|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Regaining Balance in Your Life
We live in a hectic and chaotic world. Most of us have lives where we rush from one place to another: the work place, day care, school drop off and pick up, ballet classes, music classes, ball games, medical appointments. The list could go on and on. Sometimes life feels like we are walking on an endless tightrope with no net below. We long for more balance in our lives. But how do we make that happen? We make it happen together.
This Sunday continue sermon series called "Regaining Balance." Based on scripture and three terrific Ted Talks, we'll explore ways to enjoy our lives instead of just surviving them one day at a time.
|
 No Power Next Week
Short of something very surprising, we will have no power for most of the building starting this Sunday, August 19, at 12:30 pm and ending next Saturday, August 25. This is to upgrade our electrical infrastructure to support all of our new HVAC systems. Please take note of what will/will not be happening:
- We will have worship services and Sunday School both Sunday mornings. Traditional services will be in the Sanctuary.
- Power will remain on, uninterrupted, in the Lighthouse building.
- Power will be provided by generator for the Day School and will run from 7 am to 6 pm each week day.
- There will be NO programming during this time in the Tyson / Fellowship / Youth / Chapel / Sanctuary buildings.
- All Wednesday activities, including dinner, Bible studies and Prayer Breakfast, are cancelled for Wednesday, August 22.
- Church email, phone system, and emergency phone should still work, but most church employees will be working from home.
- The church will be locked for all areas except the Day School and Lighthouse.
Thanks for your patience during these final months of construction. Truly, the end is in sight and we are so blessed for all of the upgrades.
|
Don't Miss These New Beginnings
- Wednesday Night Dinners resume on August 29. That night we will also help prepare Flood Buckets
- Our Back to School Bash is September 5.
- Little Lambs and Bible Pathfinders begins September 12.
- Wednesday Night Adult classes resume on September 12.
- Our new Midweek Worship starts September 12. Look for more details soon.
Make sure to check the Elementary Ministries and Student Ministries newsletters about specific events for those programs.
|
Lemonade Stands for the Homeless
 A big thank you to the VHUMC congregation for donating to our lemonade stands on promotion Sunday. Thank you to the Agape class and their children who coordinated and worked the stands. We raised $800 for the Church of the Reconciler! This money will be used directly to help homeless people right here in Birmingham!
|
 Discovery 2018 Recap
On August 3-5 we hosted Discovery Weekend here at VHUMC, where we had close to 300 middle and high school students come out to worship, learn, serve, and fellowship with one another. Our theme for the weekend was Pulse: Preparing Our Hearts to Heal God's World, and the students evaluated the pulse of their own relationships with Jesus and how that relationship calls us all to be the hands and feet of Christ in our world. Our students took part in daily small group discussions, worship and prayer services, games, and a mission project to prepare school supplies for students in need around the Birmingham area. Thanks to around 100 volunteers, parents, staff, and our high school seniors who led the services, the weekend was a huge success! For more information on how to get involved with Thrive Student Ministries, please contact Juli Hansen ([email protected]). Check out our recap video by clicking the link below!
|
 Back to School Bash
We invite families to join us Wednesday, September 5, at 6:00 pm, in Tyson Hall for our Back to School Bash featuring stunt man and comedian, Max Winfrey! Dinner will be served before the show in the Fellowship Hall at 5:00 pm for $6 per adult and $4 per child (with a $20 maximum for families). The show is completely free and we hope to see you there!
|
Labor Day Joint Sunday School Option
Please join us on Sunday, September 2, at 9:45 am, in the Fellowship Hall as we hear from Rev. James Woodin (Pastor Woody) from the Upper Sand Mountain United Methodist Parish. Our 6-7th graders served at the thrift store and food pantry there on their mission trip in early June. This parish serves members of their community with financial and personal counseling, food and nutritional products, thrift store supplies, as well as home repairs and construction. Come learn about this UMC mission and how its allowing mission teams such as ours to become the Hands and Feet of Christ.
|
 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 9 at the 11:00 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 pm that afternoon in rooms 219/221. We are excited to celebrate this important occasion as a church family!
|
August Hilltoppers Meeting Change
 Because of the power outage, we have rescheduled our next meeting for Tuesday, August 28, at 10:30 am, in the Fellowship Hall. Callers will be contacting Hilltoppers August 17-18 for reservations. Local historian, Jim Phillips, will join us for our program. For information or to make a lunch reservation ($6.00) contact Harriette Woodring (822-9318) or Margaret Flowers ([email protected] / 769-0112) no later than 11:00 am on Friday, August 24. 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.
|
Welcome New Members
Welcome two new families to VHUMC:
- Matt & Lauren Brown, Anne Kirkland-8 & Reid-3 joined on 8/5 during 8:30 worship.
- Wil & Melissa Sinor joined on 8/5 during 9:45 worship.
