IMPORTANT NOTICE: ALL CHURCH SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE VIRUS
Fried Fish Dinner - Friday, March 27th, CANCELLED
Pill Bottles
Yes, we are collecting them again. The bottles are sent to hospitals in third world countries so they can dispense medications properly. Be sure the bottles are clean. All sizes and shapes are acceptable. White bottles must have the labels and all glue removed.
Next Step Update
Thank you to all who attended the meeting last Sunday. The meeting was called to gather information that accurately describes who we are at Alplaus Church. Replies to this inquiry included: friendly, comfortable, kind, home, loving, tolerant, belonging, ok to express ideas, and good fruit!
Change is likely coming to the United Methodist Church in May. After General Conference, we might need to decide where we stand. The Next Step Team is trying to help our congregation to define ourselves so that we will be better prepared to respond to whatever comes in May. The Next Step team is functioning like a voice crying out - not in the wilderness, but right here at home. This coming change is currently undetermined and potentially huge. Our preparations - in the form of self-defining conversations - can help us prepare the way so that when a path appears through this unknown desert, it may be easier to walk together. Our conversations, like the one on Sunday, can help us to identify who we are as a congregation which will assist us to make a choice together. Decisions will or will not be made at General Conference. Together, we can prepare for what our next steps will be.
Does anyone have the desire to have conversations relating an understanding of “welcoming” to the Wesleyan Quadrilateral (Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience)? In the meantime, if you want to share your opinion and hopes, please reach out to me at koch8255@gmail or my cell phone 518-248-8138.
Blessings,
Next Step Team
Carolyn, Karen, Dick & Claudia
Prayer Group
I am excited about a new Thursday prayer group. Anyone who wishes may come and join together in prayer on Thursday afternoons – we will meet in the fellowship hall at 12:30 each Thursday (except for when UMW is meeting – the 3rd Thursday). There is no book to read, there is no homework – it is an opportunity to gather and share our joys and concerns and to lift them up in prayer. Sometimes folks don’t feel comfortable voicing their prayers in front of others – that’s ok, you don’t have to. Sometimes, folks want to discover and/or share prayer disciplines. On our first gathering, I will share a bit of my intentional prayer process (the part that isn’t me singing and praying while driving in my car!). We may – as the gathered group discerns interest - delve into learning various forms of spiritual disciplines.
While the style of praying may change from week to week – I am hoping that the constant will be a group of people lifting up our cares and concerns in prayer. We will intentionally hold our congregation, our community, our region, our world and each other in love, care and prayer. All are welcome to come and participate.
12:30 on Thursdays (not the 3rd if there is UMW) in the fellowship Hall.
Next Step Team
In October 2019, a team was established at Alplaus UMC after Amanda shared details about the 2019 General Conference during the Laity Service. This group has been meeting with other local congregations learning to prayerfully research, review, discuss and discover feelings surrounding the results from the General Conference decision where a partial version of the Traditional Plan was approved, by a vote of 438 to 384 (53.3 to 46.7 percent). Based on the General Conference results and the upcoming 2020 Conference vote, the Administration Council at Alplaus agreed to form a team to open a dialogue about the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals within the life and ministries of our church. Through this dialogue, we seek to find an understanding of how we plan to welcome people now and in the future within our congregation. The team will be meeting in January to plan a congregation meeting where we can have an open discussion about this topic and answer questions that you may have regarding the upcoming proposals for 2020.
Yours in Christ,
Carolyn, Dick, Karen & Claudia
Community Luncheon
The community luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 10th in Fellowship Hall. Last month the weather wasn’t good and a lot of people had colds, so our attendance was rather low. Hope March will be a better month for everyone! Hope to see you on the 10th.
United Methodist Women
The UMW will meet Thursday, March 19th at 12:30 in Fellowship Hall. As I write this Mandy is on her way to Florida for a much-needed vacation so I don’t know what the program is for March. The program booklets should be ready for the March meeting. See you then!
Confirmation Class - open to youth grade 6 and above - will start 9/8 at 9m. This class will be in place of regular Sunday School. Aiming for Confirmation on 5/31 (Pentecost). From umc.org: “Confirmation includes three aspects,” This Is Your Baptismal Liturgy summarizes. “a) God confirms the divine promise to those who were too young to grasp what God was doing in their baptism, b) they respond by professing their own acceptance of the grace they have received and their own faith in Christ, c) the Church, as represented by this congregation, confirms the commitments they make.” Confirmation is not a destination. It is more of a way station, a place where we renew our commitment to the journey we have been traveling under the care of others. “It is the first time that persons publicly declare their intention to live out the vows of the baptismal covenant,” Burton-Edwards teaches. “It is not intended to be the last time. It’s just that confirmation is the label we put on the first time.” It is also a time for a congregation to celebrate their young people’s commitment to “live as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ,” and to renew their commitment to do the same.
Sunday School News
The format of our class has changed this year since the girls are now older. We have started to incorporate some of the format used during the regular church service. For example, we are lighting a candle at the beginning of class to emulate what we do during church and have discussed the symbolism of light in the Christian faith. We are also sharing our joys and concerns with one another, and sometimes they also share them during the church service. The girls continue to be our acolytes during the church service which we are very grateful for. During the first month of class we read about various miracles Jesus performed and compared them among the 4 Gospel books. We started to explore the miracles in the Old Testament.
Prayer Chain
The Prayer chain has been revised! There will still be two lists. One list will remain as a phone call list. The second list will be for anyone who would like to receive the prayer request by text message. To activate the prayer chain, please call Mary Herrick (518-399-2113) or call/text Carolyn Koch (518-248-8138). Please contact Pastor Kristi (518-469-7764 or revklvp@yahoo.com) if you have the need for private prayer. If you are not already part of the prayer chain and would like to be included, please let me know. Thanks, Carolyn
Pill Bottles
Yes, we are collecting them again. The bottles are sent to hospitals in third world countries so they can dispense medications properly. Be sure the bottles are clean. All sizes and shapes are acceptable. White bottles must have the labels and all glue removed.
