Aldersgate News and Notes

January 2021 - Issue 2

FLIPPING THE SWITCH IN 2021

by Pastor Donna Miller-Wire

Many of us are wondering how the church should manage in 2021. There is no sure-fire guarantee we'll get it entirely right, but if we commit ourselves to minister with passion and power from the Holy Spirit we can’t go wrong. As a church we’re used to thinking about things a certain way, but what if we flip the switch this year and think about things another way? Together we can flip the switch!

#1 Flip the switch and emphasize disciples instead of attenders!

What if we focus on living as a church of growing, whole-life-transformed, living-on-mission kinds of Jesus followers? Jesus was talking to disciples and believers in Matthew 28 and said to go and make disciples of everyone they met. No matter where they were from or what language they spoke, and to baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and then teach the new believers to live by all the things he had given them (v18-20 paraphrased). "Teach" literally means, be the reason! This year, let's live a life that allows us to be the reason others find Christ. We can move service to the sidewalk by being the hands, heart, and hope of Jesus to everyone we meet.

#2 Flip the switch from redesigning the past to choosing our own future!

The past may feel easier because we've done it before. What if we disrupt the disruption and embrace the gifts we possess to reimagine church. We did church in 2020 differently because we had to. What if we do it in 2021 because we get to? In Acts 2, the new believers were under persecution and stress. It would have been a good time to lay low. So what did they do? They chose what the church would look like: discipleship in homes, worship in the courts; communion on the patios; grilling out from home to home. Verse 47 says that the people observing found it amazing, and many were converted (paraphrased).

#3 Flip the switch from status quo to status go!

Living the Jesus-life means engaging who He is in us. Being a good neighbor, serving folks, thanking people for their investment in our community, the pursuit of moral justice, and working toward healing and hope for the oppressed – all speak to being Jesus. Who wouldn't love to meet believers like that? The Apostle Paul said he didn't try to fit in the surrounding culture, but instead, he kept his bearing in Christ and tried to experience things from the others' point of view. He became just about every kind of servant there is to help those he met to desire and pursue the Jesus-life. And he did it because he didn't want to just talk about it, but he wanted to be in on it! (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Message paraphrased).

When can we meet again in person for church? I can't give you a day, date, or an hour. But asking "when" we might be asking the wrong question unless we flip the switch. We can meet in person now! We meet in person when we meet the cashier, the officer, the weary mom, and the unemployed dad. We are the church! We get to choose this day who we will serve! We get to meet on the sidewalks of life!

How should we (the church) manage in 2021? We should manage as people who get our identity from Christ and not a building, and we share the love of Christ wherever we are.

I'm delighted to be your pastor and join you in the journey!

DUE TO THE RISE OF COVID-19 IN THE INDY METRO AREA, AND IN KEEPING WITH INDIANA EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-53 AND 20-50 ALDERSGATE (THE BUILDING) IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED THROUGH AT LEAST THE END OF JANUARY. MEANWHILE, SUNDAY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE VIA FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND ZOOM.

Annual Society Meeting

January 10, 2021

6 - 7 PM via Zoom

A reminder newsletter with details will be sent again on

January 10.

Across

2. When things aren't the same they are _______________.

4. When we shine the spotlight on Christ we _______ Christ (which is one of Aldersgate's five strategies under Pastor Donna's leadership).

5. _______things down became normal last year.

7. Aldersgate Bible Quizzers deserve _______________ for awards they won because of their hard work and study.

12. ________ is a way of talking to friends and having meetings virtually on your computer or phone.

13. Pastor Donna celebrated her ______________ on Thursday.

Down

1. Aldersgate's __________ lot was resurfaced recently.

3. The purpose of the Zoom Lobby, Sunday after worship is for ________________________.

6. The first of Aldersgate's five strategies is ____________.

8. This crossword puzzle is in Aldersgate's ________.

9. Pastor Donna uses the acronym GRACE to help us remember Aldersgate's 5 strategies. She's encouraging us to actively ________ disciples.

10. When you have a plan, you have a ____________.

11. _________________ distancing means you stay 6-feet way from others.

9:00 ZOOM SUNDAY SCHOOL

To download the winter lessons -

click here!

Click here for the Zoom link.

Meeting ID: 306 335 236

Password: 633671

To call in to Zoom, the phone number is

646-558-8656.

10:30 FACEBOOK & YOUTUBE SERVICE

To watch on Facebook go to

Facebook Live: Aldersgate Free Methodist Church

https://www.facebook.com/AFMCindpls/

To watch on YouTube search for

"Aldersgate Free Methodist Church - Indy"

Please let our greeters know you've joined the Facebook service by submitting a comment or clicking on an emoji. Our greeters want you to feel welcome and make sure you know you're a valuable part of our church community.