The Notes - September 27, 2018

Volume 48

Issue 39

September 27, 2018

Won't You Be My Neighbor
Don't miss our upcoming three-part sermon series called "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" starting on Sunday, October 14. We will focus on stewardship and our call to change the world as a collective church.

New Mid-Week Worship Service
We live in a very hectic world with lots of choices. Let's face it, coming to church on Sunday morning can seem like one more thing to check off our list.

That is why every Wednesday night we have a guilt free worship service in Tyson Hall. It starts at 6:05 pm and ends promptly at 6:50 pm so you can pick up your children or your students from their Wednesday night activities. Each week you will hear from one of our preaching pastors and the 45 minutes we share will be very different from our Sunday morning worship. We don't want anyone to feel guilty about missing Sunday worship, we just want you to have the space and time to reset and breathe in the middle of the week. Our goal is for everyone to walk out of worship with a renewed spirit and some practical applications. Consider joining us for Mid-Week Worship so we can all hit the reset button together.

Current Financial Report

We have posted an updated financial report below covering the first two months of our fiscal year. Over that period, our donations have been below average and below our budget (target) numbers. We are not overly concerned, but wanted to point out the current needs. If you can give more of your pledge early or give an extra amount to the General Fund, it would really help. All of our ministries and missions depend on your generous monthly giving.

Blessing of the Pets
Our pets are a blessing to us, join us in blessing them. Bring those special pets to the north lawn of the church so they can receive a blessing from our clergy on Saturday, October 6, at 10:00 am. Make sure to circle the date on your calendar! Also, if you would like to volunteer to help with this service, please contact Peyton Chandler ([email protected] / 306-3591) or Butch Williams ([email protected] / 769-0102).

Calligraphy and Penmanship Skills Needed
We are excited about our upcoming community-wide Blessing of the Pets event on Saturday, October 6th from 10:00 - 11:00 am at VHUMC! For each pet that is blessed we have a nice certificate of blessing upon which we want to insert each pet's name. If you have calligraphy talents or very nice penmanship we can use your help! We'd like to have 5-10 people adding the names to the certificates on site, so if you can help please contact Peyton Chandler ([email protected] / 306-3591) or Butch Williams [email protected] / 769-0102).

Grief Support Group
If you're struggling with the loss of a loved one, we invite you to participate in the "Give It To God" grief support group. The group is meeting each Wednesday evening through November 7. Dinner is provided at 5:30 pm followed by the group meeting from 6:00 pm until 7:15 pm in room 242 of the Lighthouse. If you would like to participate in these sessions, or if you wish to learn more about the group, please contact Peyton Chandler ([email protected] / 306-3591).

Free Netflix of Bible Studies
Click the link below to start using this new free resource with over 20,000 Bible studies for adults, teens, and kids. Also, don't forget to download the app (search RightNow media in the app store) to watch on your mobile devices anytime.

New Class for Young Professionals
If you are in your 20's-30's, then please join a new group this Sunday after the coffee hour in the Fellowship Hall. We will gather to watch and discuss content from the new RightNow Media resource. We are also planning other events during the week, so let us know if you're interested by contacting Suzan Scott-Trammell ([email protected] / 769-0136).

Informal Joining Service
Have you been wanting to officially join the VHUMC community and make this your church home? If yes, please contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell ([email protected] / 769-0136) to discuss options. Joining during a worship service is a beautiful experience, allowing us all to renew our membership vows and commitment to one another. Or, if you prefer a more intimate setting, you can join during an informal joining service in the chapel on October 13 at 12:15 pm after worship. During this service we read the vows of membership and we share a meal together with a small group of our church family. Either way, we look forward to having you join VHUMC - a wonderful place to call home, where neighbors become family.

Sunday Evening Worship
Come as you are and join us to sing the old, familiar hymns of the church, experience loving, warm fellowship, and hear a word from Butch Williams about "Wandering from the Truth." The service is held in our beautiful Rutland-Memorial Chapel and will begin at 5:00 pm.

Canada and New England Cruise
Join Jim Frazier and Margaret Flowers on this cruise of a lifetime as we travel on Norwegian cruise lines September 22-29, 2019. We will be flying from Birmingham to New York where we will board the ship. We will see some of the most beautiful sights as the fall colors are turning. Save $150 if you register by Sunday, September 30 or save $100 if you register by November 30. For more information please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).

Oberammergau Informational Meeting

VHUMC will be offering two chances to see the best Passion Play in the world. This event only happens once every 10 years. Bill Brunson and Jim Frazier will have an informational meeting on Sunday, October 28 at 4:00 pm in room 316.
The trip dates are:

June 17 - 26, 2020 : The Passion Play and the Best of Switzerland
July 30 - Aug. 10, 2020: The Passion Play and the Romantic Danube River Cruise

We have a limited number of seats and they are filling up fast. For more information please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).

A Wonderful Prayer Breakfast
On Wednesday, September 19, we had a wonderful VHUMC Prayer Breakfast, with Brian Davis, Public Works Director for the City of Vestavia Hills. We learned how Brian rose to this position with the City, all about his "part-time" job of being a SEC football official, and the personal challenges in his life. As you can guess, the SEC officiating was front and center for our group. It means so much to hear others share their faith walks.

If you have any ideas for speakers for our Prayer Breakfast, please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126). We invite you to future events as this is a great way to connect with God and a great way to start the day with others in prayer!

Thank You Juli Hansen
Juli Hansen has been an incredible asset to our Thrive staff as Student Ministries Administrator since February 2017. We are sad to announce that October 11 will be her last day with us as she takes a new job as a para-educator in exceptional education at VHHS.

