Volume 46
Issue 30
July 28, 2016
              
An Amazing Response
Hopefully all of you heard in late May that our General Fund giving was behind. In fact, we were behind our budget by over $105,000 and behind the same 2015 period by $74,000. Accordingly, we had begun to scale back our expenses and postpone any programs or facilities projects that we could. I am excited to report that you responded in an amazing way. Our June giving totaled $406,071 - the highest non-December giving month for the past ten years and perhaps in our Church's history! Thank you for your outpouring of generosity for the needs of the Church. Because of your giving, we are now slightly ahead of our giving budget and we approved the completion of our four-year re-roofing project. We are still delaying a couple of items to see that our July giving remains strong. If you have any questions about our Church budget, feel free to contact Gary Wyatt or Natalie Giesen.

Gary Westbrook, Finance Committee Chairman 
COA Fall Registration is Open
Have you been putting off taking music lessons for yourself or your child? Now is the time to register for the Fall session of the Conservatory of the Arts. Is your child taking band this Fall? Interested in learning to play the Piano? We offer private lessons in Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin, Viola, Cello, Percussion, Piano, Guitar and Ukulele. Private Voice lessons are also available for adults and students. Lessons are available for homeschooled students during the day as well as afternoons and evenings. Register online today!
bible 3rd Grade Bible Deadline
It is the tradition at Vestavia Hills United Methodist to give a Bible to all our third graders each year. If you are a member at VHUMC, or feel that VHUMC is your church home, we want to make sure that your child receives a Bible. If you contact us by July 29, we will also have your child's name engraved on the outside cover. Please take a moment to click on the link to let us know what name you would like printed on your child's Bible.

The Bibles will be presented to the children on August 28, at the 11:00 Sanctuary worship service. We hope you will make plans to attend. We are excited to celebrate this important occasion as a church family!

Discovery Weekend Needs Your Help 
Calling all generations and VHUMC members. This year's youth Discovery Weekend will be the biggest and the best yet. We have over 145 senior high youth helping and over 200 junior high youth participating in what has become our biggest annual event. But, we need your help! We need more senior high host homes, more sponsored meals/snacks, and other items. If you are interested in hosting some amazing youth for the nights of Friday, Aug. 5 and Saturday, Aug. 6, please email Lisa Lovell (llovell@vhumc.org). Please click the link if you would like to bring a snack, sponsor a meal, or provide a goody for the adult break room.

VHUMC Blood Drive
Join us for a blood drive hosted by the American Red Cross on Sunday, August 14, from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Interested donors can schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or by visiting redcrossblood.org and entering sponsor code: VHUMC. For more information about the blood drive and to learn how to make your donation experience go faster, contact Megan Drumm (mdrumm@vhumc.org).
Men's Basketball League
Sign up for our Men's Basketball League is now open! Pick up a packet or follow the link to a printable form to turn in to the Lighthouse. Deadline to sign up is August 15. For more information, contact Seth Autry at (sautry@vhumc.org / 769-0134).

