DECEMBER 2025

937-426-3988 / www.aleyumc.org

A Message from

Pastor Laurie Steele

WHY? “Why?”— a word that captures the unending curiosity of a child and sometimes the quiet frustration of a parent. As anyone who’s been on either side of that question knows, a simple “because I said so” rarely satisfies the longing for true understanding. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on this persistent “why,” especially as it relates to the Church—both our own congregation here at Aley and the larger Church as a whole.

Too often, churches struggle to answer the big “why” that lies beneath declining attendance and the deep hunger people feel for authentic connection with God. Why aren’t more people growing in faith? Why does church seem less vital to some than it once did? The importance of these questions isn’t unique to Christianity—questions of spiritual significance echo around the world, across all religions. As we pray and plan for how Aley UMC can better connect with our community, I believe seeking our “why” is indispensable.

Simon Sinek, a well-known author and speaker, says that inspiring leaders and organizations always start with their “why”—their purpose, their belief, their reason for being—before focusing on the “how” and the “what.” We may not be a conventional business, but discovering and embracing our “why” as a church is just as crucial for us.

This past month, we’ve explored what our mission truly means and why it matters for our personal walk with God and our life together as a church family. As you decorate for Advent, bake treats, and gather gifts, I invite you to pause and ask:

Why is my relationship with God important to me? How am I nurturing that relationship? What new ways can I grow with others?

Throughout our sermon series from this past month and The Administrative Council’s faithful work, you have been offered practical ways to seek deeper answers—answers more meaningful than simply “because we said so.” Perhaps, though, God’s message is even simpler than any questions posed here and certainly more powerful: “Because I did this for you.” Let us hold onto our “why,” letting it shape all we say and do, doing everything in the name of Christ (Colossians 3:17).

Thankful to Journey with you,

Pastor Laurie

DON'T MISS A THING THAT'S COMING TO ALEY...

SERMON SERIES

Advent: Songs of the Savior

December 7 - "When God Calls - A Shepherds Faith "

December 14 - "Mary & Elizabeth - Life Disrupted"

December 21 - "Seeing Jesus in the Nativity"

December 24 - Family Worship (Modern) @ 5:00 pm

December 24 - Candlelight Worship (Traditional) @ 8:00 pm

December 28 - "All the Songs - The 12 Days"

Caramel Making/Wrapping

We will cook caramels for the cookie walk at 9:00 am on Monday, December 1 in the kitchen at Aley to benefit Missions Serve Sunday projects. We will wrap the caramels at 9:00 am in the Hospitality Center on Wednesday, December 3.

If you can help with the cooking on December 1, please contact Jean Lockwood at 937-469-2670. For wrapping the caramels on December 3, we need as many people as we can entice to help.

Christmas Caroling

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing

loud for all to hear!" - Buddy the Elf

It's the most wonderful time of the year again! Time for our annual Caroling for the Shut-Ins. If you love to spread joy and cheer, please join us on December 7 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm to travel around and sing to our fellow Aleyans and members of the community who are in assisted/independent living facilities in the area. We will meet at 5:00 pm for some dinner, hot cocoa, and hot apple cider to warm up the vocal cords, then disperse in groups to spread as much cheer as possible! The more the merrier, so bring a friend or two.

Please RSVP on the 'Get Involved' page for dinner planning purposes. If you have questions or know of someone who should be on the list to receive carolers, e-mail Dena (caringministries@aleyumc.org) or call the church office.

Potluck Christmas Celebration

Aley UMM will have a potluck Christmas celebration for all Aley men and their spouses on December 6 from noon to 2:30 pm in the Aley Hospitality Center.

Please RSVP here for anyone who wishes to attend, assist with games, and help with set up and clean up.

Christmas Poinsettias

Due to the quality of previous poinsettias and high cost that has been associated with them over the past few years, we are not going to offer them for purchase.

Instead, we invite you to contribute to our meal packing initiative that will take place in the spring and will also be the focus of our Christmas offering this year.

You may make this part of your Christmas donation or make a separate one with reference to/or in memory/honor of someone special. Please mark your checks "Christmas Offerings" with the names and place them in the donation plates on Sunday, or send them to the church office. You can also do this through your online giving and make the same notes. We will share the list of names at Christmas.

2025 Advent Dinner Church

Tuesdays, starting December 2, 2025

“Come & See” what this Advent season is all about. This family-friendly gathering starts at 6:00 pm with supper and then worship in song and small group conversation. After supper the kids can go and have their own fun; youth can stay and have their own

small group time.

This is also a great opportunity to invite others to join you, so go to our get involved page for signup. If you have questions, you can reach out to the Adult Ministries Team.

Sarah Carroll, New Director of Youth Ministries

Sarah Carroll has been named the Director of Youth Ministries, a new position created

by the Staff-Parish Relations Committee following the departure of Pastor Abby Lightle,

who shepherded the ministry during her time at Aley UMC. Sarah starts in her position December 1.

