Newsletter - December 9, 2011

 Aledo United Methodist Church

an edition of 

 The United Methodist Reporter

Two Sections, Section A071050 Vol. 158 No. 32 December 9, 2011

P.O. Box 126, Oak at Pecan St., Aledo, TX 76008 | www.aledoumc.org | 817.441.8329 Fax: 817.441.1352

Songs of the Season December 18, 6:30

Christmas EveDecember 24Services at 5, 7 & 11

Christmas DaySunday, December 25Brunch 9:00One Service 10:00

Greetings to you in the name of 

Christ! I pray that everyone had

a wonderfulanksgiving, giving

God thanks for the many blessings in your

life! During the holidays, I am reminded of 

the many blessings in my life. is church

is a blessing to this community, to my 

family, and, I pray, to you and your family.

As we prepare for Christmas, we all stay 

busy—busy shopping, busy getting ready,

busy cooking, busy with parties and busy 

with life. My prayer is that during this

season, we do not stay so busy that we miss

the Christ in Christmas, but that we take

time to pause in the midst of the busy-

ness, so we may experience the beauty,

power, and miracle of this Christmas.

As we prepare for Christmas, I ask 

that you remember the church in your

giving. We always depend on strong

giving in December to meet our nancial

obligations. Giving through the end

of November 2011 has exceeded last

year’s giving through November by 

approximately $63,000. ank you for

your faithfulness!

is year, we have been more

faithful in paying our missional giving

(apportionments) to support the life

changing ministries of our church

worldwide. rough November 2010,

we had paid 53 percent ($63,600) of our

missional giving compared to 87 percent

($110,500) through this November!

In 2011, we started our Snack Sacks

ministry that is currently feeding 100

students a weekend! In 2011, we began

hosting a sliding-scale counseling

center! In 2011, we had mission trips

to Little Rock, Arkansas; New Orleans,

Louisiana; Killeen, Texas; Guatemala;

and Haiti! In 2011, we have seen

signicant growth with the number of 

our 7th–12th graders participating in

Bible study, worship, and mission trips.

I am frequently hearing comments like,

“My middle schooler constantly tells

me, ‘I can’t wait until church!’” In 2011,

we have seen signicant growth in our

Children’s and Family ministry with our

Sunday morning and Wednesday evening

ministry. Trudy started Club 45 for our

4th and 5th graders, and the response has

been overwhelming! Trudy is constantly 

worried that she will not have enough

supplies for an event because of the

overwhelming response. What a blessing!

Aledo United Methodist Church is an

exciting place to be. God is changing lives

and transforming communities through

our church!

We still need a strong December to

meet all of our nancial obligations.

rough the end of November, we have

incurred expenses of approximately 

$60,000 more than we have received in

giving. In December, we expect to have

expenses of approximately $100,000. To

meet our obligations, we need to receive

$160,000 in December giving.

If you have been a ected adversely by 

the current economic environment or are

experiencing hardship in any way, please

let us know of ways we can help. As a

church family, I urge us to keep the people

most a ected by this recession in our

thoughts and prayers.

I ask that you and your family 

prayerfully consider what your year-end

gi to the church will be. If we all join

together with this year-end o ering, the

possibilities are endless. ank you for

your faithfulness, and thank you for our

shared ministry together!

May the Lord bless you and keep you,

Rev. Jason M. Jones

Senior Pastor

What a blessing!

Youth Praise Band    Adult Praise Band   

Handbell Choir Chamber Singers Chancel Choir 

Songs of the  Season 

December 18 6:30 PM

 Aledo United

Methodist Church

Are you experiencing the holiday blues? The joy of 

Christmas can turn into a time of painful loneliness and

emptiness for those who have su ered a loss or

who are going through a dicult time. But help

is available. Our Stephen Ministers are ready

to provide condential, one-to-one, Christian

care. They will listen, care, encourage, pray with

and for you, and support you through the holidays and

as long as your need persists. If you or someone you

know is hurting, nd out more about Stephen

Ministry by talking with Rev. DeAndrea Dare

at 817.441.8329 or DeAndreaDare@aledoumc.

org. Our Stephen Ministers at Aledo United

Methodist Church are there to care!

