DGFUMC Welcoming Statement
God, as known to us in Jesus Christ, welcomes all.
We welcome people of any race, national origin, ethnicity, 
gender, sexual orientation, age, social or economic status, employment status, or life situation;
including people with physical or mental illness or disability.
We practice loving acceptance of each person and respectful discussion of our differences.
Pizza and Bingo
The Young At Heart group for senior adults will be having a Pizza and Bingo Party at their Wednesday, February 10th gathering. We will begin at noon in Chapel Hall with pizza, salad and dessert followed by bingo. Each person attending is asked to bring a wrapped white elephant gift (marked "man" or "woman" to use as prizes.
The fee per person is $5.00. All are invited to join us. You may sign up for this event in the Parlor on Sunday mornings or by calling the church office, 630.968.7120 to make a reservation.
Administrative Council
There will be a short meeting of the Administrative Council after the worship services in the Sanctuary so that the Finance Committee can present the 2010 budget. We will vote on the budget at the conclusion of the presentation.
All are welcome to attend.
Soup & Sandwich Supper for the Soul
NIU Wesley Foundation Fund Raiser
College students from the NIU Wesley Foundation invite you to a Soup & Sandwich dinner fundraiser on Ash Wednesday at 5:00pm. They'll share pictures from their 2009 Spring Break mission work trip to Guatemala and donations will go toward their 2010 return to Guatemala!
Suggested donation is $6.00 and will be received at the door. If you would like to help the students serve this simple supper or if you have any questions, please contact the NIU Wesley Foundation Campus Pastor Kelli Beard. Thank you for your prayerful support and we look forward to being with you on Ash Wednesday.
Come to the supper and stay for the Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00pm.
Music: Connection Choir
Preacher: Rev. Claire Marich
Worship led by Rev. Jonathan Dean
Service includes ashing and communion
2nd Annual Variety Show
Here are a couple of comments from people who saw last year's variety show:
"Wow!! Where else could I have seen a budding prima ballerina, an innovative rendition of "Take Me out to the Ballgame" and a rock duo performing an original song, all for the low price of …$0.00?!"
—Julie Stone
"If you missed last year’s talent show, you missed one of the most interesting and entertaining evenings of the year. This year's show promises to be even better. So put it on your calendar and keep the date—February 20. The price is right and the entertainment great!"
—Elizabeth Vaughan
The Children and Family Work Area would not only encourage you to attend this year variety show on Saturday, February 20th at 6:30pm, but we would like to have you in it! If you have some talent like juggling, singing, playing an instrument, dancing, ventriloquism or some other talent, we would love to have you participate in this year’s variety show. Please contact John Smoke (630-968-7120) for more information, or to sign-up.
To enrich and inform your journey through Lent, we are offering three classes and courses you can follow. Sign up in the office (places may be limited: so hurry!) for as many as you wish. May God bless your exploration and discovery as we approach Easter.
A Lenten Bible Study
Rev. Tom Ostrander will lead this course using the Irresistible Invitation material. We will consider the Gospel reflection on the nature of God, the teachings of Jesus, the meaning of the cross, what Jesus' life models as it relates to the shape of discipleship, and the glorious possibility that Christ lives in us and we are to be his presence in the world. There is a book and outside reading.
The course runs from February 24 to March 31.
Reading the Christian Tradition
A chance to challenge, grill and critique the author!
Rev. Jonathan Dean's book Servitude and Freedom deals with the complicated history of the Church: and how contemporary Christians should receive and interpret it today. We'll discuss it together.
The course runs from February 28 to March 21.
Mission Trips That Matter
"Instead of viewing their lives as a series of random, disconnected episodes, Christians are challenged to view their activities in relation to God's activity. Guiding folks into this way of thinking about life is at the heart of leading mission trips that matter."
Rev. Nick Nicholas will lead this course, using Don Richter's book as a guide. We will discover how we can connect our day to day lives to the experience of mission trips. We will find that all of life is mission and sacrament.
The course runs from March 4 to March 25.
Sign up online, in the Parlor on Sunday mornings, or in the Church Office.
Interfaith Book Discussion
In an exciting follow up to this Fall's Interfaith Youth Project, FUMC will be hosting an Interfaith Book Discussion of Three Cups of Tea on Sunday, February 28th. This will be for ages 6th grade—Adult. Come to the new Youth Center from 5-7pm for a pizza dinner and a discussion of the book.
