has a golf cart transportation team taking congregants to and from their cars on Sunday mornings. This is an extension of our hospitality team, so if you want a ride, please flag down one of our drivers before any of the Sunday morning services. For more information, please contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell (sstrammell@vhumc.org). It is our honor to transport and assist anyone who wants help!
Wednesday Night Dinner Servers
We are looking for Wednesday night dinner servers. The commitment would be for the fourth Wednesday night of each month. We serve January through the middle of May and the middle of August through the second week in December. If you are interested, please contact Melinda Burnett (mburnett@vhumc.org / 769-0115).
Steeple 2 Steeple 10K, 5K, and Fun Run
Support the United Methodist Children's Home by lacing up your running shoes and participating in the Steeple 2 Steeple race on Saturday, April 22. The race takes place in Homewood and Mountain Brook and is run between Trinity United Methodist and Canterbury United Methodist. Run or walk the 10K, 5K, or Fun Run course and represent VHUMC! Grab a few friends and compete in the 5K team competition. For more information about the race or the team competition contact Megan Drumm (mdrumm@vhumc.org). We look forward to seeing you there!

Elementary Bible Study
We invite all 1st - 5th graders to join us on Wednesday nights from 6-7 in rooms 219/221 for Bible Pathfinders. Using music, crafts, hand motions, skits, games and lessons we are learning the books of the Bible. We would love for your child to join us on this adventure! Contact Jamie Meeks (jmeeks@vhumc.org) for more information.
Stay in Shape with Every Girl Fitness
Feel great and stay in shape with Every Girl Fitness! Join us on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-7 pm as we get fit or stay in shape. The next session of classes begins on Wednesday, February 22. The cost is $81/person for the eight-week session. Want to train for free? Bring two friends and when they sign up your session is free! To sign up click the link below. Have additional questions? Contact Megan Drumm (mdrumm@vhumc.org). We look forward to seeing you there for fitness, fun, and fellowship!

Men's Hiking Group September Trip
The VHUMC Men's Hiking Group will be heading to Rocky Mountain National Park September 9-16 to hike through a wide variety of wildlife within various climates and environments from wooded forests to alpine lakes and mountain tundra. The plan is to stay in a local motel at night and take a hike each day. As the days go by the hikes will become more ambitious. Features along the hikes will include lakes, waterfalls, and mountain summits. For those interested in backpacking and overnight camping, part of the group may go out for a two-day wilderness trek. Estimated expenses including airfare, motel, car or van rental, food, and miscellaneous items is $1,500. To register please contact Jim Frazier (jfrazier@vhumc.org / 769-0126).
Ongoing Outreach

Volunteers Needed for Family Promise
One of our long-running outreach programs at VHUMC is Family Promise. This organization is the only one of its kind where in the case of homelessness, the families can stay together. At VHUMC, we have been involved with Family Promise almost since the beginning. We host the families three to four times a year at our church. Our next hosting time starts on Sunday, March 5. We are in need of volunteers for this program. We have several openings for the week we are hosting. Please prayerfully consider being a part of this mission outreach at our very own church. There are many ways to get involved whether it is to provide a meal, serve a meal, bring your family up to play with the other families or spend the night; there are many ways to serve. If you or your family or SS class are interested, please contact Rob Armstrong ( robarmst00@gmail.com ) or Susan Sturdivant ( sj4boys@aol.com ).

Food Pantry
Food Pantry needs spaghetti sauce. We were able to purchase noodles from the food bank, but need sauce. We also need jelly to go with the peanut butter that we purchased. Thank you!

Oak Mountain Mission
Oak Mountain Mission needs sofas, chairs, kitchen tables/chairs, dressers, and chests. Please call Brenda at 685-5757 to arrange a home pick-up.
Wednesday Night Menu
  • Mar 1 - Salad, Beef Tips OR Shrimp Creole, Rice, Steamed Broccoli, Bread, Ice Cream
  • Mar 8 - Salad, Orecchiette w/ Bolognese Sauce OR Chicken Alfredo, Sautéed Veggies, Cobbler  
  • Mar 15 - Salad, Chicken Cacciatore OR Baked Flounder, Wild Rice, Baby Lima's, Banana Pudding
Worship & Music Focus
8:30 am         Traditional Service
Children's Sunday

9:45 am         Service of Word and Table
Matthew 17:1-9
" Moving From Ordinary to Extraordinary "
Ruth Grissom

11:00 am         Traditional Service
Children's Sunday

11:00 am         Contemporary Service
Matthew 17:1-9
"One Sneaky Change at a Time"
Kipp McClurg

5:00 pm         Sunday Evening Worship
Matthew 7:1-9
" Eli's Coming! "
Butch Williams
Our Time and Resources
 

Donations this past week

December YTD Summary
Donations
Other Income
Auxilary Ministries Net*
Total Income
Actual
$62,692


$4,089,422
$200,780
$14,875
$4,305,077
Targeted
-$ 1,282


-$156,743
-$12,089
-$58,214
-$227,046

(+) Better or (-) worse for the church than our target
* Includes COA, Summer Days, VDS, and Vestavia Dance
Care and Support
Congratulations, hospitalizations, and sympathies

Prayer Requests
 
Careline: 205-822-9336 
Weekend or After-Hour Health Emergencies: 205-914-3121

Please be in prayer for the following persons: 
Pat Bendall
Jim Bendall
Ginger Peete Bramlett
Margean Brasher
Lynn Brasher
Jami DeMarco
Chris Dibble
David Dixon
Adam Draney
Julie Duffe
Tim Eddins
Catherine Elmore
Margaret Flowers
Faye Gardner
Kendra Haddock
Fay Harbin
Fred Hatfield
Antoinette Hicks
Pug Kaufman
Sam McDavid
Tricia McKinnon
Robin Mobley
Mary Morgan
Paul Noto
Patsy Orso
Norma Owen
Mary Owens
Norman Ponder
Vicki Prest
Jim Sanders
Tom Webb
Eva Wilson
Nancy Windsor

Requested prayers for service members in combat areas:
  • 1st Lt. Spencer Carroll, US Army, (Kuwait)
  • Darkhorse Unit, USMC, (Afghanistan) 
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.