Courageously living and sharing God's unconditional love every day, with everyone, everywhere. NURSERY Your children are as important to us as they are to you (well, almost). That’s why we provide a safe, loving, Christian environment for your babies and toddlers ages 3 and under while you are at worship. The Nursery is available during all Sunday morning worship services in rooms 122 and 123. All staff members have had background checks, CPR training, and follow CDC safety guidelines. For more information, please contact our Director of Child Care, Corey Bales . We hope to see you this Sunday!

Courageously living and sharing God's unconditional love every day, with everyone, everywhere. ALDERSGATE WEATHER POLICY Weekdays If the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) closes the Federal Government, the church office will close and ALL activities/events at the church will be cancelled. If Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) cancels school, all scheduled children's and youth activities will be cancelled. NOTE : The Aldersgate Day School has its own policy which closely follows FCPS. Find out more here . If the Senior Pastor decides to close Aldersgate due to weather, the Receptionist or Executive Director will contact all event leaders to notify them of the closure. An announcement will be placed on the church website and posted to Facebook. Out of an abundance of care for everyone's safety, when the facility is closed, we ask that all activities pause and that no one be on the premises. Weekends A closure decision will be made as early as possible. An announcement will be placed on the church website and posted to Facebook.

< Back Callie McIlwain Receptionist Email: receptionist@aldersgate.net Phone: (703) 765-6555 x603

< Back Judy Jurkowski Wellness Coordinator & Director of Congregational Care Email: jjurkowski@aldersgate.net Phone: (703) 765-6555 x626

Help build relationships and provide a meal with Rising Hope Mission Church. MISSION INFORMATION < Previous Back to Local Missions Next > Sunday Breakfast at Rising Hope Second Sunday Breakfast at Rising Hope AUMC has long partnered with Rising Hope Mission Church to provide a worship service meal on the Second Sunday of each month. 12 families/ friends and assorted church groups can take on this wonderful event one or two time(s) a year. Youth groups and children are welcome to participate and will learn much in this effort but will need to be supervised on-site. The service need is two-fold: 1) Provide a substantial breakfast in a ready to go condition for approximately 40. Volunteers/Church service participants will deliver and help set up food at 8am on the Second Sunday of a month. 2) Provide 3-4 volunteers who will stay and participate in the Second Sunday Worship Service which begins with coffee at 8:45am with meal and discussion at 9 am. The service lasts about an hour, and clean-up is generally completed by 10:30 am. If you and your group cannot stay for the service that is OK! By the Thursday before, contact should be made with Rising Hope staff, Darlene Runaldue -Community Care Coordinator drunaldue@risinghopeumc.org or 703.360.1976 who can provide information regarding what food items and paper goods they may already have in place for the upcoming Second Sunday. Many hands make light work! Julie Pfister has spearheaded this effort for AUMC for many years and can help answer questions that may arise. She can be reached at julie.pfister@gmail.com AUMC and Rising Hope sincerely thank you for taking on a month and a meal! If you have questions or would like more information on this ministry opportunity, please contact Julie Pfister . Click here to sign up for a date. < Previous Next >

Courageously living and sharing God's unconditional love every day, with everyone, everywhere. SUPPORT GROUPS Aldersgate United Methodist Church offers support groups to the congregation and to our community. Monthly Caregiver Support Group Aldersgate UMC offers a support group for those who are caregivers. The monthly Caregiver Support Group will meet on the SECOND Wednesday of every month at 5:00pm in the Library. For more information, please contact Judy Jurkowski, Wellness Coordinator & Director of Congregational Care ( judy@aldersgate.net ) . Monthly Grief Support Group Aldersgate UMC offers a support group for those who have experienced a loss and who are grieving. The monthly Grief Support Group will meet on the THIRD Wednesday of every month at 5:00pm in the Library. For more information, please contact Judy Jurkowski, Wellness Coordinator & Director of Congregational Care ( judy@aldersgate.net ) . Weekly Divorce Care Group Aldersgate UMC offers a weekly virtual support group for those who are going through or have gone through divorce. This group will foster healing from separation or divorce. Meetings consists of a discussion of the material (video and workbook) completed during the week. The DivorceCare videos cover topics essential to recovering from the hurt of separation or divorce. The group will meet weekly on Tuesday at 7pm starting September 19th. All meetings are virtual. Please visit the DivorceCare website for additional information on the program and to register to attend the group meetings hosted by Aldersgate UMC. Attendance at each session is not required for participation. There is a $20 fee that covers the cost of the workbook.

