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

Sent:                                           Friday, December 18, 2020 3:03 PM

To:                                               office@woodridgeumc.org

Subject:                                     "Happy New Year" - Woodridge United Methodist Church Newsletter

 

            Woodridge United Methodist Church

Join us on ONLINE Sunday for worship services
at  10:00 am.

Instructions can be found below.
All are Welcome!

 

 

 

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

 

 

Happy New Year!!!

If you are reading this then we have both entered a new year!!!!!  2021 is full of endless possibilities and promises for us.  It's a chance for a new start and a new outlook.  Not to be pollyanna-ish but to remember that we can see through a half full glass or one that is half empty!!  Perception does influence attitude.

 

True enough, 2020 was a year that will "go down in history" as one of the most deadly and the most challenging, but it will also be a reminder to us of the things we discovered about ourselves, our families, our communities and most importantly our relationship with God.  It will be a painful reminder when we think of those people who are no longer with us and the extreme number of deaths that occurred because of negligence and ego.  It will be a painful reminder of many other such negative experiences and mindsets.

 

But, more than that, it will be a reminder of how God's grace and love sustained us in the midst of those heart-wrenching experiences.  As we look forward to 2021 let us not forget the blessings of strengthened relationships, new partnerships and discoveries, and the advanced learnings of all forms of technology!!!!  All in all...despite the hard lessons, there are plenty of blessings to be thankful for!! 

 

HAPPY NEW YOU IN THIS NEW YEAR!!! 
 

Join us on YouTube at Woodridge UMC at 10:00 am on Sunday morning.

 

Woodridge UMC is an open and loving United Methodist community striving to:       

Welcoming to all;
Uniting in service toward greater social justice for all;
Moving forward with understanding and acceptance of all peoples;
Creating disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.       

Our purpose is to offer a safe place and community to all races, cultures, religions, genders, sexual identities, ethnicities, age groups and other beliefs.      

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Friday, January 1st

  • HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
  • Church Office CLOSED

Sunday, January 3rd

  • 10:00 am ONLINE Worship Service
  • Noon Communion
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist 

Wednesday, January 6th

  • 6:00 pm Bible Study Online

Thursday, January 7th

  • 7:00 pm Boy Scouts

Friday, January 8th

  • Noon Lunch on Zoom

Sunday, January 10th

  • 10:00 am ONLINE Worship Service
  • Noon Communion
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist 

 

The spread of the COVID-19 virus requires our attention and immediate response to how we gather as a community of faith.  While serious, please know that we must refrain from becoming panicked.  Please be cautious and mindful of your own health and the safety of others.  Our Bishop and Annual Conference are regularly updating their website with information and resources for our church.  Please take a look at it for details:  www.umcnic.org.

 

 

 

Worship

STREAMING WORSHIP SERVICES

Where to find the YouTube Live Stream
From the YouTube app or on the YouTube web page, search for: Woodridge UMC or follow this
link.  Join us early for Joys and Concerns and the Prelude with music starting around 9:50 am. Services at 10:00 am.  If you have questions or problems, please contact media@woodridgeumc.onmicrosoft.com.  Full assistance will be available prior to 10:00 am on Sunday morning.  After 10:00 am, assistance becomes more limited. If you are not available at 10:00 am or cannot get the live streaming to work, a recording of the video will be posted to the Woodridge UMC YouTube page
 

OFFERING OPTIONS

There are different options for getting your offering to the church while worship services are online.

  • 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.

See below for information about donating in 2021.
 

WORSHIP ATTENDANCE

If you watch the Live Stream, 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 ONLINE WORSHIP

If you want a prayer request shared during online worship, please email the Pastor Danita at pastordanita@woodridgeumc.org by 8:00 am on Sundays.


CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

The church office will be closed over the holidays: Monday, December 28th through Friday, January 1st.

 

 

 

Giving 

Stewardship for 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in our lives and most definitely in our personal economics.  Many have lost loved ones and jobs, while others had to deal with isolation and depression.  In the midst of it all, the church has continued to be the place of solace and stability to keep us grounded and to be the witness to the community of our faith.  

Thank you for being a part of the ongoing ministry of this church.  You are invited to renew your commitment to join us in 2021 by completing the Estimate of Giving Form (by following this link) as our church family continues its work for justice and peace in this community.

Thank you again for your faithfulness in the past and we look forward to you joining us in the future.


Bible Study - Via Zoom


THE BIBLE FOR CURIOUS PEOPLE

…is off January 5th. Our next study resumes Tuesday, January 12th at 10:30am on Zoom.

 
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY ON ZOOM

The Wednesday Bible study class is at 6:00 pm is taking a short break.  It will resume January 6th. Please contact Pastor Danita if you are interested in joining the group.

 

Opportunities/Events 

Youth Ministry Fall of 2020

Youth Group Zoom returns this Sunday, January 3rd at 1:30pm.

All 7th-12th grade students are welcome. Contact Pastor Dave for the Zoom link.

 

Upper Room Devotionals

The Upper Rooms for January - February 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.

 

Puzzle Exchange

WUMC has started a PUZZLE EXCHANGE.

Every puzzle deserves a second, third, or even fourth shot. Let’s share the wealth!

There is a bin on the northwest side of the building labelled "Puzzle Exchange" by the north narthex doors for easy exchange anytime you would like.  Bring a puzzle.  Take a puzzle.  Please make sure that the bin is closed properly.
 

Discount on Disposable Face 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.


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.


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.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. Bring Food or Monetary Donations to DGFUMC:  First United Methodist in Downers Grove is collecting microwave meals to bring to PADS guests starting November 5th. 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.


January Outreach Offerings:
Family Crisis Fund


The Pastors of our church use our Family Crisis Fund to assist persons who come to our doors through the week needing help with food, utilities, prescription medicine(s), gas, emergency rental payments, and similar. The Family Crisis Fund is also available to church members in their time of need for the same types of assistance (food, utilities, etc.) In addition to your monetary donations, we can also utilize gift cards from grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations. These are also very helpful. The Pastors are grateful for your faithful support in helping the church do the work of Christ on a daily basis. Emergency needs have nearly depleted the fund this year, so your generosity is greatly appreciated.


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.



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.


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



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

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

      
January 1st, 2021, Volume 12, Edition 1

 

 

 

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