the aldersgate logo was inspired by the love sculpture in...
TRANSCRIPT
The Aldersgate logo was inspired by the Love Sculpture in Philadelphia, PA., to
remind us that God is Love and that Love is the Greatest Commandment.
Aldersgate
Our sermon series, “With God’s Son: Following our Rabbi through the Gospel of Matthew,” consists of
several sub-series. The current sub-series, “The Kingdom of Heaven,” is rooted in Matthew Chapter 4,
in which the gospel’s major theme of the kingdom begins to unfold. Today’s sermon, “The Good
News” is the third in the series and invites to us to consider the core message of the gospel. You
will find an order of service on Page 4 and sermon notes on Page 5.
Aldersgate United Methodist Church • 1741 Sayles Blvd., Abilene, TX 79605 • (325) 672-7893
www.aldersgateabilene.org
Series Spiritual Practice: You are invited to read through the
Gospel of Matthew once a month for the next 12 months. This
will give us an opportunity to focus on the whole book while we share the sermons
based on passages in the book of Matthew at the same time.
Our Mission: To raise up deeply devoted disciples of Jesus
Our Local Mission Field: Aldersgate Academy, Bowie Elementary School,
McMurry University, Our Neighborhoods/Community Garden
Regularly Scheduled Services
and Opportunities to Grow and Serve
All are welcome!
Please contact the Church Office
if you’d like to know more about becoming involved.
Ministry Leaders
Pastor: Steve Brooks (325) 660-4415
Associate Pastor:
Amy Wilson Feltz (325) 660-5017
Music: David Wallis
Children: Alayna Brooks & Amber Redman
Youth/Contemporary Worship:
Daniel Mathis
College/Young Adults: Kyle Watson
Connections: Jessica Watson
Administration/Finance: Mary Chavez Lust
Reception: Susan Acosta
Academy: Carol Rogers
Custodial Services: Robert Sandoval
Staying Connected
Office Hours:
Mon.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m. -12 p.m.,
1p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Fri. 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
www.aldersgateabilene.org
ENews: Sign up on our website to
receive our weekly electronic
newsletter, or send an email to
Facebook: facebook.com/
AldersgateUnitedMethodist Church
Twitter:@AldersgateABI
Instagram:@aldersgateabi
Text Message Reminders:
gracepeace to 313131
Text To Give: 325-269-2032
THIS WEEK
Sunday, January 29:
9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship
10:05 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship
5:00 p.m. Kids For Christ
5:00 p.m. Youth Ministry
5:15 p.m. Growth Groups
7:30 p.m. College Ministry
Monday, January 30:
7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts
Tuesday, January 31:
6:00 p.m. Handbell Choir Practice
Wednesday, February 1:
2:00 p.m. Growth Groups
6:30 p.m. Growth Groups
7:00 p.m. Choir Practice
Thursday, February 2:
7:30 p.m. Contemporary Band Practice
COMING UP
Tuesday, February 7: UMW Ladies Luncheon
Saturday, February 11: Academy Spring Fashion Show
Job Opportunity: Part-time office assistant to work 10 hours a week for general office work and office coverage. If interested, contact Mary Chavez Lust at [email protected] for more details.
Children: To the Nursery and Beyond
Our children are our most precious
gifts, and at Aldersgate, we are so
fortunate to have so many wonderful
people who work with our children
each week and treat them as the gifts
they are. Carol Rogers, who also serves
as the director of Aldersgate Academy,
oversees the nursery on Sunday morning
and organizes the high school and
college students who care for the babies
each week. We are always happy to see
our college students return from
Christmas break because we miss them greatly when they’re gone! The students who serve in the
nursery do so much more than just change diapers and watch the babies. They rock, play, read
and laugh with our kids each week, and each positive interaction is a way to begin showing our
babies that Jesus loves them and that church is a great place to be.
As the children grow, they move up to our preschool ministry, which is taught primarily by
Amber Redman, our assistant director of children’s ministry. Several students also serve in this
area. And once the children reach 1st Grade, they move up to our oldest children’s church,
which is taught by me, Alayna Brooks, director of children’s ministry, and, you guessed it,
several talented students! I can testify to the fact these students view their role at Aldersgate as so
much more than a job. They love these
kids and take great joy in being able to
comfort a child who is afraid or help a new
child to feel welcome and accepted.
I am very thankful for the high school
and college students who are working at
Aldersgate because they seek to show the
love of Jesus to our kids each week and to
make church a more fun and welcoming
place to be. — Alayna Brooks
Boy Scout Sunday: A Note from Troop 272 First off, thank you, Aldersgate, for your
strong support of Boy Scout Troop 272, which
meets on Monday evenings in the Fellowship Hall.
This troop has been a part of the church from the
very beginning of its charter in Abilene and has
produced 117 Eagle Scouts to-date. Our troop
consists of scouts as young as 10 all the way to 17
years of age from all over Abilene.
This year, 25 boy scouts and 15 adult leaders participate in the troop as we head into spring.
