Aldersgate United Methodist Church
A vibrant and inclusive Christian community 
growing in faith, love, health and service

www.Aldersgate-Church.org                                                                  February 4, 2016
Aldersgate UMC
14230 SE Newport Way
Bellevue, WA  98006
(425) 746-9800
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Email Links
Lead Pastor

Church Office

Associate Pastor, Pastoral Care & Counseling
Rev. Laura Wall

Children & Family Ministry

Youth Ministry

Preschool Director

Music Director, 1st Service

Music Director, 2nd Service

Core Leaders, Chair
Calendar
Calendar
 
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Feb 4
Easter Planning Meeting
Feb 6
Preschool Open House
Feb 8
Common Table
Feb 10
Ash Wednesday Service
Feb 15
Presidents' Day
Office Closed
Preschool Break Begins
Feb 17
Lenten Study
Feb 19-21
Church Work Party
Youth CONVO
Feb 22
March Calendar Due
Feb 24
Lenten Study
Feb 26
Family Fun Night
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Mar 2
Lenten Study
Mar 9
Lenten Study
Mar 13
Daylight Savings Time 
Mar 16
Lenten Study
Mar 18-20
Youth SUMYT Retreat
Mar 20
Palm Sunday
Mar 21
April Calendar Due
Mar 24
Maundy Thurs Service
Mar 25
Good Friday Service
Preschool Closed
Mar 26
Easter Egg-stravaganza
Flashlight Egg Hunt
Mar 27
Easter Sunday
Egg Hunt
Coffee
Church Leadership 

Click these links to read the minutes of the Core Leadership Team and the monthly minutes of the Ministry Teams.

Core Leaders (Jan)

Staff Relations (Jan)

Finance (Jan)

Trustees (Jan)

Lay Leadership (Nov)

Preschool (Nov)

Worship (Oct)

Outreach (Oct)

  

To bring a project, program or fundraiser idea to the Aldersgate Common Table for consideration, please fill out the  ACT PROPOSAL FORM  

 

For an explanation of the Core Leadership Team and a description of the Aldersgate Common Table, CLICK HERE.

Feed Your Soul
See today's devotional from the Upper Room.   CLICK HERE
 

Series
"Jesus Throughout History"
 
Sermon
"Our Lens Today "

Scripture
 Matthew 25:31-39



This Sunday
Many of us wear glasses.  Some, like our daughter, wear them in order to see things far away.  Others, like Dorothy, wear them to make words more clear on the page.  Some, like me, find the need to have one pair that does multiple things.  I need lenses that help me see things far away, see things more clearly at a medium distance, and even need them to help me see things close up, like words on a page.  It seems that the older I become, the more my lenses seem to change. No matter what pair of glasses any of us may wear, the lenses are designed to help us to see more clearly.  

The metaphor of a lens is also appropriately used to help us figure out how we are to see life.  In a nutshell, it's why we're spending a year studying Jesus.  He is the lens through which we are to see life.  

This Sunday we'll be exploring a couple of lens changing events.  We all have them.  Let's explore a few particularly as we prepare for the coming of Ash Wednesday and Lent.   As we explore, maybe we can find our own understanding of God, our own vision of our lives related to Christ and those things that may lay well ahead of us, those things that seem a bit closer, and potentially those things right in front of us.   This Sunday it's about the lens through which we might look at life.  To prepare please read Matthew 25: 31 - 39. 

Ministry News
 
Preschool Open House
February 6
Preschool Registration has begun for the 2016-2017 school year.  There will be a  preschool open house on February 6th from 9:30-11:30am where families can visit the school and see what Aldersgate Christian Preschool is all about.  If you know of anyone who is looking for a preschool, please invite them.  Contact  Dorothy Beeman if you would like additional information. 

UMW Special Mission Award
Due Date February 7  
Consider nominating someone for the United Methodist Women Special Mission Award.  Any person in the church is eligible for this award based on service to the church and the community, but special attention is given to those who participate in or support the United Methodist Women and their mission projects. Nomination forms are found on the desk in the narthex.   If you would like to nominate someone please complete the form and return to Jean Harris in her church mailbox by  February 7, 2016.

