The Notes - August 9, 2018

Volume 48

Issue 32

August 9, 2018

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 we'll begin a three-week 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. We'll take a look at how cell phones and other screens have eroded family life with practical suggestions to carve out a "screen-free" zone. We'll discover how to "make stress our friend" and the answers will surprise you. Finally, we'll take a funny and enlightening trip through the mind of a master procrastinator. We encourage you to watch the Ted Talks in advance as you join us for regaining balance in your life.

Grand Re-Opening

Please come and invite all your friends to join us in our new worship spaces (Tyson Hall and Sanctuary). We look forward to starting the new school year off with a bang, as we grow together and learn how to live out our Christ-centered Lives of Purpose. The gospel message is one of hope and love and we want to share it with everyone we know. Together, we can make a difference in our community and our world.

Back in the Sanctuary - For Now
Renovations are progressing in the Sanctuary, but they are far from complete. This Sunday, we will have all three worship services in the Sanctuary, but we will evaluate each week whether the Sanctuary has enough systems effectively running to allow for worship (air conditioning, lights, sound, etc.).

We anticipate completion of our Sanctuary improvements in late September. Check here weekly and in our "Growing Pains" section below for updates and Sunday worship locations. If we cannot have our traditional 8:30 and 11:00 am Sunday services in the Sanctuary, those services will be in the Fellowship Hall.

4th Grade Party
Many of our rising 4th graders will be combining together this year for the first time at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central. We would like to help them take this big step in their life by having them all together for a party. Our rising 4th graders are invited to come to the Lighthouse tomorrow, August 10, from 3:30-5:00 for skating, ice cream and games! Please register your child using the link. We are praying for all of our children as they prepare to begin another school year!

Lemonade Stands for the Homeless

This Sunday we will not only be moving to our new classes for Promotion Sunday, but we will also be helping the Birmingham homeless community. Outside the Tyson Hall entrance and outside the Preschool/Elementary floor, Kid Stands will be set up for donations to benefit Church of the Reconciler. Please make plans to stop by one of the stands after Sunday School or the 11:00 services and get a refreshing cup of lemonade. We can only accept cash and checks, so don't forget to bring your change!

August Hilltoppers Meeting Change

Most of the church is scheduled to be without power the week of August 19 so 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) or [email protected] 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.

Sunday Evening Worship
Come as you are and join us for a joyous evening of worship music led by Jim Frazier & Friends in the Rutland-Memorial Chapel.

Promotion Sunday
This Sunday is Promotion Sunday! Be on the lookout for a postcard from our Preschool or Elementary ministries to let you know your child's class and meeting room for the 2018-2019 school year. Hope to see you there!

Mission Night and More
Join us as we partner with Canterbury UMC and Trinity UMC on 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 make arrangements by contacting 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!

Save the Date
Mark your calendars for our first-time Rise Against Hunger fundraiser on Thursday, September 27, at the Hoover Randle Home. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks for a fun night to support our biggest community event at VHUMC.

Growing Pains: Renovating for Our Future

Work on our HVAC systems in the Adult Education Building is almost complete. We are in the final stages of testing and fine-tuning the air conditioning in each room. Most of the rooms are now usable for meetings and we are changing many of our room assignments accordingly. Please be sure and check your room assignment for any meeting that you have planned at the church.

Our Sanctuary renovations are going well. From the bottom of the boiler room to the apex of the ceiling changes are happening to provide more comfort (HVAC) and enhance your worship and meeting experiences (cosmetic changes). We will be worshipping back in the Sanctuary this Sunday, but will decide where services will be on a week-by-week basis as determined by power, sound, and air conditioning.

We are now planning for a week without power starting on Sunday afternoon, August 19. We will have services that morning. Please be aware that this is subject to change and we will keep you posted. The Lighthouse will still have power since they have a separate transformer.

Ongoing Outreach

Food Pantry

To coordinate with our projected week without power, the Food Pantry team will pack on Monday, August 13 and give away food on Wednesday, August 15. We will not pack or give away food the week of August 19. The Food Pantry needs spaghetti sauce and Ziploc sandwich bags. Thanks to the families who have brought bags of food received at birthday parties!

Oak Mountain Mission

Oak Mountain Mission needs two queen size beds with mattress sets for a family recovering from a fire. Please call Brenda (685-5757) for pick-up scheduling.

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 be 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.