bulletin supplement december 20 2015
DESCRIPTION
The Aldersgate Announcement Bulletin includes notices of upcoming events and discipleship opportunities.TRANSCRIPT
“Jesus: Savior, Teacher, Lord, Friend” A new sermon and worship series for a new year
beginning Sunday, January 10, 9:00 and 11:00
How can we know and embrace the fullness of Jesus’ identity and role in our lives? What difference does our understanding of Jesus make for how we practice our faith?
January 10 Savior
January 17 Teacher
January 24 Lord
January 31 Friend
“Come to Bethlehem” Children’s Nativity
TODAY at 4pm Come join us as we celebrate
the humble beginnings of our Savior!
December 20, 2015
Christmas Eve Services December 24
With Communion and candlelight at all services
5:00 pm
This early service will feature an interactive Children’s Moment,
traditional carols led by the Worship Band, and will conclude with
Candlelight and Communion. (Battery operated candles for our
youngest friends.) Childcare/nursery will be provided.
7:30 pm
This traditional service will feature carols and music performed
by the Chancel Choir and Instrumental Ensemble, closing with
Candlelight and Communion. Childcare/nursery is provided.
11:00 pm
Our third Christmas Eve service will feature musical
accompaniment by Rafael Scarfullery and Jo Pettitt, a message
by Ashley Oliver, and will be a joyous time of celebration,
closing with Candlelight and Communion.
“Come to Bethlehem” Children’s Nativity
TODAY at 4pm You’re invited to “Come to Bethlehem” this year on Sunday,
December 20th. The annual Aldersgate Children’s Nativity will be
presented at 4pm and will be followed by a pot-luck. Our children will
once again act out the Birth Narrative of our Savior from Scripture. This
year we look forward to joining together in song and praise thanks to
the Aldersgate Chancel Choir, the Aldersgate Hand Bell Choir, the
Aldersgate Instrument Ensemble, the Aldersgate Youth Praise Band, the
Aldersgate Praise Team, Higher Voices, and the Joyful Noise Singers
along with the children from our community! This year there will be no
rehearsals for the children. All children (and their guardians) should
arrive at Aldersgate at 2:30pm to put on costumes, learn simple lines
from Scripture, and practice traditional Christmas music. Teens and
adults from Aldersgate will help guide them during the Nativity.
Our Nativity this year is especially geared towards making sure we
are inclusive to those with different abilities and special needs. We
welcome all children, roughly ages 4-11, to participate and children,
teens, adults of any age watch. To make the presentation more
enjoyable for our friends with special needs, the lights will stay at one
level and the music will not be extremely loud. Children who may
express themselves with loud sounds, spinning, flapping, or other forms
of stemming are all welcome! Children who would like to participate but
need an aid or parent to guide them, push them in a wheelchair, or
carry them are ALL welcome to participate – EVERY child should have
the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus by participating in, or
watching, a Nativity at Christmastime!
Following the Nativity, EVERYONE is welcome to join us for a
Christmas Potluck Meal together! You can drop your items for the
potluck off in the fellowship hall before the Nativity. And, of course,
we’ll have our traditional Birthday Cake for Jesus!!
I look forward to celebrating the Birth of Jesus and all the abilities
of the children in our church and community with you! Thank you! –
Rachel Miller, Director of Ministries with Young People, AUMC
([email protected] or 434.973.5806)
End of the Year Giving As the end of the year approaches, some have shared that you are planning to be out of town the last days of the year. Others may not know about your total giving ability until you know the size of your bonus or other financial results. Church members face these year-end issues every year, and our church is happy to work with you to achieve your giving goals. Here are options and timelines available to you. You may always contact Betty Muri, Head Counter, at 434-296-6869 or [email protected] to arrange your giving at this busy time of the year. Give at one of these remaining worship services: -Thursday, December 24, 5:00, 7:30, or 11:00 (marked “General Budget”) -Sunday, December 27, 2015, 9:00 and 11:00 am. Mail your check to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1500 Rio East Road, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, postmarked by December 31, 2015. Use your bank’s bill pay system by December 31, 2015. If giving stock or funds managed by a broker, ask for a transfer to be completed by Dec. 31, 2015. Bring your gift to the church office. Office hours the week after Christmas are Monday, December 28 (closed), Tuesday, December 29 - Friday, December 31, 2015 (9:00 am - 12:00 noon).
Thank you for making a difference in countless lives in this community and around the world.
Poinsettias and Mission Kits Our thanks to all who have donated poinsettias and contributed towards Mission Kits to be taken to the Annual Conference in June of 2016. Poinsettias may be taken home after the 11:00 pm Christmas Eve service.
