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Aldersgate United Methodist Church
:
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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March 28
Stuff Easter Eggs
March 29
Maundy Thursday Service
March 30
Good Friday Service
March 31
Egg-Stravaganza
Flashlight Egg Hunt
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April 1
Easter Services
Egg Hunt
April 3
Young At Heart Potluck
April 8
Confirmation Begins
Stewardship Begins
April 15
Dinner &
Club 345
Dinner &
Youth Group
April 16
WSU Concert Choir
April 21
Young Adult Game Night
April 22
Mission Sunday
Mission Projects
Lunch
April 23
May Calendar Deadline
April 28
Conference Table Talk
April 29
Revisit Mission Sunday
Church Potluck Lunch
April 30
UMW Salad Supper
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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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Sermon:
"Dead . . . April Fools
"
Scripture Lesson: John 20 and 21 (excerpts)
This Sunday
It's almost here. Lent is behind us and we are entering this holy week. The journey takes us through a final meal, a conviction and sentence carried out, a death, and even a tomb. But for us it doesn't stop there. It never stops there. It cannot stop there. It is resurrection that now stands before us. As author Tony Campolo used to say, "It's Friday but Sunday's coming!" As much as today is Thursday, Easter Sunday coming. It is a day of hope, renewal, and yes, even resurrection. It's also April Fool's Day...go figure. It is a time to lift our spirits, get a bit foolish, and to go from darkness to, not just light, but rainbow like light. With the Praise Band at first service and the Chancel Choir at second, each will be offering selected pieces all related to the Easter themes. At the same time, this is also a time of creativity, and like the upbeat music at first service, the choral pieces will be spread the story of love and resurrection throughout the sanctuary and throughout the service. Once again, this service is something not to be missed. It will be a magnificent time of retelling the Easter stories. So come, bring friends and family, spend the morning.
And just a reminder that there will be the annual decorating of the Flower Cross at both services, so remember to bring some flowers, even enough to share. For the children there will be a special Kids Club during the first service and an Easter Egg Hunt at 10:15am. All are invited to watch or participate. What a great morning, a great weekend, a great time of being lifted up. It will be a time of celebrating the risen Christ.
~ Pastor Brad
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Holy Week and Easter Services
 Maundy Thursday service - March 29, 7:00pm
We will remember Jesus' last night with his disciples and receive communion.
Good Friday service - March 30, - TWO services!
We will meditate on the last events of Jesus' life before his resurrection. There is a service at First UMC of Bellevue at noon and a service at Aldersgate at 7:00pm.
 Easter Sunday services - April 1 - THREE services!
We will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a sunrise service at Wilburton Park at 6:30am and Easter services at Aldersgate at
9:00am
and 1
1:00am.
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Easter Sunrise Service
Join members of Aldersgate UMC and Bellevue First UMC at Wilburton Park at
6:30am on Easter morning for an outdoor sunrise service of celebration of the Risen Christ among us throughout all of Creation. Once you park in the parking lot at Wilburton there will be signs directing you to the service. The ground is not paved but it is level. Bring a camp chair or folding chair if you have one and dress for the weather. The service will be about 45 minutes and there will be treats and time for fellowship with other sunrise worshipers after the service. Pastor Laura is preaching. Bellevue First UMC is providing music. Come and See!
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Easter Egg Activities
 Egg-stravaganza - March 31, 10:30am-noon
This community Easter event is geared for young children. Come join us from 10:30-11:30am for fun activities, games and crafts. The egg hunt begins at 11:30am. Bring your Easter basket!
Flashlight Egg Hunt - March 31, 7:00-8:00pm
This community Easter event is geared for tweens and teens. Come join us at 7:00pm for ice cream sundaes. The egg hunt begins at 7:30pm. Bring a flashlight, your Easter basket, and a friend!
Easter Sunday - April 1
There is a special Easter Kid's Club during the 9:00am service with an Egg hunt between services. The kids will be dismissed from Kid's Club into the playground for the annual Easter Morning Egg Hunt at
10:15am.
Parents and all those who want to experience the excitement, please make your way to the playground. Parents should send their kids baskets with them to our special Easter Kid's Club at
9:00am.
We have bags for those without baskets. Please let nursery attendants know if you would like your child to join in on the egg hunt or if you will be picking your child up from the nursery after service. Please note there will be youth helping our youngest of children. To ensure we can keep having egg hunts in the future, please kindly leave your EMPTY eggs in the bins at the supervised playground exits before you leave. Thank you for helping making this a fun and safe experience for our kids. Happy Easter!
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Flowers for Easter Cross
On Easter morning, we will have a cross in the sanctuary to decorate with flowers from our gardens. Please plan to bring cut stems or branches from your garden or a local grocer or florist for the members of your family and, if possible, a few extras for visitors to add to the cross. These flowers represent the hope of resurrection from the cold of winter, and from the cold tomb on Easter morning.
