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

Sent:                                           Friday, November 16, 2018 9:01 AM

To:                                               office@woodridgeumc.org

Subject:                                     "Infinite War or Excelsior?" - Weekly Newsletter from Woodridge United Methodist Church

 

Woodridge United Methodist Church

Join us on Sunday for worship services
at  9:00 am & 10:30 am
Professional nursery care available for the little ones.
All are Welcome!

 

 

 

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

 

 

"Infinite War or Excelsior?"

To paraphrase one of our great musician-philosophers, “Infinite war, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!”

 But in the whole of human history, what has been more constant than war? Further, many of us were taught history, both of our country and of the world, through a series of wars. War seems to define us.

On the other hand, to paraphrase one of our great warrior-philosophers, “My faith's in people, I guess…And I'm happy to say that, for the most part, they haven't let me down. Which is why I can't let them down either.” Maybe war doesn’t have to define us.

 This week the Narrative Lectionary lands us right in the middle of a conflict between Judah and Assyria (parts of Isaiah chapters 36 & 37). In the story as told by the book of Isaiah, we get — as we might expect from countries in the midst of armed conflict — propaganda, posturing, and promises of the use of deadly force. We get rebuke, lament, and indecision.

Then, finally, we are allowed a peak at a very different way, a much better way. Perhaps the only true way: The way of peace. No, not just peace as in absence-of-conflict, but true, whole peace. Or, to use one of the biblical term for this idea: Shalom (Isaiah 2:1-4).

Or, as still another alternative word one might use in this situation: Excelsior!

Ok, ok, so “excelsior” means “ever upward,” which is not exactly the same thing as peace. But it seems to be in the neighborhood. So in which (rhetorical) neighborhood will we choose to live: “Might makes right” like the Assyrians? Or “We’re all doomed” like Hezekiah? Or…could we find a third way?

Pastor Dave will explore that possible third way of living in the world this Sunday, November 18th in his sermon, “Infinite War or Excelsior?” All are welcome!
 

Join us at 9 or 10:30 am.

 

Be part of the discussion at our summer worship gathering on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome!

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,  November 18th

  • Irshad at 8:00 am
  • Worship Services at 9:00 & 10:30 am
  • Confirmation Class at 11:30 am
  • Filipino Baptist at 3:30 pm
  • A.A. Meeting at 7:00 pm  

Monday, November 19th

  • Church Office CLOSED
  • Cub Scouts at 6:30 pm

Tuesday, November 20th

  • Church Office CLOSED
  • Cub Scouts at 6:00 pm
  • Finance Meeting at 7:00 pm
  • Boy Scout Committee at 7:00 pm

Wednesday, November 21st

  • Church Office CLOSED

Thursday, November 22nd

  • Church Office CLOSED
  • HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Friday, November 23rd

  • Church Office CLOSED

Sunday,  November 25th

  • Worship Service at 9:00
  • Thanksgiving 2.0 at 10:30 am
  • Filipino Baptist at 3:30 pm
  • A.A. Meeting at 7:00 pm  

 

 

 

The church office will be closed on this week.

Electronic Giving  

If you use electronic giving and have save the link, the website address has changed. Please visit our website and follow the e-Giving link at the bottom of the page to the new web address or go here. 
 

Church Directory App


There is a new church app.  The old one is no longer being supported.  Please see the flyer available in the narthex for instructions about the new app.  Contact the church office for a login and if you need help. We are also offering assistance downloading the app and instructions for using it, too.
 

 

 

 

DON’T FORGET OUR MEMBERS WITH LIMITED MOBILITY 

Please remember to keep in your prayers a few of our members who are not able to get to church as often as they would like because of medical challenges. We have included their addresses here in case you would also like to send a card/words of encouragement:  

Marv and Gen Bailey, 14804 S. Van Dyke Drive, #2245, Plainfield, Illinois  60544 

Vi Schobel, Westbury Care, Room 104, 1800 Robin Lane, Lisle, Illinois  60532 

Joan Kettell, phone calls preferred but please limit the length of the conversation 

Juan Marianyi, 21422 W. Douglas Lane, Plainfield, IL 60544 

Will Grosch, 1261 Cobblestone Court, Naperville, IL 60564 (email grosch1@wowway.com


WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY AND BEYOND
On Sunday, October 7th, 2018 our congregation celebrated World Communion Sunday.  It is a day designated to remind us of our connection to other Christians around the world and across denominational spectrums.   The Worship Committee and pastors decided to take it a step further.  Within our congregation we have members who were born in places other than the United States.  And why not express that in a way that others can see!!??  So we have posted flags from Switzerland, Philippines, Myanmar (Burma), Sweden, and Peru.  While there are others, we thought we would start with these.  Welcome to a world wide congregation that celebrates world wide communion every week!!!

