Woodridge United Methodist Church

"The Ultimate Test Question"

Worship

THE BIBLE FOR CURIOUS PEOPLE - ON ZOOM

Join us Tuesday mornings at 10:30am on Zoom as we explore the book of Ester.

Reading Assignment for Tuesday, October 27th:
Esther chapters 3-4, plus any introduction your bible provides.
 
Questions to consider:
—One could paraphrase chapter 3 as “Through payment from a special interest group, the government profits from rounding up and eliminating a minority people group.” What can we learn from the book of Esther about this still extant problem?
—How does Esther change in chapter 4?
—God, the universe, Providence: according to the book of Esther, are they different ways of saying the same thing? Are they for us?


In repose to the COVID-19 outbreak this class is meeting online through Zoom on Tuesday mornings at 10:30AM. Please contact Pastor Dave (pastordave@woodridgeumc.org) to join the conversation. It is a great way to stay connected and all are welcome.

No prior bible reading or knowledge or expertise needed. No question is dumb and no one is forced to read the bible in one particular way. We will all learn as we go along exploring what the text says, what it leaves unsaid, what history and tradition tell us about the text, and how our own experience influences our reading.

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY ON ZOOM

The Wednesday Bible study class on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. on ZOOM. The Wednesday evening group will be studying the lectionary for the next worship service for the next few weeks.  If you want to be a part of the Wednesday class, please contact Pastor Danita.  The advent study will start on December 2nd and will be: Almost Christmas (A Wesleyan Advent Experience) by Magrey deVega, Matt Rawle, April Casperson, Ingrid McIntyre


Opportunities/Events 

Help WANTED as We USHER in a New Era!

As we prepare to resume in-person worship, we need help. Specifically, we need ushers. But this will be a very different kind of ushering than we’ve done in the recent past. These new ushers play a paramount role in our safety plan.

What does that mean?

Put on a mask and join us Sunday, Oct. 25th at 1:00pm in the Narthex to find out! We will maintain social distancing as we share our new procedures for ushers.

We can and will continue to be welcoming and grace-filled even in this pandemic. Contact Pastor Dave to indicate your interest.

Youth Ministry Fall of 2020

Special Event this Sunday, October 25th: Harvest Celebration under the Tent at WUMC Oct. 25th at 1:30pm. Pumpkin carving, costume contest, and candy for all. All ages welcome. 

Weekly Youth Group on Zoom returns next Sunday, November 1st at 1:30pm. All 7th-12th grade students are welcome.


Fridays - Lunch in the Parking Lot
As long as our church building remains closed, anyone who wishes can meet up in the church parking lot at noon on Fridays for lunch. 
- Bring your own lunch & chair
- We will sit 6 feet from each other
- Masks are required at all times we aren’t in our chairs that are 6 feet apart.
- Check the weather & dress appropriately.


It's Almost Time for This Year's Harvest Celebration
On Sunday, October 25th at 1:30 pm, we will meet outside under the tent and enjoy time together.  We will have pumpkins and tables available if you would like to carve a pumpkin.  Please bring your own chairs and tools.  Masks are required. Children and adults wear your “church appropriate” Halloween costumes!!  Come dressed in your best costume and see what award you are given.  We are also taking this opportunity to introduce something new. WUMC is starting a PUZZLE EXCHANGE.  There will be a table available if you would like to donate or trade puzzles. More information can be found in the flyer here.  If you have questions, contact Jorie here.  You will be notified if the event is cancelled due to weather.


Children's Bibles DEADLINE THIS WEEK
Has your child received their bible yet?  We are looking for all kids in 3rd grade or above that haven't received a bible from the church. It is tradition in the United Methodist Church for 3rd graders to receive an engraved bible from the church. Please contact Jorie Manderfield via email or call if you are interested in having your child receive a bible. (Deadline is October 28th).
 
We are designating November 22 as Bible Sunday.  Please let us know what name you would like on the bible as well as if your child will be at church that Sunday to receive it.  Look for more details in the coming weeks.


Discount on Disposable Masks
The General Council on Finance and Administration has partnered with a vetted company, On The Go Masks to provide discounts for churches and the company is extending the discount to individuals as well.  Please see the flyer attached here for more information.


Upper Room Devotionals
The Upper Rooms for November - December are in. Contact the church office  or call 630.968.6050 if you would like a copy.  There are a few available in the mailbox.


Morning Prayer with Upper Room
Morning Prayer with The Upper Room via Facebook Live, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11 a.m. (CT). These guided prayer experiences are archived so you may join them at your convenience if you miss it live.


Northern Illinois Conference 
NIC Prayer Network
The Discipleship Task Force invites laity or clergy who enjoy writing to submit a devotion (250 words), including a Bible verse and prayer. Share what is on your heart with the NIC by emailing discipleshiptf@umcnic.org.


Monthly Aurora District Lay Leader Virtual Meetings
There will be monthly Aurora District Lay Leader meetings on the Third Thursday of every month at 7 pm through December. "See" you there! If you are a lay leader and cannot make a meeting, invite another lay person from your church to attend. These meetings are not just for official lay leaders but any lay person who is a leader in a church! Your Zoom video conferencing invitation will be sent by Leola Tucker (ltucker@umcnic.org). Contact Leola if you would like to join.


