What if I ask you these same questions a year from now? Will there be any change? What are you gonna do about it? God bless you as we all strive to grow as disciples in the year of our Lord 2012. Peace in Christ, Pastor Doug

Since we have arrived at the changing of the year, it is an opportunity to take stock of the year that has passed, and look forward to the year to come. Since I’m a pastor it seems appropriate to ask, “How have you grown as a disci-ple for Jesus in the past year?” And, likewise, “What plans will you make to be intentional in your spiritual growth for the coming year?” I’m not ask-ing, “Are you happier now than you were a year ago?” Instead, I am asking, “Are you more faithful? Did you draw closer to God? Have you been aware of God’s presence and God’s grace? Have you been an instru-ment of God’s grace to others? Are you following Jesus and serving Him in

ways that are consistent with your call and your gifts? Are you bearing fruit for the kingdom of God? Did you learn? Did you seek forgiveness? Did you extend forgiveness where needed? Have you ordered your life in a way that is in alignment with God’s desire for you and your family? Are you noticing the needs of the world around you? Are you doing something about it? Are you praying? Are you worshipping? Is there some habit or temp-tation that you need to drop? Is there someone you need to reach out to? How have you grown as a disciple?

"It's a New Year……or Is It ?"

Exploring Aldersgate

Exploring Aldersgate is a three - week course for folks who are new to Aldersgate and would like to learn more! Associate Pastor Tara Lain and John Hall, Lay Leader of Aldersgate, will lead

this class on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30pm in the Family Life Center, Room 202. We will explore our United Methodist heritage, how Aldersgate came to be, and the ministries of

Aldersgate today. Join us for an informative look at who we are and meet other "explorers" as well!

January 2012 Aldersgate Experience

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In this issue:

Bus Update

WNL Information

WNL Prayer Service

Safe Sanctuaries

Leaders Breakfast

Music Information

Weekday School

Construction Update

UTH News

Community News

CONDUIT & Oxford

Manor

Prayer Shawl New Sunday School

Study - 10:45am

Evangelism

Tuesday Night Bible

Study, Anointing Oil

Financials, Altar Guild,

Trustee

Lay Schedules

Lay Schedules & Thank

You

Fundraisers

Birthdays

The Bus has been ordered ! It is a 2012 Elkhart Coach EC-II Church bus. We expect delivery to be early to mid-March 2012. The bus has a flexible floor plan that should be capable of accom-modating most of our groups. In addition to the driver, there will be 16 fixed passenger seats and two sets of 2-passenger foldaway seats giving the bus a capacity of 20 pas-sengers and a driver. The foldaway seats can be stowed when not in use.

It will have our name on the sides and back. It comes with heat and air and radio, of course. It will have a wheelchair lift. It has bucket seats with arm rests and seat belts. It will also have a DVD player, overhead luggage racks, foot rests, reclining seats, extra stereo speakers, and the aisle seats can even be adjusted to slide further into the aisle while the bus is moving, thus giving passengers more room.

at 6:16pm and continue until 7:30pm. Part of the time they spend in Bible exploration and the other they spend singing great music with Heidi Miller and Wendie Anderson.

WNL for Kids 6:15pm - 7:30pm In January, the children will be learning more about their Bibles while having a wonderful time. They will earn how to easily find Bible passages, do some Bible drills, find out why the Bible is like a library, and much more. Their activities begin

Bus Update

Wednesday Night Live for Kids

Wednesday Night Live Wednesday Night Live Meals

5:30pm - the Family Life Center

Jan. 11th - spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert Jan. 18th - barbeque chicken, veggies, dessert Jan. 25th - soups, salad, homemade bread, dessert

New Adult Classes: 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Walk Across the Room led by Doug Lain & Andy Revill When Christians Get it Wrong - led by Jack Snyder

Worshipping Well - led by April Perry & Nan de Andrade.

“Wednesday

Night Live will

resume on

Wednesday,

January 11th ’’

Aldersgate Experience Page 2

The Prayer Service is temporarily moving to

Thursdays at 1:30 pm, beginning on Thursday, January 5th.

Each Thursday our pastoral staff will lead a time of sharing, praying, singing, and proclaiming to serve as a mid-week spiritual pick-me-up. We hope you can make this new daytime service.

