The Notes - March 22, 2018

Volume 48

Issue 12

March 22, 2018

Rise Against Hunger
Jesus tells us that the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. Nearly 1,300 miles from here, our neighbors in Haiti are counting on us to do just that.

Join us April 15-17 as we work together to package 300,000 meals during our Rise Against Hunger event. Each meal costs only $0.29 and is a mixture of rice, barley, and soy enriched with 23 vitamins and minerals. Our Lenten offering will support our efforts, so please give as generously as you can to help us reach our $87,000 goal. You can give online or using the Rise Against Hunger envelopes in the pews. Visit the link below to volunteer for a shift and let's work together to end hunger in our lifetime.

Be A Part of Our Palm Sunday Procession

Palm Sunday is this Sunday, March 25! We invite any who would like to participate to process into the 8:30 and 11:00 am worship services waving palms high remembering this special day of Holy Week. If you would like to participate, simply go to the back area of Fellowship Hall or the back of the Sanctuary where you will be given palm branches to wave high as we process in. We will end at the altar where our palms will be laid. After you have laid your palms at the altar, you may return to your seat to celebrate, praise and worship with your friends and family through the rest of the service.

Holy Week
After Palm Sunday, we invite you to continue in the journey of Holy Week.

Self-Guided Devotional Time - The Rutland Memorial Chapel will be open from 8:00 to 5:00 each day with a self-guided devotional guide focusing on three of our beautiful stained-glass windows. Come and go as your schedule allows. During the lunch hour, we will have a sack lunch for you to pick up and take to ensure you can get back to work on time.
Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper, and we will do the same. Our service will be held in the Sanctuary at 6:00 pm and will focus on Holy Communion and end with the "New Command" that Jesus gave to his disciples and to each of us.
Good Friday - We call Friday of Holy Week "good," because we live on the Easter side of that day. We know the outcome and what Christ went through for us, so it is a "good" day for us. Our Good Friday service will be held at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. We will reflect on the suffering of Christ, building the contrast between Jesus' death and the resurrection. We cannot fully appreciate the resurrection until we have gone through the suffering. We hope you will join us!

Time to Improve the Sanctuary
We have a short window of opportunity to add improvements to the Sanctuary this spring and summer. We hope that more pledges will allow us to make more changes, but we have to decide the first week of April. Items we can't afford right now include:

Replacing the organ screen and painting all the brick behind the pulpit and lectern
Painting the wood band around the room
Adding improved up-lights and stage lights
Replacing the carpet in the altar and chancel area with hardwood flooring
Replacing the main Narthex doors with glass insert doors for more light

To add these items, we need an additional $298,120 in pledges over the next three years. If 100 families each pledged $1,000 per year, we could do it all. Follow the link to a video with more information. To make your pledge today simply click the link below.

Sunday Evening Worship Lenten Preaching

Bill Brunson leads our final week of Great Lenten Preaching on Sunday at 5:00 pm in the chapel! We'll sing the great, old hymns and share together as we begin Holy Week. Come as you are. All are welcome!

Hospitality to Our Neighbors
Thanks to Kay Davis, Leslie Echols, Sally Helms, & Suzanne Scott-Trammell for assembling and delivering gift bags of bread to VHUMC neighbors, inviting them to Easter services and thanking them for their patience with our crowds and parking. Thanks also for the bread baking angels who bring bread weekly for all of our guests, serving as the hands and feet of Christ.

Easter Flowers
In celebration of Easter, the Flower and Altar Guilds will be adorning the worship services with both fresh cut and potted flowers. You can participate by donating flowers in memory or honor of a loved one for $20. If you wish to donate flowers in memory of or in honor of a loved one, you must contact Margaret Flowers ([email protected] / 769-0112) or Gail Ashe ([email protected] / 769-0109) before Monday, March 26, at 11:00 am. Order forms will also be available in binders in the church office.

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

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).

Sunday School Opportunity
Easter morning, Sunday, April 1, Nancy Hornsby will be presenting a beautiful time of song and scripture in the chapel from 10:00 to 10:40. All Sunday School classes as well as all others are invited to join us. Nancy will offer a lesson in song celebrating the joy and new life we experience during the Eastertide. Easter is a time of new beginnings; and so many of the songs will emphasize the assurance we have that Christ is ever with us as we continue to be transformed by Christ's love and presence.

Spirit Night at Chick-Fil-A
Mark your calendars and join other VHUMC members for a fun filled evening at the Vestavia Chick-fil-A on April 3. Chick-Fil-A is helping VHUMC by hosting a Spirit Night where 15% of the proceeds will be donated to our upcoming Rise Against Hunger meal-packaging event through Planet Fundraiser. From 5:00-7:00 pm, buy dinner for your family as well as gift cards for birthday gifts, teacher appreciation gifts or special occasions! The more you spend, the more impact you can make!

Here's how it works:

Download the Planet Fundraiser app
Select our group: VHUMC - Community Wide Event - Rise Against Hunger
Take a picture of your receipt and upload it to Planet Fundraiser using the app
15% of your purchase will benefit Rise Against Hunger.

Don't have the app? Church volunteers will be on hand that night to submit your receipt or walk you through the process. It's an easy way to make a difference!

6th/7th Grade Mission Trip
Registration for our 6th and 7th Grade Mission Trip is open! We will be headed to the Upper Sand Mountain Parrish, in Sylvania, Alabama, on June 4-5 to serve families in need through various projects. The cost is $100. To register, click on the link below. There are a limited number of slots for this trip so register your student as soon as possible to guarantee a spot! Deadline for registration is April 10. If you are interested in chaperoning this event, please contact Jeremiah Stone ([email protected]).

