Upcoming
Upcoming Events at Aldersgate
Here you will find all the upcoming events for Aldersgate in a familiar list like format. Check out what is happening at Aldersgate and get involved!
70th Event & Blessings and Bluegrass
This Sunday, October 18th
Join us on Sunday, October 18th for our final 70th Anniversary Celebration of Aldersgate. We will have one worship service at 10:45 a.m. in the sanctuary. Following worship we will gather outside at the picnic shelter for Blessings and Bluegrass, including lunch provided to everyone! As a church we strive to help our surrounding community. Our mission for this event is to pack hygiene kits for those who are experiencing homelessness. We need your assistance with collecting these hygiene items. Specifically we are collecting the items below:
Travel and personal hygiene items only
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Lotion
- Toothbrush (Individually wrapped)
- Toothpaste
- Washcloth
- Deodorant
We have 300+ of each item, let's finish strong and try to hit our goal set by Pastor Steve of packing 1,500 hygiene kits.
We encourage everyone and we mean EVERYONE to attend this event! Reach out to family, friends, and neighbors to let them know about this great celebration.
Dinner For Eight
It is time again to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones through the Dinner for Eight program. You can sign up to share a meal with about eight people. You choose whether to meet at a restaurant or in a home, whether to meet for lunch or dinner, and select which days would work best for you. (Please give as many options as possible.) This is a great way to reconnect and/or meet new folks -- perhaps folks who attend the "other" service or someone you just haven't met yet. Forms are available in the narthex. Call Barbara at 919-818-0454 with any questions.
Veterans Day Dinner Announcement
My name is Glenn Reynolds and I'm a member of Aldersgate Church and a veteran. I would like to invite you to a dinner Sunday, November 8th, in the Family Life Center to celebrate our veterans. Dinner will be provided.
Whether you are a veteran, have a relative who is a veteran, or know a veteran, you are invited. If you just want to meet a veteran, you are invited. Dinner will be at 1630 or 4:30 PM if you prefer. There will be a short program starting at 1730 or 5:30 PM if that time suits you better.
Please RSVP no later than November 4th so we can get a head count for dinner. Please contact Debbie Sykes or me, Glenn Reynolds ge.reynolds26@yahoo.com, our email and phone numbers are also in the email and in the church directory.
R Wave Respite Highlights
R Wave Respite meets every Monday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the FLC Scout/Youth room. Our volunteers and loved ones work together on craft creations, puzzles, exercise, games, and share in song. There is always dancing!
Over the last few weeks, some activities have included painting little pinewood derby cars, creating sunflower suncatchers, painting serving plates, and packing teacher boxes for all of the Aldersgate pre-school and after-school teachers. While everyone always enjoys the great lunches prepared by our in-house chefs, making key lime tartlets and frozen banana treats really hit the spot! The afternoon volleyball games always bring out the competitiveness and laughter for all!
October Meeting Times:
R Wave Respite meets on Mondays, 10:00 – 2:00 in the Scout/Youth Room Family Life Center
10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26
R Wave Support Group Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays of the Month in Room 207 Family Life Center
10/5, 10/19, 11/2, 11/16, 12/7
Aldersgate Sunday School
Aldersgate UMC offers three adult sunday school classes on Sundays at 9:45a.m. in the Family Life Center.
- Outbackers
- Iron Men
- LIFT
- Grace Moments
- The Gathering
For the next few weeks the LIFT class will be taking a deeper dive into Pastor Steve’s weekly sermons and reflecting on how we can better follow Jesus in our daily life.
All are welcome to attend!
The Outbackers Sunday school class is studying study the book “The Walk” by Rev. Adam Hamilton. Walking is often used in scripture as a way of speaking about our life with God.
This study explores five essential practices used to positively impact one’s spiritual health.
Two new adult Sunday School classes and children's Sunday School will begin on Sunday, September 13th!
Our two new Sunday school classes are "The Gathering" for young adults and "Grace Moments" for all ages. Make sure to join one of these great classes starting THIS Sunday, September 13th!
Come join a Sunday School class all are welcome!
PrimeTimers
PrimeTimers will be meeting this Thursday, October 15 @11:45 in the Wesley Room.
This will be a bring your own lunch and beverages and dessert will be provided.
Come to enjoy some "mind gymnastics" and to fellowship with your AUMC friends.
Building Beloved Community - District Wide Book Study
The Corridor District Anti-Racism Team is coordinating a district wide book study: Building Beloved Community The Courage to Love in the Face of Tyranny by The United Methodist Council of Bishops.
This study invites us to explore how love, not fear, becomes a powerful response to division, injustice, and authoritarianism. The book addresses topics from migration, racism, Christian nationalism, and how Christ is inviting us to become communities shaped by love and justice. This is a great impactful book study led by Pastor Steve on Wednesdays from 12PM - 1PM starting this Wednesday, September 9th at Epworth UMC. Navigate to this page to learn more. Click the button below to register for this district-wide book study!
AUMC 70th - Did You Know?
Aldersgate got a Bivins Road address to prevent the confusion of two churches being across Umstead Road from each other. In 1985, the pastor of Faith Alliance Church had served a church in the past where such a situation had caused him a lot of trouble with mixed up mail. When Julian Upchurch told him that we could get a Bivins Road address, he no longer objected to Ed Terry selling us this property. That is why we have a Bivins Road address.
Divorce Care at Aldersgate
Divorce Care is a 13 week class/support group designed to help those going through the hardship of divorce. There are many locations that offer this class. You can find a location near you on the divorcecare.org website.
Aldersgate UMC is one of the locations listed and we are always welcoming new members into this helpful course. Divorce Care meets at AUMC weekly on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Family Life Center room 206. This course is available to all who are/have been impacted by seperation and divorce.
If you are interested in attending the class offered at Aldersgate, please feel free to call David Anderson at
919-452-3715 or register online at
divorcecare.org.
AUMC Online Directory and Church Center
At Aldersgate, our vision is Connecting. knowing. loving. and Growing. One of the ways we can keep connected as a church family is through our church center app which includes our directory and more.
What is Church Center?
Church Center is our directory and the best place to access our calender, giving, and more. In Church Center you can access and update your own profile, see your giving records, and view up to date information about Aldersgate events. Church Center is built to help you stay connected to Aldersgate wherever you are. You will need to authenticate yourself via email or cell number to access your profile.
Reach out to our Communications Director, Jonathan Hudson (jonathan@aldersgate.org) if you have any questions or need any assistance.
Tuesday Morning Bible Class
Tuesdays, 6:30 a.m. Wesley Room
The Tuesday Morning Bible Class (TMBC) is starting a new study on September 1st. What does it mean to "seek first the kingdom of God" in our relationships, values, ambitions, finances, and commitments?
Jesus' answer to these questions amazed those who first heard the Sermon on the Mount. In this twelve-session LifeGuide Bible Study, you'll dig deep into his startling and challenging message—the greatest sermon ever preached.
Our Tuesday Morning Bible Study (aka TMBC) will begin a new book on Tuesday, September 1 at 6:30 a.m. in the Wesley Room.
We will be using “Sermon on the Mount” by John Stott to help guide our discussions. Books are available in our class. Come join us.
Contact John Hall (johnh@aldersgate.org) for more information.
R Wave Respite
R Wave needs more volunteers! Currently our growth is
limited by the number of volunteers, not participants. If
you’ve been thinking about volunteering……..NOW IS
THE TIME….Help us grow! You can click on the orange
button on the website, or talk with Mary Taylor, Debbie
Sykes, John Howe, or Vic Gentry.
R Wave currently has 18 participants. That’s 18 care
partners getting respite. That’s our mission. Our wonderful kitchen staff is preparing about 45 meals every Monday.
Next respite meeting Monday, October 12th, 2026,
10:00 a.m.
Youth/Scout/R Wave Room!
Fun, Games, Socialization, and a hot lunch included
Respite meets every Monday 10am-2pm.
R Wave Support Group kicked off their What’s Next seminar today! There are three remaining sessions, 9/28, 10/12, 10/26 - 10:15 - 12:00 Room 207, FLC. This course is designed to help newly diagnosed dementia patients/caregivers with emotionally dealing with the diagnosis, prioritizing next steps.
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 - New volunteer training -
10:00 - 12:00, R Wave room
The R Wave Support Group meets on the first and third
Mondays of every month at 10:30 a.m. in room 207 of the FLC. The next meeting is on Monday, October 19th.
We have reached out to 18 local churches about R Wave
being a community ministry. Did I mention, we need
more volunteers!
Lastly, thank you to all of the volunteers. This ministry is
not possible without your support. An special thank
you to Frank Wootton for his presentation to the support
group on Monday, August 31.
AUMC Soccer
Thursday night soccer is back in the FLC gym – want to join us? It’s open to anyone 13 and older, and you don’t have to be a soccer pro just to have fun and play.
No soccer this Thursday!
Date: Thursday evenings
(with the exception of the 1st Thursday of the month) starting on March 19th
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.
Location:
The FLC Gym
at Aldersgate in Durham
1320 Umstead Rd, Durham NC, 27712
Community Pickleball
Join us in the FLC Gym on Tuesday, October 13th from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. for community pickleball. Play games or volley back-and-forth with friends. Grab a paddle and come join us for a fun evening!
UMM Monthly Food and Fellowship
Join the United Methodist this Saturday, October 10th for their monthly breakfast meeting in the Family Life Center gym at 8:00 AM.
Keto Support Group
With the help of Dr. Eric Westman from Duke, we coordinated A keto support group for both members and nonmembers of the church. This group meets the first Monday of every month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the FLC Gym. Come join this great group!
AUMC Photos
Since the first of the year, an additional 300 new entries have been added to the Aldersgate online photo album. Additions to the Missions, Youth, and Events folders have brought the total count of photos to over 3,000. If you haven't viewed the galleries lately at "aldersgate.smugmug.com", stop by for a visit and see if you can find yourself among the collections.
Thank you to Joe Lyndon for creating this resource.
