Subject: The Notes | July 15, 2021

Image

Volume 51

Issue 28

July 15, 2021

 

‘Quit It’ – A New Sermon Series
All of us have chronic behaviors or habits that can be an obstacle in our faith life. The challenge is to recognize those behaviors and quit them. It is much easier said than done which brings us to our newest sermon series, “Quit It.”
 
Join us this Sunday as we continue this four-part series about the need to quit grumbling, quit worrying, quit avoiding, and quit running. You’ll discover scriptural reasons to quit those behavior patterns plus practical tips to actually “quit them!” Our four preaching pastors (Bill, Kipp, Butch, and Sherry) are preaching on their aspect of quitting in each of our four worship services so you will get to hear them all. Don’t miss this coming Sunday!

Image
 

“Next Steps” for You and Vestavia Methodist
In October of 2019, a group of 100 church members and staff, participated in a strategic planning process with the Unstuck Group. We developed ideas and plans that we believed would dramatically improve the future of Vestavia Methodist Church. We were preparing the “Grand Reveal” of these plans to the congregation when COVID hit. While we were disappointed, the “COVID pause” has allowed us time to work on the background pieces that are critical to implement these new ideas. These included a new database, a new website, new outdoor signage to get guests to the right entrance, a clear plan for large events with follow up options (next steps) for those attending, a small group infrastructure, and new video and social media strategies.
 
The most important piece of our new strategy is the “Discipleship Pathway” that will give direction to Vestavia Methodist for the coming decade. It provides a plan of how to sequence the many great ministries of the church and provides “next steps” for spiritual growth after each class, event, or activity. The Discipleship Pathway helps people look for next steps, whether they have been a follower of Jesus for decades, or are just considering faith for the first time. It also enables the church to prioritize events, and purposefully create new ones for each stage in the journey of following Jesus. 
 
On August 8, we start a new preaching series on “Next Steps” which will help describe the Pathway, and the theology behind it. There will be a video series for small groups and Sunday School classes from our pastoral staff to help guide conversations around the next steps that individuals or families might take. So join us in worship as the new school year starts, and our congregation finds its “Next Steps” together.

Image
 

Celebrating Baptisms
We celebrate Charlotte (Lottie) Evelyn Brown who was baptized on July 11 at the 11:00 Traditional Service. The proud parents are Andrew and Megan Brown. Welcome to the family, Lottie!

 

We celebrate Carlisle Gray Garber who was baptized on July 11, at the 9:45 Service. The proud parents are Michael and Amy Garber and the awesome big brother is Campbell Garber. Welcome to the family, Carlisle!

Image
Image
 

Discovery Weekend Registration

We are excited to be hosting our Discovery Weekend 2021 here on-campus August 6-8! We are thrilled to be able to join together with our students and leaders for this special weekend of worship, fellowship, and fun! Click the registration link to register your students.

 

Volunteer to bring our most-needed items and help make Discovery a great weekend for all of our leaders and participants by clicking the Sign Up Genius link.

 

Fidget Mat Ministry Starting Back Soon

We have a great ministry of volunteers who make Fidget Mats at the church. Fidget Mats are made up of common items sewn into placemats to safely stimulate and soothe people with Dementia, Alzheimer’s, PTSD, Severe Macular Degeneration, and Palliative Care. We provide these to nursing homes, the Veterans Administration, adult day care facilities, hospice agencies, and families caring for persons with Dementia, Parkinson’s, PTSD, or end of life issues.


We need volunteers to help make the mats. Putting a Fidget Mat together is like creating a collage - we place items on a mat that allow a person to twist, squeeze, pull, rub, or turn. No prior sewing experience is necessary. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, August 24, from 10 am to 2 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please come join us.


We also need supplies: placemats, ribbon, zippers, key chains, jeans pockets, small toys, game pieces, large buttons, beanie babies, infant socks, ties, belts, Pom-Poms, small jewelry bags, golf tees, patches, small crosses, Mardi Gras beads, etc. If you can supply some of these, please bring them to the church office. Thank you.

Image
 

8:30 Worship Service is Changing

As we all adjusted to COVID-19, one of our most popular changes was moving our 8:30 am Sunday Worship Service outside behind the Lighthouse and in Dick Kelly Park. It has been well attended as weather permitted for over a year! With the risk of COVID transmission now greatly reduced and with the projected rise in temperature and humidity over our hottest months, we will move this service back into the Sanctuary beginning on August 8. As we move back into the Sanctuary, you are welcome to continue to “come as you are.”

Image
 

Farmers Market

The Vestavia Hills Farmers Market is open at Scout Square every Wednesday from 10 am to 1 pm through August 25. The market is one of VHUMC's missions, with proceeds from the market used to buy produce from the farmers which is given to the families of our Food Pantry. With your support the market expects to provide the food pantry with $500-$600 worth of produce every month. The market this year has a much larger number and variety of vendors. In addition to the traditional fruit and vegetables, our vendors offer other items including snow cones, kettle corn, jewelry, tie-dye t-shirts, cut flowers, casseroles, Greek food, seafood, desserts, gourmet olive oil, homemade dog treats, and homemade soap.

Image
 

Meals for Missions

VHUMC is bringing you a new way to give back starting July 28th! Five times a year, we will prepare and sell five different foods, helping five different ministry partners. How great is that? All you have to do is register and pay for what you order and then swing by the church and pick up your food. It’s that simple!

 

Mark your calendars for the upcoming dates of meals for missions: July 28-Salads, October 27-Soups, February 23-Soups, March 30-Casseroles, June 29-Salads.

 

Bike Drive for Trips for Kids of Birmingham

It is that time of year to clean out the garage and donate your “dusty not rusty” bikes, gear, and bike clothing during our bike drive benefitting Trips for Kids. All donations can be brought to the VHUMC Lighthouse from July 25-August 1. Contact Rachael Hayes (rhayes@vhumc.org / 769-0143) or Malcom Prewitt (mprewitt@vhumc.org / 769-0139) for more information.

Image
 

Christmas in July is Back and We Need Toys

Christmas in July is back, and we are stocking up for our Student Ministry's Christmas Breakfast in December. All age toys are accepted and appreciated. Please bring your unwrapped Christmas toys to the main church office anytime between now and the end of July. Toys should be new and unwrapped. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Anna Watts at wattsbrantanna@bellsouth.net.

Image
 

What Happens to the Columbarium Funds

A frequent question is “What happens to the money I pay the church for the columbarium?” All funds paid to the church for columbarium-related items go into a Designated Fund and are never spent on anything other than the columbarium. Fortunately, all of the current columbarium real estate and niches are debt free. Funds received when a niche is purchased are used to pay for the urns and plaques (currently $250 and $265 respectively) as current niche owners pass away. Excess funds pay for ongoing maintenance of the columbarium area and provide for future expansion and improvement of the columbarium. Because columbarium payments are for “goods and services,” those checks are not tax-deductible. 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).

Image
 

Ongoing Outreach

Oak Mountain Mission

Oak Mountain Mission is back and now accepting clothing items. They can be put into any of the 3 bins (by Tyson Hall, the church offices, and the Lighthouse). Shoes are still being collected in two barrels outside the Lighthouse. Thank you!

Image

General Fund Fiscal Year 2021

 

Donations Last Week

July 2020 - May 2021

 

Donations

Other Income
Total Income

Actual

$55,053

 

$3,684,171

$891,599

$4,575,770

Targeted

-$3,814

 

+$88,249

+$29,339

+$117,588

 

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}

 

<dropfromorg id="327">
Click here to be removed from The Notes.
</dropfromorg>