Announcements 2/11/2024
Our Lenten Journey Begins on Wednesday, February 14th
The Ash Wednesday service is February 14th at 7:30 and is being hosted by West Chelmsford UMC as a hybrid event, with the in-person service in their sanctuary and viewable remotely via Zoom. Pastor Geisa will give the message and co-officiate with Pastor Bob of Aldersgate UMC. A Zoom link and bulletin will be sent to your email prior to the service. A recording of the service will be available on the WCUMC website after the service if you cannot watch it live on Zoom. If you are participating via Zoom and wish to use ashes during the service, they are available in the brown bin outside the front entrance to the church starting February 6th until the 14th.
Lenten Soup Suppers and Worship
Wednesday evening in-person soup suppers and worship led by one of our church family members will return this year, beginning on Feb 21st. The theme is “Giving It Up.” The topics for these Wednesdays include “Giving Up Control,” “Giving Up Expectation” and “Giving Up Superiority.” The suppers will be held at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall, followed by the ~ 30-minute service in the sanctuary at 7:00 pm.
The Worship leaders for the 5 week services are February 21 – TBD – Dan Ward, February 28 – “Giving Up Expectations” – Cheryl Ortolf, March 6 – “Giving Up Living” – David Driscoll, March 13 – “Giving Up Control” – Peter Smyton, March 20 – “Giving Up Superiority” – Christine Kelley
If you want to help provide salad, bread, or dessert for one or more weeks, please contact Betsey Driscoll, (betseylll@yahoo.com). We will also live-stream and record the service so people can watch it in real-time or later at home.
Memorial and Reception Meal for Chuck Piper
We got word from Jean Piper that Chuck passed away at Kennedy Meadows on Saturday morning January 20th. His memorial will be held on March 16th at 11 am in our Sanctuary, with a reception in the Fellowship Hall at noon. His burial will be sometime this summer in Maine. Please check in with Betsey Driscoll to find out what you can help with. Please pray for Jean and the rest of the Piper family as they prepare to celebrate Chuck’s life.
Here is the link for Chuck’s Obituary: https://www.rivetfuneralhome.com/obituary/charles-piper-sr?
Supper, Singing & Pop-up Bible Study
We will kick off the children & youth supper & singing time and in February on Tuesdays, February 6th & 13th from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Suzanne will also offer a pop-up Bible study from 5:30 – 6:00 p.m. in the library.
Please look for more information next week!
Church School Valentines
The children’s church school classes are making valentines and will mail them to those who would appreciate a card. If you know of someone who would like to receive a card, e-mail Cheryl at aumc-education@verizon.net.
Pancake Sunday
Today from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Everyone is welcome to join us for a pancake breakfast in the Fellowship Hall as we prepare for the season of Lent. There will be pancakes, games and discussion about the season of Lent. There will be no church school classes downstairs for children and youth this Sunday. All are welcome!
Supper Bowl Sub Sale Canceled
Thank you all for your prayers during the time Cheryl and Jim were away caring for our Dad who was in the hospital. We need to cancel the sub sale today because Cheryl did not have time to prepare for it. Thank you for your on going support of our youth group fundraisers.
POTLUCK BIBLE TRIVIA NIGHT FUN!
SATURDAY, MARCH 2ND 5:30 – 7:30 P.M.
The youth will be hosting a potluck trivia night for all.
Bring your favorite dish to share.
How well do you know the Bible?
Reminder to schedule your appointment for the Blood Drive –
February 24 from 9-2
Please sign up if you can help this important cause. There continues to be a national shortage!
Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and search under February 24th to schedule an appointment.
For more information call or email Cate Lehan or Robin Dye or the church office.
Blessings, Outreach.
Adult Study Opportunities
Adult Ed Sunday Class
There is no Adult Sunday School today. Please join in the Pancake Breakfast between the services, meet some of our Youth and learn about Lent together!
February 18 and 25: Our discussion on the impact Alzheimer’s disease and dementia has on our congregation and loved ones continues between the services. Pastor Bob has recommended Ministry with the Forgotten by Kenneth L Carder as a resource. We invite you to read and join the discussion, led by Debbie Smyton, on Sunday mornings at 9:45 in the Concord Room or via Zoom. We will continue to work to provide resources and meetups for caregivers. Stay tuned!
.Did you know? Alzheimer’s Statistics
- More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, this number could rise as high as 16 million.
- More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
- In 2016, caregivers provided an estimated 18.2 billion hours of care valued at over $230 billion
- In 2017, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the nation $259 billion. By 2050, those costs could rise as high as $1.1 trillion.
- Thirty five percent of caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia report that their health has gotten worse due to care responsibilities, compared to 19% of caregivers for older people without dementia.
- One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
- It’s the 6th leading cause of death and it kills more people than breast and prostate cancers combined. • Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s.
- Since 2000, deaths from heart disease have decreased by 14 percent while deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have increased by 89 percent.
Alzheimer’s Association; https://www.alz.org/facts/overview.asp?type=alzchptfooter
Thursday Morning Bible Study- LENT
10:00 AM Thursdays, February 15 to March 21 join us for Give Up Something Bad for Lent by James W. Moore. Imagine giving up envy, jealousy, self-pity, apathy, procrastination, gossip, resentment, or negative thinking. How would that change your life? Pick up this easy read and find encouragement and understanding from friends while we take on the challenge of walking this out.
Early Bird Bible Application
This week Early Bird continues the discussion on the topic ‘The Law and Love: Jesus Prevents a Stoning.’ The Scripture lesson is John 8:1-11 (focus on verses 3-11). Join in the discussion as we examine how ‘love competes, law falls short.’ You are welcome in this space. Early Bird meets Tuesday morning at ten via Zoom,
Bishop Day in the Commonwealth West District, February 17
Bishop Johnson, our New England Conference Bishop, will visit our Commonwealth West District at the First UMC of Westford (10 Church Street, Westford) on Saturday, February 17, from 1 to 3 pm. Members of the New England delegation to this year’s General Conference will also be in attendance. They will share information about the upcoming General Conference, the first one since 2016, being held in Charlotte, NC in late April. This visit is an opportunity to get to know our Bishop better and to learn what is going on in the denomination and our New England Conference.
You can attend in-person or via Zoom. If you are interested in attending, please register at https://neumc-reg.brtapp.com/2024BishopsDayontheCommonwealthWestDistrict. The Zoom link will be provided when you register. If you are interested in attending in person and wish to carpool, please meet at Aldersgate in the front at 12:30 pm.
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.
Change for Change
Change for Change continues to contribute to others. In the fall, our youth selected the Alzheimer’s Association as a candidate. $400 has been collected by change and will be donated.
Our Adult ED team has selected the Alternative House in Lowell, a domestic violence shelter as our next candidate. Change matters. God is Good.
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