Beginning with Ash Wednesday, on Feb. 22, the Prayer Service will move back to its regularly scheduled time of 6:30 pm on Wednesday nights.

our dedicated leaders. Sunday School classes will be as usual - 9:30am YOU CAN HELP.

Sign up to bring a dish for the Aldersgate UMC Christian Formation Leaders' Brunch. Thank a Sunday School teacher, small group lead-er, or youth volunteer by

Sunday, Jan. 8th 9:00am - 10:30am in the Family Life Center. Members of the congrega-tion will be hosting a breakfast for the leaders of the Christian Formation groups to enjoy. This is a wonderful way to say “Thank You" to all of

contributing a dish for the Leaders' Brunch.

To sign up, go to: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0F44AAA92EA75

-christian/2615922

Wednesday Night Prayer Service

Christian Formation Leaders’ Breakfast

Safe Sanctuaries

Administrative board adopted in August. Eve-ryone working directly with children and youth will be required to attend a training session and have a background check. This includes Doug, Jane, the rest of the staff and all the other adults who are in ministry with our

children and youth.

Two training sessions have been scheduled for the

first of the year: January 4th - 6:30pm January 22nd - 4:00pm

(no registration required) All adults who work with children and youth are required to attend one of the sessions. Parents are

strongly encouraged to attend.

We live in an uncertain and often dangerous world and unfortunately that sometimes includes the church. That’s why all United Methodist Churches have adopted Safe Sanctuaries (child and youth protection) policies. Beginning in January, we will fully implement the policy our

“Everyone working

with children and

youth will be

required to attend

training and have a

background check ’’

Aldersgate Experience Page 3

It’s Better to Give

Than to Receive… Boy does that play out, when you’re in music ministry! We give, yes – time and talent are invested in rehearsal, and there is commitment to regular services. But, the rewards far exceed the gifts we share! From our loft, we have the best seats in the house! Because of our immersion in the music and texts, we probably get more out of sharing it than anyone who is hearing it for the first time. We’re know in our hearts, we’re created to praise God – because when we do, we feel satisfaction, wholeness, strength...blessing. It’s really true: you cannot out-give God! But in the music ministry, it sure feels good

trying! We hope others will join us as we continue to serve. There’s a place

for everyone! Here’s the schedule. Youth Choir: Sundays 4:00-5:00 pm (resumes Jan. 22nd) We’re resuming rehearsal on our musical, Old Testa-ment Fast-Forward and welcome all youth grades 6-12 to join us! Praise Team: Tuesdays, 6:15-7:30 pm (resumes Jan. 3rd) Chancel Choir: Wednesdays, 7:30-9:00 pm (resumes Jan. 4th) Special: VonTrapp Concert choir – meet at Mt. Sylvan at 5:30pm! Children’s Choirs: a part of WNL for Kids on Wednesdays, 6:15pm-7:30pm (resumes Jan. 11th)

Handbells: Joyful Noise Ringers - Tuesdays, 7:30pm (resumes Jan. 3rd); Special: Epiphany Ring – Sunday, Jan. 8th, rehearsal, 3:00 - 6:00pm, concert at 7:00pm at Aldersgate Young Ringers (intermediate children 2nd-5th grades) – Sundays, 5:45-6:30pm (winter term: Jan. 22nd - Mar. 18th, per-

form Mar. 25th) Jingle Bells (beginner children, 2nd – 5th grades) – Sundays, 6:30 – 7 pm (winter term: Jan. 22nd – Mar. 18th, perform

Mar. 25th) Gospel Lights: (pickers and grinners – join us for a jam once a month) Fourth

Monday at 7:00pm (Jan. 23rd) Sweet Sounds (Dulcimer Group) – 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 11:00am (contact

Nan if interested) Technology Team - If you’d like to train and volunteer to run the sound board (esp. for 9:45 praise team) and prepare and operate our screen projection, please contact John

Hall - jahall@nc.rr.com. “Can’t anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?” wailed

Charlie Brown. “Yes, Charlie Brown, we can tell you,” said: Raye & Joe Lyndon and Heidi Miller, who led us in our Chrismon and Hanging of the Greens service; John Hall, Randy Gordon and friends, sound and video support; Children’s choir directors and helpers: Heidi Miller, Wendie Anderson, and Jessica Hale; Set-up team and friends, who helped in FLC set-up several times; our wonderful ministers and support staff, especially our organist and accompanist Mila Karamushka, and Tara Lain and Jane Brannock, our Christmas Eve Family Pageant coordinators; the McAllister family, for our Christmas eve luminaries; many special soloists, instrumentalists and scripture readers;

Aldersgate Experience Page 4

“Can’t anyone

tell me what Christmas is all about?” wailed

Charlie Brown.

