November 2025

Monthly News & Updates

11/1/2025 | Issue 11

MUMC Events

Helping Hands Christmas

In recent years, Mahomet Helping Hands (MHH) has asked our congregation and the other sponsoring organizations in our community to donate $25 gift cards for children of a particular age. This year MHH wants to continue to remember the children, but also to spread a little Christmas cheer to the adults who depend on the Helping Hands Food Pantry each month. Therefore, MHH has asked each of us to consider donating one or more $10 gift cards with the hope that all of the approximately 200 monthly recipients (adults and children) will receive a nice gift.

On Sunday, November 30^th, a large number of ornament tags will be on a tree in the Narthex. Please take one or more as a reminder to purchase a gift card of your choice and return it to the church by Sunday, December 14th, at the latest. Your thoughtfulness will be greatly appreciated!!!

Young Family Life Group

Will continue meeting on the 2nd Sunday of the month (November 9th) between services at 9:45 am. Contact the church for more information.

Spicy Seniors

Wednesday, November 19 at 1:00 p.m.

Come and enjoy food, fellowship & games! Sign up in the Narthex or RSVP to mumc@mumc.org or 217-586-2147.

Hanging the Greens Celebration

Sunday, November 23 at 4:30 p.m.

Come help decorate the church for the Advent Season. Bring your family and friends! Hot cocoa, pizza and holiday cheer await!

Advent Study - The Christmas Letters

Sunday, November 30 between services 9:45 am (4 weeks, ending Dec. 21)

"Celebrating Advent with those who told the story first" by Magrey R. DeVega. Sign up online or in the narthex.

Poinsettia Ordering - Deadline Dec. 1

Poinsettia’s are in a 6.5 inch pot and will decorate the Great Hall as well as the Common Area during Christmas season. If you would like to order some Poinsettia’s in honor of or in memory of a loved one, please fill out the form at the church or you can email mumc@mumc.org indicating how many and who you would like to honor or give them in memory of. On the memo line of your check, please write “Poinsettia’s” Following the Last Christmas service, you may take your poinsettia’s home. The cost per flower is $15.00 and you may order as many as you like.

Looking Forward:

UWF Cookie Walk & Bazaar

Saturday, December 6 9:00 a.m. - Noon

Select home baked cookies by the boxful. Bake Sale and Handmade Items!

Church Calendar

Sunday's Coming

Sunday, November 2 - All Saints Sunday. Friends, family, and guests are invited to worship with us as we remember those in the Christian faith who have died in the Lord. We will remember the following during worship at 9:00 am and 10:30 am: William Wilkinson, Terry Roush, Gary Jellen, Mikey Mackey, Bud Parkhill, Marilyn Mohr, Shawna Durst, Linda Kennedy, Betty Brainerd, Elaine Jones, Jack Harvey, Carolyn Johnston, Betty Lape, Don Jones.

Also - Don't forget to change back clocks one hour on Sunday, November 2nd!

Sunday, November 30 - Advent Begins

Looking Forward:

Sunday, December 7 at 7 pm Christmas Concert - Music of the Season

Sunday, December 21 at 4:30 pm Blue Christmas Service

Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24 - 5:00 pm Family Friendly Service

7:00 pm Traditional Service

Get Involved

November Missions - College Care Packages - Donate gift cards to coffee shops, Target, Chic-fil-a, or McDonalds. You can also fill out a card in support of our students to let them know we are thinking about them, support them and are praying for them! There will be blank cards available to fill out in the narthex.

Deadline to turn in gift cards and cards is Sunday, Nov. 9th. Our Students:

Abby Bunting
Olivia Bunting
Maddy Clark
Jacob Heaton
Julia Thompson (our Children’s Church leader)
Lawson Parker
Kami Parker
Jacob Waldinger
Isabella Fonte

Help Mom's Pantry & Helping Hands during loss of Snap benefits

Helping Hands needs paper products: toilet paper, kleenex, paper towels - you can put donations in the shopping cart in the Narthex.

Mom's Pantry - MUMC will be collecting cereal, peanut butter & jelly, and soup for Mom's Pantry - there is a box next to the shopping cart in the Narthex.

Also can donate grocery store gift cards to either Helping Hands (203 E. Adams St., Mahomet, IL 61853) or Mom's Pantry (MSHS/Mom's Pantry, 302 W. State St., Mahomet, IL 61853).

Pictures from October Events and Thank You's

Brodie Hines visiting the Church post surgery

Thank You From ISU Wesley

Pride Fest

Cunningham Children's Home Sunday

Fall Fest

Come Play with Me - Tuesdays @ 9:30

Committee Reports

Finance Committee

Pledged $17,000

Non-Pledged $ 4,000

Unrestricted Income $21,000

Operating Expenses $37,500

Net Operating $16,500 loss

There was a $5,426 building insurance bill and a bill for $4,000 for a soft wash of the exterior of the church both paid in September. Utility expenses were also over budget once again so building maintenance costs and low seasonal revenue were the main drivers of the operating loss for the month. Year to date unrestricted revenue through the end of September was about $271,000 ($222K pledged and $49K non-pledged) versus unrestricted expenses of $277,000. The building insurance cost continues to be way under budget due to refunds from the cancelled 2024 policies, but the other building maintenance accounts are exceeding budget. In restricted funds there remains about $34,750 in the building repair fund. $30K of this remaining balance is a grant restricted for the fire suppression system and $3K is restricted to window repairs. MUMC also received $39,905 of Faithful Foundations donations as the congregation continued to respond to the capital campaign. In just 2 months the Faithful Foundations gifts total $68,155 thanks to the strong response from our congregation! Within memorial funds the Purnell scholarship investments enjoyed another strong month appreciating by over $13,000.

Education Committee

The Education/Discipleship Committee met October 16, 2025. At our meeting we discussed our six week SOS (Something on Sundays) series this fall. We determined that this fall’s SOS was a success, bringing in a nice cross section of church members. We would like to offer another session starting in February.

For 2026, we discussed a special study that Pastor Lori is interested in teaching. Organic Wesley, a study of the food supply; a Bible study plus field trips. Let Pastor Lori know if you have questions.

Trustees

Fire Suppression System Update

On the afternoon of Friday, October 10, we experienced an issue with our church’s fire suppression system. A breaker tripped, the system filled with water, and the alarm sounded. The Mahomet Fire Department responded promptly, along with several members of our church who are on the emergency call list.

Matco, our service provider, drained and reset the system that evening. During inspection, a leak was discovered above the conference room near the kitchen. Matco returned the following Tuesday to replace that section of pipe. This was the second pipe replacement we’ve needed this summer, which indicates that our system is aging and in need of more extensive repair.

After reviewing the situation, the Trustees determined that the fire suppression system must now be our top priority project, replacing our original focus on the parking lot. After consultation with the Finance Committee, we have entered into an agreement with Matco to make corrections to the entire system.

The project will include:

Removing and replacing all 3- and 4-inch mains, fittings, and couplings on both systems.
Re-pitching the sprinkler lines so they properly drain to low points.
Replacing dry-wall sprinklers and required filter elements.

The total expected cost is $86,150, with possible additional expenses for electrical or drywall work. We are grateful to have most of the $30,000 grant funds remaining, as well as other dedicated resources. The remaining balance will be covered through our Faithful Foundations Fund.

Matco is currently ordering materials and planning the work, which is expected to begin within the next couple of weeks and take about two months to complete.

We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we address this critical need to keep our church building safe and functional for ministry.

— Mahomet United Methodist Church Board of Trustees