I invite you to watch it here: https://youtu.be/GUaqexyv4B4

Even though this decades old video is grainy and the color is old, I found it powerful and moving against the piano music in the background. There were times where it seemed as if Martha was being swallowed alive by the fabric surrounding her and I was moved to see...Read the rest of Rob's message here.

The service will be livestreamed to YouTube and to our Website and posted later to Facebook

Pastor Rob Hamilton Preaches, Lamentations 1:1-8, 5:19-22

When we can’t celebrate traditions and milestones with all the full joy and celebration we’d prefer, we are forced to adapt. To find that which is the intended purpose or pure reason to celebrate and find a way to lift that up. We don't have to be happy about our changed or lost traditions, but we are not without hope and can find a way to celebrate while also being honest about our grief. It’s ok that the approaching holidays are not always the hap-happiest season of all.

This advent year the Children of UMCG will participate in making donations to the World Relief Chicagoland Refugee Welcome Kits. The children's ministries will supply a family with the Standard Food Items and Cleaning Items on the kit list. There will be a small tree with tags of the items and a sign-up sheet in the children's classroom hallway beginning Sunday 11/21. Please consider donating for this great cause that will definitely have a direct impact in a family's life!

The Children of UMCG will also be performing the Christmas Carols they are learning in Sunday school on Sunday 12/12 at the 9am service during the Children's time. There will be a repeat performance at 2pm at the Interactive Nativity that same day at Engstrom Park in Batavia! Mark your calendars!!

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 22 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.

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.

Here is link to 2021 Conference Report Packet (Zoom link on Agenda)

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.

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

The Salvation Army is looking for bell ringers from Nov. 8 - Dec. 24. Scan the QR code in the flyer or go to RegisterToRing.com to find times and locations to sign up.

You can also Contact Lt. Scott Smith at 630-377-2769, Ext 205.

Women’s Ministries is donating the following books to women in our congregation who are turning 90. We are donating Words of Life, Jesus and the Promise of the Ten Commandments Today by Adam Hamilton (232) in honor of Marie MacKenzie’s 90^th birthday November 23. We are donating In The Grip of Grace by Max Lucado (248.4) in honor of Millie Rackmyer’s 90^th birthday, December 1. Both of these books will be on display on the table in front of library available to be checked out November 21

The Steeple Walk is SOLD OUT! They are still 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 can see the concerts for FREE. Please contact Kent Gallagher if you are able to help.

We want give a special shout out to Susan Ryan of Susan Ryan Photography who graciously took pictures of all of our staff recently. You can see our pictures on our new contact page on our website.

Thanks to Howie Pribble for spending the time and donating parts to start setting up Zoom computers for the church. He set up the Library this Tuesday for hybrid meetings! Don't worry Parlor users, we are working on a solution for you. - Carolyn Burnham

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.

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 communications@genevaumc.org. Information sent to this email goes to Carolyn, Debbie, and Lorie.