Prayer Booklet For Times Like These from Our Conference
Don’t worry about anything? That’s pretty hard to do these days! Yet it is when we pray that we are able to pour our hearts and minds out to God. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, the NIC Discipleship Task Force asked clergy and laity to submit daily prayers, which were shared on the conference social media sites and website. Those prayers have been assembled into an online booklet, "Times Like These – Prayers of the People," for your reflection and devotion.
 
Click here to view the booklet online
Click here to download

Learning with the Northern Illinois Conference 

The Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) staff, with the assistance of the NIC Communications team and the NIC Office of Congregational Development and Redevelopment, are producing online learning sessions via Zoom on Thursdays at either 10 am or 1 pm with practical information on how to do a variety of ministries during the COVID-19 outbreak. There are also archived training sessions available for viewing such as Intentional Discipleship, How is Your Soul and financial helps.  All of this can be found here: https://www.umcnic.org/online-learning

Outreach Opportunities

DUPAGE PADS
Due to the continuing pandemic, DuPage Pads will not be using Downers Grove FUMC or any church to house Pads guests until late 2021.  They will continue to hotel guests at the guidance of the DuPage Health Department for both the Pads guests and the volunteers’ safety. 
 
DuPage Pads has enough funds to house 70 hotel rooms through March 31, 2021.  Their goal is 115 hotel rooms (approximately 150 guests) per night.  Each hotel room is approximately $45 a night which requires them to raise approximately $450,000.  Additional federal government funding is uncertain at the moment.
 
Cold weather has arrived, and people are still very much in need. There are several ways you can help:
 

1. Food and Toiletry Donations: Please consider donating essential items using this link using curbside drop off boxes located in the DuPage PADS parking lot of 703 W. Liberty Wheaton, IL 60187. Drop off hours are Monday-Friday 8:00am-8:00pm and Saturday-Sunday 8:00am-4:00pm. Please do not leave donations outside of the scheduled times, especially food items overnight.

2. Monetary Donations: A special fund has been set up for this purpose. PADS is working hard to maintain and add additional housing in hotels for guests, as well as provide them with food. This requires significant financial resources to sustain this long term.  Visit the PADS website here and look at the very top for the link to donate.

3. Bring Food or Monetary Donations to DGFUMC:  First United Methodist in Downers Grove is collecting microwave meals to bring to PADS guests starting November 5^th. Microwave meals may be brought to the church Monday thru Friday 10am-1pm and monetary donations can be made on the church website dgfumc.org using the Giving tab. The church is located at 1032 Maple Avenue in Downers Grove.

Please call or email Larry Cash with questions at 630-808-8713.



MIDWEST MISSION DRIVE
Midwest Mission has gotten to the point where they are in great need of a collection. The churches (Grace UMC of Naperville) have agreed to do a collection to help get in-kind supplies and donations to Midwest Mission.  They are running into the issue of not being able to buy certain supplies in bulk due to shortages and need help with securing the in-kind supplies. 

Collecting through November 1^st: the four most urgent needs (laundry detergent, dish soap, household cleaner, and toothpaste) but people are welcome to bring anything Midwest Mission takes except for bikes and sewing machines at this time due to a backlog. Grace UMC is one of the collection sites. Midwest Mission realizes that during this pandemic some people may not feel comfortable shopping for supplies but still have the desire to give. Monetary donations are always welcome and can still be made physically at collection sites or online at their website. Please see attached flyer more information.


Blue Jeans for the Homeless (BJFH)
The Village of Woodridge has been helping Mr. Ramon Joson of BJFH /Christ the Servant Church in collecting new/gently used jeans, sweaters, knit caps, scarves, coats, blankets, personal products/wipes, etc.  They are asking us to join in their big push for donations this week.  BJFH is also collecting Ramen Noodle Soup cups, packaged snacks and chocolate candies.  Ramon and his volunteers will pick up any donations. Ramon can be reached at 630.673-3799

October Outreach Offering:
West Suburban PADS
 

The mission of West Suburban PADS is to transition people from housing crisis to housing stability. West Suburban PADS is the primary provider of service-supported housing in west DuPage County. The PADS Emergency Shelter is at the foundation of our solution to homelessness, which spans six program areas (including housing, prevention, out-reach, employment, & supportive services). The PADS Emergency Shelter provided overnight shelter to over 1200 homeless men, women and families last year. The shelter operates through broad ecumenical support from the community, involving more than 1,000 volunteers and 40 support congregations at 10 rotating sites.

Our congregation supplies meals and over 30 volunteers to operate the shelter at First UMC in Downers Grove and have been for many, many years. This is probably our congregation’s most important mission.


Retired American Flag Recycling
Woodridge UMC now has an American flag recycling box  thanks to the Eagle Scout Project of Jack Kulaga.  Bring all your old American flags to church and put them in the box now located in Bonfal Hall.  When the box starts to get full, the Woodridge VFW Post will be contacted, and they will collect and decommission the flags.


Looking Ahead

2020 Meeting Dates

Ad Council (9:00 am)            Finance (7:00 pm)         Trustees (7:00 pm)
--------------------                       November 17th                 November 24th
December 12th                       December 15th


Amazon Smile 

Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Woodridge United Methodist Church whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.       

AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.  Support WUMC by starting your shopping here.  


Ways to Connect

Aurora District News

To subscribe to the biweekly newsletter for our district (the Aurora District of the Northern Illinois Conference), please click here.   

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

      
October 23rd, 2020, Volume 11, Edition 43