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 Which Christmas Eve Service
On December 24 this year we will have services at 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, and 11:00. Childcare will be available at 2:00, 4:00 and 6:00. Last year we actually had to turn people away at the 4:00 hour when we provide a traditional service both in the Sanctuary and in Tyson Hall. We hate to turn away people in our community who may only attend church on Christmas Eve. If you have any flexibility in which service you attend, we would ask that you not attend the 4:00 services as a member to make room for guests from our community.
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December 29 Worship Service
This year, on December 29, we will only have one morning service at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary. Please join us for this unique service as Butch Williams prepares us for the new year. There will not be any scheduled Sunday School classes, but childcare will be available for birth-5k. |
 Service of Healing and Light
The holly-jolly Christmas atmosphere can be difficult if we are experiencing the recent loss of a loved one or a significant life-changing event. We need the space to acknowledge our grief and hold it up to the light of the Christmas message: God is with us. Come be a part of this very special service this Saturday, December 21, at 6:00 pm, in the Chapel!
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 Advent Offering
Rise Against Hunger is an organization that is striving to end hunger by 2030. Through their global initiatives, we can all play a part to reach that goal. At VHUMC, this year's Advent offering will benefit Rise Against Hunger. In April, our community wide meal packing event will pack over 300,000 meals to be sent to early childhood development centers around the world. This meal is sometimes the only hot, nutritious meal that those children receive every day.
Let's make this year's Advent offering one where thousands of children will receive what is truly needed. Your check or donation can be put in one of the Advent offering envelopes and marked RAH on the memo line. We will collect this special offering from December 8-29. It is truly better to give than receive, so let's give to those children. Your gift matters, no matter how great or small.
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Welcome New Members
Please join together to welcome Jennifer Echols to VHUMC. She joined at 9:45 service on 12/15, her husband Wes grew up at VHUMC and they have two children, Shep (3) and Caroline (10 months).
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 Happy Birthday Jesus Parties
Our children's preschool Sunday School classes will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior on December 22 during the Sunday School hour. We are asking each child to bring a new unwrapped baby blanket (any color) for the Baby Blanket Mission Project. These will be given to babies in UAB's NICU center. We hope you will come celebrate the most special birthday ever! If you have any questions please contact Anne Strozier ([email protected]). |
 Prayer 2020
Prayer 2020 is around the corner! Be sure to pick up your Prayer Guide for January after our Christmas Eve services or in the church office before January 1. Plan to participate in a Wesley Fast and come and pray in the Rutland Memorial Chapel anytime between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm on January 8. Receive Holy Communion between 5:00 and 6:00 pm that evening and stay for a 2020 Prayer Kickoff event for ALL ages led by Family Ministries from 6:00-7:00 pm. See vhumc.org for more details. We are excited to grow in prayer together for God's glory and honor and for Him to be made known at VHUMC!
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Important Year-End Giving Notice
In compliance with IRS law, we are only allowed to credit donations to 2019 that are either postmarked in 2019 or physically received at the church in 2019. Checks received in the office door drop box by midnight on December 31 will be credited to 2019. Donations brought to the church on Wednesday, January 1 or later will have to be credited to 2020. Thank you for your cooperation and for your generosity to VHUMC. |
Christmas Day Lunch Celebration
 Our Christmas Day Lunch at 11:30 am is a holiday meal with fellowship and sharing for anyone who will not be with family on Christmas Day. Turkey, dressing, rolls, and beverages will be provided. Please bring a dish to contribute to the meal. Members and visitors of all ages are invited. We ask that you make reservations by calling either Margaret Flowers (769-0112) or Jim Frazier (769-0126) by December 19. Also, if you would like to volunteer in any way please let us know.
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 Disciple Fast Track 2
Don't miss the 2nd series of Disciple Fast Track. Spring 2020 will focus on going deep into Genesis and Exodus. Participants will purchase a study manual with suggested readings of about 30 minutes/day. Groups will meet weekly for 75 minutes, listening to a video and discussing the material. The daily reading assignments are shorter than in Fast Track 1 allowing more time to practice the spiritual disciplines highlighted in each session.
Please specify days of the week that work best for you to meet in a small group. We will be putting together leaders and participants, based on these preferences. Books are $16 and can be picked up in the church office prior to your class starting. Classes will meet the weeks of January 12 - April 26.
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 Women's Story Teller Groups
Join these exciting new small groups for women as we learn how God is working in our lives. Growing in community and love has always been the call for the Church as we share our stories and lives together. Please register to let us know the day and time you can attend these weekly meetings, either in homes or at the church. For further information, please contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell ([email protected] / 769-0136).
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 College Scholarship Opportunity
The Dick Kelly Scholarship Fund is one of our Foundation Funds with the purpose of "providing college scholarships for church members." This year the fund can distribute up to $5,000. If you are a student or have a student already attending college or entering college next fall, we invite you to apply. Applications are available through the link and completed applications should be sent or given to John Sweeney ([email protected]). Awards will be based on both merit and need. The deadline for applications is January 10. Donations are also welcome to continue replenishing the fund.
