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< Back Jill Cox Church Executive Director Email: jcox@aldersgate.net Phone: (703) 765-6555 x600

Thoughtful discussions, music, and an opportunity to strengthen your faith. EVENT INFORMATION < Previous Event Back to Upcoming Events Back Next Event > Lenten Conversations @ Founders All are welcome during this time of Lent! Sundays | 5pm-6pm | Founders Hall Aldersgate UMC | Founders Hall During this season of Lent, Pastor Bill & Pastor Sherry will be holding an exciting new service called, "Lenten Conversations @ Founders." It will be held on Sunday evenings at 5pm starting on February 22nd. It will run through Lent, ending on March 29th. Expect thoughtful discussions, music, and an opportunity to strengthen your faith. Any questions, please reach out to Pastor Bill , or Pastor Sherry . During this season of Lent, Pastor Bill & Pastor Sherry will be holding an exciting new service called, "Lenten Conversations @ Founders." It will be held on Sunday evenings at 5pm starting on February 22nd. It will run through Lent, ending on March 29th. Expect thoughtful discussions, music, and an opportunity to strengthen your faith. Any questions, please reach out to Pastor Bill , or Pastor Sherry . < Previous Event Next Event >

Help pack food boxes for distribution to folks who come to collect food. EVENT INFORMATION < Previous Event Back to Upcoming Events Back Next Event > Woodlawn-Faith Food Distribution LOCAL MISSIONS & OUTREACH Friday, February 20th | 8:30am - 12:00pm Where: St. John's Baptist Church (7730 Fordson Rd, Alexandria) St. John's Baptist Church (7730 Fordson Rd, Alexandria) Join Woodlawn-Faith UMC at St. John's Baptist Church on Fordson Road to pack food boxes for folks in our community to collect. No reservation or sign-up required! Drop by any time and stay for as long as you can! Students can earn community service hours. Learn more and find upcoming dates . For questions, please contact Karen Latta . Join Woodlawn-Faith UMC at St. John's Baptist Church on Fordson Road to pack food boxes for folks in our community to collect. No reservation or sign-up required! Drop by any time and stay for as long as you can! Students can earn community service hours. < Previous Event Next Event >

Join Woodlawn-Faith UMC at St. John's Baptist Church on Fordson Road to pack food boxes for folks in our community to collect. MISSION INFORMATION < Previous Back to Local Missions Next > Woodlawn- Faith Food Distribution Woodlawn-Faith UMC buys canned goods and produce from the Capital Area Food Bank , which the Food Bank delivers to St. John’s Baptist Church on Fordson Road. Produce comes in bulk and has to be bagged for distribution. Another person collects bread and pastry products from Costco and local grocery stores to be added to the boxes. Cars line up around the parking lot on a first-come/first-serve basis. Food boxes (canned goods, bread, and pastries) and bags (produce) are loaded into the cars as they drive by. The only record kept is on the number of people benefiting from the food. No other questions asked. Fresh produce is also donated to Mondloch House. The upcoming dates are: February 20th March 20th April 17th Come any time on these dates. No reservation or sign-up required! Drop by any time and stay for as long as you can! Students can earn community service hours. For questions, please contact Karen Latta . < Previous Next >

Help out in the sound booth during worship! < Back Sound Booth Volunteers Help out in the sound booth during worship! Are you interested in learning about how worship services are managed on the back end? Do you have an interest in audio, visual, graphics, sound, and music? Everything production? What about how a show is run? Do you have an ear for sound? Are you looking for a unique way to use your time and talents at Aldersgate, but just haven't found it yet? Check out the Sound Booth! We are looking for volunteers to help out during both Sunday services. Training will be provided. Please reach out to our Worship Producer, Victor Abdelnour with any questions and feel free to stop by the booth to say hi! Are you interested in learning about how worship services are managed on the back end? Do you have an interest in audio, visual, graphics, sound, and music? Everything production? What about how a show is run? Do you have an ear for sound? Are you looking for a unique way to use your time and talents at Aldersgate, but just haven't found it yet? Check out the Sound Booth! We are looking for volunteers to help out during both Sunday services. Training will be provided. Please reach out to our Worship Producer, Victor Abdelnour with any questions and feel free to stop by the booth to say hi! Previous Next