Page 4 Aledo United Methodist Church

Our 

Church

Home

ATTENDANCE 

NOVEMBER 20, 20112011 153 229

2010 132 314

NOVEMBER 27, 20112011 129 278

2010 176 275

StaffMINISTERS

ALL THE CONGREGATION

PASTOR OF TEACHING

AND VISIONING

JASON JONES

PASTOR OF DISCIPLESHIP

AND PASTORAL CARE

DEANDREA DARE

WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES

JAYNE DAWSON

DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN

& FAMILY MINISTRIES

 TRUDY SMITH

ASSIST. DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN &

FAMILY MINISTRIES

LEANN SCOTT

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRIES

CLINT CHURCH

ASSIST. DIRECTOR OF STUDENT

MINISTRIES

LAURA GREER

INTERIM DIRECTOR OF MUSIC &

WORSHIP

EVAN FERIS

PRAISE BAND DIRECTOR

CHRIS MCLELLAN

PIANIST

KRISZTA KOVÁCS-TUBBS

OFFICE MANAGER

& BOOKKEEPER

SHARI BIRCHELL

ADMIN. ASSIST. TO THE CLERGY

KIM WATSON

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will. — Mark 11:24

Concerns: Patrick Carter, Lauren Chapman, Beverly Rector’s father Don

Co ey, Don Duckering, Marshall Bryant, Jayne Dawson’s mother Beth

Calfee, Cindy Mayeld’s mother Minta Simmans, Jan Hudler and her

mother Jo Morton, Cindy Tanner’s brother Bryan Futch, Betty Duvall,

Laura Marsden’s mother Ruth Bueno, Ross Tanner and family, Rhonda

Rhine, Natha Lee Shannon, Aaron Gomas, Marla Jones’ mother Diann

Montgomery, Charlie McLain’s brother, Randy Gideon, Yvonne Stegall,

Jennie May, Robin Brown, Shannon Reynolds’ cousin Corrie McWilliams,

James Dorrell, Beth Calfee, Steve Bale’s brother-in-law Herschel Nelson,

Andrew Karnes, Jim Britton’s dad Ellis Britton, Brandy Dietz, Laura

Abbott, Tanner Mathews, Jaci Mitchell, Kacie Brannen, Dean Thompson,

David Kent, Butch Fernstrom, Lance Holland, Jim Hanley, Kathy

Mayotte’s father, Edmond Gutierrez, Jr., Rita Burnett, Jim Olney, Roy

Pitcock, Pat Simon, Tammy Boutwell, Michael Finck, Cindy Vance, Je  

Herron, Chad & Rena Tyson Family, Linda Malloy, John Rubenkoenig,

John Hartle, Sharon McCoy’s mother Laura Mae Barnard, John Breaux,

 Tip Read, Dorothy Srba, Mary Hart’s brother John Roach, Nick Wright,

Alison Evers, Mark Strickland, Tina Stevens’ mother.

Our special members who are unable to be with us for worship:

Anna Boger, Rosemary Houser, Wynell Stevens

Our Long Term Prayer Concerns: Sara Reed’s mother Paula Duckering,

PFC Logan Tidwell, PFC Travis Dare, Kids Hope USA Children, Sheryl

Glusing, Henry Davis, Brian White’s Family, Capt. Marc R. Bradle, PFC

James Spurlock, Brian Hebert, Casey Tutt, Lucas Potter, Sgt. Aavram

Powell, Barbara Moore’s parents Edward & Helen Farcus, Mason Gomez,

Lt. 1st Class Jesse Spurlock, Bryan Thomas, USMC Cory Applewhite,

Sgt. Adam Novak, Sgt. Andrew Schneider, Pvt. 1st Class Ryan Hedblad,

Johnny Rowell, Ben Weston, Missionaries, Chase Peysen, Sgt. Joe

Washam, Beth Fischer’s Mom, All Military Personnel

If you have an emergency (life threatening il lness or death in the family) and would like to

speak to one of our pastors, please call (682)710-AUMC (2862).

e Nobel Peace Prize winnerand international icon of reconciliation shares his visionon why we can nd hopeand joy in the world’s darkestmoments—because we are madefor goodness and God smilesupon us and blesses us when welive up to this calling.

Archbishop Desmond Tutuhas witnessed some of theworld’s darkest moments, fordecades ghting the racistgovernment policy of apartheidand since then being anambassador of peace amidst

political, diplomatic, and naturaldisasters.Yet people continueto nd him one of the most joyful and hopeful people they have encountered. In “Madefor Goodness”, Tutu shares hissecret.

Written with his daughter,Mpho, Tutu begins with Jesus’parableof the prodigal son,nding in the role of the waitingfather, who forgets this dignity of what is justly his in order torun and embrace his repentantson, the best symbol forunderstanding who God is. God

has made us for goodness, andwhen we simply start walking inthe direction of this calling, Godis there to meet us, encourageus, embrace us.God has madethe world as a grand theaterfor us to work out this call togoodness; it is up to us to live upto this calling, but God is thereto help us every step of the way. So tackling our worst problemstakes on new meaning and isbolstered with hope and theexpectation that that is exactly where God will show up. Beready to be transformed.