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Rock Chinese Church Departure
On Easter
Sunday
, Rock Chinese Church will celebrate its last service in our sanctuary. Rock has accepted Bellevue First Presbyterian Church's invitation to consolidate all of their services (worship,
Sunday
School, and ESL classes) onto one campus. Reverend Jacob Zhang and his church extends their deepest gratitude to Aldersgate for it's hospitality - providing a church home in their time of need. Join Brad and Laura in our sanctuary to bid Rock farewell at
1:00pm
on Easter
Sunday
.
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Rise Up Easter Season Worship Series
Beginning on Easter
Sunday and continuing through the middle of May, we will hear stories of the Risen Christ at work among us. Our worship will be centered around ways that we may also be called to Rise Up to work with Christ in the world. We will be hosting several guest preachers (listed below). Mission
Sunday on
April 22 and 29 will be coordinated by Green Team. This season will also be the time of our annual stewardship campaign, led by the Finance Team. Please take part in this adventure with the Risen One among us!
- April 8 - Vince Fratello, preaching
- April 15 - Rev Rich Lang (Seattle District Superintendent), preaching
- April 22 - Mission Sunday led by Green Team, one service at 9:00am
- April 29 - Mission Sunday revisited, one service at 10:00am
- May 6 - Vince Fratello, preaching
- May 13 - Mother's Day, honoring gifts of women
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Table Talks to Discuss a Way Forward for the UMC
Saturday, April 28
Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky is inviting
United Methodists in the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conferences to
participate in Table Talk conversations on human sexuality
, the upcoming report of the
Commission on a Way Forward
and special called session of the
General Conference
in February 2019. The conversations will be held in various settings across the Greater Northwest Area. The closest one to Aldersgate will be at Edmonds United Methodist Church on April 28 from 1:00-4:00pm. Members of United Methodist churches from around the area will to come together to listen to each other and our perspectives on sexuality. Registration is required, but free. Please consider attending. Click here for more information and to hear Bishop Stanovsky's recorded message about the Table Talks.
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Altar Flowers
Please sign up to provide Altar flowers especially in April and May. They are a lovely way to commemorate a special person or a special event with your dedication appearing in the Sunday bulletin. The Flower Committee will provide a flower arrangement for $35 or you may provide your own arrangement. The flower calendar is posted on the bulletin board near the office.
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Way of Discernment Group
This Sunday evening small group is taking Easter Sunday off, but we will start back up again on April 8 meeting from 6:00-8:00pm. During this break between sessions, we are working with the question:
"What choices have I made that opened me to grow in the fruits of the Spirit and what choices have I made that have blocked that growth?"
You are invited to ponder that question with us, as we learn to discern God's movement in our lives, always leading us in directions that open us to grow in the fruits of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, self-control, kindness, goodness, and gentleness. May you find yourself and your church growing in these fruits in this season.
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Resource Library Book Review
Are you looking for looking for a meaningful book to read? There are many gems in Aldersgate's Resource Library including
The Book of Joy
by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu.
Click here and read Jean Harris' review of this instant
New York Times bestseller.
In addition, Bob Olson's latest poems have been added to Aldersgate Poems, which is displayed on the library mobile cart.
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UMW - Be Prepared!
Monday, April 2
Deborah Circle will meet Monday,
April 2
, at 7:00pm in the home of Norma Bush. David Plowman, who is on the board of the Sammamish Citizen Corps which provides disaster preparedness education and training for the city, will present information on ways we can be prepared in the event of a disaster. All women of the church are always invited and welcome to attend Deborah Circle meetings. Carpooling from the church will be available. For more information, contact Clarine Goodleaf.
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Young at Heart Potluck
Tuesday, April 3
SAVE THE DATE!!! Calling all retired folks, empty-nesters and wannabees! Join us Tuesday, April 3 at 6:00pm in Friendship Hall for a tasty potluck and an update on Grace Boarding House in Thailand which Aldersgate helps to support. In December Wally and Audra Bennett visited Thailand and spent time with Ponchai, the overseer of Grace Boarding House. Wally will share how Ponchai came to take on the adventure of building a desperately needed boarding house and how Ponchai oversees the operations there today. Share fellowship and a potluck dinner with old friends and new. Cost is $2 per person. Please sign up on Sunday's attendance form and someone will call you about what to bring to the potluck.
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Time for Yoga!
Starts Saturday, April 7
Everyone says they should be going to a yoga class. Let this be the day you actually do. Be a part of Aldersgate's yoga ministry! Vince Fratello will teach a Spring series at the most basic beginner level and it will be organized to accommodate all body types and physical abilities. Class 1 always starts at the beginning so don't worry. If you have any concerns, ask someone who has already come! The series will tentatively be ten or eleven Saturdays from
April 7 to June 16
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Class time will be
9:00-10:15am.
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 $50 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!
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FREE WSU Concert
Monday April 16
The Washington State University Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers will be performing a concert on Monday
April 16
at 7:00pm in the sanctuary. These ensembles, under the direction of Dr. Lori Wiest have performed internationally, most recently to South Korea, and are sure to provide a beautiful evening of music. Please join us for this
free
concert.
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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 April 15 from 5:00pm - 7:30pm. Until then, join the Easter fun by coming to the Flashlight Egg Hunt on March 31 from 7:00-8:00pm.