Some of us will head to the San Saba river area of Texas for Spring Break and later will return to
the Kerr Scout Ranch in Slippery Falls, Oklahoma. Another group will attend the National Boy
Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia this summer. Take
note: the troop is getting ready to kick off its annual fertilizer sale in February, so please plan to
make some purchases to support our troop and keep your lawns healthy! More information
about Troop 272 may be found at abilenetroop272.us and under the ministries link on the church
website (aldersgateabilene.org). You also are welcome to contact Dave Wallette at
Academy: Spring Fashion Show + Brunch On Saturday, February 11th, Aldersgate Academy will present a fashion show and brunch at
10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. This event will serve as a fundraiser for the Academy, and the
money raised will go toward providing year-end bonuses for the staff members who attend the
show. This is no small gesture. Our teachers do not receive paychecks during the summer months
and sometimes struggle to make ends meet until the Academy
reopens in August. When you purchase a ticket, you will not only
be able to enjoy a relaxing and fun morning, view some of the
fashions trending for the spring of 2017 and eat tasty food . . . you
will be supporting the teachers and staff members who work so
hard to care for our children day in and day out. Tickets cost
$20.00 each and will be available at the Welcome Center today and
next Sunday. Tickets also can be purchased at the Academy office
through February 5th. For more information, please contact me at
(325) 439-0230 or [email protected]. — Carol Rogers
Budget for 2017 = $ 776,100.00
Received This Week = $ 13,264.00
Received This Month-to-Date = $ 64,005.00
Received Year-to-Date = $ 64,005.00
Ahead/(Behind) Budget = $ 4,305.00
2016 Faith Promise Pledge = $ 38,312.00
2016 Faith Promise Contributions $ 45,108.00
At Aldersgate, all are invited to practice faithfulness in our prayers, presence (attendance), gifts (offering of money), service (action in the community) and witness (sharing our faith). You will find information about service and witness throughout the pages of Aldersgate In Action. This page is dedicated to matters of prayer, presence, and gifts.
In Depth
Clay Meadows
Doris Ogden
Lou Swindell
Ken Schmidt
Rosalee Schmidt
Alice Shaw
Alice Alcala
Carolyn Strain
Military and Families
Millie Speed
Sarah Doucette
Delmon Wilson
Billie Langston
Judy English
Charles Myrick
Clinton Gayle
Addison English
Lora Langford
Bob Kuykendall
Kay Burkhart
Billy & Jennifer Butler
Tara Goodloe
June Gill
Jazmine Lara, Academy
student
Prayers:
Presence and Gifts: 1.22.2017
To learn more about ways to give: visit our website
www.aldersgateabilene.org or contact Mary Chavez Lust
at 672-7893 or via email at [email protected].
Methodist Food Pantry (N. 1st and Shelton): Aldersgate volunteers serve on the second Tuesday
of the month, from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Free childcare is available. For more information call
Susan Steele at 605-381-6322.
Service:
9:00 a.m. Traditional Service = 194
11:00 a.m. Contemporary Service = 231
Sunday School = 179
Sunday School classes are offered
at 10:05 a.m. for all ages. To learn more
about Adult Sunday School classes,
contact Amy Wilson Feltz at
672-7893 or via e-mail at
During both worship services last week, Pastor Steve and I announced that
Jessica Watson, our director of connections, has accepted a position as the
associate director of student ministries at First United Methodist Church in
Richardson, Texas.
This means that she and Kyle, our director of college ministries, will be
moving from Abilene toward the end of March, even as Jessica completes her Master of Divinity
degree from Logsdon Seminary at Hardin-Simmons University in May.
Jessica joined the Aldersgate staff in August of 2014 to serve as the director of connections. As
such, she has infused life and creativity into our Growth Group ministry and has formed and
cultivated our First Impressions ministry and curated our art gallery in the main hallway. Jessica’s
ability to build and maintain rich relationships has served her — and Aldersgate — well in all of her
areas of responsibility. And it is the relationships here that Jessica will miss the most.
“Over the last four years this church became our family,” she said. “So many of you have had
Kyle and me over for meals in your homes, helped us move, supported us during transitions and
taken us out to eat too many times to count. I only hope that the people at FUMC Richardson are
as kind, encouraging and hospitable as all of you.”
Kyle shares the sentiment, expressing his gratitude for the support he received as he joined the
Aldersgate staff in January of 2013 to serve as the director of college ministry, graduated with an
MDiv from Logsdon in December of 2015 and added the dual role of assistant chaplain at McMurry
University in April of 2016.
“I deeply appreciate the opportunity and support to learn and grow as a minister while also
being made to feel like an equal member of the church,” he said. “As I look to the future, I can only
dream about being a part of a community that will love and
support Jessica and me in the same ways as Aldersgate.”
As Jessica prepares to serve with the 180 young people
who participate in student ministries at FUMC Richardson
and as Kyle prepares for his next role, we at Aldersgate offer
the Watsons our deepest gratitude and pray for them on
their journey.
Stay tuned for additional ways to thank and celebrate
with Jessica and Kyle in the coming weeks!
5
Matthew 4:23-25
Used in the ancient world to announce the reign of a new king or emperor
(Isaiah 52)
(Matthew 4:23)
JESUS
Rescued/saved/safe from sin Blessed Counterintuitive Healed and Whole
God with Us Love Sacrifice/Servant New/Resurrection
Goodness of the Garden Seek Heaven to Earth Peace