Dr. Bill Brunson Holy Land Study
Dr. Bill Brunson will be kicking off a Holy Land DVD study for Boomers and Beyond from April 5 through May 17. We will meet on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm in room 203 to study the Holy Land. All ages are welcome. For more information, contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).

Supporting Officer Chris Gentry
We have received several inquiries on how individuals might assist the family of Vestavia Hills Police Officer Chris Gentry, who was hospitalized recently as a result of an on-duty injury. Chris is also one of the officers who provides security for us at VHUMC on Sunday mornings. You can support Chris and his family through a tax-deductible gift to the Vestavia Hills Police Foundation ("VHPF"). Mail your gift to:

Vestavia Hills Police Foundation

600 Vestavia Parkway - Suite 261

Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35216

For more information, please contact Steve Ammons (482-2700 / [email protected]) or the department's liaison to the foundation, Captain Brian Gilham (978-0194 / [email protected]).

Vacation Bible Camp
Calling all campers! Vacation Bible Camp is coming up on June 11-15 and this year our theme is Rolling River Rampage. We will be experiencing the ride of a lifetime with God! Children grade 4k (by September 1st) through 5th grade are invited to register for this fun filled week filled with music, exciting science, creative crafts, fun recreation, and memorable Bible stories. Join us as we discover that God is always with them as they ride the rapids of amazing grace!

We are also looking for leaders in our groups, crafts, snacks and other areas. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Jamie Meeks ([email protected]) or Anne Strozier ([email protected]).

General Ministry Pledges
Every year, many people graciously support the church through a recurring payment. Often times these payments are made through a bank draft or charged to a credit card. If you have previously preferred this method of financial support of VHUMC and would like to continue to do so, please contact John Sweeney ([email protected]) to confirm the continuation of your giving. We want to be sure our records accurately reflect your generosity.

Bob Morgan Music Collaborative Concert
Come join us for a wonderful collaborative concert featuring the Chancel Choir of VHUMC, Quint Harris, conductor, the Honor Choir of Vestavia Hills High School, Dr. Megan Rudolph conductor, and the Clay Chalkville High School Chamber Choir, Stacy Daniels, conductor. The event will be held on Tuesday, April 10 at 7:00 pm in the VHUMC Sanctuary. Admission is free and the program will feature the Schubert Mass in G, excerpts from the Brahms Requiem, and other choral music and concert spirituals.

Vestavia Dance Performance Company

Vestavia Dance Performance Company, senior dancer Katie Glenn has performed her lyrical solo "Closing" at two dance competitions. At VIP Dance Competition, Katie received a platinum score and won a first-place overall award as well as a judge's choice award. At Masquerade, Katie earned a platinum score and won first overall once again! She will be performing the solo once more in May at Showstoppers Dance Competition. We are so proud!

Six-Week Grief Support Group
For those who have lost loved ones, we invite you to attend a six-week Grief Support Group meeting on consecutive Wednesday evenings from April 4 through May 9 in room 204. We will follow a professional curriculum and share with one another. There is no charge to the participants, and a free dinner is also provided before each session which begins at 6:00 pm and should conclude by 7:15 pm. For more information, contact either Cathie Amos at ([email protected] / 908-2731) or Butch Williams at ([email protected] / 769-0102).

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 or 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).

Freedom from Addiction Breakfast Success

Thanks to all who attended Tuesday's Freedom from Addiction Breakfast held at VHUMC, sponsored by the Mayors of Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Hoover, and Mountain Brook. We had over 180 people in attendance including elected officials, business people, concerned parents, and those currently in treatment. We were honored to host and welcome all! We were all in God's house together, wanting to learn how to slow down and stop this epidemic.

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.

Video and Sound Operators Needed
Our Sanctuary Worship services are in need of additional help to run our sound board and our videotaping equipment. Complete training is available so no experience is necessary! This is such an important ministry to help everyone experience worship. It's also a great opportunity for our youth and adults to serve. Sound operators are scheduled one time per month and video operators serve as frequently as they want. Please click the link for more information or contact Ruth Grissom ([email protected]) to schedule your training and be a part of these wonderful ministry teams.

Growing Pains: Renovating for Our Future

Our major shipment of HVAC units should arrive late this week or early next week! That will allow our replacement efforts to move into full gear. You will notice a lot more activity in the Adult Education Building - in fact we will be without HVAC for about 10 days as the main chiller is replaced in early April. Tyson Hall is looking great and new paint will start going up soon. Sanctuary work will begin in May where we will be improving the Narthex ceiling, replacing the sound system, improving the lights on the side aisles, and bringing our fire alarm systems up to code.

The Contemporary Service will continue worshiping in the Fellowship Hall until Tyson Hall renovations are complete. The Sanctuary Services will also be moving to the Fellowship Hall for part of the summer.

Ongoing Outreach

Food Pantry

The food pantry needs syrup, peanut butter, and jelly. Families are enjoying the fresh items of apples, oranges, carrots and potatoes. Thanks to our new helpers on delivery day! We need a volunteer with a pick-up truck to get our monthly food order and extra hands to help unload on the second Monday of each month. If you can help, contact Barbara Porter ( [email protected]) .

Oak Mountain Mission

Oak Mountain Mission needs new, or like-new, hand towels and washcloths. Regular size soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant are also needed. Please put them in the wooden bins around the church. Thank you! Please call Brenda at 685-5757 for furniture pick-up. Thank you!

Wednesday Night Menu

March 28 - No Dinner
April 4 - Salad, chicken pot pie OR tamale pie, broccoli, roll, ice cream. Kids: chicken nuggets, mac & cheese
April 11 - Biscuit OR pancakes, scrambled eggs, smoked sausage OR bacon, cheese grits, orange slices. Kids: pizza
Salad, meat loaf OR baked chicken, mashed potatoes, english peas, biscuit, cake. Kids: chicken nuggets, mac & cheese