Announcements 11/05/2023
Today’s altar flowers are given in celebration of Garth Brown's 78th Birthday on Nov 4th from his grandchildren (Emmett, Natalie, Holly and Felicity) Happy Birthday Papa
Annual Church Conference, Wednesday, November 15 at 7pm
Save the date! Our annual Church Conference will be in-person on Wednesday, November 15, at 7pm in the Sanctuary. Rev Jin-Yong Choi from the North Boston Korean UMC in Andover, MA will be leading us in holy conferencing in the Sanctuary at 7pm. If you are interested in attending remotely, please notify the church office by Monday Nov 13th and a Zoom link will be sent to you.
A softcopy of our annual report will be sent via an all-church email. If you are attending the Church Conference, feel free to print it out and bring it with you to follow along.
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Stewardship Campaign 2024 - “Building Tomorrow, Together”
Thank you to all those who prayerfully considered their family’s generosity plan for supporting our 2024 ministries and submitted their pledge cards. Because of your faithful giving, the Finance Committee and Ministry Leaders will be working together to reconcile our 2024 Budget as we prepare for our year ahead. Thank you again for your prayers surrounding this process and for joining us in “Building Tomorrow, Together”! It is still not too late to send in your pledge for next year by mailing it to the church office, dropping it in the mail slot at the ramp entrance to the church or emailing Financial Secretary Kelly Mongiovi at kmongiovi@aol.com advising her of your pledge for 2024. Please return your pledge card or email the information to Kelly
by November 12th since our budget reconciliation meeting is the following week.
Blood Drive, Friday November 10th from 9:00 am to 2 pm
Please consider donating blood during this time of such a critical shortage of blood.
Our next drive will be on Friday November 10th, from 9 am to 2 pm. Please sign up at redcross.org or call 1-800-RedCross to register. THANK YOU!
Inclusion Discussions
Thank you to everyone who has participated in our info sessions and/or small group discussions over the last two months as we seek to discern how we as a church family can be more inclusive to all regardless of age, race, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexuality, ability, and physical appearance. Please post prayers on the Prayer Wall in the Fellowship Hall for what Aldersgate will look like, and what we, as a faith community, will be as a result of these discussions. And please pray for church leadership as we discern the collective will of you, our congregation, based on our exchange of ideas. Watch for information about next steps in this whole-church conversation.
If you missed any of the info sessions held in September, the Zoom session held on Wednesday, Sept 20, was recorded and can be viewed at https://youtu.be/8NaiqBm7br4.
A Statement of Inclusivity, consistent with the beliefs of our denomination and its Book of Discipline, created by the Council and posted on the church web site in the Who We Are page, is below.
All Are Welcome at Aldersgate
As a United Methodist congregation, we affirm that all persons are individuals of sacred worth, created in the image of God. We affirm that we are an open, welcoming, fully accepting congregation supportive of all, regardless of age, race, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexuality, ability, and physical appearance. In agreement with our New England Conference Open Spirit Task Force, we are committed to safeguarding the sacred worth and dignity of all persons in our churches and communities, including those who identify as LGBTQI+ persons.
We are a church that supports every individual’s full participation in the life, ministry, sacraments, membership, and leadership of the church at any level. We celebrate the blessings of gender and cultural diversity in our pastors and leadership team.
Hats, Gloves, Mittens, Socks, and Toiletries for St. Paul’s
Outreach will be collecting items for St. Paul’s by the 17th of December. Please bring in hats, gloves, mittens, socks, and mittens as well as toiletries. There is a box in the welcome area.
Join us for Pizza and Basketball Fun!
All youth and adults who enjoy playing basketball are invited to join us on Sunday, November 12th from noon – 1:30 p.m. We will gather for pizza, and then go outside to shoot some hoops. Please see Cheryl Ortolf if you have any questions.
Pop-up Adult Bible Study
The Adult Pop-Up Study on MLK and the Bible will resume for two more sessions on November 7 and 14 when the music continues with the children. Everyone is welcome.
Children and Youth Supper & Singing TimeFaire Workshops
This music opportunity is for children and youth ages 4 years old – 12th grade.
