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“Did you finish your sermon?”
“Oh, I do not need to preach this week.
Our Lay Speaker will do the sermon celebrating Martin Luther King Day.”
“Didn’t you have another person just preach recently, too?
Are you only preaching every other week now?”
My son teased me when he realized his mom wasn't in writing mode, unlike on other weekends. Many of my clergy colleagues finish their sermons by Thursday night and take Friday off to fully enjoy the weekend. I am not proud to say this, but after almost two decades in full-time ministry, your pastor still has not changed the habit of finishing the sermon earlier. Instead of taking a specific day as a writing day, I often spread out my time here and there and finish it on Saturday morning. If there are other events and meetings, I do it by Friday night. The only time I actually completed the sermon earlier was when we recorded the message and made an online worship video during the pandemic. I know. I need to prioritize it and not feel bad about doing it.
While I was preparing this week’s message, I saw a tagline saying, “If you want to change your habits, let God change your hearts.” That is not wrong. We have to let God’s grace work in us. At the same time, I know that it can work the other way around through my own experience: God changes us when we are willing to change. Sometimes we experience the mysterious power of God unexpectedly, like a sudden thunderclap. But more often God works through us when we give ourselves to work consistently and faithfully. So, I’d say that if you change your habits, your heart and mind will change.
We invite you to join our worship in person on Sunday morning at 10 a.m.
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.
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Welcome to our new pianist,
Jesse Jefferis!
Jesse graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies.
During the week, Jesse teaches piano at McKinley Park Music School and at 2 Chicago Public Schools. He maintains a private studio teaching a select roster of private students focused on jazz piano and improvisation.
Jesse is an active performer across Chicago, appearing at notable venues such as Jazz Showcase, Andy’s Jazz Club, and Fulton Street Collective, leading ensembles and performing as a soloist since 2015. He has also composed an original catalog of works spanning jazz, classical, and pop influences, and is currently working on a solo piano album titled Lost in Thought.
Outside of music, Jesse enjoys basketball, soccer, and even used to compete in ping pong tournaments. This year, his goal is to master rock climbing!
Jesse was born in New Jersey and later lived in Michigan and Ohio before moving to Illinois. His parents live in Lincolnshire, and he has two brothers—one in Detroit and the other in Nashville.
We are thrilled to have Jesse join our music ministry.
| | Sunday, January 18, 2026 Service | | |
This Sunday is, "Get Your Cans to Church Sunday." The last Sunday of each month is our church's designated day to support the Food Pantry. You can either bring canned good items or make a monetary donation. If you have any questions, please see a member of the mission team on Sunday. Please see the items that are really needed by the food pantries below.
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Super Bowl Sub Sale
Sunday, Feb 8
Following Service
Support our Youth Group by purchasing homemade 6” subs for $10 each. All proceeds will go to the Youth Group. Please submit orders and pay in advance. See Debbie Thomas for an order form.
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Valentines for Seniors
Card Drive
Share the love this Valentine’s Day by bringing cheer to local Seniors. We will have cards available to sign on Sunday, Jan 25 before and after service.
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Pizza & Games
Sunday, Jan 25
Following Service
Join us for a Sunday afternoon of pizza and board games. You bring the games and we will supply the pizza.
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A Leadership Event For Prairie Central District Clergy and Laity. Open to all in the Northern Illinois Conference on Sat., Jan. 31, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Naperville: Grace UMC, 300 E. Gartner Road, Naperville. Culture, not programs, budgets, or buildings, determines whether a church thrives or merely survives. When culture shifts, everything shifts: worship, generosity, mission, and morale. This workshop, with Rev. Jim Ozier, is a one-day experience focused on helping pastors and lay leaders assess, shift, and shape their church culture toward vitality and growth. Please let Pastor Mi-Sook know if you would like to attend.
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M&M Mid Winter Party
Sunday, Feb 1 at 4 p.m.
We invite anyone over 50 to attend the M&M Mid Winter Party at Janet Graf's house on Sunday, Feb 1, 4-9 p.m. Please bring hors d'oeuvres and snacks to share. RSVP with Janet Graf.
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Summoned to Serve 2026
Sunday, Feb 15
9 - 11:45 a.m.
McHenry Community College
Come be part of the fun at the annual meal-packing event with Kids Around The World! Together, we’ll pack an incredible 80,000 meals to send to children in need. Grab a spot at a packing table for you and your family by clicking the link below! Please be sure to scroll to the bottom to sign up on tables 21-23, which have been designated to our church. Childcare will be available. Click here to sign up.
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Monthly Newsletter
The January 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 January newsletter.
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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!
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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!
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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. Cindy Kerr began making pillowcases for her son Ryan to brighten up his hospital room and put a smile on his face. Although Ryan is no longer with us physically, his legacy lives on in Ryan's Case for Smiles. There are over 100 chapters in the United States & Canada and over two million pillowcases have been delivered.
A new Western Suburbs chapter (Kane Co & McHenry Co, IL) has recently been established. We will be delivering bright, fun pillowcases to Ascension St. Alexius Women & Children's Hospital in Hoffman Estates, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, and Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley. The Ryan's pillowcase pattern is available at: caseforsmiles.org
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If you would like to volunteer to sew a pillowcase, your pillowcases can be given to Jean J. at church on Sundays.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Jean Jaderborg, RCFS Western Suburbs Chapter Coordinator. Thank you!
815-508-0497 rcfswesternsuburbschapter@gmail.com
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In the month of January we will be collecting for
Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Interfaith 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.
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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 .
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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
| | | January | February | | January 4 - Daisy Santoso | February 1 - Bev & Dennis Vander Vorste | | January 11 - Bonnie Dodge | February 8 | | January 18 - Linda Riggs | February 15 | | January 25 - Joe & Eleanor Kilberger | February 22 - Mindy Zeppo | |
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For the family and friends of Harold Steen, as they mourn his passing
For Janet Kleckner who is recovering at home
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 Linda Mullen's friend's, daughter-in-law, who was taken by ICE
For Lisa Greenwood mother, Patricia English, who is receiving chemo
For Elantine Brighten’s father, Devasigamony, who is home recovering
For Larry Huber who is continuing his healing and recovery at home
For Sherry Mark, who is coping with side effects from her cholesterol medication
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 people in Ukraine and those who left Ukraine fleeing from war
For the grieving families and communities of gun violence
“Merciful God, hear our prayers!”
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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.
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GA Meeting
Thursday, January 22 at 7 p.m.
AA Meeting
Saturday, January 24 at 7:30 a.m.
Praise Team
Sunday, January 25 at 8:45 a.m.
Praise Team Practice
Sunday, January 25 following service
GA Meeting
Tuesday, January 27 at 7 p.m.
| | Conference E-News & Newsletters | | |
Welcoming the Full Inclusion
of All People
Website: www.gocumc.org
christumcalgonquin@gmail.com
(847) 669-9009
Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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