Downshifting for Christmasstorage.cloversites.com...through Monday, December 1. Please help provide...

2014

Share The Journey.

Th

e M

es

se

ng

er

Aldersga A significant place where disciples are made

e umc Downshifting for Christmas

A pastor quickly realizes that along about December 1, life finds a hidden sixth or possibly seventh gear to shift into. As I think about the season we are entering, I find it necessary to force a downshift into a lower gear to be able to appreciate all of the beauty of God’s creation and the wonder of what He’s given us. This story, that I received via email is a small example of how God can cause that downshift to occur. It spoke to me and I hope you like it as well.

The White Rose

I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to become such a drag. I kinda wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could

through all the people to the toy department. Once again I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys, and wondered if the grandkids would even play with them. I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy about 5 holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her so gently. I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over at the little boy and wondered who the doll was for. I watched him turn to a woman and he called his aunt by name and said, "Are you sure I don't have enough money?"

She replied a bit impatiently, "You know that you don't have enough money for it." The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere - that she had to go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes. And then she left the aisle.

The boy continued to hold the doll. After a bit I asked the boy who the doll was for. He said, "It is the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it." I told him that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said "No, Santa can't go where my sister is... I have to give the doll to my Mama to take to her."

I asked him where his sister was. He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said, "She has gone to be with Jesus. My Daddy says that Mama is going to have to go be with her. "My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said," I told my Daddy to tell Mama not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store. "Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he'd had taken at the front of the store. He said, "I want my Mama to take this with her so she don't ever forget me. I love my Mama so very much and I wish she did not have to leave me. But Daddy says she will need to be with my sister.” I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown so very quiet. While he was not looking, I reached into my purse and pulled out a handful of bills. I asked the little boy, "Shall we count that money one more time?" He grew excited and said "Yes, I just know it has to be enough." So I slipped my money in with his and we began to count it. Of course it was plenty for the doll. He softly said, "Thank you, Jesus, for giving me

(Downshifting for Christmas—Continued on page 2)

Share the Journey 2 December 2014

enough money." Then the boy said, "I just asked Jesus to give me enough money to buy this doll so Mama can take it with her to give to my sister. And He heard my prayer. I wanted to ask him for enough to buy my Mama a white rose, but I didn't ask him, and he gave me enough to buy the doll and a rose for my Mama anyway. She loves white roses so very, very much.” In a few minutes the aunt came back and I wheeled my cart away. I could not keep from thinking about the little boy as I finished my shopping in a totally different spirit than when I had started. And I kept remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a car and killing a little girl and the mother was in serious condition. The family was deciding on whether to remove the life support. Now surely this little boy did not belong with that story. Two days later I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support and the young woman had died. I could not forget the little boy and just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected. Later that day, I could not help myself and I went out and bought some white roses and took them to the funeral home where the young woman was. And there she was holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll, and the picture of the little boy in the store. I left there in tears, my life changed forever. The love that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was overwhelming.

*******

So, too, the love of God for you and me is overwhelming. Let us give thanks throughout this season of Advent for the birth and life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

From the Pennington family to you and yours, a most holy and merry Christmas,

Pastor Chris, Christy, James Connor, Keila and Nicholas

(Downshifting for Christmas—Continued from page 1)

The Solution for Excess “Stuff”

By Bob Reis

This fall Pastors Chris & Don preached on “Christians under Construction”. Amidst the many lessons we learned, one was that “stuff” often creates problems. This is particularly true as we progress in life and start to look at downsizing; realizing we do not need so much “stuff.”

As a Christian community, Aldersgate has a practical solution for excess “stuff.” Over the past few years we’ve developed a significant ministry that involves turning our unneeded “stuff” into financial resources for the church. You can donate your excess “stuff” with value to the church and have it sold at either the Rummage Sale, presented at a booth in the fall at the Flea Market, or held for auction at the Annual Gala and Auction. The funds from these three endeavors all go towards increasing Aldersgate’s missions and ministries.

So, if “stuff” is getting you down and in the way of a more fulfilling relationship with God, let it go! Bring it in or call Chris Burkett, Don Moore or Bob Reis to have it picked up, stored, sorted and put to good use as additional financial fuel to run our ministries. Scheduled pick up dates are: Saturday mornings January 10, February 7 and March 21. No need for you to sort or segregate! Special pickups can be arranged.

Chris Burket—609-504-3107

Don Moore—610-558-6817

Bob Reis—302-654-7133

Save the Date! Saturday, January 24

5 to 7:30 P.M.

