March 18, 2018

Welcome!
Welcome to Aldersgate Church!
We’re glad you’ve found our church! We hope you’ll find us to be
an encouraging, friendly group of people. While we don’t make
any claims to be perfect, at our church we come together to help
make the kingdom of God a reality on earth by loving God and
loving our neighbor

INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THE MEANING OF

MEMBERSHIP AT ALDERSGATE CHURCH?
The local church is the most significant arena through which disciples of
Jesus Christ are made and Jesus’ disciples reach out into the world to
share God’s love. It is in and through the church that Jesus Christ is
proclaimed and professed as Lord and Savior. Please contact Pastor Rob
by telephone at 434-973-5806 or complete the communication card
found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate when it is passed
during the service if you wish to explore the meaning of membership in
the life of Aldersgate Church.
 For Our Youngest Friends
and Their Parents
Easter Lilies and Mission Kits
You are invited to place an Easter Lily in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday,
A professionally staffed nursery is available for children birth through
April 1st. The cost per lily is $12. Those who prefer may make one or
age three during all services and Sunday School on the lower level. An
more $12 contributions towards the Mission Kits we will assemble to
usher will be happy to direct you. Additionally, a Parent Room is
take to the Virginia United Methodist Annual Conference in June of
available in the Parlor adjacent to the Sanctuary, for viewing and
2018. These kits will be distributed to people in need in the United
hearing all services. Please ask an usher to show you the way. All
States and elsewhere around the world.
restrooms are equipped with changing tables.
Donations of lilies and contributions towards Mission Kits will be
AUMC Senior Fun Day acknowledged in the bulletin on Sunday, April 1st.

Friday, April 6th • 1:30 - 3:30 pm in the Reed Room Complete the order form below, attach payment, and place in the
offering plate or bring to the church office. Checks should be made
Games • Dessert • Fellowship payable to Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
Fellowship of Friends will host a time of fellowship, games, and dessert
The deadline for ordering is Sunday, March 25th.
on Friday, April 6th. Come and join church friends in the Reed Room
from 1:30-3:30 pm for a game of checkers, Scrabble, working on a jigsaw Order Form
puzzle or other “parlor” games while enjoying a cup of coffee and
cookies. Please RSVP by March 28th to either Nancy Berman
I would like to donate __________lily(s)
(ndhberman@gmail.com, 434.973.6555) or Anita Ratliff
(atratliff@gmail.com).
I would like to contribute $__________ towards Mission Kits.

