Messenger. Huffman United Methodist Church. NOV. 8th

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1 Messenger November 4, 2015 NOV. 8th 7:45 am - Men s Breakfast, we will honor our Veterans **Please call the Church Office to make reservations!!! 10:am - Worship Service and Veteran Recognition 711 Gene Reed Road Birmingham, AL Phone: (205) Care Line: (205) Fax: (205) Rev. Ed Sims.. Senior Minister (205) Rev. Donna Jo Godwin Associate Minister Stephanie Sparks..Minister of Christian Development Andy Rickles Director of Youth Ministries Donna Rowan.. Interim Director of Children s Ministry

2 Angel Tree Ministry God s Story Continues And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2: Angel Tree Families Joyce Allred Michelle Andrews Ann Blanpied Sue Burnham Harriott Calhoun Marka Chastain Elizabeth Davis Cheryl Everett Virginia Grant Debbie Griffin Evelyn Griffin David Harbison Dot Hardy Aubrey Hughes Kelly Hughes Barbara Kent Bob Kontzen Jean Mark Jim Nash Jim Owens, friend of Les & Mitchie Neel and D.C. & Doris Ingram Margie Pohl Virginia Robertson Betty Rowell Tom Savory David Smith The family of Gail Spradling, who passed away on Nov. 1, 2015 The family of Fred Thompson, cousin of Virginia Carlisle Donnie Townsend In Memory of Jeanette Andrews John & Harriott Calhoun Anne Smith In Thanksgiving for the Life of Gail Spradling who passed away November 1, 2015 It s time; time to begin preparing for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ and who to better celebrate with than with Angels. They were there at His birth and they are here with us at HUMC. There are many among our congregation and there are many on our Angel Tree. Last week we experienced part two of the Angel Tree story we told you about in the first article. A few of us from HUMC helped out at Huffman Academy last week with their Family Read Time. We served hot dogs and then fellowshipped with the group for a few minutes before their reading time. When we walked into the cafeteria we were greeted by a delightful lady. She introduced herself and began to tell us about her family. She shared with us that her granddaughter was a student in the Family Read Time program. She then told us her daughter was the first homicide of When she said that we immediately said, Oh my you are that wonderful lady we spoke with last week about our Christmas Angel Tree program. She replied that she was. We hugged her and she continued to tell us how she volunteered not only at Huffman Academy but also at Smith Middle School. She had taken early retirement from her job and now devotes all her time to raising her granddaughter and her other daughters. We were able to meet her granddaughter. She is a beautiful, quiet young lady. It was so great to meet such a strong mother/grandmother. She is a woman that knows God and works very hard to serve Him and her family. She is dedicated to meeting the needs of her family and doing all she can to assure they get the education they need and deserve. Our thoughts went to the call we had with her last week that ended in tears and then suddenly our thoughts went to God is so good. He has brought JOY to this wonderful kind lady s heart tonight and she is no longer crying but is now telling us how proud she is of her granddaughter and others in her family. She is telling us how glad she is that she can volunteer at these schools and help out. She knows she has found the place God wants her to be at this time in her life. She is experiencing God s peace. Yes there is brokenness in our community but God is healing this brokenness and allowing us to help Him. Your mission team asks that you continue to pray for all our Angels and their families. Pray that God will show HUMC the needs of His Huffman community and His way for us to help meet those needs. Pray that we can bring these families true Christmas joy, Jesus Christ. WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF ANGELS THAT NEED YOUR HELP TO FLY OFF OUR TREE. You can select your angels on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall or Sunday mornings outside the educational building (tree may be inside the educational building due to weather). There are personal shoppers available to help those that wish to participate in this ministry but are not able to shop. Please contact Kathy George at if you wish to contribute to this ministry and need assistance in shopping. Checks should be made payable to HUMC with a notation of Angel Tree. Thank you for Embracing Our Community through the Transformative Love of Christ! Your HUMC Mission Team

3 Our last meeting of the year will be on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6:00 in the DDR. We will discuss two books: "The Bird's Christmas Carol" also published under the title "Carol Bird's Christmas", by Kate Douglas Wiggin. "Hello from the Gillespie's", by Monica McInerney You KNOW you're curious about the second one- read it and join us! EACM Thanksgiving Community Service November 19, 2015 at Center Point First UMC 11:00 am with lunch to follow EVERYONE WELCOME The Huffman Stitchers will not meet in November or December; our next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 13 at 10:00 am (note the time change). At this meeting we will have a work day and make fleece hats for the homeless. We need people to cut fabric as well as sew, so there is a job for everyone! If you prefer to knit or crochet, bring your favorite hat pattern to work on. If you can't attend but would like to help, donations of fleece, yarn, fabric, or money for purchase of these items are appreciated. Please talk to Alice Green, Diane Dunn or Kathie Starrett for more information. Many Thanks for all of the prayers, cards and phone calls during my illness. The prayers have worked and I should be near normal soon. Our Church family is a powerful force. Frank Jett The Youth are collecting toothpaste for Operation Christmas Child and would greatly appreciate your donations!!!! They need to collect 500 tubes by Nov. 8th. Thank you!!! TIP: Several tubes of inexpensive toothpaste will go further than 1 tube of expensive. The 2016 Flower Calendar is in the office! Please call or Haver with your reservation request. HWaller@huffmanumc.net Eastern Area Christian Ministries There were 10 All Saints candles left after the service. If you would like them, they will be in the Welcome Center Food request for EACM in November is RICE. Boys clothing is also needed: ALL SIZES. Underwear is needed as well...for women, men & children...again, all sizes. For the month of October, we had 236/250. THANK YOU!!!

