Volume 50

Issue 50

December 17, 2020

Christmas Eve 2020

Join us at one of our special outdoor Christmas Eve services at 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 and 11:00 pm. All services will be identical and only thirty minutes in length. Childcare will be available with reservations for the all services except at 7:00 and 11:00 pm.

We will meet under a clear plastic tent parallel to the Sanctuary. Kentucky Avenue will be closed to traffic allowing people to sit or stand under the tent or under the stars. 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 single-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. As with all our services, we will require that masks be worn and we encourage social distancing to be observed at all times.

If you can’t make it in person, we will provide a live-stream of the 5:00 pm service on our website, app, and on YouTube. Look for more details by email on December 23.

Advent and Christmas Eve Plans

There are lots of opportunities for you and your family to worship, reflect, savor, and serve during this Advent season. And you don’t want to miss our COVID-sensitive Christmas Eve services. Click the link for all the details.

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 on Monday, December 21, at 6:00 pm, in the Sanctuary!

Remembering Loved Ones During the Holidays

From our Senior Pastor, Bill Brunson

During December, in a “normal” year, we usually have the opportunity to place poinsettias in the sanctuary in honor or memory of someone we love. This year, because of the reduced seating capacity due to social distancing, we will pause that tradition this year. However, because several in the congregation have asked to contribute to the special arrangements for Christmas Eve, we want to give you the option to remember your loved ones and others who have made a difference in your life as you help make our special Christmas Eve services possible.

If you would like to donate (any amount is welcome) in honor or memory, please call the church office or email Nancy Remke (nremke@vhumc.org). We will list the honorariums and memorials in the first edition of the NOTES in January.

Celebrating the Holidays 

The church will be closed on Friday, December 25; Monday, December 28; and Friday, January 1; so our staff can enjoy the holidays with their families.

Worship on the Sunday After Christmas

Join us for worship at VHUMC on Sunday, December 27 - the first Sunday after Christmas! We will have just one worship service at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary. We hope to see you there!

Advent Offering 

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. This offering will pay for the ingredients for our community meal packing event that will provide hot, nutritious meals to children in need through early childhood development centers. Those first few years are so important in the life of a child, so let’s make a difference.

Advent Offering envelopes will be located outside the Sanctuary in the Narthex and in the hall outside of Tyson Hall. Please use the envelope to donate 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.

Welcome New Members to VHUMC

Please welcome Jolletta & Andy Dean to the VHUMC church family. They are transferring from Mountain Brook Community Church, but spent 40 years at McMinnville FUMC (TN). They have visited Harvest SS and are looking to get more involved at VHUMC. Welcome!

Thrive Student Ministry Breakfast

This past Saturday, Thrive Student Ministries sponsored its annual Christmas Breakfast with Santa, COVID style! As families came to see Mr. & Mrs. Claus, they drove through the 12 Stops of Christmas getting popcorn, Hershey kisses, gift tags, cookies for Santa, hot chocolate, and more on their way to the North Pole! A huge thank you to the almost 40 students and numerous adult elves who helped make this event possible and who passed out gifts to almost 290 children from around the Birmingham area!

Thrive Prayer Breakfast is Back

We are excited to announce that our monthly in-person Prayer Breakfast will return on Wednesday, January 20 from 7:00 - 7:30 am! Breakfast will be Chick-fil-a biscuits. 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 for a time of games, devotion, and fellowship with friends. Parents will meet in Tyson Hall with a guest speaker each month. In January we are excited to have Ellery Berryhill, church member, mother of two, and licensed counselor, speaking on trends she is seeing in her practice in children and families. While these sessions will be geared toward parents of teenagers, any parent is welcome!

Thrive Sunday School
Throughout the month of December, Thrive Student Ministries will continue our special Sunday School series focusing on the season of Advent. We are using the RightNow Media video study “Advent” by JD Greear as a guide to explore the importance of this time of year. Students do not need to pre-register to attend Sunday School with Thrive, but will need to come to the Thrive Hall and check-in before gathering by grades. Check-in will begin at 9:45 a.m. and classes will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Thrive Advent Experience 
This year our Thrive Student Ministries will be joining the church as we read through the Advent Prayer guide for 2020! Each day Thrive will post the daily prayer written by someone in our congregation as well as a picture from the White Christmas Advent Calendar. We hope you will join us for this time of preparation for the King!

Rejoicing Over Baptisms

We rejoice in the wonderful baptism of this precious child:

• Congratulations to Evelyn (Evie) June Hunt on her baptism on December 10. She is the sweet daughter of Leigh and Guy Hunt. We also welcome Guy Hunt, Evie's Father, who joined the church on the same day.

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.

December 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! December's memory verse is: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” ~Luke 2:11

2022 Oberammergau Trips   
VHUMC will be taking two trips to the 2022 Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany. Jim Frazier will be taking a group to the play on June 11 followed by a tour of Switzerland. Rev. Bill Brunson will be taking a group to the play on July 28 followed by a River Cruise on the Danube. Both trips are almost full, so you need to register soon. The Passion Play is only performed once every 10 years. For more information please click on the links below or contact Jim Frazier (jfrazier@vhumc.org / 769-0126).