5th Annual Chili & Chocolate Cook-off Social Evening

Good food and good fun—And you might

even wear ... a Sombrero of Glory!

Sunday, December 28

@ 10 a.m.

Christmas Worship &

Carol Sing Comfy clothes—no Sunday School


Food Closet Reminder By Martha & Willis Weldin, Food Closet Coordinators

Aldersgate supports two food pantries in Wilmington. One is run by Neighborhood House and the other by Brandywine Community UMC. We ask members to bring non-perishable food items each week to fill the shopping carts that you see around the church. You don’t need to bring a whole bag of groceries every time - a can or box or two will do! What a great way to live out Christ’s di-rective to love and care for others!

Right now, we collect enough food fill a MINI Cooper twice a month. It would be really wonderful if we could fill a MINI VAN twice a month! As a reminder, here is a list of foods the pantries always need, especially now that the cold winter months are upon us. Take this chart with you when you go grocery shopping to help you choose healthy foods to donate.

Protein Foods: Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, and

Nuts

Grains: Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta

canned tuna

canned chicken

canned beef stews

canned salmon

bean soups

canned or dried beans

baked beans

canned chili

peanut butter

canned nuts

rice and rice mixes

canned pastas

noodle mixes

dry noodles and pastas

macaroni and cheese mix

cold cereals

bran cereal

shredded wheat

infant cereal

hot cereal mixes

oatmeal

bread, muffin, and pancake mixes

whole-grain crackers

granola bars

graham crackers

flour

bread

Dairy: Milk, Yogurt and

Cheese

Vegetables Fruits Oils and Condiments

infant formula

nonfat dry milk

evaporated milk

instant breakfast drinks

shelf-stable (UHT) milk

(small boxes)

canned and boxed pudding

canned vegetables

vegetable soup

canned tomato products

spaghetti sauce

baby-food vegetables

V-8 juice

canned fruit

raisins

applesauce

dried fruits

baby-food fruit

fruit leather (100% fruit)

canned and boxed 100%

juice

vegetable oil

salad dressing

syrup

jelly and jam

honey

sugar

mayonnaise

Prison Ministries of Delaware—Annual Cookie Pack

By Margaret David

Collection of home-baked (or store-bought) cookies will begin on Sunday, November 22

through Monday, December 1. Please help provide a taste of Christmas and a glimmer of

hope to residents of penal institutions in the state of Delaware. Cash donations are accepted

for packing supplies and supplemental cookies, if needed; please make checks out to CWU

and indicate “Cookie Pack”. Margaret David, Aldersgate’s representative, can be reached at

302-478-0947 or [email protected].


2014 Poinsettia Order Form

Your Name: _____________________________________

Phone: _________________________________________

Number of Plants: ______ @ $12 each Total: $________

Dedication or Memorial:

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

(Example: In honor of John Smith or In memory of Mary Smith)

Poinsettia orders must be received by the church no later than December 14. You may

place your order form and check (payable to Aldersgate UMC) in the collection plate, in the

treasurer’s mailbox #10 or mail them to:

Aldersgate UMC Attn: Treasurer, 2313 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803

Poinsettias you have purchased may be picked up from the Narthex following any service

on Christmas Eve or Sunday, December 28.


Report on the 2nd Annual Gala & Auction “Honoring Our Veterans”

By Bob & Carolyn Reis, Event Chairs

The 2nd Annual Gala & Auction was a great success! We had a terrific evening of fellowship, and were able to turn a good deal of our talents and gifts into resources for ministry totaling over $9300, from which we believe about $8000 will be net profit. Most importantly, we came together among generations and groups at Aldersgate to put on a tremendous event to honor our veterans. This year’s event was slightly larger than last year and included auction items such as a 4 day/ 3 night stay in Fenwick Island at a vacation house, an IPad, a Crab Cake Dinner for four, several valuable art pieces and many treasures. Proceeds from the event will be divided three ways: 25% will be a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project, 25% will go to Aldersgate youth for the Mission Trip this year and the remaining 50% will go to the budget to fund ministries.

Looking forward to next year, mark your calendar for Friday, November 6, 2015. Before then, consider how you can join in the effort. Our ministry needs are great and every dollar raised helps Aldersgate and the United Methodist Church do more. It also puts “stuff” we can part with to the best use.

