Weekly E-News April 9, 2026

E-News April 9, 2026

Worship

This second week of Eastertide has been a tough one. I worked on a funeral sermon on Monday as we celebrated the life of Lisa, the dear daughter of Dennis & Bev Vander Vorste, the next day. When life takes a sudden turn, I would rather just sit with them in silence than speak. But there's a message, not my words but God's message to be proclaimed even on such a day. Isn't Easter all about the power of God's love over the power of death indeed?!

Yet, when I opened my email box Tuesday morning, I was shocked by sad news. A beloved colleague of our conference, who was serving a local church after retirement, died unexpectedly. She had a serious car accident while I was out of town two weeks ago. Although she was at a hospital not far from me, I was preoccupied with Holy Week and could not make a visit. I was just grateful for other pastor friends who shared updates after seeing her.

I imagine the first Eastertide, how those disciples would have felt, hiding themselves behind the locked door. When my father passed away, I could not grieve in front of my mother, who was weak and fragile. As the first daughter and a pastor for the family, I pressed down my tears and grief. I had to make all the executive decisions following his passing and handle the legal matters with my sisters. I could finally cry when I was alone in the airport on my return home, and until I arrived at O'Hare. I don't know if those close friends were even able to cry. Wouldn't they have hunkered down in shock and fear? What did they need the most in that difficult time?

Join us in worship as we reflect on John's witness of how the Risen Christ appears to the disciples this week. The in-person worship is at 10 a.m. or you can watch the live-streamed service at home as well via the church website or Youtube channel.

Click here to sign in your attendance on the website . If you have joys or concerns to share, please submit them with your attendance record. It's important for us to know you were with us and stay connected in prayer.

Help us clean the church on Saturday, April 11 at 9 a.m., rain or shine,

in preparation for a beautiful spring and summer season.

Don't forget to bring your cleaning supplies/tools.

Grace Sightings

Wednesday Spirituality Group

Easter

Maundy Thursday

Thursday Women's Bible Study Breakfast

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Upcoming Events

Youth Group

Sunday, April 12 at 4 p.m.

Come meet your friends and learn and share a great time of fellowship this Sunday at 4 p.m.

Praying Stitchers

Monday, April 13 at 1 p.m.

Praying Stitchers invites all who know how to or are willing to learn to sew, knit or crochet! Can’t make a daytime meeting? You can still participate! Sew a pillow case (we have an easy pattern). Knit or crochet a 12x12 square (or several) and one of our ladies will put them together making lovely prayer shawls. For more details, see Cheryl Fournier. Our next meeting is at church on Monday, April 13 at 1 p.m.

Mark your calendars for ICE CREAM!! We are having a fundraiser at Culvers on Monday, April 20th from 4-8 pm. This is a great opportunity to get dinner and help the Missions Team. Culvers accepts gift card purchases made during our shift (4-8 pm) towards our total. See the volunteer sign up sheet on the Mission bulletin board to sign up for a shift.

Silent Service Auction Sunday, April 26

Following Service

The Auction is coming up and we need your items! Please fill out the item slips by Wednesday, April 22nd. You can give them to Michele Linner or email your item list to mlinner@sbcglobal.net . We will have the item bidding sheets in the lobby on Tuesday, April 12th for you to start your bidding. If your items are perishable (baked goods, etc) please bring them on Sunday, April 26th by 9:30 AM. Any questions, see Michele Linner.

We invite you to join us for a three-day Midwest Mission trip, July 12 - 14, in Pawnee, IL. We have 16 spots for our church group, and the First UMC of Woodstock team will join us. If you would like to attend, please sign up in the church lobby or call the church office.

Monthly Newsletter

The April Newsletter is available for pick up. You can pick up the newsletter when you are at church. You also have the option to read the newsletter on our website or down below in our "Conference E-news and Newsletters" section. If this does not work for you, we will mail out your newsletter. Please let us know if you would like for us to take you off the mailing list. Click here to read the April newsletter.

Algonquin Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry is seeking valuable volunteers. The food pantry was established in 2000 to meet the growing needs of the underserved. Last year we served 12,105 clients and distributed 287,596 pounds of

food. Our gardens yielded 2,844 pounds of vegetables, herbs, fruits, & flowers. Of which, all was distributed freely. As our growing season approaches, we need volunteers to help feed our clients. Our hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. both outside and in the pantry. The work varies from day to say. We are located on Pyott Road. To contact us visit alithfoodpantry.org and scroll to the bottom. Fill in the contact information and in the message section type “volunteer gardens” or “volunteer other” and submit. You’ll be contacted within a few days. For more info please contact Algonquin/LITH Food Pantry at (847) 854-1904.

