For the next few Sundays, the sermons will be focused the new Aldersgate Vision Plan. _

Staff Evaluation Forms are available for downloading.
      Word format       pdf format       _

The Church has an opening for a Music Director. More information. _

Please contact the church office (631-1151) if you are interested in membership. _

A Bible Study for single parents is meeting Thursday evenings, 5:30-7p from April 24-June 5. They are studying Love, Cultivating Spirit Gven Character by Calvin Miller. Child care is provided. Addie Maxwell, 631-1151 or Jamie Hoy, 835-2006. _

To raise money for a mission trip in Chicago in July, the Youth are having a number of fund raisers. On February 29, there was an Ice Cream Social at Great Lakes Ice Cream. On March 15, there was a Spaghetti Dinner at the church. On April 26 there was a Back to Prom 2008. They are also sponsoring an Adopt-A-Youth program. _

Adult Sunday School opportunities.

•   9:00a - Rob Bell NOOMA DVD Bible Study (1st & 3rd Sundays)
•   9:00a - Seekers (2nd & 4th Sundays)
• 10:30a - The Promised Land

The Young Adult Fellowship Group - FaCeS (Families, Couples, and Singles) will be meeting on Saturday, May 17, 5:30p, at the Mongolian Barbeque for a Dinner & Movie Night. Sign up on Church bulletin board. _

The next luncheon meeting of the seniors group, 55 and the 3F's will be Monday, May 19. The speaker will be Greg Dorian, the Executive Director of the West Midland Family Center. Bring a dish to pass. The meeting starts at noon. Sign up on bulletin board in the narthex. Jan or Jack Higgins _

Check out the table in the narthex for this year's Camp Brochure. Also check http://www.umccamps.org for camping information. _

Our church library has been updated. We welcome donations to the library. Please place in designated container near the library. The library will now include the books/videos formerly located in the narthex on the rolling cart. _

Books are available for checkout in the U.M.W. bookshelf in Fellowship Hall. Check out some of the opportunities for spiritual growth. _

Volunteers are needed to serve as ushers and money counters. Youth are encouraged to apply. Nan Skochdopole. _

Volunteers are needed to help with Sunday School and child care. Addie Maxwell. _

This summer, Amber Lauer, a missionary with Youth For Christ, will be moving from South Africa to Europe to serve on an American military base doing outreach and youth ministry. Financial support for her work may be made at the Youth For Christ website. Her account number is 30161. _

Members are asked to prayerfully consider donations to a Technology Fund to improve the audio and visual facilities in our sanctuary so that our ministers will have wider opportunities to deliver the message and our members can more creatively express their faith. _

Volunteers in Mission team members are wanted for continuing projects on hurricane relief and other projects. Over 20 members of our church have participated in teams so far. There is still a big need. Further teams will be going this year. Duane Townley. Duane Brooks went to Rio Colorado, Bolivia in November and June. Duane Brooks, 636-7503. _

Can you sing, play a musical instrument, or just read music? Consider joining one of our musical groups. Prays Band (instrumental) practices on Mondays at 7p. Bell Choir (hand bells -- only have to read music) practices on Tuesdays at 7p. Chancel Choir (vocal) practices on Thursdays at 7p. The Door 24 worship band (vocal and/or instrumental) practices on Saturday morning at 9a. _

Interested in being part of a Praise(prays) Band? Practices are Mondays at 7p. Jeff Yoder or Jennifer Root. _ The Adult Handbell Choir has rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings (except summer) at 7p. The choir rings for two services on the third Sunday of each month except during the summer. Requirements are some basic music-reading skills and a willingness to have a good time while creating meaningful music to enhance worship. Chris Laitner, 636-7674. _ Come be part of the fellowship of the Chancel Choir and experience the joy of making music that both blesses the congregation and praises our Lord. Practices are Thursday evenings at 7p. Charlene Rice. Express yourself as part of a Worship Band (Door 24). Practices are Saturday mornings at 9a. Both vocalists and instrumentalists are needed. Micah Chisholm. _

The Youth are collecting pop cans and bottles to help raise money for their activities. Put in the bin in Fellowship Hall. _

A scrapbooking group meets on second Friday nights. Check the bulletin board. _

The United Methodist Kids No-TV-aton succeeded in raising 41 bags of school supplies, 9 health kits, & 9 sewing kits to be sent to Liberia. _

The Rummage Sale, May 8-9, was a big success. Thanks to all who helped. _

A Spring Planning Retreat was held at the church on Sunday, May 4. _

We welcomed 13 new members into the church on Sunday, May 4. _

April 27 was UMW Sunday. Mary Whitman, Saginaw Bay District UMW President, gave the message. _

The Church was alive on Saturday night, April 26 as the Youth sponsored a Back to the Prom 2008 gala. _

For a church-wide Lenten Study this year, the church undertook a 40 Days of Community. It started with an overview at the 2 services on Sunday, January 20, followed by a potluck lunch. Participants met weekly in small groups to discuss the book 40 Days of Community. The study concluded with a Celebration Potluck at March 9. As part of the celebration, we had a Mission Fair on Sunday, February 24, after both services. Participants were able to see the wealth of opportunities for service, fellowship, and mission within our church community. Another activity was donating food and household items to the local food pantries. Over 1200 items were donated. _

This winter, some members of the church were engaged in a 13-week study through Financial Peace University focusing on practical and Biblical insights on managing finances and personal growth. _

Church Women United had their World Day of Prayer at Aldersgate on March 7. _

Door 24 provided the worship music for the Saginaw Bay District Bishop's Day of Evangelism and Stewardship at Tawas UMC on March 1. _

