An Adult Sunday School Class, "The Seekers", led by Mary Wackerle, meets the second and fourth Sundays on the month at 9a in the lounge.
The are currently studying the history of Christianity.
At 10:30a each Sunday, an Adult class led by Jeff Yoder meets in the Lounge.
They are currently studying In the dust of the Rabbi.
Senior High small groups meet during the week.
A Middle High Sunday School meets at 10:30a.
Children's Sunday School (pre K to 5th) meets at 9:30a. A Children's Church meets at 10:30a.
There is a Toddler Sunday School at 9a and Toddler Care at 10:30a.
There is Nursery Care at both services.
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Again this year, Aldersgate is one of the sponsors of the
Community Thanksgiving Food Baskets program.
The program provides thanksgiving meals for some of our county's neediest families.
Brown paper bags with a list of needed food stuffs will be available in the Narthex
on Sundays in November.
Please take a bag or two and fill it with some of the items listed on the bag.
We also need home-made cookies.
Filled bags and cookies should be brought to the church by 11am on Sunday, November 22.
On Monday and Tuesday of that week, we will distribute this food to those identified by the local Family Independency Agency.
Sign up sheets to help are on the bulletin board.
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
Dean or Elaine Tobey, 839-9879.
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The Aldersgate Sharing Tree will be put up in the Narthex on November 8 and remain up for 4 weeks.
On it will be tags with requests for gifts for the less fortunate for Christmas and throughout the year.
Please take a tag or more. Return gifts by 11am on Sunday, December 6.
Volunteers are needed on December 6-7 to help with distribution.
Jack or Jan Higgins, 631-5741.
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To help decorate our church for Christmas Eve, you may
purchase a red or white poinsettia in honor or memory of a loved one.
You may take it home after the second worship service.
Cost is $13.50 for a 6 1/2" pot with 5-7 blooms.
Please fill out form found in the bulletin or in the office and turn into the office by December 10.
Make checks payable to Aldersgate UMC Flower Fund.
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The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is pleased to announce that Paul Tolly
has accepted the position of Chancel Choir Director, effective in August.
Paul grew up in our church and led the Choir in 1981-82. He has a Bachelor of Music Education from Central Michigan University
and a Masters of Sacred Music from Southern Methodist University.
He has led Chancel and Children's Choirs in various churches in Texas, Oklahoma and Michigan
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From November 1 to the end of the year, the Youth will have a Penny War with their leader Micah.
Contributions are to be put into jars, one for each side.
Pennies count as positive points. Other money count as negative points.
At the end of the competition, the team with the most positive points or the fewest negative points
will be declared the winner. The losing side has to do a designated task
for the winner. Funds are used to support the 2010 Youth Mission Trip.
Micah Chisholm.
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A
Member Care Ministry has being started for our college students and military personnel
to let them know that they are still very much a part of the Aldersgate family even though
they can't be with us each week.
If you have a loved one who is in college or one of the armed services,
please contact Rae Vaught, Carol Miller, or Cassie Cuthbert.
Carol Miller.
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There will be a new member class soon.
Please contact the church office (631-1151) if you are interested in membership.
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All women of the Church are entitled to be part of the United Methodist Women.
Marge Klashak, 835-3350
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All men of the Church are entitled to be part of the United Methodist Men.
Mark Miller, 631-1151
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The
next
luncheon meeting
of the seniors group,
55 and the 3F's will be Monday, November 16.
Jeff Atwell from
Midland Tomorrow
will give information about
some of the new small industrial plants in Midland County.
Bring a dish to pass. The meeting starts at noon.
Sign up on bulletin board in the narthex.
Jan or Jack Higgins
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ChristCare
groups are gatherings of 3 to 12 people who come together to share their lives and grow in faith.
Ongoing groups include
Hospitality (Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors),
Bible Study Fellowship,
Friendship,
Seekers,
Prayers and Quilts,
and
Intercessory Prayer.
In addition to Christ Care groups, we also have
Disciple groups.
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Our church library has been updated.
We welcome donations to the library.
Please place in designated container near the library.
The library will now include the books/videos formerly located in the narthex on the rolling cart.
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Books are available for checkout in the U.M.W. bookshelf in Fellowship Hall.