Please let's join together to welcome them into the VHUMC family.
|
 Sound System Volunteers
We are looking for sound system volunteers for all of our Sunday services, as well as special services throughout the week. A good sounding service is crucial to making a memorable worship experience. Many weeks we risk having services with no one behind the sound board so we need your help more than ever. With the improvements we are making to all of our worship spaces we want to make sure we are good stewards of our progress and have volunteers we can call on to make our sound systems run well. It is very easy, and does not require any experience whatsoever. If you want to be a part of this wonderful team them please contact Peyton Chandler ([email protected]).
|
Tyson Hall Tech Volunteers
We are looking for sound, lighting, and media volunteers for our 11:00 Contemporary services in Tyson Hall. Nash Osborne is excited to train and assist any willing volunteers to help make our Contemporary services in Tyson Hall as interactive and memorable as possible! We'll teach you everything you'll need to know. Please contact Nash Osborne ([email protected]) if you are interested.
|
 No Sunday Evening Worship
Due to the campus-wide power shutdown for our construction work, there will be no Sunday Evening Worship scheduled in the Rutland-Memorial Chapel this Sunday, August 19. Please make plans to join us on August 26 as Mickey Morgan leads our worship!
|
 Mission Night and More
Join us as we partner with Canterbury UMC and Trinity UMC on Wednesday, August 29 for a church wide family missions night. We will pack 500 flood buckets to send to Decatur before the hurricane season. We have learned to gather and pack these critical supplies before the first hurricane threat. This year, the three churches are partnering together to be proactive and have the warehouse ready to go to provide relief to hurricane affected areas.
There are many ways you can be a part of this mission project. Please see the sign-up genius below and pray about where you and your family or Sunday school class will participate. If you have any questions, please contact Rachael Hayes ([email protected]).
|
 Christmas Shoebox Ministry
Christmas Shoebox Ministry is back and in full swing! There are shoe boxes in the Missions office if you or your group is interested in putting them together. Please note that the deadline is a month earlier this year! All of the boxes have to be delivered to the Conference office by September 4. Now is a great time to get flip flops before they are out of season. Each box needs a pair of flip flops.
If you would like to pick up the boxes and materials, please contact Rachael Hayes ([email protected]). Also, remember there is a small shipping fee of $5 per box. You can write the check to VHUMC and put "Christmas Shoebox Ministry" on the memo line. We will be happy to get everything ready for you to pick up. Box distribution is on a first-come-first-served basis, so let's see if we can pack all 200 boxes we have this year!
|
Thank You for a Successful Year
Your Finance Committee would like to thank you for helping make the twelve-months ended June 30, 2018 so prosperous. Not only were we able to complete the largest fund-raising capital campaign in the church's long history, but we did this while ending in the positive ($58k) with our normal, operating budget.
Areas to consider going forward:
- Please keep those NEXT Campaign pledges coming into the church. We have already received 54% of the total amount that was pledged over a three-year time commitment. This helps to keep our loan interest cost down and reduces the chance of any unfulfilled commitments.
- It will be year-end Stewardship time before you know it. Recently, as much as 25% of our annual operating budget came from "unpledged contributions." This makes it harder to make sure all areas of the church are receiving adequate funding for their ministries. Thanks to all those who have turned in pledges in the past and for those that haven't, please prayerfully consider doing so during this fall's Stewardship campaign.
Your Finance Committee takes their task to heart and works hard for the best interest of our Church and congregation as a whole. We meet at least monthly and have a diverse group of both lay members, clergy, and staff. We strive to ensure that all funds are used in the best possible way in a transparent environment.
Thank you for all of your contributions of money, time, and talent during this very exciting time in our church. Please know that you are helping make a difference.
In addition to Gary, Natalie, and John, you can contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns about our finances.
William Hocutt, Finance Committee Chairman
|
 COA Classes for Fall Fall is a great time to begin music lessons! Our Conservatory of the Arts is ramping up and we don't want you to miss out! Registration for our fall session has started, so why not use this time to learn a new instrument, take voice lessons, to learn art skills, or to try a theatre class? Visit our new website by clicking the link below and register for your lessons today! Check out some of our new opportunities:
-
Showstoppers - We are excited to offer this musical theatre class by Holly Harrington for both boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 15 on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-7:00 pm. The class will run for 15 weeks culminating in a final performance in December. It will focus on promoting performance skills through learning specific songs, dances, and scenes from established musicals. Each class will include elements of singing, dancing, and acting.
- Photography Class - From Snapshots to Creative Photographs will once again be offered by Virginia Jones on Thursday evenings at 6:00 pm for high school students and adults. Class will begin on Thursday September 6 and run for 5 weeks. The class is designed for amateurs who want to improve their photographs. A basic working knowledge of your digital camera is encouraged.