Poinsettias
In Honor Of By Sisters and their families Dot Cage Aldersgate UMC Jennifer Olsen Our daughter Rita & Gordon Yager
In Loving Memory Of By Merle Bickel Mary Bickel Hubert & Eleanor Cage Dot Cage Jerry and Ricky Carter Eleanor Carter & Wendy Carter Brent Olsen Jennifer Olsen To the glory of God and in memory of Bill Ward Jean Ward & family Our parents Rita & Gordon Yager
Mission Kits
In Honor Of By Sisters and their families Dot Cage Our children and grandchildren Jimmie & Pat Daniel John, Madeleine, and Quinn Bob & Joan Forrest Our sons and their families Rich & Linda Sharff
In Loving Memory Of By Merle Bickel Mary Bickel Hubert & Eleanor Cage Dot Cage My parents Heidi, Josh, & Sam Crockett Our parents Jimmie & Pat Daniel Rob & Anne Forrest and Jack & Jean Seaver Bob & Joan Forrest Rev. Jack Parrish Glory Parrish Rev. Jack Parrish Marcia Parrish To the glory of God and in memory of Bill Ward Jean Ward & family
"From 1st time Guest to Faithful Disciple" Workshop for Aldersgate Members and Leaders
Church Council is pleased to announce a free workshop for
Aldersgate members, attendees, and leaders Sunday, January
10, 4:00 – 7:00 pm, at Aldersgate. Led by Rev. Paul Nickerson, a
church consultant used widely by United Methodist churches in
Virginia, the workshop will look at what vital churches do
to greet first-time guests to worship, to follow up and begin
to connect them with the community of faith.
We will also explore five key ways people grow in discipleship
and how to set up a church system that enhances faith
development for all members, guests, and others. Participants
will work on an Action Plan to implement these principles at
Aldersgate. A light dinner is included.
Sign up on the Communication Card or contact
Susan Painter at [email protected]
or John Oliver at [email protected].
Christmas Cards to benefit Heart Havens Project There’s still time! The Charlottesville District UMC has created a
Christmas card featuring the artwork of residents of Heart Havens, the
Virginia Conference network of home for individuals who are
intellectually disabled. Proceeds from the card sales will support the
district’s Charlottesville Apartment Project, an effort to establish a Heart
Havens residential community within the district. Two sets of the cards
are available: $10 for a set of 12 cards and envelopes, and $18 for a set
of 25. To order, contact the Charlottesville District Office at
434.977.4254 or [email protected].
Advent is a time to slow down and pause, in the midst of often frantic preparations for Christmas, to focus on the unfolding story of God choosing to enter into the world as the vulnerable baby Jesus. How did his birth affect those around him and what was their part in both preparing for and responding to this outpouring of God’s grace in the world? We’ll ponder this and other questions as we move through the Advent season together, focusing each Sunday on one person in the biblical narrative whose life was changed forever by encountering the miracle we celebrate at Christmas.
TODAY — Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Shepherds: The Spirit-Empowered Life
Thursday, December 24 — Christmas Eve
Jesus: the Incarnational Life
Sunday, December 27 — The First Sunday After Christmas
The Wise Men: The Word-Centered Life
Busy Hands Fellowship Busy Hands Fellowship will be on holiday break until Jan. 14 when we will resume our weekly drop-in meetings on Thursdays from 11-2:00. Make a New Year’s resolution to bring your handiwork project to the Hospitality Room to work on while enjoying a time of fellowship. For more information contact Kimberley Roll at 434-973-6382 or [email protected]
AUMC Christmas Ornaments A special brass Christmas tree ornament depicting our church was
created for the 50th anniversary of the church in 2013. The cost of each
ornament is $15. Please contact Nancy Berman at 434.973.6555 or
Bibles for Africa "I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive
it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." With
these stirring words of hope, the prophet Isaiah looks forward to what
we know now as the season of Advent ... expecting the second coming
of our Lord. Would you be willing this Advent season to share such
Good News by providing one or more Bibles to the 2,000 people of
Liberdale United Methodist Church in Mozambique? Their Pastor,
Rev. Joao Sambo, and our Assistant Pastor for Congregational Care, Rev.
Don MacNicoll (friends since 2004), are working together to raise funds
for 400 Bibles in the local Xitswa dialect. The Bibles cost $13 each. If you
can help, write your check to AUMC and notate it "Bibles for Africa."
Samaritan Fund The Samaritan Fund offers local benevolence to Aldersgate and
community members. To donate, make your check payable to AUMC
with “Samaritan Fund” in the memo. Thank you for reaching out.
Altar Flowers for 2016 Each week, you have the opportunity to place flowers in the sanctuary
to the glory of God, in honor of a person or occasion, or in memory of a
loved one. The new flower charts for 2016 are ready for you to start
making reservations. They are on the bulletin board in the Reed Room
with each Sunday’s date clearly visible. Please be sure to indicate the
wording you wish to have printed in the worship bulletin. You are
welcome to take your flowers with you following the 11:00 worship
service or you may leave them in the sanctuary to be given to someone
who is ill or homebound. Arrangements are $40 each. Make checks
payable to “AUMC” with “Altar flowers” on the memo line.