I S S U E

M a r c h2 0 2 0

in this issue Mellow Brook Singers P.1

ACL Trips P.2

Upcoming Luncheons P.3

Calender at a Glance P.4

ACTIVEChristianLiving55

MONTHLY

NEWSLE T TER OF

MOUNTAIN BROOK

BAP TIST CHURCH

55+ MINISTRY

(Ministry for Adults 55+)

Mellow Brook Singers:Ministry and Fellowship Combined

“After a rather difficult last year, I am able to enjoy singing and laugh-ing with wonderful friends who have been my love and

support. Kely’s choice of music always makes us

happy and eager to sing and thanks to

Anna Lu we have the best accompanist

anywhere. We appreciate the

privilege of singing for friends in the

neighborhood and other places.

“Rejoice, give thanks and sing and tri-umph evermore.”

- Mary Kate Dyer

What OthersAre Saying:

In February of 2013 when the Mellow Brook Singers were founded with 13-15 singers, who could have imagined that it would be the strong choir of 45 that it is today? God has blessed this group immensely not only with size in numbers, but in great musicianship. Hard work is rewarding as we learn and grow together in producing some beautiful music, but the reward doesn’t stop there. One of the best parts of our Thursdays is eating lunch together after re-hearsal. Carrie Hanson, our church hostess, provides our group with a delicious soup/salad/sandwich meal each week with dessert and tea/coffee all for just $7.00! It’s one of the best lunch deals in town. Not only is the food good, but our fellowship with each other is the real draw. We normally have around 25 stay for lunch each Thursday. The laughter and conversations that we enjoy enrich our lives on a weekly basis. The enrichment goes on still. The mission of the choir is not to sing for our church, but to sing in our community. The choir takes a half hour program out into our community each fall and spring. We sing at assisted living facilities, senior centers, nursing homes, and adult day care centers. Each time the choir goes out, it shares the love of Christ with those that listen. The fall program is the message of the Christmas story, and the spring program is filled with patriotic music and broadway tunes at the beginning, and ends with stirring hymn ar-rangement and prayer for the residents. After singing, the members of the choir intermingle with the residents and guests, usually delivering a little “gift” for them with our church name and information on it. Without fail when the choir returns to the bus to leave, stories are shared about the blessings each received from both singing, as well as meeting someone special and having a conversation with them. Here’s what Stan Wier has to say about his involvement: “Singing in the Mellow Brook Singers as a non-member of MBBC has been a great opportunity to fulfill my need to sing for the glory of God and to meet great people who have become my friends over the last five years. What started as a favor to a friend (Kely) who asked if I could sing with this group to fill a need has turned into a need filled in my life by God. I have made many good friends in this group and we have made a meaningul difference in the lives of the many to whom we sing. What started as a happenstance of running into my friend at breakfast has turned into a great chance to serve God and those who are in need of someone to care about them.” The choir plans to sing in our community four times this spring: April 30, May 7, 14, and 21. The choir is also taking its ministry on tour to St. Louis, MO the week of April 19-24. Be in prayer for all of the singers as they spread the love of Christ outside the walls of our church.

“It means Joy to me. I look forward to

each opportunity to sing for our appreciative audience!”

- June Fletcher

Trips For ACTIVE Christian LivingTuesday, March 31, 2020

Sylacauga Marble Festival Sylacauga, ALArrival 8:30 a.m. Depart at 8:45 a.m.Cost: $45 (lunch included) NEW PRICE!

Join us for a wonderful trip to Sylacauga, Alabama as we tour the local marble Festival. Our day will begin with a short film about Sylacauaga marble and a tour of the Comer Library where we will get to see and learn about various marble sculptures. We then will eat lunch at a local restaurant called Buttermilk Hill. After that we will go visit the Sylacauga Museum of Art and then head to the Blue Bell ice cream factory where you will enjoy a $1 ice cream bowl of your choosing. We will wrap up the day by observing various marble sculptors in the local park. Contact Joseph Mendum at 205-803-3488 to discuss joining us for this fantastic opportunity.

Tuesday, April 14, 2020Shrine of The Most Blessed Sacrament & Tour of EWTN Irondale & Hanceville, ALArrive at 8:00 a.m. Depart at 8:15 a.m.Cost: $20 plus lunch money

We will begin the day with a tour of EWTN in Irondale, Alabama. This tour will last forty-five to fifty minutes. When the tour is over, we will travel to “The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament”. According to their website, “Everything on the Shrine grounds leads to the Main Church.” It states that “Franciscan devotion is expressed in the art and spirituality of the Shrine – in particular in the architecture of the Main Church which resembles the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy.” We will get to see all of this when we tour the Shrine in Hanceville, Alabama. Contact Joseph Mendum at 205-803-3488 to discuss joining us for this fantastic opportunity.