But, the possibilities aren’t limited to those with full attics. All of us have talents that are not always used and are needed by others in our church community. An auction offering of services such as painting a room or raking leaves could provide many with a much-needed service and the cost can be recycled into ministry funds. If your profession or work provides a service in demand, could you offer a few hours of service to fill a fellow church member’s needs and puts your talent to the best use? Is your hobby creating something that has value to others? If so, consider making or doing one more for the auction and see your talent turned into ministry dollars right in front of your very eyes!

Many community businesses stepped up and donated items that were auctioned off. Please consider supporting these businesses that support our ministries, when making purchases in the community. A list of those businesses follows:

Artisan’s Gifts Brandywine Brewing Company Brandywine Prime Brandywine River Museum Candlelight Theatre Chanticleer Foundation Christina’s Unique Gifts Corner Bistro Delaware Children’s Museum Delaware Children’s Theatre Delaware Nature Society Delaware Theatre Company Fairfax Hardware Hagley Museum Herman’s Meat Market Hollywood Grill House of Watches Inn at Montchanin Lady’s Image Le Shio Restaurant Longwood Gardens The Meat House The Melting Pot Nemours Mansion and Gardens Panera Bread Philadelphia Phillies Pickles & Chips Pizza by Elizabeth’s Ponte’s Auto Care Pro Martial Arts & Karate Ryan’s Wine & Spirits Service Unlimited The Grand Opera House Twin Lakes Brewery Union City Grille Wilderness Canoes Wilmington Blue Rocks Wilmington Drama League World Café Live at the Queen

Candice’s pride and joy, MaKenzie is 4 months old!

Candice & MaKenzie would like to thank everyone for the continuous cards, calls, e-mails, concerns, and gifts or for simply

stopping in to ask how MaKenzie is doing or to see an updated photo.

We appreciate all the love we’ve received.


Each month, milestone anniversaries are listed as well as all those over 50 years. While we can all benefit from knowing that marriages truly can exist for more than 5 decades, we want to recognize those milestone years (i.e. 5, 10 15, 20 ) for all. Congratulations!

Jim & Dottie Titlow December 5 61 years

John & Mary Morris December 31 20 years

If you are not sure we have your anniversary and would like it to be included in the future, please contact Betty Moore (302-478-2575 ext. 117) or [email protected].

All additions or corrections are gratefully accepted to keep our records up to date.

GriefShare

GriefShare, a grief recovery support group,

welcomes all those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

Tuesday mornings—10 to 11:30 a.m. in room 236

Thursday evenings—7 to 8:30 p.m. in room 236

Please call the church office at 302-478-2575. For more

information: http://www.griefshare.org/

Aldersgate’s UMM December Meeting Tuesday, December 16—Fellowship Hall

11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The United Methodist Men’s meeting will be based on Christmas music. Won’t you join Janet and Peter Atwater as they help us “sing” in the season with their program: “From Medieval to Modern: Christmas Music Through the Ages”. They will share the stories of many of our favorite Carols and secular Christmas music in a fast paced, song-filled program that will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit. Guests are welcome to attend this or any UMM meeting. If you are not on the “contact “ list, please sign up in the HUB and indicate your choice of sub (turkey, roast beef, Italian and ham). If you have any questions please contact one of the UMM Coordinators who are Bob Bodwell, Bob Hawkins or George McKeown. You can easily reach them by sending an email to [email protected].

Into the loving arms of Jesus:

Shirley Bohn on October 27

Aldersgate UMC is A Caring Community

Intentionally ministering to persons with

mental illness and their families.

Jennifer Anderson

&

Samuel Davison

October 18

Lincoln Charles Benson born October 20 to Heather & Levi Benson.

Elise (Ellie) Safiya Burket born October 21 to Heather & Chris Burket.

Thank you to the Altar Guild for decorating the Sanctuary

& hallways so beautifully for Christmas and to Stacie

DiGiacoma for her creativity in the Auditorium!

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.griefshare.org



Report from the Worship Space Committee By Henry Daum, GATHER Team Leader

Thank you so much for your responses to the Worship Space survey several month ago! You provided over 120 responses which contained important information about what you think are important elements of a well-functioning worship space. Your five most important elements are:

#1 - Easy to hear #2 - Easy to see #3 - Safe and accessible #4 - Well illuminated #5 - Comfortable seating

A committee of church members has been meeting to discuss the survey results and to identify short-term opportunities and long-term strategies that address areas important to you and that align with other Aldersgate plans and needs. Members of this committee are Janet Atwater, Mary & Preston Cooper, Rick Cross, Henry Daum, Stacie DiGiacoma, Bill Holloway, Brett Landis, Royal Lowthert, Kitty Lugar, Jeff Manns, Ed McFarland, Sarah Ogilby, Chris Pennington, Suzette Sorenson, and Martha Weldin. As this committee does its work, they will be communicating with the Trustees, the Finance Committee and other Aldersgate groups to ensure coordination with all existing plans and programs. You can expect to hear from this committee as their work proceeds. As with other church programs, your spiritual and financial commitment to any worship space upgrades will be key to our success.