4 Rev. Ed Sims, Senior Minister 711 Gene Reed Road Birmingham, Alabama Phone: Care Line: NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID Birmingham, AL PERMIT NO Address Service Requested Embracing Our community through the Transformative Love of Christ Sunday, November 8 7:45 am Men s Breakfast: Veteran s Day Program, FH 8:45 am Sunday School, Educational Building 10:00 am Morning Worship, Sanctuary Monday, November 9 1:00 pm Dominoes, DDR 6:00 pm Girl Scout Troop 718, DDR 6:30 pm Warblers Doo Wop Group, Choir Room 7:00 pm Boy Scout Troop 351, Room 223 Tuesday, November 10 9:30 am Staff Meeting, Pastor s Office 7:00 pm Better Image Group, Room 11 7:00 pm Cub Scout Pack 351, Rm 216, 218, 219, 223 & 225 7:00 pm Warblers, Choir Room Wednesday, November 11 9:00 am Huffman Stitchers, DDR 9:30 am The Children s Place Chapel, Sanctuary 10:00 am Wednesday Bible Study, Parlor 4:00 pm Adult Study The Faith of a Mockingbird, Parlor 5:00 pm Wednesday Night Dinner, FH Menu: Baked chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese, & dessert **Reservation slips are in the pew racks. Please complete and put in the offering plate, or contact Dolores Bunn or the Church Office by Tuesday noon for reservations. dolores2950@bellsouth.net or :00 pm Bell Choir Practice, Bell Choir Room 6:00 pm KIC (Kids in Christ) 6-6:30 Children s Choir, Chapel 6:30 7:30 Lesson and Activity, Room 203 6:00 pm HUMC Youth, Y outh Room 6:00 pm Adult Study The Faith of a Mockingbird, Parlor 7:00 pm Chancel Choir Practice, Choir Room Thursday, November 12 6:00 pm Good Neighbor Fellowship, DDR Our Stewardship Society of St. Andrews 11/1/2015 $14.82 Tithes & Offerings Amount Needed Weekly $11,962 Offering 11/1/2015 $22,613 Needed Year-to-Date $514,366 Received Year-to-Date $493,849 YTD -+ (-) ($20,517) Attendance November 1, 2015 Sunday School 159 Worship 234 LECTIONARY READING November 8-14, Samuel 1: Samuel 2:1-10 or Pslam 113 Herbres 10:11-14 (15-18) Mark 13:1-8

5 Dear friends, here is my Pastor s Report to the 2015 Charge Conference, held Nov. 1: 2015 has been a year of transition and learning at Huffman UMC. We said goodbye to a number of key staff persons who had provided years of faithful service. Facilities Maintenance Supervisor Steve Lawrence, Office Manager Frances Magdalenski and Communications Secretary Charlotte McCool retired this year. Children s Director Debbie Barrett accepted a full-time job with Head Start of St. Clair County. New to our staff were Johnny Hare, who came on board as the new Facilities Maintenance Supervisor in April. Haver Waller became our new Office Manager in August. In September we hired Donna Rowan as our interim part-time Children s Minister as we continue our search for a person to fill that position. The Staff-Parish Relations Committee completed its review of Job Descriptions and will have those available by year s end. Led by our Trustees and office staff/volunteers, we have continued to develop and update policies and procedures for the church, including: Safe Sanctuary Policy for Vulnerable Adults Computer Use Policy Funeral Policy Wedding Policy Welcome Center Volunteer Procedures Severe Weather Procedures We completed our first Safe Sanctuary Training for Staff and Volunteers, and Conducted our first Severe Weather Drill. Challenges became opportunities for us when we experienced a water leak in the education building. Repairs enabled us to freshen up the area from the Welcome Center through the Day Care portion of the building. Key Leaders at HUMC have begun a series of conversations about the life and ministry of the church. So far, we have focused on five areas: Small Groups, Programs, Missions, Worship and Leadership. Each conversation begins with a strategic survey for the areas to be discussed. The results have been very helpful in enhancing communication within the congregation. One of the significant movements within the congregation is a transition from ministry to the community to ministry with the community. It has been a healthy thing to see our congregation, led by our Missions Committee, being more involved in ministry with the local schools and participating in the Huffman Neighborhood Association. Missions continues to be the heart of our ministry at HUMC. From feeding hungry children with the Brown Bag project to helping families of persons in jail through Angel Tree Ministry; from providing school supplies to needy students to providing a place to stay for homeless persons through Family Promise, our congregation remains very connected with helping ministries in our local community and beyond. This year we have focused on the financial health of the church, and have just completed a study of John Ed Matheson s Treasures of the Transformed Life. Most significantly, our Stewardship Committee has led the church into planning our 2016 budget in advance, so goals for giving can be set. Our goal is to grow the giving of our church by 4% for We are blessed with a creative and dynamic staff. Our Associate Pastor Donna Godwin and our Minister of Christian Development Stephanie Sparks co-authored a Vacation Bible School curriculum entitled Waves of Grace which taught children a Wesleyan understanding of God s grace. I led a well-attended study called Ask Br. Ed that enabled me to be in dialogue with congregation members on topics ranging from Bible and Theology to practical leadership matters in the local church. In addition, I helped to facilitate a study of Max Lucado s Before Amen and led Sunday School classes on Jefferson Bethke s Jesus > Religion. We were recognized this year at Annual Conference for being a Charter Church in the Conference. In my personal spiritual life, I participated in the Pastors Prayer Summit at Camp Sumatanga. Most significantly, I have begun taking part in the Cheaha District Operational Leadership Team. I continue my personal disciple of reading, study and prayer. My plans for 2016 are to continue in these two areas as well as starting an Operational Team here at HUMC. In addition, I am leading a group on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Our focus is a Journey Through the Bible. As a part of preparation, I have been writing a new study and devotional guide to the Holy Land. Faithfully Submitted, Brother Ed