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

Sent:                                           Friday, November 22, 2024 11:07 AM

To:                                               office@woodridgeumc.org

Subject:                                     To Testify to the Truth" - Woodridge United Methodist Church Newsletter

Attachments:                          173229517411.24.24_Worship_Guide_WEB.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

 

 

“To Testify to the Truth”

November 24th is Christ the King Sunday.

When we think of a king, what kinds of images come to mind?

In John 18, Pilate asked Jesus, “What have you done?” Jesus replied, “My kingdom does not belong to this world... my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate then asked, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus was born and came into the world to be a king—a king who testifies to the truth. He proclaimed that all who cares about the truth and seeks the truth will recognize his voice.

So, what is truth? Let us reflect on this profound question together. Join us this Sunday as we begin this journey to discover truth in our lives.

Please, join us for our Sunday worship Service in person or on our Woodridge UMC YouTube Channel at 10:00 am.

 

Sunday, November 24th

  • 8:45 am Adult Choir
  • 10:00 am Worship Service
  • 11:00 am Sign Demonstation
  • 11:15 am Sign Committee Meeting
  • Noon Communion
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist
  • 6:30 pm CSA Committee

Monday, November 25th

  • 6:30 pm Den 2
  • 7:30 pm Square Dancing

Tuesday, November 26th

  • 9:30 am Soccer Shots
  • 8:00 pm Soccer Shots Small Group

Wednesday, November 27th

  • Church Office CLOSED

Thursday, November 28th

  • Church Office CLOSED
  • Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Friday, November 29th

  • Church Office CLOSED

Sunday, December 1st

  • 10:00 am Worship Service
  • 11:15 am Advent Lunch
  • Noon Decorate Church

 

Special Church Office Hours

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

We ask that you call before visiting.

The church office is CLOSED Wednesday, November 27th - Friday, November 29th.

 

Ministry Opportunities
Special Sunday: United Methodist Student Day (Nov. 24th)
This Sunday is United Methodist Student Day (last Sunday of November) furnishes scholarships and loans for students attending United Methodist-related and other accredited colleges and universities. This offering helps provide for more than 70 scholarships available for United Methodist students to further their education and enrich the life of the Church. The fund is administered by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. You can give online at: www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/umcgiving/.

60th Anniversary Sign
A display truck will be in the parking lot after worship service on November 24th to show us what an electronic messaging sign would look like with a few different resolutions. Please plan to stay a few minutes after service if you are interested. Our current sign is 30 years old and no longer working.  In celebration of 60+ years together, we are working towards replacing the broken sign with a new electronic messaging sign.  Designs and quotes have been requested from sign companies. Research has given us a general idea of the costs, which are about $50,000.  Thanks to a generous donation, we have a substantial start to the fund.  However, this is a huge endeavor, and we are asking for further donations from the congregation.  Please join us in celebrating our church and donate today!  If you wish your donation to be in memory or honor of a loved one, we will publish the list when the sign is installed.

Sign Commitee Meeting
There will be a brief meeting of the sign committee THIS Sunday, November 24th after viewing the sample signs in the parking lot.
 
Adopt a Family Begins SUNDAY!!
This year we are again working with the West Suburban Community Pantry and other area churches to support area families this Christmas season.  Woodridge UMC has committed to providing 5 families with gifts and grocery gift cards - details on how you can help are below!
 
Gifts - Select an ornament with a gift request from the hat and mitten tree located in the Narthex after service and let us know which one you picked (a signup sheet will be provided).  We are purchasing gifts for children as well as senior citizens so there's a wide range of gifts to choose from.  Please return your gift wrapped and with the ornament attached to the outside of the gift.
 
Grocery Gift Cards - Sign up to purchase grocery gift cards that we will give to each family.  These can be from any store (Jewel, Meijer etc.).  If you would like to purchase the gift cards as part of our church gift card fundraiser please speak to Karen Smith when you sign up. 
 
All gifts and gift cards are due back to church by Tuesday December 10th.  
 

Soup "Train"!
Mike Marvel had another dental procedure and will be on a soup diet for the next couple of months.  We are looking for people to make soup, freeze some in a quart container(s) and bring it to church.  Please label the container with the type of soup. Pastor Dave will deliver the soup to Mike. 


The Beginning of Advent - December 1st
Sure, Sunday, December 1st is just a few days after Thanksgiving…but that day is also the beginning of a brand new year! What?! Yep, Sunday, December 1st is the first day of the Advent season, the beginning of the church calendar year. Another fun Woodridge UMC tradition is to really lean into the beginning of Advent with the Hanging of the Greens, an Advent Lunch, and a newer tradition is Outdoor Church Decorating.  Participate in the Hanging of the Greens during the worship service, eat lunch together and lend a hand decorating the outside of the church after the meal. Please come help even if it is to just untangle a strand of lights!  (There will be nothing up high and plenty to do at ground level)!
 
In Preparation for Hanging of the Greens
Please come assist the Millers on Saturday, November 30th at 9:00 am prepare for the Hanging of the Greens Service. The bins containing the sanctuary decorations need to be gotten down, the decorations need to be laid out in preparation for the service, the trees need to be assembled, etc. 

Just in Time for the Holidays - Gift Card Sales are Back!!
That’s right, the Gift Card sales are back! Starting this Sunday, you can purchase gift cards for a variety of different stores and restaurants - - including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Chipotle, Chili’s, Jewel-Osco, Meijer, Starbucks, Target, Walmart and many others - - and a portion of the sales will go toward the WUMC general fund. 
 
These gift cards make terrific presents to give to others during the holidays, or you can purchase them and use them for yourself.  Order forms will be available in the Narthex and there will be two sets of orders:

Place orders on December 1st or 8th with pickup on December 15th.
 
Please contact Troy and Karen Smith at 630-322-8830 if you have any questions.


WUMC Music Ensembles: 2024
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! For a full schedule see here or the handout in the narthex. In order to plan music, please RSVP to Carrie by the dates listed.

Next
Up: Worship Band please RSVP by Nov. 24th.

Rehearsal

Dec. 8

11:20 AM-12:30 PM

Music Room

NO Rehearsal

Dec. 15

Blackhawks game

 

Rehearsal

Dec. 22

11:20 AM-12:30 PM

Music Room

NO Rehearsal

Dec. 29

Blackhawks game

 

Service

Jan. 5

10 AM (Epiphany)

Rehearse in the sanctuary at 8:45 AM


Christmas Program
On December 15th, 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.

Youth Group 2024
December 15th: Holiday Card Making and Holiday Party - make cards after church for local nursing home residents then head to our Holiday Party.  More information coming soon!


Life Line Screening

Woodridge UMC will once again be hosting a Life Line Screening event on Wednesday, December 4th. Life Line Screening is the premier provider of stroke and cardiovascular disease risk screenings since 1993. Go to WWW.LLSA.SOCIAL/HSCA or call 888-814-0466 to schedule your appointment! A simple screening can be worth a lifetime.  See flyer here.
 

Woodridge Winterfest

The Village of Woodridge has partnered with the Woodridge Park District, the Woodridge Public Library, The Woodridge Special Events Committee, and Curated Collections Events to bring a new and exciting event to the community this holiday season called Woodridge Winterfest! The event will take place on Saturday, November 23 at Kagann Plaza at Woodridge Village Hall (5 Plaza Drive) and will feature a wide variety of family-friendly activities such as a tree and campus lighting ceremony with a 20-foot Christmas tree, live reindeer, food trucks, meet and greets with beloved characters like Rudolph and Anna & Elsa, a Maker’s Market with 20+ vendors to shop from, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more! You can view the full schedule of events at here and see the flyer here.
 

Music and Mischief: A West Towns Christmas
Join the West Towns Chorus (with our own Carrie Marcotte as director) as they bring in the Christmas season with our annual Christmas Show 2024!  On Saturday, December 14th at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm at the Huizenga Auditorium at Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst (188 W Butterfield Road).  This year’s guests include Affinity Strings, Genuine Brass Quintet and other fun surprises!!  Ticket prices are $27-$32.  Call 630.201.5544 for tickets or see the flyer in the narthex for other ways to purchase tickets.

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.


Advent at Woodridge UMC

Advent Study
In December, we will have an Advent Bible Study that will replace our usual Tuesday and Wednesday sessions and will meet on the first three Wednesdays at 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm  Classes are open to anyone who wishes to participate and are available in person or via ZOOM.  

December 4th, 11th, and 18th (Wednesdays) 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
 
Topics:
1. OT Scriptures on Homosexuality
2. NT Scriptures on Homosexuality
3. The Jesus Ethic: What Did Christ Say?
 
If you are interested in participating, please contact the church office, 630/968-6050 or office@woodridgeumc.org or Pastor Dave (PastorDaveYim@woodridgeumc.org).

Hat and Mitten Tree
Our Hat and Mitten Tree is n the Narthex throughout the Christmas season and all items collected will be given to Woodridge schools to be distributed to children who are in need.  (Please no scarves.  That’s been taken care of by the Scarf Outreach).
 

Advent Worship
All are invited and welcome to our worship services as we commemorate God’s ultimate act of love and solidarity: joining us in our humanity through the babe of Bethlehem. All these services are both in-person and live-streamed on our Woodridge UMC YouTube Channel
 
Sunday, December 1st: 10:00 am Advent week 1 - Hanging of the Greens
Sunday, December 8th: 10:00 am Advent week 3
Sunday, December 15th: 10:00 am Advent week 3 - Christmas Program
Sunday, December 22nd: 10:00 am Advent week 4
Tuesday, December 24th: 5:00 pm Christmas Eve carols, children’s time, Choir and candle lighting.
Tuesday, December 24th: 10:00 pm Christmas Eve carols, Choir, candle lighting and Communion. 
 
Advent Lunch
On Sunday, December 1st we will be having an Advent Lunch after the Hanging of the Greens service.  Lunch will be chili, bread and dessert.  Various kinds of chili will be available including a MILD version. 

Holiday Card Making
On Sunday, December 15th our youth will lead us in making Holiday Cards after service church for local nursing home residents.


Birthdays

December
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
Find out about upcoming events in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church by clicking this link.
  

Prairie Central District Advent Concert

We are thrilled that that the 2nd Annual Prairie Central District Advent Concert is scheduled for December 8, 2024 at 3 pm at First United Methodist Church of Glen Ellyn (424 Forest Ave. in Glen Ellyn). Not only are you invited to join us in the audience, but we are also currently coordinating performers. In order to ensure there is ample space for anyone who wishes to attend, we ask that you RSVP using this link.
 
Anyone who is interested in performing (solo, small group, choir - you choose!) should please reach out to Rev. Dave Price at pastor.dave@geumc.org. We have space for 12 acts/performers, and as it is first come, first served, please sign up quickly!

 

Outreach Opportunities

November Outreach Offering


Tree of Life Ministries
Tree of Life is a relief agency affiliated with the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church.  Located in Mission, South Dakota on the Rosebud Reservation, Tree of Life serves several of the poorest counties in the United States. The reservation has an 80% unemployment rate and over 50% of the Lakota people live under the poverty level and cannot afford necessities. The ministries of Tree of Life include: The Warm Welcome-feeding program and food pantry, Tree of Life Boutique¬--thrift store and a construction ministry which makes free repairs to over 50 homes and community buildings each year.
 
Tree of Life has made great strides in developing respect and understanding between cultures, helping to break down racial prejudice and distrust. This is accomplished by providing cultural presentations to volunteers, working together with tribal agencies, and being involved in meeting daily needs.
 
For more information, please visit Tree of Life | Across Dakotas | Dakotas Conference

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

"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!!!  

Used Eyeglasses
There is a basket also in the narthex for collecting used prescription eyeglasses.  Kendra Manderfield Moore makes sure  that they are recycled to the Lions Club and Gift of Sight groups. 

 

 

 


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.

 

November 22th, 2024, Volume 14, Edition 46

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