Recent News

Join the United Methodist Women in celebrating children and youth all over the world! In honor of this day, children and youth from our congregation will help lead the service and provide special music. Children of all ages are asked to bring their backpacks (or briefcases) to church at 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. Pastor John Smoke will give a blessing of the backpacks (and briefcases) to get the new school year (and work year) off to a great start! Each child is asked to also bring a non-perishable food item for donation to People's Resource Center. 

Getting the Camp Ready for Camp
Wesley Woods Retreat Center in Williams Bay, WI

June 12 - 17

The second annual All Church Mission Trip will provide a wonderful opportunity to put your faith into action at the Wesley Woods Retreat Center. The camp buildings and grounds need fixing up right before our summer campers arrive! Many hands are needed in this beautiful setting on the shores of Lake Geneva, WI. Come for a few hours, a day, or as many days as you can. There are jobs for everyone, regardless of skill level or expertise. Tasks may include painting and staining; replacing lights; repairing wood siding, railings, windows, roofs, and steps; cleaning cabins; and repairing or replacing trails and paths. All tools, supplies, and meals are provided.

Let us know you're coming! Contact Don Dunham at 630.362.3164 or don@dgfumc.org for more information.

On Sunday, April 15, the Chancel Choir will present their annual spring cantata. This year, they will perform The Holy Spirit Mass: Together in Hope, a wonderful choral work by the internationally renowned Norwegian composer, Kim André Arnesen, who writes music that combines touching simplicity with majestic power. The choir will be accompanied by a 17-piece string orchestra and guest singers.

The work was commissioned to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation as an ecumenical offering drawing on both the traditional Latin mass and Lutheran musical heritage. Its first performance was at an interfaith concert by the National Lutheran Choir in Washington DC last year, so this is an exciting opportunity to hear a major new choral piece within a year of its world première.

Please invite your family and friends to experience this musical celebration of our faith at both the 9:30 and 11:00am services.

Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.

Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of resources.

If you made a gift to Bridge Communities in honor of #GivingTuesday, you helped bring two families into safe housing for an entire year. Here is the story of one family our church has assisted.

When C first interviewed with Bridge late this fall, she was nearly nine months pregnant with her second child. She was homeless, desperate and brokenhearted. Because of many generous #GivingTuesday gifts, C's family was welcomed into Bridge just after baby Z was born!

Here's something else unique about C's story: When she was in high school, she loved her art class most of all. And when she met her Bridge mentors for the first time, her beloved art teacher (Janine, now retired) was one of them! It felt like fate. Their happy reunion has made for a great relationship, and they're working together on building C's future.

In 2017, Bridge Communities assisted 139 families just like C's with safe housing, mentoring, counseling, employment assistance, children's programs and more. Click here to read about more Bridge families!