Who was John Wesley?
What was Wesley’s “Aldersgate Experience”?
How did Methodism spread across America?
When did we become “United” Methodists?

The answers to these questions and more will be answered in a presentation given by Mark Shenise, Associate Archivist for the United Methodist General Commission of Archives and History.

If you are Methodist but think you know too little about your denomination, or if you just want to learn more, you are encouraged to attend this FREE presentation.

Wednesday April 22, 2009
7:00 – 8:30 pm
at
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
568 Ryders Lane
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
732-745-7361

Following the presentation, attendees can view an exhibit of Methodist artifacts on loan from the Methodist Church Archives, and the Drew University Library collections.

Please notify your minister or church office if you plan to attend so a count can be provided to Aldersgate by Monday April 21.

Worship for this week: Sunday, April 12, 2009 – Easter Sunday
Times: 6:30am DeVoe Lake Dock – Sunrise Service
8:15am Communion
11:00am Worship

Scripture: John 20:1-18
Message: Upside Down

Trinity UMC News & Announcements:
General Announcements
The office will be closed on tomorrow, April 10th in observance of Good Friday.

Bible Study at Monroe Community Library
Every Tuesday, starting May 5th, from 9:30-10:30am. We will be studying the Gospel of John. Don’t forget to bring your bible and something to write with.

Dates to Remember
Save the Date for our overnight retreat at Stella Maris (on the beach in Elberon) the evening of Friday, May 8th.  The retreat is themed Growing in Faith Practices.  We will be learning and practicing several ancient spiritual disciplines.  Cost $100 per person (scholarships always available).  Retreat limited to 20 people.

Q & A with Pastor Joe
Sundays in May at Trinity from 12:30pm until about 1:15pm. Have any questions about the church, Bible, theology or Star Wars? Just come and ask – any question is a good question! Hope to see you there.

District Announcements/Opportunities:
UM Summer Camps
Aldersgate: Open House 2009 – Sunday, April 26th from 2pm-4pm
This is the perfect chance to see what Aldresgate is all about!!! Come check out the camp, meet some of the staff, ask questions, and even make some s’mores. Don’t miss out!!! And for those of you who were there last summer, come see some of the NEW CABINS that have been added.

Pinelands at Mt. Misery: Rally Day – Sunday, May 3rd from 2pm-5pm
Lots of fun stuff is planned! We will have food, music face painting, boating, tours of the camp… did we mention FOOD? One great big BBQ!! While you are there get that registration done for summer camp…plus…Giveaways!! SO SEE YOU THERE!!!!

Greater NJ Conference News:
World Malaria Day is April 25 – Skip a lunch. Send a net. Save a life.
The people of The United Methodist Church are marking the lead up to April 25, World Malaria Day, with a renewed call to members and friends to support Nothing But Nets, a grassroots anti-malaria effort which allows anyone, for $10, to send a lifesaving bed net to a family in Africa. Bed nets protect children and their families from the bites of malaria-infected mosquitoes. Dubbed “To Lunch or Not to Lunch?” the campaign highlights how $10, the cost of lunch, is all that it takes to provide a potentially lifesaving bed net to an African family. A $10 donation covers the cost of the bed net, its distribution, and education on its use. For more information on malaria or to make a contribution to Nothing But Nets, call 888-252-6174 or visit www.umcnothingbutnets.org.

Worship Starts at 7:30pm (except on April 1st when we will start with a pot luck dinner at 6:45pm)

March 4
Location: UMC Milltown, 47 North Main Street, Milltown, New Jersey 08850 | 732-828-0610
Preaching this evening: Rev. Heasun Kim (Simpson UMC, Old Bridge) Rev. Joe Tiedemann (Trinity, Spotswood and Monroe Community)

March 11
Location: Sayreville UMC, 406 Main Street, Sayreville, NJ 08872 | 732-257-1084
Preaching this evening: Rev. David Mertz (UMC Milltown) and Rev. Lorraine Priestley-Smith (Conklin, South River)

March 18
Location: Monroe Community Church, Barclay Brook Elementary School, 358 Buckelew Avenue, Monroe, New Jersey 08831 | 732-251-8995
Preaching this evening: Rev. Bob Cook (Aldersgate, East Brunswick) and Rev. Sandra Jenkins (Sayreville)

March 25
Location: Conklin UMC, 82 Main St, South River, NJ 08882 | 732-254-5062
Preaching this evening: Rev. Sunghee Park (Trinity, South Amboy) and Rev. Joe Tiedemann (Trinity, Spotswood and Monroe Community)

April 01 at 6:45pm – Pot Luck Dinner and Communion
Location: Aldersgate UMC, 568 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 | 732-254-7361
Preaching this evening: Rev. Heasun Kim (Simpson, Old Bridge) and Rev. Greg Young (New Brunswick)

Do you have any pictures that you’d like to get on Trinity’s Flickr.com site for everyone to see. Contact the office and we’ll get you instructions to upload your photos.

Trinity and Monroe Community are alternating Ash Wednesday and Good Friday Worship Services each year. So this year, Ash Wednesday is at Monroe Community Church (Barclay Brook Elementary School, 358 Buckelew Ave., Monroe) at 7:30pm.

In our meeting we discussed where Trinity is and where Trinity is going. After some dialog, it was determined that God is setting a path before us to utilize our facility more in order to do ministry or generate revenue for ministry and the other focal point needs to be on teens and young adults. We formed a task to come up with a Ministry Action Plan to succeed in these areas. This group of 8 is meeting on Sunday’s after the last worship service in March and will present a proposal to Administrative Council on April 7.

Sunday after worship we will have a opportunity to discuss Trinity’s future. On the agenda, Pastor Joe will offer perspective on the current vitality of our ministry in Spotswood, then we will discuss potential ministry options for the near future. During this meeting, there will be time to ask questions and offer feedback.

All meetings tonight are canceled due to the snow.

In Monroe, due to restrictions set by the school system, all scheduled events at Barclay Brook school are CANCELED due to the weather.

Trinity WILL be running a normal schedule:

8:15a Communion
9:30a Sunday School
11:00a Worship
12:15p “Thank You” Cover-dish Luncheon

Come join the Christmas excitement!

On Christmas Eve, Trinity will be having a 7p.m. worship service in which our children and teens will be participating as we present our Sunday School Pageant and celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world in a jolly, family-friendly worship service.

At 11p.m., we will have a traditional candlelight service with communion.  Come and enjoy this  intimate time and quiet, peace-filled environment featuring traditional Christmas hymns on guitar by Bob Speidell and vocals by Denise Tiedemann.

Come celebrate this Christmas with Trinity.