Advent Sermon Series

There is no such thing as a “Perfect Christmas,” especially in a year like 2020 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. But what about a “Perfect-ish Christmas?” This year’s Advent Sermon Series, “Perfect-ish,” will focus on how we can still experience the joy and grace of the season, even in 2020. The series will also reveal to us how the characters in the Advent and Christmas stories were, like us, real people who said “YES” to God and to the miracles they witnessed. Join us on Sunday, November 29th for the start of our Advent Sermon Series, as we move towards a “Perfect-ish Christmas” together!

We Are Open for Worship!

For many weeks we have been holding in-person worship, and as we continue in our COVID-19 safety protocols, in-person worship is continuing at VHUMC! Our in-person service times include 8:30 a.m. OUTDOOR worship in Dick Kelly Park, 11:00 a.m. INDOOR traditional worship in our Sanctuary, and 11:00 a.m. INDOOR contemporary worship in Tyson Hall.

Masks are required to attend any and all VHUMC worship services, as we remain committed to you and your family's safety. Also, we are VERY excited to announce that our 9:45 a.m. Sanctuary worship service will start back on Sunday, December 6th! We hope to see you at any of our various in-person worship services, as we prepare for our new Advent sermon series and the Advent season together!

Advent Prayer Guide

For VHUMC, 2020 began with the vision of three women, Jill Kimbrough, Kym Prewitt, and Julie Harper Pappalardo. Working with Lee Mathews and the VHUMC Prayer Team, their vision was of a full year dedicated to prayer, and thus, 2020 became “The Year of Prayer” at VHUMC. Of course, none of us could have anticipated a worldwide pandemic, nor the even deeper need for prayer that the pandemic would create. We entered 2020 with a prayer guide for the entire month of January. So, it seems only appropriate to end 2020 with an Advent Prayer Guide to help us focus on the birth of the One who came to save our world.

This guide offers one prayer per day from the start of Advent, through the end of December (11/29 - 12/31). The prayers in this guide represent the variety of ways we lift our love and gratitude to our God. Our hope is that these daily prayers will bless you, comfort you, and bring hope, peace, love, and joy as we all anticipate and prepare for the arrival of Christ once again. To easily download the PDF version of the Advent Prayer Guide, please click the following link.

Christmas Eve 2020

After much thinking and dreaming, we are excited to announce that we will be having outdoor Christmas Eve services this year at 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 and 11:00 p.m. All services will be identical and will be thirty minutes in length. No reservations will be required. Childcare will be available for the all services EXCEPT 7:00pm and 11:00 p.m. To register, click the following link.

To enable as safe a service as possible, we will be installing a 120 x 40 ft. clear plastic tent parallel to the Sanctuary (tent pictured here). Kentucky Avenue will be closed to traffic all evening. This will allow people to sit or stand under the tent, or under the stars with the space available on Kentucky Avenue. Heaters will be around the tent to keep us warm and cozy! The outdoor area will be lit up like, well, Christmas! Even if it rains, we will be celebrating!

We will have communion, candle-lighting (with one-use candles), Sacred Dancers, Bill Brunson’s sermon, and our favorite songs: Silent Night, Oh Holy Night, Joy to the World, and O Come All Ye Faithful! Although not our usual tradition, our prayer is that this Christmas Eve will be one that we will long remember with joy. A few chairs will be provided for those who need to sit.

We encourage you to bring your own chair, or to stand around the edges of the tent. Regardless, Christmas Eve is ON! As with all our services, we will require that masks be worn and we encourage social distancing to be observed at all times.

Some have asked if they can contribute to the extra cost of this event. If interested, simply designate your gift for “Christmas Eve Expenses.” So bundle up, or maybe just wear your shorts (you never know in Alabama). We are looking forward to celebrating as a church family this most sacred event!

Symbols of the Season

We hope you and your family will look for our “Symbols of the Season” video series, which will air each day on our YouTube channel, starting on November 29th! Each video will also post to VHUMC's Facebook and Instagram accounts. Each day during the Advent season, we will have different children and adults teach us about a specific Chrismon ornament or other symbol that we use during Advent. Each of these symbols prepares us, in some way, for Jesus’ birth. We hope you will enjoy learning more about the meaning of these decorations! Visit the YouTube "Symbols of the Season" playlist by clicking the following link.

