Messenger - August 25, 2023 | |
We illuminate our community with God’s grace as we lovingly accept, listen to, and serve all in the Spirit of Jesus. | |
GUEST BLOG--Dr. Greg Coates | |
The mission that changed me | I was sixteen when I first left the country. My church decided to organize a short-term, two-week service trip to help a small church in San Salvador, the capital city of the small Central American nation of El Salvador. | | | |
UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICES | |
SUNDAY SERVICES TAKE PLACE IN-PERSON & ONLINE AT 9:00 AM
Go to the Worship Page on our Website to find more information about future services.
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AUGUST 27, 2023
How can we be whole?
John Wesley once said” The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love, is the length and breadth and depth and height of Christian perfection.” Wesley found this to be true from Leviticus all the way to Jesus, so if social holiness is the goal to which we strive, how can we get there. Isaiah’s shout makes it pretty clear for us. Join Pastor Rob Hamilton as we wrap up this series on justice.
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EVENTS AND SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS | |
The deadline for submissions for the week's Bulletin Announcements and/or Messenger is every Wednesday at Noon. Please click here for the COMMUNICATIONS submission form -- all requests for communicating an event should be made here, including getting items on the calendar and reserving rooms for your event. This form can also be found on the sign-ups page on our website. If you cannot use the submission form please send them to communications@genevaumc.org. Information sent to this email goes to Carolyn, Lorie and Kimberley. | |
Do Your Loved Ones Know Your Final Wishes?
Join Pastor Rob on Sunday, October 8th from 10:30am-12pm in the Parlor for an informative, grace-filled workshop that will empower your loved ones to honor your wishes at the end of life and make plans for your pastor-led funeral or memorial service.
We will provide some resources, a planning guide and share with you what to expect upon death of yourself or loved one. The time spent in this workshop will be a gift to loved ones making your final arrangements. Light refreshments will be served. This workshop does not cover arrangements with life insurance, funeral homes, crematories or cemeteries.
Please sign up here so that we may prepare materials accordingly.
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What is a Friendly Visitor?
The Friendly Visitor Group is a Lay Ministry serving the social needs of our elderly and homebound members in our church. The members of the church who receive these visits are the “Care Receivers.” A Friendly Visitor provides a “social and positive connection” to our members who are not able to physically attend church anymore or be a part of its ministries. Their visits take place at least once or twice a month in the member's home, or at a Life Care Facility such as in an Independent, Assisted, or Memory Care institution.
Do you have a family member, or friend in the church, that would benefit from having a visit from one of our Friendly Visitors?
The Friendly Visitor Group is in need of male volunteers to serve as Friendly Visitors because our male care recipients enjoy and appreciate having a male visitor.
If you are interested in learning more about the Friendly Visitors Group, please come to our “check in” meeting on Tuesday, September 19 at 10 AM in the library.
Also, if you have any questions, or know of a family or church member who would like to have a Friendly Visitor please contact:
Nancie Lillie, (231) 845-6097; Christine Donovan, (630) 698-0021; Pastor Rob, (630) 232-7120.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL KICKOFF SEPTEMBER 10, 2023
Dr. Greg invites all teens and children to join with him in a new year of discovery and learning about the riches of our faith during our Sunday School hour. Each week’s focus will reflect the theme being preached on by Pastor Rob. We will first gather as a large group for teaching, videos, and games, and then divide into our various age groups. Join us on September 10 as we begin this new adventure.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER ORIENTATION
This brief 30-minute event will be offered at two different times: once following morning worship on Sunday, August 27 at 10:20-10:50am in the Youth Room, and once on Wednesday, August 30 at 1:30-2:00pm in the Library. Teachers are requested to attend only ONE of those two options.
During this time, Dr. Greg Coates will introduce himself to the Sunday School teachers, explain the new format for the fall Sunday School year which begins on Sept. 10, clarify the objectives for our children's and youth programming on Sunday mornings, and answer any questions.
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August needs for the Salvation Army Food Pantry
- Diapers size 4, 5, and 6
- Ramen noodles, SpaghettiOs and canned ravioli
- Rice-A-Roni
- Pasta sauce
- Dry pasta in boxes
- Toothpaste
- Hand soap
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Wing & A Prayer Wellness begins Monday, September 11, 11am-12:15 pm.
Nourish body and soul through movement, balance, breathing, laughter, fellowship, and inspirational readings. Create ease in your body, mind, heart, and spirit and practice flexibility, strength, balance & stability. Practice at your own comfort level—on a mat, on or off a chair. It’s good for the body and the soul. Click here to see flyer.
For Information & to register, contact Jane at: 630-715-8590 ~ jsiarny@att.net
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Book Study: Loving People and Planet in the Name of God
This brand new Lay Servant Ministries course invites participants to deepen their biblical and theological understanding of God’s call to care for creation and how that connects with other issues of justice in light of Wesleyan tradition and social principles.
Participants will learn how to speak about the climate crisis with love, and take action responding to environmental needs, both personally and with others in their congregations in their own local settings. This study was put together and is facilitated by clergy in the Northern Illinois Conference.
Link to Course: Use promo code “hopefully” to reduce the fee to $30 for the class.
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HELP OUR FELLOW METHODISTS IN HAWAII HELP OTHERS
In the aftermath of the devastating fires that swept through Maui, including the destruction of Lahaina United Methodist Church and preschool, we join our United Methodist siblings in offering prayers and tangible recovery support through financial donations. Despite their church building being lost, those at Lahaina UMC and preschool are helping their local community through their neighboring church, Kailua UMC.
Donations can be made by putting "Maui response" in the memo field of a check to the church or Sunday offering. You can also make online and credit card contributions to UMCOR's Maui response directly to help the whole area affected by the fires by choosing Hawaii from the drop down menu at the UMCOR link.
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Bring out the whole family to help serve our community on It's Our Fox River Day 2023 on September 16. We will meet at Island Park at 8:45am and join with other members of the Tri-City Methodist Churches to clean up our river. God has called us as Christians to care for this good earth and we want to do our part. We encourage everyone to wear long pants, boots or old shoes that could get muddy, and work gloves. Contact Dr. Greg Coates for details. | |
TAKE A SEAT AT OUR TABLE AT THE TRICITY GALA
The Missions/Church in Society Committees are purchasing a table to support TriCity Family Services' annual gala on Saturday, September 9 at 6 p.m. at the Q Center in St. Charles.
If you'd like to join the UMCG table, please contact Veronique Saxe, (630) 977-9340 or vdsaxe@comcast.net.
5 spots are still open, come and support community mental health!
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We think many at UMC of Geneva might be interested in this event. Our Stephen Ministry team will have a booth at the event. Make sure to stop by and say hi. | |
NEWS FROM THE UMC COMMUNITY | |
Prairie Central eNews is here.
The NIC weekly eNews is here.
Download the NIC Reporter here.
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United Methodist Communications has created a video series The Recap to help us gain a better understanding of what is going on in The United Methodist Church, find inspiration in stories of ministry, and learn how our denomination is transforming the world.
Find All of the Episodes Here
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ACCESS THE UMCG DOCUMENT CENTER | |
UMCG has a hidden page on the website for our church family to access called the Document Center. This includes our committee roster, communications submission forms and in the future, our committee agendas, reports and minutes. | |
211 Hamilton Street
Geneva, IL 60134
Phone: (630) 232-7120
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Connect with us on Social Media | | | | |