JANUARY 2020
The Warm Heart THE NEWSLETTER OF ALDERSGATE UNITED METHODIST
Aldersgate Church is a caring and affirming Christ-centered fellowship, lay-led and community focused.
FROM THE DESK OF PASTOR CARRIE.... Happy New Year Church! I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. Josh, Cyprus, River, and I all en-joyed our holiday together and were especially blessed to worship at Aldersgate for our first Christmas Eve together as a family. It has been a busy holiday but certainly a special one and I find myself feeling very grateful for a church that has surrounded us with such a loving welcome over the past six months. As we move into January and February, we will start a new worship series called Spiritual Affective Dis-order. We know that winter can be a time that many cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder when the lack of sunlight affects our moods and ability to cope effectively. But Spiritual Affective Disorder can also be a factor as we lead lives that are too crowded, busy, overcommitted, sometimes disturbing and uncertain. The entire series is based around Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” Each week we will explore everyday life activities that can be-come spiritual practices--deepening our experience of a meaningful life. We are also encouraging the congregation to engage in a little bit of Spiritual Practice Homework each week. These practices will be printed in your bulletin. Weekly Themes and scripture: January 5: Flip the Switch (Isaiah 60:1-6) January 12: Soothe a Savage (Psalm 40:1-11) January 19: Lighten Up! (Isaiah 9:1-4) January 26: Make My Day (Micah 6:1-8) February 2: Altars, Altars Everywhere (Psalm 84 and 112) February 9: Walk This Way (Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Psalm 119:1-8) February 16: Leave Room for Dessert (Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18) February 23: Get Up and Don't Be Afraid (Matthew 17:1-9) Pastor Randy and I are also excited to share that Brandon Garlock will be doing a practicum with us at Aldersgate for his final semester at Gardner-Webb for the spring semester of 2020. Brandon will gradu-ate in August with his Bachelors Degree in Discipleship Ministry. He plans to attend divinity school next. Brandon will be serving with us in a variety of ways at Aldersgate but will be focusing on preach-ing and learning how to effectively communicate God's word, while also learning how to serve in wor-ship and lead people to have a deeper relationship with Christ. I pray for a beautiful new year for all of you. In Christ, Pastor Carrie
Volume 20, Issue 1
FINANCES
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RECORD OF OUR FAITHFULNESS AND STEWARDSHIP
CONTRIBUTIONS for the Month of November
BY OUR GIFTS AS OF: Monthly YTD
40,323.26 530,202.85
Budget 53,647.88 590,126.68
Over (Under) Budget -13,324.62 -59,923.83
Bldg. Fund Balance: 88,596.33
Bldg. Receipts: 3,997.36 Disbursements 11,728.57 Bldg. Loan Balance: 440,350.99
BY OUR PRESENCE 11/03 11/10 11/17 11/24
Sunday School 95 136 118 120
8:30 A.M. Worship 108 98 97 100
11:00 A.M. Worship 122 110 85 112
Offering 13, 718 10,541 9,313 6,235
Upcoming Lecture Series
From 13 to 30: Jesus' Missing Years: Dr. Joseph Webb, professor at Gardner-Webb University, is offering a lec-ture series on Jesus' life from the time he was a teenager until he bursts on the scene with his public ministry. January 12, 19, 26 & February 9, 16, 23. 4:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Classroom.
January and February Sermon Series: Spiritual Affective Disorder
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. - Isaiah 60 Winter can be a time of Seasonal Affective Disorder when the lack of sunlight affects our moods and ability to cope ef-fectively. But Spiritual Affective Disorder can also be a factor as we lead lives that are too crowded, busy, overcommit-ted, sometimes disturbing and uncertain. At the turn of this new year, we will explore everyday life activities that can become spiritual practices–deepening our experience of a meaningful life and make us more “light-hearted.”
Weekly Themes:
January 5: Flip the Switch
January 12: Soothe a Savage
January 19: Lighten Up!
January 26: Make My Day
February 2: Altars, Altars Everywhere
February 9: Walk This Way
February 16: Leave Room for Dessert
February 23: Get Up and Don't Be Afraid
Spiritual Practice Homework: This week, pick an everyday activity, something that is part of your regular rou-tine, to become a prayer moment. Perhaps it's your regular cup of coffee, washing dishes, or your drive to work. A simple prayer suggestion: "Lord of Light, shine on me."