The Young Adult Fellowship Group - FaCeS (Families, Couples, and Singles) met Friday, February 29, at the church for a Leap Day Games Night. The group celebrated the New Year with a party at the Tobey's house. _

UMW Soup Supper & Bake Sale on February 21 was a huge success. Through the help of 43 workers and contributors plus many connoisseurs, almost $700 was raised to aid local missions. _

Check out the February issue of The Michigan Christian Advocate. There are pictures of some of our youth. _

January 20 was a busy day at the church. At our contemporary service, the new Youth music group Stonewall Calamity made their premier performance. At both services and at a pot luck following the services, we initiated our 40 Days of Community. In the afternoon, we had our Confirmation Kick-off. In the evening, the youth had a Servant Auction. _

On January 16, the UMW heard Amber Lauer talk about her mission experiences in South Africa. _

Paul Barbeau, General Manager of the Great Lakes Loons was the speaker at the January 8 meeting of the seniors group, 55 and the 3F's. On February 4. Bill Henniner, President/CEO of the Midland Center For The Arts was the speaker. On March 3, the Golden Guild of the Theatre Guild presented a reader's theatre skit. _

As a fundraiser for their Summer 2008 Mission Trip, the Youth engaged in a PENNY WAR with Micah. The War ended December 30. Check the color of Micah's hair to see who won. _

Thanks to the generorsity of our congregation for donations to our Christmas Card Fund, the Missions Committee was able to give $221 to the Midland Area Homes for their Emergency Heating Fund. _

Thanks to all who showed the meaning of Christmas at our Christmas Eve services. _

Thanks to our children and their leaders for a wonderful Christmas program on December 16. _

The United Methodist Women had their Christmas Party on December 12. _

Thanks to the Chancel Choir, the Prays Band, and the Youth Handbell Choir for their special music at our Lesson In Carols worship service on December 9. _

Prayer requests may be submitted by email or on a form. The address is intprayer @ sbcglobal.net. Please indicate if you would like the prayers to be shared with the congregation, shared only with the intercessory prayer group, shared only with the e-mail prayer group, or shared only by the leaders of the intercessory prayer group. If you would like to be a member of the e-mail prayer chain, please send a note to the above address. Prayer requests may also be submitted on forms found in the pew racks and submitted to the church office or the Intercessory Prayer Group mailbox. Donna Czerepinski, 832-3604, or Cassie Cuthbert, 631-3306. _

The UMW library has many books available for checkout. It is located at the far side of fellowship Hall. There are 4 categories of books: Education for Mission, Nurturing for Community, Social Action, and Spiritual Growth. There are 4 different reading plans; however, you do not have to join a reading plan to check out books. If you wish to join a reading program, check the booklet on the library book shelf. Shirley Brown, 832-2594. _

The Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network continues to help in providing emergency food assistance to local families. Aldersgate is one of nearly 40 churches in Midland County participating in their efforts. The Middle School Sunday School Class has the Pantry as a special mission project this year. In April, Aldersgaters denoted 179 items to the EFPN. _

Click here to visit on thehungersite. Then click on the Give Free Food button. Site sponsors pay for a cup of food with each contact. _

Consider a organ, tissue, or eye donation. Sign up on the Gift of Life Donor registry at giftoflifemichigan.org. _

The Finance Committee has approved participation in Meijer Community Rewards Program. With the use of a special card, a percentage of purchases made at Meijers will be given to the church as miscellaneous giving. Applications for the card are available in the Narthex or the Church Office. _

The Gideon Memorial Bible program enables you to dedicate Bibles in memory or in recognition of a loved one or friend. The Bibles are placed in hotel or motel rooms in the U.S. Material to make donations is available in a rack just outside the Church office door. _

Because of privacy acts, our hospital visitors are unable to find out if there are members of Aldersgate in the hospital. If you know of anyone who has been hospitalized, please inform the Church Office 631-1151. E-card greetings to patients and residences at MidMichigan hospitals and nursing homes may be sent at www.midmichigan.org/e-card. _

Please inform the Church Office of changes in vital information such as changes in event dates and times, addresses, births, hospitalizations, etc. In addition to the phone, 631-1151, and e-mail, aumchurch@sbcglobal.net, you can now use the "message stand" in the Narthex. _

To help local women and children in need, donations of juice, paper items, trash bags, gift cards, and Dial-A-Ride and County Connection tickets are needed. They may be dropped off at the ShelterHouse, 3115 East Isabella (M-20). Donna Czerepinski or Mary Wackerle. _

All members of Aldersgate are eligible for membership at Members First Credit Union, 600 West Wackerly and 617 Bayliss. 835-5100. _

Check the Encounter page for opportunities offered by General Board of Discipleship for improving marriage relationships. Special weekends are offered for engaged couples. _

Be sure to check out the many excellent videos and audio tapes available for loan from our video library. _

Small group ministry is very important to Aldersgate. Make it a point to check the sign-up-board outside of Fellowship Hall on a routine basis. If you see the need for a group, please feel free to use the board as a means to interest others, or let us know by e-mail. _

Make it a practice to bring items for the Food Pantry each Sunday. Leave in the containers in the hallway. Especially needed are canned fruit and shredded wheat. Non-food items such as detergents, paper products and personal care items are also needed. _

To help mission projects at Red Bird Mission School, Henderson Settlement, Midland County Emergency Food Pantry, Voluntary Action Center, Midland Christian School, and other groups, please put following in boxes in narthex:

• The UPC code for General Mills products ("Labels for Education" program)
• Coupons on bottom of Kleenex, Ziplock, Saran Wrap, and other S.C. Johnson products
• Campbell Soups labels
• Point & Tops for Education symbols from Betty Crocker products
• V8 Splash, Prego Pasta sauce, Pace Salsa labels _