Please talk to the Sound Team if you have difficulty hearing during the worship service. We have hearing devices available for you, and if you're already using a hearing aid with a Bluetooth function, we can make adjustments for you as well.

Stop by the sound booth to get assistance!

Are you ready for a clean out?

We have a new addition in our parking lot - at the Northeast corner across from the bank. You can drop off gently used soft items. Please see list below. If it is full, do not leave your items outside but donate them at another time. So far we have received $712.45. All donations will go to the mission fund. Thank you!

Ryan’s Case for Smiles is a national volunteer organization that provides handmade, whimsical pillowcases for children, to help them cope with the stress of their illnesses and injuries.

If you are interested in sewing children’s pillowcases, for hospitals in our area, please contact Jean Jaderborg 815-508-0497.

Connect

Join the small group meetings and stay connected.

Contact these leaders to participate.

...Wednesday Spirituality Group at 9 a.m.

...Linda Mullen

...mullen520@comcast.net

...Thursday Bible Study at 10 a.m.

...Lisa Greenwood

...lisajoegreenwood@yahoo.com

. .Amy Doyle
...amybryandoyle@aim.com

...Saturday Men’s Group at 7:30 a.m.

...Bryan Doyle

...amybryandoyle@aim.com

...Praise Team & Bell Choir

...Becky Kock

...bkock@yahoo.com

Missions

In the month of April we will be collecting for

Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Food Pantry.

Items that the Food Pantry is currently in need of due to short supply from the Food Bank and other vendors:

Food Items:

Cereal

Canned Pineapple

Mandarin Oranges

Pork & Beans

Canned Chicken

Flavored Rice

Instant Potatoes - Au Gratin Potatoes

Tomato Paste

Canned Pasta

Salad Dressing

Condiments

Fruit Juice

Crackers

Granola Bars - Cereal Bars

Cooking Oil - Baking Mixes

Toilet Paper - Toiletries

ANYTHING IS GREATLY APPRECIATED

Alternate to shopping: If you prefer to give a monetary donation, please make the check payable to Christ United Methodist Church. It is very important that you write on the memo line “Food Pantry.”

Drop off pantry items any time during office hours, Tues - Fri, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Give

You can now make all your donations online. Click here or scan the QR Code. You can also mail the donation to church or use EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer). The Stewardship letter and pledge cards have been mailed out. We ask that you prayerfully consider supporting the ministry of CUMC in the following year. Please bring or mail the filled out pledge card before the end of the year. Thank you! For any assistance, contact Joe Greenwood at josephgreenwood@yahoo.com .

In Other News...

Please sign up on the calendar (inside the kitchen cupboard door) on a Sunday you would like to furnish a light treat and serve coffee & juice. All supplies except "treats" are at the church.

Thank you, Janet Kleckner

April	May
April 5 -	May 3 -
April 12 - Sunderraj Family	May 10 -
April 19 - Dennis & Bev Vander Vorste	May 17 -
April 26 - Dave & Bonnie Dodge	May 24 -
	May 31 -

Prayers of the People

Prayers of Intercession

For Linda Mullen's friend's, daughter-in-law, who was released from an ICE facility and is now back home with her family

For the Dennis & Bev Vander Vorste and their family as they mourn the loss of their daughter, Lisa

For Charlotte Letterle's brother-in-law, Mike, who is being treated for colorectal cancer

For Thelma Jones who is at Avondale Estate

For the Kilberger's friend, Gary, who is suffering with a slow growing blood cancer

For Judy Lantinen's husband, Keith, who had basal cell carcinoma on his leg and prostate cancer

For Lisa Greenwood mother, Patricia English, who is receiving chemo

For Larry Huber who is continuing his healing and recovery at home

For those who are affected by natural disasters throughout the world

For those who struggle with mental health and their families

For our local communities, our nation and our world

For peace and resolution in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict

For the grieving families and communities of gun violence
Prayers for the ceasing of state violence and the protection of all people
For this world that is in need of God's healing touch. Where there is war, bring peace; where there is despair, bring hope; and where there is division, bring unity.

For God's protection over the vulnerable and for wisdom to guide our leaders.

For us to be instruments of God's peace, to treat all people as brothers and sisters.

“Merciful God, hear our prayers!”

Praying without Ceasing

We never pray alone but together as a community. We have a prayer chain, a small group of those who pray for submitted requests throughout the week. Let us pray for our church family, friends, neighbors, and our nation. Let’s draw the circle wider. Contact the pastor to join.

If you would like to keep your prayer request in beyond 2 weeks, we would appreciate if you contact the office with an update.

Weekly Meetings