Worship News

On the Sundays of Lent, we will focus our worship services on Jesus’ call to us and the themes of our Lenten Study. Our theme for March 5^th, Jesus Calls Us Into God’s Redemption Story, is an invitation to personally accept the salvation history that is narrated in the Bible. This Lenten Study focuses on the New Testament, yet we see in the readings the connection to Hebrew Scripture, the Old Testament.

We continue on March 12^th with the reminder that Jesus Calls Us to a Transformed Life. When we enter into God’s redemption story, taking our place in salvation history, we open ourselves to the transformed life; life that finds value in the divine qualities of love and justice.

Leading the transformed life does not take us away from the world; rather Jesus Calls Us to a Hostile World. On March 19^th, our lessons include Matthew 8:23-28, Matthew 10:16-23, 1 Peter 1:13-15, 18-19, 1 Peter 2:1-3.

The fourth Sunday of Lent celebrates One Great Hour of Sharing. Our theme for the week is Jesus Calls Us to Complex Communities of Faith. Our lessons include Galatians 5:1-15 and Matthew 13:24-30.

On Sunday, April 2, we will welcome Rev. Ron Wilson, our District Superintendent, as he leads us in worship. Our theme, Jesus Calls Us to Serve One Another, is emphasized in the weekly readings, Matthew 17-20, 1 Corinthians 5, 8-10, 2 Corinthians 2, 8-9, Third John, 2 Thessalonians 3, Luke 16, 2 Corinthians 2, 8-9, and Acts 5:1-11. Rev. Wilson will select readings from this list for the service.

Palm Sunday will be celebrated on April 9^th and our service will include the presentation of the symbols of Christ’s passion.

Holy Week services are being planned for Maundy Thursday, including a Passover Meal, offered by Mike Kane. Also, watch for information about our Good Friday service. We hope to offer a form of the Stations of the Cross. Walking with Christ through the days of his passion emphasizes the joy of Easter resurrection.

We will celebrate Easter on April 16, beginning with a Sunrise Service in our outdoor chapel. Services at 8:30 and 10:45 will be nestled by our Easter morning breakfast. We hope you will join us for this time of fellowship and worship.

Scripture Readings – March and April 2006

March 5 March 26 April 16 (Easter Day

John 1:1-14 Galatians 5:1-15 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Acts 2:22-24 Matthew 13:24-30 Acts 10:34-43

Hebrews 2:1-4 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8

March 12 April 2 April 23

Matthew 6:24-34 Psalm 51:1-12 Psalm 133

Jeremiah 31:31-34 Acts 4:32-35

Hebrews 5:5-10 1 John 1:1 – 2:2

John 12:20-33 John 20:19-31

March 19 April 9 (Palm Sunday) April 30

Matthew 8:23-28 Liturgy of the Palms Psalm 4

Matthew 10:16-23 Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Acts 3:12-19

1 Peter 1:13-15, 18-19 Mark 11:1-11 1 John 3:1-7

1 Peter 2:1-3 Liturgy of the Passion Luke 24:36b-48

Psalm 31:9-16

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Philippians 2:5-11

Mark 14:1-- 15:47

Aldersgate’s Prayer Ministry

We hope you will participate in the Lenten Prayer Vigil either at the church or in your home. You are also invited to join our Prayer Gathering group that meet at 6:30 on Tuesday evening. You can pray at home or with us.

If you have a prayer request, please notify Debbie through the church office at (978) 256-9400!

Aldersgate is a family of faith …

A Special Birthday – A Special Lady!

Charlotte celebrated her 90^th birthday on January 29^th. She will tell you that she celebrated with her family from Thursday to Sunday! It was the first time that all of her children have been together in ten years, and they all enjoyed one another. Her six great grandchildren enjoyed sliding in the snow, especially those from Virginia and Texas.

The Thursday Morning Bible Study Group (Charlotte is an active member) continued to celebrate with her at a luncheon on Thursday, February 9^th. When asked about the secret of her long and happy life she said, “You celebrate the good times and have faith that you’ll be able to meet the bad times.”

Charlotte has been a breath of fresh air for the Bible Study Group and to our Aldersgate congregation. As well as being an active member of the study group, Charlotte and her daughter (Charlotte Bair) are also members of the Prayer Shawl Ministry that meet on Thursday evening. She began our “Used Stamp Ministry” last fall and is responsible for sending on all those stamps you bring in to Alliance Women’s Stamp Ministry in Fort Myers, Florida. They in turn sell the stamps and use the receipts to fund the purchase of Sunday School supplies for this missionary work in Central and South America.

Perhaps that is the other secret of her long and happy life – always finding ways of helping others. What a blessing! What a privilege to know you, Charlotte!

We wish you all God’s blessing on your special days!

. . . called out by Jesus Christ to serve our congregation, community …

Thank You’s

Dear Friends,

Thank you all so much for all the cards, calls, food, visits, flowers, and especially your prayers while I was ill. How could I not be well? Maureen

To Our Friends at Aldersgate,

I can't tell you how much it meant to receive your cards of sympathy and messages, with the passing of Mom, (Marie). Her prayers were answered.

Mom was a wonderful Mother and Nana. She was loved very much and will be greatly missed. She lives in our hearts and is at peace.

Thank you for your thoughtfulness and prayers. It truly helps. Your kindness will be remembered.

Peace of God be with you. Love, Jean & Chuck Piper

* * *

Dear Aldersgate Family,

Thank you all so much for the kindness and love that you showed our family at the loss of our son, Kent. We were overwhelmed by your care and concern.

We can’t tell you how much it meant to all of us to have so many of you come to Kent’s Memorial Service. The music and the lunch were wonderful and your cards and prayers have comforted us immensely. Thank you all so very much. I personally have taken great comfort in the Prayer Shawl, feeling the warmth and love of those who worked on it. The Banner made by the Church School children touched us deeply. We had no idea that Kent was so involved in so many areas of the church but are very thankful that he chose to spend his time on earth in that way.

Thought we have been away from Chelmsford and Aldersgate for several years, we still fell very close to all of you.

Much love to all of you, Chuck and Sue and Family.

* * *

Dear Friends of Kent,

I don’t know the names of all of you who supported our Families during our recent loss of Kent, but I know there are many. Our families have been truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of care and concern both during the Memorial Service by your attendance, participation, and provision of a wonderful reception luncheon as well as by your gifts of a banner and prayer shawl and the many cards, prayers and kind words.

Thank you for loving Kent and providing a church home where he felt “at home,” and thank you for loving us. We have all been blessed by the Aldersgate congregation.

Love, Theresa, Kent’s sister

Keep April 14^th free for

the Greater Lowell Walk for Hunger

Aldersgate has been invited to participate in this 13 mile walk through Chelmsford and Westford with convenient stops along the way to rest and mingle with new and old friends. The Walk benefits Sharing Inc., (nationally) and Alternative House, House of Hope, Lowell Transitional Living Center, Greater Lowell Open Pantry, Salvation Army and the food pantries in Westford and Chelmsford. Last year the Walk raised $27,000 to help these agencies feed the hungry.

If you would like to participate, pledge sheets are available by email www.westford.com/walkforhunger where you may download copies.

What’s Happening at Aldersgate

A Message from Your Stamp Lady

Your response to this ministry has been most gratifying and I do appreciate your involvement in this program.

However, I must make a request! When you remove the stamps from the envelopes, please leave not less than ½ inch of paper around them. As the instructions from the sponsoring agency say – “More is better than less.”

Thank you for your cooperation!

Charlotte

Too often we forget to thank God

for answered prayer.

Praise is the proper punctuation mark

for an answered prayer.

Aldersgate Responds….