High School Youth: My Name___________________________________________________

“Convergence:
Phone Number______________________________________________
Where Faith and Science Meet “
Convergence: Where Faith and Science Meet is a 9-day program (June In Honor Of_________________________________________________
23-July 1, 2018) that allows rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students to
come to Randolph-Macon’s campus in Ashland, Virginia and learn about In Memory Of _______________________________________________
the intersection of science and Christian faith. They will dive deeper into
their religious beliefs, deeper into the study of science, and will meet To the Glory of God___________________________________________
other high school students and Randolph-Macon College student
leaders with those same interests. There will be time in the classroom Total Enclosed $____________________________
and outdoor experiences throughout the region. The cost to participate
is only $100 for this 9-day program. Applications close on May 1, 2018 Please make checks payable to AUMC with “Lilies” or “Mission Kits” in
For more information, visit: convergence.rmc.edu, or contact Laura Y. the memo line. You may mail this form to the church, place in the
Ruxton, Program Coordinator Randolph-Macon College, (804) 752-8712 offering plate, or bring to the church office.
 Children’s Youth Group Notes
Thank You! A big thank you to everyone who supported our youth that
Consignment Sale allowed us to have such a wonderful time last week, Saturday March
Going on now! 10th! Our evening was full of fun and adventure: make your own pizza,
movie and dinner, traveling to the Charlottesville Escape Room to solve
Please visit our website at
an Archaeologist's Mystery, returning to the church with a fire pit for
www.hereweegrowagain.com smores and ice cream. A fun night had by all!! If you missed this time we
hope you will join for some of our future activities.
Thank you for your hands!
Many hands did make for little work! Thank you to all who were able to
help us pack our Easter Egg Hunt Bags! On Thursday, March 15th at IMPORTANT:
10:00 AM several of us gathered together in fellowship and fun to
prepared and pack 79 goodie bags to be used for our annual egg hunts. Youth Group Schedule Update for Tonight
Even one of our homeschooled students had the opportunity to We were scheduled to attending Bowling for a Cause today, March 18 th
participate in this exciting mission work and we completed our work in 1:30 -4:30 PM: however, due to over 13 youth involved in previously
30 minutes! Thank you! scheduled youth ministry activities including confirmation and youth
praise band during that same scheduled time, we were unable to form a
Our first egg hunt is an outreach ministry. Aldersgate will host our 2 nd 6 person team this year. We will try again to “Bowl for a Cause” next
Annual Egg Hunt with members of our AIR reading program at Mallside year.
apartments. This year we will hunt eggs on the Mallside playground
from 2-3 PM, Palm Sunday, weather permitting. Our second egg hunt
occurs on Easter Sunday at Aldersgate as all children are invited to join
in the fun at 10:30 AM to gather a colorful collection of eggs. Following
each hunt, each child will receive one of our specially prepared bags to Youth Group will meet again next Sunday,
take home regardless of how many eggs they can get into their Easter March 25, 2018
basket. High School Youth 5:00 PM – 6:15
For more information; Contact Carolyn Robertson at Dinner 6:15 – 6:45
carolynrobertson@cvaumc.org Middle School Youth 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM

Aldersgate’s 55th Anniversary Celebration

We will recognize a milestone of ministry on April 15, 2018 at both the Youth Group Future Events:
9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services. Join in celebrating our past th
April 29 District Youth Event
and looking forward to the future through praising God, renewing May 20th End of Year celebration
friendships and enjoying fellowship. In addition to an enhanced Sip & June 21st KingsFest at Kings Dominion
Chat, the History and Archive Committee will display photos, records
and documents related to the church’s history. Mark your calendar for
this special day in the life of our church.

