We have an Aldersgate page on Cokesbury Online. On it, we hope to recommend books which our pastors and members have found useful in their Christian growth. Let us know if you have books which you would like to recommend.
NEWS ARCHIVES - MAY-AUG 2000
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Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. - Psalm 111:2-3(NRSV) |
The General Conference of The United Methodist Church was May 2-12 in Cleveland. A web site was set up the give proceedings.
We have an Aldersgate page on Cokesbury Online. On it, we hope to recommend books which our pastors and members have found useful in their Christian growth. Let us know if you have books which you would like to recommend.
If you are an Internet shopper, start your shopping at 4mycommunity.com. A portion (about 5-7%) of any purchases made through that site will be returned to Aldersgate.
Thanks to a generous donation, we are now able to offer a video library for home use.
We have all the Veggie Tales movies and several other great offerings.
Check out a video on one Sunday and bring it back the next.
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We also have the audio cassettes Adventures in Odyssey in our library.
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Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa is suffering from famine.
In Ethiopia, the famine could become as devastating as the one it
suffered in the 1980s. Click here to visit UMCOR's response page.
Help is also needed for Mozambicans.
Click here to gain more information about the floods in Mozambique and UMCOR's response to the tragedy.
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The United Methodist Churches of Midland County sponsored the building of a home as part of the Habitat for Humanity Year 2000 program. The home is at Pfeiffer Court (off of Perrine Road across Saginaw Road from Dow High School). The project started January 16 with the ground breaking ceremony on April 9.
The house is completed and the family is now is residence.
On September 17, the UMW sponsored a housewarming shower for the family.
Thanks to all who made finanical contributions, who worked on the house, and who helped with the shower.
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Thanks to the group who did a Volunteers in Mission project at the Grand Marais United Methodist Church on September 8-11. They did a wonderful job of sprucing up the church.
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Thanks to all who help plan the appointments for our new picture directory.
It should be out shortly.
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The Rev. Dr. Linda Lee is the new resident bishop of the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences. The Rev. Lee was the District Superintendent of the Detroit East District of the Detroit Conference.
A farewell for Bishop Donald Ott was held August 20 at East Lansing.
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Thanks to the many who have provided special music during our summer worship services.
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The Council on Ministries had a Visioning Session on Tuesday, August 22. The purpose was to recapture and recast Aldersgate's vision for today's generation.
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We celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism on August 20 for:
Chelsea Marie Miller, granddaughter of Jan and Bob Ballard
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On August 20, we welcomed the following into membership:
Bob and Jan Ballard
Bob and Jan are former members who have returned to Midland from Florida.
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Congratulations to George and Agnes Scoles on the celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary.
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We celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism on July 9 for:
Christian Alan, son of Karen and Kim Krueger
Jillian Courtney, daughter of Karen and Kim Krueger
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We welcome:
twins Justin and Danille,
born June 29 to Amy & Dean Liakos.
Jacob David,
born June 28 to Jackie & David Warner.
Grandparents are Cheryl & David Warner.
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Rachel Boynton received a scholarship to the Detroit Conference Youth Assembly in June and was elected a Conference youth officer. Congratulations Rachel.
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Congratulations to Kimberly Heffel for being selected a Presidential Scholar at Western Michigan University.
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On June 25, we welcomed the following into membership:
David Lewis,
Kristi Lewis,
Audrey Picoh,
Betty Turnbull
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Thanks to the participants in our
Club Can-Do Vacation Bible School for sharing some of
their songs during our worship service of June 25. Thanks to all who helped and participated in the school. It was a big success.
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Congratulations to Andrew Pirie for completing the cub scout program God and Me.
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We celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism on June 18 for:
Gage Allen, son of Shawn and Mark Spitnale
Lauren Lynn, daughter of Sue and Joel Honaman
Parker Lee, son of Mary and Wayne Laffey
Zachary Austin, son of Kimberly and Kevin Leach
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On June 18, we dedicated a Roland Digital Piano in memory of Mabel McKay.
Janelle Derbyshire performed a flute solo demonstrating the piano's stored program accompaniment capabilities.
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Congratulations to Jennifer Fenzil for winning three medals at the recent Special Olympics in Mt. Pleasant. She won a gold and two bronze.
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On June 11, we recognized the graduates of our Disciples Bible Study class
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On June 4, we recognized our high school and college graduates and our church school teachers of the past year. Congratulations and thanks.
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The Spring Mission Project of our Christian Education program was for Habitat for Humanity. We raised over $635.
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We celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism on May 28 for:
Danielle Morgan, daughter of Kristi and David Lewis.
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Thanks to our choirs and music directors for making Music Sunday on May 21 a memorable experience. Two vocal choirs (Children's and Chancel) and four bell choirs (Rainbow, Chime, Teen Bell, and Adult Bell) participated. It is wonderful to see so many participants in our music program. One of the pieces was a special tribute to Marian Brown who started the first bell choir at Aldersgate. Marian died on May 18. Thanks also to our new Lay Speaker, Rachel Boynton, for giving the Children's Message.
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The 2000 Detroit Annual Conference sent containers to Liberia and Haiti this year with needed supplies. Thanks for all who brought items.
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The
40th Anniversary Celebration on May 14 was a big success.
The schedule included:
| 9:15am | Celebration of Commissioning @ 1st UMC |
| 9:30am | Coffee Fellowship at Aldersgate In Fellowship Hall |
| 10:00am | Worship Celebration |
| 11:00am | Birthday Party, hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and fun |
It was nice to see so many of the charter members in attendance and to see many former members who returned for the occasion. Dr. Orville McKay, who was the senior minister at 1st Church when Aldersgate was commissioned, lead the Celebration of the Commissioning Service. Charter members Bert Hill and Nan Skochdopole and former pastor Rev. Zack Clayton gave very meaningful reminiscences during the Worship Celebration. The Chancel Choir gave a heart-warming rendition of How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place in memory of Dick Hoff.
There was an outstanding display of memorabilia on display on tables in Fellowship Hall. Thanks to all who helped in the preparation.
Click here to see photos of our 40th anniversary celebration.
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The Rummage Sale on
May 11-12 netted us $2342. Proceeds will help pay for the recent re-painting of our Sanctuary and Narthex and for improved sound equipment for the Sanctuary.
Thanks to all who helped and to those who furnished and bought goods.
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Congratulations to John Fuller on his retirement from the Board of Trustees of Delta College. John served on the board for 11 years. He previously was the college registrar.
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Congratulations to Rachel Boynton for completing the Beginning
Lay Speaking Training course held during April and early May. Click on the Saginaw Bay District Lay Speaking page for more information on Lay Speaker training.
Aldersgate has the largest number of trained Lay Speakers of any church in the Saginaw Bay District. Rachel is the first teen-ager in the District to complete the course.
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Thanks to all who walked or sponsored walkers in the 2000 Midland Multiple Sclerosis Walk on May 6.
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Hats off to Jeff Moore for being on the winning team in The Battle of the Books.
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Congratulations to Janelle Derbyshire for winning the Larry Smith Scholarship to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Congratulations also to Chris and Jeff Schroeder for receiving Blue Lake scholarhips.
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Congratulations to Dick Skochdopole for the recognition he received at the Law Day luncheon for his work with FACE (Facing Alcohol Concerns through Education).
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http://www.gmgm-umc.org/AldersgateUMCMI/news00-2.html 10/17/00
JIM