Check out some of the opportunities for spiritual growth.
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Greeters are needed to greet members and visitors
at the door before each Sunday service.
Sign up on the bulletin board outside of Fellowship Hall.
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Volunteers are needed to serve as ushers and money counters.
Youth are encouraged to apply.
Nan Skochdopole.
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Volunteers are needed to help with Sunday School and child care.
Addie Maxwell.
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Volunteers in Mission team members
are wanted for continuing projects on hurricane relief and other projects.
Over 20 members of our church have participated in teams so far.
There is still a big need.
Further teams will be going this year.
Duane Townley.
Duane Brooks went to Rio Colorado, Bolivia in November and June.
Duane Brooks, 636-7503.
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Can you sing, play a musical instrument, or just read music? Consider joining one of our
musical groups.
Prays Band (instrumental) practices on Mondays at 7p. Bell Choir (hand bells -- only have to read music) practices on Tuesdays at 7p. Chancel Choir
(vocal) practices on Thursdays at 7p. The Door 24 worship band
(vocal and/or instrumental) practices on Saturday morning at 9a.
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Check the new Aldersgate Vision Plan.
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A Shawl Ministry is being started.
For further information on this ministry, visit shawlministry.com.
Carol Shuler.
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Staff Evaluation Forms are available for downloading.
Word format
pdf format
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The Youth are collecting
pop cans and bottles to help raise money for their activities.
Put in the bin in Fellowship Hall.
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A scrapbooking
group meets on second Friday nights.
Check the bulletin board.
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The Annual Church Conference was held on November 10 with District Superintendent Louise Ott presiding.
The theme was rethink church.
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Stewardship Sundays were November 1 and 8. The theme of the Stewardship Campaign this year was I Can Only Imagine.
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Thanks to all who contributed to this fall's UMW rummage sale on October 8-9.
The profit of over $1700 will be distributed to needy Midland County agencies.
Excess clothes were given to Homer UMC for distribution to needy families in the area.
Excess shoes will be sent to Haiti for distribution to those in need.
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Thanks to all who contributed to and walked in the Crop Walk on October 4.
We raised over $1100 for distribution to agencies who distribute food to needy.
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Our Fall Season started September 13 with Celebration Sunday and Pig Roast.
The Youth had their Kick Off on September 12.
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Worship services during summer included
Holy Communion/Patriotic Theme,
Taize Worship,
Special Music by Girls' Chrysalis,
Acoustic Sunday,
Special Music by Boys' Chrysalis,
and an Outdoor John Wesley Service.
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On Wednesday, August 12, Dust and Ashes,
the husband and wife team of Tom Page and Mary Lou Troutman, presented a concert at Aldersgate.
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A co-ed softball team (14 years and up) - The Aardvark's -- participated in a Church softball league this summer..
On Monday, July 6, a picnic for them was held at the church, sponsored by the UMW.
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Aldersgate was the site of a Girls' from July 16-19
and a Boys' Chrysalis Hoots from
July 30-Aug 2.
At the Sunday worship services, participants provided special music.
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A team from our church, the Lemonaides
participated in the
Relay For Life
on July 18 and 19.
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At the worship service on July 12 and at a ice cream social that afternoon, the Youth reported on their mission trip to Flint.
To raise money for their trip,
they had a number of fund raisers.
On Saturday, April 25, they had Midnight Masquerade 2009,
an evening of music and dancing, at the Church.
On March 28, they had a Spaghetti Dinner.
On February 28, they had an Ice Cream Social at the Great Lakes Ice Cream Company.
On February 1, they had a Super Bowl Sub Sale.
On November 15, they had a
Cinnamon Rolls sale.
From November 9 to the end of the year, they had a Penny War with their leader Micah.
Contributions were put into jars, one for each side.
Pennies were counted as positive points. Other money was counted as negative points.
At the end of the compeition, the team with the most positive points or the fewest negative points
was declared the winner. The losing side then had to do a designated task
for the winner.
They are also sponsored an Adopt-A-Youth program.
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Vacation Bible School, was June 22-26 with the theme Camp E.D.G.E..
Celebrations of the School were held at the services on June 29.
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Graduation Recognition Sunday was June 7.
