Woodridge United Methodist Church

Important Information
Music Director Job Opening
The Staff Parish Committee has updated the job description for Music Director and will be posting the opening in various locations.  Please share that we are looking for people who are interested in the position. The committee prays for guidance as we work to fill this very important role in our church.

Ministry Opportunities
Woodridge UMC Craft and Vendor Fair and Bake Sale

Woodridge UMC is having a craft and vendor fair on Saturday, November 15th from 9 am to 2 pm.  Last year was very successful.  Let’s see if we can make it a bigger success this year!  Come join in the fun and help make the vendors happy that they chose to take part.

Lunch at the Craft Fair
On Saturday, November 15th (10 am to 1:30 pm), Fat Johnnie’s Daughter will be with us with their Famous Red Hots and Polish Sausages. The church will be selling popcorn, chips, and drinks, plus dessert at the bake sale.  Come get lunch and visit the craft fair, too!!  See the flyer here. 
 

WUMC Hope Scholarship
The Scholarship Committee would like to announce the creation of the Hope Scholarship.  It is to be awarded to young, active members of Woodridge UMC who are continuing their education upon completing high school.  The scholarship will help our young adults with the high cost of continuing their education at a trade school, college, or professional school. Students are eligible to receive a one-time scholarship of $1000.  Only a small number of scholarships will be given out each year.  The applications are available attached here.

Prayer Ministry
Our Prayer Chain is a group of caring people who believe in the power of prayer. We are dedicated to praying for your concerns and joys. Prayer requests will be shared with the church’s prayer chain, honoring your confidentiality. If you are interested in being a part of the church’s prayer chain ministry, please contact the church office.

If you would like to submit prayers to the Prayer Chain of Joys and Concerns, please contact the church office, text Pastor Dave  with your prayer requests or give him a note before worship service.

Church Conference
Our church conference with our new District Superintendent Rev. Wendy Hardin Hermann is scheduled for Saturday, November 22nd at 10:00 am with the Staff Parish Meeting scheduled for 9:30 am.  Please save the date and plan to attend!
 
Bible Study
We are studying Jeremiah.  The study will be offered on Tuesday mornings via Zoom (10:30 a.m. to Noon) and Wednesday evenings in person (6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.).  We will read one chapter together each week and go deeper with questions and discussions.  Let Pastor Dave know if you are interested in joining!
 

Christ the Servant Electronics & Textiles Recycling Event
An Electronic Recycling Event is scheduled for November 15th at Christ the Servant Church from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, at 8700 Havens drive, Woodridge in the parking lot.
 
This event includes electronics as well as textiles (in plastic bags only) and books (one box of books per car). Find the flyer for the event in the e-News for a list of accepted and not accepted items or go to www.eworksesi.org.  A disposal fee will apply for all televisions and monitors (cash – exact change only or credit accepted).  Call Larry with any questions: 630.418.6928. See the flyer for the event in the e-News for or narthex.

Sunday School
Please join us!
Most Sundays, Children begin the worship service in the sanctuary with their family. Following the “Praying” segment, the children will be invited up to the chancel steps for conversation with the pastors. Then, the Sunday School teacher will meet the children in the Narthex (the big room outside the sanctuary) & walk them to their classroom. They will be in the Trinity Room in the main hallway.

Activity Bags are available in the Narthex every Sunday.

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.

Advent 2025
Advent Book Discussion
Please join us for our Advent Book Discussion.  Class is open to anyone who wishes to participate. If you are interested in attending contact the church office or Pastor Dave.
 
Small Things Like These: A tale of one man's courage and a remarkable portrait of love and family in a small Irish town during the weeks leading up to Christmas.
 
Tuesday, December 16th (ZOOM only), 10:30 a.m. until noon
Wednesday, December 17th (In-person only), 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Movie Night with pizza, soda and popcorn
 
Choir Ensemble
Please join us in a performance for the Christmas Program on Sunday, December 14th.  Everyone is welcome as long as they can make at least two rehearsals! 

 
Do You Love Hanging Christmas Lights?  We Need Your Help!
This Christmas, our presentation of the message of this season of love and hope incarnated continues to venture outside our building. What better way to do that than through some great looking lights? We need YOU as part of a team to test the lights and present them to the world! Ready to help? Join the Men’s Group on Saturday, Dec. 6th at 9:00am to help even if it’s just to untangle a strand of lights.
 