Sign up to help with Fellowship Time between services on Sundays. < Back Fellowship Time Sign up to help with Fellowship Time between services on Sundays. We are asking for Church groups to help with Fellowship Time in Wesley Hall on Sunday mornings. At least four (4) Volunteers in a group are preferred. Volunteers will prepare coffee and set up Wesley Hall for Fellowship Time; greet guests warmly; and replace snacks and coffee and supplies as needed. It's a wonderful way to serve and greet people! Click Here to Sign-Up If you have any questions or want more information, please contact Hilary Riedemann ( hilarykoehl@yahoo.com ). We are asking for Church groups to help with Fellowship Time in Wesley Hall on Sunday mornings. At least four (4) Volunteers in a group are preferred. Volunteers will prepare coffee and set up Wesley Hall for Fellowship Time; greet guests warmly; and replace snacks and coffee and supplies as needed. It's a wonderful way to serve and greet people! Click Here to Sign-Up If you have any questions or want more information, please contact Hilary Riedemann ( hilarykoehl@yahoo.com ). Previous Next

Courageously living and sharing God's unconditional love every day, with everyone, everywhere. ADULT GROUPS AND CLASSES Adult groups and classes are how we build community at Aldersgate Church. Being a part of a group is the best way to help a big church feel smaller. Whether it’s a class, a small group, or bible study, in a group, you’ll connect with people in a similar stage of life, or with similar interests. Together, you’ll build community and foster spiritual growth. We offer small group bible studies, fellowship groups, women’s and men’s groups, prayer groups, topical classes and mission/service groups. The United Methodist Men and the United Women in Faith also provide a place to plug-in for fellowship, outreach and prayer. We also offer various yoga and wellness classes . Have an idea for a new small group? Tell us what you’re looking for! Send an email to equip@aldersgate.net . Adult Sunday School Adult Small Groups Adult Sunday School Classes Adult Sunday school classes meet at 9:30am on Sunday mornings. Please contact the listed class leader for more information. Potpourri Class Room 208 Sundays at 9:30am Leader Information: Elaine Saunders elainesaunders66@gmail.com The Potpourri Sunday School class is beginning a four-week study on Christian Nationalism, beginning Jan. 11. The class meets Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in room 208. Everyone is welcome. B.A.S.I.C. Bible Study Library (Room 132) Sundays at 9:30am Leader Information: Bill Armstrong bbbarms@gmail.com The BASIC Bible study will begin the new year exploring Christianity and World Religions. We will use the 2018 "Revised Edition" Book by Methodist Pastor Adam Hamilton. This study will begin on 1/4/2026 and run through January and February. The study will briefly explore the 5 great religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism. Hamilton produced a DVD in 2005 for the first edition - and we will use that DVD to supplement our study. The BASIC Bible study meets each Sunday in Aldersgate's library just inside Door 3 at 9:30 AM. Please read the Introduction and Chapter 1 for 1/4/2026. Questions? Please reach out to facilitator Bill Armstrong at bbbarms@gmail.com A Disciple's Path Room 210 Sundays at 11:00am Leader Information: Chris Mullins & Cullen Roberts s.christopher.mullins@gmail.com As followers of Jesus, we are all called to develop spiritual practices, discover our gifts, and engage in ministry. Whether you are new to Aldersgate or a long-time member, please join Chris Mullins and Cullen Roberts as we study discipleship from a Wesleyan perspective. Class is from February 1st through March 15th from 11:00 a.m. until 12 noon. Nursery and child care will be provided during the class. Adult Small Groups Please contact the listed group leader(s) for more details on the small group you are interested in. Wellness Book Study Group Mondays | 12:00pm Library + Zoom (Contact Judy for Zoom info) judy@aldersgate.net Judy Jurkowski Leader Information: The Wellness Book Study Group is a small group that meets regularly in person (with Zoom option) to discuss God and Christ-centered books that the group chooses. The group is flexible and open to more people attending. Wednesday Women Wednesdays | 1:00pm - 2:00pm Church Library (Room 132) hettieh@usa.net Hettie Hervey Leader Information: Women of all ages who meet to enjoy fellowship, service, and study various books, topics, and Bible chapters with the intention of broadening our understanding of the arts and literature as they relate to living a life of following Jesus’s teachings. Our mission statement is: Serving women and their families through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Christian Meditation Group Mondays | 2:00pm Church Library (Room 132) susanakane78@gmail.com Sue Kane Leader Information: The Christian Meditation Group meets every Monday afternoon at 2:00pm in the church library. We spend time in each gathering in a period of meditation. Wednesday Evening Bible Study Wednesdays | 7:30pm-9:30pm Zoom (Contact Shari for Zoom info) shari_van_buren@hotmail.com Shari Van Buren Leader Information: The Wednesday Night Zoom class started a new study on January 28th. The title is, "The New Testament You Never Knew." Updated Edition by N.T. Wright. ---- Do you know the real story behind the New Testament? We all share a fascination for discovering ‘the rest of the story.’ Through reading the New Testament we discover that God indeed keeps his promises, but those promises don’t always look like what people expected. Especially when it comes to Jesus. Join well-known Bible scholars N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird as they team up to take you on a tour of the explosive story behind the story of the New Testament. ---- If you are interested in joining, please reach out to Shari Van Buren for the zoom link, and any questions you may have. For more information, or to receive the zoom link, please email Shari Van Buren at shari_van_buren@hotmail.com . Intercessory Prayer Group Tuesdays | 9:30am Virtual (Email for Info) prayers@aldersgate.net Group Led Leader Information: The Intercessory Prayer Group prays on behalf of people facing spiritual, medical, financial, and relationship concerns. Prayer requests come from our congregation, community, and from throughout the world. Confidentiality is strictly observed and prayers for others are offered in a non-political, non-judgmental setting. The group welcomes men and women of all ages and experience. The Father's Table - Small Group for Dads with Kids at Home Last Thursday of Each Month | 8:00pm - 10:00pm Chris's House - Contact him for additional information s.christopher.mullins@gmail.com Chris Mullins Leader Information: Please join us for fellowship as we share and grow in our faith. The group will meet at Chris's house on the last Thursday of each month. For more information, contact Chris at s.christopher.mullins@gmail.com .

