Announcements 1/14/2024
The flowers on the altar are given for Janet Marson Happy 85th Birthday Mom/Gram - We love you!!
King’s Sunday, January 14, 2024, 8:30 and 10:45 am
We return to two services, at 8:30 and 10:45 am, on Epiphany, or Kings’ Sunday 1/14. Church school and Coffee Hour are at 9:30 am and Adult Ed is at 9:45 in the Concord Room. We will be bringing forward our special Advent Mission Project gift during the services. This year we are supporting Greater Lowell Community Foundation Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund, which supports the efforts of Greater Lowell organizations to help ensure those in need are welcomed and connected with housing, employment, transportation, food, acculturation, and other related support.
Checks may be made payable to AUMC with “GCLF” in the memo.
We invite you to put your gift in the basket the children will pass around after the Lord’s Prayer in worship or mail it to the church office if you are worshipping remotely.
Confirmation Class 2024
We have four youth that will participate in Confirmation Class this year! They will also each have a mentor to work with them during class time. There will be 8 classes and 1 retreat in May. We will have a confirmation orientation meeting on Sunday, January 21st at noon in the Library. Please reach out to Pastor Bob or Cheryl if you have any questions.
Annual Giving Statements
Kelly has prepared your annual giving statements. They are in the welcome area. Please pick them up so you will be ready for your tax preparation.
2024 Budget Approved
Thanks to everyone who attended the Charge Conference on December 31 where the 2024 church budget was approved. The budget includes estimated income of $352,904 and budgeted expenses of $389,803, for a deficit of $36,899. Our major source of income is from congregational pledging. There are 74 pledges, including 7 new pledges, totaling $309,704. This is an increase of $27,240 from 2023 to 2024. Thank you for your generous giving to Aldersgate’s ministries! The Finance committee is looking for ways to reduce the 2024 budget deficit. If you have suggestions, please contact the Finance chair, Wendy Baker (wbaker15@comcast.net).
Interested in Learning How to Record Worship?
We are looking to add to our friendly team of volunteers who live-stream and record our worship services. We take turns so everyone gets an opportunity to participate. We schedule the two-person crew weekly based on everyone’s availability. Training is provided. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Peter Smyton (617-893-9669) or Jim Ortolf (978-995-0614).
Flower Chart available
The Flower Chart for 2024 is now available on the board in the hallway. Please sign up for the dates you would like for 2024. The cost remains $40.
Prayer Wall in Fellowship Hall
The Church Council recently created a prayer wall on a rolling partition in the Fellowship Hall, asking you to post prayers of what our church will look like as a result of the on-going Inclusion discussions. The Council recently decided to expand the purpose of the wall and we invite you to post prayers on any topic that you wish to have other members of our church family pray about.
Christmas Faire Gratitude!
AUMC welcomed the community and shared our talents last December. Thank you to all who baked, cooked, crafted, created, and shared so generously. It was a wonderful part of the Advent season! Mark your calendars for December 6 and 7, 2024!
Hand warmers for the homeless
Helping all stay warm this winter, we will be collecting hand warmers. The hand warmers will be distributed to the homeless needing assistance to stay warm this winter. There is a donation box in the lobby. Thank you as always for your extraordinary generosity. God is good, all the time.
Adult Ed Sunday Class
Adult Ed will conclude the Advent Study of The Heart That Grew Three Sizes: Finding Faith in the Story of the Grinch by Matt Rawle on Sunday 1/14.
Many of the ones we love, inside and outside our congregation, are confronting dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Pastor Bob has recommended Ministry with the Forgotten by Kenneth L Carder as a resource. You can get it online or at your favorite bookshop. We invite you to read and discuss it together on Sunday mornings at 9:45 in the Concord Room beginning January 21. See more information in the January Advocate
Thursday Morning Bible Study
Looking for fellowship and to know the Bible and yourself better? Come to the Concord Room Thursday mornings at 10:00 am to learn from Pastor Bob and your neighbors as we discuss love, faith, forgiveness, grace, pain, joy and so much more. Using the books of the Bible and study materials by writers and theologians like Adam Hamilton, Amy Jill Levine and others, we grow deeper in our understanding and love for God and our neighbor as we discuss it all together. Prayer requests, encouragement and laughter are a part of each gathering. We’d love for YOU to join us this week!
Early Bird Bible Application
Early Bird reconvenes on Tuesday morning at ten o’clock. This week will focus on Romans 14:1-23. In that passage Paul admonishes us to ‘Live in harmony with one another.’ He gave the church some practical instructions on how to do we. Let’s examine his instructions and explore how they might assist us in living in harmony with one another. Join in this discussion via Zoom on Tuesday morning. All are welcome.
Church Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am-12pm. Betsy will be in the office on those days and available by phone at other times.
One Call Tell all and All church email list
Hello Aldersgate Family
Since we used both One Call Tell All for phone calls to everyone and the All Church email list a often, I wanted to check with everyone that they got both messages Saturday night if you want them to know what is happening. Please let Betsy know in the church office or email so I can make the two lists up to date.
A Musical Thank you from Maylis
A huge THANK YOU to all our musicians for blessing us with your time and talent during our Christmas Season and throughout 2023! You are a blessing to our community and beyond!
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