A Message from Your

Capital Fund Campaign Committee

Today is a celebration for our church family. For the past eight weeks we have been running our capital campaign and now we have come to the official conclusion. The generosity of Aldersgate has enabled us to reach a sum just over $250,000. We are still expecting to receive some additional pledges in the near future so we are still in hope of reaching our original $300,000 goal. We were very enthused by everyone’s generosity especially as our district’s campaign followed on the heals of the fund raising for the new organ, and then our annual stewardship campaign, for which many families increased their pledge. We are truly blessed to have such a caring and committed church family.

Every Tuesday for the past 2 months the capital fund campaign committee has met and shared the wonderful stories we experienced in our home visits. It was a chance to hear about your concerns and hopes for the future here at Aldersgate. This was also a chance to better connect and get to know one another. We believe that sharing this personal time with one another is something we should do more often.

In 6 months from now, Aldersgate will be getting our first monies from the conference. The Trustees, working with the Church Council, will now consider all the opportunities and needs we have, and over the coming months put a plan together for how to best use these wonderful gifts you have pledged. As a reminder, they will be considering an enclosed stairwell and elevator at the back entry. They will also be considering repair of the floors in fellowship hall and the front entry, in addition to one more meeting classroom in fellowship hall, a new stove and some kitchen renovations.

And, as the Trustees do their work, the opportunity to give in the future remains. We will continue to have needs to meet. Please continue to prayerfully consider how you might participate in the years ahead.

We look forward to seeing these tasks accomplished so that we have an improved facility from which we can better accomplish our true church mission, the church mission you see printed on every bulletin every Sunday. “Aldersgate is a family of faith called out by Jesus Christ to serve our congregation, community and the world through loving, witnessing, and teaching God's word.”

Thank you again one and all for your prayers and overwhelming support.

Victor, Chair

Capital Fund Campaign Committee

To God be the glory, for the things he has done.

FROM PASTOR SHARON

I want to add my personal thanks to Victor, Walt, Bonnie, Bev, Curt, Bob and Bob for their leadership of our congregation in this Capital Campaign. It was an intensive experience for the committee, yet proved very satisfying. The Committee was in part a little sad as we concluded since they will no longer be meeting on Tuesday evenings. We visited with over 75 families from the congregation. If we were not able to meet with you and you would like to hear more about the church, please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of us.

Aldersgate’s Prayer Shawl Ministry

If you enjoy knitting or would like to learn, you are invited to join our Prayer Shawl Ministry. This group of people of all ages (including several children) meets on Thursday evening from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the Concord Room. Recently, we found knitting instructions to make caps for patients undergoing Chemotherapy and with the encouragement of an anonymous donor giving us yarn, we were on our way! With the help of Susan, contact was made with Commonwealth Hematology-Oncology near Emerson Hospital in Concord, and 16 “Hope Hats” (named by one of our knitters – Peter) were packaged and delivered. If you know of someone who would love the warmth and comfort of a prayer shawl, please let us know by calling either Cheryl or the Church Office.

and the world through loving, witnessing…

A Letter from Bishop Weaver

Dear Sharon,

Greetings in the grace and spirit of Christ.

Recently I had the opportunity to review the Mission Share contributions from our churches in New England for 2005. I rejoice and am deeply grateful for the hard work and faithfulness of you and your congregation in paying 100% of your mission share apportionment for the year. Your generosity and support of our connectional life together is cause for great thanksgiving in this time when many of us have just finished a month of prayer and fasting for the vitality of our Christian witness….The reach of your dollars extends to all parts of the globe, where the United Methodist Church responds to emergency needs as well as provides ongoing ministries of evangelism, education, health care, feeding and outreach. Together we are involved in both acts of mercy and acts of justice in the name of Christ.

May God continue to bless you, even as you and your congregation are such a blessing to others.

