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Aldersgate United Methodist Church
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A vibrant and inclusive Christian community
growing in faith, love, health and service
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Aldersgate UMC
14230 SE Newport Way
Bellevue, WA 98006
(425) 746-9800
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Associate Pastor
Church Office
Children, Youth, Family
Preschool Director
Core Leaders
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Feb 2
Preschool Open House
Feb 8
Family Fun Night
Feb 10
Dinner & Club 345
Dinner & Youth Group
Feb 11
Core Leaders Team
Feb 18
Presidents Day
Office Closed
Feb 23-26
GC2019 Prayer Vigil
Feb 24
New Member Welcome
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Mar 3
Camp Sunday
Worship at 10:00am
Taco Bar
Mar 5
Young at Heart Potluck
Mar 6
Ash Wednesday Service
Mar 10
Daylight Savings Time
Preschool Sunday
Mar 15-17
Youth SUMYT Retreat
Mar 24
Mission Sunday
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Church Leadership
Click these links to read the minutes of the Core Leadership Team and the monthly minutes of the Ministry Teams.
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Are you Ready to Join Us?
Sunday, Feb. 24
On
February 24, we will be welcoming new members to our congregation. If you are interested in finding out more about membership, please speak with one of the pastors. Membership is open to all adults who are interested and youth who have taken confirmation. We welcome those who transfer membership from other churches or those who have never been a member of a church before. All are welcome.
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Series: "Foundations of Faith"
Sermon:
"Three in One,
Breaking the Binaries"
Scripture: Matthew 5:33-45
This Sunday
Jesus was no mathematician. Jesus helped us to understand the nature of God in relationship, as one person of the Trinity, one part of a triune God. One in three and three in one doesn't make sense according to our normal number sense. It only makes sense within the nature of God. Jesus' teachings are similar. Jesus notes the laws and has commentary on them, but it's not exactly to follow the law or not to. He says he comes to fulfill the law. It's not either or, one choice of two. With Jesus, there is no this or that. According to the writings about Jesus that we'll consider this week, Jesus leads us to a third way, a way that calls for hard work and deep discernment and voluntary vulnerability. Read Matthew 1-48 and Chapter 28 of Brian McLaren's, "We Make the Road by Walking" to prepare.
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2018 Contribution Statements
Contribution statements were sent out this week. If we had your email on file, the statement was emailed to you on January 21. Others were put in the US mail on January 22. Please let us know NOW if you did not receive your statement. Also, please review your statement NOW for accuracy instead of waiting until April - Tax Time! There may be some confusion over pledges due to Aldersgate's fiscal year that runs July to June. Contact
Wendi in the church office if you have questions about your statement, 425-746-9800.
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Aldersgate Preschool Open House & Enrollment
Saturday, February 2
Aldersgate Christian Preschool is having its annual Open House on Saturday, February 2 from 9:30-11:00am. This is an opportunity for parents and children to visit classrooms , meet teachers, and ask questions. There will be activities for children and refreshemnts will be served. This event is for anyone interested in enrolling their child (2 - 5 years of age) in preschool for the 2019-2020 school year which begins in September. Open enrollment begins February 1. Click here for a registration forms or they can be found on the table by the church office. If you have questions or would like a tour of the preschool, contact Dorothy Beeman, 425-562-0433.
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CRC Updates
The Considering Reconciling Committee continues to work to help with both the ongoing discernment at Aldersgate about whether to join the Reconciling Ministries Network and also to bring information in forms that make sense to Aldersgate about the upcoming United Methodist General Conference in St. Louis which meets to determine how the denomination will move forward taking into consideration the divergent views globally around full inclusion of the LGBTQ community.
1.
Survey
- The committee has designed a survey that we hope you will take. It is short and has only four questions. It is available online here: http://bit.ly/2RYziLl. The goal of the survey is to get information from you about what information and events you would like to see in our community as we continue to explore the possibility of joining the Reconciling Ministries Network. No decision has been made about whether to join at this time. Survey will close on Saturday February 2.
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Friends of Youth Donations
- We will continue accepting donations for homeless youth until Superbowl Sunday,
February 3
. Pick up the wish list of items to donate from the table in Friendship Hall. Let's make this our Superbowl challenge! How much can we show that we care by bringing in items for youth on the streets of Bellevue?
3.
