Throughout the spring we will be sharing some of the history and perspectives of our coming senior pastor. Bill will take over for Dalton in mid-June.

Bill is the incoming President of the United Methodist Foundation Board.  He has always been very involved in leading [his church's] financial program and in stewardship by raising the understanding that what we do is our response to all that God has done. He puts special emphasis on the importance of having the proper staff and lay leadership involved.

On stewardship: Stewardship is a synonym of discipleship. We are stewards of all that God has entrusted with us: the gospel, our life, our world, and our possessions. A church's emphasis on financial stewardship cannot be a seasonal focus.  The church should lift up this discipleship responsibility throughout the year.

8:10 am             Holy Communion

In the Chapel

 
8:30 am             Traditional Service

"The Witness of Love"

1 John 4:7-21

Dalton Styes

Men's Chorus

"Becoming a Blessed Church"

John 15:1-8

Nancy Hastings Hornsby

Ashley Roberts

"The Witness of Love"

1 John 4:7-21

Dalton Styes

Chancel Choir

11:00 am           New Traditions Service

"Becoming a Blessed Church"

John 15:1-8

Nancy Hastings Hornsby

Chris Smith 

5:00 am             Vespers

Joey Elmore

Music Notes - Sunday, May 6

Myrle Grate has been a wonderful pastor, leader, and helper to so many of us over the past five years.  We are thankful to have had him here and wish him the very best as he leaves to become the Senior Pastor at Vernon First United Methodist Church.  His last working day here will be May 25.  Please say good-bye to Myrle and Kathy at a reception in their honor on Sunday, May 20, from 12 noon to 1:00 pm in the Parlor.

 Caroline Yeager 

CLASS: Junior @ Samford 

HOMETOWN: Destin, FL 

MAJOR: Communications Major with a Religion Minor 

What you need to know: 

I love books, tea, coffee, music, art, Frisbee, the outdoors, and life in general. I am a beach girl through and through, if I could be barefoot wherever I go I would be totally okay with that. I'm a sucker for Dove dark chocolate or Charm's blow pops. Give me some and we'll be best friends! I love to laugh and do it often. I'm loud, fun, energetic, adventurous, spontaneous, and love to take risks! I march to the beat of my own drum and I'm often found dancing and singing along! I love to make friends, so let's make that happen!

CLASS: Junior @ Samford 

HOMETOWN: LaGrange, GA 

MAJOR: Pre-med 

What you need to know: 

I play soccer, ultimate frisbee and run. I played football in high school (I was captain and played quarterback, safety, punter and kicker). Also I am on the Scandinavian Olympic Ping-pong team, so bring it on! I play bass guitar, acoustic guitar and sing. I'm a biology pre-med major, so I love talking about very complicated things such as the Fischer esterification of 1-butanol and acetic acid, or the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-adrenalcortico axis. I'll be glad to draw you pictures. Life is ministry and I can't wait to be in ministry with you. 

These guys will be around Sundays in May, so be sure to say hi and introduce yourself. They officially start May 30! 

The Singing Devotion group will meet this Sunday night, May 6, at 6:15 in the Chapel for a time of fellowship and singing old gospel favorites. Everyone is invited. We meet on the first and third Sundays of each month.

Come hear about the plan in all of our worship services on

May 6!

Wednesday Night Menus

May 9   -   Salad, Pork Loin, Corn Pudding, Broccoli, 

                Assorted Desserts  (Last Dinner until August)

Join us this week on Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. The cost is $6/adults, $4/children with a $20 family max. Call Margaret Flowers (769-0107) by noon on Monday to make reservations.

New Life Singers Concert

Our Youth Choir (New Life Singers) will present their choir tour music on Wednesday, May 9, at 6:00 pm (directly following dinner) in Tyson Hall. The Youth Praise Band will also be involved in preparation for the choir tour. We hope to see you there.

Free Summer Movies

We will once again be showing Fun Family Movies in the Fellowship Hall on June 20, July 18, and August 8. The movies will start at 6:00 pm; and we will include free popcorn and drinks. Your help is needed to select the movies! Click on this link and then pick your favorite movie from those listed. We will show the three with the most votes. Voting ends on April 30. For more information, contact Jim Frazier or Sara Lee at 822-9021.

