Subject: The Notes | February 11 , 2020

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Volume 51

Issue 6

February 11, 2021

 

Ash Wednesday

Join us for our Ash Wednesday worship service next Wednesday, February 17, at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Limited, socially-distant seating will be available, and masks will be required at all times.

 

On Wednesday morning, from 7:00-9:00 am, we invite you to come to the church to receive drive-thru prayers and ashes in the large parking lot. In an effort to exercise COVID-19 precautions, we will offer you a small bottle of ashes to take home and apply to your forehead yourself and a Lenten Cross prayer card to keep close to you throughout the Lenten season. As you drive-thru to collect your ashes, one of our masked clergy members will offer a prayer to guide you in the days ahead.

 

If you would like to simply pick up your ashes and prayer cards, we will have them available in the Parlor Portico beginning on Monday, February 15 and ending on Thursday, February 18. 

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No Pancake Dinner

Because of Covid-19, the church has decided not to host our annual Pancake Dinner in February on Fat Tuesday. Our main focus is to continue to keep our members safe and healthy as much as possible. We hope and pray that we will continue this fun family event to kick off Lent in 2022.

 

Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets: Bookmarks 

We have received so much positive feedback from our sermon series, Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets, that we want to help you remember what we have learned. There are five simple questions to ask ourselves that will put us on the path to better decisions, but remembering those questions is not always easy in our busy lives. So be sure to pick up a bookmark listing the five questions. They are available in the welcome stations in both traditional and contemporary worship areas as well as the church office. Let's keep asking those questions together!

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COVID 19 Vaccine Registration

Many in our congregation now qualify to register to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. However, that registration process can be frustrating and confusing. Here are a few recommendations learned through our staff and congregation:

 

Most importantly, go online and register with the Jefferson County EMA. You only need to register once, and you are logged into their system to receive alerts when you can receive the vaccines. Once on their site:

  • Scroll down and click on VACCINE INFO REGISTRATION (green tab) 
  • Enter all requested information for you and members of your household
  • Be sure and check the box at the end of the form that says “Send me a copy of my responses”
  • Submit the form, and keep a copy of your form responses that will be confirmed with you. 

If you want to get vaccinated at the Hoover Met, call the UAB Medicine Access Center (open M-F from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm) at (205) 801-7474.

 

Some members in our congregation have had success registering at Main Street Family Care and DCH Health System (Tuscaloosa)

 

Other helpful websites with excellent updates on vaccines and overall pandemic information include UAB, Alabama Public Health, and the Center for Disease Control.

 

As you learn of vaccination sites opening please let us know; or if you need further help, please contact Margaret Flowers, Jim Frazier, or Butch Williams by calling the church at (205) 822-9631.

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Holland Stone Baptism

We celebrate the baptism of Holland Frances Stone on January 31. The proud parents are Anna and Whitt Stone and the awesome big brother is Martin Stone. We celebrate with grandparents Niki and Jerry Stone and Donna and Scott Hayes.

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Contemporary Worship on Social Media

Have you heard? VHUMC now has specific Facebook and Instagram accounts devoted entirely to Contemporary Worship! The majority of our worship content will be posted to these new social media accounts. Look for event updates, music and video content, opportunities to get connected, and more!

 

"One Week Left" - Lenten Sermon Series  

Lent is a spiritual period for fasting, prayers, and engaging in deepened spiritual practices. Lent will begin this year on Ash Wednesday, February 17, and end on Easter, April 4. Our Lenten Guide this year is a study of the last week of the life of Christ, as found in John’s Gospel. We also have weekly videos from Bill Brunson and Kipp McClurg as a guide to the study. Our Sunday sermons for those weeks will also be based on these studies.

 

Our theme is “What if there were just one week left?” We will study that critical week before Jesus’ death and resurrection. How did Jesus act? Whom did he visit? What conversations did he have? What fears did he face?

 

As we apply this same simple question to our lives, we will ponder some of the same questions that Jesus faced. What relationships would we attempt to strengthen? To whom would we say goodbye? What extravagance might we grant ourselves that we would never dream otherwise?

