The Notes - March 21, 2019

Volume 49

Issue 12

March 21 , 2019

Lenten Offering for Rise Against Hunger
The next time you head to the pantry for a chocolate chip cookie, think about the children in Haiti. In a country where malnutrition is the leading cause of death among children, girls and boys are eating mud cookies to stave off hunger pains. The cookies are a mixture of dirt, salt, and oil or vegetable shortening and are baked on tarps by the hot sun.

This year's Lenten Offering will help to change that. For every 29 cents we receive, we can pay for one more meal of rice, barley, and soy enriched with 23 vitamins and minerals. Please give as generously as you can, using the Rise Against Hunger envelopes in the pews.

It's Time to Rise Against Hunger
Ray Buchanan, a United Methodist minister, envisioned a world without hunger and decided to do something about it. A former Marine, he knew that accomplishing a mission required "commitment to something larger than yourself." Nearly 20 years after he founded Rise Against Hunger, more than 180 million meals have been distributed to hungry people in 65 countries.

It's our turn to make a big commitment. Over the past four years we have packed 1,121,196 meals at VHUMC. Join us as we work together to package another 300,024 meals April 28-30 during our Rise Against Hunger event. You can volunteer for a shift by visiting the link below.

Easter Egg Hunt
Neighbors and friends, mark your calendars to join us for the VHUMC Easter Egg Hunt! We will gather Saturday, April 13, at 10:00 am, in the Fellowship Hall. 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!

Thrive Lenten Devotion
Throughout the Lenten season, our Thrive Student Ministry will be writing devotions that will be featured on our Thrive App and Facebook page every week, Monday through Friday. The theme of the season is "Cultivating and Letting Go," and each week we will focus on either attributes we need to cultivate within ourselves or behaviors we need to let go. Join us on this journey, led by our students, to take an inward look at ourselves and discern what we must cultivate and let go of in order to fully reflect the heart of Christ. To find these devotions, and more, follow the Facebook page by clicking the link below.

Your Church Where You Are
At the beginning of the year we released our brand new church app filled with new goodies and features. The new VHUMC app now has all of the latest sermon series published weekly as well as all of our upcoming events right at your fingertips. And don't forget to enable "push notifications" when you open it up for the first time to help you stay connected with some of the great news coming from this wonderful community! All you have to do is go to your phone or tablet's app store and search for "VHUMC" or visit the link below. Download the brand new app today and stay connected wherever you may be.

Helping Our Friends in Lee County

Some of you have asked how we can help our neighbors rebuilding their lives after tornadoes in Lee County. Our UMC distribution center is the Trinity United Methodist Church in Opelika. They are doing well on requested supplies, but are now needing gift cards from places such as Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot. They also need non-perishable foods to help feed the community, workers, and volunteers.

We will be collecting the gift cards in the mission's office and will get them to the church. Also, please remember that you can always donate financially to UMCOR and designate in the memo line Lee County or wherever the disaster is and 100% of your donation goes directly to relief efforts in the area you designate. Thank you for your continued support!

Chancel Choir Collaborative Concert

The Chancel Choirs of VHUMC and First United Methodist Tuscaloosa performed the second of a two concert series on Sunday, March 10, at FUMCT. The first concert event was held at VHUMC on Sunday, February 24. The concert featured the extended work Lux Aeterna (pronounce loox-A-tear-Nah) by composer Morten Lauridsen. The choirs also performed individual sets of anthems before combining for the well-known octavo "My Eternal King" by Jane Marshall. The Lauridsen was conducted by Dr. John Ratledge on February 24 and Dr. Quint Harris on March 10. There were many comments in favor of hosting more of these collaborative events from choir members as well as those in attendance. In this season of division in so many places in our world, it is nice to see people coming together in this way to praise our God.

A Record Month of Giving
Thanks to all of you who generously gave to VHUMC during the month of February. We had done all we could to let you know that donations for this current fiscal year were way behind our budget. You really responded with $488,408 in donations to our General Fund. Average February giving over the past four years was $284,000. Looking back, this was the largest amount given in a month other than December in over 10 years! Thank you. This really helped our cash-flow, but still leaves us $103,303 behind our giving budget (see numbers below), so please continue to help.

Guys Night Out
VHUMC Men's Ministry will once again host a March Madness Guys Night Out event in the Fellowship Hall on Friday, March 29, from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. The cost is $10/person and includes games on the big screens, all you can eat Donato's pizza, hot wings, popcorn, Moe's chips and dip, and Bruster's real ice cream. To make reservations please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).

Looking for CDL Drivers
Few things are used as much at our church as our six 15-passenger vans. Most of them are in use 5-6 days a week and we know the overall need is increasing next school year. In the months ahead, we are arranging a short-term rental of a school bus to see if a larger vehicle would better suit our needs and be more economical. However, driving this vehicle will require a CDL license (class A or B). If you have a CDL and would be willing to drive for the church (paid or unpaid), please contact Melinda Burnett ([email protected] / 769-0115). Thanks.