- Clay Class - Larry Gibson will once again be returning to teach youth (ages 10 through 18). All students will use their hands and/or a pottery wheel to create both functional and unique clay pieces. Classes begin Monday, September 10 from 4:30-5:30 pm and meet most Mondays through December 3.
- Art Classes - Regular Art Class - Thursdays from 4:15-5:15 pm for students in Grades 1-3.
- Advanced Art Class - Tuesdays from 4:15-5:15 pm for students in Grades 3-8.
- Theatre Class - will run for 12 weeks culminating in a final production in late November. Intended for both boys and girls in 4th grade through high school, this class will help your student become more comfortable and confident while developing skills in acting, stagecraft, public speaking, and improvisation.
- Musicianship Class - a beginning Theory class for students as well as adults. If you have wanted to learn how to read music or are planning on majoring in Music in college and want to learn more music theory, taking this class will give you an edge in your musical knowledge. There are three levels of classes and we are offering Level 1 this Fall on Sunday afternoons. For adults, no prior music experience is necessary to take the class. For children, they would need at least one year of music lessons to enroll. Classes begin September 9.
|
 Kindermusik is Back for Fall
Come join our award winning Kindermusik classes here at VHUMC! Kindermusik with Michele & Friends is ranked in the top 5% of music programs in the world by Kindermusik International. We will be offering Sunday afternoon and Monday morning classes this fall for ages birth to 7 years old. Having fun is just the beginning! Our curricula and expert educators provide engaging musical learning experiences during the years most critical to brain development. We are proud to be able to offer classes here and know that you do not want to miss this opportunity for your children. Classes are designed to meet every child right where they are developmentally through music, movement, instrument play, dancing, singing, bonding with caregiver, story time, intentional touch, and so much more. Classes begin September 16 so don't delay. Open enrollment is available all year if space is available.
|
 Boomer Bible Study
Jim Frazier will be leading Adam Hamilton's video Bible Study: John (The Gospel of Light and Life). We will be meeting in room 147 in the Lighthouse, on Thursday nights, at 6:30 pm, starting September 6. The study will last seven weeks. For more information contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).
|
Brian Davis to Speak at VHUMC Prayer Breakfast
 Brian Davis, the director of Public Works for the City of Vestavia and an SEC Football line judge, will be our guest speaker on Wednesday, September 19, at 6:45 am, in the Fellowship Hall. Brian has worked for the city of Vestavia Hills for 17 years. In 2012, he was named the city's public services director. Because he attended the University of Alabama, Brian cannot officiate Crimson Tide games. Men, women, and students are all welcome to attend this special breakfast. The cost is $5. Please RSVP by contacting Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).
|
Please Drive Carefully
This is a particularly busy time to be driving around the church building. We still have a lot of construction equipment and workers in our parking lots, VDS has more than doubled their activity now that school is in session, and Vestavia Dance and COA students are arriving for lessons again. All of these activities increase the likelihood of on accident in our parking areas. Please put cell phones away and drive slowly as you enter our parking lots.
|
Growing Pains: Renovating for Our Future
 If you have not heard, the power is going to be off to most of the church next week. See the special article above. Pray that the weather is good as most of the work will be outdoors with lots of electricity.
|
Food Pantry
To coordinate with our projected week without power, the Food Pantry will not pack or give away food the week of August 19. The Food Pantry needs spaghetti sauce and Ziploc sandwich bags. We are always in need of the plastic grocery bags, preferably doubled and flat.
Mattress Sets Needed
We are also trying to help a family that lost their house in a fire to find two queen size beds with mattresses. If you can help contact Barbara Porter ( [email protected] / 444-9793).
Harvest of Hope Luncheon
The twelfth Annual Harvest of Hope Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, at The Club. A silent auction will begin at 10:00 am.
Founded in 2001, Oak Mountain Mission Ministries provides food, clothing, furniture, and financial assistance to those in need in the Greater Birmingham area. Individuals are referred to the Mission from domestic violence and homeless shelters, faith support churches, and social service agencies. Everything is given to screened, qualified clients at no charge. This past year, OMM assisted 6,120 families and the needs continue to grow.
To reserve a place at one of our VHUMC tables, please contact Barbara Porter (444-9793 or [email protected]).
Auction Baskets Needed
Support Family Promise by building a gift basket that will be sold via silent auction or raffle. This would be a great family, Sunday School, or other group project. Suggested basket ideas include Date Night, Movie Night, Wine and Cheese Basket, Beer Basket, Pet Lover's Basket, Golf Basket, Spa Package, Outdoor Package, Tailgating Package, and Dress Up Package. But, you can we as creative as you want. The suggested basket value is $150+. Baskets will be due to our Mission's office by September 14. If you are interested in donating a basket, please contact Rachael Hayes ( [email protected]). Thank you in advance for supporting our mission partner, Family Promise.
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