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 Mother and Son Date Night
Come be a part of our Mother and Son Date Night as we head down to Vestavia Bowl for an evening of fun on Sunday, January 26, at 4:00 pm. Tickets are $15 per person and includes bowling plus a snack supper. This is an event for 5k through 5th grade boys and their mothers. If you have any questions, contact Anne Strozier ([email protected]). Register online by visiting the link below. The deadline to register is January 19.
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 Daddy Daughter Dance
The Daddy Daughter Dance will be Sunday, February 23 from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Lighthouse gym. The cost is $15 per person (additional daughters are $10). This is an event for 4K-5th grade girls and their father, or grandfather, or favorite uncle! If you have any questions contact Anne Strozier ([email protected]).
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 Julian Family Recital
The Julian family would like to invite you to their annual Family Recital in the Sanctuary, on Friday, December 20, at 7:00 pm. The evening will feature Rachel Julian on the organ, Karl Julian on the piano, Katrina Julian Booth on the violin, and Kyle Julian on the French horn. A reception will follow the performance in the church parlor.
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 Ballroom Dance Classes
Make ballroom dancing one of your New Year's resolutions. Add some exercise to your week, learn a new skill, and improve your social life with our new ballroom dance classes, every Tuesday starting on January 7. Our 6:30 pm class is designed for new dancers and will concentrate on the basics of each dance style. The 7:30 pm class is for intermediate dancers, giving you a chance to learn more varied and stylized moves. Both couples and singles of all ages are welcome. Each class will focus on a different dance each month and the price is only $5 per person for each hour.
Curt and Wendy Johnson, who have been teaching together for over 40 years, will lead us with fun and light-hearted sessions to help you gain confidence on the dance floor. Janet Harden, a member of our congregation, will be assisting. There will also be opportunities for the class to go out dancing socially, to be able to really use what you have learned.
To register through the Mindbody app or stop by the Lighthouse desk. For questions, contact Alli McGill ([email protected]).
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 Vinyasa Yoga Class in January
We will begin a new round of Vinyasa Yoga classes on Thursday evenings starting January 9. This new class is called Vinyasa Flow, and 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 in the Lighthouse. Classes are only $10 with your Lighthouse membership. Register using the Mindbody app or at the Lighthouse desk. Saturday 8:30 am yoga classes will continue as usual in December.
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 Collect Items for MLK Day
Our annual MLK Service Day is one of our first mission projects for 2020. You can help us get ready over the holiday season by collecting items that we will distribute to needy people in the community. We need unused make-up and cosmetics, used eyeglasses, gently used or new books, and old towels and linens.
If you have any of these items, please deliver them to the appropriate box in the Missions office by January 16. This is a great opportunity for those who may not be able to be here on MLK Day, but would like to be a part of service for our church and community.
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Thank You for Sharing God's Love
A special thank you to all the volunteers who have served in missions at VHUMC this year. There are a lot of moving parts in the missions' office, and the work that is done could not be done without the hundreds of volunteers that participate each and every year. So if you coordinated a mission project this year, made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, served on one of our many ministry teams, donated a car, donated a pair of socks, a gift card, diapers, a gift for the angel tree, or packed a meal for Rise Against Hunger, donated a canned good for the food pantry, prayed for our mission teams overseas, hammered a nail, or one of the many things that I have not even mentioned, I want to personally thank you for sharing God's love. It only takes one act of kindness through a smile, a hug, or just saying yes when God puts something on your heart to show people God. Thousands of people were touched this year through VHUMC because of the wonderful volunteers that serve, so thank you!
Rachael Hayes, Missions Coordinator
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Ongoing Outreach
What's Ahead in 2020
Be on the lookout for ways to support or be involved in VHUMC's Orphan and Foster Care Ministry. There are currently over 6,000 children in DHR custody in out-of-home placement in Alabama. Over 300 of these children have had parental rights terminated, but no adoptive family has been identified. According to UNICEF, there are 153 million orphans worldwide. Our prayer is to support these children, their adoptive and foster families, and organizations whose mission it is to help care for these children. For more information, contact Kristin Mizerany ( [email protected]).
Urban Ministry Kids
Urban Ministry Kids needs gently used coats, jackets, and shoes for their after-school children (ages 4 to 13). Please put them in the three wooden bins around the church. Circle One members will deliver them. Thank you.
Wrapping to Support Family Promise
As our annual tradition continues, we will have a booth at Brookwood Mall to wrap gifts this Friday, December 20. This fundraiser helps support Family Promise, and VHUMC has been a part of it since the beginning. VHUMC's day is tomorrow and you can come by anytime to have one of our volunteers wrap your gifts while you finish your shopping. A special thank you to Marsha Yarbrough for coordinating our efforts this year. She has almost all the spots filled, but still needs a couple more volunteers for the 3:00-5:00 pm and 5:00-7:00 pm shifts. If you have a couple of hours and want to help gift wrap and support Family Promise at the same time, then please contact Marsha Yarbrough ( [email protected]).
Food Pantry
Thank you to Vestavia Day School for all of the many food items they brought us last week. We certainly enjoyed having them down for a tour of the pantry. Thank you to everyone for your continued support for our 500 families during this Christmas season. It has been a very busy month.
Oak Mountain Mission
Oak Mountain Mission needs extra-large adult coats and jackets, blankets, winter wear and small heaters. No summer items, toys, or Christmas decorations at this time.
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