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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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May 20
Pentecost
Memoriial Service
Dinner & Club 345
Dinner & Youth Group
May 21
June Calendar Deadline
May 25-27
Lazy F Mission Trip
Confirmation Retreat
May 27
On Worship Service
@ 10:00am
May 28
Memorial Day
Office Closed
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June 3
Graduation Sunday
Welcome
New Members
UMW Award
June 10
Confirmation Sunday
Dinner & Club 345
Dinner & Youth Group
June 17
Father's Day
June 18
July Calendar Deadline
June 21-24
Annual Conference
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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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Sunday, May 27
One Service 10am
Due to the Mini Mission Trip to Camp Lazy F, there will be only one worship service here at Aldersgate on Sunday, May 27 at 10:00am since many people from will be away at camp.
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Scripture Lesson
: Acts 1:1-8
Sermon: "The Multiple Languages of . . . God"
This Sunday
Aldersgate, I can
't even begin to tell you how much I missed you. I also have to admit that I'm a little nervous about being back in worship and particularly to be preaching after being away. At the same time, words cannot begin to describe my appreciation of all of those who covered so much while I was on sabbatical. As you will hear, particularly at our June Common Table gathering, the sabbatical was good, hard, encouraging, humbling, informative, a little scary, empowering, and personally really challenging. It was also filled with God's grace. More to come.. .Now on to this Sunday.
It is Pentecost this Sunday, a time to remember God
's power; a defining moment for us as Christian disciples. Given the sabbatical, I plan on taking the message in a bit of a different direction. We're not having different languages reading the biblical passages, nor will I be forcing the lay readers to pronounce all of those difficult names. I won't even be dealing directly with the overwhelming nature of the wind and fire, although those will come into the conversation. I do, however, want to talk about "languages," but not in the way you might imagine. Instead, I plan to look at the languages in which we already engage; languages that are spoken, sometimes in words, but more often in deeds, as a response to Christ. These too are Godly languages; languages that often define or redefine us, and cause in us a response. These are the languages of love. You've dealt with many of them over these past seven weeks. Look back on the two Mission Sundays, hearing about mental health and the need for a safe place, the sharing done last week on Mother's Day, the words of love shared by Vince and Rich Lang, Laura and her care for you, the quilts for the confirmands, and so many others we may not even think about. Each of us possess a language of love; a language that is our own; a language that can and does change lives. So let's explore that this Sunday. To prepare please read the first and second chapters of Acts.
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Pastor's Blog
Rev. Brad Beeman
t's great to be back "in the saddle." I so appreciative of those who stepped up while I was away on sabattical; particularly Pastor Laura, Vince Fratello, Rich Lang, the women who shared last Sunday for Mother's Day, Wendi, and others who did more so that I could have this time away. There is so much to share but I'm going to be careful about sharing too much too soon. It was a powerful time away, talking with 20+ pastors, 12 national consultants, attending 3 webinars, walking through 20+ resource books, reading a bunch of articles, spending time in prayer, studying scriptural reflecting on what an amazing privilege it is to serve as one of your pastors.
The Wednesday Pastor's Class will resume and, at the next two classes on May 23 and May 30,
I will offer overviews of some of the findings of my research. Again, I want to be careful on just how much I offer as there are seven sections, most of which are 10-15 pages long. I'm also working on the more formal presentation which will involve a PowerPoint and will be offered at the June Common Table. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come to any of the
Wednesday
classes (10:00am or 7:00pm)
or to the Common Table meeting on June 18 at 7:00pm, come early for a simple dinner at 6:30pm.
Again, it's really good to be back, with renewed energy, renewed focus, a ton of information and experiences that were powerful, difficult, and Spirit led. I'll be back in the pulpit
on Sunday and look forward to sharing Pentecost with you. Remember to wear red.
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Wear Red on Pentecost
May 20
On
May 20
in morning worship, we will celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the early church at Pentecost. The tradition is that the Holy Spirit gave the gift of being able to speak in new languages so the stories of Jesus could be shared. As part of our celebration this year, the sanctuary will be decorated in red. You can help by wearing red that day. To honor the multiple cultural heritage traditions that make up the Aldersgate family, we would love to hear a prayer or reading in your language sometime in the Pentecost season. If you are willing to help translate or read in a language you speak that is not English, see Pastor Laura.
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Peace & Justice Sunday
May 20
Sunday
May 20
is Peace and Justice Sunday and we will take a special offering that supports ministries that teach and advocate for principles of peace and justice in our church conference and around the world. Through this observance we are witness to God's demand for a faithful, just, disarmed and secure world. Please give generously.
