The Notes - September 14, 2017

Volume 47

Issue 37

September 14, 2017

Church-Wide Assembly
Plan to attend an informative meeting this Sunday in Tyson Hall at 9:45 am. Church leaders will be sharing reports on our progress and plans for the future. As always, we will have coffee and time for questions and answers.

Wear Your Nametag
This Sunday is "Bring a Friend Sunday!" We want to make sure every visitor feels welcome - not just this Sunday but every week. Our VHUMC nametags are the best way to help us all identify and greet visitors. If every member wears their nametag, visitors will be easily recognized. If you have not received a VHUMC nametag or have lost one, please contact Anna Leigh Richards ([email protected]) so we can have one ready for you this Sunday. They will be at the designated "Friend" tables for you to pick up!

Top 10 reasons to wear a nametag:

10. Few people know everybody in the church.

9. Leaders need help with names.

8. They invite conversation.

7. Knowing names makes fellowship more personal.

6. They save embarrassment.

5. They help promote our community focus.

4. Guests feel less conspicuous.

3. They communicate "We want to know you."

2. They help our greeters play their part better.

1. They make you part of the team.

Follow the link for more.

Hurricane Outreach
As we look at the pictures and hear the stories from the terrible storm in Texas, we want to help in any way possible. VHUMC has many ways for you to help:

Pray. Lift up all of those in the damaged areas and continue to pray for the teams that will go to work in those areas once the water is gone.
Provide supplies. These are the urgent items needed after a flood. Let's be ready to ship as soon as the water goes down. Bring these items to the mission's office or church office and we will make arrangements to get it to our UMCOR warehouse in Decatur.

Box fans
25' heavy duty 14-gauge extension cords
2-gallon garden sprayers
Flat billed shovels
Rakes with 3-inch tines
Wheel barrows

Join in the team efforts. Look for announcements for when we will assemble cleaning bucket supplies, health kits, etc.
Make a donation. You can give to VHUMC by check with Harvey Relief on the memo line. You can also give directly to UMCOR by Pay Pal or mail a donation to U.M. Disaster Relief Warehouse, P.O. Box 1133, Decatur, AL 35602. For more information, give them a call at 253-341-9961.

So far, we have delivered 200 health kits to the UMCOR disaster warehouse in Decatur, along with the fans, sprayers and other supplies provided by church members.

3rd Grade Bible Sunday
It is the tradition at Vestavia Hills United Methodist to give a Bible to all of our third graders each year. Bibles will be presented to the children this Sunday, September 17, at the 11:00 am traditional worship service in the Sanctuary. We hope you will make plans to attend. We also invite the children who receive Bibles and a parent to join us for our "How to Use Your Bible" workshop from 4:00-5:00 that afternoon in rooms 219/221. We are excited to celebrate this important occasion as a church family!

Sunday Evening Worship
Come as you are and join us for a joyful evening of music in the Chapel at 5:00 pm, as Jim Frazier and Friends lead us. Also, join us on September 24 when Butch Williams will preach.

September Hilltoppers' Meeting
Our next meeting is Tuesday, September 19, at 10:30 am, in the Fellowship Hall. Charlie McAfee will be performing some good old gospel songs for us. For information or to make a lunch reservation ($6.00) call Harriette Woodring (822-9318) or Margaret Flowers ([email protected] / 769-0112) no later than 11:00 am on Friday, September 15. Please note the price and, if possible, have correct change or an extra dollar bill.

Vestavia Hilltoppers is a VHUMC-sponsored organization for persons of retirement age, which meets each month for lunch and a program. They also sponsor trips and other activities that are publicized at meetings. Guests and new members are welcome.

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 this Sunday, September 17, from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, in the Fellowship Hall. For more information or to schedule an appointment contact Megan Drumm ([email protected] / 769-0139). We look forward to seeing you there!

Adult Teacher/Leader Workshop
We are gearing up for another great year in Sunday School and Bible studies and want to make sure you are as sharp as possible as you lead and teach this year! Please join us for "Sharpen: A teaching/facilitation workshop focused on Bible-based studies" (Sunday school and Bible-based groups). Our workshop is this Sunday, September 17, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, includes dinner and will be interactive, and suitable for new or experienced teachers. Reserve your dinner by contacting Ruth Grissom ([email protected]). We look forward to a great evening of learning how to help others learn!

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; 8:00 pm in the Chapel; and 4:00 pm in Tyson Hall.
December 31 - We will have one service in the Sanctuary at 10:00 am and no Sunday School.