We will meet on the following dates this fall:
Tuesdays, November 7th & 14th from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Mondays, December 11th & 18th from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
We will have supper from 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. and music singing time from 5:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Fall Adult Study Continues
There will be Adult Study today at 9:45 in the Concord Room. Please join us for Chapter #5 of the study on Mark. The Thursday Bible Study will meet at 10:00 on Thursday 11/9 in the Concord Room. This week’s chapter will also be #5 of the study on Mark.
Come and join the conversation!
Early Bird Bible Application
Early Bird continues to discuss the “Fundamentals of the Faith – The Church: Fellowship and Worship.”
This past week there was a lively discussion on the James 5:16 (confess your sins to one another). Thoughts and reflections on this were shared in very heartfelt ways.
This week will focus on ‘Worship’. The discussion will use the Scriptures to understand the meaning of worship, the ways in which we worship and more.
If you have not already done so, do participate in these discussions along with others on their faith journey. Join in the discussion on Tuesday morning at ten o’clock when Early Bird meets via Zoom.
Still Time to Get Involved with Church Ministries
Thanks to everyone who attended the October 15 Ministry Fair, which featured over 20 small groups and church committees displaying info about their activities. If you missed it or you attended and are still mulling over if or how to get involved, it is never too late! Please contact Betsy in the office or Peter Smyton and one of us will connect you with the right people so you can learn more about the church ministries of interest to you!
If you would like to work at the Faire please contact Peter Smyton. If you would like to help Greet, Lay Read, Acolyte, Serve Communion, Usher, or Count offering, please let Betsy know. It would help to know your Name, what you would like to do, which service or both and your email and phone.
Bring in items by November 12th
The church school will once again help our Outreach committee by supplying items needed for the Thanksgiving Baskets.
Please bring in the following items and place in the brown box located downstairs in the church school area:
PreK – 2nd Grade Class – Cranberry Sauce or Canned Green Beans
3rd-5th Grade Class – Large Can of Fruit Cocktail
6th –7th Grade Class – Apple Juice (plastic container)
8th – 12th Grade Class – Regular Rice (no instant rice)
Thanksgiving is just around the corner
Aldersgate is once again providing Thanksgiving baskets for 50 families in the Chelmsford/Lowell area. If you would like to help support here are a few ways:
- Sign up to bring a frozen turkey on Nov 19. Sign-ups are in the front entrance way.
- Donate $ in the turkey box. Again in the front entrance.
- Sunday school children can donate dry goods and canned goods.
Gobble, Gobble and Thank You!
Christmas Faire and Festival is Coming!
It’s hard to believe our annual Christmas Faire and Festival is less than a month away, on Dec 1, 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm and Dec 2, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. We are thrilled that this year we return will to an all in-person event! Please share your plans for donations or volunteering to staff a table on the sign-up sheets in the Welcome Area. Contact Bonnie Marden at BonMarden@gmail.com or 978-846-1260 if you have questions.
Santa Fund
Correction on the Santa Fund presents. The Santa tree will be up on November 19th and Presents need to be in by December 10th. Thank you all for making Christmas special for all the kids.
Lobby Window book display
The books in the lobby windows are available for you to borrow and return at your leisure. You will find books on prayer, books that discuss Christian LGBTQ+ folks and books on creating deeper community. We welcome you to spend some time this summer expanding your faith and understanding of God’s church.
Today We Remember
Church Members William R. Closs Sandra Dillmam Gail Kaufmann Stanley R. Marson Jr. Kim Marson Kevin R. Mireault Joanne Snook Linda Wesinger Jean A. Wetherell Family and Friends William (Bill) Cameron Linda Chandonnet Herbert Hawes Mariah Holmes | Donald Johnson Timothy Leary Grace E. MacIntosh Pamela Marquis Bonna Mei Victor Miller Mary Neylon Tricia Patkiewicz Helen Joyce Randall David Reade Roberts Allan Thomas Salt Mary Jo Samuels Tyler Savard Beatrice Smalls |
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