September 8, 2017
  Aledo United Methodist Church   
Making disciples of Jesus Christ to transform the world
by loving, knowing, and serving our God.
eNews
   
This Sunday's Message: Prison Break
Exodus 15:26-27
The Road Less Traveled
A couple of weeks ago, on my 50th birthday, my wife Melissa presented me with the gift of all gifts. It didn't come wrapped, and it didn't come in the mail. And it was over in about two hours. After "kidnapping" me on Friday night for a romantic evening at a Fort Worth bed and breakfast ...



Women ToGetHer-Women's Ministry Tea
Sunday, September 10, 2:30pm, Fellowship Hall
All Women are invited to attend the ToGetHer Ministry Tea to cohesively shape our Women's Ministry. ToGetHer let's design what we would like our women's ministry to look like, sound like, and feel like. Bring your ideas and your laughter, we will bring the food and tea! Please RSVP by email to Heather Stark  or call 817-269-5163.


Lord's Acre
Saturday, September 30, 10:00am- 5:00pm

Please consider how YOU can get involved
with Lord's Acre!

Live & Silent Auction - Tickets to TCU, Rangers, Cowboys, Bass Hall, gift cards to your favorite restaurants, rounds of golf, vacation rentals, etc. are all welcome! To donate an auction item, please email  Amy Walther .

Vendors - Are you an artisan or have a home-based business that sells unique goods? Or know of someone who does? Email Stephanie Tremper to reserve your vendor spot.

Volunteers are needed in order to make this year's Lord's Acre a success!  Click here to sign up for your two hour time slot. Youth are encouraged to sign up to volunteer at the Quad.

Wristbands are ON SALE NOW for $10, until September 29, at the Connection Center. The wristbands are for children to enjoy all of the activities in the KidsZone on an unlimited basis ALL DAY. The price of the wristband will be $15 if purchased the day of the event.


Wednesday Evening Church Family Fun Nights
5:30pm-7:30pm
Once a month, on Wednesday evenings, we will be hosting a"Church Family" Fun Night. Dinner will be served at 5:30 followed by the fun at 6:30. Be sure to add the following dates to your calendar!
     September 20- Rock Painting Party (pizza dinner)
     October 25- Trunk or Treat (pizza dinner)
     November 15- Aledo Family Thanksgiving Potluck and Craft
     December 13- Cookie Exchange and Cookies for the Troops
**Please note that childcare will be available on Wednesday Nights for volunteers, and it will be available by reservation only. If you need to reserve childcare for Wednesday evening, please email Jennifer McDaniel one week prior.

Water4Life
$30 buys a simple water filtration system for a family living in a third world country. In October, AUMC staff member Trudy Smith will travel to Haiti to be trained as a leader, and next year will lead a team from our church, to go distribute water filters and teach families how to use them. Please support this project by purchasing a water bottle (for a $10 donation) - or 3! Bottles are available in the narthex, or contact Trudy Smith.


Alzheimer's Support Group and Kaleidoscope
Thursday, September 14, 1:00-3:00 pm.
Alzheimer's Support Group will meet in the Chapel. This month will be a time for sharing.

Java & Jesus
Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.
Take your friendships off-line and join us! All ladies of the church - and friends! - are invited to be part of this weekly gathering. No outside reading is required. We will share coffee and a devotion from Craving Connections to kick-start our day and encourage us in our journey with Jesus Christ. Childcare is provided. Sign-up in the Narthex at the Connection Center or contact Trudy Smith.  Java and Jesus - the perfect blend!!

Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Starting September 12, 10am-Noon
This fall we'll study Adam Hamilton's book, "Making Sense of the Bible, Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today". The book begins with foundational questions such as, "How and when was the Bible written?" "Who decided which books made it into the Bible and why?". The books will be available for $10 at the first class. If you have questions, contact Sussie Jordan at 512-923-9268 or click here to email her.
Invitation to Psalms Short Term Disciple
Begins Tuesday, September 12, 6:30pm
Make a deeper connection to the world of the Psalms so that these well known scriptures can help you give voice to all aspects of our human experience-joy, faith, uncertainty and sorrow. Participants for this Invitation to Psalms do not have to have an in-depth knowledge of the Bible to enjoy and benefit from participation. 
 
