WELCOME to ALDERSGATE We’re delighted to have you with us today! Our desire is that you sense the love of Jesus during your time here and that you discover how much God values you. If we can serve you in any way, please feel free to call on us. Our Identity/Vision We exist to: “Reach with the Heart of God for the Lives of our community!” Our Mission/Purpose Gathered to Grow - Scattered to Sow: “To reach and grow disciples in Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!” WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ALDERSGATE Pastoral Love Offering For Christians, the Christmas season is a celebration of Jesus' birthday; however, we honor that spirit in our giving to others in the tradition established by the wise men that first Christmas. We are thankful for the gifts of time, care and ministry Pastors Jan Hughes and Scott Miller have offered to us since their appointments in July. As such, we would like to offer them monetary gifts symbolizing our appreciation of their service to us. If you would like to contribute to our 2018 Pastoral love offering, please provide your contributions to the church office or in the offering plate by December 23rd. Please make checks payable to Aldersgate UMC and denote these funds for the "Pastoral Love Offering." We will make a presentation during Sunday service on December 30th. If you have any questions, feel free to contact SPRC Chairperson, Jennifer Starner at [email protected]. Cookie Walk TODAY Please stop by the FLC TODAY to check out the delicious array of Christmas cookies, candy, fudge and other confectionery treats. Gluten-free and sugar-free items are available and cookies with nuts will be labeled for those with food allergies. All cookies and other items will be sold by the pound. You may give them as gifts or eat them on the way home! Cookie tins also will be available to make gift giving easier. All proceeds will help reduce costs of Revolution youth events. New Adult Sunday School Class Are you looking for a group of parents to discuss all things family? We have started a new Sunday school class just for parents. We will focus on topics like parenting, marriage, family, and anything else that come up. For the month of December, we will be working though the Faithful series, the study of Joseph. Drop your children off in Sunday School and join us in room 203 for friendship and fellowship and discussion of God’s word. Mission Central Needs—Updated The following items are currently needed at Mission Central. Donations can be placed in the bins in the hallway across from the nursery. *All items must be new* 2 Gallon Ziploc-type bags Chapstick Personal Sized Hygiene Items Band-Aids (3/4" x 3") Men’s and Women’s Socks Blankets—Large and Small Men’s and Women’s Gloves Dogs for God This ministry consists of a group of caring individuals called to spread the joy, happiness and the name of Christ using the assistance of their bonded relationships with their dogs to reach the elderly, homebound, hospitalized, etc. The next dates for those serving in this ministry are: Wednesday, December 12 at 6:30 pm - The Bridges Sunday, December 16 at 6:00 pm - The Living Nativity Monday, December 17 at 7:00 pm – The Children's Home Tuesday, December 18 at 6:30 pm - The Jewish Home For more information or if you would like to become involved, contact Pam Caserta at [email protected]. New Hope Work Night - December 11, 7-9 pm A work night at New Hope is scheduled for Tuesday, December 11, from 7 to 9 pm. We will be sorting and packing food. This is a great outreach opportunity and a great activity for families. Email Pam Caserta at [email protected] if you can attend. New to Aldersgate. . . Please fill out a Connect Card and return it via the offering plate or at our Welcome Center. Stop at our Welcome Center for a gift and some information on Aldersgate Church. Join us for a time of refreshment and fellowship in our Family Life Center following the 8 am and 9:30 am services. We are glad you are with us today to worship! Making a Connection. . . Please use the Connect Card to provide or change your contact information and/or to request information about any aspect of church life at Aldersgate. Just drop it in the offering plate, leave it at the Welcome Center, or bring it to the church office. Commitment Cards If you have not had the opportunity to turn in your commitment card, please drop it in the offering plate at your earliest convenience. Ushers Needed The 11 am worship service has openings for smiling faces to serve as greeters and ushers. Please let one of the pastors or Norm Runk know if you are able to serve God in this way. We will be glad to give you the details. Will you be an Aldersgate Angel to Someone this Christmas? It's time to continue sharing God’s love to our neighbors by helping agencies and individuals during this blessed time of year. We can all make a difference by selecting a tag off one of the three Angel Trees located outside the Sanctuary and FLC. The trees are loaded with wishes from Silence of Mary Home, Shalom House, Daystar Recovery, Bridge of Hope, Allison Hill, Community Cares in Carlisle, Bethesda Mission Women’s Shelter, Sergei and Family (Translator from Krichev Church) Once you