Volunteer to make and deliver sack meals to the people sheltered in local motels. MISSION INFORMATION < Previous Back to Local Missions Next > Phoenix Rising HELP MAKE AND PACKAGE MEALS Phoenix Rising meal packing happens once each month, on the Thursday before the second Friday (not always the second Thursday). We pack meals at 5:00 p.m. in Wesley Hall. For more information about Phoenix Rising or to be added to the volunteer email list, please email Jean Vita ( jeanvita@hotmail.com ) and Georgia Harlow ( gharlow383@hotmail.com ). Each month we put together 160 sack lunches that include: 2 peanut butter & jelly sandwiches Granola bar Bag of chips Capri Sun HELP TO DELIVER THE PACKAGED MEALS Phoenix Rising also needs volunteers to help with the meal deliveries on the second Friday of each month. Time commitment is 2 to 2-1/2 hours, starting at 6:00 when we leave the church. We stop off at various motels and group homes between Fort Belvoir and the Beltway. Most of the recipients are expecting the deliveries and express their gratitude. If you are interested or would like additional information, please contact Sam Sasnett at ssasnett@verizon.net . Those who volunteer to deliver the bagged lunches have shared that the people who receive the sack lunches are very appreciative, and that it is a blessing to those who deliver because they get to see the end results of all the planning and work that goes into the Phoenix Rising program. Locations and people served along Route 1 between Ft Belvoir and I495: The Courts at Belvoir (apartment building) The Red Carpet Inn by Rising Hope UMC (many children and elderly reside there) The Mondloch House The Halfway House on Beacon Rd The Brookside Motel The Fairfax County Drop-In Center (peer support for folks with mental health and substance abuse challenges) < Previous Next >

