Christmas 2022 – One of Us
“And the Word became flesh and Dwelt Among Us”
December 4th – Lessons & Carols (Traditional)
December 11th – Lessons & Carols (Contemporary)
December 21st, 6pm – Service of Healing and Light
December 24th, Christmas Eve – traditional services at 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, and 11:00 pm. Childcare will be available at 2:00, 4:00 and 6:00 pm.
December 25th, 11:30am – Christmas Day Lunch (bring a side dish to share)
December 25th, 10am service only
January 1st, 10am service only
Christmas Eve Services
2:00 pm* – Candlelight Communion Service | Sanctuary
4:00 pm* – Candlelight Communion Service | Sanctuary
4:00 pm* – Candlelight Communion Service | Tyson Hall
6:00 pm* – Candlelight Communion Service | Sanctuary
8:00 pm – Communion Service | 30 Minute Service | Chapel
11:00 pm – Candlelight Communion Service | Sanctuary
* Childcare available on the preschool floor
During Advent, we prepare for, and anticipate, the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for, and need of, forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward anticipating the second coming of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming.
Seasonal Giving
Advent Offering
This year’s Advent offering recipient will be the VHMC Car Ministry. This ministry helps so many in our community. Through this program, lives are changed and transformation happens. By having reliable transportation, families are able to keep their jobs, get their children to school and activities, and continue with their everyday lives. This advent offering will enable our team to purchase cars for applicants on our waiting list and make someone’s Christmas a little brighter for the upcoming year.
Advent Offering envelopes will be located outside the Sanctuary in the Narthex and in the hall outside Tyson Hall as well as in the pews. 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 VHMC app to make your donation.
12 Stops of Christmas
December 10th, 10:00 am – noon
Thrive will host its annual “12 Stops of Christmas with Santa” benefitting Birmingham families. Our event will take place on the Tyson side of our building. It is a special day for our students to visit with these families and their children throughout the stops while sharing games, snacks, and other treats. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the 12th stop sharing gifts for each child, which is always a treat for all!
Click the links to sponsor a family, give monetary donations, and volunteer for this very special day! We appreciate your help making this a meaningful day for all! It is truly a blessing for our church family to share with these very special families!
Please return your unwrapped gifts by Monday, December 5, to the Thrive Office at the church. We will have materials there for you to label your gifts. If you have any questions please contact Anna Watts (awatts@vhumc.org or wattsbrantanna@bellsouth.net).
Angel Tree
We will be supporting several organizations in the community. Please feel free to pick up an Angel at one of our worship services. If you are unable to shop this year, but you would still like to contribute to the program, please feel free to donate on line, and our volunteers will make sure all angels are taken care of this Christmas. Thank you for making someone’s Christmas a little brighter.
Mae Mae’s Hugs
True to the spirit of what Maegan Moore aspired to accomplish in her life, her heartfelt compassion for the less fortunate, and underprivileged children with inequities beyond their control, her memory and legacy of love, will continue to touch us all. Thanks to the contributions of our church over the last 6 years, over 3,500 warm coats have been distributed to children & adults across the state of Alabama. We are accepting NEW coats or monetary donations to purchase. To drop off a new coat please contact Anne Strozier at astrozier@vhumc.org.
Advent Devotional Guide
Years ago, there was a question written in a song lyric: “what if God was one of us?” As Christians, we know the answer to that question; God as Jesus did become one of us. The Advent season is a time of preparation as we watch and wait for the Christ Child to be born into this world again. We love to celebrate the baby Jesus in the manger, but we are also grateful that Jesus did not remain there. Instead, Jesus grew up to show us a new way to live, a new way to love, and that death itself could be defeated. Jesus also taught us that love is the most powerful force in the universe and we know his love can transform and save all of us if we only believe.
God loves us where God finds us, but God loves us too much to leave us there. Our faith is a journey filled with transforming moments. One of the most powerful ways God changes our hearts, our lives, and our faith is through service to others. Consequently 2022 has been the Year of Service with a monthly theme that centered around weekly serving opportunities and weekly bible verses. In January, we had the opportunity to attend the Mission Fair and to not only meet and interact with our mission partners in our community, but to pray for them throughout the year. By the end of 2022, you will have had fifty-two service opportunities to engage in different missions. What a wonderful way to love our neighbor as Jesus loves us!
So this year, each daily contribution for the Advent season will be written by someone who has not only changed lives through their service, but also had their own lives changed as well. My deepest prayer is these Advent devotions will bless you, comfort you, guide you, and give you hope, peace, love, and joy as we all watch and wait for the coming of the Christ Child into our hearts and our world again.
Download the Advent Devotional Booklet
Children’s & Family Ministry Activities
Family Advent Workshop
November 30th, 6:00 pm
We invite families with children to join us for our Family Advent Workshop on Wednesday, November 30th at 6:00 in Tyson Hall. Each child will be making their very own nativity scene!
Family Christmas Movie Night
December 7th, 5:00 pm
VHUMC Family Ministries invites all ages for a night of Christmas fun! Grab your dinner from the Fellowship Hall beginning at 5:00 pm. Then join us in Tyson Hall for a showing of Disney’s “A Christmas Carol.” Pajamas or comfy clothes are strongly encouraged…for ALL ages. There will be tables and chairs for eating but all are encouraged to bring blankets, pillows, lawn chairs or whatever else will make you comfy while watching the movie. The movie will begin about 5:15 to give time to get dinner. We will be serving hot chocolate during the movie and the event will end at 7:00 pm. Please note that children need to be accompanied by an adult. For more information contact Emily Boles (769-0130/ eboles@vhumc.org).
Hope for the Holidays
Preparing for the Holidays
November 3rd, 6:00 pm
The holiday season can be especially challenging for those of us who have experienced the loss of a loved one. VHUMC’s Grief Support Ministry Team hosts a special event, Preparing for the Holidays, which focuses on navigating the holidays while experiencing a season of grief.
We hope that you will make use of the attached Grief Survivors Guide (click on the “Download Your Guide” link below), which offers resources for navigating your own grief journey. Lastly, would you like to know about a few opportunities to reach out and help others during this holiday season?
If you know of others who could benefit from these resources, we encourage you to pass them along. Please know that VHUMC continues to hold you and your families in prayer this holiday season, and always.
Service of Healing and Light
December 21st, 6:00 pm
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 Wednesday, December 21, at 6:00 pm, in the Sanctuary!
May God bless, keep, guide, and comfort you,
VHUMC Grief Support Ministry Team
Poinsettias
This Christmas you can donate poinsettias in memory or honor of a loved one for $20. To make a tribute, please contact Margaret Flowers (769-0112) by December 12. Order forms will also be available in the church office.