Sunday School News
  • The Sunday School curriculum for this month is about the Wedding at Cana from John 2:1-11.  It teaches about how Jesus transforms our emptiness into fullness like water into wine. 
  • More Sunday School teachers are needed!  Spend some time with our Aldersgate kids teaching  Sunday School from now through Easter Sundayl. You can sign up for just one  Sunday if that is your preference.   Click here to sign up to teach Sunday  School classes from  Feb 7  - Easter.
  • We would like to expand our Sunday School program from a one room classroom to a multi-age Sunday school program after Easter.  The breakdown would be:
        3 years olds - Kindergarten Class
        1st - 4th grade Class
        5th - 8th grade Tween Class
    There are many benefits to this change in our children's  Sunday  school program.  One being the ability to offer a more meaningful and challenging curriculum for each age level.  It also means we need volunteers to teach.  Jen Hoerber is working on forming teaching teams for each age group (She already has a few on board!) and a team of substitutes who would be able to step in if no one from the team is able to teach one week.  If you are at all interested, curious or wondering at all about  Sunday  School, please contact Jen. There will be a planning meeting/training in March. 
Common Table
February 8
The next Aldersgate Common Table will be held on Monday, Feb. 8. at 6:30pm in room 24.  This is the place to raise new ideas for the church and to hear what is happening on the ministry teams.   Due to the kitchen renovation, NO dinner will be provided.  

Ash Wednesday Service
February 10, 7:00pm
Please join us for the Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday, February 10 at 7:00pm. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent.  Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter with a period of inward reflection, and some of the monastic spiritual disciplines such as fasting, repentance, moderation and silent meditation.  During the Ash Wednesday service, the pastor will lightly rub the sign of the cross with ashes onto the foreheads of worshipers.  The ash cross on the forehead is an outward sign of our sorrow and repentance for sins, and a plea to God for mercy and compassion, pardon and forgiveness.

Easter Singers Needed!
Come join the Chancel Choir to sing in a special performance of "Gloria" by Vivaldi on Easter morning.  We are looking to boost the numbers in the Choir to sing excerpts from this larger work.  There are six special rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from 7:30-8:00 on February 17, 24, March 2, 9, 16 & 23. The performance will be Easter Sunday, March 27 at the 11:00am service f ollowed by an open invitation singing of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus".   Please join us for this Aldersgate tradition!

Church Work Party
Saturday, February 20
Come join us on Saturday, Feb. 20 from 8:30am to noon as we work outside around the church property.  Bring work gloves and garden tools.  Come when you can and leave when you must. Please sign up on Sunday's attendance form or contact Ted Snyder, 425-747-4653.

Host a Kid's Club
Please volunteer to host Kid's Club - it's fun!  Kid's Club is a fellowship time for kids during the 8:50am worship service.   There are typically between 4 - 15 kids present and range in age from 3 years - tween.  Share a part of your story and your passions with the kids - they love getting to know members of their Aldersgate Family.  Play games or do an art project with them - they are super fun and creative!  Not sure what to do, but want to support Kid's Club?  Talk with Jen Hoerber about ideas that could work or find a friend to host with you!
 
Refreshments Needed  
If you enjoy a tasty treat after church on Sunday, please provide them!  We need to restock the freezer with more cookies, muffins and sweet breads.

2015 Contribution Statements  
Year-end contribution statements for 2015 were sent out on January 22.  If we have an e-mail for you in our database, then the statement was emailed to you and you will receive it from the sender LogosCMS.  If we do not have your e-mail in our database, then the statement was sent via USPS.  If you did not receive a statement or if you have found an error on your statement, please contact Linda Reichenbach at aumcfinsec@hotmail.com

Pledge Reminder
Friendly Reminder: If you forgot to turn in your pledge card, have no fear we will still accept your commitment for this year!  Our goal is simple: with 100% participation of all those who call Aldersgate their church home, we expect to fully fund all our services and grow our church in 2016 and beyond. We ask that you simply give what you can with an open heart in supporting the Stewardship effort and Kitchen Remodeling project. Please click here for the Pledge Card and either mail or bring to church at your earliest convenience.

Fun Events

Family Fun Night
Save the date!  FAMILY FUN NIGHT is coming on February 26th.  
Friends, Games, Music, and Food = FUN!

Easter Egg Activities
I see an Easter Egg or two,  or hundreds in Aldersgate future!  On Saturday, March 26, we will have an Egg-stravaganza Community Easter Event in the morning and a Tween Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt in the evening.  On Easter Sunday, March 27, there is an Easter Kid's Club followed with an Easter Egg Hunt. Please sign up on Sunday's attendance form or email Jean Hoerber, if you can help with any of these activities. We need volunteers to help plan the activities, volunteers to assist at the activities, donations of plastic eggs and wrapped candy or small toys, and help filling the eggs. Please come to the planning meeting TONIGHT at 7:00pm. 

