2015 Easter Offering - Gifts of Hope and Healing

Dear Church Family,

As we anticipate trees quietly beginning to blossom and flowers stretching towards the emerging sun, we are reminded that Easter will soon be here. On Sunday, April 5, we will worship with full hearts, proclaiming to the world that “Christ is alive!”

Easter is a wondrous celebration of Christ’s Resurrection and the promise of eternal life. And it is a time to remember that Jesus came to heal and provide hope to all. Each year we invite our congregation to help carry out this mission of hope and healing by participating in our Special Easter Offering.

This annual offering helps fund the outreach of our congregation’s Missions, Justice & Community Work Area, which takes seriously its role as stewards of your generosity and compassion.  This year we are asking that you consider enhancing your Easter giving so that, as a church body, DGFUMC can increase its outreach in a more impactful way. The resources gathered on Easter Sunday will make a critical difference in the lives of individuals in DuPage County, as well as in national and international missions programs.

We live out our Easter faith and proclaim the selfless love of God in Christ by using this special offering to support many ministries including (but not limited to) the following:

• Food for the hungry:
  • Nourishment for the homeless in DuPage County
  • Healthy snacks for hungry children in DG elementary schools
  • Contributions to the Northern Illinois Food Bank
• Financial support for DGFUMC adults and youth in mission
• Financial support of Bridge Communities and ChildServ – helping at-risk children & families overcome adversity
• Contributions to Justice For Our (local immigrant) Neighbors for legal counseling
• Support of JUST of DuPage, a ministry sharing God’s love and providing special programs to men and women in the DuPage County Jail
• Support of community outreach by the United Church of Rogers Park, Chicago
• Donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) – disaster relief & rebuilding; Bread for the World, urging our nation's leaders to end hunger
• Donations to the Peru/Bolivia Lake Titicaca Border Ministry – a UMC General Board of Global Ministries mission serving the poorest people of the region
• Sharing friendship, faith and encouragement with our sisters at UPAVIM in Guatemala City in person and through prayer, videos and written communications
• Donations to the Imagine No Malaria UMC campaign to eradicate malaria and help save thousands of lives in Africa, especially pregnant women and small children

Please prayerfully consider how you might contribute to our mission efforts this year. The enclosed envelope may be used to support our outreach to bring love and healing to our community and beyond.  In addition to financial support, please pause and consider how you and your family could get involved personally in these programs.

Jesus calls us to bring healing and restoration wherever we can.  Let us celebrate Christ this year with even greater passion and live out our calling together.