Attention High School Seniors
Graduation is just around the corner and we want to honor our seniors before they head off to their next adventure! Senior Sunday will be May 19. We will have a banquet in the Fellowship Hall followed by recognition of our seniors at our 11:00 am Traditional Service in the Sanctuary.

In order to make this a special day for them, we first need some information. Parents please fill out the registration form link below as well as providing three digital pictures (one baby, one middle age, and one senior portrait) for the senior slideshow. Please email everything to Jeremiah Stone ([email protected]). All pictures need to be in high resolution (larger than wallet size.) All information and pictures need to be submitted by Thursday, April 9, by 5:00 pm. Any pictures submitted after this date will not be included in the slideshow.

Mel Sparkman Scholarship
The Mel Sparkman Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in 2002 in honor of faithful youth volunteer Mel Sparkman, to assist deserving students through the award of a general scholarship grant.

Applications for this year's scholarships must be completed and turned in to the Student Ministries office by April 15. The board of directors for the Foundation will review each application. The recipients of the scholarships will be announced on Senior Sunday - May 19. Click the link below to download the scholarship application.

RightNow Media Kids
VeggieTales is a children's entertainment brand that uses hilarious storytelling, silly songs, and lovable characters to present meaningful life lessons with faith-based values. We want to be a resource for parents as they teach their kids that God made them special and loves them very much.

Be sure to register for this free resource! Text rightnow vhumc to 41411 to get your link to create a profile. Then watch 2,000+ Bible studies, talks, kids shows, youth studies, and movies. You can also contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell ([email protected]) if you have questions.

Funeral Sound and Media Volunteers Needed

Are you eager to get more involved in VHUMC while serving an important role in different worship services? Currently, there is a strong need for volunteers to operate sound during weekday and/or Saturday funerals at VHUMC. Soundboard operation is very simple, flexible, and easy to learn. We are also in need of media volunteers for Sunday worship services in the Sanctuary. Sanctuary media volunteers operate equipment in the video booth and help with the filming of special services. Media operation is also simple, and helps our worship team tremendously. Trainings will be offered periodically. If interested, or if you have any questions, please contact Peyton Chandler ([email protected]) or Nash Osborne ([email protected]).

Freedom from Addiction Breakfast

Join us on Thursday, April 4, for this community-wide event held at VHUMC in Tyson Hall, at 7:00 am (program starts at 7:30). This free breakfast will feature Dr. Thomas Dooley discussing pathways to recovery and giving his personal testimony. Hosted by the Cities of Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Homewood, and Mountain Brook.

You Asked and We Listened
Many of you have requested more weekend hours in the Lighthouse! So, the Lighthouse is now open on Saturdays from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. If you aren't already a Lighthouse member, stop by and see all the activities we have to offer including Fuel Exercise classes, Yoga, Barre Sculpt, D1 Bootcamp, and Pickleball!

March Memory Verse
Our 1st - 5th graders are 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 and chance to win a grand prize at the end of the school year. We hope that these verses help to guide them throughout their lives. March's memory verse is: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8

Let's Be Good Neighbors
It is exciting to see our parking lots fill up on Sunday mornings and people parking on the streets to attend our worship and Sunday School meetings. If you find it necessary to park on the street, please be careful not to park on our neighbors' grass. We appreciate their patience with all the cars and do not want to damage their yards in the process.

Ongoing Outreach

Food Pantry

The Food Pantry is still distributing food every Wednesday to 150 families. If you have never seen this in action, come down to the Student Ministries floor and check it out between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm. If you need an idea for Lent, take one item from your pantry every day and you will have a bag of food to donate after Easter. Our families thank you!

Oak Mountain Missions

Oak Mountain Missions needs working appliances. Please call Brenda at 685-5757 for a pick-up. Cookware and linens are always needed. Please put them in the bins around the church, marked for OMM. Thank you.

Wednesday Nights at VHUMC

Classes/Programs

Spring Break: March 27 * No dinner or programming
Soul Keeping: Most Wednesdays until April 24 * 6:00 pm * Room 203
Holy Week: April 17 * No dinner or programming
Music and Arts Concert: May 1 * Tyson Hall

Menus

April 3 - Tacos, Black Beans, Rice, Salad or Fruit (Healthy Option: Grilled Chicken or Chef's Salad)
April 10 - Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Cheese Grits, Fresh Fruit (Healthy Option: Boiled Egg or Chef's Salad)
April 24 - Sesame Glazed Pork, Rice or Mac & Cheese, Steamed Vegetable Medley, Salad or Fruit (Healthy Option: Ginger Chicken or Chef's Salad)
May 8 - Orecchiette with Bolognese, Marinara, or Alfredo Sauce, French Bread, Salad or Fruit (Healthy Option: Baked Chicken or Chef's Salad)