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Nativity Lighting Event

 

NATIVITY LIGHTING

Please join us on Facebook at 4:00 pm Sunday afternoon on December 6 for the live-streaming of a special service: The Lighting of our new Nativity Scene on the church lawn.

This event is a Christmas fundraiser for
Elmhurst/Yorkfield Food Pantry
Bridge Communities
The Night Ministry.

Your Christmas gift designated for the Nativity Lighting will be shared equally in support of these essential ministries. 

The lighting itself will be at 4:30pm. Please drive-by then or anytime during this season of preparation. Visit our modern crèche which provides a beacon of light for the coming of our Lord.

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Are you missing communion when you worship at home?

You can celebrate All-Church Communion at Home
Drive-Through * Pick-Up * No-Contact

Let Us Break Bread Together

The sacraments — which have been blessed by Pastor Joe — are individually wrapped and sealed, complete with juice and wafer.  Look for a bin on a small table under the portico outside the North entrance to the church.  Containers of hand sanitizer will also be on the table.

  • Drive-up any time during the pick-up days (see dates below)
  • Sanitize your hands,
  • Take as many individually wrapped pieces as needed for your family,
  • Replace the lid.
  • Simple as that.
  • Take your sacraments home.
  • Set them out as you prepare for the virtual service at 10:30 am.
  • Click on  First Church on Facebook 
  • Share in the bread and the cup with Pastor Joe during Communion.

Communion Pick-Up Dates
for Service of Holy Communion on December 6
Tuesday     December 1      10 am to 10 pm
Friday          December 4      10 am to 10 pm
Saturday    December 5      10 am to 6 pm

 

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Christmas Giving Tree for Pembroke and El Buen Pastor

Children’s Christmas Tree
First Church 2020

In the year of the pandemic,
there won’t be a tree
With names of children
for you to see.

Of course, they still need us
to shop and to care.
They need us to buy toys
and something to wear.

There’s a different timeline
with a whole new plan.
Email, shop, quarantine??? I know that we can.

If you can take a name, or even two.
Email Carolyn Heiney. She’ll see the tag gets to you.

Shopping must be done by Thanksgiving weekend.
Yes, we must quarantine, the rules cannot bend.

If you want to give money instead of shop,
Write a check to First Church, in the mail just drop.

With God’s guidance we’ll succeed
and smiles will abound.
Our thanks to you really will be profound.

To Give Christmas Gifts to Children
from Pembroke & Iglesia El Buen Pastor
Please Contact:  cheiney@att.net

THANKS SO VERY MUCH!

 

 

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Stewardship 2021

Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.  Matthew 4:19

 

COVID-19 has changed our way of life and our way of church.  Now more than ever we need to create a community that helps people experience God’s love in the world.

The 2021 Stewardship campaign will focus our attention on being and becoming disciples of Jesus Christ through

  • Being Part of the Body of Christ
  • Becoming More Like Jesus, and
  • Joining Jesus in Ministry.

During the pandemic, many of you have shared the comfort and hope you have received from our Ministry at First Church.  Let’s join together in continuing the ministry of Jesus Christ in 2021.

Below are some important dates:
October 30   Discipleship Survey
November 8, 15, 22    Sermon Series on Discipleship
November 17   Dessert Gathering on ZOOM with Rev. Dr. Joy J. Moore
November 22   Pledge Sunday

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LGBTQIA Alphabet 101

Monday, October 19  7 PM

Workshop and Fundraiser

Since First Church became a reconciling congregation, the experience and understanding of sexual orientation and gender identities have grown.  Join us for this workshop as we learn and explore.

Participants will be invited to make a donation to the Reconciling Ministries Network which supports individuals and faith communities as they come to a fuller understanding of human sexuality and gender identity in conversation with Christianity.

We will meet via Zoom.  Click here to register.

Our Presenter  Rev. Anna Voinovich

Anna Voinovich is a (soon-to-be ordained) Elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. They are currently serving at Downers Grove First United Methodist Church as the associate pastor. One of Anna’s passions is journeying with and supporting faith communities as they seek justice and inclusion for LGTBQIA people in the church and beyond. They have enjoyed leading workshops and conversations at churches and conferences around sexual orientation and gender identity. As an undergrad student at Bowling Green State University, Anna received a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. More recently, they participated in volunteer training through Youth Outlook, an awesome organization supporting LGBTQIA youth in Northern Illinois. Anna is grateful for the opportunity to teach and learn alongside First Church Elmhurst in this Zoom workshop!