Weekly Messenger - November 5, 2021 |
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Making and nurturing disciples of Jesus Christ to serve the community and the world |
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Sunday Worship Services - November 7, 2021 |
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Join us for our Worship Services
Indoor worship service in our sanctuary at 9:00 am
Our service are livestreamed at 9:00am
The service will be posted later on Facebook
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“Losing the ones we love” - An All Saints Remembrance and Celebration.
Pastor Rob Hamilton Preaches
One of the things I find most compelling about Jesus is that he felt the sting of death. Jesus shed tears over losing one he loved. He knows our griefs. He’s been there. He’s with us as we remember the ones we love and see no more. John 11:32-44
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CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES
During Sunday school Mike Popplewell will be teaching a few Christmas Carols to the kiddos! We will be performing these songs during Children's Time on 12/12. Julie will be sending links to the songs for everyone to listen and learn on their own if you can't make it each week to Sunday school! Come Sing with US each week!
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YOUTH GROUP
Upcoming Events
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SERVE DINNER AT HESED HOUSE NOVEMBER 8 - 6:15-8:30PM
Our church serves the evening meal, breakfast, and bag lunches at Hesed House on the 2nd Monday every month. This was put on hiatus during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hesed House has resumed letting us serve onsite, and we are inviting and youth and parents to help serve dinner on Monday, November 8. Anyone who will serve on the dinner crew must be 12 years or older and fully vaccinated (no exceptions are being allowed). Dinner crew volunteers are needed from about 6:15 until around 8:30 at the Hesed House, 659 S River St. in Aurora. This is a great way to get beyond yourself and serve, and is a great way for youth and parents to serve together. Also, it can help you rack up volunteer hours that you may need for the organizations. You can get more information or sign up on our Sign Up Genius page for this service project.
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Youth SAVE THE DATE - Cookie Decorating Contest
Mark your calendars for December 11. We will be having our second annual youth ministry Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest. All 6th-12th graders are invited to participate, and the supplies needed will be provided by the UMC Geneva youth ministry and will be delivered to your home.
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EVENTS AND SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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IT'S TIME TO PLEDGE OUR FINANCIAL GIFTS
Because we all have been generous in 2021, our ministries at UMCG have been able to weather the pandemic and resume in-person gatherings. As our leadership make plans for ministry in 2022, an estimate of giving from each household would help us to be good stewards of the gifts you share with us. Please drop a card in the offering basket or return it to the church office or click here to make a confidential digital estimate of giving. |
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Casting Call for Live Nativity
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.
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SALVATION ARMY - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - NEEDS |
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FOOD PANTRY DONATION NEEDS FOR NOVEMBER
Coffee, tea, jelly, (not grape), and snack items (pretzels, popcorn, Triscuits, Wheat Thins, etc) and pancake mix.
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ANGEL TREE GIFTS
50 Angel Tree tags (gift buying opportunity for children served through Tri-City Salvation Army) will be available in Fellowship Hall on November 7
- Pick a tag and sign your name and contact on the sign-up sheet
- Shop for any of the suggested items (you don’t need to purchase all items listed – these are suggestions and sizes of items)
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Bag unwrapped gifts and attached Angel Tag
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Return to church no later than December 5
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GIFT CARDS
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
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VOLUNTEER BELL RINGERS NEEDED
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.
They appear to have 2 hour shifts so if that’s more than you think you can do – find a buddy and split between the two of you for 1 hour each.
You can also Contact Lt. Scott Smith at 630-377-2769, Ext 205.
All monies collected stay right here in the Tri-Cities.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Thursday, November 18: Distribute boxed Turkey Dinners, 12:45- 3 pm & 2:45- 5 pm, (10 volunteers per shift.) Contact Cathy to sign up for this role.
Wednesday, December 1: Initial Toy Shop Set up, 9 am – 12 pm, (8 volunteers needed)
Thursday, December 2 thru Tuesday December 14 (exclude Saturday & Sunday):
Toy Shop Set Up: 9am - 12 pm & 1 pm-4 pm (5 volunteers per shift)
Wednesday, December 15: Help Adopt-A-Family load their gifts: 9:00-12:00 pm
(3 volunteers needed)
Wednesday, December 15: Personal Shoppers: 11:45-2 & 1:45– 5:00 pm,
(20 volunteers needed per shift)
Thursday, December 16: Personal Shoppers, 9:45 – 12 pm, 11:45-2 pm, 1:45 – 5 pm (20 volunteers needed per shift)
Friday, December 17: Personal Shoppers, 9:45 – 12 PM, 11:45-2 PM, 1:45 – 5 pm (20 volunteers needed per shift) Last 2 hours will be toy shop clean-up.
or 630-377-2769 ext 210
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STEEPLE WALK DECEMBER 5 - TICKET INFORMATION - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
This year the Steeple Walk will take place on Geneva’s Christmas Walk weekend, December 5. However, the two audience groups will be limited to seventy each due to Covid restrictions. The tickets for members of the four churches will go on sale November 8 - 14. They are available in the church office at $15 each. Performing this year:
- The Potts and Pans Steel Band - Geneva Lutheran Church
- Tessera Winds - UMC of Geneva
- Batavia High School String Quartet - First Church of Christ, Scientist
- Classical guitarist John Ivan - Unitarian Universalist Church.