New Grief Support Program

After the memorial service and when the cards and flowers have stopped arriving, those around you return to their normal lives. However, your grief continues and you can feel very alone. Our Grief Support Groups are there to help you during your grieving process and provide a loving environment with trained leaders who facilitate grief support sessions. Participants learn valuable ways to cope with their grief, and they are able to share with others who have experienced the loss of spouses, children, parents, and siblings. Our sessions take place in a warm and caring environment, and they follow proven resources devoted to grief support.

We meet on Wednesday evenings, and we gather at 5:30 pm to dine together at the church. Our sessions begin around 6:00 pm, and we conclude each evening about one hour later. Our next Grief Support Group will begin meeting on Wednesday, September 20. We'll meet for six weeks, ending October 25. Although you are not required to attend every meeting, you are encouraged to make as many sessions as possible for your benefit and for others in the group who are helped by your attendance and participation. So, we invite you to join us!

To learn more about this upcoming Grief Support Group, or to register to participate, please contact either Steve Marmurek at ([email protected] / 813-230-8999) or Butch Williams ([email protected] / 769-0102).

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. Cost: $105 ($115 for late registration). 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.

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 Events
Don't miss these two great community events for Boomers:

Prepare For Retirement on Tuesday, September 19. Ben Stewart will be helping us with financial and legal tips including a "must do" list and some very important steps to plan well.
Retirement Communities vs. Staying at Home on Tuesday, September 26. Kelly Lipford will help us understand the many options and clarify both home care and home health.

Both of these events are at VHUMC, at 6:00 pm, in room 202. Cindy Monk (The Decluttering Lady) is coordinating these events. Cindy has a passion for helping Boomers and Older Adults and has been organizing events around Vestavia for years. There is no charge for the events and they are purely educational. For more information contact Jim Frazier at 769-0126 or [email protected] .

Lost Bible

The Serendipity Sunday School class Bible is missing. It has a black cover with "Serendipity Class" embossed in gold on the front. It has many signatures in the first several pages of new members that have joined our class over the years and has special meaning to our class members. If you have seen this Bible, please contact David Harwell ( [email protected] ).

Gospel Jubilee Singers

This Sunday our Gospel Jubilee Singers will gather in the Chapel at 4:00 pm, before Sunday Evening Worship, to sing some of the great songs of our faith. We hope to see you there!

Investment Discussion Group

How do new tax laws affect my pension, IRA 's, 401K, Mutual Funds, etc.? Where should I have my money invested? Join our weekly Investment Discussion Group of men and women of all ages. The group meets each Thursday, at 9:30 am, in Room 318. There is no selling or buying, just discussion and an opportunity to share ideas and ask questions.

Ongoing Outreach

Tutoring at Urban Ministry

We are looking for additional tutors for the VHUMC tutoring team at Urban Ministry. If you are interested in tutoring one second grader once a week, we would love to have you join the team. Anyone who enjoys being with children is qualified!

Tutors currently come on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday afternoons for a one-hour session from 3:30-4:30 pm. We would love to have enough tutors to also offer sessions on Thursdays. Each tutor will work with the same student each week when at all possible and materials are provided. Tutors generally carpool, meeting at VHUMC or Shades Mountain Baptist Church. The time commitment is approximately 2 hours including travel time and tutoring time. If you have to miss the occasional session for travel or family commitments that is not a problem! The first week of tutoring will be the week of September 11. If you are interested, please contact Joan Rein ([email protected] / 979-1481).

Food Pantry

Food Pantry needs pancake mix, syrup, peanut butter, and jelly. We have learned that the donations to the Vestavia Library for their September food drive will be coming to us. Thanks to all involved!

Oak Mountain Mission

Oak Mountain Mission needs boys' jeans and 'like new' tennis shoes. Got extra furniture you are not using? OMM needs sofas, chairs, dressers, chests, table & chairs. Call Brenda at 687-5757 for a pick-up. Thank you to 50 of our members who attended our Harvest of Hope luncheon on Tuesday. The luncheon helped to raise over $100,000!

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, please contact Cynthia McGough ([email protected] / 901-0956).

Family Promise Annual Fundraiser

Fall in love with Family Promise! Their annual fundraiser will be on Thursday, September 21, at 6 pm, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. There will be food and drinks, live and silent auctions, and raffles. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. For more information or to get tickets visit the link below or call 918-0246. This is a great way to support one of our mission partners and have a fun night at the same time.

If you would like to be a sponsor, or donate a gift basket or auction item, please email [email protected]. All auction items need to be turned in to the Missions office by Wednesday, September 20.

Wednesday Night Menu

Sept 20 - Biscuit OR Pancakes, Smoked Sausage OR Bacon, Eggs, Cheese Grits, Orange Slices. Kids: Pizza.
Sept 27 - Hamburger OR Hot Dogs, Tater Tots, Toppings. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese.