Author: Owner

The Gate Post

May 2012

Vacation Bible School ~ June 17-21st 6:00-8:00pm A Holy Land Adventure to Babylon Join us as we step back in time—to see what life was like when Daniel was
captured and taken to Babylon. Everything…from the music to the costumes to the Market place crafts…absolutely everything has the look, feel, and flavors inspired by ancient Babylon including a marketplace where we will meet Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego!
We are currently registering children ages 3 (potty trained) – 5th grade. See info below Youth and Adult Volunteers are needed to make our Vacation Bible School a success! Volunteers are needed for: Music and Drama, Crafts and Snacks, Small group tribe leaders and on the Palace Playground. Click on the online registration link on the Aldersgate website to see how you can help or talk to Joan or John Schell. Planning is now underway and we need you now. So don’t wait call us today and take a journey to Babylon this summer!
Babylon VBS Registration Information
Friends are always welcome! Babylon VBS is open to all children three years old (must be fully potty trained) through 5th grade. Cost is $5 for a special Babylon T-shirt
We are currently registering children ages 3 (potty trained) – 5th grade. Online registration may be found on the aldersgatecommunity.com website or at www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/hl/AldersgateUMC You can also pick up a brochure with registration information and forms at Joan’s office or 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

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.

The Aldersgate Community~2417 Getz Road, Ft. Wayne, IN 46804~260-432-15245~www.aldersgatecommunity.com

May Weekly Reading Through the Bible

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	Gospels	Law	History	Psalms	Poetry	Prophecy	Epistles
May 6	Luke 1-2	Exodus 21-24	ll Samuel 10-14	Psalms 54-56	Job 37-38	Jeremiah 32-36	ll Corinthians 6-8
May 13	Luke 3-4	Exodus 25-28	ll Samuel 15-19	Psalms 57-59	Job 39-40	Jeremiah 37-41	ll Corinthians 9-10
May 20	Luke 5-6	Exodus 29-32	ll Samuel 20-24	Psalms 60-62	Job 41-42	Jeremiah 42-46	ll Corinthians 11-13
May 27	Luke 7-8	Exodus 33-36	l Kings 1-4	Psalms 63-65	Proverbs 1	Jeremiah 47-52	Galatians 1-3
June 3	Luke 9-10	Exodus 37-40	l Kings 5-9	Psalms 66-68	Proverbs 2-3	Lamentations	Galatians 4-6

Eastertide Sermon Series Laugh Out Loud
May 6 Tears of Laughter Luke 6:20-23

Sermon Topics for May
May 13- Mother’s Day Greater Love Than This John 15:9-17
May 20- Heritage Sunday Guest Speaker: Dr. Brian Witwer
May 27- Pentecost/Memorial Weekend Acts 2:1-21

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.

	March, 2012	March, 2011
Need per month	$68,917.00	$68,306.00
Received	60,298.00	57,818.99
Need YTD	206,751.00	204,918.00
Received YTD	202,675.00	198,862.85
Expense YTD	194,053.00	205,331.60
The total operating budget for 2012 is $827,000.00, which is an average monthly need of $68,917.

Senior Adults
Tuesday, May 15, 2012- JOLLY GATERS will meet at noon in the Church Lounge. There will be a Carry-In Luncheon and Program. Patty Marone will present the program “Grandma & Me” .You will not want to miss this.
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. More about this very soon. Everyone is welcome!!! For questions, please see Ellen Rhoades.

Music, Worship & Arts Ministries
We continue to ask prayers for our beloved director of children's & teens' music, Deidra Gulley, who suffered a stroke on Saturday, April 7. Dee and her family, as well as those of us in the Music Ministry, appreciate the prayers and loving support which we have been receiving from this wonderful church family. God Bless You All!
Mary Jane Dale, Lois Lovinger, Brenda Henline & Marlane Sturm participated in the Handbell Spring Ring Festival for the Area 5 Handbell Musicians of America in Louisville, Kentucky on April 13 & 14. There were 400 ringers under the direction of composer/clinician Tim Waugh. It was an inspiring event as we learned beautiful new music, rang with so many others and gained new insight on the preparation & presentation of handbell music.
May will continue to bring exciting music in Worship but will be the final month for choirs before their summer break. Adult vocal choirs, instrumentalists and handbell choirs will present special anthems on May 6 & 20. The Children's Choirs & Teen Praise will present special music in Worship on Mother's Day-May 13.
Marlane Sturm and Stephanie Wagner will be travelling to New York City on Memorial Weekend where they will be part of a 200 voice choir under the direction of Joseph M. Martin. The final concert of all compositions by Mr. Martin will be presented at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center.

United Methodist Women
Martha Circle - May 7 @ 6:00p.m.: Call Linda Sackman @ 403-2462 Mary Circle - May 8 @ noon: Call Ruthann Keisler @ 485-5175 Rachel Circle - May 23 @ 11:00a.m.: Call Melinda Fast @ 625-5315 Ruth Circle - will resume meetings in September: Call Lynette Jehl @ 616-0164 We will be playing BINGO with residents of Byron Health Center on May 21. Please call Linda Sackman (403-2462) or Jan Mitchell (432-2007) 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

Youth Ministry
Talent Night: On Sunday, May 13th, all youth and families are invited to participate in a talent night! Do you sing, dance, tell jokes, do magic? Polish up your act and come share it! Or just come and support by being an audience member. There will be a dinner provided. 6:15-8:30 Down Under.
That Thing: Registration is open for senior high camp! Camp is June 24-28. Open to all current 8th graders through current seniors. Registration deadline is May 13th.
Red Bird - Now's the time to start selecting items you might want to donate to Red Bird. Stay tuned for details on where donations can be dropped off.

KidLINKS Children’s Ministry
Kid’s Club last meeting before summer break is Wednesday, May 23rd
Summer Sunday School begins June 3rd . Teachers are needed to help lead the younger children through “The Story” and lead the older ones in the J12 Class during the 10am worship hour each Sunday. Contact Joan Schell, John Schell, or see the bulletin board at #131 for more information and to sign up for one or more Sundays this summer. We appreciate your help while our teachers are taking a break before next fall’s classes.

Lifetree Cafe
May 2- The Aliens Are Coming- What If It’s True?
May 9- Follow Your Dreams: Even when you think you can’t.
May 16- Mormons: Christian? Cult? What do they really believe? May 23- Breaking the Cycle of Sexual Abuse: One brave woman’s story.
May 30- In the Beginning….An atheist professor considers intelligent design.
Meeting at New Ground Coffee Company
5925 North Clinton Blvd. (Washington Square)
Every Wednesday Evening from 7p.m.-8p.m.

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- Pastoral Assistant 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 deb_eckler@yahoo.com
Judy Smith- Volunteer Librarian jsmith1037@aol.com
Roy Horther- Custodian
Tina Mihalec- Custodian
Ken Arend- Night Host

Aldersgate Preschool
May 8 & 9- Parent’s Day- A fun day for Mom or another adult to come and spend some time at school with the children and share in special activities.
May 21- Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night from 5p.m.-7p.m. The preschool receives 15% of the total sales during
this time. Come join us for dinner and a craft activity for the children. Drive thru sales are also included in
our Profits.
May 25- Last Day of School
May 29- June 1, 2012- Me and My World Day Camp for Preschoolers. 9a.m.-12:30p.m. $80 due with registration. Ages 3-5. Your child must be 3yrs old by April 1. Children enjoy four fun filled days of activities with different themes each day. Children bring their lunch and a drink. Snack is provided.

ALDERSGATE ACADEMY
ALDERSGATE ACADEMY TRANSTION COMMITTEE PROGRESS REPORT
The Academy Transition Committee meets on a regular basis and we would like to share with you the progress we are making. Hopefully, you have noticed our new logo. It expresses our focus on reaching children within various age groups and race, economic levels, and a variety of faith backgrounds. It also portrays our emphasis on age appropriate education. We are making progress on the following:
We are finalizing a new Employee Handbook with updated policies and procedures. The Handbook will be in effect at the beginning of the new Academy year of July 1, 2012.
The Teacher Guidelines Handbook has been revised.
A Human Resource Handbook is being developed.
The Academy Finance Committee guidelines have been adopted.
Job Descriptions for all Academy positions have been rewritten and adopted.
New advertising methods have been investigated and implemented. The result is that we have new banners, flyers, signage, brochures, logo, and close communication with AUMC to get our information to the congregation.
We have established new class offerings.
A new hot food program has been established for breakfast and lunch children.
We continue to communicate with current preschool parents and teachers to keep them aware of changes within the program.
An evaluation of current leadership of the preschool program was completed. The Transition Committee thoroughly investigated the qualifications required for the leadership of the new Aldersgate Academy and determined that a change in the direction of our leadership was necessary for the future success of the ministry program. Therefore, as of March 23, in order to properly prepare for the future of our ministry, Jill Bixler no longer serves as Director and a search is underway for a new Director. The Assistant Director, Lynn Heim, is currently filling in as our Interim Director.
We continue to make the changes necessary for the Paths to Quality distinction. This is a measuring stick for parents to evaluate a quality program.
We are establishing a balanced budget for the 2012-2013 school year.
We are working with the state early childhood representatives, our own Aldersgate trustees, and fire inspector to prepare for state licensing. This includes: playground, building issues, fire code issue including pull-down alarms and sprinkler system.
We are investigating the establishment of the Aldersgate Academy as a Limited Liability Company.
Thank you to the Aldersgate church body for all your support during this transition process. Also thank you to all the current preschool employees and Transition Committee members for their unending hours of service.

2417 Getz Road
Ft. Wayne, IN 46804

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

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