From:                                         Woodridge United Methodist Church Communications <noreply@elexiochms.com>

Sent:                                           Friday, February 28, 2025 10:23 AM

To:                                               office@woodridgeumc.org

Subject:                                     Remove the Veil!" - Woodridge United Methodist Church Newsletter

Attachments:                          174075965803.02.25_Worship_Guide.pdf

 

    Woodridge United Methodist Church

Join us on Sunday for worship services
at  10:00 am.

Instructions can be found at the end below.
All are Welcome!

 

 

 

 

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

 

 

“Remove the Veil!”

After spending 40 days and nights with God on Mount Sinai, Moses covered his face with a veil. Why did he do this? The veil had two meanings: protection and separation. On one hand, Moses wore it to shield the Israelites from the radiance of his face after encountering God. Yet, whenever he entered God’s presence, he removed it. To the people, the veil was an act of kindness, but before God, it symbolized a barrier between them. 

The Apostle Paul also speaks about a veil in his letter to the Church in Corinth—but one that now covers our hearts and minds. He explains that this veil represents spiritual stubbornness and hardness of heart, preventing us from fully seeing and understanding God’s truth. However, Paul assures us that whenever we turn to the Lord, the veil is removed. 

Let’s explore this week’s Scripture together and discover how it applies to our lives today. And remember—this Sunday is Communion Sunday. All are invited to the Open Table!

Join us on Sunday morning in person or on our Woodridge UMC YouTube Channel for worship  at 10:00 a.m.!

 

Saturday, March 1st

  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Sunday, March 2nd

  • 10:00 am Worship Service
  • 11:20 am Adult Choir
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist

Monday, March 3rd

  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Tuesday, March 4th

  • 9:00 am Soccer Shots
  • 10:30 am Bible Study
  • 7:00 pm DG Camera Club
  • 8:00 pm Soccer Shots Small Group

Wednesday, March 5th

  • 6:00 pm Bible Study
  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Thursday, March 6th

  • 6:30 pm Den 4
  • 7:00 pm Scouting America
  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Saturday, March 7th

  • Noon First Friday Lunch

Saturday, March 8th

  • 9:00 am Feed My Starving Children
  • 9:30 am Worship Meeting
  • 5:00 pm Second Saturday Diners

Sunday, March 9th

  • 10:00 am Worship Service
  • 11:20 am Adult Choir
  • Noon Online Communion
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist

 

Church Office Hours

Monday - Tuesday: 9:00 am - Noon
Wednesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm


We ask that you call before visiting.

 

Ministry Opportunities

Feed My Starving Children
Everyone is welcome to join our Youth at a Feed My Starving Children Pack Out at Benedictine University on Saturday, March 8th at 9:00 am -11:00 am. The packed food goes for distribution to people in developing nations. With God’s help and your support, FMSC strives to eliminate starvation in children throughout the world. Please use the link to sign up for the Woodridge and Friendship United Methodist Churches group. http://www.fmsc.org/join-group?joincode=MG7LNP and the Join code is MG7LNP. Space is extremely limited and goes quickly, so sign up right away.

Bishops Bible Study Thank You
THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone that donated their time or their treats to the bishop's event last Monday.  Everything turned out GREAT!!  Everyone that attended was very appreciative of our efforts. They felt welcomed and loved, which is always our goal!  Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!  You are the Best!

March - April Upper Rooms
There are a few Upper Rooms for March - April are available in the narthex with a limited number in the mailbox.

First Friday Lunch
Everyone is welcome! No reservations needed! Enjoy a casual lunch with no responsibilities! Join us Friday, March 7th, at noon in Bonfal. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy easy conversation and some smiles as well.
 
Second Saturday Diners
Please join us to celebrate at Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe & Banquets, 8025 S Cass Ave, Darien, on Saturday, March 8th at 5:00 pm.  We always have a grand time and look forward to welcoming new faces.  Please contact Jo Bennett at jobennett2004@icloud.com or 630-432-3301by February 5th for reservations.  Everyone is invited!