Youth Homelessness Speaker - Save the date for this CRC-sponsored event. Sunday, February 10 at 10:15am between services. Come, learn and be inspired! Rob Stewart, Executive Director of New Horizons (NH) will share his knowledge about youth homelessness in the greater Seattle area. The organization's tagline is Inspired by the love of Jesus, New Horizons has been partnering with Seattle's youth experiencing homelessness on their journey toward sustainability since 1978, helping youth to exit street life. To learn more about NH, visit
https://nhmin.org/videos/.
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Vigils for GC2019
- We are organizing participation from several east side churches to pray for the General Conference delegates, their safety, their discernment, and their leadership. Prayer services will be held at Bellevue First UMC on Saturday
February 23
, the first day of the Conference, at 6:00pm and at Mercer Island UMC on Sunday
February 24
at 1:00pm. In addition, individuals and groups may sign up for any hour of the conference to be in prayer during that hour, beginning at 7:00am (Bellevue time zone, which is 9:00am in St. Louis) on Saturday
February 23
, until 5:00pm (7:00pm in St. Louis) on Tuesday
February 26
. Signups can be recorded at http://bit.ly/2CE73I3. The site will be updated regularly with new resources, so check back regularly. If you would like to help with coordinating or leading prayers during this Prayer Vigil, please sign up or see Pastor Laura or Patty Ferguson.
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Resource Library News
Ordinary Grace by William Krueger is available for checkout. We happily received this donation via a Wish Tree tag. .
Aldersgate Poems includes Bob Olson's latest poem entitled "Only Love Heals Hate" on page 169. Both resources are displayed on the library mobile cart.
Please browse the library table for books authored by Brian McLaren.
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Aldersgate & the Boy Scouts of America
Aldersgate became a BSA Charter Organization for Boy Scout Troop 638 in 1968. Thus, last year we celebrated our 50th year as a BSA Charter Organization, an awesome milestone. Over those 50 years we have had both youth and adult members of Aldersgate participating in our Troop, as well as families from our neighborhood. Sixty-Four Scouts have achieved their Eagle Scout badge in Aldersgate's troop.
This year Aldersgate is embarking on a new adventure. In 2018 the boy participation in our Scout Troop dwindled to zero, and to keep Aldersgate's charter with the BSA alive, we are working with the Scouting District to form the first "Scouts BSA Girl Troop" in the Bellevue Eastgate area. Yes, as of February 1
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2019, girls ages 11-18 can now be part of the Scouts BSA program (formerly called Boy Scouts) and can work towards the Eagle Scout rank. We have several adult leaders committed to this new unit (including folks from Aldersgate), and we are in the process of recruiting the girls as well. Please share this flyer with girls who might be interested.
For those of you who ask "what about the boys' program"? This Scouts BSA Girls Troop does not preclude us from recruiting boys and additional adult leaders in the future for a Scouts BSA Boys Troop. However, with our current resources and the timeline of this new adventure, we want to make it's success our priority at this time.
If anyone in the church would like to be part of this new adventure, or if you know of girls who might be interested in joining the troop, please contact David Plowman, Aldersgate Troop 638 Charter Organization Representative, 425-503-1146, [email protected].
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Reading Guide to Brian McLaren's Book
"We Make the Road by Walking"
During the coming seasons, many people from churches throughout the west will be reading chapters from Brian McLaren's book "We Make the Road by Walking". The chapters are intended to be read one per week.You may choose to read on a schedule that will coincide with themes in worship and the life of the church. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book for $12, they are available in the office or from Pastor Laura on Sundays. If you want to read, but the cost is a hardship, copies are also available for check-out from our church library.
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Week Beginning
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Chapter(s) to Read
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Main Idea
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January 6
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19/20
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Jesus Coming of Age
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January 13
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20/21
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Join the Adventure
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January 20
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22
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Jesus the Teacher
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January 27
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27
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Identity
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February 3
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28/29
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Trinity
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February 10
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30
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General Conference
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February 17
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31
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Choices
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February 24
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26
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Faith Makes It Real
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Aging in Place and Staying Safe
Monday, February 4
Deborah Circle invites the congregation to a special presentation by church member Gretchen Steunkel, Occupational Therapist, on Monday,
February 4
at 7:00pm in Friendship Hall., Gretchen will focus on falls (which affects all age groups) and how to prevent them. Dessert and a social time will follow the presentation, and then Deborah Circle will meet for a short business meeting. If you plan to attend, please signup on Sunday's attendance form, or
email Jean Harris or call her at
425-747-0727.
