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

www.Aldersgate-Church.org                                                                 March 16, 2017
Aldersgate UMC
14230 SE Newport Way
Bellevue, WA  98006
(425) 746-9800
Email Links
Lead Pastor

Church Office

Children, Youth, Family

Preschool Director

Core Leaders
Calendar
Calendar
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March 17-19
Youth SUMYT Retreat
March 20
April Calendar Deadline
March 21-30
Holy Land Trip
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April 9
Palm Sunday
Stewardship Sunday
Dinner & Club 345
Dinner & Youth Group
April 13
Maundy Thursday
April 14
Good Friday
April 15
Egg-Stravaganza
Flashlight Egg Hunt
April 16
Easter Sunday
Egg Hunt
April 23
Mission Sunday
One Service 10:00am
April 24
UMW Salad Supper
May Calendar Deadline
April 30
Mission Sunday ReCap
One Service 10:00am
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May 2
Young at Heart Potluck
May 7
Dinner & Club 345
Dinner & Youth Group
May 8
Church Dinner
Common Table
May 14
Mother's Day
Pancake Breakfast
May 22
April Calendar Deadline
May 26-28
Lazy F Mission Trip
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 (Feb)
Trustees (Jan)
Finance (Jan)
Preschool  (Jan)
Lay Leadership (Sept)
Outreach (Sept)
Worship  (April)



Series
Stewardship

Sermon
"Being Shaped 
in the Footsteps
 of Jesus"


Scripture
Luke 8:22-25
Psalm 37:3-6







This Sunday
This Sunday we will explore the footsteps of Jesus.  As much as the message will be in the Lenten spirit, it will also help involve the entire church in the trip to Israel to be taken by fifteen people from Aldersgate.   I will share pieces of the lessons I've taught at the Wednesday classes, pieces of what it means to walk the way of Jesus, the significance of some of the locations, and then close this time with a covenant service that will include prayer, the laying on of hands, and accepting the prayers that will be placed in the Wailing Wall.  I will talk of Jesus in Galilee, the Sea of Galilee, his baptism, the Jordan River Valley, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, even his death and resurrection.  Every location is packed with meaning yet the significance can be explained in a few simple statements.  We will walk this road together this Sunday.  Then the fifteen travelers will be prayed over, small written prayers accepted by members of the group, and finally a blessing will be offered.  The group leaves on Tuesday afternoon and will be back on the March 31st.  Last week I talked of being the Body of Christ, of the amazing gifts offered consistently by this congregation, and this is most certainly one of them -- prayer and support of those seeking to deepen their faith in other parts of the world.  To prepare please read Luke 8: 22 - 25.
~ Pastor Brad
MINISTRY NEWS
Travel Blessing
Sunday during both services we will bless and pray for the folks leaving Tuesday on the Holy Land trip with Pastor Brad.  They will return at the end of the month.  Please keep them in your prayers.  If you have need of pastoral care during this time, please call Wendi in the church office and she will direct you to another pastor.  In Pastor Brad's absence, Seattle District Superintendent Rich Lang will share the message on March 26. 
UMCOR Sunday 
March 26 
In two weeks on Sunday March 26 we will take a special offering to help fund the United Methodist Committee on Relief.  UMCOR is a non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe.  Their work reaches people in more than 80 countries, including the United States.  UMCOR's work includes programs and projects in disaster response, health, sustainable agriculture, food security and relief supplies.  They provide humanitarian relief when war, conflict, or natural disaster disrupt life to such an extent that communities are unable to recover on their own, to assist the most vulnerable person affected by crisis or chronic need.  Your generous gift ensures UMCOR's response in times of crisis.  Your gift helps UMCOR bring light out of darkness.  Please give generously.
Mission Sunday
April 23 
Aldersgate will have its first Mission Sunday on April 23.  We will gather for one worship service at 9:00am and will then venture out to do various mission projects.  There will be several mission projects that will be organized by the church to do at church or to do at other places.  Lunch will be provided. These mission projects will be fully explained and you will have the opportunity to signup for them starting on March 26.  Congregation members are also encouraged to go out and serve in other ways as well.  Then on April 30 we will again have only one service but at 10:00am to review and celebrate our Mission Sunday accomplishments followed by a potluck lunch. 
Thank You
" Many hands make light work", that was certainly true for Anne Bennett's memorial and reception.  THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! to all who were so willing to lend a hand with the setting up, serving and the clean up; Wendi, David, Dorothy, Betty, Michelle, Dorene, Gerry, Kathy, Edna, Don, Jim, Nancy, Pam, Ferrel, and Wilma.  As Robin told us on Sunday, You did your share of "singing" and more.  Again THANK YOU. ~~~ Lea Fox
VBS Volunteers Needed.
Have you marked your calendars for Vacation Bible School yet?  Aldersgate VBS is set for July 24-27.  If you are interested in volunteering to be a Station Leader/Helper, or a Crew Leader/Helper, or to be on the Decorating Committee, please sign up on Sunday's attendance form or contact Jen Hoerber as soon as possible.  We will have our first official VBS Planning meeting on March 30
from 6:00-8:00pm and it would be great to have all of our key volunteers in place!
Easter Celebration Committee
Volunteers are needed to help plan and implement our Easter activities.  We will again have 3 Easter Egg Hunts at Aldersgate.  Our two community events will be held on April 15.  The Eggstravaganza will be held in the morning and will be geared for young families (preschool - younger elementary) and our Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt will be geared towards our older elementary students and youth and held in the evening.  On Easter Sunday we will have a special Easter Kids' Club during the 9:00am service with a egg hunt starting at 10:15am.  If you are interested in helping with any of these activities, please sign up to serve on our Easter Celebration Committee on Sunday's attendance form or contact Jen Hoerber.  A meeting will be scheduled to plan these events in early March.
FUN EVENTS
Spring Yoga  
Be a part of Aldersgate's yoga ministry!  Vince Fratello will teach a Spring series of classes at the most basic beginner level and they will be organized to accommodate all body types and physical abilities.  The series will tentatively be nine Saturdays from March 25 to June 18 with no class on   April 15 , 22, 29 and May 13 because of Vince's travel and workshop schedule (sorry about the perfect storm in the middle) .  Class time will be 9-10:15am .  Students should bring a sticky yoga mat (ask if you are unsure) and Vince will supply the rest of the props.  The cost will be $45 per student for the entire series to cover Vince's expenses-you can try out the first class with no financial commitment and scholarships are available if needed. If you have questions you can contact Vince.   We hope to see you there!
Meaningful Movies of the Eastside
March 21

