Weekly Messenger - December 3, 2021 |
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Making and nurturing disciples of Jesus Christ to serve the community and the world |
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FINDING HOPE ON THIRD STREET
Last weekend, we had company from out of town and spent Saturday's sunny afternoon strolling down Third Street. We parked at the church. Started down on the east side of Third Street, stopping in shops, looking at menus along the way. We returned up the west side of Third Street. We talked about the community, visited a few more stores, and had a nice long stop at Graham's to indulge our sweet tooth. My friend, who is also a pastor, was astonished at how vibrant and busy Third Street was that day and we commented on how quiet it was for such a sunny Saturday. He noted that nearly every downtown in America is struggling or has already become desolate, but in Geneva, it's the opposite. Geneva is a vibrant. energetic, growing downtown.
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Sunday Worship Services - December 5, 2021 |
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Join us for our Worship Services
Indoor worship service in our sanctuary at 9:00 am
Our service is livestreamed at 9:00am
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Pastor Rob Preaches the second part of our Advent Series
“All I want for Christmas is to be free from conflict - Unwrapping Peace ”
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CHILDREN'S MINISTRY UPDATE
We will be decorating a UMCG Children's Christmas Tree this year in the Atrium area. Every week the kids will make ornaments that relate to the sermon theme. We will also have a "present" under the tree that will reveal the day's theme. Please have the children come and open the gift to get a peak of what they will be learning about.
Dec. 5 - PAJAMA Day! Feel free to have the kids wear their favorite Pajamas this Sunday while we make Stars of Peace ornaments during Sunday School.
Dec. 12 - Family Worship and Children's Christmas Carols performance!
Dec. 12 at 2pm - Come to Engstrom Park for our Tri-city Interactive Nativity experience! We will be singing our 2 carols again around 2:10pm near the petting zoo.
Dec. 19 - UGLY SWEATER DAY! Feel free to have the kids wear their favorite Ugly Christmas Sweater this Sunday while we make a manger scene ornament.
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Home Alone Discussion Series Continues: The series resumes this week, December 5, in both the middle school and high school Sunday school classes. You will be surprised how much this simple movie can spark conversations about faith. For the Home Alone weeks, middle schoolers will go directly to Sunday School rather than starting in the worship service.
In addition to watching Home Alone, the youth Sunday School will have a holiday theme each week on Dec. 5 and 19. The December 5 theme is pajamas: wear your festive (and appropriate) pajamas and come to Sunday School comfy. The December 19 theme is ugly Christmas attire (sweaters are classic, but feel free to wear an ugly Christmas t-shirt or even a full Christmas suit.)
Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest: We will be having our second annual youth ministry Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest from 2:00-3:30 NEXT SATURDAY, December 11. All 6th-12th graders are invited to participate, and the cookie mix and cookie cutters will be provided for you by our youth ministry. Cookie kits can be picked up at church on Sunday December 5 during youth Sunday school or after the service in the fellowship hall. If you cannot be at church on December 5 to pick up your kit, they will be delivered directly to families during the week of December 5-11. For health and safety reasons, we will not be supplying decorations to share. Please bring your own decorating supplies and ingredients
from home. Each student will have their own workspace (a table top) on which to decorate
their cookies.
- Holiday Schedule Adjustments
- Christmas Cantata on Dec. 12 - No youth Sunday School.
- Family Worship on Dec. 26 and Jan 2 - No youth Sunday School.
- No Pen and Paper on Nov. 27, Dec. 18 and 25, and Jan.1.
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EVENTS AND SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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Please take note of Messenger & Bulletin Announcement Deadlines during the holiday weeks:
Monday, December 6 for the Dec. 10 Messenger and Dec. 12 Bulletin
Monday, December 20 for Dec. 24 Messenger and Dec. 26 Bulletin
Monday, December 27 for Dec. 31 Messenger and Jan. 2 Bulletin
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CHURCH REMODELING UPDATE
We have received the official dates that the church will be closed for remodeling. The church will be closed Monday, January 3rd through Saturday, January 15th.
Programs that you oversee or are involved with will need to be canceled or moved off-site during this period of time. Please notify the folks who will be impacted by this as soon as possible.
Worship on Sunday, January 9th will be online only; no in-person worship that Sunday, as well as no classes, studies or groups. Questions? Contact Debbie Sampiller.
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CHURCH COUNCIL ZOOM MEETING
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9 AT 7:00 PM
Everyone is invited to the Church Council Meeting.
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CAREGIVERS SUPPORT - THU, DEC. 9 AT 10 AM IN THE PARLOR |
Are you caring for a loved one in the home or elsewhere? You might want to join us for support and encouragement and a place to share how you feel. We share tips with one another: maybe equipment that helps our loved one, maybe stories of how we have handled situations, emotional support and more.
815-508-2055.
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We are inviting as many as possible to attend the 10:30 am service to make it safer for all. |
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Casting Call for Live Nativity - We are still looking for groups/families from our church to help!
We are looking for individuals or families who can volunteer to take partr in our live nativity display on December 12 from 2-4pm at our TriCity Methodist Advent event in Engstrom Park in Batavia. Click this link to sign up.