Steeple 2 Steeple 5k Run-Walk

On May 19  VHUMC and Vestavia Hills Baptist Church are co-sponsoring the Steeple 2 Steeple Community Run/Walk between our churches on May 19 at 8:00 am. The cost is $20 for those ages 11-64 and only $10 for everyone else.  There will be a Friday night cookout and Bluegrass Band concert at VHBC.   To register you can click here or contact Jim Frazier at 769-0126 or jfrazier@vhumc.org.

2012 Summer Camps

Our menu of summer camps is on the website. Click here to register your kids today!

Many of us have key scripture verses that we go to in times of great sorrow. One verse that is known throughout the world to bring us closer to God in those difficult times is the 23rd Psalm.  It is our go-to Bible passage to help us find strength and to remind us of God's ever-present love for us.

For the last 13 weeks, B.A.M. (Bible, Activity and Mission) kids, which met on Wednesday nights, have been working hard to not only understand this beautiful scripture, but also to memorize it so they can recall it through their tough times.

Many of the Bible study participants shared their memory work at the 8:30 and 11:00 Traditional worship services on Sunday, April 29. We are so proud of their work and give praise to God for parents who have kept them faithful to Bible study so they could learn this beloved Psalm so well. 

We also give thanks to the B.A.M. teachers: Joy Wilkes, Suzanne Stalnaker, Lee Mathews and Mary DuBard for another great year of Bible fun, and mission work. Our B.A.M. experience would not have been complete without Sara Lee and all her fun in the gym. We look forward to next year on Wednesday nights. Look for more information during the summer to see how our Elementary kids will be growing in God's Word.  

Join us June 11-15 for another great week of Bible fun! Be sure to register your 4K through 5th grader for a great time as we dare to go deep with God for Operation Overboard!  Registration forms will be located throughout the church and on our website. Click here to register online. Volunteers are needed in all areas.  

Call Ruth Grissom at 769-0124 (Elementary) or Anne Strozier at 769-0127 (Pre-School). 

Outreach Corner

Inviting All Women

Each year Habitat for Humanity builds a house leveraging the time and talents of only women age 14 and over!!!! Cynthia McGough invites all women of VHUMC (members, guests, and staff) to join her Friday May 11. We will meet outside the Lighthouse at 8:00 and return at 2:00 pm. To register, please email Patti Eggers at peggers@vhumc.org by May 4.

Food Pantry

Please continue to donate food items for the VHUMC Food Pantry ministry. Our shelves are bare again and our money is running out. It takes 1,360 items each week to serve our 80 families. We need canned items, boxed items, and fresh oranges, apples, potatoes, and carrots. If you have ideas for donations, would like more information, or want to find out how you can volunteer, call Barbara Porter at 444-9793.

Oak Mountain Mission 

Oak Mountain Mission needs children's school clothing and uniforms. Linens and kitchen items are  always needed. These items can be dropped off in the wooden bins around VHUMC.  For furniture pick-up, please call 685-5757.

Investment Discussion Group  

Our Time and Resources   

Attendance for April 29:

Worship Services         972

Nursery                       105

Sunday School

Adult                           482

Youth                           59

Elementary                  138

Pre-school                    82

Financial Items:          Actual      Budgeted

Last Week (April 19 - May 1)

Donations                   $49,596        $53,000

February Year-to-date Summary

Income                     $741,264       $810,300

Expenses                 $895,372       $937,321

Net                          ($154,108)    ($127,021)

VDS and Dance Net    $68,336        $31,670

Total Net                   ($85,772)      ($95,351)

Current building loan balance          $585,439

This Week in Our Congregation

Sympathy To

Rasie and Jim Miller and Ellen and Gregory Miller in the death of Jim's father and Ellen and Gregory's grandfather, Mac Miller of Chattanooga, on April 29. Please remember the Miller family in your prayers.

Fay and Harry Dinken and family in the death of Fay's father, Mr. Clyde Ray Choat of Pensacola, Florida, on April 27. Funeral services will be held in Pensacola on Thursday, May 3.

Melinda Rusk, Martha (Mott) and Doc Rusk and Malia Stewart and their families in the death of Melinda's husband, Martha and Doc's son and Malia's brother, Braxton Rusk, on May 2.

John Brigman and family in the death of his sister, Joan B. Wilcox, on May 3.

Mr. and Mrs. Cameron Dennis (Ashley Suzanne Jones) who were married on Saturday, April 28.