Worship Preview

Sunday, April 12 at 9:30 a.m.

It's United Women in Faith Sunday at Baker Memorial Church. The service will feature a special message "Hope" by Erica McIntosh, Lay Speaker and UWF member at St. Andrew's UMC in Carol Stream. UWF members will be serving as worship leaders, ushers and greeters. Music will be provided by the Women's Ensemble and Mary Hunt LeCuyer.

Find more information about UWF and their activities on our website: bakermemorialchurch.org/uwf/

Spring Concert Series Events

Our concert series has a variety of events sponsored or hosted by Baker Memorial Church taking place this spring. This series features our church staff, area musicians, ensembles and special presentations that are open to the community. Spring events are:

• Northside Brass Quintet presents Spring Awakenings on Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m. Find ticket info here.
• Chamber Music on the Fox presents Sounds of the Earth: Music and Nature in Harmony on Monday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. Find ticket info here.
• Stephen Uhl Recital on Sunday, May 3 from 3-4 p.m.

Find a list of events and links to ticket information here.

All ages had a great time at the Road to Easter event. A big thank you to everyone who volunteered and contributed!

NIL Food Bank Gang

Monday, April 20 at 9 a.m.

Join the Illinois Food Bank gang! A team of volunteers heads to the NIL Food Bank every month. Our shift runs from 9 a.m. until Noon at the Geneva location. Want more information? Contact Betty Erickson.

Two Decades of Rummage Sales

The Rummage Sale Team for Missions is pleased to announce that our final total for 2026 is $6931.06!! Continuing with the theme Here, Near and Far Away the funds will support our Cambodia Missionary and their projects as well as local ministries and Methodist ministries in the U.S. As exciting as that number is, we added the last 20 years of sales, which amount to $115,209! Many different ministries over the years include Missions, Youth Mission Trips, Kitchen Remodeling, Red Bird Missions, Midwest Missions and more!! 

As wonderful as funding so many ministries is, serving the people in our community with affordable pricing and the outreach that takes place, touches the hearts of all of us during the sale days!

Observations and comments include...

• Wayside Cross in Aurora sends a truck for all the items not sold for their retail shop. The driver shared that Baker Memorial Church is a blessing to their ministry! 
•  Many expressed how much they appreciated all Baker did to make it happen and how things they purchased were going to help others who were in need.
• A local flower shop was blessed with vases and were thrilled!
• A woman opening a B & B found treasures.
• $300 will be donated for startup funds for our new Social Justice Committee
• One of our members donated gift cards to distribute to those in need.
•  A former day guest woman had special thanks to all of us and picked up a few things that she needed. She said she missed seeing us for a good lunch and encouragement.
• We had a woman pay for a stranger's bag "just because I am in the spirit of giving"
• Two women from a Lutheran Church in Wheaton said their church has adopted a disadvantaged school. She brought several bags of toddler and children's clothing which they allow the parents to "shop from" at no cost to them.
• A man came in from Evanston to shop with us after his sister told him what a wonderful RUMMAGE SALE we have. He says he will be back next year.

The donations by so many members always is very much appreciated!

It is evident at the $5 bag sale how folks in need of bargains are grateful. 

Thanks to the workers who dedicated many hours to make this year a success!

Next year’s sale will most likely be in early April. Mark your calendar to experience the joy!

Chris Stumpf

Sunday Bulletin Link for Online Church

Watching online worship LIVE? There is a link each week to a PDF copy of the worship bulletin here and on the Online Church website page, so that you can follow along.

• Click here to view the April 12th bulletin.
• Register attendance and prayer requests here.

MINISTRY MESSAGE

Confirmation & Commitment to Christ's Church

Since mid-January, on most Wednesday evenings I've been a part of the teaching team for confirmation as sponsored by our Fox Valley United Methodist congregations in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles. From 6:30-8 p.m., 13 students, along with mentors and pastors, have gathered for prayer, learning, fun and conversation regarding a wide range of topics focusing on what it means to be a member of today's UMC. 

While preparing for a session on UM History: Wesleys to General Conference 2024, I gave thanks for the newest generation of members who were seeking to blend "vital piety with social holiness," a very Wesleyan concept. I was reminded that the Methodist movement was begun by Anglican priests John & Charles Wesley who were only six to eight years older than our confirmation students. Our denomination has been a youth and young adult movement since its inception!  

We've been using a curriculum entitled "Theotokos: Connections" written by a UM ordained elder and deacon clergy couple. The students were encouraged to "explore their story, faith, identity, and place of belonging and participating in the United Methodist Connection; share their story with others; and develop a greater understanding of and appreciation for the history, doctrine, and polity of The United Methodist Church."

Three youth from Baker Memorial UMC have been active participants: Brody Bockstadter, Amelia Skipper and Ian Zenker. Please keep them in your prayers as they conclude their confirmation sessions with an upcoming prayer retreat in mid-April. 

Speaking of prayer, it—along with presence, gifts, service and witness —is one of our UM membership vows. As you pray for our confirmands, I encourage you to prayerfully consider your own commitment to the church. How are you praying for other church members? How are you sharing your faith with someone who doesn't know Christ? How are you offering your time and talent to the ministries of the church? How are you helping the congregation's mission flourish? 

On May 3, we will celebrate Confirmation Sunday. It will be a good day for all of us to celebrate our ongoing commitment to Baker Memorial UMC and the church of Jesus Christ. May the Spirit continue to lead us in all that is faithful.

Grace and peace,

Pastor David Aslesen

See More News on the Website!

• To see a list of events and programs go to the What's Happening page. Click the button below.
• See volunteer opportunities listed on our Volunteer page. Click the button below.

Ways to Give

Your donation will help provide critical support for our ongoing ministries.

• Donate online here
• Mail your donation directly to the church: 307 Cedar Avenue, St. Charles, IL 60174