The student ministry department is looking for a part-time administrator to help with events, attendance, forms, and other administrative items. We would love to find someone with administrative skills who can work 25 hours a week. Most of the work time will be during the day with occasional nights or weekend responsibilities.

If you know someone who might be interested, please have them send a resume to Emily Boles ([email protected]). In the meantime, give Juli a big ole' hug and thank her for all her tireless work and the many hours she dedicated to our students!

Middle School Retreat
We are so excited to announce a new location for our Middle School Retreat! We will be spending the weekend at Timberlake Ministries in Millport, AL. Register now through October 2. Late registration will continue through October 11 with a 10% late fee with no guarantee of a t-shirt. After October 11, we will only be able to add students to a wait list. No exceptions, so register early! There is a sibling discount of 50% off the registration price! Enter promo code: "siblingdiscount" when registering your students.

We also need chaperones! This is a first come, first serve basis so please let us know asap if you would like to chaperone by emailing Juli Hansen ([email protected]).

Seniors Only 2019
Seniors Only has begun, but you can still be a part! Join us for this monthly meeting to help prepare our senior students for college. Seniors will meet in the Student Ministries Cafe on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm. The next meeting is October 2. The cost is $50 and includes dinner and materials.

Live2Lead Leadership Event
Bring your work team and friends for this half-day event at VHUMC on November 1 (lunch provided). Check out the powerful lineup for this simulcast discussing "The Art of the Shift," how to stay agile and effective in a changing world. For more information, and registration, visit the link below.

Men's Ministry Survey
We are always looking for ways to improve what is being offered at VHUMC. The Men's Team would like to know what you think about the men's ministries that are being offered and what ministries you would like to see us offer. Please take a minute and click on the link and help us improve the ways we reach out to our church and community through men's ministry. For more information, please contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 768-0126).

Save the Date for Some R&R
Mark your calendars and save the date for our first ever fundraiser to benefit our very own Rise Against Hunger Event. Join us on November 1 from 6:00-9:00 pm for a little R&R (Rice and Revelry) at the Hoover Randle Home and Gardens on Tyler Road. We will have a fun evening for hunger relief benefiting our meal packing event in April 2019. More details coming later, but go ahead and mark your calendar. Tickets are only $29 - which will feed 100 children. Tickets are limited so be on the lookout for when registration opens in a couple of weeks.

Mae Mae's Hugs October Coat Drive

Mae Mae's Hugs will be collecting children and adult coats during the month of October. Would you help? If you are cleaning out your closet and have gently worn coats to donate, please wash them and bring them to the church. Or if you are purchasing new coats, would you consider purchasing an extra coat for this effort? Purple boxes will be placed at the chapel, preschool and Tyson Hall doors. Coats of all sizes are needed for young children and adults. You can also make a donation online and new coats will be purchased with these funds. It is our hope that through this ministry, the children across the state, can receive winter coats to keep them warm, as if receiving a warm, loving hug from Mae Mae and VHUMC. If questions, email Anne Strozier ([email protected]).

Canned Food Drive for Bridge Ministries
VHUMC is hosting a canned food drive for our ministry partner, Bridge Ministries. Bridge Ministries is our main referral resource for those who need benevolence assistance such as rent and utility payments. The canned food drive is a great way for us to help this ministry that has been such a blessing for us. Their food pantry is getting low on some specific items. The needed foods are:

Canned meat
Vegetables with low sodium and/or no salt added
Fruit with no sugar added
Glucerna and Ensure
Full sized hygiene products

Please drop off your canned goods in the church office by September 30. If you are interested in helping deliver the items to the ministry, please contact Rachael Hayes ([email protected] / 769-0143).

Growing Pains: Renovating for Our Future

We can foresee the end of our construction project, but we still have a few weeks left. It is exciting to see improved items in our Sanctuary and Narthex. Please continue to pray for worker safety and continued progress as we complete the Sanctuary Organ Screen, boiler room HVAC, and other items. We are looking forward to having everything completed and cleaned up soon.

Unfortunately, we could not get our renovations to the Adult Education Building elevator inspected this week. That means the elevator will be out again this weekend. We should have it back in operation sometime next week. We apologize for this inconvenience. The end product will be a more reliable elevator for everyone.

Ongoing Outreach

Food Pantry

The Food Pantry needs tote bags with handles for fresh veggies. Even though the farmers market has closed, we are still receiving items from one of the vendors. We also need fresh oranges, apples, etc. Thank you!

Oak Mountain Mission

Oak Mountain Mission only needs adult plus-size fall and winter clothing, boy's jeans, and children's jackets and coats. No other clothing at this time please. They always need dishes, glasses, pans, silverware, and linens. For furniture pick-up, please contact Brenda (685-5757). Remember, furniture needs to be in the basement, garage, carport, or outside. Thank you!

Table of Hope to Benefit Urban Ministry

We'd love to see you at Table of Hope on Thursday, October 4! This year is incredibly special as it marks Urban Ministry's 40th anniversary. Join us to participate in our silent auction, enjoy fine dining, and share a one-of-a-kind evening with our esteemed guest City of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. To purchase tickets, visit the link below.

Wednesday Night Menus

October 3 - Salad, Hamburger OR BBQ, French Fries, Ice Cream. Kids: Pizza
October 10 - Salad, Orecchiette w Bolognese OR Marinara, Sautéed Veggies, Cobbler. Kids: Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese
October 17 - Chicken Parmesan OR Country Fried Steak, Mac & Cheese, Broccoli Amandine, Chocolate Trifle. Kids: Pizza
October 24 - Pot Roast OR Baked Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Braised Carrots, Mac & Cheese, Cake. Kids: Chicken Nuggets
October 31 - No Meal