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

Sent:                                           Friday, February 4, 2022 11:30 AM

To:                                               office@woodridgeumc.org

Subject:                                     First Impressions" - Woodridge United Methodist Church Newsletter

Attachments:                          164399574002.06.22_Worship_Guide.pdf

 

    Woodridge United Methodist Church

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

Instructions can be found below.
All are Welcome!

 

 

 

 

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

 

 

"First Impressions"

As we continue our journey with the new lectionary resource we find ourselves at the wedding in Cana.  A story that is fairly familiar if for no other reason than that of water being turned into wine.  While that seems to be the most "memorable" part of this passage, there are so many other important facts that get overlooked. Where was the wedding planner that the wine supply ran low so early for this week long event?  How dare Jesus speak to His mother in that tone?  And far more important... why does this story not appear in the other Gospels if this is Jesus' first miracle that turned even the disciples into believers?
 
While we may not get to all of those answers we might want to take a look at what it really means to make "FIRST IMPRESSIONS" and how lasting they become.  Do they matter in life and to the people we encounter.   Is there any relevance in this "social event" at Cana and how does it speak to us today?  Does it matter if this miracle story does not appear in the other Gospels and who was in John's audience to hear it?
 
Let's see what kind of impression John makes for us as we explore this passage this week.  Join us on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. in person and online via our
Woodridge UMC YouTube channel to see what answers we come up with.

 

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

 

Sunday, February 6th

  • 10:00 am Worship Service
  • 11:00 am Communion (in person)
  • 11:00 am Confirmation/Youth
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist

Monday, February 7th

  • 7:00 pm Den 3
  • 7:00 pm Den 5

Tuesday, February 8th

  • 10:30 am Bible Study (Online)

Wednesday, February 9th

  • 11:30 am Staff Meeting
  • 6:00 pm Bible Study (Online)

Thursday, February 10th

  • 7:00 pm BSA

Sunday, February 13th

  • 10:00 am Worship Service
  • 11:00 am Confirmation/Youth
  • Noon Communion (online)
  • 4:00 pm Filipino Baptist

 

 

 

Worship Services

In Person

We miss you and want to see more of you for worship in person Sundays at 10:00 a.m.! No registration needed, just walk in the door! As a way to keep the most vulnerable among us safer, we request you continue to wear a mask while in the building. Here are our updated safety guidelines: 

  • Please conduct a wellness check before your arrival.  If you are not feeling well, please stay home.
  • The Sunday morning worship service will continue to be recorded “live” for YouTube.  In preparation for the service, there will be sound, voice and light checks.
  • Masks/face coverings are required in the building.
  • Please no food or drinks in the building.
  • Socially distanced seating in the sanctuary.
  • SINGING DURING Worship IS ALLOWED

 

Online

Where to find the YouTube Live Stream

The worship service is live-streamed every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. on our Woodridge UMC YouTube Channel. All available worship service recordings are on our channel too.

 

The weekly worship guide is attached to this email for ease of access. 

 

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.

 

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.
 


NEW LECTIONARY BEING USED
Pastor Dave and I invite you to continue to journey with us as we utilize the new "arrangement" of scripture lessons.  We are using "A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year W" by Dr. Wil Gafney.  This lectionary includes the traditional four-fold model of an Old Testament scripture, Psalm, Gospel and Epistle lesson each week and uses gender-expansive language.  It specifically and intentionally makes women visible in these lectionary texts.  This commitment to the visibility of women and girls is challenging for some and refreshing to others.

 

Womanist biblical scholar, the Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D. is the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is an Episcopal priest canonically resident in the Diocese of Pennsylvania and licensed in the Diocese of North Texas, and a former Army chaplain.  You are invited to Google her, check her website and/or purchase the resource (which is now available on Kindle).  Please stay with us on this journey and please do not hesitate to give us your feedback.


SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION 1ST SUNDAYS
We will be celebrating the Sacrament of Communion in person on the first Sunday of each month immediately following the livestream of our worship service. We will need a few moments to set up our ZOOM link for those who are not able to be with us in person.  Please remain seated following the postlude on the Sundays that we are serving communion.  Please remember that communion is available every Sunday via ZOOM.  Please contact the church office or Pastor Danita for the ZOOM link.
 

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR WORSHIP

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

(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).

 

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Church Office Hours:   Monday - Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - noon.
                                       Wednesday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

We ask that you call before visiting.

 

 

 

Opportunities/Events 

Youth Ministry 2021-2022

Sunday, Feb. 6th

Confirmation and High School Youth Group are back in person at 11:00AM in the Youth Room!

