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KICK-OFF the 2018-2019 Program Year**: GRACE GATHERING on August 19

FIRST CHURCH OPEN HOUSE  

COME ONE – COME ALL

9:15-10:15 am     All-Church Breakfast

Fun Activities for ALL Ages.  Please join us!  Newcomers are especially welcome.  Here’s a great opportunity to discover all the ways you can join in the First Church initiative to Strengthen & Grow:

Learning

Worshiping

Connecting

Serving

10:30-11:30 am     Sunday Morning Worship returns to Regular 10:30 Time!

Chancel Choir returns!

11:30-12:30 am     Fellowship in Wesley Hall

 

Regular Sunday Morning Schedule resumes August 26, 2018

  • Education Time for Adults, Children, & Youth from 9:15 to 10:15 am
  • Sunday Morning Worship from 10:30 to 11:30 am with Fellowship following the service

PLEASE NOTE:  ** First  Church Program Year has been changed to correspond with the Elmhurst Community District 205 School Calendar for 2018-2019.       https://www.elmhurst205.org/events_calendar

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Diaper Drive is Underway at First Church

A huge need has been identified from our local community agencies ***

BABIES NEED DIAPERS!

Let’s meet the challenge and

BUILD A CITY OF DIAPERS

 WHERE:   First United Methodist Church of Elmhurst

232 S. York Street, Elmhurst IL 60126

WHAT:   Bring Cartons of Any Size Diapers

[Larger Diapers (sizes 4-6) are especially needed!]

or Unopened Containers of Diaper Wipes

NOTE: Single diapers cannot be accepted.

DIAPER DROP OFF DATES:

  • Friday, August 10, Noon to 2:00 pm
  • Friday, September 14, Noon to 2:00
  • Any Sunday Morning when you come to Worship
  • In fact, anyone can add to the City which will be located in Wesley Hall!

WHAT AGENCIES:

  • People’s Resource Center (PRC)
  • Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance Network (EWAN)
  • Family Shelter Service in DuPage County

See the Completed City on WELCOME SUNDAE, September 16

Come for Worship at 10:30 am and Stay for Ice Cream.

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SIGN UP NOW for NEW ADULT EDUCATION SERIES

8-Week Study from August 26 through October 14

Christianity’s Family Tree

What Other Christians Believe and Why

by Adam Hamilton

Adam Hamilton presents a welcoming, inspiring vision of eight Christian denominations and faith traditions. Comparing the Christian family to our own extended families, he contends that each denomination has a unique, valuable perspective to offer on the Christian faith.

The traditions he examines are:

  • Orthodoxy
  • Catholicism
  • Lutheranism
  • Presbyterianism
  • Anglicanism
  • Baptists
  • Pentecostalism
  • and Methodism.

For each group, Hamilton gives a brief history, outlines major beliefs, and describes some things we can learn from that tradition to strengthen our own Christian faith.

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CALL TO ACTION on AUGUST 5: Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

Advocacy Meeting 

August 5, 2018 at 10:45 am.

Here’s an opportunity to follow up on ways to  advocate for immigrant children who are in this country without parents or guardians.  In a powerful talk, FUMC member Anne Mathias recently shared her volunteer experiences as a Child Advocate  for Unaccompanied Migrant Children.  Pastor Joe also talked about the UMC teachings on immigration.  As a result, we will reconvene in August to explore this issue more thoroughly. The next meeting will focus on steps we can take individually and as a congregation and will include opportunities to write postcards to our legislators.

To receive more information,  please fill out the CONTACT US! form on the menu under Welcome.

 

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Pastor’s Word for Summer

God has a dream and purpose for your congregation and in your community.   Rev. Dr. Heather Lear,  Director of Evangelism Ministries, UMC General Board of Discipleship

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Grace and Peace to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Over the past six months, the Church Council has continued the work begun at our all-church retreat in February.  During that retreat, Rev. Dr. Heather Lear equipped us with tools for evangelism that are theological, contextual and strength-based.

Hence, we have titled this process, Strengthen and Grow.

We have spent time asking ourselves questions: Why do I choose to remain Christian?  What is the good that I believe God wants to accomplish?  As well as questions about evangelism:  If God fully transformed the person you were evangelizing, what would that mean for the person?

During June and July, seven two-person teams were sent out into the community to interview community leaders about the strengths and challenges of the community as well as how can FUMC respond to those challenges.

Over the next few months, FUMC will assimilate our learning so that we might engage in creative practices that manifest God’s kingdom in our community.

This work is guided by Luke 10:1-11.  Jesus sent out his disciples to bring peace, blessing and healing.  He encouraged his disciples to remain in those houses receiving what the people gave them.

It is an exciting time to be the church of Jesus Christ as we continue to live out Christ’s call on our lives.

Christ’s Servant,

 

 

 

The Reverend Joseph A. Johnson