Jesus: Savior, Teacher, Lord, Friend

A new sermon and worship series for a new year

beginning Sunday, January 10, 9:00 and 11:00
How can we know and embrace the fullness of Jesus identity and role
in our lives? What difference does our understanding of Jesus make for
how we practice our faith?

January 10
January 17
January 24
January 31

Savior
Teacher
Lord
Friend

Come to Bethlehem

Childrens Nativity
TODAY at 4pm
Come join us as we celebrate
the humble beginnings of our Savior!

December 20, 2015

Christmas Eve Services

December 24
With Communion and candlelight at all services

5:00 pm
This early service will feature an interactive Childrens Moment,
traditional carols led by the Worship Band, and will conclude with
Candlelight and Communion. (Battery operated candles for our
youngest friends.) Childcare/nursery will be provided.
7:30 pm
This traditional service will feature carols and music performed
by the Chancel Choir and Instrumental Ensemble, closing with
Candlelight and Communion. Childcare/nursery is provided.
11:00 pm
Our third Christmas Eve service will feature musical
accompaniment by Rafael Scarfullery and Jo Pettitt, a message
by Ashley Oliver, and will be a joyous time of celebration,
closing with Candlelight and Communion.

Come to Bethlehem Childrens Nativity

TODAY at 4pm
Youre invited to Come to Bethlehem this year on Sunday,
December 20th. The annual Aldersgate Childrens Nativity will be
presented at 4pm and will be followed by a pot-luck. Our children will
once again act out the Birth Narrative of our Savior from Scripture. This
year we look forward to joining together in song and praise thanks to
the Aldersgate Chancel Choir, the Aldersgate Hand Bell Choir, the
Aldersgate Instrument Ensemble, the Aldersgate Youth Praise Band, the
Aldersgate Praise Team, Higher Voices, and the Joyful Noise Singers
along with the children from our community! This year there will be no
rehearsals for the children. All children (and their guardians) should
arrive at Aldersgate at 2:30pm to put on costumes, learn simple lines
from Scripture, and practice traditional Christmas music. Teens and
adults from Aldersgate will help guide them during the Nativity.
Our Nativity this year is especially geared towards making sure we
are inclusive to those with different abilities and special needs. We
welcome all children, roughly ages 4-11, to participate and children,
teens, adults of any age watch. To make the presentation more
enjoyable for our friends with special needs, the lights will stay at one
level and the music will not be extremely loud. Children who may
express themselves with loud sounds, spinning, flapping, or other forms
of stemming are all welcome! Children who would like to participate but
need an aid or parent to guide them, push them in a wheelchair, or
carry them are ALL welcome to participate EVERY child should have
the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus by participating in, or
watching, a Nativity at Christmastime!
Following the Nativity, EVERYONE is welcome to join us for a
Christmas Potluck Meal together! You can drop your items for the
potluck off in the fellowship hall before the Nativity. And, of course,
well
have
our
traditional Birthday Cake
for
Jesus!!
I look forward to celebrating the Birth of Jesus and all the abilities
of the children in our church and community with you! Thank you!
Rachel Miller, Director of Ministries with Young People, AUMC
(rachelmiller@cvaumc.org or 434.973.5806)

End of the Year Giving

As the end of the year approaches, some have shared that you are
planning to be out of town the last days of the year. Others may not
know about your total giving ability until you know the size of your
bonus or other financial results. Church members face these year-end
issues every year, and our church is happy to work with you to achieve
your giving goals. Here are options and timelines available to you. You
may always contact Betty Muri, Head Counter, at 434-296-6869 or
betty.muri@gmail.com to arrange your giving at this busy time of the
year.
Give at one of these remaining worship services:
-Thursday, December 24, 5:00, 7:30, or 11:00
(marked General Budget)
-Sunday, December 27, 2015, 9:00 and 11:00 am.
Mail your check to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1500 Rio East
Road, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, postmarked by December 31, 2015.
Use your banks bill pay system by December 31, 2015.
If giving stock or funds managed by a broker, ask for a transfer to be
completed by Dec. 31, 2015.
Bring your gift to the church office. Office hours the week after
Christmas are Monday, December 28 (closed), Tuesday, December 29 Friday, December 31, 2015 (9:00 am - 12:00 noon).
Thank you for making a difference in countless lives in this community
and around the world.

Poinsettias and Mission Kits

Our thanks to all who have donated poinsettias and contributed towards
Mission Kits to be taken to the Annual Conference in June of 2016.
Poinsettias may be taken home after the 11:00 pm Christmas Eve service.

"From 1st time Guest to Faithful Disciple"

Workshop for Aldersgate Members and Leaders

Dot Cage
Jennifer Olsen
Rita & Gordon Yager

Church Council is pleased to announce a free workshop for

Aldersgate members, attendees, and leaders Sunday, January
10, 4:00 7:00 pm, at Aldersgate. Led by Rev. Paul Nickerson, a
church consultant used widely by United Methodist churches in
Virginia, the workshop will look at what vital churches do
to greet first-time guests to worship, to follow up and begin
to connect them with the community of faith.

