The Notes - October 24, 2019

Volume 49

Issue 43

October 24, 2019

Live2Lead Leadership Event
Don't miss the 2019 Live2Lead event next Tuesday, October 29. The simulcast is hosted by VHUMC and the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. We have hosted this for the past three years and this is the best year ever, with fabulous speakers sharing their stories of leadership and influence. Also, you may qualify for CEU's. The cost is $25 and includes both breakfast and lunch. Register online using the link below. For questions or information, contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell ([email protected] / 769-0136).

Annual Stewardship Campaign

As we move into Fall, our Annual Stewardship Campaign is on the horizon. This year's theme "Gratitude" will feature a sermon series, powerful messages from some of our members, and an opportunity for each of us to celebrate God's presence in our lives by committing to a pledge for 2020. Our campaign officially kicks off this Sunday, October 27, but we invite you to join us in praying for this campaign and how your family will respond to a commitment to support our church financially for 2020.

Video and small group discussions surrounding our sermon series are also available on our website by using the link below, or on the small groups section of our app.

Student Ministry Staff Changes
We are excited to share some long-planned changes to our staff responsibilities and titles in Thrive Student Ministries! Click the link for more information about Emily Boles, Jeremiah Stone, Kenzie Butler, Miles Erbe, and our goals for you and your family.

Upward Basketball and Cheerleading

Come join us for a great season of basketball and cheering in a family focused and friendly environment. Kids will learn to play the game as a team as well as develop skills to take their game to the next level! This league is for kids K4-8th grade. The first practices are the week of November 4, and the first game is on November 16. The season will go through early February with a break for Thanksgiving and Christmas / New Year holidays.

Registration is $105. You can register online at the link below or in person at the VHUMC Lighthouse. We are looking forward to seeing your family participate with us this fall! For any questions about the league or season, please contact Miles Erbe ([email protected] / 769-0134).

An Evening of Welsh Hymns and Songs

Singing is part of Welsh identity and tradition. Wales has always been associated with music, ever since the first Celtic settlers arrived on their land. Come and join Harold Hagler and the Gospel Jubilee Singers for an evening of beautiful Welsh music this Sunday, October 27, at 5:00 pm, in the Rutland-Memorial Chapel. For more information please contact Jim Frazier (769-0126 / [email protected]).

Welcome New Members
Please welcome these new members into the VHUMC community of faith:

Angela and Will Stevens (JD & Williams - 4 yrs old) - Joined in the 9:45 worship service
Lisa and Jim Medley - Joined in the 11:00 traditional worship service

Each of these couples will be visiting Sunday School classes to see which is the best fit, so be on the lookout to welcome them. You can also see their pictures on the monitors around church and the bulletin board beside the church office.

Record Number of Guests at VHUMC

We have welcomed 52% more guests this year to VHUMC than we did in 2018 - a record number! This has created a need for a larger Guest Welcome Team to meet them at their door of entry and walk with them to their destination. All training will be provided. For more information or to volunteer, contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell ([email protected] / 769-0136). Come be a part of this amazing team as we live out John 13:35!

Tablescapes Tickets
Join us on Tuesday, November 5, for Tablescapes! We have lots of fun to look forward to at this event as hosts decorate each table with brilliant themes. The doors will open at 10:30 am to view the tables, with lunch beginning at 11:30 am. Our wonderful guest speaker is women's interest and lifestyle publisher, Phyllis Hoffman DePiano. Tickets will be available for purchase using the link below, or from the main office!

You can also sign up to decorate a table of your own. Tables can be really simple, and our committee is happy to help you decorate. For more information about decorating a table, please contact Cheree Carlton ([email protected] / 979-1837).

Financial Update
It's a great time in the life of our church. We recently completed a very successful fiscal year (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019) both for our General Fund and our NEXT Capital Campaign. Thank you to everyone who contributed to allow our church to continue to grow and spread God's word.

After the first three months of this fiscal year (July - Sept), giving amounts have been lower than expected and we are currently $108k behind our budget. We need your help to make up this gap. If possible, please give to help us finish the calendar year strong and get back on budget.

