Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Shelby, NC.,Aldersgate UMC, "A Caring and Affirming Christ-centered Fellowship, Lay-led and Community Focused", Cleveland County, North Carolina, A Safe Sanctuary Congregation
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
Sunday, September 05, 2010
A Stephen Ministry Congregation
 
Here We Grow Again
Here We Grow Again -
Questions and Answers
Dear Church Family
Building Floor Plan Illustration Here
Why do we need a church parlor?                      
This room has always played an important role in the functions of the church, not only for bridal parties, but has also provided quiet sanctuary for family members and others prior to funeral services. Small group meetings, reunion groups, Stephen Ministers, etc. will find a quiet and comfortable surrounding.

Will there be a quiet , private place for new mother's attending Aldersgate?
New mothers attending Aldersgate will find a private place to nurse their newborns and still hear the service. Conveniently located between the end of the new hallway and new nursery, parents will have easy access to both the sanctuary and the nursery.

Will restrooms be located in the new hallway near the sanctuary?
New restrooms conveniently located near the sanctuary will allow for inconspicuous exit and return to church services. In addition, the restrooms will be adjacent to the church parlor permitting easier access from there, too.

Why do we need a new nursery?
Past concerns regarding weather, storage and space for growing Aldersgate families should be put to rest with a new nursery. The new nursery addition will meet current and future needs with a slightly larger, more efficient design. Two-way mirrors will meet expectations for child safety and parental viewing. In addition, the new facility will serve as an attraction to young couples and young families
 
Why do we need a covered walkway?
The nursery will be accessible by a covered walkway from the sanctuary to the new addition which will provide protection from the elements and allow entry to the nursery and sanctuary from the back of the campus or from the front parking lot.
 Dear Church Family,

     Our ‘Here We Grow Again’ Campaign is off to a great start. We have developed an exciting vision that challenges our church. Our campaign will provide the financial resources needed to expand and renovate our facilities while we continue to expand our ministries.

     We ask you to read all the information coming your way. As we begin our campaign, we ask you to pray about your role in the future of Aldersgate . The daily scriptures will enable each of us to be in a prayerful attitude seeking God’s calling by using our gifts.

     We want you to actively participate in the Spiritual Awareness meetings, Prayer Vigil, and the ‘Here We Grow Again’ gathering. Take your calendar and mark these important dates:  Spiritual Awareness meetings, June 14 and the week of June 21; Prayer Vigil, June 29; and Gathering, July 8.  By commitment Sunday, July 15, we want every church member to have participated in the campaign in a meaningful way.

     Together we can make this work. Begin the process to prayerfully consider what you will give. Will this involve sacrifice? Yes.   Not equal gifts but equal sacrifices.

For His Cause,

‘Here We Grow Again’ Committee  

Why do we need additional music space?
Music is an important part of our ministry and the music program has outgrown its current rehearsal space. The new space will provide a facility for all musical groups to meet and rehearse, e.g. children's choirs. New storage space is also needed for robes, sheet music, musical instruments, church paraments, candles, chrismons and other seasonal items. The enlarged rehearsal space will provide a place for large meetings to be held when not in use by the choirs.

What about the church library?
Unbeknownst to some, Aldersgate has always had a library. Over the years a large number of books and other educational materials have been donated and used by church members and other groups. A room that is visible and more accessible will allow us to organize and make available the many videos, cd's, teaching manuals and children's books that are often not attainable in their current location.

What is planned for the children's Sunday
School/Playschool building?
One of Aldersgate's most valuable outreach ministries is the playschool program. The program serves over 100 Cleveland County children and their families. It provides an opportunity for safe childcare and is a great tool for introducing our church to prospective members. Window replacement has been a need for quite some time. Separating adult classes from children's classes will enable storage to be centrally located for both sectors. The new children's classrooms will be accessible to the playground. Plans also include access to restrooms from within the classroom.

Why do we need a hallway addition to the sanctuary?
Since the first wedding took place at Aldersgate the need for accessibility from the front of the church to the back without passing through the sanctuary was recognized. Brides will be protected from the weather with the addition of a hallway on the left side of the sanctuary. The addition will also efficiently meet the needs of a large number of functions held at Aldersgate and will begin as you step through the entrance where each person will be met with a warm and friendly atmosphere in a space called the Welcome Center.

What is a Welcome Center?
This space will offer an area to gather and socialize prior to and after worship services and other functions held in the sanctuary. It will also provide a place to display information and educational materials for Aldersgate members and visitors, and in doing so, will solve the problem of clutter in the narthex.

Why are the administrative offices being relocated?
The current office location is a problem because poor visibility makes it hard to find for those who are visiting the campus. Staff safety is a growing concern as well. Centrally locating the administrative offices to the Wesley building will increase visibility and access. In addition to our regular worship services, there are many activities that take place at Aldersgate throughout the week. Since the HVAC will already be programmed for the administrative offices, committees and other groups who meet in the evening can utilize the large conference room located in this building. The pastor's office will be conveniently located in the Wesley Building, too.

Why do we need a new adult wing?
Relocating the church offices to the Wesley Building will displace 3 adult classrooms: Wesley, Fellowship & Hunter. Two others, the Bayliss & Bible classes will be displaced when the children's/playschool classes are reclaimed and reallocated. Finally, the Baxter-Davis class will be displaced by a new and expanded library. To address this, the current building will be re-modeled and expanded in order to accommodate all of the above-mentioned classrooms, library, new restrooms and a coffee area. A custodial area will also be located in this building.
 

Here We Grow Again
 
The Vision Continues
 
Important Dates
Spiritual Awareness home meetings -
June 14, June 21-24, 7:00 PM
 
Prayer Vigil 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday June 29
 
Here We Grow Again Gathering
Epworth Center
6:30 PM Thursday July 8
 
Commitment Sunday
July 18
 
Celebration Sunday
August 15
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
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