Sign up to help serve communion on the 1st Sunday of the month. < Back Communion Servers Sign up to help serve communion on the 1st Sunday of the month. Communion Servers assist in serving the elements on the 1st Sunday of each month and at Christmas, Easter, and Holy days. Servers are stationed at the four corners of the sanctuary and serve prepared elements. Click Here to Sign-Up Please Contact Steve Larkin at jstephenlarkin@gmail.com for more information. Communion Servers assist in serving the elements on the 1st Sunday of each month and at Christmas, Easter, and Holy days. Servers are stationed at the four corners of the sanctuary and serve prepared elements. Click Here to Sign-Up Please Contact Steve Larkin at jstephenlarkin@gmail.com for more information. Previous Next

Courageously living and sharing God's unconditional love every day, with everyone, everywhere. GENERAL CONFERENCE 2024 After a four-year delay, the 2020 General Conference of the United Methodist Church will take place April 23rd - May 3rd, 2024, in Charlotte, NC. As stated in a UM News explanation of General Conference , “The United Methodist Church has no pope. But it does have a General Conference — the only body that can set official policy and speak for the international denomination. General Conference brings together lay and clergy delegates from four continents whose decisions will affect how millions of United Methodists do church for years to come." General Conference typically gathers every four years. General Conference was scheduled to meet in 2020. However, the global COVID pandemic resulted in multiple postponements of the 2020 General Conference. When the General Conference meets this April, it will have been eight years since our primary denominational governing body came together. Since the last meeting in 2016, the denomination has seen a quarter of its U.S. churches depart under a disaffiliation policy that began in 2019 and expired at the end of 2023. General Conference 2024 will determine what happens next in the United Methodist Church. In order to prepare our Aldersgate UMC family for the Town Hall meeting that will occur on May 19th following the 2024 General Conference, we are providing information and links to resources that have been compiled and vetted by the pastors, staff, and Equip ministries team. The following are resources that we believe provide accurate information about the upcoming General Conference. The Northern Virginia District invites you to pray for the upcoming General Conference. Each day from April 1- May 5 we offer the name of a person or persons (beginning with each VAUMC delegate) as well as a theme or idea to help focus your prayers. General Conference Prayer Calendar Post General Conference Panel Discussion The Virginia Conference held a post-General Conference Zoom webinar on Thursday, May 9th, at 7pm. The panel included Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson; Rev. Lindsey Baynham Freeman, head of the Virginia delegation; and delegates Rev. Mark Ogren, Marshall Bailey, and Rev. Dr. Jonathan Page. You can watch the webinar on the Virginia Conference YouTube Channel. Watch the Recorded Post-General Conference Webinar Due to the large volume of questions received during the webinar, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) was created by the Virginia Conference Connectional Ministries Office. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) It is important to note that the deadline for disaffiliation has passed. Aldersgate UMC will not be considering disaffiliation in our Town Hall meeting. At this time, there is nothing to vote or decide upon regarding Aldersgate UMC's status until more information is received after General Conference. ALDERSGATE UMC'S PLAN April 14th, 21st, & 28th: We will offer a three-part sermon series on John Wesley's "Three Simple Rules". We invite you to read the book (available on Amazon and Cokesbury ) and follow along in prayer. April 17th: Clergy pre-brief for General Conference offered by our district leadership. Pastor Randy and Pastor Jon will participate in this. April 23 – May 3, 2024: The 2024 General Conference (also still being called the “2020 General Conference”) will take place in Charlotte, NC, to further discuss and vote on plans to address the issues under debate for the past eight years. May 8th: Following General Conference, there will be a debrief for all laity and clergy. This will be held via Zoom. Information on how to participate in this will be provided to the congregation when we receive it. May 19th: We will hold a Town Hall at to discuss what is next for Aldersgate UMC following the 2024 General Conference. More information on this Town Hall meeting will be provided as it comes together. This will be open to the entire congregation. HOW DID