Author: Owner

The Gate Post

June 2012

Our Mission: To Create Contagious Christian Community
That values children and helps them grow in the light of Love.
That meets people in the midst of crisis and walks alongside to find solace and solution.
That builds deep and caring relationships and fosters a sense of the joy of belonging.
That gathers together in worship in forms/expressions that are dynamic, meaningful and open to all.

Daniel was way more than the guy who survived a den of hungry lions! Travel back to Babylon and join Daniel--torn from his home and forced into the king's service. Imagine the pressure of learning a new language and culture…and the shock of discovering your best friends have been tossed into a fiery furnace. Explore exotic sights and smells in a Babylonian bazaar! Kids and adults will find that they're not much different from Daniel and his friends, who kept their faith in a faithless culture.
Babylon VBS Registration Information
We are currently registering children ages 3 (potty trained) – 5th grade on Sunday mornings at the Children's Check-In desk, by the gym, and during the week at the Children's Ministries office or online. Friends are always welcome!
Online registration may be found on the Children’s page at www.aldersgatecommunity.com or at www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/hl/AldersgateUMC
Youth and Adult Volunteers are needed to make our Vacation Bible School a success! Volunteers are needed for: Marketplace Craft Shops, on the Palace Playground, drama team of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and as small group tribe leaders. Click on the online registration link on the Aldersgate website to see how you can help or talk to Joan or John Schell. Don’t wait call us today.
Questions? Contact Joan Schell, Director of Children’s Ministries at 432-1524 / kidsmagnet@yahoo.com
or John Schell, Co-Director of VBS at johnschell40@yahoo.com

The Aldersgate Community~2417 Getz Road, Ft. Wayne, IN 46804~260-432-1524~www.aldersgatecommunity.com

Vacation Bible School ~ June 17-21st 6:00-8:00pm

A Holy Land Adventure to Babylon

June Weekly Reading Through the Bible

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	Gospels	Law	History	Psalms	Poetry	Prophecy	Epistles
June 3	Luke 9-10	Exodus 37-40	l Kings 5-9	Psalms 66-68	Proverbs 2-3	Lamentations	Galatians 4-6
June 10	Luke 11-12	Leviticus 1-3	I Kings 10-13	Psalms 69-71	Proverbs 4	Ezekiel 1-6	Ephesians 1-3
June 17	Luke 13-14	Leviticus 4-6	I Kings 14-18	Psalms 72-74	Proverbs 5-6	Ezekiel 7-12	Ephesians 4-6
June 24	Luke 15-16	Leviticus 7-9	I Kings 19-22	Psalms 75-77	Proverbs 7	Ezekiel 13-18	Philippians 1-2
Aug. 5	Luke 17-18	Leviticus 10-12	II Kings 1-5	Psalms 78-80	Proverbs 8-9	Ezekiel 19-24	Philippians 3-4

June-July-August SERMON SERIES
Meet the Bible
(Little Known - less read - treasures from the Bible)
&
Ask the Pastor
(Your Questions Answered)

Aldersgate Financial Update

In an effort to keep Aldersgate Members more informed about the ongoing status of our Church’s finances the Finance Committee is providing the following information in summary form. Please note that our Church’s revenue and expenses fluctuate throughout the year; and, each Member’s commitment to honoring a pledge is vital to the financial stability of our Church. Thank you for your commitment and participation in giving.

	April, 2012	April, 2011
Need per month	$68,917.00	$68,306.00
Received	$78,655.59	$71,124.37
Need YTD	$275,668.00	$273,224.00
Received YTD	$281,330.00	$269,987.22
Expense YTD	$274,533.00	$268,701.55
The total operating budget for 2012 is $827,000.00, which is an average monthly need of $68,917.

