Last Sunday, we remembered those we love who have died. Death is God's enemy over which Jesus has claimed victory and yet in many instances when someone we love dies it doesn't feel like a win. Death can feel like a punch in the gut, it can feel numb, it might not even feel at all, it feels like a loss. That is because it is a loss.

In that loss we can start to feel lost. Like we've come unmoored or struggling to find our way in the dark. Jesus on the cross was feeling this kind of grief when he prays and pleads Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest."

What do we do when the pain of grief closes in? I think Disney sum's up one small thing we can do when grief surrounds us. In Disney's Frozen 2, two sisters Queen Elsa and Princess Anna ...Read Rob's full message here.

The service will be livestreamed to YouTube

The service will be posted later on our Website and Facebook

Pastor Lisa Telomen Preaches, Job 19: 6-20

The pandemic has tested our relationships and our community as schools and jobs and churches changed...some entire businesses have been lost, many jobs are done differently; we've had to learn to live and work and worship differently, and our relationships have changed with almost everyone. Where do we find support and encouragement to cope with so much change in our "networks"? How did Job do it? How do we rebuild our community?

Contact: Julie Popplewell

Christmas Movie Youth Sunday School: From November 21 - December 19, both the middle school and high school Sunday classes will be watching the classic Christmas movie Home Alone during Sunday school in their respective classes. You will be surprised how much this simple movie can spark conversations about faith.

Join your family for worship on November 28 and for the Cantata on December 12. (No Sunday School)

Pen and Paper, Saturdays from 6:00-9:00 pm: Every Saturday night a group of youth gathers to play a Dungeons and Dragons-esque role-playing game called Mutants and Masterminds. They meet in the UMC Geneva library. All youth are welcome to attend, though the current regulars are primarily high schoolers. There is no cost or no sign-up necessary. Pen and Paper will not meet on November 27, December 18 and 25, and January 1.

Monday, November 2 for Nov. 26 Messenger and Nov. 28 Bulletin

Monday, December 20 for Dec. 24 Messenger and Dec. 26 Bulletin

Monday, December 27 for Dec. 31 Messenger and Jan 2 Bulletin

We are looking for individuals or families who can coordinate a live nativity display on December 12 from 2-4pm at our TriCity Methodist Advent event in Engstrom Park in Batavia.

The live animals, 'baby' Jesus and the set will be provided. Your group needs to pick a 20-minute time slot and show up dressed for the part and the weather. Modern bathrobes, sheets, or towels to be a shepherd or members of the holy family are encouraged. You can also check with your church education department on the availability of any costumes. The minimum size of the group would be two (for Mary and Joseph) but can be larger and can include any nativity characters or dress-up animals.  Click this link to sign up.

(6:15 pm for SPRC members via zoom)

Rev. Lisa Kruse-Safford will be the Presiding Elder for our conference this year. Let us celebrate our ministries, worship and conduct the critical business to the mission of UMCG for 2022. Zoom links and access to conference materials will be published the starting November 19.

Our Memorial Communion service on Thursday, December 2 at 7:00pm acknowledges the grief that gets accentuated during the holiday season. Loved ones who were at our tables and joined us for special events are missing. While we send letters to those whose loved ones have died in 2021, we invite any and all who find the holidays difficult to join us. Please phone the church office, 630 232 7120 to let us know you will be in attendance and how many are coming with you.

50 Angel Tree tags (gift buying opportunity for children served through Tri-City Salvation Army) will be available in Fellowship Hall on November 7

A gift box will also be located in Fellowship Hall available for collection of donations of gift cards (or money and we will purchase cards). Checks should be made payable to UMCG. What is collected will be distributed to Salvation Army, Kane County CASA, and the 2 homeless shelters we support – Lazarus House and Hesed House. Suggested range $10-$20 from Target, Walmart or Meijer. Gas cards are always welcome and teens love fast food or movie gift cards.

Questions – Contact Carolyn Sprawka 630-222-4150 or Heather Pleus 630-452-2139

Your Committee on Church in Society

 Practically Divine, (NF) Becca Stevens, (248.4) has been donated “in loving memory of our dear friend Mary Berres (6-2021), by Marie and Wayne Peterson.” The author is an Episcopal priest, president and founder of Thistle Farms, Nashville, TN. The book will be on display in the atrium in front of the adult library Sunday, November 14.

The Steeple Walk Committee is looking for two volunteers to sit at a table in the Atrium from 2-2:30 pm on Sunday, December 5 to help take tickets and pass out programs. Volunteers are welcome to enjoy the concert and if they wish, to accompany a group to the rest of the performances. Please contact Kent Gallagher if you are able to help.

The prayer shawl group formed in the Fall of 2020 and is a small but mighty group of women. We meet on zoom or in person for an hour about once a month and bring our current knitting and crocheting to work on while we chat together. At the end of the hour we bless all the completed shawls. We pray with intentions of healing and comfort for those who will receive the shawls, as we are knitting and crocheting. 

We have sent shawls to over 100 church members, friends, and family around the country, and have given them to community friends outside the church as well. Nancy Harrington has made over 100 prayer squares for several groups, including all 40 ASP team members. We took shawls to each of our six homeowners we worked with on ASP as well, and they were very much appreciated. 

We have had a wonderful time on zoom and in person together. We have enjoyed chatting and forming new friendships with women from UMCG, sharing laughter, tears, and struggles together. It was a special blessing for all of us this past year during the pandemic. 

We would welcome others to join us and are happy to teach knitting and/or crocheting.

 

Each Wednesday our Rev. Mary Gay McKinney posts a devotional message to our Facebook Page at 12 pm. They are also available on our Website.

Our congregation is invited to participate in a season of prayer for the 70 United Methodist Churches in the Prairie Central District over 7 weeks. Personally, each day we pray for one of the 7 churches and then congregationally, each week in worship our congregation will pray for one of the churches and their prayer concerns.  

Sunday: United Methodist Church of Geneva

Monday: Elgin: Journey of Hope UMC

Tuesday: Naperville: Wheatland-Salem UMC

Wednesday: Bensenville: First UMC

Thursday: Elmhurst: First UMC

Friday: Naperville: North Central College Campus Ministry 

Saturday: Cary UMC

The NIC weekly eNews is here.

Prairie Central eNews is here.

The NIC November Reporter is available here.

Submit information each week by Wednesday at 12pm for inclusion in Bulletin Announcements or the Weekly Messenger.  Please use the submission form. This form can also be found on the sign-ups page on our website. You may also send them to [email protected]. Information sent to this email goes to Carolyn, Debbie, and Lorie.