The Annual Conference of The Detroit Conference of The United Methodist Church was held the week of June 2nd in Adrian. Our pastor, office administrator, our lay delegates, and several other members attended. Don Hammond was the Conference secretary.

Thanks to all who contributed items for Haiti. Our delegates had a good collection of full boxes to take with them to Conference. _

On June 1st, the Children's Sunday School dedicated a $232 gift to the Bishop Judith Craig Children's Home in Liberia. They have been collecting money since the first of the year. _

On June 1st, 11 graduates of the Disciple II Bible Study received their diplomas. They completed 32 weeks of study of Into the Word Into the World. In this program they studied Genesis, Exodus, Luke, and Acts to reinforce the importance of keeping Bible study related to witness and services in the world.

On June 8th, 8 graduates of the Disciple I Bible Study received their diplomas at the Auburn UMC. Three members of the Auburn church participated in this study of Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study in which they read about 70% of the Bible over a 34 week period. Graduates of the Aldersgate Disciples program contributed $800 to help Auburn UMC start a Disciples program.

Plans are underway to offer these programs plus a Disciple III Bible Study on Remember Who We Are in the Fall. Check the Disciple page for whom to contact if you are interesting in participating. We now have 39 from Aldersgate who have participated in Disciple studies. _

Ken Grant has resigned his post as Education Director to take on added responsibilities elsewhere. A special thanks to Ken for his contributions to our Church and its program over the past four years. Lyn Frazier will be handling the responsibilites of Education Director on an interim basis. _

There was a memorial service for Vanessa Whaley, widow of our first pastor Ben Whaley, on Saturday, May 31st, at First UMC. She died in Sarasota, Florida on February 27th following open heart surgery. _

Thanks to the chime, chancel, and bell choirs for their special efforts on Music Sunday, May 18th. Thanks to our choir directors for their offertory duet. _

Thanks to those who helped install air conditioning in the parsonage. And thanks to those who donated material for the rummage sales from which proceeds were used to pay for the air conditioner. Now the big question: will it warm up enough to need air conditioning this summer? _

At our worship service on May 18th, we presented The Aldersgate Vision to the congregation. It is the opening text on our Welcome page. Thanks to the committee who developed it. A special thanks to Sharon Morris for the banner which illustrates the vision. _

Thanks to all who helped prepare and serve lunch for parents and children on May 16th at West Midland Family Center. _

Thanks to all who helped with the Hats off to Women Mother - Daughter Banquet on May 14th. Fellowship Hall was packed as a large group of happy diners created some unusual and colorful hats.
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Thanks to Charles Miller, former missionary in Zimbabwe, who spoke to Windows on the World missions dinner on May 7th. He enlightened us on the work of the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and neighboring countries. _

Congratulations to the new confirmands who were welcomed into church membership on May 4th:

Thanks to all who helped prepare the treats at Confirmation Sunday and for the Teacher Appreciation Lunch on the prior Sunday.. _

NEW FACES	PARENTS	GRANDPARENTS
Mackenzie Anne	Hope and Scot Pirie
Lauren Elysee	Kelly and Steve Guintert
Fritz Carleton V	Beth and Fritz Hyde
Jacob Richard	Tracy & Jason Merry	Karen & Dick Burow
Victoria Mae	Laura & Dennis Argyle	(GREAT)Kay & Virgil LaPorte

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Congratulations to Gloriane Peck for the special recognition which the Midland Daily News gave her for her volunteer work. _

Congratulations to John Reed who participated in the national wrestling championships in Fargo, North Dakota in July. _

Congratulations to Jennifer Finzel who lit the torch at the 25th anniversary summer games of the Michigan Special Olympics at Central Michigan University on June 5th. Jennifer has recently been seen on Wheaties cereal boxes. She is shown wearing three of the four medals she won at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in New Haven, Conn., last year. She was named "inspirational athlete of the year" in the competition.
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Check out the Weekly Bible Trivia Quiz developed by Todd Jeffers (Joan Pfruender's son-in-law). Are the social principles of the United Methodist Church binding or instructive? Join a discussion at the Newscope Discussion Forum . For a new view of the creationism-evolution debate, check out The Origins Solution. See some of our lay speakers in action in the picture story on the Saginaw Bay District web site.

[News from Jan-Apr 1997]