 

NO YOGA THIS WEEK
Yoga is one way to create strength, balance, and flexibility in the body's also a time to practice stillness and develop patience. Please wear comfortable clothing that ensures privacy while allowing mobility. Bring a mat or a large towel.  Yoga will run every Thursday through December (except for those noted). Cost is $5 per person. If you are attending for the first time, please arrive a few minutes early to sign a health waiver and meet the instructor. Any questions, please contact Carrie Santucci at 630-532-7741 or funkylarry@yahoo.com.  There will be no class October 25th, November 22nd and December 27th.


THANKSGIVING 2.0, ANNOUNCMENT 2.0
As previously reported, WUMC is trying something bold and new — as well as something tried and true on Sunday, November 25th. That day, the 9:00AM service will follow our typical order of worship.

The 10:30AM worship gathering, however, will look very different. We’ll share a meal together as well as an interactive worship experience that prepares our sanctuary — and ourselves — for the Advent season.

What makes this Thanksgiving 2.0? Bringing favorite leftover turkey dishes to share! You bring one of those, we’ll provide some sides, and that will be our meal. 
So, on Sunday, November 25th, do you want to worship as usual? Great! The 9:00AM service is for you.
Or, ready to experience something new that day? Great! The 10:30AM service is for you.



ADVENT BIBLE STUDY
Our Advent study for this year will be  MARY HAD A BABY: An Advent study based on African American Spirituals by Cheryl Kirk-Duggan and Marilyn E. Thornton and will be offered on Wednesday evenings (6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and Tuesday mornings (10:30 a.m. to noon)   The plan for Wednesday remains to join the youth for dinner at about 6:30 p.m. and then as they go off to their activities, we will go to our class.  We will conclude at 8:00 p.m., about the same time as the youth finish.  The WEDNESDAY class will begin on Wednesday, November 28th.  The TUESDAY class will begin on Tuesday, November 27th. The cost is $10.00 per person for the study guide.  Please plan to join us!!

SEASON OF CHRISTMAS IN WOODRIDGE
On December 7th  at 3540 Seven Bridges Drive in Woodridge, the Business at Seven Bridges invite you to:
Merry Mistletoe Market 3-8 pm - visit our craftrs & artists
Best Truckin’ BBQ at 5 pm - come hugry!
Christmas Carols of the Season at 5:30 pm - music provided by DJ Hawthorne!
Santa & His Elves at 6 pm
Tree Lighting Ceremony & Festival of Lights at 6:15 pm



CHURCH CONFERENCE   

Mark your calendars!  It’s official!  Our church conference date for 2018 is Saturday, December 8, 2018.  The Staff-Parish Committee will meet at 9:30 am and the church conference will begin at 10:00 am.  All reports from committee chairs are due November 8th.


CIRCLES OF BLESSINGS
SERVING THE HOMELESS AT PADS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18TH THROUGH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 2018
As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our friends, family and congregation, we remember and are grateful for the many, many blessings and gifts that God showers upon us each day.  His Grace prompts us to be in relationship with the disadvantaged of our communities by willingly sharing our time, talents and money.  We have an opportunity to do this as we serve the homeless shelter at the First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove, 1032 Maple Avenue, on Tuesday afternoon, December 18th through Wednesday morning, December 19th.

Some members of our congregation who served in October are not able to serve in December.  PLEASE VISIT THE SIGN-UP BOARD IN THE NARTHEX TO VOLUNTEER OR RECONFIRM YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVE.  We particularly need more people to serve during the dinner hour & some food donations.  WE CAN USE HELP IN ALL AREAS!!  

COMPLETE THE CIRCLE OF BLESSINGS THIS ADVENT SEASON BY SERVING THE HOMELESS AT PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter in DuPage County).