Pastor Laurie, Chuck Manker, SPRC chair, and Ken Wetmore, SPRC vice chair, comprised the interview panel. In a separate meeting as part of the hiring process, Sarah also met with three youth and five adult youth ministry leaders.

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Sarah to the Aley family. She is a great addition to the youth ministries program, and we look forward to her leadership,” Chuck said.

The Director of Youth Ministries position is part-time at 25 hours a week. Some of those hours will be on Sunday morning with the youth and on Wednesday evenings with the weekly youth gathering.

“I’m excited to work with Sarah to give our youth the opportunity to grow their faith,” said Pastor Laurie. “We want a program that fosters their spiritual, personal, and social development.”

Sarah is an independent living specialist with UMCF – United Methodist Children and Families – at the Dayton campus. Before that, she was a foster care case manager with UMCF.

Two years ago, Sarah and her 12-year-old daughter, Declyn, moved to Dayton from Chillicothe, where they are from. There, Sarah was a housing and recovery support specialist with Integrated Services and a recovery and workforce program specialist with Ross County.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Communication from Ohio University and an Associate of Arts degree in Deaf Studies and Interpreting.

Family Ministries at Aley

Youth Ministry

YAA Wednesday’s 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

(enter door 2 and head upstairs)

YAA Sunday’s 9:40 am - 10:20 am

(enter from the Narthex)

DECEMBER!!

Regular YAA Wednesday - 3rd

Christmas fun & time with your

new Youth Director - 10th

Regular YAA Wednesday - 17th

NO YAA WEDNESDAY - 24th & 31st

We won't be having YAA +1

this year!

But!!!! we will be having some Christmas fun and time together so you can meet your new Youth Director. Plan to be at YAA on Wednesday December 10th from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Still lots of fun, but we think that it's an important time for you to get to know your new leader and make some new memories. Parents are encouraged to come and spend the first half hour with the group, Sarah & the YAA leaders.

Signup Genius is encouraged!

Kids' Ministry

Upcoming Events

December 7 – Christmas Caroling for shut-ins from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Meet at the church for dinner and then join groups spreading holiday joy!

December 14 – Night in Bethlehem (and Choir Christmas Cantata) from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm. There will be music, activities, games, food and a live nativity.

December 21 – Kids sing the anthem with choir during the 8:30 am service (practice with the choir on Thursday, December 18 at 5:45 pm).

CHRISTMAS CHORAL CANTATA!!

December 14, 2025 @ 3:00 pm

Start your night in Bethlehem listening to the choir singing the cantata, This is Christmas, by Mary McDonald. The song "This is Christmas" invites us to truly remember what is at the heart of Christmas: this Child, this King, this Savior who was sent to earth to redeem the world. THIS is Christmas. In this cantata, Mary tells the story of Christmas through familiar carols, inspired original melodies, and thoughtful narration. This year, may we all take a few moments to reflect on the reason we celebrate, for this is great news: This Is Christmas! Join us at 3:00 pm on December 14 as we set the mood for your travel through Bethlehem downstairs from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm.

St. Paul's Breakfast

Greetings Aley Friends!

Mark your calendars for St. Paul’s Breakfast for Saturday, December 13 at 7:30 am. It is Aley's turn once again to feed the less fortunate in the Dayton area.

Please check Aley's Sign-Up Genius under the "Get Involved" page for what is needed. If you have any questions, call/text Susan Lehneis at 937-901-4398 or Bonnie Essex at 937-657-6279.

Membership 2025

“Give yourself the Gift of Membership”

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… We celebrate the gift of a Savior and a new opportunity to get connected as a member of Aley UMC. Getting connected is important as a Christ-Follower, and sharing in the gift of God’s church is a great way to grow in your personal relationship and to serve all of God’s people. At Aley UMC, YOU ARE the GIFT to this community, and you have the perfect gift to share with the community, and it starts with Loving God. Loving People. Making Disciples.

So give yourself the gift of connecting to Aley UMC in some next steps of your personal journey. See below the opportunities for you to hear more about what membership is and how to take the next steps of discipleship.

Here are two ways to do that:

Join Pastor Laurie Sunday, December 14, 2025, at Noon for a “You Belong Here Conversation” with some good pizza and to find out more about getting connected at Aley. (This is not a membership class and is not required to take the next steps.)

You are ready to take the next steps in joining the story at Aley through membership (new or transfer), then those gathering dates/times will be Wednesday, December 17th, 2025, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 14th, 2025, Noon - 2:00 pm. It’s another commitment in December, but the gift is worth it.

We will celebrate you and your journey on December 28th, 2025, in the worship experience you attend.

Questions? Contact Pastor Laurie Steele, pastorlaurie@aleyumc.org