Wesley United Methodist Church What's New Page

Walton "Tony" Forstall, Pastor
A Place To Call Home

United Methodist Church

Pastor Tony's Blog
Reflections on and about the world and its relationship with God.

8412 RICHMOND AVE.
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22309
PHONE: (703) 780-5019

Easter Musical
The Wesley United Methodist Church Choir will present a dramatic musical experience for Holy Week titled 
“The Living Last Words”.  This musical conveys Christ’s words deftly and passionately, and the music is emotional 
and moving.  The program centers around images depicted from Calvary’s mountain as Jesus endures the crucifixion.  

Throughout the musical, scenes are depicted through monologues of those who witnessed the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
  
“Truly this Man was the Son of God!”  With these powerful words, the centurion responded to the crucifixion and 
death of Jesus Christ.  He had  witnessed both the humanity and the divinity of Christ’s suffering, and was transformed 
by Christ’s final utterances from the cross.  

The choir will be accompanied by a small chamber ensemble and feature   dramatic presentations by other members of the 
congregation.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 28.  The program will be presented during the ten o’clock worship service and again 
for the general public in the evening. 

A love offering will be collected to off set the expenses and a nursery will be provided.  Please call the church office 
if you would like to volunteer

What if --- Church wasn't just a building, but thousands of doors... each opening to a different concept or experience of church?
What if --- Church wasn't just a place we go, but something we do? A menu of adventure? An active verb instead of a noun?
What if --- We rethink church, not in terms of what it is, but what it could be. And what if we can convince the world to do the same?
What if --- Church was less about Sunday and more about the other days of the week?
What if --- Church looked at itself with servers eyes?
CLICK TO READ What is the theological foundation for “Rethink Church”? (PDF Document)

Information about the 2010 Annual Conference, to be held in Norfolk June 13–16, is now posted on the conference Web site at http://www.vaumc.org/2010AC

Let's take comfort and courage from this most basic affirmation of our faith
that Jesus loves us.

Click for Contact Information
and an interactive Satellite view
of Wesley United Methodist Church

Favorite Song? If you have a favorite song you would like sung in worship, please write the title and number on your attendance sheet and we'll make it part of worship in the coming weeks.

New members and visitors are always welcome. If you would like to be baptized or to make Wesley your church home, simply mark your attendance sheet or speak to Reverend Tony.

Please join us for fellowship and refreshments after the Worship Service.

Ask, Seek, Knock (a short MP3 file)

WELCOME TO THE WESLEY
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH!

ADMINISTRATIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS

2010 CHURCH OFFICER NOMINATIONS CLICK TO DOWNLOAD/VIEW IN PDF FORMAT

REPORT ON CONGREGATIONAL GOALS to the 2010 Charge Conference CLICK TO DOWNLOAD/VIEW IN PDF FORMAT

Route One Community Kitchen– Thank You In September 2009 we began our 11th year of preparing and serving lunch on the second Tuesday of each month for the homeless and less fortunate of Route One area. That adds up to a lot of chicken casseroles, salads and desserts!!!!! Through the years we have had the willing help of so many former and present members of Wesley Church. At this time the casseroles are prepared by Christina Swartz, Odell Wareham and me. Those serving the lunch to our guests at the Elks Lodge are Rose Ball, Ben Robinson and Jody Taylor. This is an outreach of Wesley to our community and we thank everyone who has contributed in any way to have this program continue over the years. THANK YOU - THANK YOU. Dale Swartz

Ventures in Community, “An interfaith alliance of faith communities in the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County.
Hypothermia Outreach Program (HOP), is a shelter for homeless people operated by VIC volunteers.
It's that time of year again when Wesley helps out with the local (VIC HOP) shelter , which takes place nightly at
Rising Hope United Methodist Church December through March. Just like last year, Wesley will be staffing the facility
every Saturday night in February and March. The purpose of the program is to provide those without any other shelter,
dinner and a warm, safe place to sleep during the winter months.
Dinners require at least two volunteers (so a couple can manage it). The meal needs to serve 30 people. Dinner folks
can prepare the meal at home or at Rising Hope. You stay to serve the meal and clean up the kitchen afterward.
For the overnight staff, we need a minimum of three people to stay the whole night, with preferably 4. At least one of
each gender is recommended. You can take turns sleeping, with two awake at any time. Although the thought of sleeping
at a homeless shelter may be scary, everyone who has done it has found the experience to be greatly rewarding.
If you are unable to stay a night or cook a dinner, please consider making a financial donation to cover the cost of the
bagged breakfasts we provide the guests on their way out Sunday morning.
As you can see, this takes a lot of volunteers-5-7 every Saturday night for 9 weeks! Please consider helping out to the
best of your abilities.
This is every Saturday night in February and March. Please contact Diana Tracey at ditracey@verizon.net or 703-780-9385
to volunteer for either dinner and/or overnight. Please provide the specific date(s) that you would like to serve.
This is a HUGE effort for a VERY WORTHWHILE cause. It’s not hard, it is tiring, but it feels good knowing you had a
part in providing shelter for up to 25 men and women who might otherwise be sleeping in the cold woods and that you
may have saved a life in the process.