Grace and peace,

Bishop Peter D. Weaver

NEWS and EVENTS of the NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE – G

Growing Healthy Congregations

An Introduction to Natural Church Development Principles

Spring Workshops led by

New England Annual Conference Staff

Our Conference Staff have developed a program to be presented throughout the New England states to help the local church with creative programs to “grow the church.” Here are the important workshop topics:

v Growing Congregations of Passionate Christians

v Igniting Ministries and Need-Oriented Evangelism

v Natural Church Development Can Grow Your Church

v From Financial Barriers to Functional Structure

The workshop that is closer in proximity to Aldersgate is being held on Tuesday, April 25^th in Haverhill, MA at the Good Shepherd UMC, 471 Main Street (978) 372-2843. The workshop will convene at 4:30 p.m. with worship, followed by a supper at 5:15 p.m. If you would like to attend, please either call the Good Shepherd UMC to make a supper reservation or contact the Aldersgate Church Office. This is an opportunity for our church leaders and others to meet together with other Methodist churches for inspiration and suggestions for our church to continue to be a vital witness of faith in our community. There is a brochure on the table outside the Church Office for further information.

RENEWAL 2006 Conference TO ADDRESS the Question, “Who is Jesus?”

In this day and age, everyone seems to have something to say about Jesus and it is easy for someone to be become very confused about who He is. If we talk to a Buddhist or Hindu, they may acknowledge Jesus as a great holy man or enlightened teacher, but nothing more. Most Jews may concede that Jesus may have been a revolutionary rabbi, but clearly not Israel’s promised Messiah. A Muslim will have great respect for Jesus as a prophet, but will deny that he was ever executed on a cross.

Many biblical and theological scholars have not helped the situation very much by publishing numerous books in recent years, providing a myriad of viewpoints, some troubling, some puzzling, which tend to regard Jesus as a teaching sage, a religious genius, or a social revolutionary. In contrast, Christians claim that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, Lord and Savior.

Meanwhile, the popular media seems to enjoy exploiting this great disparity of opinions and belittling those who have strong views about the uniqueness and exclusivity of Jesus Christ. In this kind of environment, it is very understandable why the un-churched and even some members of our churches can become skeptical, uninterested, and indifferent to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?”

Who is the Jesus of the Bible and what does it mean to follow him? On April 1 in Manchester, NH, the Evangelical Renewal Fellowship, the New England Association of the Confessing Movement within the United Methodist Church, is bringing Dr. Ben Witherington, III to help us think through and understand this vital issue in the church. His presentation promises to be very informative, entertaining, and even transforming. Dr. Witherington is a United Methodist, a New Testament scholar, and professor at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books including The Jesus Quest (IVP 1995). For more information and application for the Renewal 2006 conference are available at www.renewne.org/Renewal2006Brochure.pdf, and www.renewne.org/Renewal2006Application.pdf, respectively. You can also contact Walt Ciesluk in person, at 978-251-8520 or wjciesluk@comcast.net with any questions

CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS

LENTEN SEASON

During Lent this year we will distribute special Lenten Calendars for each family and have open the door moments in class each Sunday. This will be a time when the children and youth will explore the special message for that Sunday, and learn about prayer. We are also excited about the two mission projects we will be supporting. Our first project will be collecting over the counter medical supplies for the people of Ghana. Sue Babich and her daughter Katie, will be traveling to Ghana the last two weeks of March and work in medical tents. We will be asking for donations of over the counter medicine such as: Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, Cough Medicine - (for children & adults), Bandaids, etc. The children will receive special information in class. We will also be supporting “Shoes for Orphan Souls”. We will begin this project on Sunday, March 19^th, when the children and youth will take off their shoes for class and learn about this special program. There will be information handed out in class. Donna Leary will be helping with this special project since we will be collecting boots to help the orphans in Russia and the Ukraine.

SCOUT SUNDAY

On Sunday, March 12^th we will honor all scouts, both girl scouts and boy scouts. If you are a scout, you are encouraged to wear your uniform to church for the day.

EASTER

There will be no church school on Easter Sunday, April 16^th.

