| |
|
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
:
A vibrant and inclusive Christian community
growing in faith, love, health and service
|
|
Aldersgate UMC
14230 SE Newport Way
Bellevue, WA 98006
(425) 746-9800
|
Associate Pastor
Church Office
Children, Youth, Family
Preschool Director
Core Leaders
|
Feb 10
Dinner & Club 345
Dinner & Youth Group
Feb 11
Core Leaders Team
Scouts BSA Open House
Feb 18
Presidents Day
Office Closed
Feb 23-26
GC2019 Prayer Vigil
Feb 24
New Member Welcome
<><><>
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
<><><>
|
Church Leadership
Click these links to read the minutes of the Core Leadership Team and the monthly minutes of the Ministry Teams.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Series: "Foundations of Faith"
Sermon:
"Tradition as Foundation:
Grandma's
Corn Oyster Casserole
"
Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34
Whether wind or rain or SNOW, Aldersgate will have worship services on Sunday. Anyone who can make it
safely to church should come and worship with us.
We read together Chapter 30 in Brian McLaren's book this week and find reassurance for our minds when we are anxious, judgmental, or uptight. We find advice for spiritual disciplines that redirect us from our anger or worry to God's love.
Our District Superintendent, Rich Lang, will join us for worship on Sunday. He will speak about the traditions of the United Methodist Church and how those traditions can be part of the structure that supports our faith. He will also talk about what the upcoming General Conference will mean to the church and what it will not mean. It is in the frame of mind where we let go of worry that we begin to prepare ourselves for understanding what will happen later this month in St. Louis as delegates from around the world gather for the 2019 session of the United Methodist General Conference.
Between services, we welcome Rob Stewart, new executive director at New Horizons, working with homeless youth, to speak in Friendship Hall. Rob will share with us some of the programs that New Horizons offers to youth on the streets of the greater Seattle area.
Please read Matthew 6:19 - 7:12 to prepare.
|
|
|
Pastor's Blog
As I write this, the snow is coming down outside and it's been coming down for almost 24 hours. The kids and dogs in the park are having a great time and my snowy-day instincts are kicking in. I grew up mostly in Idaho and Iowa. I lived for my young adult years in Chicago. Those are some snowy places. On snow days, my instincts tell me to shovel and clear the walk ways, then bake. So this morning, I shoveled the driveway and the sidewalks in front of our house, and the neighbors on either side. I am the only person in Seattle that I know who shovels snow. Most people around here have a snow removal strategy that involves waiting for it to melt. My motto is shovel early and shovel often. After I finished shoveling (the first time), I mixed up cinnamon roll dough, rolled it out, and it's rising now before it goes in the oven. Snow brings back the traditions of my past.
This week in worship, we'll be talking about the traditions that uphold us and the traditions that shape us and form us. We'll explore how some traditions at church help support our faith and how others can sometimes get in the way of it.
|
|
Family Fun Night Postpone
d
Because more snow is forecasted for Friday evening,
the Family Fun
Night scheduled for Friday, February 8th,
will be postponed until further notice.
|
|
|
|
|
Youth Homelessness Speaker
February 10
Sunday, 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. 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/
.
|
Scout Sunday
February 10
Sunday is the anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. In recognition of ALL youth organizations (i.e. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp Fire, etc.), we encourage currently participating youth and leaders to come to church in uniform.
|
Scouts BSA Open House
February 11
It's a historic day! Scouts BSA troops are forming across the nation and GIRLS are joining! All GIRLS ages 11-18, are encouraged to join the Scouts BSA Girls Troop 638 here at Aldersgate. Girls and their parents are invited to an Open House at Aldersgate on Monday, February 11 at 7:00pm. Learn more about the program, talk to adult leaders, see exhibits, have your questions answered, enjoy refreshments. Print off this flyer or pick up a flyer from the desk in the narthex and give it to a girl you know who might be interested in Scouts BSA. If you want more information please contact David Plowman, Aldersgate Troop 638 Charter Organization Representative, 425-503-1146, [email protected].
|
Trees & Playground News
You may have noticed that some large trees were removed from the playground outside the pastors' offices. For a number of years the Board of Trustees has been monitoring the health of the four evergreen trees. The first, a hemlock, had its top break out a few years ago. The other three, all Norway Spruce, have been oozing sap at an increasing rate over the past few years. This condition often indicates the presence of a pathogen. In response to the declining health of these trees, the Trustees decided to remove them and replace them with healthy trees.