Teacher/Volunteer Recognition Sunday was June 14.
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The UMW Spring Tea was May 17. A display of wedding dresses highlighted the event.
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The Spring Rummage Sale was May 7 and 8. The sale netted nearly $2500.
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At the May meeting
of the seniors group,
55 and the 3F's,
Gaye Terwilliger, Director of the
Midland Area Partnership for Drug-Free Youth,
talked about the role of her organization in the community.
On June 15,
Carol Rhumba, Volunteer Coordinator for
Senior Services, Midland County of Aging,
was the speaker and song leader.
At the September meeting,
Fred Yanoski, Public Health Preparedness Coordinator of the
Midland County Department of Health,
talked on current health issues.
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Prayer requests may be submitted by email or on a form. The address is intprayer @ sbcglobal.net.
Please indicate if you would like the prayers to be shared with the congregation, shared only with the intercessory prayer group, shared only with the e-mail prayer group,
or shared only by the leaders of the intercessory prayer group.
If you would like to be a member of the e-mail prayer chain, please send a note to the above address.
Prayer requests may also be submitted on forms found in the pew racks and submitted to the church office or the Intercessory Prayer Group mailbox.
Donna Czerepinski, 832-3604, or Cassie Cuthbert, 631-3306.
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The UMW library has many books available for checkout.
It is located at the far side of fellowship Hall.
There are 4 categories of books: Education for Mission, Nurturing for Community, Social Action, and Spiritual Growth.
There are 4 different reading plans; however, you do not have to join a reading plan to check out books.
If you wish to join a reading program, check the booklet on the library book shelf.
Shirley Brown, 832-2594.
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The Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network continues to help in providing emergency food assistance to local families.
Aldersgate is one of nearly 40 churches in Midland County participating in their efforts.
The Middle School Sunday School Class has the Pantry as a special mission project this year.
In April, Aldersgaters denoted 179 items to the EFPN.
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Click here to visit on thehungersite.
Then click on the Give Free Food button.
Site sponsors pay for a cup of food with each contact.
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Consider a organ, tissue, or eye donation.
Sign up on the Gift of Life Donor registry at giftoflifemichigan.org.
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The Finance Committee has approved participation in Meijer Community Rewards Program.
With the use of a special card, a percentage of purchases made at Meijers
will be given to the church as miscellaneous giving.
Applications for the card are available in the Narthex or the Church Office.
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The Gideon Memorial Bible program enables you to dedicate Bibles in memory or in recognition of a loved one or friend. The Bibles are placed in hotel or motel rooms in the U.S. Material to make donations is available in a rack just outside the Church office door.
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Because of privacy acts, our hospital visitors are unable to find out if there are members of Aldersgate in the hospital.
If you know of anyone who has been hospitalized, please
inform the Church Office 631-1151.
E-card greetings to patients and residences at MidMichigan hospitals and nursing homes may be sent at www.midmichigan.org/e-card.
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Please inform the Church Office of changes in vital information such as changes in event dates and times, addresses, births, hospitalizations, etc. In addition to the phone, 631-1151, and e-mail, aumchurch@sbcglobal.net, you can now use the "message stand" in the Narthex.
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To help local women and children in need, donations of juice, paper items, trash bags, gift cards, and Dial-A-Ride and County Connection tickets are needed.
They may be dropped off at the ShelterHouse, 3115 East Isabella (M-20).
Donna Czerepinski or Mary Wackerle.
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All members of Aldersgate are eligible for membership at
Members First Credit Union, 600 West Wackerly and 617 Bayliss.
835-5100.
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Check the Encounter page for opportunities offered by General Board of Discipleship for improving marriage relationships. Special weekends are offered for engaged couples.
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Be sure to check out
the many excellent videos and audio tapes available for loan from our video library.
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Small group ministry is very important to Aldersgate.
Make it a point to check the sign-up-board outside of Fellowship Hall on a routine basis. If you see the need for a group, please feel free to use the board as a means to interest others, or
let us know by e-mail.
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To help mission projects at Red Bird Mission School, Henderson Settlement, Midland County Emergency Food Pantry, Voluntary Action Center, Midland Christian School, and other groups,
please put following in boxes in narthex:
There are many dates available for altar flowers.
