Advent & Christmas Eve 2025
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Wednesday, December 24th
3pm | Contemporary Worship + Pop-Up Children's Pageant
Candlelight Worship Service with Communion (nursery available for 3 & under)
Pop-Up Children's Pageant open to all children in worship - no rehearsal required!
5pm | Contemporary Worship
Candlelight Worship Service with Communion (nursery available for 3 & under)
7:00pm | Traditional Worship
Candlelight Worship Service with Communion (no nursery available)
Livestream will be available for 5pm & 7:00pm services (CLICK HERE)
Live nativity animals from 3:30pm - 7:00pm on the Front Lawn
Special Advent & Christmas Events

Advent Book Study with the Pastors
Join the Pastors for an Advent book study!
Nov. 20th, Dec. 4th, Dec. 11th, Dec. 18th | 7:00pm
Aldersgate UMC | Church Library
"Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus," by Andy Langford and Ann Langford Duncan
Join Pastor Bill and Pastor Sherry as we explore
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, by Andy Langford and Ann Langford Duncan.
Each week we will take a pilgrimage journey through the beloved stories of Christmas.
Through this study we hope to explore new aspects of scripture that lead us deeper into our relationship with Jesus.
We will meet 11/20, 12/04, 12/11, and 12/18.
Participants will need to purchase their own books. We will discuss Chapter 1 at our first meeting.
Please click here to register.
Please reach out to Pastor Sherry with any questions.
Join Pastor Bill and Pastor Sherry as we explore
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, by Andy Langford and Ann Langford Duncan.
Each week we will take a pilgrimage journey through the beloved stories of Christmas. Through this study we hope to explore new aspects of scripture that lead us deeper into our relationship with Jesus.
We will meet 11/20, 12/04, 12/11, and 12/18.
Participants will need to purchase their own books.
We will discuss Chapter 1 at our first meeting. Please click here to register.
Please reach out to Pastor Sherry with any questions.

Deck the Halls
CHURCH-WIDE EVENT
Sunday, November 23rd | After Service
Join us for lunch and Be the Good mission project. Then stay to help us get the church decorated for Advent and Christmas (both inside and out)!
Please join us as we decorate Aldersgate for the holiday season!
We want our church to look beautiful throughout Advent and Christmas,
and we can’t do it without our wonderful volunteers.
Following worship on Sunday, Nov. 23rd, meet us in Wesley Hall
around 11:30am, for a time of lunch and fellowship. So please stick around after worship ends!
After lunch, we will move into our Mission Project with Be the Good, by assembling Boost Bags. (more information, below).
When this is complete, we will put our decorating hats on and get the church ready for
Advent and Christmas, both inside and out!
Please click here to sign up!
There will be something for all ages to help out with as we make our church festive and bright!
So please bring the whole family to get in the Christmas spirit!
------------
We know that some people may not be able to contribute their Sunday afternoon to decorate in person, so we
wanted a way that those people could still feel connected and know they helped make Aldersgate
shine this Advent and Christmas season.
We have put together an Aldersgate Deck the Halls Amazon Wish List that includes outside lights for the bushes, Christmas ornaments, new lighted Christmas trees for Wesley Hall, a front lawn Nativity Scene, wreaths for the doors, and more.
All items are automatically routed to ship to the church. Any purchase made is greatly appreciated, and we are so
thankful that you are willing to give in this way!
------------
If you would like more information, please send a note to
Molly Johnson (txmollina@gmail.com) and Jill Cox (jcox@aldersgate.net).
Be the Good
This year as part of our Monthly Mission for November, will put together Boost Bags for Be the Good on Sunday, November 23rd, as a part of our Deck the Halls Christmas decorating event.
Boost Bags are filled with a variety of non-perishable foods that are tough to crush and packed in a gallon-sized zip lock — perfect for discreetly slipping into a child's backpack for a weekend or extended break. Boost Bags eliminates the need for parents to pick up donations while discreetly supporting families with children through partnerships with local schools.
Any questions, please reach out to our Executive Director, Jill Cox.
Please join us as we decorate Aldersgate for the holiday season!
We want our church to look beautiful throughout Advent and Christmas,
and we can’t do it without our wonderful volunteers.
Following worship on Sunday, Nov. 23rd, meet us in Wesley Hall
around 11:30am, for a time of lunch and fellowship.
So please stick around after worship ends!
After lunch, we will move into our Mission Project with Be the Good, by assembling Boost Bags. (more information, below).
When this is complete, we will put our decorating hats on and get the church ready for Advent and Christmas, both inside and out!
Please click here to sign up!
There will be something for all ages to help out with as we make our church festive and bright! So please bring the whole family to get in the Christmas spirit!
------------
We know that some people may not be able to contribute their Sunday afternoon to decorate in person, so we wanted a way that those people could still
feel connected and know they helped make Aldersgate shine
this Advent and Christmas season.
We have put together an Aldersgate Deck the Halls Amazon Wish List that includes outside lights for the bushes, Christmas ornaments, new lighted Christmas trees for Wesley Hall, a front lawn Nativity Scene, wreaths for the doors, and more. All items are automatically routed to ship to the church.
Any purchase made is greatly appreciated, and we are so thankful
that you are willing to give in this way!
------------
If you would like more information, please send a note to Molly Johnson (txmollina@gmail.com) and Jill Cox (jcox@aldersgate.net).
This year as part of our Monthly Mission for November, will put together Boost Bags for Be the Good on Sunday, November 23rd, as a part of our Deck the Halls Christmas decorating event.
Boost Bags are filled with a variety of non-perishable foods that are tough to crush and packed in a gallon-sized zip lock — perfect for discreetly slipping into a child's backpack for a weekend or extended break. Boost Bags eliminates the need for parents to pick up donations while discreetly supporting families with children through partnerships with local schools.
Any questions, please reach out to our Executive Director, Jill Cox.
Giving this Advent & Christmas Season
Alternative Christmas Giving

