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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
& Vendor Fair @ Bake Sale
Woodridge UMC is having a craft and vendor fair onTHIS Saturday, November 14th from 9 am to 2 pm.
Come join us for the fun! Stuffed animals, needlework,
jewelry, paintings, salsa and pickles, Avon, Mary Kay and
MUCH MUCH MORE!!!
Lunch at the Craft
Fair
On Saturday, November 14th,
Fat Johnnie’s Daughter will be with us once again with their
Famous Red Hots and Polish Sausages. We have another vendor selling Boba Tea!! The
church will be selling popcorn, chips, and drinks, plus
dessert at the bake sale. Come get lunch and visit the
craft fair, too!!
Half Price Bake Sale Items
The Bake Sale on Saturday on should be a great success!
If there are a few items left over, we will have a Bake
Sale after service! All items are half price.
Second Saturday Diners
SSD: LIFE IS SWEETER WHEN WE GET
TOGETHER!
Who's ready for a little sweetness and good company? Just as
we enjoy gathering after our services for bagels, coffee, and
conversation, our Second Saturday Diners give us another
opportunity to connect, share some laughs, and enjoy time
together. In November (Saturday
November 14th), we're heading to Colonial Ice
Cream (8 W Gartner Rd Naperville at 5:00 pm after our Craft Fair and
Bake Sale) for a fun, relaxed evening filled with friendly
faces, good conversation, and plenty of menu choices—from
breakfast favorites to hearty meals and, of course, something
sweet! Whether you've joined us before or this would be your
first time, there's always room for one more at the table.
Come for the food, stay for the fellowship! Bring a friend,
bring your appetite, and come share a little sweetness with
your church family.
Please RSVP to: Elisa Caligiuri applei8122000@yahoo.com or630-222-0497
We look forward to sharing a wonderful evening of food,
friendship, and fellowship with you! Your Second Saturday
Diners Hosts,
Gwenn & Elisa
Men's Group Meeting - EVERYONE WELCOME
Outdoor Christmas Decorations
The next meeting of the Men’s Group will be on Saturday, November 21st at 9:00 am. We
will have a brief time of fellowship and prayer.
Afterwards, we will start putting up the outside Christmas
decorations. They will not be turned on until Advent,
but after last year’s ice storm, we don’t want to take any
chances! Please come help make our church beautiful!!
Everyday Hero Program
Saturday, November 21st 1:30 –
3:30 pm The DuPage Health
Coalition is returning to our church with their 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. Please join us!!
WUMC Music Ensembles: 2026
Our Music Ministry offers you three ways to get involved: the
Handbell Choir, the Worship Band, and the Adult Choir. This
could be the year you take that “leap of faith” and join a
group! All ensembles are LOW commitment. We ask that you
please attend the rehearsals leading up to the service date.
It is that simple!
Adult Choir (Please RSVP to Pastor Dave)
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Rehearsal
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Nov. 15
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11:15 AM-12:45 PM
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Music Room
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Service
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Nov. 22
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10 AM
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Rehearse in the sanctuary at 8:45AM
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Handbell Choir (Please RSVP to Karen Miller)
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Rehearsal
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Nov. 22
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11:15 AM-12:45 PM
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Music Room
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Service
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Nov. 29
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10 AM
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Rehearse in the sanctuary at 8:45 AM
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Adult Choir - -Christmas Program
Performance
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Rehearsal
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Nov. 29
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11:15 AM-12:45 PM
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Music Room
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Rehearsal
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Dec. 6
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11:30 AM-12:45 PM
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Music Room?
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Service
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Dec. 13
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10 AM
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Rehearse in the sanctuary at 8:45 AM
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Handbell Choir - -Christmas
Program Performance (Two Groups)
Please RSVP to Karen Miller
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Rehearsals
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TBD
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11:15 AM-12:45 PM
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Music Room
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Service
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Dec. 13
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10 AM
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Rehearse in the sanctuary at 8:45 AM
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Rides to Church
We are looking for generous volunteers to give Michael and
Eti rides to church from Downers Grove, just north Odgen
Avenue a little east of Finley. If you are willing, please
let Pastor Dave or the church office know.
New Welcome Center
By now everyone has seen the new Welcome Center. It has
visitor bags, church flyers, information cards, and
invitation cards. More things are still coming. Information
cards are for people that would like to share their
information with us especially to start receiving the
newsletter or to join the church. People already in the
database are welcome to make changes to their information by
using the cards as well. Invitation cards are for
people to take and give to people that they would like to
invite to attend our worship services. Please use one of the
other tables or the old welcome center to share other things.
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—but in
some new ways!
