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But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. - Micah 5:2 (NRSV) |
Congratulations to Rev. Stout for the successful completion of his Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary.
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Thanks to all who donated Christmas
poinsettias in honor or in memory of a loved one. They helped make our sanctuary more beautiful during this special time of year.
Thanks to the many others who made this a special Christmas in so many ways.
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On December 14th, we welcomed the following into our church family:
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Kim & Rick DePew ch: Emily, Molly, Eric |
Betty Doster |
Todd McQuison w: Elizabeth |
Lynne Moyer ch: Brad |
Ken & Verna Spurr |
Matt & Leann Thorton ch: Daniel, Samuel, Miles, Nicholas, Nathaniel, Zane |
Lynn Verdusco h: Louis ch: Brandi, Corey, Laci |
Laura Welch |
Fritz Carleton V, son of Beth and Fritz Hyde, received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on Dec 14th.
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Thanks to all who participated in the Family Advent Celebration on December 7th. Over 200 attended the luncheon. We had good participation in the craft activities, the story time with Rev. Stout, the carol sing, and the program--Away From the Manger. A special treat was background music by some of the talented youth of the church.
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Thanks to the instrument-playing Sunday School students
who played for us during Advent special events.
Thanks to
Ellie Schroeder,
Lyn Frazier, and Denise Thompson for coordinating this special treat.
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Thanks to all who participated in the Sharing Tree Project to see that needy individuals in the community have a Christmas gift. Members of our church contributed over 200 presents.
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On November 23rd, we dedicated a new octave of chime bells in memory of Lois Crow. The chime choir played Dear Lord, Lead Me Day by Day to show off our expanded capability.
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The UMYF would like to thank everyone for their support with the cinnamon roll bake in November.
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God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
- 2 Corinthians 9:8(NRSV)
Again this year Aldersgate was a beehive of activity as we were a distribution point for the Community Thanksgiving Food Basket Program.
Brown paper bags with a list of needed food stuffs were distributed starting November 9th.
Filled bags with food were brought to the church on November 23rd.
Volunteers sorted and packaged food that afternoon.
On November 24th and 25th, food were distributed to some of
Midland County's neediest families.
A total of 819 bags of food were distributed to 199 families.
Financial contributions to help in the cost of the purchase of turkeys and other fresh foods may be sent to:
Midland County EFPN
1600 Clover Lane
Midland MI 48640
Thanks to the many volunteers who brought food and helped with the sorting and distribution. A special thanks to
Jack and Jan Higgins for their coordination of the effort.
Take a few moments and view pictures of our church in mission.
Picture 1.
Picture 2.
Picture 3.
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Thanks to all who are wearing name tags during our member awareness period this fall. Hopefully, we are getting to put a few more names with faces.
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Thanks to Together Time Singers for helping us celebrate Bible Sunday, November 16, with the song The B-i-b-l-e. Thanks to Rachel Boynton and Tim Hill of UMYF for their skit that Sunday on The Lord's Prayer. Thanks to youth, Chris and Jeff Schroeder for filling in for an ailing bell choir member on the last moment.
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Meeting Christ at Aldersgate was the theme of this year's stewardship campaign. On November 9th, we celebrated the support of our church with Commitment Sunday.
If you were unable to turn in your pledge at that time, please turn it into the church office as soon as possible.
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As part of Commitment Sunday, the Sunday School children presented books for The West Midland Family Center.
A total of 65 books have been presented from offerings brought to church each Sunday since.
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The week of November 9th was Teacher Appreciation Week. If you haven't done so already, send a note of thanks to your Sunday School leaders and teachers.
_Toddlers: Sharon Morris, Rae Vaught, Elizabeth Blumenshine Pre-K&Kindergarten: Faye Hockemeyer, Barb Foster 1st&2nd Grade: Jim & Jan Sheahan, Karen Backwith 3rd&4th Grade: Caroline Jennings, Dan & Sharon Derbyshire 5th&6th Grade: Bill Taylor, Jeff Beckwith Teens: Jackie Warner Confirmation: Dave Stout UMK: Elaine Tobey, Cindy Schuchardt UMYF: Jackie & Dave Warner Disciple: Donna Clark, Karen Wallace, Bryan & Sandy Warner
Thanks to John Fike, of the United Methodist Foundation of the Detroit Conference Extension Office for leading a forum on Endowments, Wills, and Estate Planning on November 2nd. Don Burton and Stan Hill are leading an effort to set up a church endowment fund.
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Grant Michael, son of Tracy and Travus Burton, received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on November 2nd.
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Thanks to a long list volunteers who have been very active in keeping our building, lawn, gardens, and parsonage in shape this summer and fall. We appreciate their efforts. Randy Hoyle and his crew even took on the tall order of painting our church lawn cross.
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Celebration of Life!, a benefit for Brenda Reed, was held on Saturday, October 25th at Western High School. Brenda died Oct. 20th. Proceeds from the door admission went towards financial needs for the Reed family in Brenda's long fight against cancer.
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Stand In The Gap was the message of this year's Laity Sunday on October 19th. Thanks to Bryan Warner, Mike Smith, Bill Warner, Brad Schuchardt, and Scott Tefft who shared experiences from the Promise Keepers Sacred Assembly of Men in Washington, D.C. on October 4th.
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Connected in Christ was the theme of our Annual Church Conference October 9th. District Superintendent Jeff Regan presided.
Leaders of the church presented their annual reports, officers for next year were elected, and preliminary approval was given to next year's finances.
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Thanks to those who walked in the CROP hunger walk on October 5th and to those who supported them. Members of our church raised $2,029.30
to support our local Midland County Network Food Pantry Network, the Salvation Army food programs, and the Open Door.