Cathy Cozart & John Hall for organizing the Love Feast, as well as the many volunteers who served; our thoughtful Worship Committee chair, Alice Osteen and the coordina-tion of our Altar Guild, who adorned our sanctu-ary with light and color, Usher/Greeter teams, and Acolytes; and the mem-

bers of our Children’s, Youth, and Chancel Choirs, Praise team, and Handbell Choirs. Aldersgate could not miss the true meaning of Christmas, by all of your efforts throughout this season. Thank you and a big “Merry Christmas” back to all of you; and to God be

the glory! “When the song of the an-gels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home,

when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people; to make music in the heart.” –

Howard Thurman

Elisabeth von Trapp in Concert

Family Singers. Building on her famed family’s passion for music, Elisabeth has created her own artistic style, at once ethereal and earthy,

delicate and powerful. Elisabeth’s concert reper-toire ranges from Bach to Broadway ... Schubert to Sting. Her sacred pro-gram includes sacred and secular music extending from Gregorian chants, songs by 12th century mystic Hildegard of Bingen, early American hymns, spirituals and psalms set to her own compositions. She is accompanied by the elegant arrangements of her guitar and acclaimed cellist and longtime musical colleague, Erich

Kory.

Elisabeth has released five self produced albums, and

has performed across the United States, Austria and Russia. Her music has been featured on National Public Radio, BBC-Radio, Japanese National Radio and CNN Spanish Radio. She has ap-peared on CBS’s Eye on People, ABC’s Good Morn-ing America and BBC-TV. Her church performances are shared for love-offering only, with 10% of the offer-ing returning to the local

church for mission.

No one leaves an Elisabeth von Trapp performance un-changed ... audiences of all ages are drawn by the promise of her famous name ... awed by the beauty of her voice and musical arrangements ... their hearts touched forever by the astonishing sound of her

unique new music.

When: Saturday,

January 21 at 7 pm A Durham District Churches

Event

Hosted by: Mt. Sylvan UMC, with participation

by several district UMC

choirs (including Aldersgate’s

Chancel Choir) For Elisabeth von Trapp, “ the sounds of music “ are part of her earliest memories. Born and raised in Vermont, Elisabeth is the grand-daughter of the legendary Maria and Baron von Trapp, whose story inspired The Sound of Music. Singing profession-ally since childhood, Elisabeth has enthralled audiences from European cathedrals to Washington

D.C.’s Kennedy Center. Elisabeth has carried on the legacy of the interna-tionally renowned Trapp

Aldersgate Experience Page 5

“Before the concert is over she will have the crowd gasping with the sheer beauty of her voice.”

Boston Globe

Handbell Festival

The Third Annual Epiphany Ring

Sunday, Jan. 8th - 7:00pm

the Family Life Center Hosted by Aldersgate and featuring 8 handbell ensembles from around the Triangle sharing massed-ringing and individual selections, this festival features the music of the season. Don’t miss this ! The Epiphany Ring will tie up your whole Advent-Christmas-Epiphany experience with a beautiful bow! (invite a friend!) Guest conductor is composer Alan

Lohr of Greenville, S.C.

Children’s Handbells

Resume If you would like for your child to learn to read music, handbells is a great way to start! Children from 2nd

- 5th grades are invited to try this fun way of glorifying God through music. A new group of beginning ringers (Jingle Bells) will form on Jan. 22 at 6:30-7:00pm. Experienced ringers (Young Ringers) are also invited back for a new term, rehearsing from 5:45-6:30pm. Each of the groups will meet for rehearsal from Jan. 22nd - March 18th, and we plan to debut on March 25th! Participation expecta-tion is for regular attendance, with a maximum of 2 missed weeks for the term. Please RSVP your interest and regis-tration (Name of child, age and grade & experience level) to

nan@aldersgate.org.