WOMEN'S FIESTA
Mark your calendar now!!!  WOMEN'S FIESTA - A day apart for women of all ages!!!  SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2019 form 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. Invite a friend to hold the date as well.. Details to come...................

 

PHOTOS NEEDED  

We would like to decorate our newly named rooms. Please send copies of any photos of Trinity Church in Joliet or of Jack Sipley to the office so that we might make a display. (We will return your originals).    Thank you to those that have already sent us photos.  We are still in need of pictures for the remaining rooms.



STAFF AND OFFICE WISH LIST
From time to time our office finds that there are items needed that are a bit more expensive than a case of paper or sometimes for special needs that occur. Currently, our list includes the following:
●    4 new dry erase/whiteboards approximately $230 each;
●    display frames for pictures and name explanation of renovated rooms (Bonfal Hall, Trinity Room, Standing Rock Room, Sipley Conference room, and youth room)
●    Funding to update the youth room which includes the purchase of 6 hightop chairs/stools, 4 ottomans with removable tops and storage and a coat of paint for the walls;
●    Funding to update the Friendship Room (den/parlor) for carpet and furniture cleaning and new paint for the walls;
●    Updated shelving units for the Christian Education office
While we know that you would love to run out and go shopping, our staff has looked at and chosen very specific items with the best deals!  If you would like to help in this effort, please mark your check "staff/office wish list" and make it payable to the church.  No amount is too small.  PLEASE DO NOT GO OUT AND PURCHASE THE ABOVE ITEMS ON YOUR OWN WITHOUT CONTACTING A STAFFPERSON!!!  We appreciate your support of us and are constantly looking at ways to make our daily work environment better!!  We invite you to join us in this effort.

 


THE MITTEN TREE IS CALLING FOR YOUR DONATIONS 

The mitten tree is available in the Narthex to accept your donations of children’s mittens, gloves, warm hats and scarves. The donations are going to Woodridge School District 68. They give them out to children who don’t have appropriate gear for the winter weather. We’ll be harvesting the tree a couple of times with first harvest coming before Thanksgiving. Please donate as you can.

 

TEDDY BEARS NEEDED! 

The West Suburban Community Pantry sets up a Christmas tree for the children of their clients.  On this tree, we hang teddy bears (or other stuffed animals) and small toys (individual toy cars, Yo-yos, Play-doh, etc…) and each child gets to pick one off of the tree.

If you would like to participate this Christmas season, please place a new, small, unwrapped teddy bear or small toy in the basket outside the main doors of the Sanctuary by Sunday, December 2, 2018.

As a volunteer intake clerk for the Pantry, I have the pleasure of seeing the children’s faces light up with pleasure when I tell them they can pick a toy off of the tree for themselves.  It is truly a joy to see and I thank you all in advance for your generosity!  

Thank you!  Monica Copeland, (630) 728-5359.



CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE WEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PANTRY
Pantry clients that live in Woodridge qualify for a program that allow their children to get Christmas gifts from local congregations. However, there are 2 issues that that cause most of the pantry client children to be left out of this program.

1.    For Woodridge residents, entry into the program is by lottery and there is a long waiting list.
2.    The majority of pantry clients come from surrounding communities.

This year the Outreach committee has decided to serve this excluded group. Starting in December, the pantry starts giving donated toys to children ages 2 to 12 that aren’t getting gifts from local congregations. Until Sunday, December 2nd, we will be collecting unwrapped toys for boys and girls from 2 to 12 years old. Please place them in the designated box in the Narthex. Your generosity will make a difference in the lives of these families. Please look into your heart and do what you can to brighten Christmas for these less fortunate children.



#GIVING TUESDAY IS NOVEMBER 27TH 
After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a world-wide day of giving that celebrates philanthropy. Take action with us to help end homelessness in DuPage County by making a donation to DuPagePads on Tuesday, November 27th. Help us reach our fundraising goal of $25,000 to assist people in moving from a pad on the floor to a key in the door!!


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.   

 

Looking Ahead        

November 25th - Thanksgiving 2.0
December 8th - Church Conference

 

 Connect       

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Find out about upcoming events in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church        

Every Sunday is "Selfie Sunday" at Woodridge UMC! Send your pictures of worship, fellowship, and events to office@woodridgeumc.org.  And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!       

      

November 16th, 2018, Volume 9, Edition 46

 

 

 

 

 

 

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