Additionally, over the next few weeks you will be hearing more about our 2020 stewardship campaign. Let's have record participation this year and continue to move our church forward.

Your finance committee is a diverse group of lay members and clergy who work hard to ensure that our funds are used in the best possible way. Our financial records are always open to our members and Gary, Natalie, John, and I are always happy to answer your questions or concerns about our finances ([email protected]).

William Hocutt, Finance Committee Chairman

Boomer Pickleball and Pizza
If you are 50 years or older, please plan on coming by the Lighthouse on Friday, November 1, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm for a fun evening of Pickleball and Pizza. Alli McGill will be available to show us how to play Pickleball. We will have plenty of free pizza and drinks in the lobby. Please make reservations by contacting Jim Frazier (769-0126 / j[email protected]).

Lucy Show Bible Study
The Boomer & Beyond Bible Study will be studying the Lucy Show Bible Study on Thursdays in November (7, 14, and 21), at 6:30 pm, in room 203. Join us as we watch full episodes of the classic Lucy Show and then learn Biblical truths. For more information please contact Jim Frazier (769-0126 / [email protected]).

Carnegie Project
The VHUMC Chancel Choir is partnering with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra Chorus and five other churches to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City next April. The newly formed ensemble "Birmingham Voices" consists of singers from Trinity, Cahaba Heights, St. Mark, and Clanton UMC's, Vestavia Baptist, and the ASOC.

There will be a series of concerts in the Birmingham area to prepare for the Carnegie debut. The first concert will take place at VHUMC on Sunday, November 3, at 6:30 pm, in the Sanctuary. It will feature composer K. Lee Scott's Gloria as well as other selected smaller works. The choir will be conducted by Dr. Quint Harris and accompanied by Karen Krekelberg and the Cathedral Brass ensemble. This is a free event to the public but donations to help cover costs for instrumentalists are accepted and appreciated. For more information contact Quint Harris ([email protected]).

Charcuterie Class
The holiday events and parties are just around the corner. Would you like to wow your family and friends with your culinary prowess? If so, join us on Wednesday, November 6, at 6:00 pm, in room 202 to master the art of charcuterie. Participants will receive a hand-crafted cutting board and all the essentials to make your own beautiful display to take home that night. There will also be a drawing for two door prizes: a chocolate charcuterie and a breakfast charcuterie. The cost is $35 and you can register online using the link below.

New Vinyasa Yoga Class
This class will fire up your strength and core as you practice proper posture alignments, mindfully flow through sequences, and build heat from within by connecting breath with movement. Please join us each Thursday evening from 5:45-6:30 pm in the Lighthouse. Classes are only $10 with your Lighthouse membership. Register using the Mindbody app or at the Lighthouse desk.

Behind the Scenes Church Tour
Our VHUMC building has a lot of secrets that you may not know about. Would you like to see the underground river, indoor pool, tv studio, secret tower, food ministry, pottery kiln, and so much more? Join us for a tour on November 13 at 6:00 pm, starting in the Tyson Hall lobby.

Paint Pouring Art Class
Have you ever wondered how to do a pour painting? Paint pouring is a fun and easy way to create one-of-a-kind works of art. Even if you've never painted before and don't consider yourself an artist, this technique is something anyone can do. All it takes is the right supplies and a little know-how, which you'll learn here. Join us in the VHUMC Lighthouse on November 13, at 5:00 pm for a night of fun, fellowship and fancy art! This class is for ages 16 and up, and space is limited. For more information contact Alli at ([email protected]).

Women's Story Teller Groups
We all have a different story, but we also have a part in the larger story of God's love for each one of us. Learning to tell your story allows you to see the many ways God has moved or is moving in your life. But your story should not be told in isolation because hearing it will allow other women to experience God in fresh new ways.

If you are a woman looking for a small group where you can be vulnerable and authentic, join us in these small groups starting the week of January 12. Please complete the online form to indicate what works best (for childcare choose Sunday or Wednesday night). Books are available as we interact with others' stories on the journey to articulate our own.

We look forward to learning together what it means to tell our story and discover how someone else's story can speak into your life and your heart. This class is for women of all ages and stages of life as we experience God's love through the power of a story.