Welcome to Aldersgate United Methodist Church’s 23rd annual Alternative Christmas Giving to benefit the missions and the United Methodist Church in Cambodia. We sponsor this event during Advent to give folks an opportunity to honor Jesus’s birth by giving gifts of love to serve the poor as we seek to carry out Christ's commandment to “go and make disciples.” Shoppers make contributions to mission projects in Cambodia in the name of loved ones as an alternative to buying material goods.
This ministry was established and lovingly run for over two decades by Juanita Csontos. We continue this annual ministry in memory of Juanita and her passion for serving others.
Alternative Giving Volunteers will be at a table in Wesley Hall during Fellowship Time on November 30th, December 7th, 14th, and 21st to accept your gifts for the Cambodian Christians.
You may purchase online, or you may fill out the shopping list and either turn it in at
the Alternative Giving table or mail it to the church at:
1301 Collingwood Rd, Alexandria, VA 22308.
Please make checks out to Aldersgate UMC and indicate "Alternative Giving" on the memo line.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Julie Pfister.
Epiphany Tree

Epiphany is the day Christians remember the coming of the Magi to visit Jesus, bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It occurs on January 6th every year and marks the end of the Christmas season.
The word "epiphany," from the Greek word epiphania, means appearance or manifestation. The arrival of these visitors was a sign that the incarnation of God in Christ had been made known and was recognized by the heavens to the whole world, so that even Gentile wise men from the East came to pay him homage. This is an observance of great majesty, solemnity, and awe. Just as the Magi brought gifts to Jesus, we invite you to bring a gift for a baby, toddler, or new mother.
You can place these donations (unwrapped) in the box under the Epiphany Tree in the Narthex (outside the sanctuary). We will collect baby and toddler gifts throughout Advent and Christmastide, all the way up to Epiphany Sunday. In January, we will donate the gifted items to Second Story for Young Mothers, a Transition Living Program in Northern Virginia that helps pregnant or parenting moms ages 16 to 24 attain safety, stability, and independence.
Learn more about Second Story for Young Mothers at here.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Molly Johnson.
Thank you for being a blessing to others less fortunate.
Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Sunday, December 24th
3pm | Contemporary Worship + Pop-Up Children's Pageant
Candlelight Worship Service with Communion (nursery available for 3 & under)
Pop-Up Children's Pageant open to all children in worship - no rehearsal required!
5pm | Contemporary Worship
Candlelight Worship Service with Communion (nursery available for 3 & under)
7pm & 9pm | Traditional Worship
Candlelight Worship Service with Communion (no nursery available)
Live stream will be available for 5pm & 7pm services (CLICK HERE)
Live nativity animals from 3:30pm - 7:00pm on the Front Lawn
Come see Chewy the Camel!