Hanging of the Greens & Chili Luncheon & Christmas Card Making
Come join us for the Hanging of the Greens during worship service with a few more items to go up after service and a chili lunch. Help decorate the church inside for Christmas on Sunday, December 7th. We will prepare for Advent together.  The chili will not be spicy and vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available.  Our youth will lead us in making Christmas Cards after service church for local nursing home residents. Plan on joining them when you stay for lunch. If you have any questions, contact the church office or Karen Miller.
 
Concert for Family and Friends
The Senior Suburban Orchestra and Dan Pasquale D'Andrea, Conductor invite us to their Family and Friends Concert on Saturday, December 13th at 2:00 pm in the sanctuary. Donations Greatly Appreciated and light refreshments will be served after the concert.  For more information about the orchestra that meets here at Woodridge UMC go to seniorsuburbanorchestra.org.
 
Christmas Program
On December 14th, we will have a Christmas Program during worship service.  Everyone is welcome to participate with Christmas themed music (singing or playing), dance, poetry, visual and fabric arts, etc.  The visual and fabric arts (paintings, sculpture, crafts, quilts, needle work, etc.) will be displayed to their best advantage either in the narthex or at the altar.  Please contact Pastor Dave by December 1st if you would like to take part.  There will be a cookie reception after service.  Everyone is asked to bring a plate of cookies to share (especially Christmas cookies). 
 
Holiday Help for Our Neighbors in Need
You, the wonderful people of Woodridge UMC, have a tremendous track record of providing a heap of holiday help for our neighbors in need. We hope to continue that tradition.
 
Our Hat and Mitten Tree will be in the Narthex starting in mid-November throughout the Christmas season and all collected items will be given to Woodridge schools to be distributed to children who are in need.  (Please no scarves.  The Scarf Outreach project has successfully filled the need for any scarves).
 
Help Support Area Families This Christmas!
The Outreach Committee is happy to announce that, starting in mid-November, we are again supporting 5 families who attend Woodridge 68 schools through gifts and grocery gift cards in need! Please stop in the Narthex by our hat and mitten tree to sign up to bring gifts and/or grocery gift cards. If you are providing a gift, please return it wrapped and with the tag attached to the outside.  Additional information will be available at the signup table.  All items and gift cards need to be returned to church by Sunday December 7th.

Northern Illinois Conference

In these difficult days, it has become increasingly dangerous for our Hispanic/Latine neighbors to leave their homes—including for work, which results in lost pay; to take children to their school bus stops; to shop for groceries; and to attend worship services.

To provide some relief, Bishop Schwerin has established an Emergency Solidarity Fund. It will assist primarily Hispanic/Latine people (but also other immigrants) who are increasingly vulnerable. (Read the Bishop's article here.)

People with whom our churches directly minister and those in our towns and neighborhoods can request help. Clergy can suggest needs they know about. The requests will be reviewed by a small, trustworthy group that includes clergy who minister in immigration contexts, laypeople, and conference staff.

This fund will be collecting funds through Jan. 16, 2026. The goal is for the first round of funds to be distributed in early November 2025.

Please consider giving to this fund as a way to follow Jesus’s commandment to love our neighbors.

Go here for immigrant resources in the Prairie Central District

Youth Practice Sabbath at Retreat

Youth groups from six United Methodist churches joined for “In Rhythm,” a weekend retreat of worship, fellowship, and sabbath at Lutherdale Camp and Conference Center in Elkhorn, Wis. Uli Widmaier, the guest speaker from Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, taught that the Sabbath is a gift from God, like a cake God makes for us to enjoy. Read more.

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

November Outreach Offering CHANGED- West Suburban Community Pantry

The Outreach Committee has chosen to make a change to the November Monthly Outreach.  We have received word from the West Suburban Community Pantry that they are expecting a significant increase in demand in upcoming weeks.  This is due to both the current suspension of SNAP benefits as well as the increase in food costs overall.  The Pantry already serves 1,000 families weekly and expects need to grow.  As a result we will be shifting our November Outreach giving to the West Suburban Community Pantry and will    support Grace Children’s Hospital in December.  We encourage monetary donations as well as food to fill the grocery cart in the Narthex.  For additional information on how you can help please visit West Suburban Community Pantry | Nourishing The Human Spirit
 
Ways to donate to the November 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.

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!!!