In Depth: 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 In Action

In Depth: “Have a Mary Christmas” is the name of the current sermon series, which has been designed to inspire us to grow closer to God during the Advent and Christmas seasons as we embrace the story of Mary the Mother of Jesus for ourselves. Today’s sermon, “Humble,” is the second sermon in the series. You will find the order of worship for today’s service on Page 4.

Welcome to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, where the mission is to raise up deeply devoted disciples of Jesus. You have a place here. Regardless of who you are, where you have been and where you are in faith’s journey, you belong here. In Aldersgate In Action, you will find information about various ministries and opportunities. Please, feel no pressure. Just know that if you are looking to grow in your faith and in relationships with God and others, you are welcome and encouraged to do both here. Grace and Peace!

Aldersgate United Methodist Church • 1741 Sayles Blvd., Abilene, TX 79605 • (325) 672-7893 www.aldersgateabilene.org In the Works

Regularly Scheduled Services and Opportunities to Grow and Serve: All are welcome! Please contact the Office (672-7893), if you’d like to know more about becoming involved in the items on the schedule below.

In Depth: Sunday School Sunday: Tuesday: classes are offered at 10:05 9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service Noon Ladies Fellowship Luncheon a.m. for all ages. To learn more about Adult Sunday School 10:05 a.m. Sunday School 6:00 p.m. Jubilee Ringers Rehearsal classes, call Amy Wilson Feltz 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service Wednesday: at 672-7893 or send her an 7:00-9:00 p.m. College Ministry 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal e-mail to amywilsonfeltz@ Friday: aldersgateabilene.org. 5:00 p.m. McMurry Baccalaureate in the Aldersgate Sanctuary

The UMW Women’s Fellowship Luncheon is Tuesday, December 10, at 12:00 noon in the Fellowship Hall. Cherie Colburn, mother of AUMC member Sarah Stock, will present the program on “Gifted to Give.” Child care will be available. The Mexican meal will be catered by Rev. Mary Garza of the Casa de Oracion Bethel UMC. This is a fundraiser for them, so although there is no charge for the meal, a basket for donations will be available. In Depth: Each week, these two pages will contain updates, news and other information about Aldersgate’s music ministry, the children’s, youth and college ministries, and opportunities to serve in the Mission Field. (The Mission Field has been identified as four areas of focus in which to share the love of God outside of the church locally: McMurry University (and other Abilene colleges and universities), Bowie Elementary, Our Neighborhoods and Aldersgate Academy.) Children’s Ministry: Christmas: And that is a very good thing! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Right? I truly love the Christmas season and all the joy and craziness it brings. But, the part I do not love is the "gimmees" it sometimes imparts to my kids. This is not entirely their fault - it's a good conversation starter for many - "What are you gonna get for Christmas this year?" So, this year, I followed the advice of a blogger I like, Glennon at Momastery. She suggested that the day after Thanksgiving, we tell our kids they are going to get 3 gifts this year. If they balk at that, you should remind them that Jesus got 3 gifts. Surely we don't think we deserve more than that on Jesus's birthday? Have them come up with 3 things they like, write them down, and then say, "Well, that's done. Now we are free from having to think about and worry about what we are going to get. The list is done. Now we are free to focus on the real meaning of Christmas, which is being thankful for Jesus's birth and asking how we can share his love with other people." So, that is what we have done this year, and so far, it has gone swimmingly. Every time the kids say, "Oh! I'd like that for Christmas," I remind them that the list is done and already sent. Gradually the asking is stopping. And that is a very good thing. — Alayna Brooks College Ministry: Christmas Party and a Free Brunch! Tonight at The Oaks, we will celebrate the end of the semester and the Christmas season with a party! There will be festive foods, games, music, and more to enjoy; but most importantly, we want to celebrate this Christmas season with each other. Regardless of whether or not you regularly participate in Sunday night Celebrations, you are invited to join the community tonight, beginning at 7pm at The Oaks (2250 S. 14th St)! All students are also invited to enjoy a free brunch tomorrow morning. Feel free to come and go before or after your finals tomorrow morning between 9-11am. The brunch will be served here at Aldersgate in the Fellowship Hall. We hope to see (and feed) you tomorrow morning, and feel free to bring a friend! Grace and Peace — Kyle Watson Youth Ministry: Let’s Put Christmas In It’s Place! That’s right! I said it! It’s high time we put Christmas back where it belongs, and that somewhere does not begin on November 1st. Don’t get me wrong, I much enjoy the beautiful decorations, the cherished time with family and friends, and of course the celebration of the glorious arrival of our Savior. However, let’s not put the cart before the horse. We are currently in the season of Advent, which is from the Latin adventus, or, “to come.” Advent is a time of year for hopeful anticipation! One of the reasons the Christmas celebration is so beautiful is the dramatic unfolding of a remarkable narrative that precedes the birth of our Lord. The sacrifices, courageous efforts, and the fulfilled prophesies of that preceding story that culminates with the beginning of the most picturesque love story in history is what we commemorate in this advent season. So as we approach the Christmas season, I pray that we may all richly experience and embrace this season of hopeful expectation and preparation of our Savior that is TO COME! — Daniel Mathis A Sermon series on “Have a Mary Christmas: Humble” Luke 1: 39-48 Sermon Notes

