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

Sent:                                           Friday, June 26, 2026 8:48 AM

To:                                               office@woodridgeumc.org

Subject:                                     "Practising Hope" - Woodridge United Methodist Church Newsletter

Attachments:                          178248162706.28.26_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

 

 

"Practicing Hope"

 

Join us this Sunday as our guest District Superintendent Wendy Hardin Hermann speaks: Bishop Dan Schwerin has invited us into a year of practicing hope. If we dig into Psalm 130, we see that hope invites us to be honest before God, not denying difficult circumstances or challenging life situations. Hope doesn’t pretend that everything is okay! To practice hope is to lean into the promise that God forgives and renews us, and that the love of Christ never ends.  Practicing hope means trusting that the very character of God is to be with us always. Just as the sun rises each day, the hope we know in Christ lights the way towards new and abundant life.

Join us for worship this Sunday at 10:00 am in person or on our Woodridge UMC YouTube Channel!


 


Calendar

Friday, June 26th

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

Saturday, June 27th

  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Sunday, June 28th

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

Monday, June 29th

  • Church Office CLOSED
  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Tuesday, June 30th

  • Church Office CLOSED

Wednesday, July 1st

  • 7:00 pm Square Dancing

Thursday, July 2nd

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

Friday, July 3rd

  • Church Office CLOSED
  • 2:00 pm RGA - Emerge

Saturday, July 4th

  • Happy 4th of July!!

Sunday, July 5th

  • 10:00 am Sunday Service
  • 11:00 am Ad Council Meeting
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist

 

Special Church Summer Office Hours

Monday & Tuesday & Friday: CLOSED
Wednesday & Thursday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Summer Hours run from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The office will be open Wednesday through Friday most weeks.
Additionally, Church Office is CLOSED for the Holiday Weekend (Friday, July 2nd).

We ask that you call before visiting.

 

 

Important Information

Pastor Dave is on vacation from Monday, June 22nd through Sunday, July 5th and will return on Monday, July 6th.  If there is an emergency, please contact Martine Nelson.

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

First Friday Lunch is not meeting in July due to the holiday.

July - August Upper Rooms
July-August Upper Room daily devotionals are now available in the Narthex with a few available in the mailbox. 

Woodridge UMC 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 to this announcement in the e-News and are due by August 1st.
 
School Supply Drive
Did you know there are almost 1,100 students in Woodridge School District 68 whose families will struggle to purchase their needed school supplies?  YOU CAN HELP! The Churches in Woodridge and the Woodridge Rotary are partnering to provide BACKPACKS OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES to Woodridge residents in need.  Will you please contribute?  Watch for sales - check the discount stores - visit Amazon - whatever works for you.  (Mondo Llama brand of crayons, markers and colored pencils at Target are MOST welcome and less expensive.) Please return donations to church by Sunday August 2nd. WE ARE IN NEED OF BACKPACKS and other supplies on the list found in the narthex or here.
 
Directory Update
It’s been a few years since we updated our printed directory so it’s time for a refresh! But in order to perfectly produce a printed Directory, we presently need perfect information. So please proceed to the Narthex, put pen to paper, and perform an update to your information. 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 in the narthex (or here).  DO NOT make corrections in the samples.  Thank You!!
 
Share Your Talents!
Do you play an instrument? Love to sing? Are you looking for a concrete way to help? Want to become more involved at WUMC? Join in our church's practice of radical hospitality? Let us know! Fill out a Volunteer Opportunity form in the narthex (or here) to let us know what you are interested in. 
 
Summer Book Study
Wanting to learn more about prayer - that communication tool God has given us to speak to and hear from the Holy Trinity?  If so, join us this summer for a 4-week study on Monday nights, July 13 - August 3, 6:30 - 8:00.  We will be using the book Praying with Mandalas by Sharon Seyfarth Garner and will study and practice 4 different ways of prayer, all while coloring mandalas.  You will even learn what a mandala is.  Signups begin June 14th.  For further information, please contact Charlotte Ashworth at bacatx@gmail.com.
 
Summer Outreach Opportunities
The Outreach Committee is happy to be able to offer multiple opportunities for us to share out time, talents and treasure this summer. Please check out the opportunities below!  Sign up sheets will be available in the Narthex starting this week.
 
Serving at the West Suburban Community Pantry
(involves tasks such as stocking shelves, sorting produce)
Wednesday July 22nd – Noon-2:00 pm   10 slots available
Saturday August 22nd – 10:00 am- Noon   6 slots available
 
Backpack Drive to Support Woodridge School Students
During the month of July we will be collecting school supplies and free will cash donations.  More information will follow soon
August 7th (tentative) – set up for backpack filling at St. Scholastica
August 8th – 9:00 am-Noon    filling backpacks at St. Scholastica

Summer Learning Series
Woodridge UMC is interested in sponsoring a summer learning series BUT some of the programs require a minimum number of attendees to take place.  Please sign up in the narthex for Ai Chi THIS SUNDAY.  If the class is running, you are welcome to join at a later date
 
Missionaries
Wednesday, July 8th at 6:30 pm - Dan, Kim, and their two children will be in the U.S. for seven weeks this summer, traveling across the country. We are fortunate that they will be here in Illinois for two weeks in July.
 
For the past 16 years, the family has lived overseas, primarily within Muslim countries. Their ministry involves Scripture translation, clinical counseling, and team ministries. Throughout their journey, they have walked in faith, trusting in God’s guidance.
 
