Wednesday Night Together – May 2. Dinner will be served from 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. Dinner will be $6.50 per adult; $3.00 per child; $19.50 maximum family charge. You may order your meals on the pew pad or call the church office no later than noon on Monday. Our guest speaker will be Cathy Kysar speaking on scrapbooking (see below.) Menu: garlic bread, tossed salad, whole wheat spaghetti and meat sauce, cut corn, éclairs. Children’s Menu: hamburger or jumbo hot dog, macaroni and cheese, applesauce, vegetable, and dessert.

“Take the picture to make it last. . . write the story and preserve the past.” Would you like to know what this Scrapbooking craze is all about? On Wednesday, May 2nd, you’ll get a chance to have a little fun at our Wednesday Night Together Dinner with “hands-on” use of some of the “tools of the Scrapbooking trade” and by learning a little about how to preserve your pictures and memories. Bring a friend to the dinner and get ready for some fun! Someone will go away with a free give-away! Make your reservations for dinner (price is $6.50 for per person, Family-Maximum $19.50) no later than Monday, April 30th by calling the church office at 703-256-8330 ‘cause this event may get booked up in a hurry!

"SONSHINE" Annandale's Annual Women's Retreat. May 4, 5, 6, 2007 at Sandy Cove in North East, Md. Come and join the women of the church for Fun, Faith and Fellowship. What a wonderful setting for us to meet on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information, and to find transportation, call Beth Ann Eadie 703-750-1867.

Happy Wanderers, Thursday, May 17th We will visit “Hillwood”, the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, one of America’s un-titled aristocrats. The mansion has a priceless art collection, French pieces commissioned by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and an impressive array of Russian porcelain, glass, silver and jewel-studded Faberge eggs. The interesting self-guided tour includes gardens, canals, waterfalls and a greenhouse with an orchid collection. Lunch will be in the café that was once the stable. Call Hilda Wood at 703-532-3016 for reservations by May 1^st.

Summer Camp is coming!  In order to make sure your camper is able to come to their first camp choice, please register today by going online to www.CampHighroad.org.  You can register online or print off the registration form and mail or fax it to us.  If you have any questions about Summer Camp, please call the office Mon. – Fri. at (540) 687-6262 or come to one of our two Summer Camp Open Houses (Sun. May 6^th or Sun. May 27^th from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) and take a look around.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

UNITED METHODIST FAMILY DAY AT KINGS DOMINION! Discounted days include: May 5, 12, 19 and 26 (all you can eat picnic only on May 12). Join thousands of other United Methodists for family fun at Kings Dominion on one of these discounted days. Ticket information – www.annandale-umc.org

An Earth and Spirit Change – Starting in May, Earth and Spirit will meet every 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the senior lounge.

MISSIONS

AUMC is going Back to Brazil! AUMC, in partnership with Herndon UMC, will be going back to Sao Paolo, Brazil to continue our work on the Shade and Fresh Water Program. The project will run from July 14-28. Herndon will lead the first week and Annandale will lead the second week. Some have expressed interest in going for both weeks and that is fine as well. Even though Annandale and Herndon have designated lead weeks, all are welcome to join either or both weeks. July 21-28 (AUMC's primary week)  /  July 14-21 (Herndon UMCs primary week) If you are interested in joining the team or wish to find out more, please contact Erin McKenney at 703-403-1742 or email aumcmissions@yahoo.com. If you are unable to join the team on the trip, but would like to support the project, we are hoping to raise $15-20,000 towards this cost (between the two churches). Checks can be made out to AUMC with Brazil project in the memo section. Please see The Witness or our Website (www.annandale-umc.org) for more details.

WINTER MONTHS HAVE STRETCHED ACCA’S RESOURCES The winter months have stretched ACCA’s resources. As gasoline, utilities, and rents have skyrocketed low-income families have struggled. During the month of March ACCA paid $24,781 in rent and $3,525 in utilities. We helped a grandmother and her two grandchildren with rent; also a woman and her children whose abusive husband caused them to receive an eviction notice; a man whose pay check bounced; a family of six, including two handicapped children, needed utility assistance; 153 hungry people received food; 31 rides to medical appointments were provided; 598 meals-on-wheels were delivered; 97 furniture pickups/drop offs were made; 183 children received developmental daycare. Total March expenses exceeded donations by $21,000.

The Annandale Christian Community for Action is a faith-based association of 26 churches founded to provide childcare, food, furniture, transportation, and emergency support to people with financial needs. It serves the Annandale, Lincolnia, and Bailey’s Crossroads areas of Fairfax County. All services, except childcare, are provided free of charge by more than 500 volunteers and rely on donations from individuals, churches, businesses, and grants. Because of ACCA’s recent increased needs, please consider making a contribution individually or through your church, civic organization, or business. One hundred percent of your donation goes to help your neighbors in need. Tax deductible checks can be sent to ACCA, 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003. To volunteer contact Susan Farris at 703-256-2775 or followedbyamoonshadow@verizon.net.

AUMC regularly collects food for ACCA on the first Sunday of every month. Next Sunday, May 6^th, will be the first Sunday of May so please remember to bring in your gifts of small bags of rice, dried red/black beans, cereal, fruit, small bags of flour and sugar, and bars of soap.

Youth and Children Events

Summer Sunday School Volunteers Needed! Would you be willing to volunteer one Sunday this summer to help the Children’s Sunday school program?  The curriculum is user friendly: Live BIG’s One Room curriculum by Cokesbury.  Instructions and leader guide provided.   Sign up to volunteer in one of the combined classes: 4 year old – 1st grade class OR 2nd – 5th grade class.  Dates available: Sunday, June 17 – Sunday, September 2.  What a fun way to get to know the children of AUMC!  Contact Tracy Carney, carneys@cox.net or 703-641-8803 or visit us on the 3rd floor during Sunday school (room 311).  No experience necessary. 

Children’s Sunday School Teaching Teams: Recruiting for the 2007 – 2008 Sunday school teaching teams is underway!  Volunteer to teach on one of the following Sunday school teaching teams: 4 year olds, Kindergarten, First grade, Second grade, Third grade, Fourth grade or Fifth grade.  Training and curriculum provided.  No experience necessary.  Come join us and make a difference in the life of a child.  Contact Tracy Carney, carneys@cox.net or 703-641-8803 or visit us on the 3rd floor during Sunday school (room 311).

The Incredible race is on!

We are happy to announce that VBS is on this summer, from July 16th through 20th. Registration forms can be found on the bulletin board outside Wright Hall, or on our website at www.annandale-umc.org. Call Cheri Brown (703-272-3427) or Francine Cannon (703-560-5153) for more information.