Mary’s Name and Self-Disclosure

The Magnificat

The Aspects of Biblical Humility

The Results In Other News Staff Gifts Dear Friends of Aldersgate, Our church has been so blessed this year to experience growth in membership, participation of all ages, and financial commitments with an over-arching excitement regarding the direction the Lord has for us in the coming days and months. In order for business to run smoothly on a daily basis at Aldersgate, the staff searches for God’s will and discernment — putting in numerous hours of service each week for this very purpose. Now it’s our turn to show our love and appreciation for the staff by collecting gifts of cash which will be dispersed to them prior to Christmas. The Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) is collecting these gifts through December 18 and invites individual members, Sunday school classes, and other organizations within the church to consider donating to this cause. Please direct your gifts designated for Staff Christmas Gifts to the church office or any SPRC member. Checks should be made payable to Aldersgate UMC. Staff members include: Pastor: Steve Brooks Associate Pastor: Amy Wilson Feltz Financial Officer: K.B. Woods Director of Administration: Carolyn Estes Receptionist: Susan Acosta Custodial Director: Ruben Sandoval Director of Music Ministries: David Wallis Director of Youth Ministries/Worship Leader: Daniel Mathis Associate Director of Contemporary Worship: Lauren Webb Director of Children’s Ministries: Alayna Brooks Associate Director of Children’s Ministries: Jennifer Carpenter Director of College Ministries: Kyle Watson Director of Aldersgate Academy: Carol Rogers Organist: Van Hayes Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 The Lord continues to bless the ministries of Aldersgate through our staff and we thank you for blessing them with your gifts… Merry Christmas!

The SPRC Members: Mary Lou Garrett, Spud Aldridge, Brad Birchum, Jennifer Mansker, Brad Hicks, Sally Villers, David Feemster, Loretta Carter, and John Stearns. In Depth: At Aldersgate, all are invited to practice faithfulness in our prayers, presence (attendance), gifts (offering of money), service (action in Ministry Leaders the community) and witness (sharing our faith). You will find information Pastor: Steve Brooks about service and witness throughout the pages of Aldersgate In Action. Associate Pastor: This page is dedicated to matters of prayer, presence, and gifts. Amy Wilson Feltz Prayers Finance: K. B. Woods R Betty Schaffner on Bredemeyer Alice Shaw Music: David Wallis Othell Greever Addison English Rosalee Dailey Emma Gene Gore Delmon Wilson Lou Adams Children: Alayna Brooks Donna Underwood Connie Gilbreth Clay Meadows & Jennifer Carpenter Jean Shoultz James Strain Marilyn Tate Doris Ogden Carolyn Strain Military and Families Youth/Contemporary Worship: Dori Oiler Dan Gilbreath Sue Wiggins Daniel Mathis Lou Swindell Clinton Gayle Contemporary Worship: The church thanks Mark Wyatt for his years of service as the prayer coordinator. We pray for the best that life has to offer for Mark and Mickee when they move to Lauren Webb Atlanta, Georgia this month. They will be missed. College/Young Adults: Kyle Watson We welcome our new e-mail prayer coordinator, Barbara Owens. Please send Academy: Carol Rogers prayer requests and requests to join the e-mail list to prayer@aldersgateabilene. org. Reception: Susan Acosta Administration: Carolyn Estes Aldersgate volunteers serve at the Methodist Food Pantry, located at 1102 N. Willis, on the second Tuesday of the month, from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m., and on the Custodial Services: fourth Tuesday of the month, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Free childcare is available. Ruben Sandoval For more information call Susan Steele at 605-381-6322.

