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Upcoming Events —
Mark Your Calendars!
TODAY, December 30, 2018 - 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM:
First Sunday After Christmas
January 4, 2019 - 6:00-7:30 PM: First Fridays
January 6, 2019 - 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM: Epiphany
January 7, 2019 - 7:30 PM: Children’s Ministry Meeting
January 13, 2019 - 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM: Baptism of the Lord
January 20, 2019 - “6 Decisions That Will Change Your Life”
Worship Series Begins
January 28, 2019 - 7:00 PM: Vacation Bible School Planning
Meeting
Welcome!
December 30, 2018
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.
First Fridays
Coming Soon
You’re invited for a special “first” Friday, family-friendly gathering,
beginning January 4 from 6:00PM to 7:30PM. Our theme for January is
“New Beginnings.” Our gathering, in the Reed Room, will include a
simple supper, hands-on devotion time, New Year activities and a take
home gift. Sign up link is at www.cvaumc.org/first-fridays. Contact
Pastor Julie for more information @julienitzsche@cvaumc.org.

For Our Youngest Friends
and Their Parents
A professionally staffed nursery is available for children birth through
age three during all services and Sunday School on the lower level. An
usher will be happy to direct you. Additionally, a Parent Room is
available in the Parlor adjacent to the Sanctuary, for viewing and
hearing all services. Please ask an usher to show you the way. All
restrooms are equipped with changing tables.
Sunday Children's Worship
During 9am and 11am Services
Calling all children! Children 3 years old through 5th grade are invited to
come and be a part of our Children's Worship time downstairs following
the Children's Message. There they will have opportunities to encounter
God through scripture, music, prayers, and other meaningful and fun
ways. Elementary-age children will return to the sanctuary and gather
with the congregation for the benediction each week. At 9:00AM Pre-
Schoolers move to their 10:10AM Sunday School room. If you have any
questions, please contact Pastor Julie Nitzsche.
Children's Sunday School
Sunday School, a time of bible discovery with friends, invites all children
to come and learn at 10:10AM Lynn Bremer leads the elementary class
(Room 106) and Sherry Bryant leads our all new Preschool/Kindergarten
class (Room 110). Classrooms are found in the Education Wing on the
ground floor level.
Training for
Stephen Ministry
AUMC has been a Stephen Ministry congregation for 15 years. Our
Stephen Ministers have been a blessing to individuals, to the lay
ministers themselves, and to the whole
congregation. To continue and expand the
ministry of care, we will begin another Stephen
ministry training class to start in early 2019. Take
advantage of this opportunity to share the love
that God has given you. You will find that being a Stephen Minister will
not only be helpful to others, but it will be one of the most fulfilling and
joyful experiences that you will ever have. If you want to know more
about this ministry, you can speak with one of our Stephen Leaders
(Billie Campbell—bcampbell@icloud.com and Chris Fuss) or Stephen
Ministers (Joan Forrest and Mary Seymour).
2019 Sanctuary
Flower Calendar
The 2019 sanctuary flower calendar is
coming soon to the Reed Room. Won’t you
consider participating in this ministry in
2019 by purchasing flowers for our weekly
worship services? It is a wonderful way to
celebrate and remember those you love, who will be listed in the
worship bulletin. The altar flower arrangement is $40 for each week,
and you can specify seasonal flowers, if available. You may take the
arrangement home after the last worship service on Sunday.
 Joyful Noise Singers
12:15PM Sunday Rehearsal
Aldersgate Church Office Hours Resumes on January 6
Children (grades 1-6) are invited to gather in the Sanctuary from 12:15-
and Pastoral Care Contact 12:30PM (by the organ after 11:00AM service) with Rafael. Sunday
Information practice resumes at 12:15PM on January 6. This will be a time for the
The Aldersgate Church office will closed from Friday, December 21 children to learn more about music and rehearse for upcoming
through Friday, January 4. It will reopen on Monday, January 7 at opportunities to sing in worship as they glorify God. Contact Rafael at
10:00AM. Excluding holidays, the office voicemail and email will be rafaelscarfullery@cvaumc.org.
