Recent News

Christmas Poinsettias

December 8, 2014 - 11:32am

Help us to brighten the sanctuary this Christmas by purchasing a beautiful poinsettia!

Orders are now being taken in the church office or use the envelope found in the pews each Sunday and place your order in the offering plate. If you would like to purchase a plant for $15, please fill out the envelope and enclose a check. You may indicate on the envelope if you would like it in memory of someone or in honor of someone.
Orders are due by Sunday, December 14.

Saving Energy and Reducing Maintenance By Changing to LED Lighting

December 8, 2014 - 9:44am

Trustees, Environmental Stewardship Work Area and S.O.S. continue to join together to change to LED lighting in key high usage areas of our church’s building. You may have noticed that some of the rooms and hallways are a little brighter.

Chapel Hall was the first room to have all the fluorescent tubes replaced with LED light tubes. A team of S.O.S. workers washed and retrofit all the fixtures and put in LED tubes in Chapel Hall and its kitchen this past September. Those of you who attended Sunday early services in that room, due to the elevator repair challenge, immediately saw the difference.

Next, during the October S.O.S., a number of staff offices on the second floor, the PAD’s entrance hall by the gym and the main hallways on the west half of the second floor were changed to LED lighting. Additional LED tubes have been purchased to retrofit key difficult or dangerous fixtures in stairways throughout the church. These installations will happen during future S.O.S. work Saturdays.

Preschool Registration

November 28, 2014 - 3:23pm

PreschoolChurch members (those who have taken the Membership Class and joined First United Methodist Church) can take advantage of early registration for next year's Preschool on November 30 and December 2. Children must be either three or four years old by September 1 of 2015, with the classes beginning in early September and ending in the mid-May. 

The Elevator is Back in Service!

November 25, 2014 - 11:47am

We are excited to report that after a long three and a half months, the elevator is once again open for business! The elevator passed its final inspection and was given the all clear to be put back into service. As a result our 8:15 a.m Sunday worship service will once again be held in the Chapel.

We would like to thank everyone for your patience, generosity and understanding while the elevator was being repaired.

Thanksgiving Offering

November 21, 2014 - 11:14am

Celebrating Thanksgiving!Happy Thanksgiving!

As we enter this season of harvest and gratitude, we are reminded of the importance and power of giving thanks every day of the year. Christians are called to "give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and so experience the gifts of God that we might otherwise overlook. Thankfulness is a choice we can make that opens our lives toward greater contentment and joy, and opens our eyes to see our neighbors with God's love.

One of the ways we as a church show God's love to our neighbors is through our Thanksgiving offering. The Thanksgiving offering goes specifically to ministries of local outreach and social justice through our congregation's Church and Society work area. This offering is the sole source of funding that the Church and Society work area receives. Through your special gift, our church is able to reach out to lives, speak out about needs and work to bring improved circumstances to others through the organizations that they support (see the list below).

If you haven't received a Thanksgiving offering envelope, they will be available at all the Thanksgiving Sunday services at 8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. on November 23.

May your Thanksgiving be blessed with God's abundant love.

Thankful together,
Pastors Jim and Greta McDonald
Church and Society Work Area

Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata - Stella Natalis

November 20, 2014 - 1:26pm

Sunday, December 14
9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Worship Services

The Chancel Choir will present an unusual and enticing piece entitled STELLA NATALIS by British composer Karl Jenkins, on Sunday, December 14 at the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. The 12 parts of Stella Natalis (“star of birth”) celebrate different aspects of Christmastide - winter, the sleeping child, tidings of peace, thanksgiving - with wide ranging texts which take the listener on surprising journeys to childhood, seasons past, and anticipation of Christmas times to come. Jenkins, one of the most prolific, popular and performed composers in the world today, uses musical ideas and texts which suggest a "Star Wars" world turned toward the spiritual.

The cantata includes Downers Grove First United Methodist Church's fine Chancel Choir under the direction of Diane Hires and accompanied by Pattie Barnes. The orchestra features virtuoso trumpet (Tom Tait), string orchestra and two percussionists.

Please plan to attend one of these inspiring services with family and friends to celebrate joys of the Christmas season together.

The Giving Tree

November 17, 2014 - 11:00am

The Giving Tree for PADS is still up in the Parlor. We will continue to collect gifts for PADS throughout December.  

Thank you for your participation!

July is the Jackpot for Local Produce

October 29, 2014 - 11:35am

Look here to find out what local produce is in season this month!

August Provides Gusto for Local Produce

October 29, 2014 - 11:37am

Look here to find out what local produce is in season this month!

Organic Cleaning Products-Do they work and, if so, do they come with a really high price tag?

October 12, 2014 - 10:06pm

When we think of the term “organic,” many of us believe that healthier cleaning products must also be associated with higher price tags. But, each of us in our own way can begin to make strides to gradually adopt a more organic lifestyle which can minimize our exposure to toxic chemicals, and all without going broke.

So, how do we begin? Some products on the market are labeled “natural.” Does this mean they are not toxic to us or to our environment? Not necessarily. First, we can begin by learning more about toxic chemicals which are found in the food items that we buy, the products that we use both inside and outside of our homes, our water, and in our cleaning supplies. Then we can begin to understand how these chemicals directly or indirectly affect our health, well being, and the environment. Some of the products we use to clean our homes could be causing more harm to us than good. We should check brand labels and on the website and look for "green" and non-toxic cleaners that don't contain chlorine, alcohols, triclosan, triclocarbon, lye, glycol ethers, or ammonia. Choose instead safer products that say "petroleum-free," "biodegradable," "phosphate-free," "VOC-free," and "solvent-free."

Another option we might consider is to begin using common household items to clean our homes. Common household items can be great substitutes for many of the toxic chemicals found in the products we find at our local stores. For example, a few items that we have in our homes can have a dual purpose, such as: baking soda, cooking oil, lemon and vinegar. These are just some of the items that can brighten our homes and hot harm, us, our children, or Fido, our best friend.

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First United Methodist Church 1032 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515 - Phone: 630.968.7120 - E-mail: dgfumc@dgfumc.org

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