  Reading just two chapters of Psalms a week, Participants will discover the life altering stories that will invite them to follow Christ as true disciples. This ten-week study includes participant books, as well as a video component providing interpretation and context for the biblical texts during the 90-minute weekly class. Sign up at the Connection Center.

Disciple Fast Track Bible Study
Begins Thursday, September 14, 6:30pm
Disciple Fast Track , an adaptation of the original, bestselling Disciple Bible Study, provides a viable option for busy people seeking comprehensive engagement over time with the entire biblical text. The Fast Track group meets for 12 weeks in this study of beloved Old Testament scriptures.

Participants read a manageable 3-5 chapters of the Bible daily in preparation for the weekly meetings, which last approximately 90 minutes. A brief, illustrated review video enables participants to recall important facts and ideas. Lively and engaging video presenters then offer insights into the current week's session. Sign up at the Connection Center.

Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts
Five Ways to Help with
Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts
 
1. Text 80888 to immediately donate $10 to the Hurricane
Harvey relief effort.

2. Donate directly to UMCOR's boots on the ground relief effort. Make your check out to UMCOR and designate "Harvey Relief advance 901670" in the memo line then drop your check in the mail to :
Advance GCFA
P.O. Box 9068
New York, NY 10087-9068
or go directly to umcor.org to donate online.

3. Give to help make Flood Buckets. Each bucket cost approximately $70 to assemble. Make your check out to AUMC, with "Flood Buckets" designated in the memo line, and drop it in the offering plate. All funds need to be received by Sunday, September 10. All are welcome to help the Tuesday Morning Bible Study assemble the buckets on Tuesday, September 12, at 10:00am.

4. Donate gift cards for evacuees and/or first responders from stores like Wal-Mart and Target. These cards can be dropped off at the church office during office hours or in the offering plate.

5. Finally, continue to be in prayer for those affected by this devastating storm.
 
At this time we have been asked not to send work teams to
the devasted areas. We have notified the Central Texas Conference that our church is available to serve as a shelter for those displaced by the storm.


Help Feed Parker County Families
 
Our Manna Room feeds many families every week, and some of our supplies are running low. Please donate any of the following: (NO canned veggies needed!)
*peanut butter (16-18 ounces)
*jelly (16-20 ounces)
*spaghetti (1 pound)
*spaghetti sauce (16-24 ounces)
*oatmeal (1 pound)
*canned fruit (15 ounces)
*Spam (12 ounce)
*canned chicken (12.5 ounces)
*Tuna/Chicken Helper
*canned pastas (ie: Ravioli, Spaghettio's) (15 ounce)
Please leave items in the donation bins in the Narthex. Thank-you for your faithfulness in feeding the hungry!


Update from the Finance Committee

Are you taking advantage of electronic giving?
When we join the church, we pledge to support the life and ministry of the church with our financial gifts. That can get complicated on those weeks when we can't be here as the offering plate comes around. But through electronic giving, you remain faithful to your membership vows, even on those weeks when life takes you elsewhere. It's easy. It's safe. And it benefits both you and your church family. Setting it up is easy and only takes a few minutes. Contact Shari Birchell at sharibirchell@aledoumc.org to set up an automatic transfer from your checking account. Or go to aledoumc.org/give to use your credit or debit card.

PRAYERS
In your times of prayer throughout the week, please remember the people named below.

Concerns: Baby Anna Clarke; Clay Hicks; David Eells grandmother Mary Ann Eells; Steve and Cindy Raines' son Jason; Sue Davis' niece Mary Smith; DeeAnn Day's sister, Julie Brock; Wayne McGregor; Jeni Freeman; Ashley Davis
 
Special members who are unable to worship with us: Micki Authier; C.D. and Mattie Graham; Rev. John Johnson
 
Sympathies: Stella Lee on the death of her sister Bobbie Fleming; Don Rosenberger and family on the death of his wife Dorothy
 
Long-term prayer concerns: Stella Lee's daughter, Sherroll Shirley; Toni McGregory's daughter Adriane Mason; Mark Greenough's niece Melinda Lee; Carrie Hester; Sarah Reed's mother Paula Duckering; Nikki Dryden's cousin Pat Tripp; Douglas Moore; Gary Leevy; Kelly O'Donald's sister, Amy Clinton; Daryl Stanaway's sister-in-law, Sharon Stanaway; Buddy Martin; Steven Cole's mother, JoAnn Cole; Mason Gomez; Gavin Trietsch; All Military Personnel