Alexandria United Methodist Church
Saturday, August 31, 2024
 Butterfly Hill Nature Preschool Give online! Ministerial Schedule! |
AnnouncementsOur Church's main communication comes through REMIND
Please join REMIND to stay connectional: text these digits @28kcbk to this “phone” number: 810810
Once you come to the join page, choose a "student" account.
We send out updates via REMIND that come to you in a timely, quick, brief format!
A safe, reliable app used by public schools across the state.
Worship with us on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m.
In person or online on our YouTube Channel, @AlexUMC
Children's Sunday School programming - for ages 3-14, every Sunday, after Pr. Amy's children's message in the sanctuary, children reconvene in the Sunday School classroom. See more below about our programming!
Sunday Coffee Fellowship
After our 9 a.m. service every Sunday, join us for Coffee fellowship!
If you are interested in providing the treats for Sunday's Coffee Fellowship, please email us at office@alexumc.org. This year's schedule can be found by clicking here. We prepare an annual sign-up in November each year so now is the time to let us know you would like to be added as a regular or a sub. Thank you in advance for your food ministry to our church!
Committee Meeting Schedules
Meetings schedules are subject to change. Please consult the weekly calendar.
Council minutes and financial reports posted on bulletin board in the office hallway
SPRC, 5pm - First Monday of the month Administrative Council, 8:30am - Second Monday of the month Trustees, 5:30pm - Last Monday of the month Finance Committee - (schedule changes/posted in bulletin) Missions and Social Concerns - Third Thursday of the month, 3pm
For the meetings schedule for these committees, please contact the Chair. Care Team, Sue Helgeson, jshelgy@charter.net Card Care Team, Pat Vickerman, ptvick@gctel.net Kitchen Committee, Betty Van Zomeren, bvanzome@wisper-wireless.com
Announcements/Calendar
A letter from the pastor. On Sunday, October 1, we will begin a churchwide study and worship emphasis called “Enough: Discovering joy through simplicity and generosity”. The theme is stewardship. Over a period of four weeks or so, we will look at some of the financial challenges facing us as a nation and examine our own spending, saving, and giving habits. In addition to exploring biblical principles of financial management as individuals, as partners, and as a community of faith, we will learn ways to assess our financial situation and develop a financial plan that encourages us to more fully experience the true joy that comes through simplicity and generosity. In the coming weeks, more information will be available here, via our website, and in USPS mailings to members. We are looking forward to this exploration alongside you! 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Peace in Christ, Pr. Amy
Alexandria UMC VBS 2024 - thank you for a wonderful season of VBS! A special thanks to Amy Rieke!
Office updates
Pizza with a purpose!
Every Wednesday, June-August
Each week, different local non-profits are featured - and each week, your dollar goes further to help support all the good that is going on in our community! Click here to see the schedule of non-profits
Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God!
Bricks to Bread Bricks to Bread Volunteer Sign-up, Click here
Outdoor worship, September 8 - meet us under the tent, 9am!
Joy Circle Gathering September 19 at 9:30 a.m., Fellowship Hall. Come with a devotion to share! Sermon Series beginning October 2024. Pr. Amy will begin a never-been-done at Alex UMC sermon series, “Enough”. With many opportunities for dialogue and beginning this September, we hope you will join us for this series that wraps up in early January. Together, we will endeavor to look at how we can manage our financial resources and truly experience simplicity, generosity, and joy! Upcoming 'Global Special Sundays': · October 6, World Communion Sunday, provides scholarships for U.S. racial-and ethnic-minority students and international students, on both undergraduate and graduate levels. · Confirmation and New Member Sunday, also Reformation Sunday, is October 27 this year! · November 24, Reign of Christ Sunday and United Methodist Student Day, furnishes scholarships and loans for student attending United Methodist-related and other accredited colleges and universities. Friends Gathering September 30, 5 p.m., Fireside Room, The Lure Lakebar. All are welcome.
Youth Group
Click here to visit our YG page
Donate your old frames to Kissey Eye Clinic! The box in the Narthex to collect eyeglasses and cases for the Lowell and Ruth Eye Clinic/Hospital is back on the shelf. Dr. Deb Risvedt (Lowell Gess’s granddaughter) was very thankful for the ones delivered to Vance Thompson Vision before Christmas. She said they really need and can use them now in Sierra Leone. Alex UMC has been collecting used glasses and cases for this mission project for many years. Your support is appreciated. Thank you.
Food Shelf The need is ongoing, and the number of people being served by the Alexandria Outreach Food Shelf continues to increase. Food donations can be placed in the "Food Shelf" basket in the narthex. If you wish to make a monetary donation, make your check payable to Alexandria UMC and note the Food Shelf on the memo line of your check. Sock drive. socks/underwear for West Central Community Action and Milestones can also be placed in the Food Shelf basket as well About Children's Sunday School with Alexandria UMC
Pr. Amy leads an interactive children's message during worship every Sunday!
Sunday School, Ages 4 - Grade 5, September-May Christian Education with Alex UMC
Ecumenical Bible Study
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. Mondays, Windmill Pond Chapel (2nd floor)
 715 Victor St, Alexandria, MN 56308,All are welcome and encouraged to join us! We meet for 45 minutes or so and Pr. Amy and Sue Helgeson lead the group in sharing, prayer, Bible-based discussions and often a hymn or two! No homework - just come as you are!