Conference group to highlight intergenerational ministries: The Virginia Conference Older Adult Council has established the theme for Older Adult Recognition Sunday, set for May 2 this year, as “Seasoned Adults Flavor the Young: Intergenerational Ministries.” This follows the 2009 theme of “Seasoned Adults Spice Up the Church.” Worship suggestions and resources for Older Adult Recognition Sunday will be available in mid-February.

United Methodist Young Clergy Website
Purpose: To support young clergy and leaders in the United Methodist Church through online and physical community

Click for our 2010 Wesley Church Calendar

VAUMC Upcoming Conference Events

The March 2010 Wesley Family News is on-line in PDF format.

Archived Newsletters

January Collection of Clothing
For a number of years, our congregation has given clothing items for young elementary children at some of the local schools. This year, the United Methodist Women would like to collect socks and underwear for a local elementary school. Bring assorted sizes, and place in the narthex.

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20, ESV)
An invitation is extended to the Wesley UMC congregation to become a part of the Internet Prayer Group. We use email to establish the prayer list which reflects joys and concerns from the Sunday worship service, persons included by members of the prayer group & others. In addition to our personal prayers we also offer intercessional prayer for individuals on the weekly email prayer list. For more information or to become a part of this group please email: jim@sodigital.org or download an informational PDF file or send a prayer request directly to Pastor Tony.

If you would like to purchase flowers for the altar,    Wesley has an account with Plantation Florist.  
They do a beautiful arrangement for a very reasonable price.  When purchases are made please pass the 
information along to Kym so she can put it in the Sunday Bulletin.

Member Care Ministry
Cheering Each Other On…..
Though we might feel we have nothing to give, we can give encouragement.

In keeping with Wesley Member Care Ministry vision we would like to gather joys from the 
congregation. Therefore we invite you to share your special joys and recognitions with the 
church office via email (wesleychurch@verizon.net) so that they may be shared with the 
congregation in the monthly newsletter.

Member Care Ministry Vision:
Assure that every member of the congregation feels cared for in times of illness, crisis and in times of joy.
The Member Care Ministry would like to have the names and addresses of your friends and family who are in 
the service of our country.  We do pray for the military in general but feel it is better to pray for them 
personally and send cards to let them know we care.

Please bring food to replenish the food pantry. The pantry is bare, so any nonperishable food donations
(canned meats and vegetables, baby formula, etc.) would be greatly appreciated.
Make every Sunday a sharing Sunday.

Rising Hope Requests Food Donations: Rising hope called Wesley asking for food donations.
They are especially low in rice and pasta. They also need canned meats or chunky soups to feed the families that they assist.

View pictures from the September 12, 2009 United Methodist Men district rally held at the Wesley United Methodist Church. Wesley UMM meet in the Fellowship Hall at 0800 the first Saturday of each month

Prepare for Blastoff: VBS 2010
You are probably wondering why I am mentioning Vacation Bible School (VBS) 7 months  before time, I am doing so 
because we will need various things for it and I want you to be on the look out.  Last year I got valuable 
information out to you too late and I deprived you of helping me and others put the program together.  VBS is 
for all of us and not just one, two or even three people.  I have chosen the Galactic 2010 program for our 
children, our grandchildren and our neighbor's children.  Wesley United Methodist Church members are going to 
bring the Universe and all of it's glory to Alexandria.  If there is anyone who would like to help bring God's 
amazing creations and the love of Science to the children, please let me know.  In the meantime, here are a 
few items to look out for.
Any size of Styrofoam, white coats  (i.e. doctor or research lab coat), anything that we can use to create 
control panels (scrap wood, knobs, sewing spindles, gears, levers, etc.), aluminum (for rockets), aluminum 
foil, rolls of streamers for fire (yellow, red, orange, purple, black), fascinating rocks, minerals, etc. to 
display, paint (colors: silver (gray), black, white, dark blue, yellow, orange, purple)  and anything else 
that your imagination can come up with.
If you think of anything awesome to be included in our Galactic adventure, please let me know.  I welcome all 
suggestions, support and assistance.  Thank you for all of your support and help.  We had a great VBS last 
June and I expect even better this coming year.  Our success depends on you and our community.
May God protect you, keep you and bless you,

Brenda Denham, VBS Coordinator

Creating God,
Remind us again that you do not only prune. You plant. Prune us and shape us to truly be your people. Plant in us your dreams and visions. Pour into us the strength and courage to see the visions through your eyes. Put into us the tenacity and desire to bring these, your dreams and visions to fruition such that the reign of God, your reign, might come here on earth. Amen

PLEASE..... Keep us updated with new or changed postal addresses, phone numbers and eMail address. Thank you to all who have sent in changes! Updated information may be eMailed to WesleyChurch@verizon.net, dropped in the offering plate at Church, mailed to Wesley United Methodist Church , 8412 Richmond Ave, Alexandria, Virginia 22309 or you may use the on-line Change of Address Form.

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