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

Lenten Schedule
March 1st - 11:15 am - Lenten Meal
March 7th – 9:00 am – Feed My Starving Children
March 22nd – 11:10 am – Easter Egg Filling
March 28th - 10:00 am - Easter Egg Hunt
March 29th - 10:00 am – Palm Sunday Service*
April 2nd - 6:00 pm Soup Supper
                 - 7:00 pm Maundy Thursday Service*
April 3rd – 7:00 pm Good Friday Service*
April 5th – 10:00 am Easter Sunday Service*
                                      with the Choir
Lenten Outreach Project (full 40 days) – West Suburban Food Pantry Collection

*In Person & YouTube Livestream

 Lenten Lunch
You are invited to bring your favorite side dish: salad, fruit, veggies, lumpia, pasta, fried rice, etc. or dessert to share on THIS Sunday, March 1st after worship service.  The Worship Committee is bringing ham as the mains!!  If you have any questions, contact the church office or Karen Miller. 

New WUMC T-Shirts!
We have a new WUMC t-shirt!!  They are a bright blue color and come in the standard crew neck OR NOW in a V-neck women’s version!!  (See the poster and sample in the narthex).  These shirts will help make us visible at events like Feed My Starving Children, the Easter Egg Hunt, Backpack Packing, and the Craft Fair.  There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex for the size and style (crew neck, women's v neck or long sleeve) you would like. Short sleeve shirts cost $20. We now have 100% cotton long sleeve shirts ($25)!

Choir Schedule
The Choir will be rehearsing on Sundays after worship service during the month of March & performing during Easter Sunday  service. Rehearsals will start late THIS Sunday, March 1st for the Lenten Lunch & March 22nd for Easter egg filling.

First Friday Lunch
Please join us on NEXT Friday, February 6th at noon 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!
 
Feed My Starving Children Sign Up
Join us at Feed My Starving Children on Saturday March 7th at 9:00 am - 10:45 am in AURORA (NOT Benedictine) 555 Exchange Court, Aurora. This event is open to youth, their families and friends, and church members. See the link in the e-News to sign up http://www.fmsc.org/join-group?joincode=P59GZX).

Lenten Outreach Project - In Support of West Suburban Community Pantry
This year, our Lenten Outreach project is to provide personal hygiene items for the West Suburban Food Pantry. We will collect items through Palm Sunday, March 29th. Also, for every cart that is filled with items, the Outreach Committee will donate $200 from the Burke Estate fund to the Pantry.  A Church World Services article explains the high need for feminine hygiene products.  

General List:
menstrual pads and tampons	deodorant
shampoo and conditioner	razors (for men and women)
toothpaste	soap or body wash
toothbrushes

 

Lenten Book Study
The coming Lenten Study will be a six week study on Tuesday mornings (ZOOM) & Wednesday evenings (In Person) at 6:00 pm starting February 24th on “The Third Day”.  On the third day, he rose again.  The author unpacks the Bible’s Easter stories and helps the reader see their significance in the lives of people today. This is compelling, honest, and hope-filled book.  Please sign up in the Narthex so that the appropriate number of books can be ordered.

Easter Egg Hunt Assistance
Last year was a success, so 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: no nuts, peanut butter, or fruit snacks. All donations need to be in by worship service on Sunday, March 22nd so we can fill the egg after service.  There is a box in the Narthex to drop off donations. 

Sunday, March 22nd

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

Saturday, March 28th

• – Egg Hunt Set Up – at 8:30 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).

CROP Hunger Trek
Carlene and David Smith are taking their adventuring to a new level and hiking the Grand Canyon on Palm Sunday, 13.7 miles.  They’ve done a CROP Hunger Walk many times but this CROP Hunger Trek is a new challenge.  They will hike with a group of 10 led by someone who has hiked the Grand Canyon many times.  Donations will support the 80 years and continuing work of Church World Service.
 
Check out the details here:
CROP Hunger Trek - Carlene Smith
CROP Hunger Trek - David Smith
 
Read both of their stories! They would appreciate your donation on either of their pages.  And your thoughts and prayers as they trek on Palm Sunday.
 

Upper Rooms
A few Upper Rooms for March – April are still available in the Narthex.  Regular print is now $1.50 and large print is $2.

Gift Card Sale is Coming
Do you need gift cards for graduation or Father’s Day or weddings or confirmations?
Or, do you just like to support a great cause during the course of your normal shopping? Then do we have a deal for you! Gift card order forms will be available starting Sunday, March 8th and are due with payment by Sunday March 22^nd. Cards will be available for pick up Palm Sunday, March 29th. A percentage of the sales will go back to the church.
 
Scouting America (Formerly BSA) Plant Sale
Our Scout Troop 109 is selling outdoor plants with orders and payment due to the scouts by Saturday, March 7th.  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 and may be dropped off with payment in the church office before noon on Friday, March 6th.  Otherwise, contact the scouts directly.

