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

Sent:                                           Friday, April 24, 2026 9:53 AM

To:                                               office@woodridgeumc.org

Subject:                                     "Abundant Life" - Woodridge United Methodist Church Newsletter

Attachments:                          177704239704.26.26_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

 

 

"Abundant Life"

 

Acts 2:42-47, John 10:1-10

This Sunday, we’ll explore what it really means to live an abundant life. Jesus says abundant life is not about having more, but about trusting in God, living with gratitude, and knowing who we are as God’s people. In a world that constantly tells us to want more and compare ourselves with others, how can we find true contentment and joy?

We’ll reflect on how abundant life begins with Christ and grows in community—when we live with glad, generous, and grateful hearts. Come and discover a deeper, richer way of living that Jesus invites us into.

Join us for worship this Sunday at 10:00 am in person or on our Woodridge UMC YouTube Channel and today for Good Friday Service at 7:00 pm!


 


Calendar

Friday, April 24th

  • 2:00 pm RGA - Emerge
  • 6:30 pm Pack Meeting
  • 7:30 pm Square Dancing

Saturday, April 25th

  • 9:00 am Ad Council Meeting

Sunday, April 26th

  • 10:00 am Sunday Service
  • Noon Communion (Online)
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist
  • 6:30 pm CSA Committee

Monday, April 27th

  • 3:30 pm RGA HRC
  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Tuesday, April 28th

  • 10:30 am Tuesday Bible Study
  • Noon SS Orchestra
  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Wednesday, April 29th

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

Thursday, April 30th

  • 7:00 pm Scouting America
  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Friday, May 1st

  • Noon First Friday Lunch
  • 2:00 pm RGA - Emerge

Saturday, May 2nd

  • 7:00 am Scout Flower Delivery
  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Sunday, May 3rd

  • 10:00 am Sunday Service
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist

 

Church Office Hours

Monday & Tuesday: 9:00 am to noon
Wednesday - Friday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

We ask that you call before visiting.

 

 

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

A Few WUMC T-Shirts for Sale
The new t-shirts are available for pick up after service. You can also call the office and pick them up. If you did not order one, but would like one now, there are a few extra that you can purchase from.

First Friday Lunch
Please join us on Friday, May 1st 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!

Second Saturday Diners (SSD)
All are invited to attend May’s SSD. We will be getting together on Saturday, May 9th at 5:00 pm in Villa Park at Simon’s Restaurant, 2 Roosevelt Rd. Gwenn and Elisa are looking forward to having a good turnout.  Bring your appetite, your sense of humor, and be ready for some good conversation. We’d love to see you there. Please RSVP to Elisa at applei8122000@yahoo.com.
P.S. Loaves and fishes not guaranteed—but we’re working on it!
 

Lost and Found
The church has several items that have been left behind.  They are on display in the narthex. Please visit the table to see if any of the items are yours. They will all be donated or recycled if they are not claimed. After this Sunday, they will all be donated or recycled if they are not claimed.
 

Ad Council Meeting
There is an Administrative Council Meeting on TOMORROW, Saturday, April 25th at 9:00 am in the Standing Rock room.  Please plan on attending if you are a member of the Ad Council, but everyone is welcome!

Bible Study
We are studying Jeremiah.  The study is offered on Tuesday mornings via Zoom (10:30 am to Noon) and Wednesday evenings in person (6:00 pm to 7:30 pm).  We will meet again starting April 21st & 22nd and running through May 19th & 27th respectively. 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!
 
Directory Update!
It’s been a few years since we updated our printed directory so it’s time for a refresh! Check one of the samples in the narthex for your entry and its accuracy and either initial the entry as it being fine OR fill out a yellow Directory Information form.  DO NOT make corrections in the samples.  Thank You!! 

Graduate Recognition Sunday June 7th
During the worship service on Sunday, June 7th, 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.).
 
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

May Birthdays

 2      Keala Bonaguro
 4      Deb Cortez
         Michael Munar
 6      Karen Smith
 9      Mark Munar
10     Amanda Smith
11     Jean Lamorena
12     Marisa McGinty
13     Gianella Augustin
14     Larry Cash
18     Charlotte Ashworth
21     Kathy Manderfield
22     Dione McConnell
23     Velma Getty
23     Robyn Harris White
25     Drew Byczynski
26     Lily Smurzynski
30     Elisa Caligiuri
 

Northern Illinois Conference
Cultural 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 Needs Volunteers
The 2026 Annual Conference is just around the corner (June 14th – 16th), and we invite you to be part of what makes this gathering welcoming and meaningful. We are seeking volunteers to help provide hospitality to our guests and assist with the many moving parts that help Annual Conference run efficiently.  We need volunteers to serve in a variety of roles.
We need volunteers to serve in a variety of roles, including:

  • Check-in volunteers
  • Ushers
  • Guides
  • Information desk volunteers
  • And more

Volunteer Requirements

  • Volunteers must be at least 16 years old.
  • Clergy & Lay Members of Annual Conference (voting members) may Volunteer only on Sunday before the 1:30 pm Clergy/Laity Session.

Whether you are available for the entire event, a full day, or just part of a day, we would love your help. You may sign up for as many roles and time slots as you would like, and no previous experience is necessary. Complete the Volunteer Form by May 22 (Register here).
 


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.
 

Outreach Opportunities

April Outreach Offering - Save Abandoned Babies Foundation


The Save Abandoned Babies Foundation is a not-for-profit volunteer group dedicated to saving babies from being abandoned in dumpsters and other unsafe places. Our grassroots effort began in March of 2000 when our volunteers drafted a safe haven law and lobbied for its passage. The resulting Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act unanimously passed both the Illinois House and Senate and was signed into Illinois law in August of 2001.
 
The Save Abandoned Babies Foundation is now focused on spreading awareness of the Safe Haven Law, allowing a parent to safely relinquish their newborn to a person at a Police Station (including campus police), Fire Station, Hospital or Emergency Medical Facility with no questions asked.  Since the enactment of this law 160 newborns have been safely relinquished.

Ways to donate to the April 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!!!  

  

 


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.

 

April 24th, 2026, Volume 16, Edition 17

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