Copies of the books are available in the office to borrow. RSVP to the church office (630-968-7120) by February 22nd.
It's our great privilege to be hosting one of United Methodism's best preachers and storytellers. Rev. Grace Imathiu will be with us on Saturday, March 6th. Grace is a pastor in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, and also enjoys a worldwide speaking ministry. Her interweaving of biblical material with insights from her native Kenya is unforgettable and beautiful.
Don't miss this chance to hear the gospel stories brought alive by Grace with her characteristic warmth and wisdom. Invite your friends too: it will be a day to cherish long in the memory.
| More Details |
Haiti Earthquake
We will be doing all we can as a congregation to respond to the earthquake in Haiti. Please come on Sunday 17th prepared to give generously to a collection, and to hear about ways to be more practically involved. Through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), we can be sure that our help will get where it is needed.
Those wishing to do something practical are invited to join a visit already planned by the Missions Work Area on March 10-12 to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center, where volunteers prepare disaster relief kits for shipping around the world. See below for more details or contact the Missions Work Area chair, Jim Gracey, or our Associate Pastor Jonathan Dean (630-968-7120 x202).
The people of Haiti are among the poorest on the face of the earth. For decades, they have endured unimaginable poverty, political corruption and instability, and the brutality of some in power. It's devastating that now they should have to endure this also.
As further information becomes available about how our church can support the relief efforts in Haiti, we will post it here.
| Donate to UMCOR Haiti Emergency Relief |
Midwest Mission Distribution Center
Join the Missions Work Area on March 10th-12th, as we travel to Chatham, IL, to assist at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center. Our work will enable much-needed goods and supplies to reach their destinations across the globe. All welcome.
Find out more from the Missions Work Area chair, Jim Gracey, or our Associate Pastor Jonathan Dean (630-968-7120 x202).
Wednesday Faith Forum
Wednesday Faith Forum is a small group for faith-seekers and all wanting to explore their faith journey with honesty, mutual respect and openness to one another. Rev. Jonathan Dean leads two groups, at 10:00am and 6:30pm respectively, who meet in Room 213 (our newly-refurbished Adult Education center) for discussions on books that can guide our reflections and sharing.
An Altar in the World
A Geography of Faith
by Barbara Brown Taylor
The Wednesday Faith Forum resumes on January 13th with Barbara Brown Taylor's An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith. Described by Marcus Borg as "elegant, wise, and insightful," this book reveals how Barbara Brown Taylor left parish ministry and learned to encounter the God who does not live in church.
Please join us for discussion. Copies of the book are available from the church office at a cost of $15. All are welcome!
In the event that you are looking for a "new" way to participate in church this fall, JustFaith is forming new groups at Downers Grove First United Methodist Church for the 2009-2010 year. What does it mean for us to take up the cross today and follow Jesus? JustFaith is a call to claim the traditions of our faith (really not new at all!): compassion and community. A thirty-week formation program using books, videos, guest speakers, discussion, prayer, retreat and immersion experiences is designed to bring you to a new state of awareness and relationship with all of God's people, with a preference to the poor. Consider growing with others starting this fall in a small covenant group and discover what it means for you to love God and love one another.
A group is meeting on Sunday morning at 9:30am in Room 202 starting on October 18.
| JustFaith Calendar |
On Your Behalf
- What is it?
- How does it work?
- How can I serve others with prayer?
On Your Behalf is a group of church members who lift others up in prayer. There are no meetings! All praying is done at your convenience. Requests for prayer are provided to us each week and are kept confidential.
If you would be interested in joining us or need more information about serving others with prayer please call the church office at 968-7120.
When your reaction to yours or another's misfortune is "Oh, my God!", turn it into a gentle prayer.
Daily Update
RSS News Feeds
RSS news feeds provide a way of keeping track of the rapidly-changing content available on the internet. At First United, we are using this relatively new web technology in two ways:
- As a way of identifying newly added web content concerning the programs and events in the church life.
- As a way of alerting the congregation to late-breaking news, such as weather cancellations or urgent appeals for help.
The news feed is now maintained by the church office and will be updated as soon as the information is available. Although it is meant to be read by special news readers, the feed is also published on the web as the Daily Update page. Add this page to your favorites to keep abreast of the latest news as it breaks.
Find out how you can use RSS to keep up to date with the latest news and events in the life of First United Methodist Church.
|RSS News Feeds|
