Pastor Greta with the Chorister ChoirIgnite Youth GroupUPAVIMPastor Jim giving a sermonMision FronterasPastor Greta baptizing a child

WACKY WEDNESDAYS!

Wacky Wednesdays is back!  This is a summer program for children going into 1st grade through 6th grade!  The mission of this program is to bring children together for a lot of fun and fellowship in a church community. Every child is welcome. Invite your children, grandchildren, children in your neighborhood, and children of friends---ALL CHILDREN ARE WELCOME! The program will meet on Wednesdays from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM starting on June 12 and there is NO cost! Parents are welcome to drop off their kids OR stay and enjoy the fun! Children are encouraged to bring one non-perishable food item each week to be donated to the Peoples Resource Center!      

Young At Heart: Indoor Picnic

The Young At Heart group of senior adults will have a patriotic gathering for an indoor picnic starting at noon in the church gym. Don Safford will be grilling brats, hamburgers and hot dogs for us.

Each one attending will be asked to bring a salad or dessert and to pay a fee of $5.00. Plan to wear your red, white and blue outfits.

You may sign up for this event in the Parlor between and after Worship Services on Sunday mornings or by calling Marilou Welch at 630.968.4136.

40's and 50's Group

Recently, we started a group for individuals who are interested in socializing with people from church. Our next gathering will be in the home of Dana and Rob Murphy on Saturday, July 6 at 7:00 p.m.

Please bring a beverage and appetizer to share and a guest who may be interested in attending our church.

Contact Dana Murphy or Lenore Pitstick for more information.

2013 Vacation Bible School

Everywhere Fun Fair: Where God's World Comes Together!

Everywhere Fun Fair takes children to a global celebration with the look and feel of a world's fair. Children will make friends with neighbors around the world and discover that God's love can be found everywhere, including their own neighborhoods!

All children going into kindergarten through 6th grade are welcome to register for Vacation Bible School (VBS). The program will be Tuesday, Aug 6 - Thursday, Aug 8 from 9:00 – Noon each day. Each day will include fun activities with the Bible story, crafts, sports, snack, computer and science. Cost is $10 a child and $25 for families that have 3 or more children.

Please register by July 31st!

Infant Massage Class for Parents

Do you have a baby 4 months old or younger? Would you like to learn some very gentle massage techniques that will help your baby feel relaxed, secure, and in close connection with you?

The Health and Wellness Ministry Area is sponsoring an Infant Massage class for parents from 4:00-5:00 on Sunday afternoons this summer (June 23, 30, July 7, and 14). Anne Whiting of the Loving Touch infant massage organization will be the leader. Each of the four sessions builds on the other, so it is ideal, but not required, to attend them all.

In order to know if we have enough interest to hold the class, please leave word with Pastor Greta at the church office if you are interested. Parents from outside of our congregation are welcome to attend. A donation will be received for the class; suggested donation is $10 per class, or $30 for all four classes.

Membership Information Session/New Member Class

If you are interested in joining FUMC, or learning more about the church a new member class will be held at the parsonage on Wednesday, June 19th at 7:00 p.m. If you would like to attend the class please contact Pastor Jim or Pastor Greta at the church or Marilou Welch at 630.968.4136 by Saturday, June 15.

New members will be received into membership on Sunday, June 30 at the 10:00 a.m. service.

Thank You JJ Mannschreck

JJ and Sara MannschreckWe want to congratulate Seminary Intern JJ Mannschreck on his recent graduation from Garrett-Evangelical! JJ has had a very successful seminary experience, as you may have assumed from the high quality of leadership he shared during his two years with our congregation.

With seminary completed, JJ now steps out of his role with our local church and begins the rest of his journey in full-time ministry. He and his wife, Sara, plan to work abroad for the next two years, she teaching English, and he serving in available ministry capacities. Following that adventure, they plan to return to Michigan, where JJ will serve as a pastor in the Detroit Area Conference.

From working with the Praise Band, to leading youth ministries for a time, to beginning a small group, to preaching and pastoral care and administrative experience, JJ has gifted our congregation and made a difference in many ways.

Godspeed, JJ and Sara - we are grateful for you!

How Does Your Garden Share?

Don’t let any extra produce from your home garden go to waste this summer. The 2013 DGFUMC Sharing Garden program will collect extra vegetables and donate them to folks in need. All summer long, just bring veggies to church on Sunday and leave them in the big basket in the parlor. The Missions Work Area will deliver them to the PRC food pantry in Westmont.

Watch for the program launch in the parlor on May 19. Free tomato and pepper plants to anyone who will grow a few extra for the food pantry. Or perhaps add an extra row of any veggie to your home garden. Contact Jean Krusinski with questions.

Note: There will NOT be any church plots at Mar-Duke farms this year. We are asking church members to plant and share from their home garden.

Church Camp: All Things New

The First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove is offering a summer camp experience for children and youth from June 24 to 28, 2012. 

Camp offers children and youth the opportunity for fellowship with other children. It offers youth and adults an experience of God’s creation while exploring nature. It offers everyone a chance to experience Christian community and develop skills for Christian living.

This year, the theme of the camp is All Things New. From the very beginning, God creates order out of chaos. With each new day light overcomes darkness, new life emerges, and we find new potential in our own lives. The Bible provides the good news for us that as God restored the lives of ancient people, God will renew us today as well. Our experiences at camp together show us that through Christ, God continues to do a new thing in us, both individually and collectively.

Day 1: A New Thing (Isaiah 43:19-21)

Day 2: New Shape (Jeremiah 18:1-6)

Day 3: New Expressions (Luke 10:38-42)

Day 4: New Community (Philippians 1:3-6)

Camp will be held at Wesley Woods Conference Center in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Wesley Woods is owned and operated by the Northern Illinois Conference.

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