Come Share A Bear
All children are invited to bring a new Teddy Bear on "Share A Bear Sunday" for our Fall Mission Project. Please bring the new Teddy Bear to the 8:30 or 11:00 Worship Service on November 24. Our bears will be blessed during the Children's Moment and then given to the children at Children's Harbor. Please contact Anne Strozier ([email protected]) with any questions.

5th Annual Madrigal Dinner
Don't miss our feasting and hilarity, our music and our revelry, at our 5th Annual VHUMC Madrigal Dinner. Our New Life Singers Student Choir will be in full costume and full of clever comedy as we visit a 16th century castle for food, fun, and frolicking. The jester will once again attempt to cause royal mischief and confound the audience with his starring role in "May the Farce Be With You." The dinner will be on Sunday, December 1, at 6:30 pm, in Tyson Hall. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased by November 25. For more information, please contact Quint Harris ([email protected] / 769-0114).

Upcoming VHUMC Trips
Two great trips are being planned for VHUMC. We will be going to Ireland November 2 -11, 2020 and on an Australia / New Zealand cruise in February of 2021. We will have a meeting about the trips on Sunday, November 17, at 3:00 pm, in room 316. Please plan on attending if you are interested in either of these trips. For more information, contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).

October Memory Verse
Our 1st - 5th graders are taught a different Bible verse each month. They have the opportunity to recite the verse before or after Sunday School in the sensory room for a sweet treat and a chance to win a grand prize at the end of the school year! October's memory verse is: "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets." - Matthew 7:12

Ongoing Outreach

Urban Ministry Needs Shoes

Got Shoes? Children involved with the Urban Ministry after-school program needs shoe (ages 4-13). Children so often come with shoes that are worn out or too small. If you have gently used shoes that your children no longer wear, please bag them and put them in the wooden bins around the church. We will see that they get to children that need them. This is a project of UMW Circle One.

Food Pantry

Thank you so much to VHHS for the huge food drive last Friday! Thanks also to the leadership team that brought us five trucks of food and unloaded them for us. We have a pantry full of food right now, but need donations to purchase turkeys for Thanksgiving. If you would like to help, please make checks to VHUMC marked for food pantry.

Oak Mountain Mission

Oak Mountain Mission needs working washers & dryers, lamps, end tables, night stands, and working small appliances. They also need children's fall and winter clothing. Call Roddy for a pick-up at 685-5757. They are open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am until 1:00 pm.

Help Still Needed In Lee County

There is still much work to be done restoring property and assisting the grieving people in Lee County after the March tornadoes that killed 23 people. A special thank you goes to all who sent gift cards to help those in that area; however, the need for help is still there.

If you are interested in helping "hands on," let us know. We need volunteers to travel to Lee County and assist with the rebuild. To learn about certification or volunteering, please contact Ginny Slay ([email protected]). She is our Team Coordinator for Disaster Relief.

Wednesday Nights at VHUMC

Classes/Programs starting at 6:00 pm

Men's Bible Study: Through November 20 - Room 204
Disciple Bible Study: Through November 20 - Various locations
Halloween and All Saints - What's the Connection?: October 30 - Room 202
Charcuterie Boards: November 6 - Room 202
Church Tour: November 13 - Tyson Lobby

Menus

October 30 - Baked Turkey or Pork Loin, Mac and Cheese, Crowder Peas with Snaps, Onions, Salad, Fruit, Cut Veggies with Dressing. Kids: Chicken Nuggets and Mac and Cheese
November 6 - Greek Chicken Leg Quarters or Swedish Meatballs w/ Gravy, Lemon Rice, Greek Green Beans and Tomatoes, Salad, Fruit, Cut Veggies with Dressing. Kids: Pizza
November 13 - Shepherd's Pie or Chicken Spaghetti, Broccoli, Salad, Fruit, Cut Veggies with Dressing. Kids: Chicken Nuggets and Mashed Potatoes
November 20 - Egg Casserole or Boiled Eggs, Bacon or Country Ham, Cheese Grits, Biscuits, Salad, Fruit, Cut Veggies with Dressing. Kids: French Toast Sticks