New Class Begins

Jan 11th - Feb 15th

Worshipping Well: Making the most

of our corporate worship experience

Facilitators: April Perry and Nan de Andrade

Meeting in the sanctuary Ever wonder why we do what we do, in worship every week? What’s the value? Is there a biblical basis, or does it just happen “because we always did it that way”? Who is corporate worship for, anyway? Who’s

the audience, and who are the performers? Come and be a part of an experiential class on worship, as we examine our worship practices and traditions in the light of what we understand from the scriptures. Beginning with the scriptural model for corporate worship, we’ll take a close look at the patterns, styles, sym-bols, and rhythm of United Methodist

worship. As we learn more about each of our worship practices such as scripture reading, music, prayer, preaching, and sacraments, our goal is to transform our own thinking and to grow in our own worship understanding and deepen our practices, making them more God-centered.

Aldersgate Experience Page 6

“Ever wonder

WHY we do

WHAT we do,

in worship

every week? "

Page 7 Aldersgate Experience

Aldersgate Weekday School’s return registration for current students

and Aldersgate members begins

January 9, 2012.

The 2012 school year will begin in August. We have openings in the Toddler, 2 year-old, 3 year-old and 4 year-old classes.

Registration forms are available in the school office and on the school website. www.aldersgatewds.org

Fall registration to the community

begins on Feb. 7, 2012. All church member forms must be turned

in by Friday, January 20, 2012. If you have any questions, please call Evelyn Johnson - 479-8686 or email:

evie@aldersgate.org

Aldersgate Phase I - Monthly Construction Update

• See a contractor begin to mobi-

lize on site by the end of the

month.

• Final details regarding utility is-sues for the Columbarium and

FLC work. •

Bids for the Columbarium and

FLC work should be solicited in

mid-January.

By the end of January: • Met with the various interest groups within the church about the construction and the possible

impact on their activities.

• Finalized all project plans and specifications. • Solicited bids from contractors. • Received the bids for the work and evaluated all

proposals. • Selected a contractor for the work.

Aldersgate Weekday School - Registration Begins January 9th

UTH NEWS

• Sunday Night UTH Starts Back

Up Jan 15th! • Middle School Small Groups Start

Back Up Jan 11th! • BreakfastB4School Starts Back Up

Jan 11th! WinterJam: The Largest Christian Concert Tour! $10 for 10 Bands! Please RSVP by sending Rob an email to attend this event! Jan. 7th in Raleigh!

We need Adult Drivers!!!

Safe Sanctuaries Training is Required

for ANYONE Who Helps Out With

the UTH at AUMC. It is strongly encouraged for parents to attend a Safe Sanctuaries Workshop as well! The dates in January are:

Jan. 4th at 6:30pm and/or Jan

22nd at 4pm. Please plan on attending one of these workshops. Attendance will be taken.

Community Meals Duke Hospital has invited Aldersgate UMC to participate in a new program that provides supper once at month to the parents and children in Duke hospital, unit 5200. These are children that need a parent with them at all times during their hospital stay. Aldersgate’s day will be the 3rd Thursday of each month. (The Feed My Flock Committee helped during December. ) There are between 25-35 parents and staff involved. This is a wonderful way to reach out and help these families during this difficult time. If your small group, circle, Sunday school class, or friends would like to support one day, a month, please contact Judy Alford 477- 4943 or Tara Lain - tara@aldersgate.org or (919) 477-0509 x 102.

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North Carolina Lions and Duke Eye Center - partnered with area Kroger Stores to bring you: 2012 Vision Screening Dates:

Wednesday, February 22nd

Kroger - 3825 S. Roxboro Rd, Durham NC (919) 361-029

2:00 - 6:00pm

For more information contact: Duke Eye Center (919) 668-1345

Community Connections

Help Build a Habitat House

by Dining Out DURHAM PIZZA RESTAURANT, 4707 Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC 27705 - On January 9th, 16th and 25th, you may also view their menu at:

www.thedurhampizzarestaruant.com The Durham Pizza Restaurant will donate 10% of the proceeds on these dates to help build the new

Habitat House. Please let them know you are there to support the Durham District Habitat Build.

*********************************

PLAN AHEAD NOW!

