Weekly Messenger - October 29, 2021 |
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Making and nurturing disciples of Jesus Christ to serve the community and the world |
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Country Singer Alan Jackson Teaches us How to Lament |
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Last Sunday, we started a new worship series called Good Grief: Being real about what we’ve lost, finding words to describe our grief, and faithfully finding hope. You can click here to watch my first message. One of the first points made in the series about grief is that “Grief is the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behavior." I also taught that one faithful way to express grief is through lament. Lament takes all those conflicting emotions and directs them toward God. Even if the emotions are raw and the language is visceral, God wants to hear our honest feelings. As a result, a lament can often... Read more of Rob's message here.
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Sunday Worship Services
October 31, 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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Pastor Mary Gay McKinney will preach about Losing Health and Vitality -
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Hey Adults! Halloween is on Sunday this year. Instead of letting the kids have all the fun, let’s join them!
Bring a non-perishable food item into the sanctuary with you and the kids will 'trick-or-treat' for the items during children's time in costume.
We can dress up too! Our pastors are going to be festively dressed for worship. Consider joining them in costume or simply dressing in Halloween colors like orange, purple and black. Let’s have a little fun together and collect food for the hungry and don't worry the kids will still get plenty of candy!
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CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events!
Oct. 31: Sunday School class Halloween parties. Come to church dressed up in your costumes.
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We are in need of regular volunteers to staff our nursery during the 9 am service. We are looking for volunteers that can help out once every 6-8 weeks. All volunteers will need to provide information for a background check in accordance with our Safe Sanctuary policy. If you are interested in helping out please contact Julie Popplewell. |
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YOUTH GROUP
Upcoming Events
All Events are combined Junior / Senior High unless otherwise noted.
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- We will be serving the community on Sunday, November 7th by joining the Batavia United Way in their Day of Caring - Leaf Raking event.
- We will meet at UMC Geneva at 12:45 and head over to Batavia together or you can meet us on the front lawn of Suicide Prevention Services in Batavia at 1:00 pm. We will finish around 3:00 pm.
- This is a great opportunity to serve senior citizens and those with physical limitations in our community. Families are welcome to participate in this service project with their youth.
- If you plan on participating, please let Keith Rawson know, 847.909.7958. Please also direct any questions to Keith or to our interim virtual youth director, Mike Crain, mike.crain@ministryarchitects.com.
- We have several rakes, so you can borrow one if you don't have your own to bring.
- We realize that the timing of this service project conflicts with the Confirmation class. We ask that those youth who are Confirmation please attend class as scheduled and do not skip Confirmation for this service project. Trust us, there will be more service opportunities in the near future.
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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.
If possible, please turn in your cards or make your digital estimate of giving by Sunday, October 31.
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October is pastor appreciation month!
Our Staff Parish Relations Committee invites you to stop by their table in Fellowship Hall before or after our worship service to write a note to put on our poster boards to thank our pastors! You can also send them a note by snail mail, email, or drop a note at the church office. Let's let them know that the work they do for this congregation is truly a blessing and how much we appreciate all that they do!
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This year marks the 10th anniversary of NIJFON. Over the last ten years, NIJFON has focused on serving our most vulnerable immigrant communities seeking asylum, worked tirelessly to win every case and ensure that their clients feel welcomed, are reunited with their families, and live without fear. You are invited to support NIJFON at their virtual fall fundraisers held on Sunday, November 7, at 4pm, livestreamed at, facebook.com/NIJFON. You can also donate online at nijfon.org/donate. |
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ORDER SCRIP GIFT CARDS
Orders for Scrip Gift Cards will be placed in early November for the Holidays. We will not be selling gift cards in Fellowship Hall as in the past. This will be the ONLY time we will be taking orders till the end of the year!
For a list of participating retailers, please go to the Shop with Scrip website shopwithscrip.com/brands and you will see a complete list along with card denominations offered.
Deadline for orders - October 31, 2021. To place orders, or questions, please contact John or Mardel McNally @ 630-845-3367. Check or Cash must accompany your order.
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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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SAVE THE DATE for the 25th Annual Women's Advent Service!
Monday, December 6
9:30am or 7:30 pm
More information coming in next week's Messenger.
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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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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 October 31st: North Central College Campus ministries
- Season of Change: North Central College is in a season of change within the Student Affairs and Athletics division. Many of our colleagues are transitioning away or into new roles. My request is for clarity as people discern their new path, patience for those of us continuing our work during the turbulence, and peace for all of us throughout the process.
- Open Hearts: Students and young adults are facing extraordinary challenges in a time of life that is normally full of anxiety already. My hope and prayer is that have the space and room to listen intentionally to them as they express their fears, hopes, stresses, and longings.
- Facing Reality: We often think of the challenges that college students face as easy to grapple. This year has revealed how challenging their lives can be. We have students who wrestle with homelessness, lack access to food when away from campus, whose parents are recently unemployed or underemployed, and a multitude of physical and emotional challenges. We prayer that paths continue to open as we connect them with the support and resources they need to succeed and thrive.
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The NIC weekly eNews is here.
Prairie Central weekly eNews is here.
The NIC October 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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