Unless something drastically changes, we will be in person at 11:00AM for all of February (and beyond!).

Looking ahead:

Wednesday, March 2nd, 7:00PM: Confirmation Class and High School Youth Group leads Ash Wednesday worship for the whole congregation.

 

The Bible for Curious People 
This study is open to all and meets Tuesday mornings at 10:30am. For now we are meeting on Zoom only. During February we are diving into the oft-ignored little book of Song of Songs (aka Song of Solomon).
 
Reading Assignment for Tuesday, February 8th:

Song of Songs chapters 3 & 4, plus any notes your bible provides.
 
Questions to consider:

—Chapter 3 is from the female protagonist, while chapter 4 is from the male protagonist. What is the mood of each chapter? How do they differ?

— One commentary suggests Jewish men were discouraged from reading chapter 4 until they were 30 years old. What makes content involving sexuality and sensuality appropriate or inappropriate?

—Why do you suppose we, as a culture, are so much more concerned with shielding adolescents from sexual content than we are with shielding them from violent content?

—What do you think of “my sister, my bride” in chapter 4?


Wednesday Bible Study
Our Wednesday Bible study meets from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  For a few more weeks (until it's time to begin our Lenten study), we will continue to look at the lectionary scriptures that will be used in the following Sunday's worship service as the main resource for our time together.  As you may recall, we are using the resource entitled "A WOMAN'S LECTIONARY FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH" by Dr. Wilda Gafney.  Our class will continue to meet via ZOOM through the month of February.  If you are interested in joining the Wednesday class, please contact Pastor Danita or the church office.
 

WUMC Music Ensembles Upcoming Dates

As we look ahead to Lent, Easter, and beyond, we would like to incorporate some of our music ensembles into our services. In our continuing efforts to be mindful of people’s health and safety, we are delaying the return of the Chancel Choir. The handbells successfully played at a service in December, so we are planning to have them play again on Easter Sunday. Since the Praise Band has only two singers, we will plan to have them play at a few services, as well.
 
Due to a limited amount of rehearsal time, we are asking that participants commit to all rehearsals prior to playing at a given service. If one “cycle” does not fit your schedule, please consider joining in a different “cycle.” In order to plan ahead, please notify Carrie Marcotte by the deadlines below to confirm your participation for each cycle.
 
Her email address is:
carriemarcotte.chorus@gmail.com
Please list “Praise Band” or “Bell Choir” in the subject line of your email.
 
Here is the schedule for rehearsals and services:
 
Praise Band: Please RSVP by Feb. 20
Mandatory rehearsals (11:30 am-12:30 pm) after the Sunday services on
March 6
March 13
Play at the 10 am service on Mar. 20
 
Bell Choir: Please RSVP by March 6
Mandatory rehearsals (11:30 am-1 pm) after the Sunday services on
March 20                         April 3
March 27                         April 10
Play at the Easter Sunday service on Apr 17.
 
Praise Band: Please RSVP by April 10
Mandatory rehearsals (11:30 am-12:30 pm) after the Sunday services on
April 24
May 1
Play at the service on May 8 (Mother’s Day).
 
If you have further questions or need clarification, please reach out to Carrie at the email address above. Carrie thanks you, all, and is looking forward to making music with you.



LOVE Christian Clearinghouse

Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) is a Christian ministry helping churches help people. For 36 years, Christian churches from all denominations have been working together to transform lives and communities.

Volunteers are needed from your church to serve on the phone - connecting people with local resources, or with light office work in the Westmont Clearinghouse call center. On-the-job training is provided.To learn more about this service opportunity call 630-512-8669.

Volunteer instructors and support staff are needed for the moving forward together! Ministry, offering personal growth and life skill classes on Thursday nights in Lombard. Volunteers attend an orientation session period to learn more about this service opportunity call 630-512-8673.


 

Employment Opportunities

Intervarsity Press

Intervarsity Press of Westmont has several job openings.  There are six full-time positions available, and two part-time positions available. Below are links for position descriptions for job openings now available at InterVarsity Press.  The IVP Careers web page where all these positions are posted is:  www.ivpress.com/jobs-and-internships.
The job openings are: 
 

Full-time Openings

Part-time Openings

 

Outreach Opportunities

Suits for Success Donation
Suits for Success has been selected by Pulse Financial services as their 1st quarter "Give back to the Community" which means that they are making a donation to SFS.  The donation depends on how many people click on the Green Thumbs Up.  No follow up is done in the form of a solicitation. Here is the link Pulse Financial Services .