Special Second Saturday "Diners" - Go to Billy Elton Instead
We are excited to share that instead of our regular Second Saturday Diners, we will be coming together for something very special — the Billy Elton Benefit Concert! This promises to be an uplifting evening of incredible music, fellowship, and community. The concert will take place on Friday, March 13th, at 7:30 pm. We are especially proud to share that the evening will be led by our very own Reid Spears, performing on lead vocals and piano. It will be a wonderful opportunity to support this benefit event while enjoying a fantastic night of music.
 
Please note that everyone will need to purchase their own ticket for the concert, and we will not be meeting at a restaurant that evening. We hope you will make plans to attend, invite friends, and come out to support Reid and this meaningful event. It’s sure to be a memorable night!

Billy Elton Benefit Concert
Billy Elton is a band that celebrates the music of Billy Joel and Elton John and is led by our very own Reid Spears on the lead vocals and piano. The band is returning to the Neuqua Valley Auditorium in Naperville for another benefit concert on Friday, March 13 at 7:30pm to benefit the memorial funds of three fondly remembered Neuqua Valley teachers. Over the course of the previous benefit concerts, the band has raised over $26,000 for the memorial funds. Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 day of show and at the door) and are all general admission. Advanced tickets are now on sale and can be found at this link!
 
If you are unfamiliar with the band and would like to learn more, please feel free to watch this short demo video or visit their website at Billy-Elton.com.
 
This concert has become a wonderful biennial tradition at Neuqua and you won’t want to miss it! Come out for a phenomenal show for a phenomenal cause!

Patio Committee Meeting
The Patio Committee (formerly the Preschool Committee) will be meeting on Saturday March 14^th at 9:00 am.  Please plan to discuss how to turn the old playground into a patio.
 
Blood Drive at Prince of Peace
The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a blood drive at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 21st 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.

 Men's Group Meeting - Everyone Welcome
The next meeting of the Men’s Group will be on March 21st at 9:00 am. We will have a brief time of fellowship and prayer before working doing some work around the church.  There a variety of projects that anyone can help with!  We might start work on the garden around the sign, please bring gloves (and shovels) just in case.  Everyone is Welcome! 

Sharing Our Gifts with Ray Graham
Our Ray Graham day program is looking for volunteers to spend an hour or two sharing their gifts with their clients. Can you bake (above the cupcake level), teach simple carpentry (fastening two boards together), talk about your culture, etc.? You are welcome to share your hobbies and knowledge! Please let the church office know, and we will share the list of volunteers with Ray Graham, so they can work out a schedule. 

Altar Flower Donations
If you would like to donate an arrangement of flowers for the altar, you are welcome to bring one in.  Please let the church office know by noon the Wednesday before, especially if the flowers are in memory/honor of someone, so that they may be acknowledged in the bulletin and announcements.
 
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.
 

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.

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

March Birthdays

1     Jay Hoffman
 5     Sam Arvanis
        Heather Kostov
 7     Barbara Lutz
        Elsie Munar
10    Carrie Santucci
11    Angelique Edman
        Tracy Mullane
12    Marilyn Purdy-Stern
19   Megan McCoy
20    Buster Bonaguro
22    Kathy Falout
        Greg Lamorena
23    Kalvin Olfalsa
26    Sherrie Krughoff
27    Mary Beth Elgass
         Maya Santucci
29    Pat Ford
31   Gillian Krughoff

Northern Illinois Conference

2026 Laity Convocation
With the theme Moving Forward with Hope, the Board of Laity invites you to a meaningful morning of learning, connection, and encouragement. Gather on Saturday, March 21st 9:00 am to 12:30 pm in person at First UMC in Glen Ellyn or watch the live-stream at one of our satellite locations at Princeton: First UMC, Freeport: Faith UMC, or Orland Park: Faith as we reflect, grow, and look ahead together. Registration is now open. Learn more.

Culture Shift Leadership Training
The Prairie Central District Shepherding Team is bringing Rev. Jim Ozier back to Northern Illinois for Part Two of Culture Shift: Cultivating Healthy Congregations, a one-day experience that builds on the foundation of the January 31st Zoom gathering viewable here, offering space for reflection, discussion, and shared learning. Participants are encouraged to attend and continue this important work of helping our churches become healthier and more vital together. The event is open to all church leaders. Join us at Barrington UMC, on Sunday, May 3rd, from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm. Registration will open later.




NIC Annual Conference Will Focus on Hope
Under the theme “Practicing Hope,” clergy and elected lay members will gather for NIC’s 187th Annual Conference session, June 14th – 16th, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg. The theme invites participants to explore how hope shapes ministry, mission, and the future of the church. “Hope allows for newness. Hope allows that God will call us forward. Hope allows us to say yes to whatever call is placed on our lives,” said Bishop Schwerin.