THE HAITI MISSION
April is fast approaching, which means that Dave Reynolds is again
getting ready to join The Haiti Mission’s April Team in providing medical
care to the people of rural Haiti. This UMVIM affiliated mission has been
sending medical teams to the Tovar clinic four times a year since the
late 1980’s. Dave has been part of the April Team nearly every year
since 2001. Last year almost 3,000 patients were seen and much
nutritional and hygiene support was also provided. It is truly a blessing
to be able to improve the health of people in need.
Although each team member pays for his or her own airfare, room, and
meals, the cost of medicine, supplies, food supplements, staff, and local
transportation is substantial (more than $25,000 per team). In addition,
the Mission now pays the salary of a Haitian physician to work at the
clinic two days a week throughout the year. Hence, financial support
from churches and private individuals is crucial to the success and
survival of this mission. That is why the donations made by people of
Aldersgate have been so appreciated over the years. If you wish to
continue this support, checks should be made to Aldersgate UMC with
“Haiti Mission” on the memo line. In addition, your prayers and words
of encouragement have been a tremendous source of strength.
Bondye Beni, mesi anpil (God bless and many thanks)
Holy Saturday Day of Prayer
at Aldersgate
On Holy Saturday the Church waits. When the tomb was sealed there
was sadness and uncertainty and silence. You are invited to come to the
sanctuary on Saturday, March 31st at anytime between 6am and 6pm,
and reflect on the events of Holy Week, the suffering and death of Christ
and pray. We still deal with uncertainty,
suffering and things that seem to make no
sense in our lives – come and set aside some
time to be in prayer and in relationship with
our Savior. Come for as long or as short as
you like, but come to pray on Holy Saturday
in the Sanctuary at Aldersgate, which will be
open 6:00am – 6:00pm.
OVERNIGHT VOLUNTEERS arrive around 8:30 p.m. PACEM guidelines
require that each host church provide two overnight volunteers each
night. After an introduction to the PACEM staff person, volunteers assist
in the final clean-up in the kitchen and prep for the evening (setting out
snacks, beverages). The Overnight Volunteers secure the building and
settle in to rest on a provided air mattress. Volunteers need to bring a
blanket or sleeping bag and a pillow. Wake-up call is 5:30 a.m.
Breakfast/lunch items are set out for the guests to make a bag lunch.
The guests leave at 6:30 a.m. Monday-Friday and 7:00 a.m. on Saturday
and Sunday. Overnight volunteers may leave by 7:30-8:00 a.m.
SET-UP AND TAKE-DOWN SUPPORT takes place on the first Saturday of
PACEM (Mar 31) and the last Saturday (April 7). Volunteers are asked to
arrive at 8:30 a.m. and assist in preparing the church facility to host the
shelter. This includes setting up a TV and dining area and sleeping area.
On April 7, volunteers are asked to arrive at 8:30 a.m. to assist in loading
supplies to be taken to the next host church. Volunteers assist with
cleaning the Fellowship Hall and the kitchen area.
LAUNDRY VOLUNTEERS are necessary for both personal laundry and
towels. Please talk with Key Volunteers for times.
FOOD DONATIONS of prepared foods as well as homemade cookies and
desserts are always welcomed. See the sign-up sheet in the Reed Room
to show your support by donating snacks and desserts.
Aldersgate UMC uses a sign-up method for volunteers to make a
commitment to the PACEM program. This assures that all our needs are
met and assures volunteers of the date and time of their commitment.
Sign-up sheets are available in the Reed Room. Each Sunday a PACEM
volunteer will be available during both Sip & Chats to answer questions.
Contact Debbie Topping 434-964-6729, email ldtopping5@gmail.com If
you have Questions.
 ALDERSGATE UMC HOSTING
MEN’S PACEM SHELTER
March 31 - April 7, 2018
Come and volunteer!
There are many opportunities for you to provide
assistance and contribute to this vital ministry.
Take a look at the list of ways can make a difference.
GREETERS arrive at church by 5:45 p.m. and stay until 7:30 p.m.
Greeters welcome guests as they arrive. They monitor people entering
and exiting the building as well as the sleeping area during dinner.
Greeters are invited to stay for dinner and visit with guests.
EVENING HELPER is an extra set of hands and feet to give assistance to
the Evening Supervisor, other volunteers and guests. You are
encouraged to come at 5:30 p.m. and stay through dinner. You will
assist with preparation for evening activities and the next day. Your
presence is important in creating a congenial atmosphere for our guests.
NIGHTLY SUPERVISOR arrives at church at 5:00 p.m. and takes
responsibility for seeing that the facility is ready to receive guests at
6:15 pm. The volunteer makes beverages for dinner if needed, and
wraps silverware. As guests arrive, the Nightly Supervisor is available to
answer questions of the PACEM staff and guests. Prior to the evening
meal, the Nightly Supervisor welcomes guests and offers grace. The
Nightly Supervisor sees that after-dinner snacks are set out for guests.
Finally, the Nightly Supervisor coordinates with Overnight Volunteers to
let them know what needs to be done before lights out at 9:30 P.M.
Vacation Bible School 2018
Save the dates!!!
Sunday, June 24th —
Thursday, June 28th
Five days of VBS fun this year! We will
start each evening with a family
friendly dinner and fun for all! Please
mark your calendars and plan to join
the fun. Online registration will be
available in the Spring.
Children and Youth Ministry
Contact information
If you are new to the church and you are interested in learning more
about our children and youth ministry programming, contact Carolyn
Robertson, Interim Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator at
carolynrobertson@cvaumc.org
Summer 2018 Youth Group
Summer will be here before we know it so mark your calendars!
On June 3rd at 5:00 PM, all Middle and High School youth who will be
participating in any of the Weekly Summer 2018 Youth Group Ministry
activities will need to plan to attend this Mandatory Meeting and Dinner
for parents and youth.
Friendship Luncheon
You are invited to join in the monthly Friendship Luncheon at the
DoubleTree Hotel on Tuesday, March 20 at 12:30 pm. We savor a lunch
created by the DoubleTree chef and enjoy entertainment over dessert.