Cookie Walk and More! Saturday, December 13th at 9 a.m. in the Auditorium Fill a box of cookies for only $10! Cookies, other baked goods and food items, pecans, and crafts will be for sale. Proceeds support missions for

women and children.

Calling All Bakers: Cookies are needed for the Cookie Walk to be a success! Anyone can bake, not just UWM members, and not just women.

Please bring cookies to the auditorium on Friday, December 12 from 1 to 4 p.m., or on Saturday, December 13 between 7 to 8:30 a.m.

Cookies labeled for "Cookie Walk" may also be left in the small kitchen next to the auditorium. Cookies only please, no brownies or cupcakes! Thanks in advance to all who bake and help make the Cookie Walk a success!!

Pecans are Here! Our annual Pecan Sale features pecans fresh from the Whaley pecan groves. The one pound bags are $11 each. They are available at the Cookie Walk, through Laura Parrish at (302) 477-1718, or by email to [email protected]. Also look for pecans on sale after services on Sundays.

Save the Date - UMW Epiphany General Meeting with Sandwiches and Dessert Monday, January 5 at 6 p.m. in the Auditorium. All Women are invited to celebrate Epiphany with UMW!

Dear Friends, First, let me say what great joy I find in serving the people of Aldersgate Church. I look forward to our coming years together as our ministry reaches out to bring comfort and peace to one another in our times of stress and need. When someone in the family is sick and hospitalized please tell the hospital that you are a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. The Pastoral Care office will notify us that one of our own is in the hospital and the room number so that I can pay a visit. As we prepare to begin a new year perhaps some of you would like to become more involved with our prayer ministry here at Aldersgate. If you would like to become a prayer warrior and learn about the prayer needs of our church, please contact me. We can always use more prayer warriors to lift up our many needs and concerns. If you would like to join our Friendly Visitors Group please give me a call and come to our next meeting on Tuesday, December 2nd at 6:30, room 237. Our group visits shut-ins located in their geographic area. At least once a month they visit their friends from church who live near them. It’s a great way to maintain the ‘ties that bind.’ As always if you are in need of pastoral care please do not

hesitate to call me at 302-562-4711 or e-mail me at

[email protected] .

See you in worship! Pastor Don

Can You Say A Prayer? By Brian Merritt, Family Promise Coordinator for AUMC

Then we have a job for you on the Family Promise team! This is the ministry we share with several other area churches where we house temporarily homeless families with young children for a week. Our next week is December 7 through 14.

We would like our guests to know that they have at least one specific person saying a prayer for them each day. We will supply our prayer volunteers with the names of the guests and also the names of the volunteers who will drive them, cook for them that day, and spend that night at church. You take it from there - pray for safe driving to and from the center, for peace and restful sleep as they spend the night in an unfamiliar space, for productive job searches and for our volunteers as well. Pray as the Holy Spirit leads you! It should only take a couple of minutes. We'll let the guests know who is saying a prayer for them as we sit down for dinner each night.

If you would like to sign up to pray, set-up, take-down, drive,

cook or spend the night, contact Brian Merritt (302-528-4734

or [email protected]).





Sharon Jennelly, Director of Children’s

Ministry & Aldersgate Preschool

302.478.2575 ext.118

[email protected]

Advent Workshop Returns Sunday, December 7

1 to 3 p.m. in Fellowship Hall

Families are invited to bring back this tradition of Aldersgate Church! Fellowship Hall will be filled with tables setup with various Christmas decorations to be made by our church family.

Enjoy the smell of delicious homemade decorated Christmas cookies baking in the oven! Please contact Sandy Anderson ([email protected]) or ([email protected]) to lead a table with your own craft supplies or we can provide a craft for you.

Please register your attendance with Sharon by Monday, December 1 by calling 302-478-2575, Ext.118 or emailing. Hope to see you!

A PAINLESS Way to Support Aldersgate’s Mission & Ministries

Use this link to sign on with your Amazon account credentials. http://smile.amazon.com/ch/51-0076387

Enter Aldersgate Delaware and select Aldersgate, thereafter, all of your purchases made via that link Aldersgate will receive .05% of the total purchase!