Sounds of the Season

Our annual Sounds of the Season event will be aired on Sunday, December 13th at 5:00 p.m. on the VHUMC Facebook (Livestream) and VHUMC website. This wonderful holiday online experience will feature Jim Frazier & Friends, as well as the Chancel Chamber Ensemble made up of our Music Residents and Interns as well as skilled volunteers. In addition to this group, audience members will get to hear the Chancel Choir, the Renowned “4 Docs," and the "Von Watson Family," with special appearances from our keyboard staff and contemporary music staff. Special online giving will be available to help support our Music Resident Ministry and the Bob Morgan Music Fund. We hope you join us!

Advent Chrismon Cross

During the Advent Season, Preschool and Elementary Ministries will be offering supplies to make Chrismon Crosses for families with children in 2K - 5th grade. These crosses will serve as a beautiful keepsake that will help you prepare for Jesus’ birth each year! Reserve your supplies now, and pick them up between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 29th or Sunday, December 6th on the preschool or elementary floor.

White Christmas Offering

The beauty of Advent season is quickly approaching, and that means our annual support of White Christmas. White Christmas is celebrated on the first Sunday in Advent which is Sunday, November 29th. The offering on this day will support the United Methodist Children’s Home which helps embrace and nurture vulnerable children and families.

White Christmas envelopes as well as pamphlets will be located outside the Sanctuary in the Narthex and in the hall outside Tyson Hall. Please use the envelope to make a donation or write White Christmas in the memo line on your check. You never know the impact your donation will make to children in need. Or feel free to give directly on the app.

Advent Offering - Rise Against Hunger

This year’s Advent offering recipient will be Rise Against Hunger. As we continue to hope and pray that the pandemic will be behind us in the Spring, we will move forward to help support our efforts to end hunger in our lifetime. Our efforts this year will be more impactful than ever before. Through this offering, we will be able to provide hot, nutritious meals to children in need through early childhood development centers through our community meal packing event. Those first few years are so important in the life of a child, let’s make a difference.

Advent Offering envelopes will be located outside the Sanctuary in the Narthex and in the hall outside Tyson Hall. Please use the envelope to make a donation or write Advent offering in the memo line on your check. If you prefer to give on line, then please click the Advent offering link below or on the VHUMC app to make your donation.

Help for the Holidays

Are you looking for ways to give back during the holidays? Do you want to serve others this holiday season? VHUMC Missions has put together hands-on serve opportunities for you or your entire family, Sunday School class, or small group. Some registrations have already begun. Prayerfully consider where God is calling you this holiday season to give just a little more to someone in need. You never know how that one act of kindness will not only help them, but help you too. Click the following link for a complete list of serve opportunities with our community mission partners and VHUMC. For more information, contact Rachael Hayes (rhayes@vhumc.org).

Angel Trees Early This Year

Avoid the rush and start Angel Tree shopping early! Every year at Christmas, our church is blessed to share God’s love with children in need through our Angel Tree ministry. Angels will be available for pickup at the church. We’re getting an early start since holiday shopping will look a little different this year.

If you plan to shop online, please shop early since delays in package deliveries are expected this year. If you don’t feel comfortable shopping yourself, we invite individuals, families, Sunday School classes, or small groups to make a financial donation to Angel Tree and our elves will shop for you. To donate by check, please put “Angel Tree” in the memo line and mail it or take it to the church office as soon as possible. You may also donate online with the following link or by using the new VHUMC app.

Please return gifts to the church office as quickly as possible, but no later than December 6th.

Grief Survivors Preparing for the Holidays

The holiday season can be especially challenging for those of us who have experienced the loss of a loved one. In years past, VHUMC’s Grief Support Ministry Team has hosted a special event, Preparing for the Holidays, which focuses on navigating the holidays while experiencing a season of grief. However, in response to COVID-19 pandemic safety protocols, we now have an opportunity to restructure our event to reach more people.

This year, Preparing for the Holidays is entirely virtual, and it comes to you in the form of this special video (simply click on the following "Watch Video" link) that you and/or your loved ones can watch - whenever and wherever you please. In this video, along with our Senior Pastor Bill Brunson, you will hear from individuals who have lost parents, spouses, siblings, and children. As they share their own grief experiences in light of the holiday season, we hope that you will experience the comfort of community and understanding.

Also, we hope that you will make use of the attached Grief Survivors Guide (the guide can be accessed in the YouTube description, or by clicking the following link). The guide offers resources for navigating your own grief journey.