Summer Sunday School followed a new curriculum from Cokesbury called BibleZone - Where the Bible Comes to Life. Thanks to all the teachers who helped make the program an outstanding success. _

Thanks to all those who volunteered to usher this summer. It was nice to see many new faces giving our regular ushers a much-deserved summer break. _

Thanks to all those with musical gifts who shared these gifts during our summer worship services. _

It is the time of year when we rejoice in the beauty of the color and warmth of Spring and Summer. Thanks to all the people who used our riding lawn mover to keep our lawn trim. _

Thanks to the Coughlins for purchasing a new computer for use by the pastor in his study. Thanks to the Hill family for giving a used computer which is being used in the office to manage the church's data base program. _

We sold the Chickering grand piano which was in our music room. The piano is of antique value having been built around 1832. It has a burled walnut finish which has been nicely refinished. We are glad that it has found a new home. _

A new Rainbow Bell Choir meets for practice in the Pre-K room after the worship service. Barb Foster is leading this newest bell choir for ringers in Kindergarten to 3rd grade. _

Congratulations to Jeffery Regan, our District Superintendent. He has been appointed to the conference council director position and left the district as of July 1. William T. (Tom) Robinson is the new District Superintendent. _

Norma attended the Professional Association for United Methodist Church Secretaries Certification School at Emory University in Atlanta, GA during the week of August 3-7. _

Thanks to Ralph Czerepinski, Jim Morgan, and Donna Clark for filling the pulpit during Dr. Stout's vacation absence. _

There was a Summer Fun Event for nursery and toddler room families on July 17 Thanks to Hope Pirie for arranging. _

Congratulations to Jenni and Steve Frick on the adoption on Tanisha Mariah. _

We celebrated the sacrament of Baptism for Hannah Louise, daughter of Heather and Scott Short, on July 12. _

Thanks to all who helped make sandwiches, bake cookies, and delivery lunches for the Share Lunch Week July 6-10. Some 1066 lunches were prepared, fewer than usual because of rain days. _

Tracy Anderson is our new Publicity Coordinator. She will write informal new releases for the Midland Daily News. _

The youth sponsored a Spaghetti Dinner on June 30th. Thanks to all who came. We raised $300. The youth used the funds for a white water rafting trip in West Virginia on August 10-12. _

We celebrated the sacrament of Baptism for Elliott Rachael, daughter of Dawn and Paul Reid, on June 28. _

Thanks to all the teachers and helpers who made Vacation Bible School such a tremendous success. A special thanks to the VBS Singers who sang their theme song Come to the Story Telling Tree  at the worship service on June 28. _

There was a Celebrate Farewell to Pastor John Benissan and family at Calvary UMC, Saginaw, on June 20. He moved to a new pastorate at Trinity UMC in Flint after 11 years of service in helping establish Calvary. _

Congratulations to the members of our 3 Disciple Bible Study classes who received their certificates on June 14. Thanks to Mary Fischer and Dave Warner for sharing Disciple Moments. There were 7 graduates from Disciple I and 18 graduates from Disciple III. _

Congratulations to the new members who were welcomed into church membership on June 14:

Congratulations to all our recent high school and college graduates:

Annual Conference was June 2-5 at Adrian College. Ralph Czerepinski and Marge Klashak were our lay members. Dave Stout attended as pastor. Norma Bawtinheimer was on the Journal Staff. Don Hammond was General Secretary. Thanks to all who brought articles for donation to children in Haitian missions. Dr. Stout also took a paper chain with one link for all the children and teens in our congregation. Thanks for Ralph for presenting a visual report from the conference. _

Special offerings were taken in May for Missions extra-mile giving 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. She hopes to go back to Liberia in January. Kelly Czerepinski Harman is in ministry to young adults at the Cedar Campus of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. See the letters on their activities in the June Hinge. _

The Sunday School Spring Mission Project was Fill the Ark  for Heifer Project International. Each child had an ark bank to fill with money. These banks were used to "fill" an "ark" with animals for needy families around the world. Our morning collections also went to Fill the Ark! The children collected $639.29. They decided to buy a water buffalo, a goat, a pig, fish, rabbits, bees, and chicks. _

Teacher Appreciation Sundae was Sunday, May 31st. The service was a special one which gave us a chance to recognize our teachers and then to have a little fun with ice cream and games. A special thanks to all of our teachers for their hard work during the year. _

Thanks to our choirs, their directors, and our organist for the stirring music on Music Sunday, May 16th. It was a pleasure to have the chancel choir, the bell choir, the chime choir, and the organist all join in my piece. _

Thanks to the UMK members who reported on their one day camping experience on Saturday, May 16th. The program, Visiting Bible People and Places,  was designed to acquaint kids with Camp Kinawind and what it has to offer. It was sponsored by the Saginaw Bay District. _

Congratulations to the new confirmands who were welcomed into church membership on May 3rd:

NEW FACES	PARENTS	GRANDPARENTS
Ryan Jacob	Kim & Dave Clouse
Mackinley Rose	Heather & Mike Prentice	Mary Ann & Bob Wise

_

Congratulations to Joan Pfruender for the newspaper article on her work as hostess for the Hospitality Home of the MidMichigan Medical Center. _

Congratulations to Sue Dyste and Joel Honaman who were joined in marriage at Aldersgate on Saturday, August 22nd. _

Congratulations to Sue Phillips for achieving a Diamond Distinction Award at The Dow Chemical Co. _

Congratulations to Rebecca Boyton for the picture in the newspaper of her paying rapt attention to a presentation against tobacco smoking. _

Congratulations to Mary Burton for the article in the newspaper of her family's history. _

Congratulations to Eric Moore for taking 4th place in the spreadsheet competition in the Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference in Dallas. _

Congratulations to Danielle Smith for the picture on the front page of the newspaper of her swimming. _

Congratulations to Pam Gifford for being named recipient of the MidMichigan Medical Center's Annual Lorimer Award. _

Congratulations to Dr. Carl Price and his wife, Pat, for the completion of 25 years of ministry at First UMC. They will continue in part-time ministry in Birmingham. _

Congratulations to Lisa McReynolds and Brent Morris who were married at Aldersgate on Saturday, May 23rd. Congratulations also to Mark & Tina Wills for their May 11th wedding in Florida. _

Congratulations to Tyler Foster for the picture on the front page of the newspaper of his watching the Memorial Day parade. _

Congratulations to Jon Reed for achieving recognition as a Scholar Athlete by the Saginaw Valley District. Jon has maintained a near perfect grade point average while excelling in wrestling and track, performing in school dramatic productions, and participating in many other activities. He is also recipient of a Centralis Gold Award Scholarship to Central Michigan University. _

Congratulations to Eva Prybyski on her 80th birthday. Thanks to her family for the cake to help celebrate the occasion. _

Congratulations to Jan Young for the feature in the newspaper on the log cabin which her 2nd grade students built in their classroom as a class project. Her students also took top honors in the 1998 Michigan State Film and Video Festival. _

For summer devotions, visit the Prescott UMC devotional page. Visit the Cybergrace Christian Network for a comprehensive Bible reference source. The United Methodist Publishing House has a new site for Disciple Bible Study resources.

[News from Jan-Apr 1998]
[News from Sep-Dec 1997] [News from May-Aug 1997] [News from Jan-Apr 1997]
[News from 1996]