VHUMC Adult Softball League
Are you interested in playing adult softball this fall? Put together a VHUMC team through our Health, Wellness, and Recreation ministry. Men's and CO-ED Leagues are available. Registration is $400/team which includes league fees and team jerseys. The ten week season starts the week of August 29 and includes eight games plus tournament games. VHUMC members and non-members are welcome to join. Get a team together and sign up by August 18. Contact Seth Autry (sautry@vhumc.org) for more details.
Elementary Area Closed
The Elementary area is closed until August 5 while we install new flooring. This replacement was prompted by a recent pipe break that flooded the floor. Insurance is paying for most of the replacement. For your own safely, please avoid this area.
VBC Notecards for Sale
Our Vacation Bible Camp participants each colored a fish which were turned into amazing notecards! The notecards will be available to purchase for $5 in the Tyson Hall lobby before and after Sunday School throughout July. They will also be available in the main church office during the week. We hope you get a chance to take a look at these special cards made by our children!
Lighthouse Volunteers Needed
Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer at our church but aren't sure where to put your talents to use? We have the answer for you! Volunteer in our Lighthouse! We are currently seeking volunteers to help open the Lighthouse Monday-Friday mornings. We are also looking for volunteers to work in the evenings. All volunteers are trained with Lighthouse opening and closing procedures. Contact Megan Drumm (mdrumm@vhumc.org / 769-0139) for more details.
"Bible in One Year" - Have you done it?
We need someone who has completed this online study plan (or can start doing it) to co-facilitate a Bible study for the VHUMC community. Shannon Raley has developed a study group outline and format, we just need a co-facilitator with another perspective and outlook to help guide the group. If interested, please contact Shannon (raley1@charter.net / 790-3442). We are looking to launch this in January of 2017.
Seeking a Dishwasher/Prep Cook
Our kitchen is needing a full-time dishwasher and prep cook employee. This could be an excellent job for a hard-working young adult or someone who needs employer benefits. Contact Charlie Gagne to apply or for more information (769-0132 / cgagne@vhumc.org).
Dream Builders for Our Children
"Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future" - Walt Disney

We are reorganizing the structure of our Children's Ministry to make it the best it can be! One of our goals is to increase the input from our congregation. As part of this focus, we are forming a Children's Council Team with people who have a passion for children's ministry and want to help our children become more deeply committed Christians. In addition to reorganizing, we want to help parents in their role as spiritual leaders. We will be facilitating parent focus groups in order to develop programming that is relevant and helpful in raising children today. If you are interested in participating in this team or in learning more about this new organization, please contact Ruth Grissom (rgrissom@vhumc.org), Jamie Meeks (jmeeks@vhumc.org), or Martha Wingate (marthawingate@gmail.com).
Crucifer, Acolyte and Bible Bearer Training
We love for the Cross, the Word of God, and the Light of Jesus to be carried into our worship services by our children! If your child would like to serve as a Bible Bearer, Acolyte, or a Crucifer please have them join us for our last training this Sunday at 9:45 am during the Sunday School hour. If we finish training before Sunday School is over, we will take your child to Sunday School. We hope that you will consider encouraging your child to participate in this special ministry!
Day of Service in Vestavia Hills
The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and the City of Vestavia Hills are holding a day of community service on Saturday, September 10 to assist our residents (senior citizens, disabled, etc.) who need a helping hand with minor projects or yard work around their home. This was a great success last year and may become an annual event. We want to have a strong presence as we demonstrate our love for others. This is a three-hour commitment plus a community lunch. If you are interested in leading or serving on a team, please contact Rachael Hayes (rhayes@vhumc.org) or Suzanne Scott-Trammell sstrammell@vhumc.org). The deadline to register is August 1.
Flag Football and Cheerleading Registration
Upward Flag Football and Cheerleading registration is open! The cost is $105 if you register before August 14 (deadline), and $115 after that - if space is available. You can register at The Lighthouse or online at www.vhumc.org. Contact Seth Autry (769-0134 / sautry@vhumc.org) for more info!

VHUMC Youth Mountain Bikers
Attention VHUMC boys and girls ages 10-14! Come join us for fun and exciting mountain biking adventures! We meet every Thursday morning, from 9:30-11:30 am, through August 4. The meeting and route locations change weekly. Isaac Robinson, one of our Recreation Assistants and an experienced mountain biker, will be leading us. Parent drop off and pick up is required. Parent volunteers are welcome and encouraged to participate! Contact Megan Drumm (mdrumm@vhumc.org) for more details. We can't wait to see you on the trails!

VHUMC Farmer's Market  
The VHUMC Farmer's Market is open every Wednesday through September 14, from 7:00 to 11:00 am, in the large parking lot. Mark your calendars and come purchase the seasonal vegetables, fruits, breads, baked goods, cheeses, and meats from local producers.