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LAZARUS HOUSE MEAL SIGN UP
UMCG commits to providing dinners to Lazarus House on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. Just cook a meal in a 9X13 casserole pan and deliver the meal hot and ready to serve to Lazarus House as close to 6:00 PM as possible. The sign-up form is now set up for 2022!
If assistance is needed please contact Gwen Powell at 479-899-1779 or [email protected].
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SPECIAL NOTICE: Due to the recent COVID concerns, coffee and tea will not be served after the service. |
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DONATION DEADLINE DECEMBER 12
“A sincere thanks to all of you who have already contributed so generously toward the World Relief Afghan Refugee Welcome Kit! Your generosity is making the Chicagoland area a kinder, warmer, more welcoming home for many Afghan newcomers. Please have all donations in by December 12th so that the final delivery can be made soon after. Gratitude and blessings to you all.”
The Committee on Church in Society/Mission
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The NIC Board of Global Ministries with the Midwest Mission Distribution Center is organizing a fall collection drive from November 29 - December 7 to support recovery efforts from the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season and the devastating earthquake in Haiti. A list of relief items requested can also be found on our website. Please drop off your donations underneath the coat racks in the Atrium. |
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DONATE GIFT CARDS - DEADLINE DECEMBER 5
After each service, a gift box will is located in Fellowship Hall available for collection of donations of gift cards (or money and we will purchase cards). Checks should be made payable to UMCG. What is collected will be distributed to Salvation Army, Kane County CASA, and the 2 homeless shelters we support – Lazarus House and Hesed House. Suggested range $10-$20 from Target, Walmart or Meijer. Gas cards are always welcome and teens love fast food or movie gift cards.
Questions? – Contact Carolyn Sprawka 630-222-4150 or Heather Pleus 630-452-2139
Your Committee on Church in Society
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Peace and blessings from the Finance Committee in this season of nativity.
In our final report of 2021, we want to thank you personally and our entire congregation for its generosity in this challenging year. As we emerged from almost 100% virtual life to resumption of in-person worship, classes, committee work, and service, we have also made strides in funding our ministries. In the 4 months of the “Matching Funds” campaign our average monthly operating income jumped from $47,000 (Jan-July) to $58,900 (Aug-Nov). If we can finish 2021 with a strong December, we will be in a position to end the year with a balanced operating budget. We are very close!
And what do we accomplish when we support the budget, along with our many other special ministries?
- We pay for our wonderful pastors and staff, who inspire, lead, and support all we do.
- We support a wide variety of congregational care efforts: Pastoral Counseling & Visitation, Caregivers Support Group, Meal Ministry, Stephen Ministry, Friendly Visitors, Tuesday Prayer Meeting
- We make possible the shepherding of our youth in their faith journeys – Sunday School, Youth Ministries, Confirmation, VBS
- We provide materials and leadership guides for myriad adult studies: Adult Sunday School, Spirited Women, Spirits & Studies, Disciple I classes, & Neighborhood Groups
- We fund our growing online outreach to those who are seeking a new church or a deeper purpose in life
- Monthly we generously fund our Missions and Church in Society projects – Hesed & Lazarus, Salvation Army Food Pantry, the Northern IL Food Bank, the Neighbor Project, Habitat for Humanity, ASP, missions in Haiti & the DR, Wasilevech missionaries in Bolivia, and many others
- We faithfully care for & maintain our parsonages and beautiful church building
Yes, UMCG is a special and committed body of Christ. Let us celebrate and continue to support all we do with “our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service.”
Your Finance Committee
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ADULT LIBRARY NEWS
Several Advent books are on display on the table in the atrium in front of the adult library during Advent. These books are available to check out to read and enhance your Advent experience.
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HAVE A GREEN CHRISTMAS
The Creation Care team is busy designing a new and improved bulletin board for Fellowship Hall that will make its debut in January 2022.
Meanwhile, stop by the board in December (located on the north wall of Fellowship Hall) with ongoing ideas of how to make your Christmas decorating, celebrating and gift giving a bit greener this year.
Have a Merry and Greener Christmas,
The Creation Care Team
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We have created a list of folks who are not able to join us in worship, and we encourage you to take a few moments and send them well-wishes during the holidays. Click here for the list and it is also available in the church office. |
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MORE ITEMS NEED TO FIND HOMES FROM CLEANOUT
We have more Monitors, a metal desk and an inkjet printer. Check out our cleanout page on our website for more information. |
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NEWS FROM THE UMC COMMUNITY |
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TAKE PART IN CLIMATE JUSTICE WEBINAR SERIES
As people of faith, we have a special calling to honor all of creation and establish justice. The UMC Church and Society invites you to participate in the winter webinar series, “Climate & Community: A Faithful Action for Climate Justice,” where we will hear from experts and assemble toolkits to help us take the next steps post-COP26.
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The NIC weekly eNews is here.
The NIC November Reporter is available here.
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SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION FOR ENEWS AND MESSENGER |
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Submit information each week by Wednesday at 12pm for inclusion in Bulletin Announcements or the Weekly Messenger. Please use the submission form. This form can also be found on the sign-ups page on our website. You may also send them to [email protected]. Information sent to this email goes to Carolyn, Debbie, and Lorie.
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Watch Online Worship Services |
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211 Hamilton Street
Geneva, IL 60134
Phone: (630) 232-7120
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Connect with us on Social Media |
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