Easter Egg Hunt Assistance
We’re having an EASTER EGG HUNT once again!!!!  YAY!!!  But we need your help.  We need lots of assistants. Please donate Easter candy to put into the eggs in the box in the Narthex.  All candy needs to be individually wrapped and small enough to fit in an egg. All donations need to be in by worship service on Sunday, April 6th. There is a box in the Narthex to drop off donations. 
Sunday, April 6th

  • - Fill the Eggs - after service
    • Come help fill the eggs along with the Youth.

Saturday, April 12th

  • Egg Hunt Set Up – at 8:00 am 
    • We need helpers to set out the eggs and set up the narthex for the Egg Hunt (let the office know if you can come)
  • - Egg Hunt - at 10:00am
    •  We need helpers to make sure that everyone stays safe, collect the empty eggs, hand out flyers and serve milk, juice and donut holes (let the office know if you can come).

Lenten Lunch
You are invited to bring your favorite side dish, salad or dessert to share on Sunday, March 23rd after worship service.  There will be lovely Filipino specialties for the mains!!  If you have any questions, contact the church office or Karen Miller.

Woodridge UMC Outdoor Sign
Our current sign is 30 years old and no longer working.  In celebration of 60+ years together, we are working towards replacing the broken sign with a new electronic messaging sign.  Thanks to generous donations, we are most of the way there.  However, the first electrical quote came in much higher than expected.  Based on this quote we need an additional $9000. Please join us in celebrating our church and donate today!  If you wish your donation to be in memory or honor of a loved one, we will publish the list when the sign is installed.

Welcome Bags
Woodridge UMC has Welcome Bags to give to our visitors!  The bags are our 60th Anniversary reusable grocery bags with brochures from our church and the Northern Illinois Conference.  Each visiting family can be given a bag and asked to fill out the visitor information tear-off in the church brochure (especially, if they would like to receive the electronic newsletter).  The bags are located on the black bookcase by the television in the Narthex.  

WUMC Music Ensembles: 2025
Our Music Ministry offers you three ways to get involved: the Handbell Choir, the Worship Band, and the Adult Choir. This could be the year you take that “leap of faith” and join a group! All ensembles are LOW commitment. We ask that you please attend the rehearsals leading up to the service date. It is that simple! For a full schedule see here or the handout in the narthex. In order to plan music, please RSVP to Carrie by the dates listed.

Adult Choir (8th grade through seasoned adults) RSVP was due by Feb. 9th.

Rehearsal

March 2

11:20AM-12:30PM

Music Room

Rehearsal

March 9

11:20AM-12:30PM

Music Room

Service

March 16

10AM

Rehearse in the sanctuary at 8:45 AM

Next Up: Worship Band (Please RSVP by March 23)

Scouting America (Formerly BSA) Plant Sale
Our Boy Scout Troop 109 is selling outdoor plants with orders and payment due to the scouts by Monday, March 3rd.  There are dozens of different types of plants available: flowers, foliage, vegetables, and herbs at reasonable prices. Plants are grown to order and will be delivered in early May. Order forms are available in the Narthex may be dropped off with payment in the church office before noon on Monday, March 3rd.  Otherwise, contact the scouts directly.

Blood Drive at Prince of Peace
The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a blood drive at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 22nd from 7:30 am to noon. To schedule your donation, go to www.versiti.org/IL or call 800-7TO-GIVE. Appointments appreciated; walk-ins are welcome! Photo ID is required. Flyers are in the e-News or Narthex.
 
Lenten Study
The coming Lenten Study will be a six week in person study on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm starting March 12th on Adam Hamilton’s book “Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith”.  Please sign up in the Narthex so that the appropriate number of books can be ordered.
Schedule:
March 12th - “Is there a God?”
March 19th - “The Good Book? Wrestling with the Bible”
March 26th - “Are All Non-Christians Going to Hell?”
April 2nd - :”Is Heaven real?”
April 9th - “When Prayers Go Unanswered”
April 16th - “Why Do the Innocent Suffer?”
 
Lenten Outreach Project
In Support of the West Suburban Community Pantry
This year we will be focusing on packing our WUMC shopping cart with all the most needed items West Suburban Community Pantry has on their shopping list!  Please contribute generously as you are able!  All donations are welcome, but we are particularly focusing on the following items:
•          Dry Pasta
•          Peanut Butter
•          Canned Beans (pinto, baked, garbonzo)
•          Whole Grains (oats, cereal, quinoa)
•          Rice (white or brown)
•          Dry Lentils
•          Canned Low Sugar Fruits & Vegetables
•          Canned Tuna or Chicken
 
All Church Workday
Green thumb?! Black thumb?!  Any kind of thumb!!  All levels of skill are welcome!  It’s time to get our gardens shining again for Spring and Easter!  Come and help on Saturday, April 5th from 9:00 am to noon.  Please bring any gardening tools that you may have including gloves and buckets.  Someone will show you everything that you need to know, and you can come and go as you need.
 
Finance Summary
January 2025

 

January 2025
Actual

January 2025
Budget

Year-to-Date
Actual

Year-to-Date Budget

Income

 

 

 

 

Contributions

$16,558.34

$21,154.17

$16,558.34

$21,154.17

Building Use

$475.00

$833.33

$475.00

$833.33

Miscellaneous

$536.70

$558.33

$536.70

$558.33

Total Income

$17,570.04

$22,545.83

$17,570.04

$22,545.83

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

 

 

 

 

Staff Parish

$10,689.27

$13,727.18

$10,689.27

$13,727.18

Apportionments

$0

$2,767.00

$0

$2,767.00

Trustees

$4,466.24

$6,709.48

$4,466.24

$6,709.48

Administrative

$513.21

$651.67

$513.21

$651.67

Program Ministries

$62.65

$546.24

$62.65

$546.24

Finance

$235.85

$268.34

$235.85

$268.34

Total Expenses

$15,967.82

$24,669.91

$15,967.82

$24,669.91

 
Staff Parish expenses: salaries for Music Director, Office Manager, Custodian, Pastor salary/benefits, pastor transition costs
Trustee expenses: mortgage, insurance, church utilizes, church maintenance, parsonage expenses
Administrative expenses: postage, office supplies, database fees, media fees
Finance expenses: finance software license, offering envelopes, EFT/e-giving charges
 
Questions or concerns? Contact Wally Jeske, Chair of Finance, wjeske@luc.edu

Toastmasters
Would you like to speak with more confidence in any setting? Toastmasters can help! The Woodridge Toastmasters club meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at Woodridge United Methodist Church. Come visit us and see for yourself! For more information contact John.

 

Lent 2025
Full Schedule
March 5th - 7:00 to 9:00 am – Mobile Ashing
                                     in church parking lot
                  - 7:00 pm - Ash Wednesday Service*
March 8th – 9:00 am – Feed My Starving Children
March 23rd - 11:30 am - Lenten Meal
April 5th – 9:00 am to noon- Church Workday
April 12th - 10:00 am - Easter Egg Hunt
April 13th - 10:00 am – Palm Sunday Service*
April 17th - 6:00 pm Chili Supper
                 - 7:00 pm Maundy Thursday Service*
April 18th – 7:00 pm Good Friday Service*
                   Theme: The Last Seven Words
April 20th – 10:00 am Easter Sunday Service*
  with the Worship Band
Lenten Outreach Project (full 40 days) – Food Collection

*In Person & YouTube Livestream
 

Northern Illinois Conference
Find out about upcoming events in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church by clicking this link.


Prairie Central Lay Academy
Four Sundays in March, with topics on Preaching, Prayer, Discipleship, and the Basic Course. For more information go here. Contact Mary Mecker (630) 709-3953 with questions. 

Have a Meal with Methodists and Muslims
"Seeking Peace through Sharing and Caring"
Register soon to break bread with Muslims and Methodists at an iftar (the meal taken at sundown to break the daily fast during Ramadan) on March 11th, 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Islamic Foundation, 300 W. Highridge Rd., Villa Park. All are welcome to attend. The Council of Islamic Organizations in Greater Chicago and the NIC are cohosting the dinner. Reservations first come, first serve.  For more information and to register go to:  https://www.umcnic.org/calendar/muslim-methodist-iftar
 

Outreach Opportunities

March Outreach Offering


Africa University Farm Development Fund
Our March Outreach will be for the Africa University Farm Development Fund.  Located in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, Africa University is the first fully accredited United Methodist-related education institution on the African continent. Established by General Conference action, the university offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in six faculties of learning: agriculture, education, health sciences, humanities, management and theology. The Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance offers postgraduate diplomas and master’s programs.
 
The primary goals of the Africa University (AU) Farm are to: 1. Provide facilities for Agricultural teaching and research by the AU Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 2. Provide safe, reliable, and reasonably priced food for the AU Community, including the campus dining hall which serves staff and students. 3. Generate income for AU.
 
The Farm Development Fund helps to improve the infrastructure to increase efficiency and meet local environmental regulations. It also brings in better equipment for more efficient use of labor, and to help students become familiar with modern equipment, thereby equipping them to make significant contributions to the development of the agricultural communities in their homes, whether in Zimbabwe or the many other countries represented at Africa University.

Ways to donate to the March Outreach Offering:

  • Check or cash in an Outreach Offering envelope placed in the offering plate in the
  • Narthex (the room outside the sanctuary) or in the gold-plated mail slot at the church’s east door.
  • Online via our website. Select “Current Month Outreach” in the drop down menu.
  • Text the amount you want to give to 630-449-7121 and select “Current Month Outreach” in the drop down menu.


Outreach Committee PADs April Fundraiser
DuPage PADS' mission is to end homelessness in DuPage County. We are excited to participate in this year's THE GREAT DESCENT fundraiser on Saturday, April 12th and you are invited to support this worthy cause. We have exceeded the original target goal but would like to raise $1,000 from WUMC donations!
 
Details are below with opportunities as a volunteer to help work at the event or join the Outreach Committee as a participant by rappelling 12 stories!
 
Larry Cash is committed to the event as WUMC's first rappeler! Join the WUMC team as a rappeler or CLICK HERE to Larry's fundraising goal. 
 
DuPage PADS is reaching new heights in their effort to end homelessness with The Great Descent. Partnering with Over the Edge, DuPage Pads is hosting a new and exciting fundraiser event for the first time. The event will see 100 thrill-seeking participants rappel 12 stories down the side of Hotel Arista located in the heart of the City Gate Centre in Naperville, Illinois. Participants will raise a minimum $500 in donations to support DuPage Pads' mission of ending homelessness. The Great Descent is a day-long event, which runs from 7am to 5pm at Hotel Arista. There are plenty of slots available for anyone interested in attending after services. Family, friends, and spectators are invited to come down and support participants throughout the day. 

Registration is now open and DuPage Pads invites you to join today as one of the 100 brave neighbors stepping off the roof of Hotel Arista and helping to end homelessness here at home! More information about the event can be found HERE
 
Interested in Participating? CLICK HERE
Interested in Volunteering? CLICK HERE


Ongoing Opportunities

"Goin' Green" Shoes & Clothes Recycling Box

Located in the northeast corner of our parking lot, this receptacle is a convenient place to recycle any shoes and your clothes that are at or near the end of their usefulness. 

West Suburban Food Pantry

There is a shopping cart that is waiting for donations.  It sits in the narthex, usually near the sanctuary doors.  The food pantry serves many households and always welcomes donations!!!  

Used Eyeglasses
There is a basket also in the narthex for collecting used prescription eyeglasses.  Kendra Manderfield Moore makes sure  that they are recycled to the Lions Club and Gift of Sight groups. 

 

 

 


Worship Service

Worship Attendance

If you watch the online service, please email the church office at office@woodridgeumc.org and let us know that you joined us for worship, so that we might record your attendance.
 

Prayer Requests for Worship
We are starting fresh with our list of Joys and Concerns.  Please text Pastor Dave (224.600.0446) or give him a note before service with your prayer request.  You are also welcome to let the office know during the week.  Names will only stay on the list for one month unless other arrangements are made.  Make certain that you have permission to share other’s information, too. 
Thank you for your flexibility as we make updates to our worship services.

(There have been requests that we include full names and/or more detailed information for people on our list of Joys & Concerns.  Please remember our services are broadcast on YouTube and are available to anyone who has internet access. Details are shared with our Prayer Ministry Team on Monday mornings.  You are invited to join them in prayer and share in this information by contacting the church office).

Offering Options

There are different options for getting your offering to the church.

  • Go to the website & click on the Giving tab at the top of the page or go straight there with this link.
  • Text 630.449.7121 with the amount
  • Drop off in the gold mail slot next to the east door of the church.
  • Mail your offering to the church.

 

February 28th, 2025, Volume 15, Edition 9

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