WE GET HERE? A TIMELINE May 2016: Divisions among delegates at the 2016 General Conference were apparent in regard to church teachings on marriage and human sexuality. A plan was approved to table all legislative action on human sexuality. The Council of Bishops was empowered to form a commission to study the divisions in the denomination and to come up with a plan. 2017 – 2018: Three plans emerged from the Commission on the Way Forward . The Connectional Conference Plan recommended re-organizing the church into two separate but connected entities. The One Church Plan (endorsed by the Council of Bishops) would allow conferences, clergy, and local churches to make their own decisions on same-sex marriage. The Traditional Plan recommended keeping all of the current language in the Book of Discipline and enforcing disciplinary actions such as removing openly gay clergy from their churches. February 2019: A Special Session of the General Conference was held to vote on the plans from the Commission on the Way Forward. The Traditional Plan was passed with amendments made and voted upon at the Special Session of the General Conference. Summer 2019: Following the decision of the 2019 Special Session of the General Conference, a number of Conferences in the United States passed resolutions against the Traditional Plan . A 12-person group of centrist, traditionalist, and progressive church leaders drafted a plan for the amicable split of the United Methodist Church denomination that would provide a future for the denomination, its local churches, and its clergy. This plan addressed issues such as ownership of church property, pastoral pension plans, etc. It was to be discussed at the 2020 General Conference. January 2020: A group of 16 United Methodist bishops and church leaders offered a proposal that would allow traditionalist-minded congregations to form a new denomination ; this plan included provisions for funding and allowed local congregations who disaffiliated to keep their local church property. March 2020: The pandemic caused the 2020 General Conference to be delayed – first until 2021, then until August/September 2022, then until April 2024. March 2022: The formation of the Global Methodist Church was announced, allowing adherents of the Traditional Plan to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church to join the Global Methodist Church. December 31, 2023: This was the last day that churches were allowed to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church. April 23 – May 3, 2024: The 2024 General Conference (also still being called the “2020 General Conference”) will take place in Charlotte, NC, to further discuss and vote on plans to address the issues under debate for the past eight years. WHAT IS GENERAL CONFERENCE? What is General Conference and what does it do? Watch this quick overview of the General Conference from the United Methodist Communications team and find out how it serves the United Methodist Church. You can find additional resources to learn more about General Conference in this "beginner's guide" to General Conference put out by UM News . ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RESOURCES Here are some additional helpful resources to learn more about General Conference: VA UMC Guide to General Conference General Conference FAQ Document published by the Virginia Annual Conference that describes the Christmas Covenant and the Regionalization Plan that may be voted on at the 2024 General Conference: Christmas Covenant Regionalization Plan WHAT IS "DISAFFILIATION"? This article will provide additional information on what "disaffiliation" is. It is important to note that the deadline for disaffiliation has passed. Aldersgate UMC will not be considering disaffiliation in our Town Hall meeting. Disaffiliation in the UMC: What You Need to Know WATCH PANEL DISCUSSIONS TO LEARN MORE Watch a panel discussion that took place at Floris UMC in Herndon, VA, on February 6th, 2024, about preparations and legislation related to the 2024 General Conference. Disclaimer: The panelists have similar viewpoints to one another in regard to the issues they are discussing, so it is somewhat less objective than other resources. However, there is an excellent description of the history of the contentious issues that may be addressed at the 2024 General Conference. Also, there is a lovely statement by our Bishop regarding the working of the Holy Spirit in us as we work together. Pastor Adam Hamilton moderates a panel of pastors who have started new churches in areas with disaffiliating churches. There is also a discussion with a pastor from a church in Africa about the issues faced by UMC churches in African countries.

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.

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.