Hat and Mitten Tree Returns
Once again, we will be collecting children’s mittens, gloves,
and warm hats for the children of Woodridge School District
68. The mitten tree will be available in the Narthex for
you to hang your donations. District 68 gives them out to
children who don’t have appropriate gear for the winter
weather. We will be collecting throughout the Advent season
and into the New Year. Please donate as you can.
Help Support Area Families This
Christmas!
The Outreach Committee is happy to announce we are partnering
with Woodridge School District 68 to provide Christmas gifts
and grocery gift cards for 5 local families this year! Please
stop in the Narthex by our hat and mitten tree to sign up to
bring grocery gift card. 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 6th so
they can be distributed after the Christmas Program on
December 13th.
Final Approach:
North Pole - WIth the West Town 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 5th, 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: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/westtowns/197/event/1439505.
Find the flyer and more information here.
Bible Study
Our Bible study groups are studying Acts. The
study is 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 read one chapter together each week and go deeper
with questions and discussions. Please plan to join us!
No Bible Study THIS Wednesday.
Sunday School
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. The first Sunday of every month, our children
will remain in worship service
Activity Bags are available in the Narthex every Sunday.
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.
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.
Back by popular demand!! It's the
Woodridge UMC Gift Card Sale!!
This fall, we will once again have the opportunity to
purchase gift cards and support our church's General Fund.
The first chance is on Sunday, November 22nd and runs
through Sunday, December 3rd. Gift cards will
be available for pickup on Sunday,
December 13th and Sunday, December 22nd.
2026 Advent Worship Opportunities
Sunday, November 29th
– FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT Hymn Sing
Sunday, December 6th
-- HANGING OF THE GREENS & Chili Lunch to follow
Sunday, December 13th
-- “CHRISTMAS PROGRAM & Cookie Reception w/ Holiday Card
Making
Sunday, December 20th
– FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Thursday, December 24th, 2026
– CHRISTMAS EVE
5:00 pm – Family
friendly and candlelighting
10:00 pm – Communion
and candlelighting
Sunday, December 27th
– FIRST SUNDAY IN CHRISTMAS Carol Sing & Soup Luncheon to
follow
Advent Book Discussion
Please join us for our Advent Book Discussion.
“With Open Hands” by Henri J.M.
Nouwen:
Tuesdays (ZOOM
only), 10:30 am until noon
Wednesdays (ZOOM and in-person), 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm
You can purchase the book in advance on your own if you
like. If you are interested in attending, a signup
sheet will be in the narthex starting November 8th.
Hanging of the Greens & Chili
Luncheon
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 6th.
We will prepare for Advent together. If you have any
questions, contact the church office or Karen Miller.
Prairie Central District Advent Concert
The Prairie Central District is having an Advent concert on Sunday, Dec 6th at 3:00 pm at Glen
Ellyn: First United Methodist Church. All are invited
to attend this joyful concert, bringing together musicians
from across the Prairie Central district. Refreshments will
be served after the concert. They are currently looking
for more singers.
Join us as we enjoy the sounds and songs of Christmas.
RSVP by visiting www.geumc.org/events OR https://www.umcnic.org/calendar/prairie-central-2026-advent-concert
The event is free, but registration is encouraged to plan
accordingly.
Christmas Program
On December 13th, 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 Cards for Seniors
Reach out to others this holiday season. Write or draw
holiday notes in cards to give to local nursing home seniors right after service on Sunday, December 13th during our Cookie Reception.
(Sponsored by the Youth Group).
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 19th 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.
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.
Northern Illinois
Conference
UMC Bishops Condemn Proposed Plan for
Livestreamed Execution
In a pastoral letter to United Methodists
around the world, Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., writing on behalf
of the Council of Bishops, opposes plans to livestream the
execution of the man responsible for the 2009 Fort Hood
shootings. The letter calls on Christians to reject vengeance
and the public spectacle of death, uphold the dignity of
every human life, and stand against the scapegoating of
religious minorities and migrants. It urges U.S. leaders to
end plans for the livestreamed execution and invites
congregations worldwide to pray for victims, survivors, and
all those affected by violence. Click here
to read more.
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:
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
November Outreach
Offering - Ray Graham Association
Our November Outreach will be to support Ray
Graham Association. Established in 1950, they are
dedicated to “empowering people with disabilities to reach,
grow and achieve,” and currently provide services for
approximately 2,000. They provide residential services,
life skills education, recreational opportunities and
employment services. We are so happy to share our
building with Ray Graham and encourage everyone to learn
about their services and support their work. Please
visit https://www.raygraham.org.
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
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!!!
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