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

As you have probably heard from neighbors and news media sources, the tenants of Woodridge Country Club Condos have had to vacate their homes because of extensive building repairs.  Mayor Cunningham and her offices have been working diligently to relocate these families.  However, there are some very serious needs for the families in their temporary spaces at nearby hotels. The immediate needs are as follows:

1.)  Cases of water;

2.)  Personal care toiletries (such as full sized body wash, shampoo and conditioners, lotions, etc.);

3.)  Children's activities/games, hot cocoa, snacks, family-sized cereal;

4.)  Monetary donations (addressed to Woodridge Neighbors Helping Neighbors).

Please feel free to assist where you can.  We will coordinate our efforts through the Outreach Committee and make a more concerted, church-wide effort in January.  However, you are invited to respond more immediately if you so desire.  Please watch our E-news for updates and details in the coming weeks.


DuPage Pads: Did You Know?

DuPagePads operates a Street Outreach call line for anyone who observes someone unsheltered or in need of services. Please notify our Street Outreach team at 630-682-3846, option 2, or email streetoutreach@dupagepads.org with the following information: 

Your name and contact information (for possible follow-up) 

  • Individual’s/Family’s Name (if known) 
  • Location (last seen) 
  • General Description

 


ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES


Suits for Success

There are donation boxes in the hallway by the coat rack just outside the narthex for both men and women's clothing.  The clothes are picked up, dry cleaned and then taken to area men and women's prisons for people being released.  NO belts, shoes, underwear or ties.

 

"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.

Did you know discarded clothes account for more total landfill space than any other waste item? The “Goin’ Green” Box helps us reduce our waste.

How is this different from our “Suits for Success” ministry?

The big difference is that “Suits for Success” cannot accept shoes of any kind, nor can they accept belts, ties, or underwear. “Goin’ Green” accepts all shoes and clothes.

In summary: Keep bringing your gently used clothing donations to the “Suits for Success” collection boxes in the hallway.

For all shoes and any other clothes, instead of throwing them in the trash, put them in the “Goin’ Green” receptacle in the northeast corner of the parking lot.
 


West Suburban Food Pantry

We have a basket that we "inherited" from the Faith, Lisle church that is waiting for donations.  It sits in the narthex, usually near the sanctuary doors.  They did not stop operating during the pandemic and there is pending legislation in our state and nation that might cut their corporate donations in large amounts.  Let's replenish our basket!!!

 

Used Eyeglasses
There is a basket also in the narthex for collecting used eyeglasses.  Jorie would see that her sister, Kendra, got the eyeglasses and that they are recycled to the Lions Club and Gift of Sight groups.  Kendra is continuing this important mission. (Prescription eyeglasses only).
 

February Outreach Offering

Black College Fund


Between 1866 and 1882, following the Civil War, the former Methodist Episcopal Church organized the Freedmen’s Aid Society to help educate black people newly freed from slavery. Between 1866 and 1882, the society established more than 70 schools in the U.S. South and Southwest.
In 1972, The United Methodist Church established the Black College Fund to provide a constant reliable way to support United Methodist-related historically Black colleges. Today we support more historically Black colleges and universities than any other religious denomination.
One of the 7 General Apportionment Funds that would have previously been funded through the churches general apportionments payments, this fund supports the programs and ministries of 11 historically black colleges and universities, including one medical school. These gifts reflect the value our Church has on education, especially those who have been historically excluded.
The Black College Fund is raising up the leaders who are impacting lives and shaping communities.

 

Northern Illinois Conference
Prairie Central District
The new names of the districts, which went into effect July 2021, are Lake North, Lake South, Prairie Central, Prairie North, and Prairie South. We will be in the Prairie Central district.  Click here to read the list of churches in each district. Find the new district webpage here.


Prairie Central Monthly Lay Meetings
Please join our District Superintendent, Jeffrey Bross and your lay colleagues in the PCD every SECOND Thursday of the month beginning on September 9 and ending on May 12 at 7pm.  We will share news, have some prayer and devotion, hear the call story of a colleague and laugh with your friends.  We try to keep it to an hour but if something is really important and we need some extra time, we can do so.  This is a no-stress way to stay connected and get lifted up and know you are not alone.  
Please note that ALL lay persons who are in leadership at their churches are invited. This is not just for designated "lay leaders" but anyone who has an interest in the church and gathering with other lay persons.  
 
Hope to see you there.  Contact the church office for the link.
 

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  

      
February 4, 2022, Volume 12, Edition 5

 

 

 

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