Alpha: The Basics of Christianity   
Are you seeking fact-based answers to faith-based questions? In Alpha, we will explore challenging questions about life, faith, and God. Alpha offers engaging videos to start conversations that ignite excitement and help us understand and grow in our faith. If you are interested in participating in this new series launching in January, please register indicating your desired time and day of the week. Please contact Kelly Bottcher (kbottcher@vhumc.org) for more details.

The Marriage Course
The Marriage Course is a series of seven sessions, designed to help couples learn to communicate more effectively, resolve differences well, and build strong foundations with one another and God. Celebrate the new year by joining course facilitators Sheila & Phil Sanders and Scottie & Steve Vickery as you invest in your relationship and build a stronger marriage. Childcare is available.

Studying The Book of John   
Join pastors Kipp McClurg and Bill Brunson as they share “The Gospel of John!” in a fun and unique way. These 10-20 minute videos (with accompanying Bible study print-outs) can be used for individual or group studies. Bill and Kipp’s intent is to study John slowly and thoroughly, but to have fun in the process! Using everyday “object lessons,” they will seek to explain what John is up to in his Gospel accounts. View the trailer and join us in January for weekly meetings to learn more about the gospel of John.

January Study: The Chosen   
The Chosen is the first multi-season series about the life of Christ, as witnessed through the eyes of those He impacted the most. Get to know each of the people He walked with, the culture and challenges they faced, and the hope He brought to a world in desperate need. Join us as we discuss the impact Jesus had on the lives of His followers and explore how He continues to transform our lives today. See the trailer or contact Suzanne Scott-Trammell (sstrammell@vhumc.org) if you have questions.

COA Spring Registration is Open   
Claim your spot now for private music lessons or group classes in the arts! Our spring session begins January 4. Online and in-person formats are available. Kindergarten to adults are welcome. Don't see the class you're looking for? Let us know and we'll create it!

Car Ministry Places Four Cars   
Our car ministry has placed four cars over the last couple of weeks and the recipients could not be happier. One car placement was one day from the recipient’s birthday. Another placement allowed a man to return to work – since he now had transportation. These stories are just two examples of how this ministry is working to help those in need of transportation. There are many more stories but most importantly is the story of how God’s love is shown through each and every vehicle that is given away. This ministry changes lives in so many ways. To God be the glory.

Fidget Mat Ministry - Help us Help Others   
We have a new supply of 36 wonderful Fidget Mats! Thank you to the members of our congregation for donating place mats and objects to go on our mats, for assembling and sewing our mats, and now for helping us find homes for our mats! If you know of individuals or groups who could benefit by receiving a Fidget Mat, please contact the Church Office. As always, we need more place mats and objects like faux fur, ties, key chains, game pieces, small cloth bags, and any other things you might discover as you are decorating for Christmas! Simply drop those off at the Church Office, as well. We are grateful!

Day School Breakfast with Santa

Breakfast with Santa was a little different this year, but we still managed to bring big smiles to lots of children with our Drive Through Breakfast with Santa on December 7. VDS cars lined up to be greeted by Santa in their cars. Santa was very fun and jolly and managed to light up many children's morning as they sat in their cars and told Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Before driving away, they not only got a jolly laugh from Santa, but also a prepackaged breakfast to enjoy! Big thanks to John Sweeney who played Santa.

Prayer 2020: This Week in Prayer   

“To God be the glory
Great things He has done
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the life-gate that all may go in

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the people rejoice
O Come to the Father
Through Jesus the Son
And give Him the glory
Great things He has done!”
Hymn written by Fanny Crosby-1875

Gracious and Merciful God, Thank you for loving us and for sending us Jesus! And Jesus, thank you for yielding your life so that we could live. And thank you that this gift of salvation is available to everyone. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! You alone are worthy of all honor and glory forever and ever. You have done great things for us!

I pray Lord that right now we will recognize our desperate need for a savior and that we will welcome you into our hearts and lives with “no holds barred.” I pray that we will see and recognize glimpses of your glory all around us this season, in the people that we love and in the beauty of your creation. I pray that we will keep our focus on you and that we will live with the confidence that you hold us securely and that you are for us. And Lord, send us times of refreshment as we learn to live moment by moment in your presence (Acts 3:20). Thank you for the amazing, life-changing and life-giving gift of salvation and for being Emmanuel, God with us.

In the precious name of Jesus, Amen

Another Columbarium Question   

We are sometimes asked if a family can place an urn of their choosing in their columbarium niche. Provided that the urn fits within the niche, we would allow it, but we discourage using different urns. The solid bronze urns that come with each niche purchase are perfectly designed for four urns to fit within a niche. Anything larger in any dimension, could preclude any additional urns from being added. After cremation, the ashes are placed in a sealed plastic bag before going into the urn. We label each urn with the deceased name and date of death before placing it into a niche. 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).

Food Pantry

Thanks to our Student Ministry for the Drive-thru Christmas party on Saturday that provided toys and gifts to almost 300 children from our food pantry families. They were all excited to see Santa and our students did a great job playing as Santa’s elves. If you would like to help our food pantry this month, please click on the link below and find the advent calendar that has daily donation ideas. Thank you so much.

Donations the past week

July & November 2020
Donations
Other Income
Total Income

Actual
$78,756

$1,392,719
$769,230
$2,161,949

Targeted
-$79,311

+$102,989
+$15,936
+$108,925

Care and Support
Congratulations, hospitalizations, and sympathies

Prayer Request

Please be in prayer for the following persons:

Memorials & Honorariums