Announcements August 20, 2023

Today’s altar flowers are given by Deb and Joe Benson Blessings for our Church Family.

Rally Day is September 10!

Rally Day is fast approaching! On September 10 we will return to two services at 8:30 and 10:45, with church school for children and youth at 9:30. You are invited to gather in the Concord Room that day at 9:30 to hear about the plans for the Sunday Adult Ed class this fall, or to enjoy Fellowship Hour in the Fellowship Hall.

Church School Registration for children and youth starts at 9:15 a.m. in the welcome area downstairs. We will also present Bibles to all Kindergarten children and 3^rd grade children during the 10:45 a.m. worship service.

After second service, join us for the traditional Rally Day potluck luncheon, with burgers and hot dogs along with fellowship and four square! Please bring a side, salad or dessert.

Clean Sweep: Help is Needed, Please Sign Up!

Time is running out this summer to help to spruce up the church before the busyness of fall. Please sign-up using the sheet in the lobby. The jobs can be done on your time! If you don’t have a key, ask Betsy in the office to make arrangements to borrow one or when to come. Thank you! Samples of the tasks this year include cleaning pew cushions, touch-up painting, and cleaning windows.

Save the Date September 3rd

On September 3^rd Isabelle Cole will share stories and pictures of her trip to Morocco and Greece in Fellowship Hall after church at 10:30am. Come hear about her teaching English in Morocco and meeting refugee women in Greece.

Charles McCrea to preach on August 27th

On August 27^th, Charles McCrea will preach while Pastor Bob and family takes some much needed time off.

Protestant Prayer Bead Workshop This Thursday Night

Think beads for prayer are only a Catholic thing? Get lost in thought when praying?

Want to hang out other Church friends?

Come to the Fellowship Hall Thursday, August 24 at 7:00 PM to learn more about prayer beads, how to use them and make a set of your own!

Bring your own beads or choose some from the inventory we have here. No tools or skill necessary. Full details in the Summer Advocate. Can’t make it? Let Kim Ward know you’d like another date in September.

Youth 2023 Sharing Time! Save the date!

The youth and adults who attended Youth 2023 will host a pasta dinner and share a special presentation with you about our experiences at Youth 2023 on Saturday, September 16^th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

We have many stories to share with you along with photos and videos. Come join us – all are welcome!

Donate Your Time and Talents

It takes many hands and we need your help in running the church! Over the summer we will be working to fill our slate of committees for the Fall and we wanted to extend an invitation for you to think about where God might be calling you to use your gifts. We ask that you send in your reply to the office by August 31^st.

Committees Include:

Adult Education, Children’s Ministry Team, Finance and Stewardship, Membership & Congregational Events, Memorial Gifts, Outreach, Staff Parish Relations, Trustees, and Worship/Altar Guild. More informal groups include IT, Ushers and Recording.

Please contact the office at aldersgatechelmsford@verizon.net or Jim Ortolf (jamesortolf@gmail.com, 978/995-0614) if you have any questions or you are interested in serving in one of these areas!

Aldersgate Faire 2023 Preparations!

Mark your calendar for AUMC Faire December 1 and 2, 2023.
Wreaths and swags with our amazing bows and picks are already being created. We look forward to wonderful baked goods and hand-crafted items as well as gift baskets and silent auction items. If you would like to donate a gift basket or auction item, please contact Melinda Goodick or Bonnie Marden. Our talented church invites the community to visit us as we begin the Advent Season!

Info Sessions in September on the United Methodist Church’s Stance on LGBTQI+ and Impact on AUMC

The Church Council has recently been discussing how to ensure we are an inclusive, welcoming church to all here at Aldersgate. 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 included below.

Some people have been confused about or are unfamiliar with the United Methodist Church’s (UMC’s) stance on the LGBTQI+ community, how our New England Conference is addressing this stance, and what that means for Aldersgate. We invite the congregation to learn about the current situation and options the UMC and Conference may consider through information sessions in September, led by Pastors Bob and Maylis, as our clergy, and Bonnie Marden, our delegate to the UMC General Conference, where these topics are discussed. The sessions will consist of an overview of the denomination’s stance and the impact on local churches, followed by a Q&A. Each of these four sessions will be similar. There will be two in-person sessions on Thursday, 9/14 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, 9/17 at 9:30 am (between the services) in the Fellowship Hall, and two sessions via Zoom on Wednesday, 9/20 at 8:00 pm and Monday, 9/25 at 7:00 pm.

The Council plans to offer other opportunities after these sessions for further dialog and sharing of stories and perspectives as we seek to discern how we as a church family can be inclusive to all regardless of age, race, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexuality, ability, and physical appearance.

Paul wrote in Corinthians 1 12:12, “all the members of the body, though many, are one body…” The Council recognizes that there are many different opinions in our church family based on our individual understanding of the scriptures and Jesus’ teachings. We hope to use this time to share our views and learn from each other in constructive and respectful ways so that we can together grow in our faith. Whether you join us for these sessions or not, thank you for holding all of us in prayer and faithful trust in God’s leading us into the future.

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.

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.