The Notes - May 21, 2020

Volume 50

Issue 21

May 21, 2020

Feeding the Masses
During this pandemic, VHUMC continues to feed those in need. During this pandemic, VHUMC continues to feed those in need. Since March, several groups, volunteers, Sunday school classes, and ministry teams have been feeding our homeless community every Thursday. We will continue to feed them through the month of May.

Also, during this season, VHUMC's Mission Team donated money to continue feeding children in the Vestavia Hills school system through Leadership Vestavia. This group partnered with local restaurants to pack and provide lunches for the children. It is a win for all involved - children get the food they need and restaurants get community support.

Our food pantry will continue its operations as a drive thru every other week to those needing food in the Birmingham community. Their next distribution will be May 27 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. All who participate must wear gloves and masks and stay in their cars when they arrive at the church.
Even in a pandemic, VHUMC continues to serve and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you to all who have helped make this possible over the last few months.

Vacation Bible Camp
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Thou hast been summoned to join us at our Virtual Bible Camp, June 8-11, as we learn to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of God's power!

Since we aren't able to gather in large groups, we are going virtual! You can register your 4K through 5th graders (as of the 2019-2020 school year) now. Before the week of Bible Camp, you will have the opportunity to pick up supply bags and t-shirts for each child you have registered. Beginning June 8, your child will be able to watch interactive videos and use the hands-on supplies and ideas in their bags to help them learn about being strong in the Lord!

Thanks from Brookwood Hospital
VHUMC has been providing meals to Brookwood Hospital employees every Tuesday in May. Please keep the cards and notes of encouragement coming, they love them! Check out a glimpse of their appreciation for these meals as they serve tirelessly. Thanks to Charlie Gagne in the VHUMC kitchen and to our many volunteers who have delivered meals and made cards to send to them.

Alpha: A New Type of Bible Study
Are you looking for a Bible study in the fall where you can learn the basics of the Christian faith? Alpha is a small group experience where we can discuss topics such as faith, life, and God. Each class starts with an engaging video to launch discussion. Please indicate the day and time of the week that will work best for you and invite your friends. This is a class each of us can dig into as we seek to experience our Christ-centered lives of purpose.

Fall Disciple: Luke and Acts
Join many others across VHUMC as we dig into deeper Bible study in the Fall Disciple series: Luke and Acts. The first few weeks we will finish out the curriculum from spring classes we didn't get to finish, then we'll launch into an exciting study of Luke and Acts. Please use the link below to indicate the day and time that works best for you.

COVID-19 Response Team Update
We wait in anxious anticipation as the state reopens the economy, and we continue to pray and plan to be available to our community - meeting needs that arise. We thank all of you for checking on your neighbors, for responding to needs as volunteers, and for furnishing resources to help others. Please keep checking the web page (www.vhumc.org/coronavirus) for the latest updates and information. The weeks ahead will be important ones for all of us - be wise with your choices, exercise patience, and keep loving your neighbors as we return to a more "normal" time.

In the interim, we are assisting our various mission partners, local and state agencies, and individuals with the resources we have available. Our HOW CAN WE HELP phone line at (205) 259-8835 continues to receive frequent requests, as does our HELP REQUEST FORM. Sunday School classes, small groups, and individuals of all ages are responding and helping. Together, we are making a positive difference in the lives of others.

Bundles of Hope Drive
Our annual donation drive with Bundles of Hope just has one week left! This year, we are providing wipes for their ministry since they are well stocked at the moment with diapers and are delivering to those in need as fast as they can. Our collection method is virtual, of course, with drop offs at the church office entrance. Our virtual drive ends next Thursday on May 28.

The links below will give you more information and includes the option if sponsoring a child for a year. You can also donate to Bundles of Hope by texting "GIVE" to 205-374-9109. On behalf of all the mothers, thank you for supporting Bundles of Hope.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1F131NTGCHO8Z?ref_=wl_share
https://bundlesdiaperbank.networkforgood.com/projects/38440-sharing-hope-one-bundle-of-diapers-at-a-time

Treasurers of Ireland Trip
Travel to Ireland with Dr. Bill Brunson November 2-11, 2020. We have been able to move the registration deadline back to August 4. Click on the link below to view more details about the trip. For more information contact Jim Frazier ([email protected] / 769-0126).

Next Church Blood Drive
Our recent Blood Drive with the American Red Cross, was a huge success, surpassing our goal by 62 percent! Many thanks to our donors and volunteers who made this drive a success.

Our next blood drive will be Wednesday, July 1, in the Lighthouse, from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. This drive will be critical for the American Red Cross as they struggle to meet the demands of the current pandemic, and the spike in blood demand during the July 4th weekend. Your donation is really needed during this time. Please register using the link below.

Prayer 2020: This Week in Prayer
"Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13

Eternal God, Your love and your goodness know no bounds! You do not grow weary of loving us, even though we can be quite unlovable. You do not tire of blessing us with good things, even though we sometimes remain oblivious to the blessings or more significantly, to you, the One who blesses. Thank you! Forgive us Lord and open our eyes and hearts to fully recognize and respond to you! Because we know that you are love and that you desire our good, let us confidently anticipate and expect your goodness. Even in times of uncertainty, isolation and despair, let our hearts recognize your goodness and give you praise. For we know that nothing is impossible with the One who holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains (Luke 1:37, Psalm 95:4).

In the name of Jesus, amen.

Weekly Memory Verses
Between now and Virtual Bible Camp, children 4K through 5th grade will have the chance to learn a memory verse each week. You can send a video of your child reciting the verse to Jamie Meeks ([email protected]). Their names will be put in a drawing for a chance to win a Sparky puppet that week! Sparky is our mascot for VBC.

Our verse for 4K-5K is: "Let all that you do be done in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:14

Our verse for 1st - 5th grade is: "Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." - 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

We will choose our first winner this Sunday, May 24, at noon. The winner will be announced on our Facebook page.

Ongoing Outreach

Food Pantry

Our drive-thru food distribution every other Wednesday is working very well. Items needed are dried beans, peanut butter and jelly, soup, and breakfast items. Monetary donations are also being accepted through the slot in the office door. Please make checks payable to VHUMC marked for Food Pantry. Thank you!

Oak Mountain Ministry

Oak Mountain Mission is again distributing food. They are still not accepting clothing or other items. You might consider donating those items to Vapor Thrift Store or the Salvation Army.

Tornado Bucket Thank You

Last week we received a thank you note from a family that received one of our tornado buckets earlier in March. The letter read, "A heart felt thank you for the tornado bucket that my daughter and her family received after the March 3rd tornado in Cookeville, TN. People like you helped so much to get their lives started again! God bless you! - Joyce" They were safe, but lost their home.