Contact is Jen Hoerber, [email protected].
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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:
*March 31 - Flashlight Egg Hunt, 7:00-8:00pm
*April 1 - NO Youth Group; it's Easter!
*April 8 - Confirmation Begins, 11:00am
NO Youth Group; it's Spring Break!
*April 15 - Confirmation, 11:00am
Dinner, 5:00pm, Youth Group, 6:00-7:30pm
*April 22 - It's Mission Sunday! There is a brief worship service at 9:00am followed by service
projects. Sign up now for your service project. Lunch is at 12:30pm. Confirmation is at 1:00pm. Youth Group is 6:00-8:00pm.
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Mission Sunday Sign-ups
This year, Mission
Sunday
will be
April 22
, which is Earth Day and all our projects will have an Earth Day theme. Aldersgate's Green Team is helping to organize the event and is opening it up to the community as well. Rather than just helping others, this year Mission
Sunday
will be an opportunity to be in mission with our neighbors for the benefit of God's Creation. The following week, on
April 29
, we will get to hear from all of the teams about how their projects went.
On April 22nd, we will gather at 9:00am for a brief worship service then be working in our teams by
9:45pm.
Please find paper sign-up sheets in the Narthex for Mission Sunday or watch for an online sign-up coming soon. Mission Sunday Projects this year include:
- Days for Girls: sewing and cutting in Friendship Hall to create reusable maxi-pads for girls in communities where otherwise girls would not attend school during menstruation
- Birthday Bags: gathering and packing bags in the youth room for children whose families visit the Food Pantry with all the supplies necessary for a birthday party
- Stream restoration and grounds at AUMC: remove invasive plants and plant native plants to improve stream health and habitat for fish and birds
- Drain labeling: walk nearby neighborhoods and apply decals supplied by the City of Bellevue to storm drains identifying them as the inlets to our streams and lakes (requires waiver of liability from City, not for children under 5)
- Park clean-up: Litter removal at Robinswood or Enatai Beach Parks
- Home Visits: yard work and outreach to church members who need a hand at home
- Lunch: prepare, serve, and clean-up from lunch for all volunteers. Lunch will be served in Smith Hall at 12:30 for all teams.
On April 29th, we will gather for one blended worship service at 10:00am to hear how the mission projects went. After worship, we will feast together at a
local foods potluck lunch. Please plan to bring a dish to share made from ingredients grown or raised within 100 miles of Bellevue. A guest speaker will share news of other Mission Projects in coming months in our area.
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Connections Counseling Annual Report
Aldersgate UMC was part of the story of genesis for Connections Counseling, a network of pastorally-trained therapists and counselors organized by Laura Wall. Though Connections Counseling no longer serves clients at our facility, it remains an important resource for many in our community. Please read the
Annual Report for Connections Counseling which includes ways to contribute to the services they provide around the Puget Sound area.
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Mission Trip to Lazy F
Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27
Save the date! The Church Family Mission Trip to Lazy F Camp will be on Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 25 through Sunday, May 27. There will be projects for all ages and abilities, including activities for kids 2-12.
Interested? Please sign up to attend on Sunday's attendance form. Also, we need a group of people to help support the activities of the mission trip. Please see Sunday's attendance form to see the opportunities and sign up if you can help. These are short term commitments but vital to the success of the weekend. Contact is
Melissa Pearce
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"Speaking of Dying" Film Screening
April 14 from 4:30-7:30, Heartworks, NW is sponsoring a film screening and discussion about End of Life Planning at Seattle First Baptist Church. Beyond the 30 minute screening of the movie, the evening will include resource displays, a chance to meet those who made the movie, a raffle, and snacks. Seattle First Baptist is at 1111 Harvard Ave. in Seattle. See Pastor Laura if you would like to carpool.
Informative and yet intimate, "Speaking of Dying" captures the importance of individuals and groups speaking openly about all aspects of the dying process. Viewing this film will inspire and encourage you to talk to your friends, family, health care agents and medical providers about your own end of life planning, choices and wishes.
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Seattle District UMW Spiritual Day Apart
All women are invited to participate in the Seattle District UMW Spiritual Day Apart on April 28 at Fairwood UMC. The keynote speaker will be Conference officer, Kristina Gonzalez who will be speaking on promoting diversity and inclusion in our congregations. She will also be offering a workshop on specific steps to accomplish this. There will also be a workshop on Praying in Color. Everyone will have the opportunity to attend both workshops. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Please see Clarine Goodleaf, Kathy Maybee, or Jean Harris for more information.
Click here for the registration form.
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Memorial Service May 20
Church member Al Allott passed away earlier this month and we will celebrate his life on Sunday,
May 20
at 2:00pm. Al and his wife Bev became members of Aldersgate in 1964 and have given us a legacy of faith, friendship, service, and generosity. If you can help with the reception after the service (setup, kitchen prep, serving, cleanup, food), please contact
Lee Fox
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People with Health Concerns
*Jen Hoerber's friend Kenneth
*Ferrel Fox
*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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