SUMMER CAMP OPPORTUNITIES

We now have information for all of the summer camp programs offered at Camp Aldersgate in North Scituate, Rhode Island, Camp Wanakee in Meredith, New Hampshire, Camp Mechuwana in Winthrop, Maine and Rolling Ridge in North Andover, Massachusetts. Please look for the camp brochures downstairs in the hall. There are scholarships available to all children and youth who attend a camp program, thanks to our Doris Miller Camp Scholarship Fund. Please see Cheryl Ortolf for any questions.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

HOLY LAND ADVENTURE: BETHLEHEM VILLAGE

August 7 – 11, 2006

9 – 12 noon each day

Christmas Will Never Be the Same Again!

This year we’re transforming our church into a little – and crowded – Bethlehem Village. Each day you can become part of history as you see, hear, touch, and even taste what it was like to live in Bible times! You can explore authentic marketplace shops, visit the Census Taker, take part in games, dance to lively Bible songs, and sample tasty tidbits as you discover more about life when Jesus was born. These experiences will make God’s Word come alive with more meaning for all who participate. Please look at the bulletin board upstairs near the Fellowship Hall doors for items you can donate or loan to us to help with this program. There will also be a display upstairs and downstairs on information about this exciting opportunity.

WORSHIP ARTS Tuesdays: 4 – 5:30 p.m.

Children, ages 4 through 5^th grade are invited to join us on Tuesdays. All children are welcome to participate; you do not have to be a member of the church. Rebecca Adams, our Children and Youth Music Director, has many creative and fun ideas for the music portion of this program. During Lent, we will explore different themes connected with Lent and prayer.

EASTER BREAKFAST AND EGG HUNT
APRIL 16, 2006
Continental Breakfast: 6:45 – 8:00 a.m.
Full Course Breakfast: 8:00 – 10:30 a.m.

EGG HUNT FOR CHILDREN
10:00 A.M.

JUNIOR CHOIR Tuesdays: 5:50 – 6:30 p.m.

All youth in grades 4 – 8 are welcome to join us in this new and exciting choir! Our Children’s Music Director, Rebecca Adams, will be leading us in singing, learning to play some instruments (like a boom wacker!), and having fun!

JUNIOR BELL CHOIR

Thursdays, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. This choir is open to children and adults who would like to learn to play the bells. You do not need to know how to read music. If you have any questions, please see Becky Adams.

CONFIRMATION CLASS

Group Classes: March 5^th,April 9^th Retreat: March 10-12,

All youth participating in confirmation class and their mentors will be meeting from 4 – 5:30 p.m. in the Concord Room for class on these 2 Sundays.

Please pray for the following youth and mentors as they continue this journey together:

Youth

Gabriel, Joshua, Niles, Rebecca, Christopher, Matthew, and Alex.

Mentors

Walt, Jill, Beverly, Ben, Curt, Peter and Debbie.

JUNIOR YOUTH FELLOWSHIP

All young youth in grades 4 – 6 are welcome to join us. Friends are always welcome! Our next meeting will be on Friday, March 31^st from 6:30 – 8 p.m.

We have set the dates for the following Friday night meetings: April 28^th, May 19^th, and June 30^th. Maria Karafelis and I are also planning on taking this group camping one weekend during the summer. If you have any questions or concerns, please see Cheryl or Maria. Thanks!

SENIOR YOUTH FELLOWSHIP

All youth in grades 6 – 12 are welcome to join us at any time; you do not have to be a member of the SENIOR youth group. There is no special sign-up sheet; you just come when you can. We ALWAYS welcome friends, or anyone else that happens to be with you. You are an important part of this group!

Calendar

Sunday, March 12^th from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. – Come join us as we do some fun and relaxing things – bring something to eat! This is a new time because some of us will be returning from the Confirmation Retreat.

Sunday, March 26^th at noon – We will plan our Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt – (points toward Mission Trip & Soulfest). Bring any recipe ideas for us to review.