Table of Contents

Liminal Time A Message from Rev. Scott Davis

Page 4

The City

Page 5

Photo collage

Page 6

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Page 7

Update on Dresses for Haiti

Page 8

Greer Spring Fling

Page 9

Dave Reynolds Returning to Haiti

Page 10

Bibles for Africa: A Very Special Update from Rev. Joao Filmone Sambo

Page 17

Christian Comedian Michael Joiner

Page 18

Vacation Bible School

Page 19

Aldersgate Kidsfest

Page 20

Toddler Playgroup

Page 21

Medical Mission to Honduras

Page 22

Easter Offering

Page 23

Bits n Pieces

Page 24

Staff Listing

Cover photo courtesy of Gary Nichols

Page 3

23

The Friendship Luncheon is always a fun time at the DoubleTree Hotel! We eat a lunch catered
by the DoubleTree chef, enjoy fellowship with each other, and listen to entertaining or informational
guests such as speakers, singers, and musicians. Luncheons are held on the third Tuesday of each
month at 12:30 PM. If you would like to join us, please see Jean Ward (964-1178). You do not have
to be a member of the Friendship Class. As long as you enjoy Christian fellowship, please come!

Volunteer Receptionists Two Positions Left

Each weekday from 11:30am to 2:30pm, Aldersgate has a friendly face (or faces) in our office narthex to
answer phone calls, receive packages, and welcome guests who come through the door. This is perfect
for best friends, spouses, and individuals who would like to spend a few hours a week in service to our
community. We currently have openings on Mondays and Thursdays, so if you would like to volunteer,
please contact Amy OBrien, Church Administrator, at 434.973.5806 or AmyOBrien@cvaumc.org for
more information.

There will be a Mothers Day Tea for women and girls of all ages on Monday
evening, May 9th. (Specific time will be announced shortly.)
Please be sure to invite all the ladies in your life to join! Wear
your favorite evening tea dress, your fanciest hat, and your
matching gloves as we join together and celebrate the amazing
women in our world! Stay tuned for more details as our elegant
event approaches.
United Methodist Men
Aldersgate United Methodist Mens group meets the second Thursday of the month at 6:30pm in
the Hospitality Room on the lower level. Come join in the fun and fellowship. Contact Merrill
Bishop at 434.975.3072.

Dear Aldersgate Friends,

At Aldersgate we strive to show and pass on Gods love to all of our neighbors. One way we do
that is through our annual Easter offering. The Outreach and Missions team is asking that you
prayerfully consider making a gift that will support the following mission projects:

Clara Biswas, a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist
Church, serves as Team Leader of Street Children Ministries in Cambodia. She
works to improve the lives of impoverished children living on the streets of
Phnom Penh, sharing the love of God, helping children obtain an education,
improving living conditions, and providing medical care and financial support.
Aldersgate has supported Clara for the last eight years and $2,500 of our Easter
offering will be sent to aid her in continuing her valuable work in Cambodia.
Offerings received above $2,500 will be divided equally between:
Stop Hunger Now: An international hunger relief non-profit
organization that coordinates the packaging and distribution of food
to the worlds most vulnerable people. Established in 1998, and
based in Raleigh, NC, it has mobilized over 500,000 volunteers to
send more than 245,000,000 meals to 73 countries.
ARISE (Alliance for Refugee and Immigrant Support and Education): A ministry of Africa
Lighthouse Baptist Temple to serve the spiritual, emotional and
practical needs of refugees and immigrants in the Charlottesville,
Virginia area. Funds contributed will be used to help refugees and
immigrants find jobs, establish their households, provide cell phones,
learn to drive and to establish networks within the community.

When you place your gift in the offering plate, please make a notation that it is for the Easter
Offering. Thank you for your consideration.

As you probably already know, Rev. Danny Kesner, our District Superintendent of the Charlottesville District
here in the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church, announced on Sunday, February 7, 2016,
that I will serve as the District Superintendent of the Lynchburg District beginning July 1, 2016. This new role
will involve working with 89 churches and their pastors and lay leaders in an area that stretches southward
from Amherst down to Smith Mountain Lake, and eastward to Appomattox and westward to Bedford. The
past few weeks have been quite full as I attend the monthly Bishop's Cabinet meetings in Richmond, learn
more about the Lynchburg District through the helpful tutorage of Rev. Larry Davies as he completes his
eight-year term as the Lynchburg District Superintendent; and as the ministry here at Aldersgate continues.
I am so grateful for the many conversations which have been full of gracious words celebrating out time
together here at Aldersgate while conveying your excitement for us as we move into this new setting for
ministry. I look forward to more conversations to come in the weeks and months ahead.
This is a liminal time, a time of transition, for us all. While liminal times can be both exciting and unsettling,
they are valuable opportunities for clarity about our lifes purpose and direction. This is true throughout the
Bible. We find this with Jacob as travels during a time of great change in his life. While sleeping at Bethel,
he receives clarity about his future with the assurance that God is with him (Genesis 28:10-22). I believe
these upcoming weeks and months are a great time for our congregation to pray and discern Gods next
steps in service and outreach.

As this journey continues youll be provided with a faithful, effective servant leader in the new pastor who
will come to serve among you beginning July 1, 2016. We have an itinerant ministry in The United
Methodist Church where pastors are sent into new settings for service by our Bishop and Cabinet after
careful consideration by each local church's Staff Parish Relations Committee and District Superintendent.
Our system is also dependent on strong lay leadership as ministry continues through building a partnership
with the pastors who come to serve in a new setting. I am excited about the possibilities ahead for you and
for your new pastor.
During this liminal time, I will do all that I can to help prepare the way for your new pastor. We will also
have a time during the 9:00 and 11:00 worship services on Sunday, June 12, 2016, my last Sunday at
Aldersgate, to celebrate our ministry and to offer forgiveness to one another as we release each other from
our ministry partnership. This means that I won't be returning to function as your pastor after I leave so that
your new pastor will be enabled to build a strong pastoral relationship with you. We'll have a visiting pastor
on Sunday, June 19, while I am attending Annual Conference in Roanoke, Virginia, and on Sunday, June 26,
while I take some vacation time before moving into my new role. We'll also make arrangements for pastoral
care during these two weeks as well.
Please feel free to be in touch with me at church, at scottdavis@cvaumc.org or at 434.973-5806. You may
also contact our Staff Parish Relations Committee Co-Chairs; Joan Forrest, jbforrest4@gmail.com,
434.974.6650 or Pat Daniel, jfd0740@embarqmail.com, 434.975.1363, as well as Laura Nelson, our Lay
Leader, at LNelson582@aol.com, 434.978.1954. Liminal times are full of promise and opportunity. Let's all
pray for one another and for your new pastor as we move together into the future in faith.
Grace and peace,
Scott
Rev. Scott Davis, Lead Pastor

21

Reverend Linwood Cook, a United Methodist minister in Virginia,

felt called to help the poor of the world and saw a need for
enabling volunteers in mission. In 2000, he founded the Friends
of Barnabas Foundation (FOBF), headquartered in Midlothian,
Virginia.
During the inaugural years, Reverend Cook and his son Matt laid
the foundation for the organization which exists today. From
simple mission trips to dispense Vitamin A and anti-parasite
medications to children, the trips expanded to include general
medicine, eye, and dental clinics to the poor communities in the
remote mountain regions of central Honduras.
Fifteen years have passed since that first mission trip. Today, one
medical team of 16 members travels to Honduras each month; by all
accounts, they are making a permanent impact on the health care and
quality of life for children in Honduras.
Fay Painter, a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, will be
traveling to Honduras for the fourth time, as the co-leader of the June
2016 medical team.
The cost is $2,000 per person,
which pays for the interpreters, Honduran dentist, Honduran medical
director, transportation to Honduras and within the country to the
communities, and accommodations in Honduras. In addition, the
team needs to raise $7,500 to pay for the medicine and medical
supplies.
Please consider a gift to sponsor her mission trip. Checks may be
made payable to AUMC and write Honduras Mission Trip in the
memo line.

In February we had a blast playing at the church playground and our trip to Saunders-Monticello Trail in
March was great as well. If you have any questions please contact Heidi Crockett at 434-806-3467 or
Tori Fahrenkrog at (804) 450-7035. Please come join in the fun!

4/11**

Pen Park , 1400 Pen Park Road, Charlottesville, 9:30 a.m.

4/19

Moms Night Out, 6:30 p.m. Hollymead Panera

5/2

Azalea Park, 304 Old Lynchburg Road, Charlottesville (near Fry Spring), 9:30 a.m.

5/17

Moms Night Out, 6:30 p.m. Location TBA

5/22

Spring Family Picnic at the Fahrenkrogs 4:30pm

Please RSVP to Tori Fahrenkrog at 804-450-7035.
Each family is asked to bring a side dish to share.

**In April, we will meet on the second Monday due to Albemarle County Public School spring break. If it is
rainy on days when outside activities are planned we will meet in the church fellowship hall for inside
fun. Please bring toddler ride-on toys and balls to share.

19

AUMC and the Black Box Players will be presenting Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat on July 28, 29, 30, 31, and August 4, 5, 6, 7. There will also be
a Dinner Theatre on Saturday, August 6. This fun musical, based on the story of
Joseph found in the Book of Genesis, will delight your whole family with its upbeat
music and dance!

Saturday, April 30
11am to 2pm

Adult actors of all ages are needed. Auditions will be held at AUMC in late May (date
TBA). All experience levels welcome there are great roles for both women and
men!
But if acting is not your thing ... Dont despair! We need help with many production
jobs including costume sewing, set construction and painting, and much more. If you
would like information on auditions or how you can help this summer, please e-mail
maryannethornton@gmail.com or call (434) 825-9202.
We look forward to another great summer production!

FREE food,
Sponsored by

games, crafts,
bouncy house,

and Fashion Show!

18

Celebrating Our Graduates!

Do you know a special high school, college, military or advanced degree student who
will be graduating this Spring? If so, please send his/her name, school, and degree
earned to Rachel (rachelmiller@cvaumc.org) no later than Monday, May 29th. We will
recognize graduates in the church bulletin in June.

Confirmation
Confirmation Sunday will be Sunday, May 8th, during the 11am Worship
service. Please join us that day to encourage those who have made the
decision to join Aldersgate UMC.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Update on Dresses for Haitian Orphanage

What a blessing it has been to the many who have participated

in making little dresses for the young girls in the Haiti
Orphanage. Over twenty women and children participated in
making dresses at home, at church, as well as coming in on
Thursdays during Busy Hands to help with whatever was
needed. Also, thank you to others who provided financial
support for fabric and notions; and the list goes on. A special
thank you to Sharon Simons who cut out 55 dresses for women
of the church to sew. And when she had finished that, she cut
out 15 more! You are awesome Sharon!! A dedication of the
dresses was performed during both the 9am and 11am services
on Sunday March 13th. Dr. Dave Reynolds, who leaves April 8th
on his 14th medical mission trip to Haiti, will be delivering these
special dresses. We hope to have pictures of the girls receiving their dresses to share with the congregation when
he returns. By surpassing our goal of 50 dresses, each girl can receive two dresses instead of one. Thanks be to God
for such an amazing ministry of our Aldersgate family.
Deb Reynolds, Nancy Berman and Kim Roll

Backpack Coordinator Needed

The Outreach and Missions team is looking for a dedicated volunteer to coordinate the backpack program at Greer
Elementary beginning in September of 2016. Training will be provided. A few of the duties include, meeting the
food truck on Wednesday mornings, preparing the food for packing on Wednesday evenings, and submitting a food
count to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank every Friday. Some of these duties are usually shared with other volunteers.
Please contact Deb Reynolds rynldsdeb@yahoo.com or 295-8217 for more information. This outreach of Aldersgate
has been an important part of its ministry for 11 years. Please pray about assuming this position. Thanks in advance
for considering.

UPDATE ON BOWLING FOR A CAUSE

Join us for Vacation Bible School at Aldersgate this summer!!
We'll be Exploring Egypt with Joseph from Monday, June 27th
through Thursday, June 30th each evening! Mark your calendars
now! If you're interesting in volunteering please mark the box on the
tear off flap of your bulletin or contact Rachel Miller at

RachelMiller@cvaumc.org.

