Announcements May 14, 2023
Our Vision—A beacon of God’s love radiating faith, hope and joy… Everywhere!
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Flowers on the altar are given by the Howe Family.Happy Mother’s Day to all, especially to Harriet Kinnett and in memory of Kathi Howe, who would have been 75 on May 12th.
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. MOTHER’S DAY BREAKFAST
TODAY SUNDAY, MAY 14TH
9:00 – 10:30 A.M.
MENU: MINI EGG FRITTATA’S, SAUSAGE,
PANCAKES WITH ASSORTED TOPPINGS, FRUIT CUPS
VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE SELECTION TOO!
All
donations will go towards our youth attending the national United Methodist
youth conference in Daytona Beach, Florida in July. Thank you for your support!
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Children’s Sunday – May 21st!
Our church school classes will be participating and leading worship this Sunday as we celebrate the ascension of Jesus.
Our theme will be “Watching and Waiting!”
When have you felt close to Jesus and where would you like God to breathe His love into?
This will be our last church school class time until the fall!
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Celebration Potluck Lunch 6/11
On Sunday, June 11, we will honor Maylis by presenting her with a stole as a gift from the church. After the second service, we plan on holding a potluck luncheon for Maylis, complete with a cake (we always have
to have cake). We invite the congregation to the potluck and ask everyone to bring a side dish to share. If you have questions, please contact Betsy Campbell, Robin Dye, Betsey Driscoll, or Roger Whitehead.
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Reserve June 9, 2023, for Rev Maylis’ Ordination Ceremony
Reserve the evening of June 9, 2023. Rev Maylis will be ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church at a ceremony conducted by Bishop Peggy Johnson during Annual Conference at the DoubleTree Hotel in Manchester NH. We need to be represented at that ceremony in support of Rev Maylis.
We can set up carpools for those wishing to attend that session that is usually at 7 PM on Friday evening. We should plan on being at the Double Tree a bit early as Maylis says it can get a bit crazy during that time.
For those who cannot be in Manchester that evening, there will also be a streaming of the service
available on YouTube at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@newenglandconferenceumc2273/streams
or search YouTube for
@newenglandconferenceumc2273.
At a subsequent worship service at Aldersgate, we will be presenting Rev Maylis with a Jordan River stole in honor and recognition of this important milestone in Rev Maylis’ journey with Christ. If you want to make a small
donation for the purchase of that stole, make your checks payable to Aldersgate UMC but mark it with “Stole” in the notes section of your check. We don’t need that much, only a couple hundred dollars, so anything left over will be donated to the United Methodist Youth 2023 trip they will be taking.
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Thank you from Outreach
God is good. Our rummage sale proceeds exceeded $1800. A donation is being sent to Table of Plenty and half to support our youth group this summer’s trip.
Any treasures not sold have been donated to the Epilepsy foundation. Many thanks for those who helped move them out of Fellowship Hall to the parking lot for pickup.
Thank you. This success is truly an entire congregation support.
Blessings, Outreach team.
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Aldersgate Scholarship Established at Middlesex Community College
The Mighty Men’s group of Aldersgate is establishing a scholarship in the church’s name at
Middlesex Community College. The funds had been raised via a series of golf tournaments several years ago and had grown through investments to $8000. The scholarship of $1000/year will be given to a deserving BIPOC – black, indigenous, or person of color – student each fall. The check will be presented to Middlesex Community College representations at the 10:45 service next Sunday, May 21. Thank you to the Mighty Men for this
generous outreach to our community!
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Garden News
Veggies, flowers, herbs and trees
Grow from water, earth and sun
Bounty grows spirit and plants,
Support and share, May 21.
Support the church garden and bring home plants for your own plot, between and after services, May 21.
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Music Notes
Our Shepherd Bells ringers drove down to Rhode Island last Sunday, May 7, to participate in Haven UMC’s Spring Festival Benefit Concert. The funds raised at this event will benefit the ongoing ministry of Haven Community Music Project, founded by Rev. Juhee Lee, the church’s pastor, and will also contribute to relief efforts for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
It was a true blessing to be a part of this wonderful celebration. Attendees were impressed by our performance and expressed their gratefulness for our music and our presence. Thank you to our ringers for their willingness to dedicate an afternoon in support of this sister church’s mission and ministry!
Look for more information and photos from this event in the June Advocate!
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Early Bird Bible Study
Early Bird will conclude the current study year with a three part series on the Character and Attributes of God. Join in this discussion as we seek to continually grow deeper in our faith understanding. Read 1 Chronicles 29:11 and Psalm 89:7-8. Join the discussion on Tuesday morning at ten o’clock via Zoom.
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Sunday Morning Class
The Adult Class will not meet today so everyone can enjoy the Mother’s Day breakfast put on by our youth.
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Thursday Morning Class
Thursday Morning Class at 10 am will continue the study of “Acts: Catching Up with the Spirit” by Prof. Matthew L. Skinner. Come to the Concord Room at 10:00 am for discussion and discovery.
We saved a seat just for you!
“The Acts of the Apostles is a unique and crucial book that chronicles the story of God’s grace flooding out to the world through the lives of the apostles in the decades immediately following Christ’s ascension into heaven.”
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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!
FOR CHILDREN AGES 4 – 12
AUGUST 14th – 18th from 9 – noon
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 and the welcome table in the Church School area.
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BUILD Team Developing Ways to Reach Out to Community
The Church Council has commissioned a small team of congregants to develop ways to increase our outreach to the community. The team’s name – Bolster and Unite for Inspiring Inclusive Loving Disciples (BUILD) – represents the objective to increase Aldersgate’s ability to help meet the needs to the community and,
potentially, increase involvement in all aspects of church life: worship, education, and fellowship. The team has
been discerning how to apply our strengths to demonstrate “radical hospitality” to visitors and offer opportunities to better meet the needs of our local community.
Look for information this summer about initiatives the team recommends. If you have questions, please ask one of the team’s members: Pastor Bob, Cheryl Cruickshank, Betsey Driscoll, Katie Fisher, Clewis Howe, Christine Kelley, Cate Lehan, Michelle Mescall, Rick Newcomb, Jim Ortolf, Lee Pender, Peter Smyton, Jen van Buren, Dan
Ward, and Nicole Wetherell.
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New Directory
A lot has changed since our last church directory was published four years ago in 2019: some congregants have left us, new friends are now part of our church family, and there has even been some turnover among the staff! The Church Council is looking to create a new directory to reflect our current church family and staff and is looking for someone to lead the effort. There is material from past directory efforts and a crew of volunteers identified to help. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Peter Smyton at thesmytonfamily@comcast.net or 978-256-1795.
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