select your tag, fill out your name and phone number and place it in the decorated box near the tree. This will help us keep track of the gifts. All gifts must be returned no later than this Wednesday, December 12. Please place gifts in a gift bag - do not wrap! Gift cards should be put in the envelope attached and returned to the Angel Tree Box. Our church family has always been so generous with “Reaching with the Heart of God for the Lives of Our Community.” Let us make the Angel Tree no exception. If you have questions, contact Christina Keffer ([email protected]), 717-329-1614. Let me know if you are interested in helping with sorting the gifts when they come in. Thank you. There is a Solution Group (AA) Aldersgate hosts Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) meetings Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm in room 206/208. AA is a fellowship of men and women who share with each other so they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. If you would like additional information, call Carol Diffenbaugh, Director of Health & Nurture Ministries at, 717-737-7923 ext. 104 or email her at [email protected]. Bethesda Mobile Mission - December 21, 2018 As part of the Bethesda Mission, the Mobile Mission is an outreach program that goes into the heart of Harrisburg from 9:00 pm – 12:00 am to meet the needs of the homeless by bringing food, clothing and necessities and share the love of Christ. The next Mobile Mission is Friday, December 21. Participants meet at the church parking lot at 8:15 pm to carpool. If you have any questions or would like to sign up, please contact Shari Swope at (717) 766-7711. Birth - 23 months: Infant Nursery 2 Year Olds: Toddler Nursery 2.5 - 4 Year Olds: Room 102 4 Year Old/Pre-K: Room 104 MS/HS Youth: Youth Room Kindergarten: Room 207 First Grade: Room 210 Second/Third Grade: Room 201 4th/5th Grade: Rooms 206/208 Adults: Rooms 101 & 203 REVOLUTION YOUTH! Revolution Youth Tonight Youth will meet tonight 12/9. Bring your favorite game and a friend for Game Night! Revolution Christmas Party - Sat 12/15 Revolution Christmas Party is SATURDAY 12/15 from 6-9. Meal night, worship, gingerbread houses, photo booth, and more! Option to bring an unwrapped 'teen' gift for Ronald McDonald House. Suggested gifts of games, fuzzy socks, head phones, nail polish, paint by number, Amazon or Google Play gift card (please no coloring books). Friends always welcome! New Youth Bible Study starting soon Are you interested in going deeper, learning more, studying the written word of God? A youth bible study is starting soon. Please contact Jamie or Wendy if you are interested. Sign-up for Youth Reminders You can now sign-up for text alerts to stay up to date on Youth activities and events! From your phone, send this message @youthald to this number 81010. Follow us on Facebook by searching for: Youth @ Aldersgate Mechanicsburg Follow us on Instagram by searching for: @youth.director SUNDAY SCHOOL PLUG IN AT ALDERSGATE Adult Sunday School on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am Room 101 - Facilitator: Hans Dovenspike, [email protected] Room 203 - Young Parents - Facilitators: Heather Dreese & Kristin Hoover What’s Up Wednesdays 5:30 pm Free meal 6:30 pm Bible studies and activities for all ages DivorceCare and GriefShare Meets weekly. To register or for more information contact Carol Diffenbaugh at 717-737-7923 ext. 104 or [email protected]. Women’s Bible Studies 1st & 3rd Mondays at 7:30 pm in the Resource Room -Tricia Dovenspike, [email protected] Tuesday Mornings at 9:15 am in Room 210 - Tricia Dovenspike, [email protected] Friday Mornings at 7:30 am in Room 202 - Sheri Dohner and Kathleen Blazey, [email protected] or [email protected] Men’s Bible Studies - contact Todd Cressler at [email protected] Mondays at 4:00 pm in Rm 203 Thursdays at 6:30 pm in Rm 203 Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in Rm 203 Fridays at 9:00 am in Rm 203 Thursdays at 7:15 am in the Youth Rm Saturdays at 7:30 am in the Youth Rm Want to Serve? Not sure where you fit in? Fill out the Contact Card in the bulletin and note what you are interested in or just say “not sure” and we will contact you to explore where you might fit in. Suggestions: HOSPITALITY CHOIR USHERING YOUTH MINISTRY CHILDREN’S MINISTRY DOGS FOR GOD FOOD PREPARATION KNITTING/CROCHETING OTHER Behold A Savior! Please come join us today at 3 pm for our offering of the Christmas Cantata, Behold a Savior! We pray you will take advantage of this opportunity to invite friends and family to this special and meaningful time of worship. December Worship Calendar December 2nd: Advent Begins! December 9th: Behold A Savior! Musical 3 pm December 16 th : Outdoor Nativity 6 pm December 24 th : Christmas Eve Worship (see below) 5:30, 7:30, and 11:00 pm December 30th: One Combined Worship Service 10 am (no Sunday School) Christmas Eve Schedule, Monday, December 24 5:30 - Children’s Musical “A Journey Through Christmas Celebrations Past…A Story of God’s Love for All People” with Candle Lighting 7:30 - Christmas Eve Worship with Candle Lighting Music provided by the Aldersgate Choir and Praise Team 11:00 - Christmas Eve Worship with Candle Lighting and Communion