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Stewardship Pledge Card
Thank you to those that have submitted their pledge card. If you have not had a chance to turn in yours yet, please do so by this
Sunday. We ask that you prayerfully consider submitting your pledge so the Finance Team can prepare a budget that supports our staff in their guidance of fulfilling our mission. We hope all those who call Aldersgate their church home will give so that we can fully fund all our ministries, grow in service to others and continue to be a place where love overflows.
Please
CLICK HERE
for the pledge card and either mail it or bring it to church at your earliest convenience.
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CLT Meeting May 21 @ 7pm
The Core Leadership Team will meet on Monday, May 21 at 7:00pm in the Youth Room. Come and hear what the leaders are talking about. Also, hear the initial reflections from Pastor Brad's sabbatical. All are welcome.
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Calling All Graduates!
We will
celebrate
Aldersgate's graduating seniors (high school and college) during worship on
June 3
. Please send us the graduate's picture along with a brief description of their accomplishments, future plans and the school graduating from as listed on the back of the attendance form.
Please get this information to
Jen Hoerber
by
May
23
so the
graduates
can each be highlighted in a special bulletin insert.
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Office Closed Memorial Day
The church office will be closed on Monday, May 28 due to the Memorial Day holiday.
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Anaheim Youth Group Overnight
The youth group from Anaheim UMC is coming for an overnight stay
June 30
on their way to a service project in Spokane. They will arrive at Aldersgate Saturday and leave Sunday before worship. Anyone interested in helping with a dinner and/or a breakfast for the youth and their chaperones should see Pastor Laura.
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Ready to Join Us?
If you are not a member of Aldersgate Church and would like to join, we will welcome new members on
June 3
in both services. For more information, email Pastor Laura or see her on Sunday.
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Summer Kid's Club
June 24 - August 26
Sign up to host a Kid's Club this summer! Kid's Club is a fellowship time for preschool and elementary age kids that takes place after Children's Time through the end of the Sunday worship service. You can play games, do a craft project, read a story or play outside on the playground! This is an important way that the church supports families and welcomes children at Aldersgate. Please see Jen to sign up for a
Sunday to host a Kid's Club this Summer.
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Looking for a Good Book?
Bob Olson is down-sizing his personal library and has many books to give away for FREE or, If you feel SO inclined,
you can make a small donation for the books which will go to the Pastor's Discretionary fund to help people in need of financial assistance.
Look for Bob's book table in the narthex
and check it often as it will be updated regularly with more books. If you have favorite authors or topics of interest please tell Bob.
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Stop the Bleed!
Injuries often can be repaired if the victim does not bleed out. The number of deaths in large disasters or even in home accidents can be reduced if someone is trained to stop the bleeding. Evergreen Hospital has volunteer instructors who will teach a class at Aldersgate in how to stop bleeding properly. The class is about two hours long and covers all types of injuries and the correct procedure for all age groups from infants through the elderly. A number of you completed CPR/AED training and you might find it a good addition to that training to take a class in "Stop the Bleed." We are considering three possible dates in June for an evening class from 6:30PM - 8:30PM. If you are interested, sign up on Sunday's attendance form or contact
Dorothy Bennett indicating which one (or all) of these dates that work for you.
Tuesday, June 5 - OR -
Monday, June 11 - OR -
Tuesday, June 19
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Club 345 (3rd~4th~5th Grade)
Kids in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades meet once a month on Sunday evening for food and a fun activity.
The next meeting will be May 20 from 5:00pm - 7:30pm.
Contact 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:
*May 20 - Confirmation, 11:00am, Dinner and Youth Group, 5:00-7:30pm
*May 25-27 - Mission Trip to Camp Lazy F - REGISTER NOW! No Youth Group
*June 3 - Youth Group 6:00-8:00pm
June 10 - Dinner and Youth Group, 5:00-7:30pm
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Vacation Bible School
July 23-26, 2018
Aldersgate VBS 2018 will be held
July 23-26, Monday through Thursdya from 9:00am - Noon for kids age 3 through 5th grade.
Our theme is Rolling River Rampage where we will learn to find Adventure, Acceptance, Joy, Rest, and Peace on the river of life. Registration is open! Cost is $30/child or $75/family and scholarships are available. Please register online at http://aldersgate-church.org/vacation-bible-school/. All types of volunteers are needed and welcome! If you would like to volunteer, please sign up on Sunday's attendance form or talk to Jen Hoerber.
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Lazy F Mission Trip & Clothing Drive
Remember the ALL church mission trip to Lazy F Camp is on Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27. Contacts are Melissa Pearce (
310-872-6140), Peter Narmita, or Dave Carver. As part of the mission trip to Lazy F, a crew will work at the Clothing Bank at the Ellensburg United Methodist Church. Please share with those in need by donating new and gently used, clean clothing. They have a particular need for summer clothes, women's capris and dresses, kid's shorts and tops, and any swimwear. The collection bin is in the narthex by the drinking fountain.