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Family Fun Night
Friday, February 8
Are you looking forward to a fun night with the family? Join us on Friday, February 8 from 6:00-8:00pm for a Friday Family Fun Night. Bring your favorite games, puzzles, and healthy snacks to share. We will enjoy an evening of games, food and fun. Sign up if you can help with setup or cleanup. Contact is
Jen Hoerber
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Club 345 (3rd~4th~5th Grade)
February 10 - DATE CHANG
E
Club 345 is open to all 3rd, 4th and 5th graders and meets once a month usually on the first Sunday evening for dinner and a fun activity. The next meeting is February 10 at 5:00pm (date change due to the Superbowl). Volunteers are always needed to host the Club 345 activity or to provide the dinner. Please sign up on the CYF bulletin board by the church office.
C
ontact is
Jen Hoerber
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Youth Group (6th-12th Grade)
Youth Group meets on Sunday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm. All youth in 6th-12th grade are welcome. If you have questions about the youth program, contact
Jen Hoerber. Here are some upcoming events:
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Feb. 3 - No Youth Group, due to the Super Bowl
*Feb. 8 - Family Fun Night
*Feb. 10 - Dinner and Youth Group, 5:00-7:30pm
*Feb. 17 - Youth Group, 6:00-8:00pm
*Feb. 24 - Youth Group, 6:00-8:00pm
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Young at Heart Potluck
Tuesday, March 5
Save the date! There will be a YAH's potluck on Tuesday,
March 5
at 6:00pm for retired folks, empty nesters, and wanna-bees. We are looking forward to a fun evening. Please join us! Stay tuned for more information.
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African-American History IS American History:
What You Probably Didn't Learn in School:
Tuesdays, January 22, February 5, 19, March 5, 19, 7:00 p.m.
This class is for anyone who wants to gain a fuller understanding of our nation's past and how it affects present conditions. Classes can be attended separately but will build on each other. Each class will begin by exploring what we already know or think we know about the topic at hand. The teachers intend to lecture very little. We will use short readings and roles plays, consider motives and alternatives for the various actors at key turning points. Generally, each person will share a response in groups large and small. There will be ample time for comparisons between past events and current issues.
Register here
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January 22: "The Invention of Whiteness": Bacon's Rebellion and colonial trade.
February 5: Enlightenment, Revolution, and slavery. What were they thinking?
February 19: Who really freed the slaves? Civil War and The Emancipation Proclamation.
March 5: When the Impossible was (almost) Possible: Reconstruction and Jim Crow
March 19: Institutional Racism in the 20th century.
Facilitators: Mike Radow, former history teacher, Mercer Island High School and Gray Pedersen, former history teacher, Lakeside High School
Why two white guys? A. We've both taught this material poorly and increasingly better over the years. B. White people can make a strong effort to do their "civic homework" rather than so often place the burden on people of color to explain.
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Green Team Invites you to Brunch Bingo!
Saturday, March 2
The Green Team at Aldersgate would like to invite you to attend a fundraiser for
Earth Ministry with us. On March 2 from 11:00am-2:00pm, at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, come and play bingo and have brunch. Tickets are $65 until February 2 and then they cost $75. Ticket includes brunch and 5 rounds of Bingo! Earth Ministry is an organization that supports environmental ministries in local congregations. Tickets available
HERE. For more information, see anyone on Green Team!
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Mission Sunday March 24
It's not too early to mark your calendar for Mission Sunday. We'll have one brief worship service at 9:00am, then break into teams to work on mission projects all over the community and then return for lunch together. Think about whether you can help to lead a team or donate items needed for birthday bags, hygiene kits, or lunch. If you have ideas for community service projects on Mission Sunday, please see Pastor Laura.
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People with Health Concerns
*Mark Olleman's sister Ruth
*Charlie Stansell
*Wendi's father Lee
*Pastor Brad
*Eathel Allyn
Additional Concerns
*Missionary Katherine Parker
*Jen Hoerber's friend's daughter Rachel
*Jeff Wheeler
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.
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Copyright © 2012. All Rights Reserved.
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