Senior Adults
Tuesday, June 19, 2012- JOLLY GATERS will meet at noon in the Church Lounge. There will be a Carry-In Luncheon and Program. Judy Melton will be telling us about the new, exciting Aldersgate
Academy. Exciting and new things are happening in our Senior Adult Program.
Parish Visitor
As of May 13th, I became your Parish Visitor. It is my responsibility to be in contact with all those
who are sick, may be homebound, in hospitals and nursing homes. Please keep me informed about
those needing visits and communion. It is my goal to keep all connected to their church by sending the
bulletin and a personal letter each week. I am excited about beginning this new position here at Aldersgate.
You may contact me, Ellen Rhoades, at 432-1524. I will be in the office on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Music, Worship & Arts Ministries
Thank you to the many Music and Arts Ministries Participants, (adults, teens and children) for another choir season of wonderful offerings of dedication and talent to God through your work here at Aldersgate. You have blessed so many people again and again. We appreciate and love each and every one of you! Marlane and Deidra
We look forward to the lovely musical offerings throughout the month of June in our Worship services:
June 3 Renaissance Praise & Teen Praise singing "My Own Little World". Festive Praise (Teen Handbells) ringing "My Tribute".
June 10 Music will be provided by Drew Low and Family.
June 17 Chancel Chorale singing "O Happy Day".
June 24 Ginny Johnson, soloist "And the Father Will Dance". Ginny Johnson & Mary Michalak, Duet "Alleluia". Marcella Trentacosti, a member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic will be our guest violinist.
A special Senior Voice Recital will be presented by two of our 2012 graduates, Miss Dana Hart and Mr. Derek Gulley, on Tuesday, June 5--7:00 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church, 501 W. Berry St., Ft. Wayne. They will be accompanied on piano by their Vocal Instructor, Mr. Robert Nance. We hope to have "Many" Aldersgaters in the audience that evening to hear these incredibly talented young people. Dana will be leaving in August for DePauw Univ. where she will major in Voice. Derek will be studying vocal music at Otterbein Univ. in Columbus, OH where his focus is to become a Music Educator.

United Methodist Women
Thank you to everyone who contributed, volunteered, and purchased items at our spring rummage
sale. Our proceeds from the sale were $5244.00 which will be given to various missions.
Martha Circle - June 4 @ 6:00 p.m. Dinner at China Palace, Waynedale, Call Linda Sackman @ 403-2462 Mary Circle - June 12 @ noon. "Making Surgical Dolls", Call Ruthann Keisler @ 485-5175 Rachel Circle - No meeting (Hostesses for UMW Picnic), Call Melinda Fast @ 625-5315 Ruth Circle - Meetings will resume in Sept., Call Lynette Jehl @ 616-0164 TUESDAY, JUNE 5 - UMW Potluck Picnic @ 6:00 p.m. in the Lounge. ALL LADIES ARE INVITED!!! Join us for a fun evening! Call Melinda @ 625-5315 for details.

Outreach Community Offerings
AA- Every Monday @ 7:30p.m. in room 124
ALANON- Every Tuesday @ 7:30p.m. in room 131
ALATEEN- Every Tuesday @ 7:30p.m. in room 202
12 Step- Every Tuesday @ 7:30p.m. in room 124
Big Book- Every Thursday @ 6:30p.m.
Super Shots- the first Thursday of each month from 4p.m.-7p.m.
Weight Watchers- Every Wednesday from 6:30p.m.-8:00p.m. and Friday from 9:30a.m.-11:00a.m., Down Under
Me-N-U Community Meals- Every Thursday from 6p.m.-7p.m. in the gym
CUB SCOUT PACK 3349 meets Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Down Under. It serves boys in grades 1 to 5. Contact Jim and Mindy Flesher- email jimandmin@comcast,net
BOY SCOUT TROOP 349 meets Mondays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Down Under. It serves boys 11 to 18. Contact Dean Wilkening email dwilkening@reawire.com

Bear Creek Mission
The Annual Bear Creek Offering is scheduled as the Second Offering on Sunday, June 9. It will help provide the materials needed for the two mission projects in Bear Creek and Eagle Butte, SD. Twelve Aldersgate missioners will participate in these projects from July 19-29. They will be painting home exteriors and replacing a bathtub with a walk-in shower unit. We also will have our tipi tags available marking additional needs for the trip such as van rental, gas, food and lodging. Thank you ahead of time for your generous support of our Aldersgate Bear Creek Native American Mission!

Youth Ministry
Summer Pizza Hut: Our first Pizza Hut lunch will be June 18th from 12-1. All incoming 6th graders through graduating seniors and their families are invited to join us!
June 3rd- Paintball Outing: Meet at 12:15p.m. in the Connection. We will travel to Chipotle for lunch and then to Paintball Plex for 2 hours of paintball and return to church at 4:30p.m. Cost is $25. Permission form is required and can be found on the church website.
June 10-16- Red Bird Mission Trip: Pray for the 20+ youth and adults who will be travelling to Kentucky for this service mission.
June 17-21- Vacation Bible Camp: all youth are encouraged to volunteer as tribe leaders for the children who will attend Babylon.
June 24-28- That Thing: This week of camp is for incoming 9th graders through graduating seniors. Contact us if you are still interested in joining us, there may be space left.