checked on a daily basis from Monday through Friday. If you have a
need for emergency pastoral care, please call Mrs. Pat Daniel at (434) Important Children’s
975-1363, so she can assist you in reaching the on-call pastor. Thank
you! Ministry Meetings
There are two important children’s ministry meetings in January. On
Monday, January 7 at 7:30PM, the Children’s Ministry Committee will
meet. On January 28, at 7:00PM, the Vacation Bible School Planning
Take the 2019 Bible Challenge! group will meet. So save the dates! See Pastor Julie in you have any
Since 2017, Bishop Lewis of the UMC Virginia Conference has been questions.
encouraging us to read the Heartfelt Gratitude to
Bible in a year. In 2019, the
Bible Challenge will be a Children’s Nativity Volunteers
mixture of daily readings of We would like to thank everyone that helped to make the Children’s
the Old Testament and the Nativity a blessing for all who came. We deeply appreciate all of the
New Testament. children and youth and their parents who made such a tremendous
commitment to share God’s story in this way. We also are grateful to the
In the new year, we hope that Praise Band, Handbells, Higher Voices and all the individuals who served
Aldersgate members will behind the scenes to support this ministry event.
challenge themselves to study
the Bible and strengthen their
faith in the process. To get ROAR
started with the January readings go to: www.vaumc.org/
ncfilerrepository/Bible2019/January 2019.pdf. In addition, we will have Vacation
hand-outs on the 2019 Bible Challenge outside the sanctuary.
Bible School
Save the Date:
June 23-27, 2019

Youth Sunday School
Each Sunday — 10:10 AM – 10:50 AM
Youth Room - 105
Every Sunday, Youth Sunday School meets in the Youth Room (107)
from 10:10AM–10:50AM. This is open to all 6th - 12th graders. Contact
Ms. Rebecca, wagnerwimps@yahoo.com.
Youth Snowtubing
HOLD ON! Buy a ticket for Sunday, January 20th, when our Aldersgate
Youth Group heads to the mountains of
Wintergreen to go snow tubing!
Regular Ticketing: 1/6/2019 $ 29.00
If space is available: 1/13/2019 $29.00
We will enjoy an afternoon of Christian
fellowship, good food and of course, TUBING!
This year the District Winter Retreat for Middle and High School Youth
will be held at Westview on the James, February 22-24, 2019.
This retreat will be filled with fun, fellowship, and good food along the
way as we join in a wonderful weekend together. Still not sure if you
want to go? Ask one of youth who went on the November or December
Retreat Weekends.
Come and join us for the fun! Don’t miss out!
Pricing for 3-day retreat is coming soon.
Gifts of Stock – A Great Way to Give
to Aldersgate Church
Many of us have stock that has appreciated substantially during the past
few years. Please consider using it to make a year-end gift to Aldersgate
Church, or pay some or all of your 2019 pledge. In doing so, you’ll avoid
all brokerage charges or commissions, avoid all capital gains taxes,
generate a great tax deduction for yourself, and Aldersgate Church will
receive 100% of the market value of the stock! For more information or
help in making the gift, contact Bob Forrest, a member of the Finance
Committee, by telephone (434-974-6650) or email
(bobforrest19@gmail.com). Thank you for your financial support of the
life and ministry of Aldersgate Church.
Donor Advised Funds Can Help You
and Aldersgate Church
Because of the new tax law, many people are establishing Donor
Advised Funds to ensure they have sufficient deductions to be able to
itemize in 2018. By establishing and making a contribution to your DAF,
you can take the entire amount of the contribution in 2018, even
though the distributions from your DAF to Aldersgate Church and other
charities may not be made until 2019 or later. For more information on
how to establish a qualified DAF or for more information or help in
making the gift, contact Bob Forrest, a member of the Finance
Committee by telephone (434-974-6650) or email
(bobforrest19@gmail.com). Your financial support of the life and
ministry of Aldersgate Church empowers ministry and makes disciples at
Aldersgate Church.
2019 Offering Envelopes
Available now
Offering envelopes for 2019, which assist the tellers to more accurately
count and credit the weekly offering, are available beginning today,
Sunday, December 23 before and after worship. Each box of offering
envelopes is clearly labeled with a giving number and the giver's name
will be printed on a label on the outside. Your giving number in 2019 is
the same as your giving number in 2018. Thank you for your financial
support of the life and ministry of Aldersgate Church!