Courageously living and sharing God's unconditional love every day, with everyone, everywhere. CREATION CARE "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it." Psalm 24:1 As Christians we are called to care for all of God's creation. As United Methodists, we believe that we are not called to merely be observers. Rather, we are called to actively love and tend to all of God's creation. The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church speak to the issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation. One of the United Methodist Church's Social Principles is to care for the Community of All Creation . God has charged us to be stewards of God's creation. "Rather than treating creation as if it were placed here solely for humanity’s use and consumption, we are called to practice responsible stewardship and to live in right relationship with the Creator and with the whole of God’s creation (Gen. 1:26–31; Matt. 6:26–30; Rom. 8:22–24)." The Aldersgate Creation Care Team works towards living into the United Methodist Social Principle: Community of All Cration and our Aldersgate UMC Strategic Priorities of Missional Outreach and Social Justice. To help educate, disciple, and model ways to transform for the better those people and causes we seek to serve locally, nationally, and internationally. The Creation Care Team comes together every 2 months to find ways that Aldersgate can improve the way we care for God's creation. We talk about engaging this ministry in the following ways: Worship; Learning and Teaching; Lifestyle; and Community, National, and Global Involvement. Our key focus areas for 2025 are energy efficiency; native trees, shrubs, and flowers; and plastic reduction policy for Aldersgate UMC. We are open to all subjects and ideas for creation care education, events, and policies. Upcoming Meeting Dates Tuesday, November 11th • 1-2pm • Room 203 For more information, please contact Lorrie Rezendes (lorretired@aol.com or 571-309-6001). United Methodist Creation Justice Monthly Tips The United Methodist Creation Justice Movement provides tips each month to help us respond to God's call to care for creation and do justice with our neighbors. Share these tips with your family, friends, and neighbors. CLICK HERE to see more tips and to subscribe to receive the monthly tips in your email directly from the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement. For more about the UMC Creation Justice Movement, visit to umcreationjustice.org . July 2025 Tips July's Hot Topic is Heat! The effects of heat go deeper than just feeling too hot. Here are some cool tips for cooling off and consequently being kind to God’s creation, including people. From New Holland, Ohio, to New York City, communities are creating small parks and playgrounds. Research shows proximity to trees and green space does a lot of good, including keeping the air and tempers cooler. Look at your neighborhood for potential pocket parks. Then speak up to neighbors and local decision makers. As air temperatures rise, so do tempers. On hotter-than-normal days, nationwide, gun violence rises, robbing too many families of the lives of their children, teens, and parents. Work with others to identify “heat islands” and mitigate this justice issue. Plant a green oasis. Urban agriculture—cultivating crops within city areas—provides access to fresh and healthy food, reduces food’s carbon footprint, and creates a healthier social environment. People come together to transform rooftops, patios, backyards and front yards into gardens or simply to “stop by.” Either way contributes to the sense of a cool community. Air conditioners use a high amount of energy to cool a space, resulting in more greenhouse gas emissions. Ceiling fans, on the other hand, use minimal energy to circulate air and can make a room feel cooler without drastically reducing the temperature. Flip the switch to your fan. Work with nature this summer to stay cooler. Shut blinds and drapes where the sun beats down; open windows at night; amplify that breeze with a window fan. Take a cue from siesta cultures, where many people work morning and later afternoon, chilling out during the hottest hours of the day. Make your church’s property cooler. Consider removing the paving from a portion of the parking lot and planting trees in the newly reclaimed land. In the midst of urban heat-reflecting concrete and asphalt, a church with lots of trees stands out as an inviting sanctuary. Cool off the market for plastic. Refuse, reduce, and reuse strategies work; recycle is less available. Remember your reusable shopping bags; choose a non-plastic reusable drink container; buy bulk, refillable, or solid items such as shampoo bars that have no plastic packaging; switch to glass storage bowls; move away from “disposable” anything. Make it cool to be green. What you do and what you say have an impact on what others think and do. You have multiple circles of influence: family, friends, colleagues—even casual acquaintances and observers. Don’t hesitate to infuse your conversation with what is important to you. Cool your own temperature by reconnecting with nature. With life’s hot pressures assaulting you, take time to be in God’s creation to gain perspective and renewal. Shade offers a 10–15-degree respite from direct sunlight. Only seven states have laws to protect workers with outdoor jobs from extreme heat. Despite the dangers, others leave it up to employers to decide. Find out what safeguards are in place or not and advocate for lifesaving policies. Seek justice for those who cannot speak up for themselves.