Presence (12.1.2013) Staying Connected: 9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Service=184 Address: 1741 Sayles, 79605 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service=177 Phone Number: (325) 672-7893 Sunday school=205 The Oaks=22 Office Hours: Gifts Budget for 2013 = $663, 500.00 Mon. - Thurs. 8-12, 1-5 Received This Week = $13,826.29 (11.26-12.2) Fri. 8-12 Received Month-to-Date =$10,814.31 Received Year-to-Date = $654,356.29 Web Site: Faith Promise www.aldersgateabilene.org 2013 Faith Promise Pledges=$33,744.00 Facebook: Aldersgate UMC 2013 Faith Promise Contributions to date=$33,799.59 Text Message Reminders: In Depth: Aldersgate offers two forms of electronic giving: Online Bill Pay and ACH Direct Draft. EFT Authorization Forms are available in gracepeace to 313131 the office and on our website at www.aldersgateabilene.org. If you have E-mail Reminders: additional questions regarding Stewardship, contact K.B. Woods (672- 7893, [email protected]). [email protected]

In Depth: These In The Word daily Bible readings have by Pastor Steve been designed “The time came for the baby to be born, and to invite our she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She community to wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a engage the Word manger, because there was no room for them of God beyond in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7 Sunday mornings. The selections build upon Sunday’s It is almost unthinkable that when the savior of the world breathed his message. If you do not have a first, and the only ones outside his parents who knew it were animals, personal copy of the Bible, please maybe an innkeeper, and some shepherds. feel free to take one from the pew It’s almost as if Jesus tiptoed into the world, and the world was home with you so you may read and oblivious. study throughout the week. If Mary and Joseph were coming through Abilene and were looking for a place to give birth, assuming there were no hospitals, where would they be welcome? High on my list of likely places are convenient stores for three reasons: Daily Bible Readings 1) There are at least 58 of them. 2) They are open 24/7. 3) They all have The primary way that we grow in bathrooms. our love for God and others is to I can just picture Mary and Joseph stumbling into one of our local read and reflect on the Scriptures. convenient stores around 2 am, trying to explain the situation, and the That growth is accelerated when clerk saying nervously, “OOOOOOOOK . . . Sure . . . Just head back we read and reflect on the Bible in to the bathroom . . .” community. These passages have About 45 minutes pass. The clerk hears a baby cry. He walks back to been selected to reinforce this week’s the bathroom, amazed to see the newborn. message. Join the conversation on “His name is Jesus,” Joseph says. “He is the savior of the world.” the Aldersgate United Methodist It would be as if Jesus tiptoed into the world, and the world was Church Facebook page where you oblivious. can read and comment. This year, the Aldersgate community is choosing not to be oblivious to the reality that while practically everyone else is making merry on Sunday: Luke 1: 39-48 Christmas, the people who work in convenient stores are there to make our holiday a little easier. As we remember the secret that Christ dwells within us, we are going Monday: 1 Peter 5: 1-11 to take Jesus to the convenience store workers on Christmas Eve or Tuesday: James 4: 1-12 Christmas Day with a warm smile and delicious baked goods! Wednesday: Proverbs 3: 1-35 The first step is to pick up an envelope in the hallway. It contains the Thursday: Philippians 2: 1-11 directions and cards that you will need to do this act of kindness in Friday: Numbers 12: 1-15 Abilene or wherever you will be celebrating Christmas. (Envelopes for Saturday: Matthew 23: 1-12 those of you who will be traveling are marked, “Out of Town.”) If you need help baking cookies for this, just give me a call (325-660- How sweet are your words to my taste, 4415), and I will handle that part for you. I make a mean Chocolate sweeter than honey to my mouth! Chip Cookie! — Grace and Peace Psalm 119: 103