Woodridge United Methodist Church

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

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.

Advent 2025

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 is 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!- THERE ARE A FEW UNCLAIMED GIFTS REMAINING
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.

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! 

Rehearsal	Nov. 30	11:20AM-12:30PM	Music Room
Rehearsal	Dec. 7	11:30AM-12:40PM	Music Room
Service	Dec. 14	10AM (Christmas Program	Rehearse in the sanctuary at 8:30AM

 
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.

3rd Annual Prairie Central District Advent Concert
The Prairie Central District is having an Advent concert on Sunday, Dec 7th at 3:00 pm at Glen Ellyn: First United Methodist Church
 
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). 

TInsel, Tunes, & Toymakers - With the West Towns Chorus
Enjoy an afternoon of holiday cheer with the West Towns Chorus and their wonderful guests! The West Towns Chorus Christmas Show is happening at 3PM on Sunday, December 14^th, at the Timothy Christian Schools' Huizenga Auditorium (188 W Butterfield Rd. in Elmhurst). There will be one show only, so secure your place in the audience now: Click here for Tickets.  More information available here.
 
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 is 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!- THERE ARE A FEW UNCLAIMED GIFTS REMAINING
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.
 

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.

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!
 

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.
 

Birthdays
December Birthdays
1     Dianne Marcell
5     Pam Kabella
7     Jason Shubert
       Tom Strong
14    Micahla Barba
        Gwenn Edman
        Linda Nealis
15    Erik Borgehammar
18    Karen Novak
22    Declan Manderscheid
23    Trudee Manderfield
25    Morna Stewart

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.

Culture Shift Leadership Training
The Prairie Central District Shepherding Team is bringing Rev. Jim Ozier back to Northern Illinois for Culture Shift: Cultivating Healthy Congregations, a one-day experience focused on helping pastors and lay leaders assess, shift, and shape their church culture toward vitality and growth. When culture shifts, everything shifts: worship, generosity, mission, and morale. Culture, not programs, budgets, or buildings, determines whether a church thrives or merely survives. The event is open to all church leaders. Join us at Grace UMC, Naperville, on Jan. 31st, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Registration is open, but space is limited. See the e-New for registration.