Aldersgate United Methodist Church Bellevue, Washington

09/06/2026

Aldersgate UMC Bellevue,9/2026
Preacher: Rev. Mele Taumoepeau & #39;Aho
Message: Imago Dei - What Makes Us Human?
Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27 • Psalm 8:3-6
Romans 14:8
Additional Text
Call to Worship • Prayer of Dedication
Blessing
The Abingdon Worship Annual 2026
©2025 by Abingdon Press
Used by permission
Opening Prayer
God and the Machine
Navigating Faith in the Age of AI Leader Guide
©2026 Abingdon Press
Prayers of People
Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press
from Feasting on the Word® Worship Companion
©2013
Priests for Equality
The Inclusive Bible
Bloomsbury Publishing.
Music
Honey by R.N.Dett
©2022 The Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music
Performed by Jim Peterson
The Voice of God is Calling by Lloyd • Williams
Public Domain
Led by Jim Peterson
I Will Sing New Songs by Dvorak
Public Domain
Performed by Jim Peterson
The Heart of Worship by Matt Redman
©1999 Thankyou Music
Led by Roger Ingalls

Doxology by Ken • Bourgeois
Public Domain
Led by Jim Peterson
I Am The Bread Of Life by S. Toolan
©1971 Suzanne Toolan
Led by Jim Peterson
Who Am I by Mark Hall
©2003 Be Essential Songs
My Refuge Music
Led by Roger Ingalls

All music performed by our choir director and/or Band
No prerecorded music
Reprinted/Streamed/Podcast with Permission Under:
CCLI # 1493854
CCLI Streaming CSPL # 150966
CCS Perform #8294
CCS Worshipcast #8294
One License with Podcasting A-740396
https://aldersgate-church.org/giving
Key words: Sunday Worship, UMC, Reconciling Congregation, All Are Welcome, Faith in AI
series

09/04/2026

Long before anyone asked if a machine could think, Scripture was already asking what it means to be human. 🤖✨

Starting this Sunday, join us for a brand-new, 4-week sermon series: Faith in the Age of AI, based on Nathan Webb’s book God and the Machine.

Together, we’ll trace a thread through four big questions:
🔹 Imago Dei: What does it mean to be human?
🔹 Knowledge vs. Wisdom: Where does real insight come from?
🔹 Ethics & Responsibility: How do we live faithfully as tools get smarter?
🔹 Purpose & Hope: Finding meaning and value in a changing world.

You don’t need to know anything about technology or AI to participate—just bring your curiosity and your questions to a community that takes both faith and the future seriously.

🗓️ Starts Sunday, September 6th
📍 In Person at 14230 SE Newport Way, Bellevue WA or ONLINE on Facebook Live
⏰ Worship at 10:00 AM

Bring a friend, bring your questions, and we’ll see you there! 👥👇

09/04/2026

Join us this Sunday for the start of our Sermon Series: Faith in the Age of AI, where we will begin with the question what makes us human?
And don't forget to RSVP and reserve your ticket for the Mariners Game on Sunday, September 6th at 1:10 PM!
See you on Sunday
Aldersgate UMC Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/aldersgate-church/aldersgate-umc-newsletter-18014127

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

🕯️From this week's prayer liturgy: mfsaweb.org/candle

This week, we light the Candle of Peace, Hope, and Justice, for the countries and communities around the world being devastated by the effects of climate change. Especially today we pray for the communities in the Himalayan mountains where a massive flood from a melting glacier killed more than 600 people on August 26th. We honor the religious pilgrims who came to Mount Kailish as an act of worship only to be caught in the rushing waters, and our compassion extends to all Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bons who revere this mountain as a sacred place. We pray for the loved ones of those who perished, and for the more than 4,700 missing people; for rescuers digging through thick mud in search of survivors. And for the city of Bharatpur, downstream from the area where the landslide occurred, where bodies are washing up on the riverbanks and morgues are at capacity.

God of justice, as we witness the impact of our warming planet, we are also aware of our complicity. While the country of Nepal contributes less than 0.1% of the total global emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, they are at risk of continuing to bear the brunt of the climate crisis. Meanwhile, the US and Europe are responsible for 47% of historical carbon emissions. When President Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Accords in January of this year, we became one of only four countries in the world not part of this agreement, and of those, we are by far the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

God of all people, we pray for political leadership that embraces the reality of climate science, and that commits to the responsibility of caring for our planet. Curb our reckless overconsumption of resources, and make us mindful of our connection to communities around the globe that are bearing the burdens of our choices.

09/04/2026

We will repair areas of the Burke-Gilman Trail between NE 65th St and NE 77th St near Sand Point in September. Work begins Tues. 9/8 and will last about 3 weeks.

The trail will stay open. Please use the temporary gravel ramps where asphalt has been removed. Cyclists should walk through work zones following all detour signs. Please plan for delays.

For more information, see our Parkways blog post: https://parkways.seattle.gov/2026/09/02/construction-on-the-burke-gilman-trail-near-sand-point-neighborhood-begins-september-8/

Seattle Department of Transportation, Cascade Bicycle Club, Bike Works Seattle, Seattle Bike Blog

09/04/2026

Labor Day weekend always marks our last Paint Map of the summer. And to say goodbye, our resident doodler decided to show you her real fine arts skills. Presenting a Handsome Squidward edition of the map.

Labor Day weekend also means the Summer Scaries have officially set in. Symptoms may include a sudden urge to squeeze three months of summer plans into one three-day weekend. If symptoms persist, consult your travel map. before making any weekend plans. Luckily, we have have one handy, so here’s what you need to know:

The handsome news: Most of our highway construction work will pause this weekend, which means all lanes of the I-90 Vantage Bridge are OPEN for the weekend. Lane reductions will go back into effect Tuesday morning.

The Squidward news: You should still expect delays on I-5, I-90, US 2, at the Canadian border and on Washington State Ferries as people chase the final days of summer. Between sports games, two state fairs, festivals, concerts and everyone trying to squeeze in one last summer adventure, the roads will be BUSY.

We can’t cure the Summer Scaries, but we can at least try to keep holiday traffic from aggravating this unfortunate illness. Our travel charts estimate the best times to travel on key highways throughout the weekend. Visit this link, consult the charts, and make a plan to avoid peak travel times: wsdot.wa.gov/travel/holiday-weekend-travel/labor-day-weekend-travel-times

As always, check real-time conditions before you head out, give yourself extra time and have a plan.

And with that, our Paint Map artist hangs up her paintbrush. For now. She’ll rest. She’ll wait. And when Washington’s roads inevitably descend into chaos once more, she’ll be ready.

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

Dolly Parton left a legacy in so many arenas. Maybe her most lasting gift to us will be how she viewed and used money.