More at Alex UMC!
Pizza Ministry at the Alexandria Community Wood-fired Oven
Wednesday nights, June-August: 4:30-7pm See schedule here: https://alexandriacommunitywoodfired.com/index.php/entertainment/ Youth programming and Confirmation with Alex UMC
The Faithful Five:
Prayers - we visited various stations that led us in different ways to pray
Presence - we listened to a presentation on noticing how our attention to our faith life is vital for our formation as Christians Gifts - we took an 80 question assessment that revealed spiritual talents that we are using every day even if we aren’t consciously thinking about it Service - we created a skit about a service project we might do in our congregation. Our group did a skit about starting a ‘kindness campaign' Witness - we heard testimony from one of our group leaders about his own faith journey "I am excited and curious about all that we can do together, and most importantly, I am interested in endeavoring to grow in faith alongside the youth of Alexandria UMC." -Pr. Amy
About Youth Group, Grades 6-12
The tenants of my curriculum and theology around youth programming is first and foremost about relationships and building connection. My vision for healthy programming is to have opportunities for youth of all ages - it is the intersectionality of interesting, fun, and engaging programming that informs and supports the faith life of our youth. Five Units Unit 1: The Geography, life and times of ancient peoples Unit 2: Work, Money, and the Bible Unit 3: World Religions Unit 4: Our Methodist expression of the Christian faith Unit 5: United Methodist polity, doctrine, and social principles
When does the Youth Group meet? **Wednesday evenings, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., September-May with one Congregational Life (CL) event a month in place of our regular Wednesday evening meetings, 6-7:30 p.m. **be sure to join REMIND for updates to our schedule Field Experiences Each field experience has a “thinking theologically” component and continues the conversation about it means to be a Christian in the 21st Century. Minnesota State Capital and Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church Thinking Theologically: As we explore our values as 21st Century Christians, we will also be unpacking the politics of ancient Israel during Jesus’ time. We will be asking questions like, “How might building the Kingdom of God be the same or different from Kingdom-building empire/government in ancient times and now-times?” Taking a grip to our own state capital endeavors to understand why laws are both important and complicated. Youth Event with the Conference (TBD) Thinking Theologically: The Conference Youth Ministry offers a once-a-year program that anchors the expression of our denomination - Methodism - in Christian faith. This is where our youth will further explore Methodist social principles, polity, and doctrine. A date has not yet been set for this event. Stay tuned! About Confirmation What Confirmation IS: Confirmation is a covenant. Confirmation, not being something you do, but something you live out - a lifestyle. Confirmation is fun! Confirmation is a time to explore, learn, grow, and discern God’s calling for you in your life Confirmation is learning about what it means to be an adult in the Methodist expression of the Christian faith. Confirmation is a time to think theologically about the values and Christian ethics that created the Methodist movement in the United States. A movement that began in the home of Susanna Wesley, the first founder of Methodism, and then brought more fully into form by her sons, John and Charles Wesley, two Anglican priests. What Confirmation is NOT:
Confirmation is not a program. Confirmation is not a youth group. Confirmation is not ‘graduation from church’. Confirmation is not the end to something you did. Confirmation is not a sacrament. Confirmation is not something we do because “my parents” said I had to. Confirmation is not a test. And, Confirmation does not always end in a service of Confirmation. Confirmation requirements for Confirmation in the Alexandria UMC Should you decide to make the covenant official by a service of Confirmation during a worship service with our church family, these are the expectations: 10 Sermon Notes (in-person or YouTube), written format Community Service, 75-hour requirement Completed Units: Methodism - history, polity, and doctrine Methodism - our social principles and social creed Methodism - the sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism Final deliverables regarding the units
1) Sharing your call story/faith statement with Pr. Amy in the format of your choosing: orally, written, video, …I am very flexible on this. 2) In-person meeting with Pr. Amy, your parents, and a sponsor, to share what you would like to share about your faith journey and how you would like us to support you as you continue on your faith journey as a Methodist! If you have a youth interested in our weekly programming or in our Confirmation programming, please contact her at pastor@alexum.org. If you are an adult interested in learning more about Confirmation and/or helping with our youth programming, please contact Pr. Amy and schedule an appointment. Pastor's office hours are posted in the weekly bulletin or call Ginger at 320-763-4624. Looking Ahead - Stay tuned for timely updates regarding this pilgrimage. Praying for peace in Israel and Palestine.
Pr. Amy and Thomas are planning travel to the Holy Land with the tour, "The Holy Land - The Women in Jesus' Life"
Are you interested? This travel is currently postponed due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Our Contact information
Rev. Amy VanValkenburg, LLP Email: pastor@alexumc.org, Pastor's mobile: 320-309-5574/320-460-0776 Ginger Mayer, Admin. Assistant, Phone: 320-763-4624 Email: office@alexumc.org, Office Hours: 9am - 1pm, Church Address: 2210 Sixth Avenue E, Alexandria, MN 56308
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