 

Finally, we will ponder - “What if we were to live every week as if it were our last? How should we live differently? Join us for this journey through John’s lens as we walk with Jesus to Jerusalem, and to the cross.

 

Ready to Join VHUMC?

We are holding small joining services on Sundays at noon in the chapel. We stay socially distanced with a maximum of four families. If you would be interested in joining on February 21 or 28 or another date, please click the link and complete our new member form. You can also contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell (769-0136 / sstrammell@vhumc.org) for more information.

 

No Bible Pathfinders this Week

We are holding small joining services on Sundays at noon in the chapel. We stay socially distanced with a maximum of four families. If you would be interested in joining on February 21 or 28 or another date, please click the link and complete our new member form. You can also contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell (769-0136 / sstrammell@vhumc.org) for more information.

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Prayer Breakfast   

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 17, for another in-person Prayer Breakfast hosted by Thrive Student Ministries and Family Ministries. Parents and students are invited to join us from 7:00 - 7:30 am for breakfast, fellowship, and fun! Transportation will not be provided by VHUMC to the schools, so parents will need to coordinate transportation for their students.

 

6th - 12th grade students will meet in the Fellowship Hall with Thrive for a time of games, devotion, and fellowship with friends.

 

Parents will meet in Tyson Hall to hear a special message from Dr. Kristin Mizerany. Kristin is a pediatrician with Mayfair Medical Group, mother of two, and a church member. She will speaking with us about sleep, nutrition, and things to be aware of in your children. This will be the perfect follow up to last month’s talk from Ellery Berryhill on the mental state of our children and what they are dealing with daily during the pandemic.

 

Breakfast will be Chick-fil-a biscuits provided to both students and parents for free.

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Good Financial News   

I hope you have heard Gary Wyatt’s financial report in the recent “State of the Church” video. I wanted to add my comments to let you know that we are doing well financially.

 

We are halfway through our July-June fiscal year and your giving has been very strong. We have received $114,854 more than our income budget and our staff have kept our expenses $51,716 below our expense budget.

 

Our cash reserves are strong and our only debt is a Construction Line of Credit from our NEXT Capital Campaign. We still owe $45,000, but believe that we will pay that off in a month or two. Our Designated Funds currently total $706,661 and are fully funded in a separate bank account.

 

Our independent financial audit shows that we handled nearly $8.5 million in transactions in our previous fiscal year. They reviewed hundreds of those transactions and found everyone to be correctly documented! We are glad to have Gary Wyatt and Natalie Giesen who handle our finances with integrity and accuracy.

 

Please be sure and continue your giving to the church so that we can continue to be a church providing so many ministries to our members and our community.

 

Hank Patterson, Finance Committee Chairman

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Mission Month of Love

Because of Valentine’s Day, February is known as the month of love. As we enter the month, our mission focus is on Deuteronomy 10:12, “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” We are going to love and serve with our heart and soul this month. From February 1 to February 28, we will collect hygiene items for the “Lovelady Center.” Click here to find out their specific needs. Please donate one or more items from their list to the VHUMC Missions office no later than Sunday, February 28.

 

Costa Rica Mission Trip

Do you miss traveling? Are you ready to serve God in a different way, a way you have never experienced before? Then join VHUMC for our first “VIRTUAL” mission trip to Costa Rica. We will experience worship, prayer and devotion, interaction with our mission team as well as the team in Costa Rica led by UMC Missionary, Wil Bailey. He will take us on a cultural experience like no other each evening for three days in March. Our trip will kick off on Monday evening, March 7 and will conclude on Wednesday, March 9. This trip will be open for those of all ages as we experience God together and serve those in Costa Rica.

 

This virtual opportunity is your chance to learn more about the culture, the work that the Methodist Church is doing in Costa Rica and meet with our missionary Wil. It will definitely be an experience of a lifetime and hopefully one you will never forget. Registration will open on Monday, February 15. For more information, please email John Sweeney at jsweeney@vhumc.org.