Next Step Update
Thank you to all who attended the meeting last Sunday. The meeting was called to gather information that accurately describes who we are at Alplaus Church. Replies to this inquiry included: friendly, comfortable, kind, home, loving, tolerant, belonging, ok to express ideas, and good fruit!
Change is likely coming to the United Methodist Church in May. After General Conference, we might need to decide where we stand. The Next Step Team is trying to help our congregation to define ourselves so that we will be better prepared to respond to whatever comes in May. The Next Step team is functioning like a voice crying out - not in the wilderness, but right here at home. This coming change is currently undetermined and potentially huge. Our preparations - in the form of self-defining conversations - can help us prepare the way so that when a path appears through this unknown desert, it may be easier to walk together. Our conversations, like the one on Sunday, can help us to identify who we are as a congregation which will assist us to make a choice together. Decisions will or will not be made at General Conference. Together, we can prepare for what our next steps will be.
Does anyone have the desire to have conversations relating an understanding of “welcoming” to the Wesleyan Quadrilateral (Scripture, Tradition, Reason, Experience)? In the meantime, if you want to share your opinion and hopes, please reach out to me at koch8255@gmail or my cell phone 518-248-8138.
Blessings,
Next Step Team
Carolyn, Karen, Dick & Claudia
Prayer Group
I am excited about a new Thursday prayer group. Anyone who wishes may come and join together in prayer on Thursday afternoons – we will meet in the fellowship hall at 12:30 each Thursday (except for when UMW is meeting – the 3rd Thursday). There is no book to read, there is no homework – it is an opportunity to gather and share our joys and concerns and to lift them up in prayer. Sometimes folks don’t feel comfortable voicing their prayers in front of others – that’s ok, you don’t have to. Sometimes, folks want to discover and/or share prayer disciplines. On our first gathering, I will share a bit of my intentional prayer process (the part that isn’t me singing and praying while driving in my car!). We may – as the gathered group discerns interest - delve into learning various forms of spiritual disciplines.
While the style of praying may change from week to week – I am hoping that the constant will be a group of people lifting up our cares and concerns in prayer. We will intentionally hold our congregation, our community, our region, our world and each other in love, care and prayer. All are welcome to come and participate.
12:30 on Thursdays (not the 3rd if there is UMW) in the fellowship Hall.
Next Step Team
In October 2019, a team was established at Alplaus UMC after Amanda shared details about the 2019 General Conference during the Laity Service. This group has been meeting with other local congregations learning to prayerfully research, review, discuss and discover feelings surrounding the results from the General Conference decision where a partial version of the Traditional Plan was approved, by a vote of 438 to 384 (53.3 to 46.7 percent). Based on the General Conference results and the upcoming 2020 Conference vote, the Administration Council at Alplaus agreed to form a team to open a dialogue about the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals within the life and ministries of our church. Through this dialogue, we seek to find an understanding of how we plan to welcome people now and in the future within our congregation. The team will be meeting in January to plan a congregation meeting where we can have an open discussion about this topic and answer questions that you may have regarding the upcoming proposals for 2020.
Yours in Christ,
Carolyn, Dick, Karen & Claudia
Community Luncheon
The community luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 10th in Fellowship Hall. Last month the weather wasn’t good and a lot of people had colds, so our attendance was rather low. Hope March will be a better month for everyone! Hope to see you on the 10th.
United Methodist Women
The UMW will meet Thursday, March 19th at 12:30 in Fellowship Hall. As I write this Mandy is on her way to Florida for a much-needed vacation so I don’t know what the program is for March. The program booklets should be ready for the March meeting. See you then!
Confirmation Class - open to youth grade 6 and above - will start 9/8 at 9m. This class will be in place of regular Sunday School. Aiming for Confirmation on 5/31 (Pentecost). From umc.org: “Confirmation includes three aspects,” This Is Your Baptismal Liturgy summarizes. “a) God confirms the divine promise to those who were too young to grasp what God was doing in their baptism, b) they respond by professing their own acceptance of the grace they have received and their own faith in Christ, c) the Church, as represented by this congregation, confirms the commitments they make.” Confirmation is not a destination. It is more of a way station, a place where we renew our commitment to the journey we have been traveling under the care of others. “It is the first time that persons publicly declare their intention to live out the vows of the baptismal covenant,” Burton-Edwards teaches. “It is not intended to be the last time. It’s just that confirmation is the label we put on the first time.” It is also a time for a congregation to celebrate their young people’s commitment to “live as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ,” and to renew their commitment to do the same.
Sunday School News
The format of our class has changed this year since the girls are now older. We have started to incorporate some of the format used during the regular church service. For example, we are lighting a candle at the beginning of class to emulate what we do during church and have discussed the symbolism of light in the Christian faith. We are also sharing our joys and concerns with one another, and sometimes they also share them during the church service. The girls continue to be our acolytes during the church service which we are very grateful for. During the first month of class we read about various miracles Jesus performed and compared them among the 4 Gospel books. We started to explore the miracles in the Old Testament.
Prayer Chain
The Prayer chain has been revised! There will still be two lists. One list will remain as a phone call list. The second list will be for anyone who would like to receive the prayer request by text message. To activate the prayer chain, please call Mary Herrick (518-399-2113) or call/text Carolyn Koch (518-248-8138). Please contact Pastor Kristi (518-469-7764 or revklvp@yahoo.com) if you have the need for private prayer. If you are not already part of the prayer chain and would like to be included, please let me know. Thanks, Carolyn