Courageously living and sharing God's unconditional love every day, with everyone, everywhere. ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST FORM Upcoming Events Facility Use Request Announcement Request Full Calendar You are invited to submit information on events, programs, and meetings anytime for us to share on our website, in our weekly newsletter, on our social media, and on Sunday mornings as a part of worship. Please use the following form to submit information for an upcoming event that you would like for us to advertise. The Communications Team will use the information you provide to ensure your event/announcement is promoted via the appropriate communication channels. You will receive a "Success!" notification if your submission has gone through. If you do not receive this notification, please review the form and ensure you have completed all required fields (marked with an asterisk (*)). All new announcement requests must be received at least ten (10) days prior to promotion via the selected communication channel. NOTE: If your event is at Aldersgate UMC, you must first submit a Facility Use Request and receive confirmation from the Church Office that your request has been approved and that you are approved to use the desired room(s) at the church for your event. If you have questions or require assistance, please contact us at communications@aldersgate.net . Announcement Request Form Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*) Completed by Comms Team Your Information First name Last Name Email Announcement Information Name of Event or Title of General Announcement Announcement Write-Up (AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR) Primary Ministry Area for Event Select Primary Ministry Area If "Other" for Ministry Area, Please Specify What Type of Announcement is This? * Event or Meeting (has date(s) tied to announcement) General Announcement (information only - no associated date(s)) If this request if for an event, you will be asked to provide information on the date, time, location, and registration for the event. If this request is for a general announcement, this information is not required. Event Date Event End Date Event Start Time 06:00 AM 06:15 AM 06:30 AM 06:45 AM 07:00 AM 07:15 AM 07:30 AM 07:45 AM 08:00 AM 08:15 AM 08:30 AM 08:45 AM 09:00 AM 09:15 AM 09:30 AM 09:45 AM 10:00 AM 10:15 AM 10:30 AM 10:45 AM 11:00 AM 11:15 AM 11:30 AM 11:45 AM 12:00 PM 12:15 PM 12:30 PM 12:45 PM 01:00 PM 01:15 PM 01:30 PM 01:45 PM 02:00 PM 02:15 PM 02:30 PM 02:45 PM 03:00 PM 03:15 PM 03:30 PM 03:45 PM 04:00 PM 04:15 PM 04:30 PM 04:45 PM 05:00 PM 05:15 PM 05:30 PM 05:45 PM 06:00 PM 06:15 PM 06:30 PM 06:45 PM 07:00 PM 07:15 PM 07:30 PM 07:45 PM 08:00 PM 08:15 PM 08:30 PM 08:45 PM 09:00 PM 09:15 PM 09:30 PM 09:45 PM 10:00 PM Event Start Time Event End Time 06:00 AM 06:15 AM 06:30 AM 06:45 AM 07:00 AM 07:15 AM 07:30 AM 07:45 AM 08:00 AM 08:15 AM 08:30 AM 08:45 AM 09:00 AM 09:15 AM 09:30 AM 09:45 AM 10:00 AM 10:15 AM 10:30 AM 10:45 AM 11:00 AM 11:15 AM 11:30 AM 11:45 AM 12:00 PM 12:15 PM 12:30 PM 12:45 PM 01:00 PM 01:15 PM 01:30 PM 01:45 PM 02:00 PM 02:15 PM 02:30 PM 02:45 PM 03:00 PM 03:15 PM 03:30 PM 03:45 PM 04:00 PM 04:15 PM 04:30 PM 04:45 PM 05:00 PM 05:15 PM 05:30 PM 05:45 PM 06:00 PM 06:15 PM 06:30 PM 06:45 PM 07:00 PM 07:15 PM 07:30 PM 07:45 PM 08:00 PM 08:15 PM 08:30 PM 08:45 PM 09:00 PM 09:15 PM 09:30 PM 09:45 PM 10:00 PM Event End Time This is a multi-day event This is a recurring event Additional Date Information Is Your Event at Aldersgate UMC? Yes No Room/Space Name or Number (Enter All) Do you have a confirmed room/space reservation? Yes No Reservation Confirmation Number Upload Reservation Confirmation (Optional) Upload File File Types: *.pdf, *.doc, *.docx, *ppt, *pptx, *.xls, *.xlsx, *.tiff For events and activities at Aldersgate UMC, a confirmed room/space reservation is required prior to submitting your announcement request. Please complete the Facility Use Request Form to reserve your desired room/space. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact us at communications@aldersgate.net . Submit Facility Use Request Event Address (for Events not at Aldersgate UMC) Is Registration or RSVP Required for this Event? Yes No I will have a table setup during Fellowship Time on Sunday mornings. (Contact receptionist@aldersgate.net for assistance.) Registration Open Date Registration Close Date Registration/RSVP Link or Email Address I Need Help Setting Up Registration Yes No Is there a cost/fee to participate in this event? Yes No Registration Cost/Fee Next Step - Enter Announcement Contact Information Announcement Contact Information Please provide the name and contact information of the primary contact person for this announcement. Please note that this person's name and contact information will be listed in all promotion materials. By providing this information, you are authorizing Aldersgate UMC to publish this person's name and contact information. Announcement Contact First Name Announcement Contact Last Name Announcement Contact Email Address Announcement Contact Phone Number Next Step - Enter Announcement Promotion Details Announcement Promotion Details Please provide us with some information on how we can best support your event through promotion. Where should this event be promoted? (Please check all that apply) * Required Website Newsletter Worship Slides (Pre-Service) Social Media Flyer Yard Banner When would you like us to start promoting your event? Please let us know about your graphic needs * I need a graphic created for my event Please use existing graphic from prior event I have a graphic I would like to use (Please click below to upload your graphic) Attach Supporting Promotion Graphics Upload Image or Grapic File File Types: *.bmp, *.gif, *.heic, *.jpeg, *.jpg, *.png, *.tif, *.tiff, *.webp Attach Supporting Promotion Documents Upload Document File Types: *.pdf, *.doc, *.docx, *.ppt, *pptx, *.xls, *.xlsx, *.tiff, *.odt Next Step - Enter Additional Information Additional Information and/or Comments Please provide any additional comments or notes Please provide any additional files or documents that you would like for use to use or refer to in promoting your event. Additional Supporting Documents Upload Document File Types: *.pdf, *.doc, *.docx, *.ppt, *pptx, *.xls, *.xlsx, *.tiff, *.odt Additional Supporting Graphics/Images Upload Graphic or Image File Types: *.bmp, *.gif, *.heic, *.jpeg, *.jpg, *.png, *.tif, *.tiff, *.webp I have provided all required information for my announcement request SUBMIT You will receive a "Success!" notification if your submission has gone through. If you do not receive this notification, please review the form and ensure you have completed all required fields (marked with an asterisk (*)).

< Back Pastor Sherry Hietpas Associate Pastor Email: shietpas@aldersgate.net Phone: (703) 765-6555 x601 Pastor Sherry Hietpas is a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, with a Master of Divinity and is currently a Provisional Elder in the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She received her call to vocational ministry in 2017 while serving as the Director of Family Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Pacific Grove, CA. She has previously served Andrew Chapel UMC in Vienna, VA, as their Associate Pastor. Sherry has a passion for building community as an expression of faith in Jesus Christ and believes many relationships are formed around a table, usually over good food and discussion. She finds that relationship building leads to a strong sense of belonging, which can spur personal and communal transformation. Sherry has also developed a passion for digital ministry, which was cultivated while living overseas. Sherry is married to an active-duty Marine and is a mother to three daughters. She is excited to be part of the incredible ministries of Aldersgate UMC, as they serve the community of Alexandria.

< Back Corey Bales Director of Childcare Email: clatta@aldersgate.net Phone:

< Back Jesse St Clair Smith Director of Children's Ministries Email: children@aldersgate.net Phone: (703) 765-6555 x616

< Back Ashley Carignan Children's Choir Director Email: childrenschoir@aldersgate.net Phone: