The Notes - September 7, 2017

Volume 47

Issue 36

September 7, 2017

Helping with Harvey
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

Make new health kits on the youth floor at 2:30 pm today or tomorrow, Friday, September 8, at 10:00 am. Completed kits will be driven to the Decatur warehouse after completion on Friday.
We have ordered cleaning bucket supplies, but they are not here yet. Look for details on when we will assemble these. If you would like to go ahead and assemble or donate these items, visit the link to see the items needed for each kit.
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.

Rev. Bill Bostick This Sunday Evening
Come as you are and join us for joyous singing, great fellowship, and a wonderful message from former VHUMC Pastor Bill Bostick! We meet in the Rutland-Memorial Chapel at 5:00 pm. Also, mark on your calendar to join us on September 17 for an evening of music by Jim Frazier & Friends.

Our Next BIG Day

Our next BIG day in worship is Sunday, September 17 which is "Bring a Friend" Sunday! We can't wait to see and meet all your friends. All ages are asked to bring a friend to the worship service of your choice! We will have a special book of prayers for you and your friend at a table outside the worship spaces. Please wear your name tag as together we welcome guests into our church family. Lost your name tag or need a new one? Contact Anna Leigh Richards ([email protected]) to have one made!

Don't miss out on this opportunity to share your church family with a special friend and then take them to lunch afterwards to talk about your morning! Mark your calendar now for "Bring a Friend" Sunday, September 17!

Church-Wide Assembly - September 17

Plan to attend this informative meeting 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.

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).

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]).

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. This year Bibles will be presented to the children on 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!

Wednesday Night Studies Continue

We are off to a great start with our small groups and Bible studies on Wednesday night. Dinner is served from 5:00 - 6:00 pm in Tyson Hall (adults/youth $6, children $4, family max $20). Check out a few of our classes:

Talking Out the Sermon
Through 9/27 | Room 206 | Preaching Pastors
Come each week as different pastors from VHUMC will open up discussion on their sermon from the previous week.

Holy Land Study
Through 9/27 | Room 202
Jim Frazier is leading a DVD study of the Holy Land by Ray Vander Laan. The study will cover many of the sites to be visited on the upcoming Holy Land trip, but you don't have to go on the trip to join the class.

Couples Bible Study
Through 10/11 | Room 208 | Sheri Ferguson
The book, The Couple Checkup identifies a couple's strengths to help them build a more vital relationship. Each week we will dive into the book and online profiles to help you grow together as a couple.

Financial Peace
Through 11/29 | Room 203A
Your money made simple! Learn to control your money and prepare for the future with this Dave Ramsey Series.

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, 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!

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.

New York City Women's Trip
How about joining us for a fun VHUMC Women's Trip to New York City? We will be leaving on April 10 and returning on April 13 next spring. During our time in the Big Apple, we will tour St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity Church, and St. Andrews Church. We will also attend a Broadway show, visit the 9/11 memorial, have some shopping time, and lots of awesome food and fellowship. An informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 13, at 6:00 pm, in room 320. Come and find out all the fun that is planned and other details about the trip. We would love to have you join us!

Whale of a Sale Volunteers Needed

Vestavia Day School is one of the strongest outreach ministries of the church and they need our help. Whale of a Sale, the school's only fundraiser, is coming up and in need of volunteers. This is a great opportunity for you, your friends, or your Sunday School group to serve our church and community. Please check your calendars and see if you have two hours free on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, September 13, 14, and 15. Sign up and enjoy sorting and organizing clothing and toys for the sale. And, all volunteers get an early shopping pass at 1:30 pm on Thursday before the sale opens to the public! If you don't have time to spare, please also consider donating a treat for our hospitality room! If you are interested in helping, email us at [email protected] or visit the link to select a time and day that works for you!

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, on 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!

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 to attend our informational meeting in room 316 on Sunday, October 8, at 4:00 pm.

Achieve Your Fitness Goals with Ali Sanders

Have you ever wanted a personal trainer but didn't think you could afford one? Now you can have the benefits of a trainer, pay less per session, and be motivated by your group to train hard! Ali Sanders, who has a degree in Exercise Science from Auburn University and is an ACE certified Personal Trainer with over 15 years of experience, is offering group personal training sessions in the Lighthouse gym. Six 45-minute sessions are offered each week: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5:15 am and Monday-Friday at 1:00 pm. Sign up for two sessions a week for $110/month or three sessions a week for $150/month. Each session runs for four weeks. Space is limited to 10 people per session. Don't miss out on this great exercise opportunity! Ali also offers individual training sessions. Contact Megan Drumm ([email protected]) with questions.

Recreation Assistant/Lighthouse Intern Needed

VHUMC is seeking a part-time Recreation Assistant (formerly Lighthouse intern) who will provide support in the day-to-day operations of the Recreation Ministry, including management and oversight of the Lighthouse and organization with our Upward Sports leagues. For a complete job description or to apply for this position, please contact Megan Drumm ([email protected]).

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].

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!

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.

Table of Hope for Urban Ministry

Join us for Urban Ministry's fundraiser, Table of Hope, on Thursday, September 21, at 5:30 pm at The Florentine. The speaker is Woodlawn actor, Caleb Castille. Individual tickets are $150 and are available by clicking the link below. Deadline for tickets is September 8. A fun night for individuals or Sunday School classes to help a great cause and support one of our own mission partners. Hope to see you there!

Family Promise Annual Fundraiser

Fall in love with Family Promise! Family Promise's annual fundraiser will be 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. A great way to support one of our mission partners and have a fun night at the same time.

Wednesday Night Menu

Sept 13 - Beef Tips OR Grilled Chicken, Egg Noodles, Carrot Soufflé, Cake. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese.
Sept 20 - Biscuit OR Pancakes, Smoked Sausage OR Bacon, Cheese Grits, Orange Slices. Kids: Pizza.
Sept 27 - Hamburger OR Hot Dogs, Tater Tots, Toppings. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese.