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

Sent:                                           Friday, March 28, 2025 10:11 AM

To:                                               office@woodridgeumc.org

Subject:                                     A Tale of Two Brothers" - Woodridge United Methodist Church Newsletter

Attachments:                          174317464503.30.25_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

 

 

“A Tale of Two Brothers”

This week’s Scripture reading often places more emphasis on the Prodigal Son, but the story is truly a tale of two brothers, both playing an equally important role. The younger son undergoes a radical transformation while away from home—an experience that ultimately leads him back to his father. However, his return angers his older brother, who struggles to understand why their father welcomes him back with such grace and celebration. 
What kind of transformation did the younger son experience? Does this still happen around us today? And what was at the heart of the older son’s frustration? Finally, what can we learn from their father’s response at the end? Let’s explore these questions together in our Scripture lesson this Sunday in person or on our Woodridge UMC YouTube Channel for worship  at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome!
 

 

Friday, March 28th

  • 4:00 pm Sorority Game Night

Saturday, March 29th

  • 3:00 pm Square Dancing
  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Sunday, March 30th

  • 10:00 am Worship Service
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist
  • 6:30 pm CSA Committee

Monday, March 31st

  • 6:00 pm Election Day Set Up
  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Tuesday, April 1st

  • 6:00 am Election
  • 9:00 am Soccer Shots
  • 10:30 am Lenten Study

Wednesday, April 2nd

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

Thursday, April 3rd

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

Friday, April 4th

  • Noon First Friday Lunch
  • 4:00 pm Jackson Celebration of Life

Saturday, April 5th

  • 9:00 am All Church Work Day
  • 9:00 am Square Dancing
  • 2:00 pm Square Dancing
  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Sunday, April 6th

  • 9:00 am Square Dancing
  • 10:00 am Worship Service
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist
  • 6:30 pm CSA Committee

 

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

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 NEXT Sunday, April 6th. There is a box in the Narthex to drop off donations. 
NEXT 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).

Radical Hospitality Volunteers Needed

We need your assistance as volunteers with radical hospitality once again.  Long-time custodian Oree Jackson passed away earlier this week, and the memorial service for him is this Friday, April 4th at 4:00 pm. We need volunteers to arrange refreshments and drinks and to assist with the service (greeters, ushers, etc.) as well as refreshment donations.  Please bring any donations of treats, finger foods, fruit or vegetable trays, etc. to the church kitchen by noon on Friday (or with you if you are volunteering).


Workshop: Immigrant Rights for Allies: How to Channel your Anger through Justice
Friendship UMC is hosting this workshop run by the Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project on THIS Sunday, March 30th 11:45 am to 1:00 pm after services. Friendship UWF women's group will provide snacks, treats and beverages to hold everyone over until they can have lunch following the workshop.  Included in this discussion is a combination of "Know Your Rights" plus "Immigrant Rights for Allies". At the end of this workshop, those who would like to be trained further in specific things we can do as allies will be able to sign up for that training at a later date. Anyone can come!  It's an excellent opportunity to hear about the plight of the migrants/immigrants too!!   Please let Pastor Dave if you are interested in attending with him.  See the flyer here.
 

UMCOR Sunday

UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) Sunday is THIS Sunday, March 30th.  Go to https://www.umcnic.org/calendar/umcor-sunday for more information.

Soup "Train"
Mike Marvel had another dental procedure and will be on a soup diet for the next three months.  We are looking for people to make soup, freeze some in a quart container(s) and bring it to church.  Please label the container with the type of soup. Pastor Dave will deliver the soup to Mike.
 
First Friday Lunch
Please join us at noon on Friday, April 4th for lunch.  No planning, no reservations, no responsibilities! Bring your sack lunch and a good sense of humor because there are sure to be laughs. Everyone is invited! 

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.
 

Second Saturday Diners
Our next event is Saturday, April 12th at 5:00pm. We will be going to Home Run Inn Pizza, Lemont Rd, Darien, IL. Please RSVP: Jo Bennett, at jobennett2004@icloud.com or (630) 432-3301 by April 8th, for reservations. 

Lenten Study
The coming Lenten Study will be a six week in person study on  Tuesdays at 10:30 am or Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm  on Adam Hamilton’s book “Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith”.
Schedule:
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
 We have filled out first shopping cart for the pantry and are well on our way to the second - thanks to all and let's keep going!

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.

Graduate Recognition Sunday, June 1st

During the worship service on Sunday, June 1st, we will honor all our graduates: junior high, high school, college, and beyond. If you or a family member are graduating this spring let us know so we can include you! Please email the church office (office@woodridgeumc.org) with the graduate’s name, a photo, and the school from which they are graduating as well as what’s next for them (college & major, job, etc.).
 

Vacation Bible School Volunteers Needed
We are partnering with Friendship UMC in Bolingbrook for Vacation Bible School this year!  We need adult volunteers to help with the program that will be held on July 21st – 24th at Friendship UMC (305 E. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook).  More details coming!!

 
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.

Worship Band (RSVP was due by March 23)

Rehearsal

April 6th

11:20 AM-12:30 PM

Music Room

Rehearsal

April 13th

11:20 AM-12:30 PM

Music Room

Service

April 20th

10 AM (Easter)

Rehearse in the sanctuary at 8:45 AM

 
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

Schedule
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

Birthdays

April Birthdays
04        Rachel Sprague
11        Sarah Jeske
12        Tom Balamut
            Kevin Morman
            Joseph Shubert
            Matt Swick
            Jiwon Yim
15        Rachel Grosch
16        Michael Gardner
26        Lesley Balamut
27        Karl Borgehammar
            Monserrat Buenafe
            Patrick Cash
29        Allison Printz

Northern Illinois Conference


Registration opens next week NIC 2025 Annual Conference. Make sure to register soon so you save money. Visit the Annual Conference website for more information and watch the page for the registration link to be posted .

Fees
April 1-30: $155  
May 1–23: $170 
NO REGISTRATIONS ACCEPTED AFTER MAY 23

Special observances and events
Clergy Session: May 13, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Naperville: Woori UMC
Laity Session: June 9, morning
Celebration of Ministry: June 9, evening  
Bible Study: June 10 & 11, mornings
Lunch-and-Learn: June 10, lunch
Memorial service: June 10, late afternoon
Retirement celebration: June 11, midmorning



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

 

Outreach Opportunities

Fleece Donations Needed
We have learned that Joann Fabrics was a source of much of the fleece that has been used to make scarves for Woodridge school children the last few years.  As they are now going out of business we are asking that if anyone is able to purchase a few yards of fleece to donate for use this fall it would be appreciated.  You can bring any donations to church where they will be stored until needed.  Thanks!
 

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!
 
Larry Cash is committed to the event as WUMC's rappeler! 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. 

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.

 

March 28th, 2025, Volume 15, Edition 13

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