Friday, May 15, 2020Crooked Creek Civil War Museum Vinemont, ALArrive at 7:45 a.m. Depart at 8:00 a.m.Cost: $42 (lunch included)

The Crooked Creek Civil War Museum is a hidden gem in Vinemont, Alabama. We will get a complete tour of this musem along with the battle grounds, and learn the rich history of our nation along with the history of our state. After the tour, we will go eat at a Mennonite restuarant called The Old Cookstove. This is a place you would never know existed but is a delicacy nonetheless. All of the food, including the dessert, is homeade. Join us on an exciting adventure as we learn, fellowship and feast!

ACTIVE Christian Living Leadership ACL ADVISORY COUNCILLarry Bearden, Claudette Bearden, Sale Calhoun, Chris Clark, Rachel Hubbard, David Jackson, Sara Jackson, Nancy Lewis, Clyde McCain, Shirley McCain, Ann McGuire, Mike McGuire, Carol Perez

ANNUAL TRIP: Ina Faye Anderson, Janie Barnes, Peggy Holmes

AT HOME MINISTRY: Brenda Atkins, Cecil Avery, Chris Clark, Retta Dean, Mary Kate Dyer, Herb Gannon, Toye Gannon, Anna Lu Hemphill, Rachel Hubbard, Edna Israel, Sue Watkins

MONTHLY DAY TRIPS: Brenda Atkins, Cecil Avery, Janie Barnes, Sale Calhoun, Carol Perez

DECORATING & SERVING: Ina Faye Anderson, Pat Ferguson, Jean Guthrie, Nancy Lewis, Ann McGuire, Mike McGuire

MAIL: Brenda Atkins, Claudette Bearden, Patsy Hendley, David Jackson, Sue Watkins, June Whitlow

MISSIONS: Pat Ferguson, June Whitlow

MONTHLY LUNCHEON:Sale Calhoun, Clyde McCain, Shirley McCain, Carol Perez

PHOTOGRAPHY:Claudette Bearden, Pat Ferguson

SERVING: Ina Faye Anderson, Janie Barnes,Larry Bearden, Kay Formby, Peggy Holmes, Nancy Lewis, June Whitlow (Cashier)

TELECARE: Brenda Atkins, Shirley Austin, June Whitlow

Upcoming LuncheonsThursday, March 12, 2020Joseph Mendum, Composer & PianistLunch 11:30 a.m. Cost: $7Hudson Hall

Joseph Mendum is a local composer who received his de-gree in music composition from Samford University. He also is an accomplished pianist who has performed a wide range of varying genres. At our March luncheon, Joseph will perform two movements from different Beethoven Sonatas along with the first movement of a piano Sonata that he composed. He also will talk to us briefly about the two Beethoven pieces he performs and the process necessary to write an authentic Sonata. This luncheon will be held in Hudson Hall. Make sure to sign up at the front desk. You will not want to miss it!

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Anne Gibbons, “Worked Textile Design” Artist Lunch 11:30 a.m. Cost: $7

Anne Gibbons has an amazing talent for “worked textile designs”. Her designs have been exhibited in New York at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and for Princess Grace of Monaco. Her designs have also toured Europe. She had five needlepoint pieces which each won First Place in the com-petition of the American Needlepoint Guild for the 1974 Monaco Exhibit. Anne has designed Alabama’s square in a quilt representing the 50 states which is on permanent dis-play in the Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century Museum. Anne will bring many of her exhibits with her including her favorite work. To know what her favorite is you’ll have to come to the luncheon!

• ACTIVE March Luncheon - Thursday, March 12, Hudson Hall, 11:30 a.m. Joseph Mendum, composer & pianist, $7 per person

• March Day Trip - Tuesday, March 31, Sylacauga, AL. Sylacauga Marble Festival, Arrival Arrival 8:30 a.m. Departure 8:45 a.m., $45 per person (lunch included)

• April Day Trip - Tuesday, April 14, Irondale & Hanceville, AL. Tour of EWTN & the Shrine of The Most Blessed Sacrament, Arrival 8:00 a.m. Departure 8:15 a.m. $20 per person + lunch money

• ACTIVE April Luncheon - Thursday, April 16, Heritage Hall, 11:30 a.m. Anne Gibbons, $7 per person

• May Day Trip - Friday, May 15, Vinemont, AL. Tour of Crooked Creek Civil War Museum, Arrival 7:45 a.m. Departure 8:00 a.m. $42 per person (lunch included)

ACTIVITY SCALELevel Definit ion

Easy : minimal walk ing

M o derate: walk up toa mi le

Ac tive: walk as much as t wo mi les

Challenging: spend mostof the day on the go

Make Your Reservations

TODAY!

3631 Montevallo Road SouthBirmingham, AL 35213205-871-0331 Church 205-803-3458 Kely’s Office Phonewww.mbbc.org

Calendar At A Glance

ACTIVE Christian Living Issue 55 2020