A special thanks was given to Stan Hill and Darryl Smith for their work in establishing the Endowment Fund. Additional thanks was given to the trustees for providing pagers to help communications within the church.
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Thanks to the Rainbow Bell Choir for
their excellent rendition of Do Lord at the worship services on November 15.
On their inaugural performance on
September 20, their rendition of Jesus Loves Me was greatly with very warm applause. The group
meets for practice in the Pre-K room after the worship service.
New members are welcome!
It is for Kindergarten to 3rd grade.
Barb Foster, 839-9103.
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Blessed To Be a Blessing.
is the theme for the 1998 Stewardship Campaign. Our stewardship emphasis started on October 25.
We offered our pledges during the worship service on
Sunday, November 15.
Members shared their blessings with written notes on "The Blessing Tree" in the Narthex.
Thanks to Jeff Schroeder for the logo used on the promotional materials.
Please mail in your pledges if you were unable to attend the November 15th worship service.
As of December 2, we have received 172 pledge cards totalling $280,938.
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Norma Bawtinheimer, our Office Administrator for the last 3 and one half years, has accepted the position of Administrative Assistant for the Saginaw Bay District office. We will miss her, but we are happy for her in her new opportunity of ministry. We are glad that we will continue to have contact with her in her new job.
We welcome Bonnie Datte as her replacement.
Bonnie and her husband, Mark, live in Auburn. They have two daughters, Angela and Ashley.
On November 15, we welcomed Bonnie and her family with a reception between the worship services.
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On Sunday, November 15, the youth sold cinnamon rolls between services. Thanks to all made purchases.
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Thanks to the new Children's Choir for their first performance on November 8. They gave a very meaningful performance of Love in Any Language". Thanks also to Mary Fischer and her sisters, Jeanne Bluhm and Susan Samuels, for their special music on that Sunday.
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Congratulations to Jim & Jane Clark.
They are the proud grandparents of Rachel Elizabeth, born November 7 to Laura & Paul Ives.
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At a potluck dinner on November 6, sponsored by the Missions workarea, the program featured the United Methodist mission work at Africa University in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. Blessing and Kudzayi Mutabwe spoke about the University. Blessing is on leave from the University to work on his doctorate in Agriculture Economics at Michigan State University. Kudzayi is a graduate of the University and is working for a degree at MSU. Alice and Jim Morgan reported on and showed slides of their recent Volunteers in Mission project at the University.
Blessing and Kudzayi also spoke at the worship service on November 8. Thanks to Blessing and Kudzayi for sharing with us.
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Thanks to all who helped with the Rummage Sale on October 8 and 9. We cleared over $2100.
Watch for the Spring sale.
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Crop Walk was Sunday, October 4.
Thanks to all who walked, pledged, and otherwise helped out. Twenty-five percent of donations will be used locally by Salvation Army, Open Door, and Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network.
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Fall Sunday School
started Sunday, September 20th. New this year is a Children's Church at 11am. Children's Church gives parents an opportunity to participate in a study and gives their children an opportunity for an experience different form Sunday School. The Fall mission project is to bring personal care items, underwear, night shirts, and toys for care bags given through the Midland County Family Independence Agency.
Check out the Good News News, the new newspaper full of all the Sunday School happenings.
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The following Adult Study opportunities are being held this Fall:
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Sunday, 9:45-10:45am, Lounge
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Get Acquainted With Your Bible
(8 sessions)
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Sunday, 9:45-10:45am, Room 109
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Faith Now!
Apply your faith to current events and issues
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Sunday, 11am-12n, Lounge
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Life Is No Picnic
Stress Survival Skills for the Family
(13 sessions)
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Disciples Bible Study classes have started. Disciple 1 meets on Thursdays at 7pm. Disciple 3 meets on Wednesdays at 7pm.
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A
Brown Bag Bible Study is held on Tuesdays, 11:45am-12:45pm in the lounge. Dr. Stout leads. This year's study is on the book of Isaiah. Bring Bible, lunch, and a desire to learn.
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Look in the Narthex for the new pamphlet which highlights the many opportunities for personal growth at Aldersgate.
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Have you ever participated in or heard of spiritual growth which you feel should implemented at Aldersgate? Let us know about. We are planning our Adult Education curriculum for the next school year.
Bryan Warner 835-7730.
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4th-8th graders are invited to play in the
Chime Choir.
Rehearsals are Sunday mornings in the choir room at 10:45am.
Barb Hill, 835-6134.
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Children in K-6th grade are invited to sing in the
Children's Choir.
Denise Smith, 835-8460.
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As of July 1, the Rev. W. Thomas Robinson, Sr. is the new District Superintendent of the Saginaw Bay District.
There was a welcoming celebration in his honor on September 20 at Christ UMC in Bay City.
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The Aldersgate Fellowship Club held its first meeting on September 19.
Over 60 people attended the balloon festival at the Midland County Fairgrounds.
The October event was a hayride.
On November 13 they had a game night.
The
December's activity was a Christmas Walk at the
Dow Gardens.
The Club is open to anyone who would like to get together for Christian fellowship. It is dedicated to providing an atmosphere where fellow Christians can get together for planned activities. Some of these activities will be family oriented with kid-friendly events. Others will be geared more for adults only. Volunteers are wanted to setup activities for particular months.
Russ or Carrie Ahlers, 839-8499.
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Nancy Lightfoot, former member of Aldersgate, missionary to Liberia Annual Conference, was at Aldersgate on September 16.
She spoke at the United Methodist Women's General Meeting in the morning and at the Missions Work Area meeting in the evening.
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Thanks to all who helped with Celebration Sunday on September 13. It was a big success. During the worship service, we introduced this year's leaders of our education program and had a dedication service for them. We presented Bibles to our 3rd grade students. We had our clown troupe give a ministry in mime to highlight our various programs. We heard the choir do a stirring rendition of Victory in Jesus. After the service, we filled fellowship hall to overflowing with our annual pig roast and picnic.
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[News from May-Aug 1998]
[News from Jan-Apr 1998]
[News from Sep-Dec 1997]
[News from May-Aug 1997]
[News from Jan-Apr 1997]
[News from 1996]
Visit our
sermons page to reference the sermons our lay speakers gave this summer.
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.
Thanks to the many musicians who made Christmas Eve so memorable.
A special thanks to Darryl and Jeri Smith for providing the lovely Christmas tree in the sanctuary; to Don and Shirley McKenney for wreaths and hangings; to Cal and Marie Wylie for maintaining the beautiful creche scene on the altar; and to Don and Sally Hammond for the Advent Candles.
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We
Thanks to all who participated in the Sharing Tree to see that needy individuals in the community have a Christmas gift. Members of our church contributed over 200 presents.