Calendar of Events
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Sunday Worship Schedule Unless Noted Otherwise:
8:30 A.M. Informal Worship - Sanctuary
9:45 A.M. Sunday School for all ages
11:00 A.M. Traditional Worship - Sanctuary
Wednesday Service
5:30 P.M. Communion & Healing-Sanctuary
*Youth takes place 4:15 P.M. on Sundays unless
otherwise noted*
Mondays
5:30P Homework Club - Small Dining Room/Library at 6P
Tuesdays
6:00P Men’s Basketball
Wednesdays
10:00A Playschool Chapel Time
5:45P Cherub & Junior Choir & Bible Study (not meeting until mid-January)
Saturdays 8:30A Tai Chi—Hunter Class IMPORTANT DATES:
January 11 - United Methodist Men’s Country Breakfast - 7:00A - 9:30A Epworth
January 12 - From 13 to 30, Jesus’ Missing Years Series starts. 4:00P in the Fellowship Classroom
January 15 - Family Fellowship Meal - 6:00P in Epworth Cost: Adults $5 ~ Children under 12 yrs of age $2
January 26 - Men’s Cake Bake Contest; judging at 5:00P in Epworth
Aldersgate Evangelism Committee is asking that each member of the congregation join them in saying this daily prayer for the month of January.
Ruler of All,
Mighty and beautiful are Your works.
They are new each day.
Renew us with Your forgiveness.
And knowing Your grace is for all, help us not to judge others.
In the name of the one who saves, Jesus we pray.
The Warm Heart
DEADLINE REMINDERS
Mark your calendars; the deadline for the February
“Warm Heart” will be Wednesday, January 22.
Please submit anything you would like to include via
email to Linda. Slots for Warm Heart are first come,
first served and space permitting! Be sure to submit
on time as the newsletter fills up quickly!
Weekly Email Blast Deadlines are Mondays no later than 9:00 a.m. An email blast will not be sent the week the Warm Heart Newsletter goes out to eliminate duplication. Sunday Bulletin Announcement/Insert Dead-lines are Wednesdays by Noon.
PLAYSCHOOL
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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
The Warm Heart
Children’s Ministry had a wonderful December full of activities for all. We want
to say thank you to everyone that helped and/or came to the Christmas Play and
One Starry Night. We love having your support.
We will begin Wednesday night activities in late January to begin preparation for
Childrens’ Sunday. We would love to have your child/grandchildren/neighbors
join us from 5:45-6:45p.m. each Wednesday. - Lindsay
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YOUTH MINISTRY
The Warm Heart
The Youth enjoyed helping the congregation prepare for Christmas. We decorated some trees, sang with the choir, and provided the manger scene for The Starry Night. We also had a Christmas dinner together and played dirty Santa.
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Dear Aldersgate members,
Thanks to you, the 17th Annual Graham Area Christmas Store was a success. Because of
your generosity, 288 children in 86 families received God’s agape love in the form of Christmas
gifts. More importantly, each one was treated in a loving and respectful manner.
Those of us working in the store are able to see the parents’ faces when they see the gifts that
were purchased for their children. Some parents cry. We hear their stories of birth and death.
We hear the statements like, “When I’m back on my feet I’m going to help support this minis-
try.” Some parents hug us as they are leaving.
This wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and work by members of Aldersgate. Thank
you to those who shopped for a child, donated money or toys, helped with setting up the store,
filled candy bags, worked at the store, and helped with packing up at the end. We are fortunate
to be part of such a caring church family. Thank you again!
Love in Christ,
Jeanne, Kathy and Tammy
From the Salvation Army
Dear Aldersgate Friends,
Thank you sincerely for the donations to The Salvation Army given through your annual Alter-
native Gift Market. We are truly grateful for the $210 (from several donors we can’t thank
personally) to help this community ministry.
Lord Bless, Sgts. Les & Mary Ashly December 19, 2019 The Aldersgate UMC Staff would like to take a moment to thank you for your generous Christmas gifts, cards, food, and bonuses. What an incredible blessing it was for each of us! Thank you for encouraging us and joining us on this journey as we minister in Christ together! We love you and are proud to serve with you!
Happy New Year!
Thank you for all of your Love & Support
The Warm Heart
THANK YOU
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MEN’S CAKE BAKE CONTEST
Sunday, January 26, 2020 RULES: Scratch cakes only, no box mixes or bought cakes
No Women in the Kitchen
Contestants will need to bring their cakes by 4:30 p.m. to the Epworth Building. Judg-ing will begin around 5:00 p.m. and the event will begin at 6:00 p.m. Cake, ice cream and chips will be served. There is no fee to enter the contest and the event is free to the public. $$ Prizes will be awarded!
