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Three weeks ago, at Duane Graf’s funeral service, two people asked me, one before and one after the service, “What is this?” Can you guess what they were referring to? The baptismal font. Indeed, they were not the first to be curious about the interesting visual in the worship space. Ours is a more modern style compared to many churches’ fonts, which are made of wooden material and placed up in the altar. Sometimes the baptismal font is stashed in a corner rather than a visible spot. Many churches even removed the communion table from their altars. That is another theological discussion we may need to revisit next time.
I explained to them that we place the baptismal font as a reminder of who we are as God’s children when we enter the space, and also when we leave the sanctuary and are sent forth to the world, our mission field, our daily living. I also told them it is not only a reminder but also an invitation to renew our faith that we can be born by water and the Spirit each Sunday. “Aha … so, people can touch the water, too?” a gentleman asked. “Yes, you can!” I enthusiastically responded.
I did not ask Janet if she and the family wanted to add “naming” in the order of service when you read a memorial or statement of the deceased.
One of the most powerful funeral services I experienced was when a pastor stood by the baptismal font up front and read a simplified obituary and remarks about the person. She said that it is most appropriate to name a person by the baptismal font because we were given a special name by God and received a new identity and meaning as God’s beloved.
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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Youth Group
Sunday, Jan 11 at 4 p.m.
Come meet your friends and learn and share a great time of fellowship this Sunday at 4 p.m.
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Praying Stitchers
Monday, Jan 12 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, January 12 at 1 p.m.
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Chicagoland Voices will present a Winter Concert on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 3:00 pm in Cary that will feature a wide variety of choral music including contemporary choral, spirituals, vocal jazz and many more styles. Some composers featured include Eric Whitacre, David Dickau, Kim Andre Arneson, Billy Joel, Pavel Chesnokov and many more. The concert is free to all and a free-will donation will be collected.
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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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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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On behalf of Grafton Food Pantry and the individuals we serve, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your participation in the 2025 Holiday of Hope. Your gifts helped make the holidays brighter for local families and gave hope to those in need, especially as the demand increases. Thank you for thinking of us.
Hunger knows no season. Grafton Food Pantry serves over 400 local families on a regular basis. Our clients include many children and seniors who are facing food insecurities on a daily basis.
Harriet Ford
Grafton Food Pantry
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To my church family,
I wanted to thank you all for ... everything.
The past year has been hard with all these storms, but I know that God is molding me and shaping me for today and for whatever comes next.
Amy Trende
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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 | | January 11 - Bonnie Dodge | February 8 | | January 18 - Linda Riggs | February 15 | | January 25 - Joe & Eleanor Kilberger | February 22 | |
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For Janet Kleckner who will be having surgery tomorrow
For Phil Stallone who is recovering from surgery
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 8 at 7 p.m.
AA Meeting
Saturday, January 10 at 7:30 a.m.
Finance Team Meeting
Saturday, January 10 at 9 a.m.
Leadership Team Meeting
Saturday, January 10 at 10 a.m.
Praise Team
Sunday, January 11 at 8:45 a.m.
Praise Team Practice
Sunday, January 11 following service
Trustee Team Meeting
Sunday, January 11 following service
Youth Group
Sunday, January 11 at 4 p.m.
Praying Stitchers
Monday, January 12 at 1 p.m.
GA Meeting
Tuesday, January 13 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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