Made for Goodness And why this makes all the di  erence

 Tuesday Morning Bible Study

January 10–March 27, 10:00-12:00

Facilitated by Rev. DeAndrea Dare

A Note of Thanks Thank you so much to the Worship Committee for their hard work and dedication behind

the scenes that allows us to worship in a beautifully decorated Sanctuary during the Adventand Christmas seasons. The Hanging of the Greens service was a fun-lled worship time that

set us o on the journey to Christmas this Advent season. A big,,“Thank You,” to Laura and

Russell Greer for organizing the Annual Chili Cook-o . And nally thank you to all of you whoparticipated and worshipped with us on Sunday evening, November 27. May your Advent

season be one lled with hope!

Sunday, December 18

Church Kitchen

8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Get your homemade

goodies, including a variety

of banana breads, pumpkin

breads, homemade quiches

and a few select casseroles

to enjoy over the holidays.

Anyone wanting to share

their baking talents can

bring their donated baked

items that Sunday morning.

 Thank you for supporting

your church kitchen needs

and my love for cooking.

Happy Holidays to All,

Lynnda Burroughs

Kitchen Sta 

Communion servers

needed for the 11:00

service. Please contact

Susie Johnson for more

information.

OPPORTUNITY TO

serve

Page 8 Aledo United Methodist Church

Church Angel Tom SilerMost of us are pretty good at complaining when the church is toohot or too cold. But did you know that your concerns do not gounheard? ey travel through the sta and Trustees to churchangel Tom Siler, who works on our heating and air conditioningsystems. He works on all the di erent building units, as well as thecomputer system that runs most of them. But the real miracle isthat he donates his t ime—more hours than he probably cares tocount! Tom and Kathy Siler call Aledo United Methodist “home”,and are willing to sacrice to keep us al l comfortable. We thank you, Tom, for being a faithful Church Angel!

CHURCH  Angels

Attention High Schoolers! Sign up for the Elevate Winter

Retreat to Sky Ranch by December 18th! Pick up a sign

up form at the church oce, ER or e-mail clintchurch@

aledoumc.org.

  e Student Ministry Christmas party is December14th at 6pm in the Chapelfor all students 7-12 grades.Bring a white elephant gi ($5maximum).

  e students are still meetingduring Advent. e Christmasparty will be our last meetingon a Wednesday or Sunday night until January.

Student Ministry holiday schedule

Advent is the time of year we prepare for Christmas and prepare to receivethe gi of the Christ child. ere is no better way to prepare than to givea meaningful gi that will have a lasting impact on people’s lives in ourcommunity. We will collect items for Snack Sacks and Cenikor duringAdvent. Please nd the marked baskets in the narthex for our donations.

Snack Sacks MinistrySnack Sacks is a ministry that provides food on the weekends to over 90students in need at McCall Elementary.

Vienna Sausage Individual Macaroni and CheesePudding Cups Individual Boxes of CerealFruit Snacks Cereal/Granola BarsPeanut Butter and Cheese Crackers (wrapped packages)

You can always support this life-changing ministry by giving a cashdonation of $10/month per child.

CenikorCenikor is a nonprot, long-term substance-abuse treatment center thatassumes total responsibility for all the residents’ needs including food,clothing, shelter, vocational training, education, and health care.

Grease Pencils DeodorantShaving Cream Bar SoapToilet Paper Double-Bladed RazorsWomen’s Personal Hygiene Items

ank you for being the hands and feet of Christ to our community, andfor taking seriously the words of our Christ: “Lord, when was it that wesaw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something todrink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, ornaked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or inprison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you,

 just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,you did it to me” (Matthew 28:37-40).

Opportunities to Give During Advent

ALEDO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Children’s Ministry NewsSandwiches with Santa December 11

Plan to bring your child to enjoy lunch and get aphoto with Santa!

Sunday school, plan to come at 11:15am!

come at noon!

Please bring a new teddy bear (unwrapped) as a gi  ! (Bears willgo to re and police personnel, to give out to children in crisissituations.)

Christmas costumes for Christmas EveCLEAN YOUR CLOSET! And help our Christmas Eve inventory!We are collecting additional costumes for our Christmas Eveservice for families, 5:00pm Christmas Eve.

Fabric and a pattern are available at the visitors’ counter for anyonewilling to sew additional (simple!) angel outts.