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Special Gifts
Maintenance and
Upgrade to AV System
Our audio visual system is in desperate need of
some maintenance and upgrades. Some of the areas of
concern include: the aging of our projector and screen
and computer replacement and upgrades that are needed.
These items are not in the budget we recently
approved but are greatly needed very soon. The
total cost of this project is $10,000. We invite you to
help us with this effort through your gifts. Please
make sure to specify "media ministry" on your gift,
whether it is a check or through electronic giving. We
need your help in making this happen. We would like to
complete this project during the next couple of months.
Any questions, please contact Pastor Danita or Kevin Read.
Opportunities/Events
Cultural Exchange
/ Host an Exchange Student
STSF is a Department of State designated
sponsor responsible for all aspects of the J1 Visa high
school exchange program. We work with high schools
throughout the US and seek host families and individuals
to be matched with an exchange student preparing to
attend the 2022-2023 school year.
We are proud to offer American families the opportunity to
become citizen diplomats by welcoming an
international high school student into their home.
Currently, STSF has
male and female exchange students coming from over 20
different countries. Our students have all types of
interests that match a host family; from music
abilities, sports, theater, outdoor interests, and many many
more! By living as a household member, the student learns
about an American way of life and the host families, church,
school, and community also benefit and experience a new
culture. An exchange student provides an immense
perspective and expands its high school's students and community's
cultural appreciation.
If you are interested in becoming a host family see this flyer or go the the STS Foundation
website.
Upper Rooms
Upper Rooms for July-August are now available in
the narthex with a limited number in the mailbox.
Summer Sunday School Volunteers
School’s
out! That means Summer Sunday School starts on Sunday, June 5th.
We are looking for a couple of summer Sunday school teachers
to help fill in during Sunday School teachers’ vacations and
work travel. Lessons will be provided. Please
contact the church office or Pastor Danita if you are
interested.
Safe Sanctuaries Training
If you missed our onsite training and are one of
those required to take it, the NIC is offering in person and
Zoom sessions on:
- June 23rd at 6:30 pm at Plainfield
UMC
- June 29th at 6:30 pm at Plainfield
UMC
- July 16th at 1:00 pm at Des Plaines:
First UMC
- July 30th at 10:00 am at Plainfield
UMC
- Aug 6th at 10:00 am at Plainfield
UMC
For more information click here and to register for these sessions go to www.umcnic.org/calendar/safe-sanctuaries-training
Youth Ministry 2022
Weekly Youth Group is on summer break. Look for
periodic fun and/or mission events throughout the summer.
The Bible for Curious People
…is on summer
break. However, we do have a couple check-ins planned,
including on Tuesday, August 9th at 10:30am
on Zoom.
This Tuesday Bible Study will return in the Fall.
Wednesday Bible Study
The Wednesday
Bible study class meets is also on summer break and will
return in the Fall.
Race, America, and the Church
A Speaker
Series from the Northern Illinois Conference on the History,
Causes and Effects of Racism and the Role of the Church in
America
This 4-part series that extends into December and includes a
6-week book study in the fall, we will journey together to
prayerfully learn, engage, and tackle our personal and
corporate role in addressing racism.
The journey continues with:
UNDENIED: NO LONGER WILLING TO
BE UNHEARD
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2022,
12:00 - 1:30 PM
Rev. Chebon Kernell shares insights and learning related to
indigenous communities’ history, present work being done, and
how we can be in solidarity as we prepare for the future.
In-person and via Zoom
Speaker: Rev. Chebon Kernell, UMC Native American
Comprehensive
Moderator: Rev. Pamela Pirtle
CALLED: DOING GOD'S WORK FOR
THE BELOVED COMMUNITY
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2022,
12:00 - 1:30 PM
Dr. Hart addresses what the local church can do to combat the
continuation of racism in the church and in society.
In-person and via Zoom
Speaker: Dr. Drew G.I. Hart
Go here for more information
Downers Grove
Garden Walk
This Saturday, July 9th,
our siblings in Christ at First UMC Downers Grove are hosting
the 16th annual Downers Grove Garden Walk from 9:30am—3:00pm.
This walk takes you past some of the most beautiful gardens
in the area. Even better than that, all proceeds benefit the DGFUMC Bridge Board in providing transitional housing
and mentoring for families experiencing homelessness.
For more information, including ticket prices
and where to purchase them, please click here: https://www.dgfumc.org/gardenwalk or see flier in Narthex.
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 or underwear.
"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).
July Outreach
Offering
Grace Children’s
Hospital and Pediatric Clinic, Haiti
Grace Children’s Hospital, founded in 1967, is
recognized as Haiti’s leading medical facility dedicated to
the treatment of children with tuberculosis (TB). Each year,
the hospital receives thousands of children who are suffering
from TB, HIV, and other diseases.
The earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 forever
changed the nation of Haiti, and severely damaged the Grace
Children's Hospital campus. The hospital has rebuilt
transitional facilities that continue to serve the people of
Haiti, and have new outreaches to the tent communities near
the hospital. Even in the aftermath of the earthquake,
hospital operations were only halted for a few days, and care
for the children staying at the hospital never ceased.
Inpatient Ward
The staff members at Grace Children’s Hospital care for
hundreds of children a year at the hospital’s inpatient ward.
During their stay, which averages three months, Grace
Children’s Hospital provides a place of healing and solace to
these suffering children.
The children receive excellent medical care from professional
doctors and nurses, nutritious meals to help them grow
healthy and strong, and comfort from the dedicated and loving
mamans (nurses’ aides). Once a child is on the road to
recovery, he or she can also attend school at the hospital.
For some, this is the first and only time they will ever
experience a formal education.
Families receive all of these services for a one-time fee of
$8 USD, yet so many cannot afford even this much. Grace never
turns a child or family away regardless of ability to pay.
Outpatient services include:
- Pediatric and Adult TB Treatment
- HIV/AIDS Counseling and Treatment Services
- General Pediatric Clinic
- State-of-the-Art Eye Clinic
- Reproductive Health Services
- Nutrition Clinic
As with all of Grace Children’s Hospital’s
programs, fees for outpatient services are determined by a
sliding scale based on the patient’s income. No one is ever
turned away because they are unable to pay.
For more information check their website at www.internationalchildcare.org/grace-childrens-hospital
Northern
Illinois Conference
Annual Conference Videos
If you were unable to attend Annual Conference,
missed any moments or want to share portions with your
congregation, most of the videos are posted on our Vimeo
channel. You'll also find some videos that we ran out of time
to show.
Click on this Vimeo Showcase to find the Memorial Service, Bible Study with
Rev. Jane Eesley, Bishop John L. Hopkins' Episcopal Address,
Laity Address from Eugene Williams, and more. The
Commissioning and Ordination Service is available on the NIC YouTube channel
here. To view photos from the three days, click here. For Ordination photos, click here.
General Conference Postponed until
2024
Statement from Bishop John L. Hopkins
The Commission
on the General Conference has announced the further postponement of the 2020 General
Conference of The United Methodist Church. The next General
Conference will be in 2024.
In response to the decision, Bishop John L. Hopkins said:
I want to express appreciation to the Commission on General
Conference that is made up of elected delegates. They
were entrusted to represent General Conference and have
consistently upheld the principle of having everyone at the
table.
If we believe in a church with a strong democratic
foundation, we need to support the decision to meet in 2024
whether we agree with it or not. God does not stop
working when we cannot gather at a General Conference and
neither should we.
There are many questions about a General Conference in 2024
that we cannot answer at this time. Between now and our
annual conference, we will know more about the possibility of
electing bishops, changing representatives on
church agencies, resetting the general church budget,
and how a postponed 2020 conference and a 2024 conference can
be held at the same time.
Do not let the news of General Conference being postponed
take your attention away from the suffering of our United
Methodist churches in Ukraine. I have gathered, sung,
and prayed with our United Methodists brothers and sisters in
Kyiv and in Moscow who are both led by Bishop Eduard Khegay.
Support them with your prayers, offerings, and actions. Your
gifts can be received through your local church and
designated to Ukrainian assistance.
In the meantime, keep thinking globally and acting locally to
serve Jesus and his Church. Use this Lenten Season to
focus on what is most important and pray for peace.
~Bishop John L. Hopkins
Read Commission on General Conference
Statement
Read Council of Bishops Statement
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Ways to
Connect
July 1st, 2022, Volume 12,
Edition 26
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