CAMP CHESTNUT RIDGE

June 25th - 29th Registration is now on line on the Camp Chestnut Ridge web site for Day Camp - click below

http://www.campchestnutridge.org/

index.php/summer-camp

Aldersgate Experience Page 8

Heartfelt Thanks to the

Aldersgate Family from

CONDUIT and Oxford

Manor

What a grand Christmas party the children of the Oxford Manor Community Learning Center (OMCLC) had in December. The afternoon party began with food: pizza given by the YMCA, and then the home-made cookies and punch provided by CONDUIT. Thanks to Cathy Chmielewski and Jane Brannock for Aldersgate’s contribution. The wonder-ful gifts given by the six churches in CONDUIT to the 50 children enrolled were excitedly received as each name was called. This Angel Tree program of our portion of CONDUIT names has been included in Aldersgate’s Share Your Christmas listing for the last couple of years. Colleen Anna, assisted by Peggy Allen, did a Hercule-an job of managing the dis-tribution. They are angels themselves! A great big “Thank You!” to every fam-ily who took an Angel name and truly played Santa. May your hearts be filled to overflowing.

The Oxford Manor Resi-dents Council wishes to thank you for your con-tributions of Warm Wraps: coats, sweaters, scarves, and hats. They have already been given

out. Big thank you goes to Dee and Karl Stover for contributing two comput-ers and a printer in good working condition to the O.M. Residents Council. The lucky families who draw the winning num-bers on raffle tickets will be able to have a home computer. Thanks, also, go to Beverly Jackson for contributing computer

accessories. Looking ahead at the New Year, we are again asking classes and groups to provide a supper now and then for the Angels Basketball Teams that practice at Aldersgate on most Monday and Friday evenings. The coaches, led by Bryan Umstead, teach the team members life skills of mutual respect, courtesy, and fairness, along with basketball skills. More and more boys from Oxford Manor sign up to play every year. With two practices and a Saturday game every week, this ministry gives these underprivileged children a very practical “goal to shoot for” in their daily behavior.

Coach Bryan has asked for the following help from their sister CONDUIT churches: Coaches to work with him; Career Speakers – 5 minute talk is all that is required for your career; Suppers for some of the teams or for all 50 of the boys at a practice – Sandwich meals in sacks or Money for hamburg-

ers. Mt. Level is very grate-ful for the use of our Family Life Center for the Angels to practice. Let us go a step further and have classes and individuals provide for some of the needs of the Basketball Program listed above. Contact any of you CONDUIT representatives: Peggy Allen (732-42540),

Colleen Anna (471-8863)

or Lee King (477-5245). The CLC will open again on January 9th to help the elementary children with their homework. CON-DUIT would welcome some new church folks to help one afternoon

a week.

Aldersgate Experience Page 9

CONDUIT and Oxford Manor News

The Prayer Shawl Ministry is starting the New Year off by hosting a brunch on Saturday, January 7th from 9:30 a.m. until noon in the Wesley Room. If you’ve been thinking about joining this ministry or if you are just curious about what we do, this is a wonderful opportunity to come and learn more about us. Everyone is invited to participate. If you don’t know how to knit or crochet, or perhaps are a bit rusty in your skills, we have some wonderful teachers

who are willing to help you. Come join us on January 7th! What to bring: * Your Bible * Current knitting or crochet project *A tray of finger food to share *A heart open and ready to enjoy

wonderful fellowship

Prayer Shawl Ministry

New Sunday School Study

Everything is Possible with God: Understanding

the Six Phases of Faith Rick Warren asserts that there are six phases of faith. He says, “Once you understand these six phases, you can cooperate with God in the process of strengthening

your faith and building your character.”

Where do you see yourself in this order? To find the answer, join the CSI

(Christ Scene Investigators) Discussion Group for this study that begins Sunday Morning January 8th - 10:45am Room 205 - in the Family Life Center. For information and to register, contact: Lisa Dye Janes Ph: Home - 919-477-2768 Cell - 423-3463

The Prayer Shawl Ministry was recently asked by our District Superintendent, Rev. Gray Southern, to participate in an effort to make prayer shawls for dele-

gates to the 2012 General Conference. Aldersgate will be making 12 of the 44 needed prayer shawls. What an honor it is to participate in this and have an opportunity to pray for our delegates in

the months ahead. .

Aldersgate Experience Page 10

“If you’ve been thinking about

joining this ministry or are just curious about what we do, this is a wonderful opportunity to come and learn more about us.”