Masks are required at each church. 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. |
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Bill Phemister, occasional organist substitute at Geneva UMC, presents a recital in the brand-new Concert Hall at Wheaton College on Friday, November 12, at 7:30 pm. The concert is free and will feature many of Bill’s new piano hymn arrangements, some of which have been heard at Geneva, as well some new Psalm settings for Narrator and Piano. Paul Satre, organist at Chicago’s Moody Church described his music as “full of inventive harmonies, unexpected musical twists and turns, along with sensitive and profound expressions of wonderful texts.” |
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Register for ASP June 11 - 18, 2022!
Register for ASP 2022! Please fill out this quick google form to be added to our contact list, even if you're not 100% sure you can go! Meeting dates will be announced in the upcoming weeks. We can't wait to serve with you!
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Meet friends and build fellowship during this Advent season. Please sign up to volunteer to help with the Advent Coffee on Sunday, December 5 or Monday, December 6. Set up, coffee servers, and clean up needed Many hands make the work go faster. Sign-up sheets are posted in Fellowship Hall.
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Tending to the Harvest - Nov 13-14 |
District Superintendent, Rev. Jeffry Bross would like to invite you to the Conference-wide Tending to the Harvest Discipleship Weekend.
Click the flyer graphic to see a larger version.
Click here for Symposium registration and more information
Click here for Worship Service registration and more information
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Save the Date for our Annual All-Church Conference. Tuesday, November 30 7pm via Zoom
(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.
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It was all hands on deck on Saturday morning, October 16, when 20 adult and children volunteers gathered to help with clearing out items from the church. During the past few weeks, the Trustees, Creation Care Team and Rummage have worked diligently to tag items that could be reused, recycled or be dumpster bound. While searching through what seemed like endless closets and secret hideaways, items including 34 tables, 15 library chairs, used Bibles, VHS tapes, and educational items, which will be sent to a Seminary in the Philippines, found new homes while many more were sent to be recycled or reused.
It is still a work in progress, but much has been accomplished during the last few weeks. A huge thank you to Staff Parish, the Creation Care Team, Rummage Sale Committee and the volunteers who made themselves available on the 16th. ~ Sharon Reed for the Creation Care Team
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I am honored and humbled by all the prayers, messages, cards, food, love and contributions in Dave’s name. Especial thanks to Pastor Rob, Mike and Scott, and all the ladies who worked at the funeral.
Thank you to all. Who wouldn’t love this congregation.
Ann Erickson
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Thank you so much for the beautiful blanket the children made for Wrapped in Love. We just adopted Daisy from Tiny & Tall Rescue. She came from some tough circumstances but she is safe now, and she loves cuddling with her blanket.
Thank you to Olivia, Phoebe, Jaclyn, Chloe and Gretchen!
Leslie & Joe Rae, Daisy & Bella (who also loves to share the blanket!)
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CLICK THE IMAGE TO WATCH OUR VIDEO SLIDESHOW OF OUR HALLOWEEN SERVICE AND FOOD COLLETION AND GET A SECOND LOOK AT ROB'S SUIT. |
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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.
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Check out our UMCG Friday Music Feature at 12pm on Facebook! |
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NEWS FROM THE UMC COMMUNITY |
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Prairie Central District Prayer Initiative
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
Congregational prayer focus for the week of November 7 - Elmhurst: First UMC
- Just one Joy: First Church began a Community Arts Program in September. Please pray that we are able to reach out neighbors with the power of God and art.
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The NIC weekly eNews is here.
Prairie Central weekly eNews is here.
The NIC November Reporter is available here.
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SUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION FOR ENEWS AND MESSENGER |
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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.
If you would like a thank-you included in the Weekly Messenger, we need you to request that it be shared here. Anyone sharing a thank-you should have consent before sharing with the congregation.
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Watch Online Worship Services |
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211 Hamilton Street
Geneva, IL 60134
Phone: (630) 232-7120
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Connect with us on Social Media |
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