This month, we welcome back “Higher Voices” youth choir, directed by
our own MaryAnne Thornton. The cost is $12 per person. To make your
reservation, contact Jean Ward at 964-1178. You do not have to be a
member of the Friendship Sunday School class to attend. As long as you
enjoy fellowship, good food, and entertainment, you’re welcome!
 WILL YOU CARRY THE CHRIST LIGHT?
“Exploring the Acolyte Ministry”
April 22, 2018 from 12: 15 PM – 2:00 PM
The Acolyte Ministry is much more than lighting a candle.
On April 22nd from 12: 15 PM – 2:00 PM we will offer the opportunity for
our children and youth, 4th through the 12th grade to explore the Acolyte
ministry. Lunch will be provided.
We all want to know what is being asked of us prior saying yes:
therefore, attending one of the “Exploring Events” is just that…
exploring. Following the event your child will have the information they
need to make an informed decision prior to saying “Yes” to serving.
This past year we have had 16 committed Acolytes serving in this
ministry at both the 9 AM and 11 AM Services. The mission of the
Acolyte Ministry is designed to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who will
also serve as leaders in Christ’s Church. This exploration event also
meets the training requirements to serve as an acolyte.
If you are interested in “Exploring the Acolyte Ministry” being held on
Sunday, April 22nd contact Carolyn Robertson by April 18th to reserve a
seat at the table for lunch at carolynrobertson@cvaumc.org
Children’s Ministry
We are growing! As a result, the Children’s Ministry is looking for a few
adults that are willing to rotate once a month to serve as “Assistants”
with our Pre-School Children’s Church Sunday Ministry during the 11 AM
Service. This is a Non-Teaching position. This will allow us to continue
to maintain a safe and fun experience for our pre-school age children
who join us each Sunday. Required: Child Safety Policy Training and
fulfillment of guidelines. For more information please contact: Carolyn
Robertson, Interim Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator at
carolynrobertson@cvaumc.org
Holy Saturday Hike
Shenandoah National Park March 31st
Joins us this year for a day of fellowship as we hike in the wilderness!
Our annual Holy Saturday Hike trek will be held on the South Rivers Falls
Trail. This is a short hike (~4.4 miles out and back), Located at Mile Post
62.8 on Skyline Drive.
We will meet at Aldersgate Church at 9 am.
We will plan to car pool to South River Falls Picnic Area.
Estimated return time would be around 3 - 4 pm
What to bring:
• sturdy shoes for hiking, i.e. no sandals or flip flops
• day pack (preferably small back pack)
• water bottles - at least 2
• food-snacks/bag lunch to carry with you in day pack
• Optional:
hiking sticks…this is a rocky hike! So highly recommended!
neckerchiefs
hat
bug repellant
Cost: Entrance Fee to SNP, will figure out exact cost once we have # of
people, who has passes and number of vehicles going
For questions and to let her know you are interested in attending:
Laura Nelson, lnelson582@aol.com or 434-227-0340
Sip N Chat Host/Hostess needed:
Sunday, April 1st at 9 am
Sunday, May 6th at 11 am
We need your helping hands to set up and/or take down coffee and
goodies. All refreshments are provided (of course you can supplement if
you like). We have instructions printed out and are happy to walk
through the process with you. Please contact Jennifer Hamlin
(Jennifer@eventswithpanache.com) 434-960-1597 or Tina Shifflett
(shiff82@earthlink.net) 434-978-1723 if you can help to fill this need.
 Lent / Easter Worship Summer Sunday School
Sunday, March 25th at 9 & 11am
If you love crafting, music,
Palm/Passion Sunday
science, food creations, drama
Thursday, March 29th at 7pm or telling Bible stories please
Maundy Thursday Service
prayerfully consider if you would
Friday, March 30th at 7pm share your talent to teach our
Good Friday Service children the scriptures in a new
Saturday, March 31st from 6am to 6pm and creative way about the love
Holy Saturday Prayer Vigil (sanctuary open for prayer) and life of Jesus.*
Sunday, April 1st at 9 & 11am Children’s Ministry is beginning
Easter Sunday to prepare for our Summer
Sunday School Programing. This
year we will be offering a new
Men’s PACEM Shelter program of Rotational Sunday School that will allow our children to
This year, Aldersgate will host the PACEM (People And Congregations explore in different ways our monthly scripture lesson. This programing
Engaged in Ministry) Men’s Shelter the week of Easter, Saturday March model offers our children various approaches to learn their monthly
31st - Saturday April 7th. This is a larger group than the women so there
scripture lesson while reducing the time commitment of adult leaders
are plenty of opportunities to help: greeting our guests as they arrive,
entertainment, helping in the kitchen, doing laundry, spending time and assistants during the busy summer months.
with our guests, and staying overnight. Hearty meals are greatly What is your commitment? We would request you serve no more than
appreciated. Last year, families, music ministries, and Bible study four Sundays from June 10th to August 26th, during the Sunday School
groups, to name a few, provided meals for our guests and really enjoyed Hour. Approximately once every 3 to 4 weeks on our monthly rotational
it! Would your small group or class like to contribute? We can give you
cycle. Since vacations vary, we will work together as a team to meet
ideas! Sign up sheets for volunteers and donation bins will be available
at the end of February. Needs include: small toiletries, socks, individual/family summer schedules for all who are interested in serving
underwear, new or gently used towels and wash cloths, men’s and sharing their talent with the children of the church. This will also
magazines, individual non-perishable snacks, Chapstick, combs, and allow our regular Sunday School Teachers to take a much-needed rest
lotions. Monetary donations will also be accepted for the purchase of this summer.
foods, paper goods, and other related expenses. Please makes checks
For more information please contact:
payable to AUMC with PACEM on the memo line. For more information,
contact Debbie Topping at 434-964-6729 or ldtopping5@gmail.com. Carolyn Robertson, Interim Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator at
Sign up in the Reed Room. carolynrobertson@cvaumc.org