To register, email [email protected] by January 23.
United Methodist Men’s Country Breakfast January 11 - 7:00 - 9:30 a.m. Cost is $7 Come on out and enjoy great food and fellowship! Bring a friend!
Family Fellowship Meal - January 15 – Mark your calendar! The meal will
be a delicious pork tenderloin with entertainment by our own Back Row Boyz! Please complete the blue slip in the pews for reservations or email [email protected] by Monday, January 13th.
Alex Anderson Anna Jim Barnett Renee Bumbaugh Sandy Carpenter Iris Dozier (Cassie & Jeff) Marilyn Dycus Danny Edwards Don Ellison Lynda Pruitt Erwin Ellen Champion Hendrick Family of Anne Elliott Honeycutt Patti Hoyle Ellie Hutchinson Lillie Hutchinson Lisa Iler
Chris Lee Mandy McCaw
Linda Jackson
In Our Thoughts and Prayers
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Rev. Bob Laidlaw Chris Lee Gary Lewis Marie Lewis James Lovelace Amy & Travis Mangum Jenny Melton Mason Morley Hayward Morrison Mary Jane Puckett Carolyn Ross Rob Seybold Vicki Spencer Ann Stark Cory Stevenson Roy Swofford Rick Wright The Family of Jessica Ivey and Mr. J.D. Baldree
Carol Phillips and Lisa Hauser in Memory of Helen McKee
Anne Bayliss in Memory of Robert & Emily Bayliss
Will & Tina Rucker in Memory of Catherine Porter
Phil Rucker in Memory of Catherine Porter
Did You Know…...
The narthex Chrismon Tree is placed there to the Glory of God and in memory of Bessie Smith and Ron & Jerry Gantt by Linda Eskridge Roberts.
The church bells are in memory of:
Thomas White Cothran – 1902-1981
Samuel Panel Goforth – 1921-1978
Virginia Rollins Kirby – 1944-1985
The funeral table cover is in memory of Dr. Joe Minus.
A palle covering is in honor of Rev. Robert Laidlaw.
The Communion covered table is in memory of Dot Peeler.
Memorials & Honorariums
Aaron Allen
Charles Barefoot
Brandon Edwards
Troy Goss
Justus Henkel
Julia Jablonski
Max Blankenship
1st Tom Mauney Jan Neisler James Nelson 2nd Zach Walker Matt Smart 3rd Martha Winn 5th Mike Vaughn 7th Will Blankenship Sydney Brown Gina Crow 8th David Alexander Emily Arey Elsa Edwards Stephanie Seybold 10th Randy Allen C.J. Blanton 11th Donna Trimble
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Colby Kiser Sadie Lovelace John Lewis Rom Meares
Zephaniah Meares Scott Richard Rebecca Witter
Will Blankenship
12th Mike Stark
13th Cory Stevenson
14th Barbara Irons
15th Tiffany Cantrell Joanne Cox
17th Meredith Burton
18th Lou Anne Davis Phillip McMurry
19th James Davis
20th Joan Hanna John Crow
22nd Cameron Finch Abby Garlock Wanda McMurry Matt McNeary Crystal Robinson Martha Hester
Those Serving Our Country
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS!
**SPECIAL NOTE: If your
birthday is not included and you
would like to be added to the
list, or if you see an error, please
contact the church office by
email or phone.**
23rd Judy Eslinger Sophia Hutchens 25th Maggie Hutchinson 26th Steve Morris 28th Marta Jones 29th Jamey Davis Phil Champion 30th Jennifer Laughlin Cabiness Kali Shuford Jim Woodard Linda Elliott-Rudasill 31st Martha Kelly
The Warm Heart
The Newsletter
of Aldersgate
1207 West Dixon Boulevard
Shelby, NC 28152
704.487.8491
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CHURCH LEADERSHIP, OFFICE STAFF AND OFFICE HOURS
Church Office Hours
Monday-Thursday: 8:00AM-4:00PM
Rev. Randy Blanton Rev. Carrie Carpenter
Senior Pastor Associate Pastor
Anne Goss Tommy Greene
Music director Organist
Lindsay Carter Lou Anne Davis
Director of Children’s Ministry Youth Ministry Director
Burney Drake Terrie Toms
Matt McNeary Playschool Director
Building Superintendents
Linda McGrath
Secretary
Amelia Bumgarner
Bookkeeper
Melissa Medlin
Sexton