December is here and that means we are in the season of Advent; a season where we learn to wait. Waiting is often counter-cultural to our Western lifestyle. I love this time in student ministry because our students get the month to learn how to wait, and to embrace the waiting. One way that we reinforce our waiting is by taking part in Homeless for the Holidays on December 20. This is a night our

students spend outside getting a sense of what life is like for those who do not have a home for the night. We are finalizing the service project that will be going on during Homeless for the Holidays, and once we get that finalized, we’ll let the good people of Aldersgate know how they can help.

Thanks for your support of our gift card fundraiser; we raised $1,600 this round. This money will support our students who volunteer to serve on the 2016 mission trip. We’re still searching for a location to serve in 2016.

In November, our students learned about the letters to the seven churches of Asia in the Book of Revelation. We also held our annual Doubt night in November; a night when students can write down anonymous questions about Christianity which Pastor Chris and I pull out of a hat and try to answer to the best of our ability. Each year we’re both blown away by the questions the students ask, and I’m thankful that they feel that Aldersgate is a safe place for them to ask those questions.

Adam

Christmas Caroling

December 21 at 6 p.m., followed by cookies in the Music Center.

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/51-0076387


DivorceCare at Aldersgate

By Randy Husbands, Facilitator

Wednesdays—6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Library

DivorceCare is an outreach program open to the community offering a friendly, caring group who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences.

There is a leadership opportunity for a woman who has been divorced and knows the pain and emotions kids experience through their parents' divorce. You can learn more about the program at http://www.dc4k.org/

Please prayerfully consider teaching/leading Divorecare4Kids at Aldersgate on Wednesday nights. The youth from our community and our own church will greatly benefit from this support group.

Please contact Randy Husbands, via phone (302) 383-0230 if the Spirit leads you to seek out more information or to volunteer.

Taber Smith will be running the Boston Marathon next April and raising funds for the Boston Children’s Hospital. If you are interested in donating, please contact him at [email protected] Thank you very much!

Going Green Reminder

If you’re receiving the Messenger now and wish to be dropped

from the distribution, paper or electronic, please contact the

church office at 302-478-2575 or send an email to

[email protected].

Thank

You!

Thank you Aldersgate family for your incredible generosity!!!

So far we have sent over 40 coats to the children and youth at

Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota as well as numerous

hats, scarves and gloves. Again, thanks so much for your

donations of coats (new and gently used), handmade scarves

and hats, $1,000 in cash (to help defray mailing costs and to

purchase new coats).

Donations are still being accepted – contact Judy Morton for

more information at 425-5222 or [email protected].

Join the Adult Mission Team

Going to North Dakota Next Summer!

When: Sunday, August 2 to Friday, August 7

Cost: $1,000 – Includes Meals and Lodging, Airfare and Car

Rental

Would you like to spend a week next summer sharing the love of Christ with the people of the Spirit Lake Nation in North Dakota as part of a Volunteer in Mission Team? So far we have fifteen men and women signed up but there is plenty of room for more! As Mike Flowers says, “The witness of our volunteers provides a model of Christ’s love to those who don’t always see it, feel it or hear it.” Mike, together with his wife Libby, are Dakota’s Conference Missionaries and directors of the Spirit Lake Ministry Center. For more information and/or to sign up for the Mission Trip, please contact Pastor Chris (302-478-2575 ext. 113 or [email protected]) or Judy Morton (302-425-5222 or [email protected]).

Church Parking Lot Safety

Please be extra cautious when driving through our church parking lot.

Aldersgate’s building and grounds is host to two preschools, which includes

walking young children to our playground and crossing at the crosswalk. Please be sure to keep a safe distance and be attentive at all times.

When traveling the parking lot nearest the playground, please continue around the church towards the Panera side and onto Rt. 202 or around the building if you are exiting via the parking lot on the glass doors side of the building. Thank you for caring about the safety of children, teachers and our community in general.

Sharon Jennelly, Director of Aldersgate Preschool and

http://www.dc4k.org/




Notes from The Music Guy

Jeffrey Manns

Director of Music Ministry

(302) 478-2575 ext. 120

[email protected]

Arts @ Aldersgate Save the Dates:

Combined Choirs of North Wilmington present, Requiem for the Living, by Dan Forrest, Palm Sunday, March 29 @ 4 p.m., Brandywine Valley Baptist Church

A/V Ministry Volunteers Still Needed

The A/V Ministry is still looking for assistance with our computer presentations during The Journey worship services. We use a program called MediaShout which is fairly intuitive and requires only a few sessions to learn the software. Visual slides are an important part of our contemporary worship experience and we need your help. For more information, or to sign up to volunteer, please contact Rebecca Manns, A/V Ministry Coordinator, at [email protected].




