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.
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.
Midwest Mission Distribution Center
The Missions work area invites you join them in visiting the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, Illinois. Tom and Gayle Ostrander will once again lead the group. The distribution center offers an opportunity to serve in our area and reach those in need around the world. With the recent disaster in Haiti, there is tremendous need for support, and the distribution center will be a hive of activity as critical supplies are gathered and prepared for shipment to earthquake victims in Haiti.
Last year our group prepared many things including shipments of equipment for a hospital in Ghana, school and health kits were packaged, and gowns were sewn for a hospital in Haiti. This year our help will be needed even more as United Methodists and the world reach out to aid the survivors of this catastrophic disaster in a country that was already struggling to survive.
This Trip is open to adults and family members 11 years of age or older. The Center is located on an 8 acre campus in Chatham, IL, 4 miles south of Springfield with overnight accommodations on site. We will leave in the morning Wednesday March 10th and return Friday evening. To reserve your spot or for more information about this upcoming trip contact the Missions Work Area chair, Jim Gracey.
YAH: Buddhist Temple
Young At Heart will be going to visit the new Buddhist Temple located on Route 53 near Woodridge. Our visit will include a tour of the Temple to start at 10:30am. After the tour we will have lunch together at a restaurant. In a quote from one of their members who is a practicing Buddhist said, "Buddhism is not a religion, it's about knowing ourselves."
You may sign up for this event in the Parlor on Sunday mornings or by contacting Marilou Welch, through the church office 630.968.7120.
Geothermal Systems
We are fortunate that Mark Nussbaum has agreed to give us the low down on geothermal systems - the use of the earth's thermal properties to provide conventional heating and air conditioning. Mark Nussbaum's company, Architectural Consulting Engineering has designed and coordinated the ground-source-heat-pump for North Central College's newest building, a four story dormitory/recreation center, as well as historic Frank Lloyd Wright structures.
Learn from an expert on how geothermal system uses the clean, cheap, simple and renewable energy found in your own backyard! Join us on Sunday, March 14th at 9:30am in Room 213.
Mother-Daughter Tea
Our annual Mother-Daughter Tea will be held on Saturday, March 20th from 2:00 to 4:00pm in the Gym. Join us as we celebrate spring in Downers Grove.
Cathy Pearson, a writer who is a life-long resident of Downers Grove, will be reading some of her poetry and explaining her writing process. We will also have some fun spring craft demonstrations. We will have great food and wonderful fellowship. And yes, the chocolate fountains will be back!
Tickets are now on sale. Adults are $15 and children 12 and under are $8. We hope to see you there!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Reducing Our Environmental Footprint
on the Planet
Every choice you make contributes to the health of the planet, for better or worse. Creation Care 2010 has been organized to point the way to living healthily, sustainably and with greater concern for other inhabitants of this world. In response to the Northern Illinois Conference's adoption of the "Green Resolution," DGFUMC has taken the lead to host a variety of keynote speakers to coach us to live more socially responsible.
Topics
- Theological Reflection on the Creation and its Care
- Rev. Jonathan Dean, Downers Grove First UMC
- Current Climate Change Science and Politics
Jan Hessler, Ph.D., B.A.
- Renewable Energy Futures Here and Abroad
- Lee Schreiner, Rockford Urban Ministries
- Disaster Preparedness
- Christy Smith, UMCOR Disaster Consultant
- Managing Our Waste by Reusing and Repurposing for a Greener Economy
- Veronica Kyle, Faith in Place
- Sustainable Food Production
- Rev. Gary Hougen, Ravenswood Fellowship UMC
- Optional Post Conference Cooking Demonstration and Food Sampling
- Heather Bowler (chef)
| Registration |
Summer Camp
Wesley Woods, June 28-July 2, 2010
What Is A Hero?
In the movies and fairy tales, heroes are those who leap tall buildings in a single bound, save damsels in distress, or thwart the powers of evil in climactic, spectacular battles. However, being a hero for God is different, although not nearly as dramatic.
In this year's summer camp, campers will consider the ways in which being a hero for God takes courage and bravery, requiring them to step out in faith and take risks for the sake of others. Being a hero calls them to trust God to use what they can offer and to equip them for welcoming, befriending, including, giving, rejoicing, and sharing the good news. Campers will leave camp knowing that it takes more courage and faith to be one of God’s heroes than it takes to simply leap off tall buildings in a single bound!
| More Details |
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 |
Haiti Earthquake
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 have experienced the tragedy of the recent earthquake and face the monumental task of rebuilding their country.
We would encourage all those who wish to contribute to ongoing relief efforts and the long-term reconstruction to support the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), who were already active in Haiti before the earthquake struck.
| Donate to UMCOR Haiti Emergency Relief |
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|