KidLINKS Children’s Ministry Schools have stared summer break—but there are lots of fun activities happening for kids all summer at Aldersgate!! We had a Zoo Scavenger Hunt in May and are looking forward to fun at Vacation Bible School in June and a Wild Night at the Zoo in July. Information and Registration forms are available at the Children’s Ministries office and at the Check-In station on Sunday mornings.
Summer Sunday School begins June 3rd and teachers are needed to help lead the younger children through “The Story” , lead the older ones in the J12 Club during the 10am worship hour, or just be an extra set of hands while Joan and John teach. Contact Joan Schell, John Schell, or see the bulletin board at #131 for more information and to sign up to teach one or more Sundays this summer.
It’s still not too late to register for VBS 2012 or Volunteer to help as we transform Aldersgate into ancient Babylon on June 17 – June 21st from 6:00-8:00pm. Babylon VBS invites all children ages 3 (potty trained) – 5th grade...don’t forget to bring your friends! Stop by the Children’s Ministries office to register or online registration may be found on the www.aldersgatecommunity.com website or at or at https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/hl/AldersgateUMC.
Kid’s Club has begun their summer break – but will return in August for more ‘Walk Through the Bible’ fun!
Our Children’s Ministries Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was held on May 23rd and hosted by the children who enjoyed serving those who have volunteered in the nursery, classes and with activities this year and having the opportunity to say ‘Thank You’. We hope to see our amazing volunteers back in the fall along with some new faces too!
We need YOU to help make our Vacation Bible School a success! Youth and Adult Volunteers are needed for: Music and Drama, Crafts and Snacks, Small group tribe leaders and on the Palace Playground. Talk to John or Joan Schell to see how you can help or click on the online registration link on the children’s tab on the www.aldersgatecommunity.com website. Planning is now underway!

Lifetree Cafe
June 6th- China’s Dark Secrets: A voice from Tiananmen Square.
June 13th- Crop Circles: They’re not what you think…
June 17th- The 60-Minute Guide to Greater Confidence: How to talk to anybody, make friends, and get the job you want.
June 24th- Lifetree Classic: Why, God? When personal tragedy doesn’t make sense.
Meeting at New Ground Coffee Company
5925 North Clinton Blvd. (Washington Square)
Every Wednesday Evening from 7p.m.-8p.m.

The Aldersgate Academy
First, we would like to thank our church community for the response to our request for supplies. It was absolutely overwhelming and greatly appreciated!
Second, we would like to inform you of additional opportunities to assist our Aldersgate Academy program. We are in need of some hands-on volunteers to work in the classrooms, in the office, and at special events.
We are also in the process of assembling a group of volunteers who would like to be an integral part of guiding our new Aldersgate Academy to success. We have positions open on all three of our governing committees.
The Academy Council, which works much like the church’s Administrative Board as the primary governing body of the Academy.
The Academy Finance Sub-Committee, which is in charge of financial policy and control.
The Academy Human Resources Sub-Committee, which is in charge of employee policy and hiring.
For the hands-on volunteers we are looking for all levels of commitment, from weekly to year-long. For the Academy Council and two sub-committees, we are looking for yearly commitments. Our intention is that the Council and sub-committees will meet once a month beginning in July.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Judy Melton at Judith.melton1@frontier.com

Summer Office Hours
Monday-Thursday
8:30a.m.-4p.m
Friday
8:30a.m.-Noon

Our Ministry Staff
Dr. Derek Weber– Lead Pastor derekcw@aol.com
Rev. Christopher Millay- Associate Pastor christopher.millay@inumc.org
Rev. Don Wismer- Life Tree Cafe donaldwismer@gmail.com
Ellen Rhoades- Parish Visitor emr7962@comcast.net
Marlane Sturm- Dir. of Music, Worship & Arts Ministries marlane.sturm@gmail.com
Deidra Gulley- Music Assistant deidragulley@comcast.net
Jane Brager- Organist jmbrager@gmail.com
Joan Schell- Director of Children's Ministries kidsmagnet@yahoo.com
John Schell- Cradle Care and J12 Coordinator johnschell40@yahoo.com
Stephen Case- Pastor of Mid High Youth/ Tech Advisor stephen@casegrfx.com
Amanda Keener- Pastor of Sr. High Youth amandankeener@gmail.com
Michele Phillips- Church Administrator aldersgate_office@yahoo.com
Deb Eckler- Financial Assistant ecklerdeb@gmail.com
Judy Smith- Volunteer Librarian jsmith1037@aol.com
Roy Horther- Custodian
Tina Mihalec- Custodian
Ken Arend- Night Host

2417 Getz Road
Ft. Wayne, IN 46804

Non Profit Org.
US POSTAGE
PAID
Fort Wayne, IN
Permit No. 683

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