 2019 Worship Series:
6 Decisions That Will Change
Your Life Youth Calendar
The worship series, 6 Decisions That Will Change Your Life, begins at
Aldersgate Church on Sunday, January 20 at both the 9:00AM Update
contemporary and 11:00AM traditional services. This worship series is
based upon a study of the same December 30, 2018
name, by the Rev. Tom Berlin, a
No Youth Group Tonight
United Methodist pastor in the
Virginia Conference. Our series will Families are Invited to 5th
examine key grace-empowered Sunday District Event at Ivy UMC
decisions by disciples of Jesus Christ, January 6, 2019 Youth Group Tonight – Happy New Year!
who are seeking to grow deeper in High School Youth Group 5:00 PM
the love of God and neighbor. Youth Dinner for High School and Middle School 6:15 PM
Scripture tells us that humanity, male and female, is made “in the image Middle School Youth Group 6:45 PM
of God” (Genesis 1:27 NRSV). Part of this understanding is human January 13, 2019
beings have been gifted with a creative freedom, including the ability to
Youth Group Tonight
make choices.
High School Youth Group 5:00 PM
Each and every day we make countless decisions. We choose and choose Youth Dinner for High School and Middle School 6:15 PM
and choose some more, but not all of our daily decisions are equally
Middle School Youth Group 6:45 PM
important and not all of our
decisions draw us deeper in living January 20, 2019
out Jesus’ commandment to "you Youth Group Snow Tubing @Wintergreen Resort
shall love the Lord your God with January 27, 2019
all your heart, and with all your Youth Group Tonight
soul, and with all your strength, High School Youth Group 5:00 PM
and with all your mind; and your Youth Dinner for High School and Middle School 6:15 PM
neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27 Middle School Youth Group 6:45 PM
NRSV). During the six weeks of 6
February 3, 2019
Decisions That Will Change Your
Life, you are encouraged to make
Souper Bowl of Caring
attending Sunday worship at
Aldersgate Church a priority, to study and meditate upon Scripture, and
to find at least some time apart daily to pray.

Aldersgate Church seeks Director for the
Aldersgate Youth Praise Band
The Aldersgate Youth Praise Band ministry is seeking an adult Christian
to support and direct youth volunteers in expressing a contagious love
of Jesus through music and worship. The director
will assist the band in rehearsals and in
preparations for leading worship at Aldersgate
Church. The Youth Praise Band leads music during
worship periodically throughout the year. If you
would like to explore this volunteer opportunity,
please contact info@cvaumc.org or Pastor Rob Robertson at 973-5806.
Ushers Needed
A great service opportunity at Aldersgate Church is being an usher. We
need ushers for every week of the month for the 11:00AM service time
except the 3rd week of each month. If you are interested in exploring
this opportunity to serve periodically on Sunday morning, please contact
Bob Miller at bmiller@pvcc.edu. or Pastor Rob at
robrobertson@cvaumc.org.
Pews in the Sanctuary
The pews in the sanctuary are neat and tidy because of dedicated
volunteers. Would you consider giving two hours each month at your
convenience to help stock the pews? Join the team by giving Kathleen
Vogel a call at 845-896-9813 or email to kathleen.
morse.vogel@gmail.com
“Caring for One Another”
Our Prayer Ministry
Aldersgate United Methodist Church believes deeply in the power of
prayer. For that reason, the email prayer ministry, “Caring for One
Another,” was formed a few years ago. We send out email requests that
are submitted daily and ask that you include these people in your
prayers. If you would like to be included in this ministry, please email
Jeanne Hamlin at jeaham@comcast.net or call her at 434-973-9889. We
always welcome more participants. If you have a prayer request that
you would like included, please send that to her also.
Volunteers for Sunday Night
Youth Dinner
Each Sunday night, the Middle School and High School youth join for a
time of fellowship over a meal from 6:15PM-6:45PM. Youth Group is
seeking adult volunteers, Sunday School Classes or other adult small
groups in the church who would be willing to volunteer to assist with
our Sunday Night Youth Group Dinner on January 13, February 10 and
February 17. We would ask that the night you volunteer, you would help
prepare or pick up our meal, set up food for buffet style serving, and
help us with cleaning up. Please see the available dates in the Reed
Room (meal stipend monies are available to support this ministry). For
more information, contact Carolyn Robertson, Youth Coordinator.
Children's Ministry is growing!!
Help is needed to fulfill our calling in the lives of our children. Adult
“helpers” are needed during the 9:00AM Children's Worship time and
during the 10:00AM Children's Sunday School time, usually just once a
month. Please contact Pastor Julie Nitzsche julienitzsche@cvaumc.org
to get more information.