Vacation Bible School
Mark Your Calendars!!!  Aldersgate VBS 2016 will be held the week of July 25th!  Lots  mor e information to come and opportunities to volunteer will be popping up soon!

Youth Group (6th-12th Grade)
All youth from 6th-12th grade are welcome.  If you have any questions about the youth ministry, contact Pastor Brad.  Here are some upcoming events:
  
February 8    Farewell to Nick activity at 6:30pm
February 19-21  Youth Convo Retreat
February 21  Youth Group at 6:00pm
February 28  Youth Group at 6pm

Youth - Let's go to SUMYT  
March 18-20
Ten spots left.  Register now to grab your spot!.  The church is going to cover 1/2 of the registration fee, so when registering please select pay at the door and turn your check for $60 or $70 (if ordering a T-Shirt) in to   Jen Hoerber   and the church will write one check for all of our students. CLICK HERE to register.  We are looking for chaperones as well.  If interested, please see Jen ASAP.  Patty Ferguson is on the planning committee for this retreat and would be happy to answer questions as well.  
 
The SUMYT theme this year is "Not All Who Wander Are Lost." Have you ever felt like you were on the outside looking in?  Ever felt like everyone around you knows where they're going and you can't even find a map to get started?  You're not alone.  Faith is a journey full of twists turns and adventures.  Come and gather with youth from around the conference for a weekend of exploring the benefits of wandering and continuing on your faith journey.  Kristen "Moonie" Moon will be our guide as we explore what it means to walk in faith on our own and as part of a community
Outreach & Missions World
 
Souper Bowl Sunday
So the Seahawks did not make it to the Super Bowl but we can still make it a Super Souper Bowl Sunday!   Bring cans of soup to church this Sunday and on February 7th.  A collection table will be set up in the Narthex.  All soup donated will be given to the food bank at Hopelink. 

Thank You for Your Support!
Thank you for your support with the Syria Refugee Kits.  Aldersgate UMC donated 15 complete family kits and several individual items for kits to be packaged on site at the Medical Team International distribution center.  Through our discussions in January with the kids and youth, we talked about what a refugee is and why its important we help those who are less fortunate than us.  
Matthew 25:40 " Then the king will reply to them, 'I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me."  
We discussed how providing kits with basic items for them was providing more to them than just the items, it was providing hope.  Please continue to pray for the refugees that they will experience moments of hope and encouragement through the extreme hardships they are facing.

The Medical Team International distribution center has a REAL.LIFE. exhibit that shows what it is truly like for children affected by disaster, conflict and poverty.  I would highly recommend checking it out as it is really well done.  (Please note: The exhibit might be too much for some younger children.)   www.realliferedmond.org   

Crossroads Dinner Update
On January 26 we fed 56 people at the temporary Salvation Army location at the Overlake Park Presbyterian church. This is the most people served at the new location.  We tend to feed more people than usual because we serve excellent food.  We served all the food we brought with us to the hungry crowd.   Thank.all who donated food and helped serve. It was very much apprectiated.

Lazy F  Family Mission Trip
Save the dates May 27-29 for the Aldersgate Family Mission Trip to Lazy F.  The weekend will include tasks for children and adults of all ages.  Last year Aldersgate remodeled two cabins, weeded, planted flowers, built covered firewood storage and a GaGa Ball court, and served at the clothing bank at the Ellensburg United Methodist Church.  The evening events include a campfire with s'mores, board games and a chance to relax in a beautiful location.   Registration details will posted soon.
Pray
Prayer List   

People Who Mourn
* Dave Maybee's Uncle Peno passed away.

People with Health Concerns
*Kate Ingalls friend Sarah and daughter Sophia
*Ginny Truscott's friend John
*Robert Brawn
*Kathy Maybee's daughter Jennifer's friend Kim and her family
*Carol Cubilie's son Tim
*Cindy Wheeler
*Betty Fredeen

Additional Prayers 
*Missionary Katherine Parker
*Nita & Zane Daniel
*Jeff & Cindy Wheeler
*Karin Halley's children Kari and Aaron
*Dave & Kathy Maybee celebrate the birth of twin grandchildren
   
Submit prayer requests to Dorothy Bennett, the Prayer Chain Coordinator, or fill out a pew prayer card or contact the church office.  Prayer requests will  stay on the Prayer Chain for about 3 weeks.  Please contact Dorothy or the church office with an update if you want the request to be prayed for longer.  
All prayer requests will appear in the church newsletters unless you specifically request otherwise.