Evangelism - the word that strikes fear and panic into the heart of many Christians. The Merriam Webster dictionary de-fines evangelism as “the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ.” That sounds like a task for only highly trained or Biblically knowledgeable people. Does it have

to be that specialized? I remember the first time that we were asked to do visitations to members who had, for one reason or another, disconnected from the church we were attending. “Isn’t that the pastor’s job?” “We’re not trained to do that!” “I'm not sure we’ve got the time.” “I don’t know enough about the Bible.” “I can’t quote scripture from memory.” We tried to use every excuse we could think of, but the person who had asked us was pre-pared to shoot down every argu-ment we could come up with as deftly as a sharpshooter can pick tin cans off a fence post from 500 feet away. Finally, we could hold out no longer and tentatively said, “Okay, but we’re not making any guarantees. You may have to do some clean-up work by the time

we’re finished!” It took a week before we could muster the courage to call the first person for an appointment, but eventually we were ready to go. As we started out, we sput-tered, “This is the last time we’re getting roped into this; there are people who are much better equipped than we are to do some-thing like this, and it should be their job to do it.” We drove to the first appointment very slowly, praying that the Rapture would occur before we got there; that we’d be taken and thus spared the agony of making small talk with someone who wanted us in their house far less than we wanted to

be there!

The conversation was torturous for everyone at first, but we eventually got around to asking questions about where they worked, their children and their hobbies and found that we were interested in what they had to say. They knew us and asked about our children and families and the time passed quickly and pleasantly. Much to our surprise and delight, they offered us hot

fudge sundaes! Suddenly, we realized that we hadn’t really gotten around to why they were not attending church any longer, so Dale asked, “Is there anything that the church or we can do for you?” It was then that we lis-tened to their concerns and agreed to take the information back to our church leaders. Gaining the courage to make the rest of our calls suddenly be-

came much easier. Dale and I have worked with the Alpha Ministry for ten years and our biggest blessing came this fall when one of the attendees, *Cindy Anderson, came up to me in church on the Sunday after our weekend at Caraway. “I led someone to Christ last night,” she calmly stated. My eyes near-ly popped out of my head and I shouted, “Cindy, this is H-U-U-U-GE! What did you say?” She shrugged and said, “I just told her that I knew that I was going to heaven and I wanted her to be there, too. She asked what she had to do to get there, so I showed her the prayer in the back of our Alpha manual and had her say it with me.” Imag-ine that—quiet, shy, little Cindy Anderson—an Evangelist! I know that there was singing and rejoic-

ing in heaven that day! When we hold our Drive-Thru Prayer events, we offer people a bottle of water or warm cider

and we say something like, “Hi, I'm Betty, thanks for stopping by today. Is there something you’d like me to pray for?” Then I talk to God on their behalf in very plain language. Can it be that simple? The people who stop always have a specific need, but they are not there to hear us spout Biblical phrases. They are there be-cause they need love, sup-port and prayer. We give them those things in the sim-plest manner and they leave looking, and I hope feeling, a

bit relieved. I recently read an article from the April 1, 2002 edi-tion of Decision Magazine by Joe Aldrich, entitled Living Evangelism. In it, he says, God's communication strategy is to wrap ideas into people and

deploy them into their world as

light. I love that statement! It tells me that we can’t all be Billy Grahams, but we can be Cindy Andersons! Cindy is surely an example of a bright-ly shining light! To me, the statement says that we can take a plate of cookies to our neighbor and say, “How are you doing?” and call that

evangelizing! The AUMC Evangelism Team’s hope for 2012 is that you will share with us your ideas for touching the lives of people who live in our sur-rounding neighborhoods and join the Evangelism Team. You may not always receive a hot fudge sundae as a re-ward, but your light will shine

brightly when you do them. Thanks for listening. Betty Wickham/Evangelism

chair, wickswife@nc.rr.com

Evangelism: I can’t do that!

Let your light

shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew5:16

*printed with

permission

Aldersgate Experience Page 11

If Jesus visited you today and said, “I need to have the DTR (Define the Relationship) talk with you, how would you respond? Are you a fan or a follower?

Not a Fan - New Tuesday Night Class

Aldersgate Experience Page 12

If you would like to be able to answer, “I am (insert your name),

a follower, and not a fan,” Please join us for this six-week study on Tuesday, January 24 at 7:00 pm in Room 208 of the

Family Life Center. Please register by January 15th by contacting: Dale and Betty Wickham 919-471-0204 or daleandbettywick-ham@alphausa.org

Anointing for January 1, 2012

Oil has been used since biblical times to provide light, dress wounds, anoint for service in the Lord and as a symbol for the Holy Spirit. By anointing you with oil, your Stephen Ministers, as lay care-givers to the congregation, would like to impart a blessing to you as you return to your seats following communion.