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Join the Jesus Calling Podcast Group 

Join us as we dig deeper into the impact of Jesus Calling, which has touched over nine million lives. Register to receive an email every Wednesday with the week’s featured podcast and a reflection sheet from one of the week’s readings. Here are the podcasts from last week and this week:

For more information, please contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell (sstrammell@vhumc.org)

 

Register for Children’s Sunday School

Because of COVID-19, we still need to know if your children will be attending Sunday School in our nursery, pre-school, or elementary school classes. Please review the Sunday School protocol page on our website for instructions, what to bring, etc.

 

February Memory Verse

Our 1st - 5th graders have the opportunity to learn a different Bible verse each month. Children can either recite their verse in the elementary office before or after Sunday School, or send a video of themselves reciting the verse to Jamie Meeks (jmeeks@vhumc.org). Kids who recite their verse in the elementary office will get a sweet treat, and everyone who recites the verse will have a chance to win a grand prize at the end of the school year!

 

February's memory verse is: “You are God’s chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes. Don’t be proud. Be gentle and patient.” Colossians 3:12

 

Elementary Sunday School in February

In February our 1st - 5th graders will be learning to cheer each other on through kindness. God was kind to us even when we didn’t deserve it. Because of His love for us, we can be kind to everyone. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. When you show kindness to others, you give them a glimpse into the heart of God, and how much God loves them. Kindness should be a characteristic of people who follow Jesus. Not only did Jesus model kindness, but He also commanded it. He taught us to treat others the way we want to be treated.

 

Flower Memorials and Honorariums  

The altar flowers on February 7 were given in loving and joy filled memory of Mel Sparkman by Susan Sparkman

 

To schedule remembrance flowers in the Sanctuary, contact Nancy Remke (769-0107 / nremke@vhumc.org).

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The Carolyn White McGimsey Garden   

Our Columbarium sits within the McGimsey Garden of the church. How did this area get its name? Ben and Carolyn McGimsey were active members of the church who helped with our early scouting ministry. Carolyn became the church secretary in 1960 and served in that role until her death in 1981 – assisting four of our senior pastors. Her office overlooked a garden between the Chapel (our original Sanctuary) and our current Sanctuary. She loved the garden and it was named in her honor after her death. If you would like to know more about our Columbarium, please contact Gary Wyatt (769-0108 / gwyatt@vhumc.org) or Melinda Burnett (769-0115 / mburnett@vhumc.org).

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Ongoing Outreach

Food Pantry

The Food Pantry received lots of food from the Vestavia Elementary Dolly Ridge food drive last Friday. Thanks to all who participated. Needed items are dried beans, rice, breakfast items, and peanut butter & jelly.


We are collecting household items for one of our families who lost their house in a fire. They need cookware, silverware, glasses, utensils, towels, toiletries, etc. Also ladies clothing size 22 and size 10 shoes. Drop items in the donation box by the office. Thank you.


A special thanks to these high school boys for helping empty the delivery truck from the Community Food Bank on Tuesday. They filled all seven freezers and unloaded 10,000 pounds of food.

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February Mission with Grace Klein

"LOVE DOES" is the February campaign of Grace Klein Ministries as they share Valentine's cards, flowers, and goodies to as many community heroes as they can during the month of February. Can you help by donating supplies or heart-healthy snacks, making Valentine's cards, bagging/boxing up treats, arranging flowers to give out, or delivering bags/boxes to nursing homes and hospitals? To signup please click link or visit them in person at 2652 Old Rocky Ridge Road, Birmingham, AL 35216.

General Fund Fiscal Year 2021

 

Donations the past week


July - December 2020
Donations
Other Income
Total Income

Actual
$86,758

 


$1,989,982
$822,159
$2,812,141

Targeted
-$23,257

 


+$94,984

+$19,870

+$144,854

 

Care and Support
Congratulations, hospitalizations, and sympathies

Prayer Request

Please be in prayer for the following persons:

Memorials & Honorariums

 

{church}  |  2061 Kentucky Avenue, Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35216  |  {ChurchPhone}

 

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