Courageously living and sharing God's unconditional love every day, with everyone, everywhere. MONTHLY MISSION FOCUS October 2026 Be the Good Boost Bags Make a donation for Be The Good Boost Bags! Point of Contact Executive Director: Jill Cox ( jcox@aldersgate.net ) Our missional focus for October is the Be The Good Project . The Be The Good Project is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to provide safe and simple ways for volunteers to help feed our neighbors who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity. We will put together Boost Bags on Sunday, November 22nd, as a part of our Deck the Halls Christmas decorating event. Be The Good Boost Bags are distributed through local schools and non-profits that serve families who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity across Northern Virginia. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/03f741_7bf8ba87ee434e20b03267c3c90228af/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 How To Volunteer: Make a contribution and we will purchase the contents needed to make Boost Bags. (Check can be made to Aldersgate UMC, memo: Be The Good.) If unable to donate monetarily, join us on Nov. 22nd to pack the Boost Bags. Questions: Please email Jill Cox. The Rev. M. J. Kim Fund supports immigrant clergy serving in the Virginia Conference, helping with the unique needs and expenses they face while navigating the U.S. immigration process. Named in honor of Rev. Myung Johng “M.J.” Kim, the first Asian American elder ordained in the Virginia Conference, the fund carries forward his legacy of faith and service. Aldersgate was fortunate to have Rev. M.J. Kim serve as our pastor from 1997–2002, and we are grateful for the lasting impact he made on our church community. ALDERSGATE UMC HOMECOMING MISSION FOCUS Now through September 1st, Aldersgate UMC will be accepting donations to support this important ministry. Click here (please be sure to click the correct option in the drop-down menu) to donate and join us in honoring Rev. Kim’s legacy by supporting immigrant clergy in the Virginia Conference.

Volunteer to make and deliver sack meals to the people sheltered in local motels. EVENT INFORMATION < Previous Event Back to Upcoming Events Back Next Event > Phoenix Rising Sandwich Making LOCAL MISSIONS & OUTREACH Thursday, Nov. 12th | 5:00pm - 7:00pm Aldersgate UMC (Wesley Hall) 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 ). For more information on Phoenix Rising and other local missions and outreach, please visit the Local Missions and Outreach page on our website. 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 ). For more information on Phoenix Rising and other local missions and outreach, please visit the Local Missions and Outreach page on our website. < Previous Event Next Event >

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

< Back Pastor Bill John Senior Pastor Email: bjohn@aldersgate.net Phone: (703) 765-6555 x602 Pastor Bill John has been an elder in the United Methodist Church for 25 years and has served three appointments. He has been privileged to serve God alongside congregations in Rockingham, Mathews, and New Kent counties. Bill will join Aldersgate from Providence UMC, where he has been ministering since 2014. Bill’s greatest joy in ministry is witnessing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives. He considers it a great privilege to walk with people as they learn, grow, and deepen their relationship with the Lord. It is a holy, sacred, and joyful journey! Bill grew up in Virginia Beach, VA, as the eldest son of a naval commander and church pianist. His favorite memories of childhood and adolescence likely have something to do with playing soccer or rebuilding a ‘75 Camaro with his dad. He grew up dreaming of becoming a fighter pilot or racecar driver, yet God had other plans, though no less thrilling! Bill attended Virginia Tech, where he studied economics, business, and communication. At the Wesley Foundation of Virginia Tech, Bill met his wife Jenny and received his call to ministry. Upon graduation, Bill and Jenny were married and began their life together on the campus of Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, VA, where Bill graduated with his Master of Divinity in 2000. Bill and Jenny have been married for 28 years and have loved raising their three children together: Billy (26), Hannah (23), and Owen (15). Billy is an engineer in Richmond, VA. Hannah is a Senior Airman in the US Air Force and is stationed in Minot, ND. Owen is a high school freshman, and his greatest love is soccer. Jenny is a licensed counselor, assistant professor of counseling, and director of the counseling program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA. They enjoy camping, board games, sports, and movies as a family. In his free time, Bill enjoys coaching soccer, woodworking, and restoring (and driving) his ‘85 Camaro. Bill and Jenny look forward to growing in ministry and fellowship alongside the people of Aldersgate UMC and the community of Fort Hunt. God is up to something, and it is always good!

New 11-week Faith Book Study beginning Sept. 15th. Led by Rev. Dr. Keary Kincannon. EVENT INFORMATION < Previous Event Back to Upcoming Events Back Next Event > New Faith Book Study - "The Tears of Things," by Richard Rohr EQUIP EVENT Tuesday, Oct. 27th | 7:00pm - 8:30pm Aldersgate UMC (Church Library) "The Tears of Things" is the perfect book as we are outraged, fearful and in pain at what is happening in our time. How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and anger we feel in such an unjust world? The writings of the Jewish prophets offer us a crucial path forward today. The prophets' writings reflect the full spectrum of human maturity. In almost every case, their initial rage and their accusatory words evolve into a profound pathos and lamentation about our shared human condition and the world's suffering. Through astute critiques of culture and institutions, and their journey from anger to sadness and ultimately compassion, the prophets exemplify "sacred criticism" - a distinct approach to confronting evil and injustice that acknowledges the wholeness of history, the inter connectedness of every living being, and the reality of a divine universal love. In doing so, they set the stage for Jesus, who follows this identical pattern. Drawing on a century of biblical scholarship and written in the warm, pastoral voice that has endeared Richard Rohr to millions, "The Tears of Things," breathes new life into ancient wisdom. It paves a path of enlightenment for anyone seeking a compassionate way of living in a hurting world. Click here to watch a video about "The Tears of Things." Join us Tuesday evenings in the Church Library as Rev. Keary Kincannon facilitates a lively book discussion sponsored by both Aldersgate UMC and Ventures in Community (VIC -Mt. Vernon area’s 50-year-old Interfaith Coalition). Facilitator: Rev. Dr. Keary Kincannon Sign Up to Attend Please RSVP with your contact information to indicate your interest in attending this book study. Participants are asked to please obtain a copy of the book and read the first chapter before the first class. For more information contact Rev. Dr. Keary Kincannon at keary.kincannon@gmail.com . "The Tears of Things" is the perfect book as we are outraged, fearful and in pain at what is happening in our time. How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and anger we feel in such an unjust world? The writings of the Jewish prophets offer us a crucial path forward today. The prophets' writings reflect the full spectrum of human maturity. In almost every case, their initial rage and their accusatory words evolve into a profound pathos and lamentation about our shared human condition and the world's suffering. Through astute critiques of culture and institutions, and their journey from anger to sadness and ultimately compassion, the prophets exemplify "sacred criticism" - a distinct approach to confronting evil and injustice that acknowledges the wholeness of history, the inter connectedness of every living being, and the reality of a divine universal love. In doing so, they set the stage for Jesus, who follows this identical pattern. Drawing on a century of biblical scholarship and written in the warm, pastoral voice that has endeared Richard Rohr to millions, "The Tears of Things," breathes new life into ancient wisdom. It paves a path of enlightenment for anyone seeking a compassionate way of living in a hurting world. Click here to watch a video about "The Tears of Things." Join us Tuesday evenings in the Church Library as Rev. Keary Kincannon facilitates a lively book discussion sponsored by both Aldersgate UMC and Ventures in Community (VIC-Mt. Vernon area’s 50-year-old Interfaith Coalition). Facilitator: Rev. Dr. Keary Kincannon Click here to sign up. Please RSVP with your contact information to indicate your interest in attending this book study. Participants are asked to please obtain a copy of the book and read the first chapter before the first class. For more information contact Rev. Dr. Keary Kincannon at keary.kincannon@gmail.com . < Previous Event Next Event >

< Back Callie McIlwain Receptionist Email: receptionist@aldersgate.net Phone: (703) 765-6555 x603

< Back Doug VanDenBerg Organist Email: organist@aldersgate.net Phone:

< Back Pastor Sherry Hietpas Associate Pastor Email: shietpas@aldersgate.net Phone: (703) 765-6555 x601 Pastor Sherry Hietpas is a graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, with a Master of Divinity and is currently a Provisional Elder in the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. She received her call to vocational ministry in 2017 while serving as the Director of Family Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Pacific Grove, CA. She has previously served Andrew Chapel UMC in Vienna, VA, as their Associate Pastor. Sherry has a passion for building community as an expression of faith in Jesus Christ and believes many relationships are formed around a table, usually over good food and discussion. She finds that relationship building leads to a strong sense of belonging, which can spur personal and communal transformation. Sherry has also developed a passion for digital ministry, which was cultivated while living overseas. Sherry is married to an active-duty Marine and is a mother to three daughters. She is excited to be part of the incredible ministries of Aldersgate UMC, as they serve the community of Alexandria.

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

< Back Jesse St Clair Smith Director of Children's Ministries Email: children@aldersgate.net Phone: (703) 765-6555 x616

< Back Jane Kratovil Financial Manager Email: finance@aldersgate.net Phone: (703) 765-6555 x607

Courageously living and sharing God's unconditional love every day, with everyone, everywhere. COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN 2023 Shepherding for the Future Comprehensive Campaign 2023 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." Psalm 23:1 Rather than ask you twice within several months to give to two separate efforts, we are asking you once to support these efforts and to consider a gift for the future through a single Comprehensive Campaign for 2023. The Comprehensive Campaign 2023 has three parts - Stewardship, Shepherd Hall, and Legacy Giving. More information on each is below . We ask you to consider each part carefully. We encourage you to be a shepherd for the future through your giving. Campaign Pledge Form Campaign Testimonial Videos Time & Talent Form Time & Talent Testimonial Videos Campaign Progress Campaign Supporters of 2023 Campaign Information Packet FAQs Campaign Presentation Thank you for your contribution and commitment to Aldersgate UMC! Stewardship 2023 Shepherd Hall Campaign 2023 Stewardship Campaign Operating Budget The priority or first component for giving is your support of the annual expenses - the operating budget - of the church. The operating budget is the cost of the church's programs every day of the year. The total operating budget for 2023 is projected to be $1.6 million. This will be paid through pledged commitments (62.5%), non-pledge donations (28.2%), and other revenue (9.3%). Our goal is to receive pledged commitments for a total of $1 million. Included in the operating budget are the apportionments which we pay to support the ministries of the United Methodist Church denomination. Apportionments is a method of giving that proportionally allocates the denomination-wide budget to conferences and local churches. For example, the apportionment dollars that Aldersgate gives toward Global Missions and other organizations within the United Methodist Church help those in need in Ukraine. The operating budget includes apportionments, staff salaries, church administration expenses, missions, and the cost of maintaining the church properties (main church and two parsonages). Click Here for Note on Mission Expenses You are asked each Fall to make a commitment through the "Stewardship Campaign" for the following year. You are asked to renew your current commitment to support the annual operating budget and to consider increasing your pledge by 10% for 2023. If you do not have a current commitment, please consider making one. The amount you give is a personal matter. When deciding on how much to give, remember that scripture indicates that tithing is the standard and that giving one-tenth of our income to the church is the norm. Tithing is a spiritual goal for many Christians and for members of the Jewish faith, as well. Legacy Giving Anchor 1