If you choose to be anointed, we will be stationed on either side of the ministers and will anoint you on your forehead or hand while sharing a blessing with you. You may pray at the altar and be anoint-ed there as well if you prefer.

“By anointing you with oil,

your Stephen Ministers, as

lay caregivers to the con-

gregation, would like to

impart a blessing to you as

you return to your seats

following communion”

Aldersgate Experience Page 13

ALDERSGATE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Revenues Through December 18, 2011

YTD $$ $ from Goal % of Goal

Actual $641,762

Budgeted Goal $757,807 -$116,045 84.69%

Pledged Goal $582,720 $59,042 110.13%

2012 Operating and Capital Pledge Updates

Operating: 172 pledges: $618,236.00

Weekday School: $26,000.00

Total: $644,236.00

Capital: 144 pledges: $1,361,628.00

Stock: $24,900.00

Weekday School: $90,000.00

Planned gifts/Pre Campaign $180,800.00

donations:

Total: $1,657.328.00

Altar Guild for January:

Sharon MacLaurin & Alice Osteen

Trustee for January :

Billy Cole

Aldersgate Experience Page 14

January Lay Schedule

8:15am Worship Service

Greeters Ushers Lay Readers

1/1 Carl/Kathy Chmielewski (o) Kirk Brown/Lisa Clark Barbara Atkinson Ed Osteen (m) Jackie Roberts/Mary Tom Roberts 1/8 Chick & Billy Hinton (o) Joe & Lisa Clark Burton King Carol & Dave Brese (m) Jeff Sturkey/Kirk Brown 1/15 Jean Mrosla (m) Mitch Adkins/Raye Lyndon Curtis Gay Heidi Miller (o) Mary Tom Roberts/Jackie Roberts 1/22 Jeff Sturkey (m) Chick & Billy Hinton Jane Bahor

Jackie Roberts (o) Richard Riggsbee/Henry Atkinson Mary Tom Roberts (o) 1/29 5th Sunday

9:30am Worship Service

1/1 Lara Rowland April Perry/Andrea Stewart Betty Wickham 1/8 Betty/Dale Wickham Cynthia Bell/Cathy Sheffield April Perry 1/15 April Perry Betty & Dale Sheffield Andrea Stewart 1/22 Michael/Wanda Crutchfield Gene Bell/Lara Rowland Bill Paynter 1/29 5th Sunday

11:00am Worship Service

1/1 Judy/Paula Alford (o) Ginger Hawkins/Graham Nichols Anne Almond Mary Cameron (m) Andrea Steward/Andy McCorison 1/8 Andy McCorison (m) Joyce Mackin/Jennifer McLamb Andrea Stewart Mary Ellen Finnigan (o) Paula & Gary James 1/15 Ginger Hawkins (m) Mary Ellen & Walter Finnigan Barbara Snyder Graham Nichols (o) Megan Hunt/Mitch Moser 1/22 Joyce Mackin (m) Paula Alford/Paula Veasey Cathy Cozart Heidi Miller (o) Nancy Grinstead/Pam Boatright 1/29 Anne Almond (o) Raye Lyndon/Ron West Bill Smith Summer Stanley (m) Stacey & Sarah McCorison

To access the monthly church calendar, please click on the link below http://www.mychurchevents.com/calendar/calendar.aspx?

ci=G1J4K5J4L6K5O9L6I3

Or go to the church web site www.aldersgate.org and click on

This Week in Our Church - These are printable copies.