The good and generous people of

Aldersgate continue to be a beacon of

hope to a world in need of much

goodness.

Thanks to you all!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!


Aldersgate Youth Musical Auditions

Scripts will be distributed before Christmas.

Rehearsals will be held on Sundays starting January 4, 2015, although some additional

rehearsals may be required.

2015 Performances:

Friday, March 6th @ 7 pm

Saturday, March 7th & Sunday, March 8th @ 2 pm

For questions or more information, contact Janet Atwater

(610) 388-2120 or [email protected]

Auditions for 2nd Grade and Older*

Saturday, December 6 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 7 10:30 a.m. to Noon

There are MANY singing AND non-singing roles. You will be asked to sing

a brief song of your choice and may be asked to read from the script.

We will hold callbacks as necessary during the Sunday time period.

However, we encourage everyone to audition on Saturday if possible!

A Sign-up sheet for audition times is posted on the Bulletin Board

outside of the Music Center. *If you are unable to attend the auditions, but would like to be in the show, please contact Mrs. Atwater to arrange an audition.



Aldersgate Traditions

By Mary Jane Prince for the Altar Guild

History of Chrismons

The Chrismon Tree was first developed in 1957 by Frances Kipps Spencer, a member

of the Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia. Even though Christian symbols have

been used for centuries to share about the ministry of Jesus Christ and/or the

history of the Christian church, Ms. Spencer developed these symbols into a form

that would be appropriate for a church tree. Additionally, she created the word

“Chrismon” by combining the words “Christ” and “monogram,” which became a

trademarked word that year. Even though Chrismons are based on the original

Christian symbols which date back to the early Church, other Christian symbols

continue to be developed for the Chrismons which reflect other symbolism in the

Bible.

Aldersgate United Methodist Church’s Chrismon ministry began in 1983 when

Aldersgate’s altar guild members, instructed by Pat Carter from the Presbyterian

Church of the Covenant made enough Chrismons for 1 tree in 1984 and eventually

enough Chrismons were created for a second tree. The 2 trees which grace our

sanctuary during the Advent season are decorated with the originally-created

ornaments, which have been repaired over the last 30 years. The technique of

Chrismon bead-making is quite detailed and incorporates mostly pearl and gold

beads.

Please take a minute to visit the altar in the sanctuary to inspect the Christian

symbols on the trees that celebrate the story of Christmas through symbols. The

Chrismon tree ornaments are a labor of love that communicate God’s love and point

us to all the promises of our faith throughout the Advent season at Aldersgate

United Methodist Church.

Service of the Longest Night

Sunday, December 21 at 4 p.m. in the Music Center

Is your heart heavy and the burden of grief almost too much to bear? Then, please

come to this very special service.

We will memorialize your loved one by showing their special picture, have a

candle-lighting service and someone will be there to speak and uplift all of us.

Refreshments will follow. Please come and bring a photo. We are waiting….

For more information, please call the church office at 302-478-2575.

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

598

Wilmington, DE

19850

Aldersgate United Methodist Church—A significant place where disciples are made!

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Pastor Chris’ Message 1

The Solution for Excess “Stuff” 2

Food Closet Reminder 3

Poinsettia Order Form 4

MaKenzie... 5

Report on Gala & Auction 5

Church News 6

Report from Worship Space Committee 7

UMW News 8

Can You Say a Prayer? 8

Advent Workshop 9

Student Ministry News 9

Recent AUMC Recognition 12

Youth Musical Auditions 13

Aldersgate Traditions—Chrismons 14

Service of the Longest Night 14

Let Us Go Over to Bethlehem—Advent Series 15

What’s Inside...What’s Inside...What’s Inside...

Christmas Eve Services 4 p.m. Family Worship With Children’s Nativity

7 p.m. Contemporary Worship With the Journey Band 10 p.m. Traditional Worship With the Chancel Choir & Bells Communion in the Chapel at 9:30 p.m.

All services in the Sanctuary. May your Christmas be blessed in unimaginable ways!

Downshifting for Christmasstorage.cloversites.com...through Monday, December 1. Please help provide...

Documents

Transcript of Downshifting for Christmasstorage.cloversites.com...through Monday, December 1. Please help provide...