In Loving Memory Of
By
Merle Bickel
Mary Bickel
Hubert & Eleanor Cage
Dot Cage
Jerry and Ricky Carter
Eleanor Carter & Wendy Carter
Brent Olsen
Jennifer Olsen
To the glory of God and in memory of Bill Ward
Jean Ward & family
Our parents
Rita & Gordon Yager

We will also explore five key ways people grow in discipleship

and how to set up a church system that enhances faith
development for all members, guests, and others. Participants
will work on an Action Plan to implement these principles at
Aldersgate. A light dinner is included.

Poinsettias
In Honor Of
Sisters and their families
Aldersgate UMC
Our daughter

By

Mission Kits
In Honor Of
Sisters and their families
Our children and grandchildren
John, Madeleine, and Quinn
Our sons and their families

By
Dot Cage
Jimmie & Pat Daniel
Bob & Joan Forrest
Rich & Linda Sharff

In Loving Memory Of
By
Merle Bickel
Mary Bickel
Hubert & Eleanor Cage
Dot Cage
My parents
Heidi, Josh, & Sam Crockett
Our parents
Jimmie & Pat Daniel
Rob & Anne Forrest and Jack & Jean Seaver
Bob & Joan Forrest
Rev. Jack Parrish
Glory Parrish
Rev. Jack Parrish
Marcia Parrish
To the glory of God and in memory of Bill Ward
Jean Ward & family

Sign up on the Communication Card or contact

Susan Painter at smpainter@comcast.net
or John Oliver at johnoliver@comcast.net.

Christmas Cards to benefit Heart Havens Project

Theres still time! The Charlottesville District UMC has created a
Christmas card featuring the artwork of residents of Heart Havens, the
Virginia Conference network of home for individuals who are
intellectually disabled. Proceeds from the card sales will support the
districts Charlottesville Apartment Project, an effort to establish a Heart
Havens residential community within the district. Two sets of the cards
are available: $10 for a set of 12 cards and envelopes, and $18 for a set
of 25. To order, contact the Charlottesville District Office at
434.977.4254 or CharlottesvilleDistrict@vaumc.org.

AUMC Christmas Ornaments

Advent is a time to slow down and pause, in the midst of often frantic
preparations for Christmas, to focus on the unfolding story of God
choosing to enter into the world as the vulnerable baby Jesus. How did
his birth affect those around him and what was their part in both
preparing for and responding to this outpouring of Gods grace in the
world? Well ponder this and other questions as we move through the
Advent season together, focusing each Sunday on one person in the
biblical narrative whose life was changed forever by encountering the
miracle we celebrate at Christmas.

TODAY Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Shepherds: The Spirit-Empowered Life

Thursday, December 24 Christmas Eve

Jesus: the Incarnational Life

A special brass Christmas tree ornament depicting our church was

created for the 50th anniversary of the church in 2013. The cost of each
ornament is $15. Please contact Nancy Berman at 434.973.6555 or
nancy.holliday.berman@gmail.com.

Bibles for Africa

"I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive
it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." With
these stirring words of hope, the prophet Isaiah looks forward to what
we know now as the season of Advent ... expecting the second coming
of our Lord. Would you be willing this Advent season to share such
Good News by providing one or more Bibles to the 2,000 people of
Liberdale United Methodist Church in Mozambique? Their Pastor,
Rev. Joao Sambo, and our Assistant Pastor for Congregational Care, Rev.
Don MacNicoll (friends since 2004), are working together to raise funds
for 400 Bibles in the local Xitswa dialect. The Bibles cost $13 each. If you
can help, write your check to AUMC and notate it "Bibles for Africa."

Samaritan Fund
Sunday, December 27 The First Sunday After Christmas

The Wise Men: The Word-Centered Life

The Samaritan Fund offers local benevolence to Aldersgate and

community members. To donate, make your check payable to AUMC
with Samaritan Fund in the memo. Thank you for reaching out.

Altar Flowers for 2016

Busy Hands Fellowship

Busy Hands Fellowship will be on holiday break until Jan. 14 when we
will resume our weekly drop-in meetings on Thursdays from 11-2:00.
Make a New Years resolution to bring your handiwork project to the
Hospitality Room to work on while enjoying a time of fellowship. For
more information contact Kimberley Roll at 434-973-6382 or
rollwell3@gmail.com

Each week, you have the opportunity to place flowers in the sanctuary
to the glory of God, in honor of a person or occasion, or in memory of a
loved one. The new flower charts for 2016 are ready for you to start
making reservations. They are on the bulletin board in the Reed Room
with each Sundays date clearly visible. Please be sure to indicate the
wording you wish to have printed in the worship bulletin. You are
welcome to take your flowers with you following the 11:00 worship
service or you may leave them in the sanctuary to be given to someone
who is ill or homebound. Arrangements are $40 each. Make checks
payable to AUMC with Altar flowers on the memo line.