Gather with your neighbors for a movie, discussion, and refreshments! St Margaret's Episcopal Church (4228 Factoria Blvd SE, Bellevue) is hosting monthly films on the 3rd Tuesday of the month starting at 6:30pm.  All are welcome! A $5/person donation is suggested, but no one is turned away. Coffee/tea and snacks are included.  To help plan for refreshments, RSVP to Janet Farness, 425-417-5217.  

March 21 -"Gun Violence in America" - UMC pastor Rev. Dr. Sandy Brown leads a conversation about gun violence using excerpts from the film "Bowling with Columbine," a film made by Michael Moore, which explores America's culture of fear, bigotry and violence in a nation with widespread gun ownership.

 

April 18 - "Just Eat It!" - A film about food waste and food rescue by Peg Leg Films in partnership with British Columbia's Knowledge Network.  There will be a special guest at this film.

Youth Group (6th-12th Grade)
Youth Group meets on Sunday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm.  All youth from 6th-12th grade are welcome.  If you have questions about the youth program, contact  Jen Hoerber.  Here are some upcoming events:
*Mar. 17-19 - SUMYT Retreat
*Mar.19-  NO Youth Group
*Mar. 26 - Youth Group from 6: 00-8:00pm
*Apr. 2 - Youth Group from 6:00-8:00pm
*Apr. 9 - Dinner at 5:00pm, Youth Group from 6:00-7:30pm
*Apr. 15 - Ice Cream Sundaes and Flashlight Egg Hunt, 7:30-8:30pm
*Apr. 16 - Easter, No Youth Group
Club 345 (3rd, 4th, 5th Grade)
April 9
This fellowship group for kids in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade meets once a month, usually on the second Sunday.  It starts with dinner at 5:00pm, followed by games, crafts, and other fun activities from 6:00-7:30pm.  The next Club 345 is April 9. Contact is Jen Hoerber.
MISSION & OUTREACH
Homeless Project
We currently support several good feeding programs for homeless and low income people. If you are interested in another project to help the homeless and want to help define that project, please contact Dave Maybee  or sign up on Sunday's attendance form. 
2017 Aldersgate All Church Family Mission Trip to Lazy F
Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28
Save the Date! The Aldersgate All Church Family Mission Trip will be on Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28 at Lazy F Camp and Retreat Center near Ellensburg, WA. There will be projects for all ages and all abilities. If you are new to the Aldersgate Community or you have been here for 20 years, it is a wonderful way to get to know each other as we work, play and fellowship together. Put the Family Mission Trip on your calendar now to be a part of this special weekend.  If you are interested, please sign up on Sunday's attendance form.  Contact is Colleen Olleman.
PRAYER REQUESTS
 
People with Health Concerns
*Michelle Salene's friend Stacy
*Don and Edna Fadden's daughter-in-law's mother Pat
*Mary Blakney
*Emily Browder's brother Ben
*Ginny Truscott's sister Mary
*Jeff Wheeler's co-worker Dave
*Melinda Lilley's brother Randy
*Robert Brawn's father Mel
*Janice Zahn
*Ruth Carver 
*Gwen Pazan's mother Marjorie

Additional Prayers
*Missionary Katherine Parker, Holy Land Travelers

To submit a prayer request to the Prayer Chain, email Dorothy Bennet t, the Prayer Chain Coordinator.  You can also fill out a pew prayer card on Sunday and put it in the offering plate, or you can contact the church office with your prayer request.   All prayer requests will appear in the church newsletters unless you request otherwise.