*Required: Child Safety Policy Training and fulfillment of guidelines.

 Afternoon Tea Anyone?
The Annual Tea Party is an afternoon of fun and
fellowship for all ages. We are seeking 3 or 4 adults
who would be willing to work together to host the
Annual Afternoon Tea Party this spring. If you
would be willing to support this annual event as a
host or hostess your responsibilities would include
general hospitality to guest (guest bring their own
decorations and dishes). Also, you would see that
the proper help is secured for persons to fix beverages, set-up and break
down of tables and provide general clean-up. Staff will support with
communications, table reservations and a remain a point of contact.
This afternoon tea party offers each guest to reserve a table, bring their
own table items to set their table for tea time and take those items
home following the event. If you are interested in hosting, please
contact Carolyn Robertson at carolynrobertson@cvaumc.org

Annual Celtic Night and Worship,

Oh What a Night!
Thank you to everyone who made last night such a wonderful evening!
The Reed Room was filled with 130 friends, family and guest to celebrate
together our Annual Celtic Night and Worship. Our evening was
attended by both young and old alike as we gathered for dinner,
fellowship and enjoyed our children and youth in their production of
“Christ the Lord is Risen Today” which retold the Passion Story. The
evening was topped off with some wonderful baked Irish themed
desserts. A special thank you to our cast and their parents who
supported them with making rehearsal times. Also, a big thank you to
our director and backstage crew support. Our evening was so sweet
because of all the cooks, bakers, and servers! Finally, our fun could not
have been complete without our greeters, game leaders, set-up and
clean-up crews. Thank you again to everyone who made this a special
evening. It was a wonderful time spent with family, neighbors and
friends!