The tree removal is part of a larger playground upgrade that includes a new fence. The current fence is outdated and showing signs of wear. In order to comply with regulations for preschool playgrounds located near a street or parking lot, Aldersgate Christian Preschool will install a 6 foot black chain link fence the third week of February. This is for the protection of the children who use the playground. Sometime in the spring the preschool will also install some new playground equipment and playground grade wood chips.
The Trustees and the preschool have been working in cooperation on this project to make sure that these improvement are done at times and in ways that minimize negative impacts to the preschool classes and other building users. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Rich Detering, Trustees chair, or Dorothy Beeman, Preschool Director.
|
Countdown to General Conference ~ 16 Days!
If you are trying to make sense of what the fuss is all about leading up to the General Conference in St. Louis later this month, here's a little background and some links to more information that might be helpful. General Conference in the United Methodist Church is a global meeting of representatives from each annual conference around the world. Annual conferences are geographical divisions of local churches, served by the same bishop. Usually General Conference meets every four years (a quadrennium) and decides on matters of church policy. It is the highest authority for United Methodists.
In the last regular General Conference in 2016, it was decided that a special General Conference would be held in 2019, before the end of the quadrennium to address one single issue. The single issue is how to best respond to the proposed full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people as clergy and as laity. The General Conference asked the Council of Bishops to appoint a special commission that would research the matter carefully and make proposals. The Council of Bishops appointed the Commission on the Way Forward and the Commission outlined three possible options, which will be before the General Conference in St. Louis. More on the three options (plus one more that has been promoted by some in our Annual Conference since the Commission's report) is available below.
|
Prayer Vigil for CG2019
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 9:00pm on Tuesday
February 26
. Signup for the Prayer Vigil at the table in the narthex or online 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, Sabrina MacIntyre, or Patty Ferguson.
|
Are you Ready to Join Us?
Sunday, February 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.
|
2018 Contribution Statements
Contribution statements were sent out in January. 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.
|
Aldersgate Preschool Enrollment
Aldersgate Christian Preschool has begun enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year for children who are 2 - 5 years of age.
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.
|
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. Copies of the book are available for check-out from our church library.
|
Week Beginning
|
Chapter(s) to Read
|
Main Idea
|
|
February 3
|
28/29
|
Trinity
|
|
February 10
|
30
|
General Conference
|
|
February 17
|
31
|
Choices
|
|
February 24
|
26
|
Faith Makes It Real
|
|
|
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
.
|
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:
*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
*Mar. 3 - Camp Sunday! Worship at 10:00am and the famous Taco Bar Lunch at 11:30am.
|
Camp Sunday & Taco Bar Lunch
Sunday, March 3
On Camp Sunday, March 3, there will be only one worship service at 10:00am
. We will celebrate the camping ministry and representatives from all four of the United Methodist PNW Camps will be here to share about this lifesaving ministry.
Following the service at 11:30am, there will be a Taco Bar luncheon
. Besides an amazing taco lunch and your favorite camp desserts, you will have the opportunity to hear from Aldersgate's campers about their camp experience and learn more about the four camps. A free will offering will be taken and funds will be split between Aldersgate's Campership Fund and the district campership fund. This is a fun and yummy way to help ensure all children and youth have the opportunity to go to camp. If you will join us for lunch and if you can help set up, prep food Saturday, serving food Sunday or help clean up after lunch, then please sign up on Sunday's attendance form or via the church Facebook page.
|
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.
|
|
|
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
.
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.
|
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!
|
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.
|
|
People with Health Concerns
*Cindy Wheeler
*Melinda Lilley's friend Melissa's mother Marilyn
*Mark Olleman's sister Ruth
*Pastor Brad
*Eathel Allyn
Additional Concerns
*Missionary Katherine Parker
*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.
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2012. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
