Announcements July 30, 2023
Today’s altar flowers are given by Matt and Angela Hughes in Celebration of their 25th Wedding Anniversary on August 1st.
Welcome Rev. Geisa Matos
While Pastor Bob goes to West Chelmsford UMC, today we welcome Rev. Geisa Matos. Rev. Geisa (pronounced Hay-sa) Matos was born in the Dominican Republic. God called her into ordained ministry as a teenager. Rev. Matos studied clinical psychology at the Universidad Automona de Santo Domingo from 2000 to 2002. She immigrated to the United States at the end of 2002. In 2010, Rev. Matos earned a bachelor of liberal arts degree in psychology from Harvard University and a master of divinity degree from Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) in 2013. While pursuing her master’s degree, Rev. Matos co-founded BUSTH’s Raíces Latinas Students Association and served as its first president. She also served as a pastor while in seminary and achieved ordination in 2016. Rev. Matos has ministered at the conference, national, and international levels. She is a gifted preacher and a creative designer of worship services who has served five churches in the New England Conference. Rev. Matos joined West Chelmsford UMC in July 2021 with her two precious girls, Anisha (5) and Geila (7).
Sign up now for the next Aldersgate Blood Drive Saturday August 12th, from 9 am to 2pm
You can sign up to donate by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit https://www.redcross.org/give-blood and enter “Aldersgate” to schedule a time.
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Special Church Conference on August 13 at 10:30
We have recently received a bequest from Nancy Goodick, which needs to be approved by the Special Church Conference. We invite everyone to attend the meeting, as we will also share a report on the endowment activity, a tribute to Nancy, and other helpful information.
UMCOR request for help
Thank you to all who donated to the flooding relief effort. The total given so far is $2979. If you have not had a chance to donate – The New England Conference is asking for churches to please donate to the relief effort for those churches who were affected by the flooding in Vermont – it is not too late. Checks can be made out to AUMC and in the message line please put UMCOR (Advance #901670).
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL! FOR CHILDREN AGES 4 - 12
Our theme for VBS this summer is “Under Construction”. We will learn about Habitat for Humanity and the way God helps us to Share, Care, Learn, Worship, and Celebrate! Registration forms are on the welcome desk. Deadline for sign up is July 31st
August 14 – 18, 2023 from 9 a.m. – noon
For children: 4 – 12 years old
Cost to register: $20.00 per child, family max of $60.00
Save the date – Pasta Dinner
Welcome back to our travelers to Youth 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
On Saturday, September 16th from 5:30 – 7:00 pm they will host a pasta dinner and share a special presentation with you about their experiences at Youth 2023. 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 31st.
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!
Clean Sweep
Please see the signup sheet in the welcome area and consider signing up for a job or two helping to spruce up the church this summer. 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, weeding around the church building, and cleaning windows.
Comfort in the Pews for all
An additional pew has been removed to make our existing seating more accessible and accommodating to people using wheelchairs, walkers, canes or crutches and those who may be accompanying them. If you need more space or find the pew difficult to sit in, please make yourself comfortable in the red chairs provided. Please let an usher or trustee know if you need something adjusted. This is a work in progress and an experiment. We want you to feel at home in our space.
2023 Pan-Mass Challenge
Marcia Dana will be riding 84 miles from Wellesley to Bourne in the Pan Mass Challenge on August 5th. Her goal is to raise $18,000 for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in recognition of her 18th year riding. To support her ride, you can send a check made out to “PMC” to Marcia at 6 Sterling Lane, Westford, MA 01886. Or go online to: https:/profile.pmc.org/MD0202. 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Summertime Stewardship
It’s hard to believe that we are already halfway through our year! There has been so much activity and hard work–by so many faithful servants at Aldersgate! As summer approaches please be sure to keep your church family in mind with your prayers and your pledges.
Please feel free to bring your 2023 pledged offerings when you join us on Sundays this summer at 9:30 a.m. You can also send them by mail or electronic bill-pay. Thank you for your faithful stewardship!
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.
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