Wow, what a sweet Valentines Day some of us had at Keglers Bowling Alley! Aldersgate
had two teams participate in the first ever Bowling For a
Cause event.
$1,110 was raised in donations from
members of our church family. In addition, some of our team
members raised even more money on their own. With three
other churches from the district participating, over $4,200
was raised. All monies will go towards the Heart Havens
Charlottesville District Apartment Project. This apartment
will provide housing for people with Intellectual Disabilities.
Thanks everyone from the bottom of our HEARTS
Deb Reynolds District Mission Chair

SPRING
Time to Get Out Into the Community
Please mark your calendars for April 22nd 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The Aldersgate Family has a wonderful
opportunity to partner with Greer Elementary School and their Spring Fling the evening of April 22 nd. We will
be working concessions to help the Greer Parent/Teacher Organization raise money for field trips and books
among other things.
We will need:

Juice-boxes, Capri Suns, and bottles of water

Homemade goodies cookies, brownies, Rice Krispy Treats, etc
Volunteers to set up and take down
Volunteers to work concession
Volunteers to mingle giving Aldersgate a presence at the school

We also invite any monetary donations to help buy supplies as well as support the school parent/teacher
organization. Please make those donations to Aldersgate but designate Greer Elementary. A sign-up sheet
will be in the Reed Room beginning the first Sunday in April.
For many years our Virginia Conference has been encouraging us to go out into the community. This is just
one of many ways we can accomplish that.
If you have any questions, see me or email me at morsekmm@gmail.com or you may speak with Deb
Reynolds.
As always, thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you April 22 nd.
Kathy Morse,
Chair, Missions/Outreach

Greatly Appreciated!
Thank you to everyone who donated toilet paper and
supplies for The Haven, Charlottesvilles downtown
resource center for the homeless of our community. As
you can see, we were able to keep them stocked for a
little while!

17

The United Methodist Churchs top legislative body will meet at the Oregon Convention Center, the largest
convention center in the Pacific Northwest, on May 10-20, 2016. General Conference is the top policy-making
body of The United Methodist Church which meets once every four years. The conference can revise church
law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves
plans and budgets for church-wide programs." For all things related to GC2016 please visit them online at
umc.org/topics/general-conference-2016. There you'll find links to pre-conference events, legislation, news,
resources, live stream during conference, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, and information that is
current and up-to-date.
The United Methodist Council of Bishops has invited each annual conference to designate one day to hold a
24-hour prayer vigil for General Conference. These prayer vigils began on Jan. 1 with the Greater New Jersey
Annual Conference and are continuing through the 131 days from Jan. 1 to May 10, the opening day of
General Conference. Because The United Methodist Church has 131 annual conferences throughout the
world, each annual conference is able to take one day. Bishop Young Jin Cho selected Sunday, April 10, to be
the day for the Virginia Conference prayer vigil. Each district is invited to plan activities using resources being
developed on both the conference and general church levels. As part of this initiative, the chapel in the
Virginia United Methodist Center in Glen Allen will be open for prayer. In addition, all congregations are
asked to include the prayer initiative in their Sunday services on that day." For more information please visit
vaumc.org/2016GeneralConference

DAVE REYNOLDS RETURNING TO HAITI

Dr. Reynolds has been a regular part of the April Medical Mission Team since 2001, and he will be leaving for
Haiti once again on April 8. Founded by Providence UMC of Charlotte NC in the mid 1980s, the Tovar Clinic in
northern Haiti is now perhaps the longest continuously operating medical clinic in Haiti. The Haiti Mission
sends four teams a year there, as well as funding a local Haitian physician to work there two days a week all
year long. Each team manages more than 3,000 patient visits in the six days of clinic, plus providing
substantial nutritional support, vitamin and iron supplements, and water purification tablets.
While each team member pays for his or her own food, lodging, and transportation expenses, other team
expenses are substantial. Medical supplies, medicines, drivers and vehicles to get the team to the clinic,
interpreters, clinic staff salaries, nutritional support for the most needy (fortified powdered milk, a fortified
bean and grain mix called AK mil), etc. it all costs about $30,000 per team! Providence UMC has continued
its support through the years, and other churches and private donors have helped keep this worthy project
going. And members of Aldersgate have also been very generous over the years (over $3,000 last year).
Raising over $100,000 a year, year in and year out, is certainly a daunting task. But The Haiti Mission
Foundation has been managing to do it with help from generous souls like you.
The encouragement, prayers, and financial support of the Aldersgate community are appreciated beyond
measure. Long days at the Tovar Clinic are made easier by the knowledge that so many of you care so much.
100% of every donated dollar goes directly towards funding this amazing mission. Checks can be written to
Aldersgate UMC with Haiti Mission on the memo line.

10

By: Rev. Joao Filimone Sambo