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The following people were baptized on September 28th:
Sarah Morgan, daughter of Gary & Lyn Bellaver
Janelle Lee & Daniel Bryant, children of Dan & Sharon Derbyshire
Donald Stephen & Leah Sherie, children of Steve & Debbra Grinwis
Lauren Elysse, daughter of Steve & Kelly Guentert
Brett David, son of David & Diane Nowak
Mackenzie Anne, daughter of Scot & Hope Pirie
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Fall Lay Speaker Training started September 27th at First UMC in Saginaw.
Both the Basic Course and an Advanced Course (A Ministry of Caring)
were given.
Jim & Alice Morgan lead the Basic Course.
Watch for additional courses next spring.
District Lay Speaking web site.
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Thanks to all who participated in the Fall Rummage Sale September 24-26th.
Proceeds from the sale was $1,191.
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Thanks to the
Youth for their Spaghetti Dinner on Tuesday, September 23rd. Mmm mmm good!
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On September 21st, we dedicated the following acolytes:
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Rebecca Boynton |
Janelle Derbyshire |
Jessie Durfee |
Marcy Gilstad |
Colleen Maclauchlan |
Jeff Moore |
Jenny Satkowiak |
Sam Satkowiak |
Clay Taylor |
The Member Care Work Area has initiated a Shepherd program of ministering to our church family. An initial group of Neighborhood Shepherds were commissioned on September 15th. We still need a few more.
Dan Foster, 839-9103.
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Thanks to all who planned and participated in Celebration Sunday on September 7th. It was a big success.
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Three Disciple Bible Study classes have started.
The
Missions extra-mile
giving this year is to benefit
two former members who are in serving in mission. Nancy Lightfoot is in the Ivory Coast working on translating the Bible into the Klao language and attending to the needs of
Liberian refugees.
Kelly Czerepinski Harman is in ministry to young adults at the
Cedar Campus
of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
We are also supporting a native national missionary to the street people of Brazil. This support completes the requirements to get special recognition from the General Board of Global Missions as as a Global Missions partner church. _
| NEW FACES | PARENTS | GRANDPARENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Tristayn McKee | Cheryl & Jim Owen | |
| Peter James | Julie & Charles Dukes | Elaine & Fred Miller |
| Robyn Cathleen | Christiann & John Elsen | |
| Breana Linnea | Sarah and Shel Plaxton | Peg and John Sargent |
| Brett David | Diane & Dave Nowak |
We are pleased to announce that
Denise Thompson is our new(returning) Organist,
Denise Smith is our new Chancel Choir Director,
and
Lyn Frazier is our "new" Director of Christian Education.
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Congratulations to Carol Dornbusch for catching the newspaper photographer's eye as she joyously caroled with the chancel choir at the Dow Gardens Christmas Walk on December 5th.
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Congratulations to Lois Gofton on the pictorial in the Midland Daily News featuring her participation in the Twinges in the Hinges swimming exercise program. No wonder our 90+ year old member is so active.
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Congratulations to Kathy Smith for newspaper picture featuring her promotion of the Voluntary Action Center fall clean-up day.
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Congratulations to Mary Sue Miller, daughter of Fred and Elaine. She was chosen to bake Hillary Clinton's 50th birthday cake and deliver it to the White House.
The cake was shown on Oprah's TV show on October 28th.
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Congratulations to Courtney Peck, Program Coordinator at the Seasons Adult Day Center, for her picture in the Midland Daily News. Her work shows an example of United Way dollars in action. The center is a service of the Midland County Council on Aging. She is looking for volunteers who can give seniors a little time in friendship. She is also looking for people to provide entertainment (i.e. lead singing groups, playing an instrument, craft assistance).
839-2081.
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Congratulations to Laura Welch, new president of American Legion Auxiliary.
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Congratulations to Margaret and Donald Welch on their 50th wedding anniversary celebration.
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Congratulations to Diana and Bob Strejc for the recognition given to them by the Midland Daily News in a feature article. They recently returned from a trip to The Czech Republic where they renewed friendships made at a softball tournament in Midland last year.
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Congratulations to Krista Leach for winning the Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Sorority for Educators scholarship. Krista is a senior at Saginaw Valley State University, majoring in elementary and special education.
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Congratulations to Nancy Stark for the recognition given to her by the Midland Daily News in a feature article. She recently was elected membership director of Michigan Association of Hospital Auxiliaries. She has served in many offices in local and district hospital auxiliaries.
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Our electronic organ is starting to act up and does not have many of the newer technological features. Thus,
an Aldersgate Organ Fund has been started. While no formal fund drive is presently planned, keep it in mind for special contributions.
Recent contributions to the fund have made in memory of Alice Bascom, Verda Bigelow, Lois Crow, Dorothy Higgins, Kenneth Roosa, Ted Wackerle, and Edward Welch.
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We have a new guest book. Please let us know of your visit.
We are a member of the United Methodist Web Ring. By clicking on the links by the web ring graphic on our welcome page, you can take a tour of other United Methodist web sites.
The Aldersgate Forum chat room is open. Arrange a test of it with fellow on-line surfers. Or have a conversation with yourself. You never know who might be listening.
Thanks to The Global Christian Network for making this service available to us.
For daily Advent devotionals, check out the on-line devotions of
Upper Adams Parish
and Prescott UMC.
See also The Season and Symbolism of Advent and the Story of Chrismons.
For a link to many Christmas resources, check out
Christmas in Cyberspace.
For the spirit of Thanksgiving, check out
Annie's Thanksgiving Page.
For a Christian perspective of Halloween
check out Annie's Halloween Page and History of Halloween & Word of God.
For some religious humor, check out Theophilus.
For some prayer poems, check out Psalms for a Summer Day.
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http://www.gmgm-umc.org/AldersgateUMCMI/news97-3.html 12/30/97
JIM