Aldersgate Experience Page 15

January Acolyte Schedule

8:15am Worship Service

1/1 Matt Johnson & Jane Andrews 1/8 Reid Moser

1/15 Kelly Copolo

1/22 Rebecca Johnson

11:00am Worship Service

1/1 Abi Lowans & Catherine Fishback 1/8 Ella Thomas & McKenna Colgan 1/15 Olivia Lain 1/22 Taylor Healy

5th Sunday - 10:30am Worship Service

Grace Vincent & Hannah Fogle

Thank You A great big thank you to the angels with chain saws, rakes, and smiles who came to Ayden and cleaned up our yard after Irene. It looked like a war zone and we did not know where to start. The chainsaw angels came on Saturday and spent ALL day putting our yard back together. They left tired but still smiling. Our yard looks great and thanks to them the town was able to run the electric lines back to the poles. We had electricity again. Thank you so much for your kindness. Daddy was a retired Methodist minister (died 4/2001). Mother played for a lot of services weddings and funeral. She is now

under hospice care. Your church is a blessing. Thank you for caring. Merry Christmas. Carolyn Rouse (daughter) Roy Turnage & Corabob Turnage (parents) ********************************************************************** Dear Aldersgate Family, Thank you so very, very much for the Christmas Love offering. We feel extremely blessed to be part of a church family which takes time out of a busy schedule to say “Thank You, you are appreciated” in such a loving and generous act of kindness. God bless you all

through out the New Year. Aldersgate Staff

Nursery Schedule

8:15am, 9:30am and 11:00am Sunday Morning Nursery: Lori Fisher, Jamie Lewis & Ellen Whisnant Tuesday Music Practices: Ellen Whisnant & Lynn Wilfong Wednesday Night Activities: Dee Stover & Lynn Wilfong

“The chainsaw angels came on

Saturday…”

“Thank You. You

are appreciated”

Fundraisers

Aldersgate Experience Page 16

Page 16

Jamaican Jamboree Hosted by the Jamaica Mission Team

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Doors open 4:30pm, Dinner at 5:30pm

Dinner

Beef or Chicken Kabobs, Rice, Vegetables, Salad & Dessert

Silent Auction

Please consider donating items or services for the auction

Entertainment

Stay tuned!

Tickets

$12.00 per adult or $30.00 per family

Please contact any Jamaica Mission Team member to purchase tickets or donate

Help Build a Habitat House by Dining Out

DURHAM PIZZA RESTAURANT

4707 Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC 27705

On January 9th, 16th and 25th

View their menu at: www.thedurhampizzarestaruant.com The Durham Pizza Restaurant will donate 10% of the proceeds on

these dates to help build the new Habitat House.

Please let them know you are there to support the

Durham District Habitat Build.

1320 Umstead Rd. Durham, N.C. 27712

Phone: 919-477-0509 E-mail: info@aldersgate.org

ALDERSGATE

EXPERIENCE

Elijah McCall 01/17

Edna Wood 01/17

Ruth Kay 01/18

Jim Hanson 01/19

Ed Osteen 01/19

McKenna Colgan 01/20

Ron Pendergrass 01/20

Jack Anderson 01/21

Sandra Reynolds 01/21

June Gunter 01/22

Christopher Hall 01/22

Mitch Moser 01/22

Lynn Andrews 01/23

Jordan Brewer 01/24

Debra Edenton 01/24

Jason Newman 01/24

Jack Upchurch 01/24

Lisa Johnson 01/25

Carol Brese 01/26

Rosalin Robinson 01/26

Marie Currin 01/27

Gary Edge 01/27

Jan Hagerty 01/27

Brink Hunt 01/27

Allen Harrell 01/28

Kirk Brown 01/29

Linda Jones 01/30

Jimmy Sykes 01/30

Verona Gillispie 01/31

Barbara Atkinson 01/01

Jill Bosecker 01/02

Mackenzie Hale 01/03

Rick Kreiselman 01/03

Vanessa Gordon 01/04

Megan Hunt 01/04

Morgan Ray 01/04

Holly Fishback 01/05

Grace Herbstreith 01/06

Lynn Wilfong 01/06

Annette Beyea 01/07

Peter Lundquist 01/07

Grant Muir 01/07

Jennifer Reeves 01/07

Jeffrey Caudill 01/09

Nancy Moore 01/09

Jeff Artley 01/10

Jason McDonald 01/10

Jo’an Paine 01/11

Jan Howe 01/11

Steven Wilfong 01/11

Jane Rosemond 01/12

Louis F. Berini 01/14

Jill Hanson 01/14

Richard Riggsbee 01/14

Jody Slater 01/14

Audrey Turley 01/14

Candy West 01/14

Richard Moore 01/15

Joyce Pendergrass 01/15

Debbie Hunt 01/16

Stephanie Nolte 01/16

Aldersgate Experience Page 17

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January Birthdays