Their calling is to serve the Muslim community with love and respect; however, they often share that they receive far more than they give through these relationships. Though they have faced significant challenges—including war, loss, and trauma—they testify that God has remained faithful and kind.
If you would like to hear more about their experiences and ministry, I encourage you to join us for a meeting with Dan, Kim, and their family. 
 
Everyday Hero Program (20 minimum We Need More People for this to run
Thursday, July 16th 2:00 – 4:00 pm - the DuPage Health Coalition is introducing an initiative designed to empower community members with the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively in cardiac emergency situations, at no cost. It’s been found that bystander response to cardiac emergencies is notably low throughout DuPage County. The training covers: Hands-only CPR; How to use an AED; Responding to choking; Overdose education and Naloxone administration. The instructors are American Heart Association–certified, but to reach the most people, this is not a certification course.
 
End of Life Advance Planning
Sunday, August 16th after worship service - Many people are overwhelmed or underprepared when it comes to their final wishes, so Modell Funeral Home has put together a seminar to share about funeral preplanning. It may not be something we talk about all the time, but it is so important! The presentation is designed to be a helpful, educational experience focused on planning for end-of-life services, answering questions, and allowing individuals to explore their options in a comfortable, no-pressure setting on.
 
Be Red Cross Ready (10 minimum)
his will be on a weekday afternoon in August.Be Red Cross Ready is a preparedness education curriculum for adults designed to help people understand, prepare for, and respond appropriately to disasters. It’s important to prepare for possible disasters and other emergencies. Natural and human-caused disasters can strike suddenly, at anytime and anywhere. There are three actions everyone can take that can help make a difference...Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed. T

Learning Ai Chi for Mind and Body Relaxation
July 12th – August 3rd - 2 Options of Sundays after worship or Monday afternoons at 2:00 pm (4 sessions) - Ai Chi is simple exercise, usually done in water, and adaptable to land.  It is also a relaxation program using a combination of deep breathing and slow, broad movements of the arms, legs, and torso in flowing continual patterns.  It moves with nature.  Exercises include a mental component, focus on muscle and movement sense, breath as a centering activity, physical form, and perceiving the movement and flow of one’s intrinsic energy aka chi.  The movements will be adapted to the capabilities one has.  Appropriate instrumental music will used to enhance the flow of movements and overall experience.

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 is on Break
Sunday School will return after Labor Day. 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
July Birthdays
1     Susan O'Leary
2     Glenn Nelson
       Ethan Novak
3     Lex Supataraporn
4     Kiel Brown
       Bud Edman
8     Jo Bennett
10   Troy Smith
       David Smith
11   Becky Jeske
       Richard Rice
       Reid Spears
15   Loel Palomo
16   Jaidyn Spears
17   Jake Kostov
18   Julie Palomo
22   Christine Darfler
23   Rachel Jeske
26   Vann Harris
30   Tyler Miller
31   Greg Morton

Northern Illinois Conference
Becoming the Beloved Community
How to Talk About Race in America

Saturday, July 18th, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at Barrington UMC.
Becoming the Beloved Community is a four-hour workshop that conveys not only facts and essential knowledge about race and racism but also seeks to help us experience some of the harm and hurt racial prejudice has caused. The emphasis on sharing will also introduce ways all churches can become more closely knit as its members share their own lives more deeply with each other. This will help churches become more active, intentional communities, honoring Christ's life and teachings not only about fighting inequality but other forces that prevent us from seeing all people and the earth as God's beloved creations. The cost is $10 and includes a light lunch and refreshments. The event is limited to 25 people. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. More information is available here . Online registration is available here.

NIC/GCORR CRCC Cohort
Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Cohort Sponsored by the Northern Illinois Conference and the General Commission on Religion and Race
 
The cohort exists to strengthen adaptive leadership of Cross-Racial/Cross-cultural (CRCC) clergy in the Northern Illinois Conference by affirming belonging, creating space for theological reflection and navigating cultural awareness and healing. Through a trauma-informed and formational learning environment, the cohort supports CRCC clergy in integrating their lived experience, cultural identity, and theological vocation, fostering both personal healing and sustained leadership in CRCC ministry settings.
 
A few of the 2026-2027 events church leaders.  Please let Pastor Dave or the church office know if you are interested in any of them:
 
Opening Retreat: Identity, Self-Care and the Art of Theological Reflection  
Sat. 8/8/2026, 9 a.m. to 3:30 pm at Our Saviour’s UMC in Schaumburg: Strengthen awareness of personal and cultural identity as CRCC clergy and practice theological reflection as a tool for belonging and resilience in CRCC ministry.
World Celebrations of Christmas
Sat. 12/5/2026, 10 a.m. to 1 pm at Journey of Hope UMC in Elgin: Explore global expressions of Christmas and how they enrich the church’s incarnational ministry
Closing Retreat - Lessons for the journey ahead
Sat. 5/22/2027, 9 a.m. to 3:30 pm at Our Saviour’s UMC in Schaumburg:

Outreach Opportunities

June Outreach Offering - The Inclusive Collective


In celebration of Pride Month, the outreach committee has decided to help the Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) campus ministries (The Inclusive Collective), supporting both the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and Northern Illinois University (NIU). They welcome and support LGBTQ+ and straight, liberal and conservative, seeker and skeptic, freshmen and grad students, and young adults—all are welcome and loved there. They are striving to create a relevant, honest, and truly inclusive Christian community on each campus. 
 
Ways to donate to the June 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.

 

June 26th, 2026, Volume 16, Edition 26

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