Click here to get our new emergency phone numbers. Click here to see pictures of the rafting trip which our youth made this summer. We have updated our pastor's welcome page. The page also has a link to his home page.

Thanks to the members who expressed their wishes for the Season to other members of Aldersgate by signing the Christmas Card in our narthex. Money saved by not sending cards was used as a contribution to a fund to provide supplement heating allowances to those in need. We collected $140 which was given to the Midland County Heating Subsidy Program. Thanks to Tom Limberg for designing the card.

Thanks to all who purchased poinsettias to help decorate our sanctuary during the Christmas season.

Thanks to the many who helped decorate the church for the season. _

Thanks to all who who brought gifts for the Sharing Tree Project to see that needy individuals in the community had a Christmas gift. We delivered 262 gifts. _

The Best Christmas Present Ever   by our many actors and musicians highlighted the Advent Celebration on December 5 . Thanks to everyone who made the Celebration experience a success: -the Education Work Area for providing lunch. -the youth for providing dining music. -Dr. Stout for having story time with the children. - Donna Clark for leading carol singing. -the drama players. -the Children's Choir. --and all the many leaders and behind-the-scenes workers. What a wonderful way to start the Season. _

Congratulations to the Rainbow Bell Choir for the colorful pictures of their playing bells at the Stratford Village nursing home which appeared in the Midland Daily News on December 5. _

Congratulations to Jim & Lisa Sylvia on the birth of their son, Zachary James, born Dec 4. Proud grandparents are Gary and Jan Levandoski. _

Saginaw Bay District Superintendent Tom Robinson led our Annual Charge Conference on December 1. Reports on Church activities were presented and new officers were elected. Visit our action and people pages for more information _

Thanks to all who contributed to the Community Thanksgiving Food Baskets program. With the help on many other churches, nearly 900 bags of groceries, 400 dozen cookies, and other necessities were collected, sorted, and distributed at Aldersgate to needy families on November 21-23. Over 30 groups helped. Thanks to Jeri and Darryl Smith for coordinating this effort. _

Congratulations to Karen Wallace for completing the Basic Lay Speaking Course in Gladwin this fall. Aldersgate has the largest number of trained Lay Speakers of any church in the Saginaw Bay District. _

Congratulations to Alice Morgan for the picture in the Midland Daily News on her activities with the American Association of University Women. _

We celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism on October 30 for:
   Jacob James and Sarah Anne, children of Wendy and Mark Dibbet, and
   Mitchell Isiah, son of Dawn & Paul Reid. _

We welcomed the following into membership on October 24:   Emily DePew, Connie Glynn, Faith Glynn, Erin Ireland, Addie Maxwell and Hannah Swihart. _

We celebrated our acoyltes with a special presentation of pins on October 17. Acolytes this year are Sean Beckwith, Molly DePew, Bryant Derbyshire, Janelle Derbyshire, Tom Dukes, Marcy Gilstad, Ty Gilstad, Chrissy Mancroni, Haley Messinger, Jeff Moore, Andrew Pine, Janae Smith, Colin Sihart, Keegan Swihart, Jordan Tobey, and Alan Warner. _

Congratulations to the youth who have been in recent performances at the Midland Center for the Arts. Tim Hill, John Mallory, Janelle Derbyshire, and Bryant Derbyshire are some of our budding hams. _

Thanks to all who brought and bought rummage to the UMW Monday, October 14. The Fall Rummage Sale on October 14-15. Thanks also to those who helped. It was a big success. Over $2,200 was raised to help the UMW with the mission and community service projects. _

The annual Crop Walk was Sunday, October 3. Thanks to all who walked and contributed. Our walkers were responsible for $1,527 of a total of $32,277.51. Virginia Otis was one of the top 6 walkers with $810. Danny Messinger was the top youth pledge gainer with $130. Money donated is used to meet hunger needs, both locally and around the world. _

Congratulations to Brad Schuchardt, whose picture appeared in the Midland Daily News as part of an article on the Design Craftsmen project at the new Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills. _

We celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism on September 19 for two children: Brendan Chase, son of Heather and Scott Short; and Matthew David, son of Carrie and Russell Ahlers. _

Thanks to the Youth for their Spaghetti Dinner on Tuesday, September 14. Mmm mmm good! _

An overflow crowd celebrated the coming together again at the Celebration Sunday worship service on September 12. A dedication ceremony was given for education staff and volunteers. Bibles were presented to 3rd graders. The Chancel Drama Players gave a well-received inaugural skit illustrating a Biblical passage. After the worship, there was a pig roast and picnic under a beautiful fall day. Thanks to all who made the day a success. _

Thanks to the Chancel Drama Players for The Word in Drama presentation at the worship service on September 12. Tracy Collison is the coordinator of this new group. It is hoped to have a reader's theater at worship once a month. The readings are brief, rehearsal times minimal. Scripts are both dramatic and recitation. _

Congratulations to Joan Pfruender and Fred Miller upon their marriage, September 11. _

All members of Aldersgate are eligible for membership at Members First Credit Union, 600 West Wackerly and 617 Bayliss. 835-5100. _

Next time you drive to church, notice the new sign in front of the building. Funds from a memorial gift helped pay for this new addition. Thanks to the Trustees for their work in installing it. _

The Fall Mission Project of our Christian Education program was aid for Turkey Earthquake victims. We gave $217.73. Comments by members of Aldersgate of the aftermath of the quake can be found in an interview on the General Board of Global Ministries web site. _

Our Extra-mile Giving this year help support Nancy Lightfoot with her missionary work to Klao people of Liberia and Kelly Czerepinski Harman and her husband, Dan, with their work to the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at Cedar Camp. See the October Hinge  for a writeup of Kelly's work. _

Once again the UMW assembled Health and Sewing kits for UMCOR. _

Thanks to all who participate in our Sunday School program. As always, the success of the program depends upon the willingness of volunteers to teach and assist. We were more able to implement our new Child Protection Policy requiring that ALL adult volunteers working with minors complete both an application form and proceed with the leader application process. _

The following Adult Study opportunities were being held this Fall during the Sunday School hour:

• Bible 103: the Travels and Teachings of Paul
  
• Faithlink
  

Disciples Bible Study 2 met on Wednesdays.

A Brown Bag Bible Study met on Tuesdays with Dr. Stout leading. This year's study was on the book of Isaiah.

Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God was the subject of a 12 session adult study opportunity on Monday evenings. The study included a daily scripture study discipline with weekly fellowship. _

[News from May-Aug 1999] [News from Jan-Apr 1999]
[News from Sep-Dec 1998] [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]