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Congregations for the Homeless
Tuesday, June 5 - Saturday, June 9
Each June Aldersgate supports Congregations for the Homeless by providing food for lunch and dinner for the homeless men staying at Christ The King Lutheran Church. This year from June 5 through June 9 we will be feeding about 35 men. We will organize volunteers into teams and you will be able to provide either part of a meal or a complete meal. Also we will need people to serve the dinner as well. Sign up on Sunday's attendance form or on the sign up sheets located on a table in the narthex. For more information email Dave Maybee or call him at 425-747-3668.
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Fairwood UMC celebrates 1 year as Reconciling
Saturday, June 2
This June, Fairwood Community UMC is celebrating one year of being a member of Reconciling Ministries Network, a United Methodist organization that "works for full equality in membership, ordination, and marriage for God's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender children." On June 2nd FCUMC is celebrating by hosting a potluck for all. FCUMC would like to invite you and your church community to come help commemorate this anniversary, learn from each other, and share in fellowship. It is an opportunity to learn what difference it makes to a church to become reconciling. FCUMC has invited Rev. Dr. Izzy Alvaran, the Western Jurisdiction director for the Reconciling Ministries Network to provide an update on his work and the work of the Commission on a Way Forward, the 32 member commission formed by the United Methodist Council of Bishops to help forge a path forward on the subject of LGBTQ inclusion in the United Methodist Church. The potluck is being hosted at Fairwood Community UMC at 6 PM on June 2nd in Benedict Hall. The address is 15255 SE Fairwood Blvd, Renton, WA 98058.
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CRC Table Talk
Saturday, June 9,
1:00-4:00pm
Many of the members of Aldersgate who attended the Pacific Northwest Table Talk at Edmonds UMC in April feel that it would be helpful to offer a similar Table Talk for our congregation. The process is designed to facilitate a conversation among those who have divergent ideas, feelings, and interests around sexuality and how we talk about it in church. It is not designed as a decision making process or a way to come to agreement, but rather as a way to try to hear each other in dialogue. The CRC (Considering Reconciling Committee) will offer this process for any who are interested to participate on
June 9 from 1:00-4:00pm in Friendship Hall. Participation will include consideration of the covenant proposed for the dialogue, which has three parts: First, we covenant to stay curious. Second, we covenant to be kind. Third, we covenant to listen with the same amount of passion with which we want to be heard.
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Bellevue City Council Considers Homelessness on the Eastside
Public Hearing June 11
On April 20, the City of Bellevue released its first draft of the proposed amendments to the Land Use Code (LUC). There will be a series of Council meetings this spring and a public hearing is tentatively scheduled on June 11 during which faith community members will have the opportunity to testify about caring for God's children throughout the community. In preparation for that public hearing, please read the
attached amendments to the Land Use Code and prayerfully consider your own voice in the public dialogue about homeless Bellevue residents and the proposal to situate a homeless shelter in Bellevue.
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Initiative 1631 on Climate Change Information
Tuesday, June 12
The Green Team is sponsoring Earth Ministry speakers to come to Aldersgate to help us understand Initiative 1631 as it works its way toward ballots in November. It's in the phase of signature gathering and many faith communities are in strong support. Come on June 12 at 7:00pm and learn the role that faith leaders have played all along in drafting the initiative, protecting God's creation, and calling for justice for those most affected by climate change.
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National Alliance on Mental Health Update
On Sunday, April 29 we had a lunchtime presentation by Michele Meaker, a speaker from the
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Michele has explained a little more about what the need is for a venue for a spiritual support group for people who experience mental illness and their loved ones. She writes:
"We would love to start a Spiritual Support Group meeting twice per month at Aldersgate. We have three NAMI members getting trained as Support Group Facilitators, who have attended support groups for some time and are experienced. Joe would help us get the group launched and I would be back up. We shouldn't have any trouble on our end to have good leadership for the group."
In addition to a room in which they could meet, Michele suggests having hosts from Aldersgate to represent the congregation and make it clear that this is a way that we are reaching out and not just acquiring a new tenant. A good host would be someone who might be interested in what the group is doing and willing to attend to learn more.
How to respond to this need in our community will be one item on the agenda for Core Leaders on May 21 so if you are interested, please let one of your leaders know or attend the meeting in the Youth Room at 7:00ppm.
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Allott Memorial Service May 20
The memorial service for church member Al Allott is on Sunday, May 20 at 2:00pm. Al and his wife Beverly became members of Aldersgate in 1964. Please remember the family in your prayers.
People with Health Concerns
*Wally Bennett
*Mark Olleman's sister Ruth
*Dale Heidal
*Butch & Sue Black
Additional Prayers
*Missionary Katherine Parker
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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