Our team is also looking for volunteers to help make this ministry possible. If you would like to help in any way, please contact John Sechrist (jsechrist73@gmail.com).
Outreach Corner

B-I-N-G-O
Mark your calendars for a family fun evening on Wednesday, August 24 where we will begin our first Bingo Blessings to benefit Children's Harbor. Once a month our volunteers visit, serve food, and play bingo at Children's Harbor. Everyone who plays bingo gets a prize. It is a fun evening for families of those receiving treatment at Children's Hospital.

They need our help restocking their prize closet. We will be collecting fun "trinket" bingo prizes for several weeks. Prizes will go to children ages infants to teens and can include bibs/teething rings, toys, fuzzy socks, lip balm, card games, puzzles, books, nail polish, etc. Items can be purchased at Dollar Tree, Target, and Oriental Trading. This is great project for families to shop together and let the children pick out some of the prizes.

Deliver the prizes in the Children's Harbor Wagons around the church. Help us bless these families at Children's Harbor with lots of wonderful prizes!

Food Pantry
The Food Pantry needs paper grocery bags. Thanks to Sprout's and our Farmers' Market we are now giving away so much produce that we need the larger bags! We are also getting so much from Sprout's that we need another refrigerator. If you have a large refrigerator that you could donate please contact Barbara Porter (444-9793). Thank you. 

Oak Mountain Mission
Oak Mountain Mission is out of hand towels. They do not have to be brand new, just like-new. For furniture pick-up, please call 685-5757. Small items may be brought to the bins at church. Thank you.

Events by Our Mission Partners

Family Promise Fundraiser - Tonight
VHUMC has been involved with Family Promise since its beginning in 1998. It started as the Birmingham Hospitality Network and changed its name to Family Promise in 2013. It is the only program that keeps families together during a time of homelessness. Our church hosts Family Promise 3-4 times a year with approximately 200 volunteers helping to make each week possible. Their annual fundraiser, Bound and Determined, is tonight from 6-9 pm, at Rosewood Hall in Homewood. If you would like to attend, contact Michelle Urban (murban1947@gmail.com) for tickets.
   
Oak Mountain Mission
Oak Mountain Mission will have its annual fundraiser luncheon on Tuesday, September 13, at The Club. Please mark your calendars if you are interested in attending. We are collecting items for the Silent Auction, which may be put in the collection bins. Contact Barbara Porter (444-9793) for questions or reservations. Thank you!
Worship & Music Focus
8:30 am         Traditional Service
"Mine is Mine, Yours is Mine, Ours is Mine"
Luke 12:13-21
Bill Brunson

9:45 am         Service of Word and Table
"Rich in Poverty"
Luke 12:13-21
Kipp McClurg

11:00 am         Traditional Service
"Mine is Mine, Yours is Mine, Ours is Mine"
Luke 12:13-21
Bill Brunson

11:00 am         Contemporary Service
"Rich in Poverty"
Luke 12:13-21
Kipp McClurg

5:00 pm         Sunday Evening Worship
"How to Become a Saint"
Colossians 3:1-11
Tyler Hopkins

Our Time and Resources

 

June YTD Summary

Income

Expenses

General Budget Net

VDS, Dance & COA Net

Total Net

Actual
$1,865,080

($1,815,135)

$49,945

$64,298

$114,243

Budgeted

$1,799,607

($2,119,608)

($320,001)

$42,538

($277,463)

Care and Support
Congratulations, hospitalizations and sympathies

Prayer Requests
 
Careline: 205-822-9336 
Weekend or After-Hour Health Emergencies: 205-914-3121

Please be in prayer for the following persons: 
Donna Benjamin
Christian Cooper
David Dixon
Kendra Haddock
Fred Hatfield
Kathryn Landen
Cathy Messer
Paul Noto
Bill Phillips
Bill Poor
John Scruggs
John Shelton
Sandra Sims
Stan Sims
Claude Small
Ben Smith
Jack Spivey
Geneva Wade
Jeanette White
Wallace Williams
Louise Woodall

In an effort to keep the prayer request list current, names will be listed for two weeks unless we are otherwise notified. VHUMC will not publish the names and/or concerns of persons known to be minors (18 years of age or younger) without the permission of said minor's legal guardian. Thank you.