Recent News

Wisconsin Trial of United Methodist Clergywoman Postponed

March 27, 2011 - 10:12pm

Linda Lee, the resident bishop of Wisconsin, has postponed the trial of the Rev. Amy DeLong indefinitely. DeLong, an experienced and outstanding WI clergywoman is the latest person to be charged with disobeying church law by officiating at the union of two lesbians. She is also charged with being in a loving, committed relationship with her partner of 15 years.

Bishop Lee's reasons for postponing the trial, originally set for April 11, involve the Church (prosecuting) team: the resignation of the Counsel for the Church in mid-February (the 4th to resign), the recusal of the Presiding Officer, Bishop Bruce Blake, early in March and the inability of Bishop Lee to find a new bishop to preside by the April trial date.

On March 24, Bishop Lee stated that, "Rev. DeLong and her counsel have complied with all pre-trial deadlines in a timely fashion." Ermalou Roller, who serves on DeLong's defense team, reports that team's disappointment at the delay. Rev. DeLong has been waiting for more than a year to challenge unjust church law. She has recently been joined by 36 retired UM bishops who are petitioning our denomination to remove all offensive language about gays and lesbians from our Discipline.

For ongoing trial developments, to send Rev. DeLong an encouraging message and/or to contribute to her defense fund, go to http://www.loveontrial.org.

One Great Hour of Sharing

March 27, 2011 - 9:00pm
One Great Hour of Sharing

On Sunday, April 3rd, FUMC will join with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God’s love with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives and work together to strengthen their families and communities.

With this offering, The United Methodist Church rebuilds lives and communities around the world by helping the United Methodist Committee on Relief keep its promise that 100% of your designated gift goes to specific causes.

So much of what UMCOR does is about restoration: giving sight to the blind, building up farming communities, helping workers to become self-sufficient and reconstructing places destroyed by disaster.  UMCOR has helped to rebuild war-torn Sudan, famers in Indonesia, families in Pakistan, relief in Haiti, and most recently, coordinate help for Japan.

Biggest Carbon Loser

March 27, 2011 - 1:20pm

Biggest Carbon Loser

Given the ever increasing impact of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), producing more forest fires, drought conditions, severe weather occurrences, extended heat waves and the spread of destructive pests and disease, all of us need to help protect God’s creation through actions to reduce our energy consumption and thereby to reduce our carbon footprint.  Join in a program to reduce our energy consumption, save money and protect the health and well- being of people and our planet - all at the same time. 

During the next month, commit to as many actions as possible to reduce your energy consumption and in friendly competition see who can score the most points in moving you and your family toward a lower carbon footprint. Report your score using the DGFUMC Contact Form (choose 'Environmental Stewardship' as the category).

Let’s all work together to see who can be the biggest carbon loser and best protect God’s creation.

How to Support the Lake Titicaca Border Mission

March 26, 2011 - 7:10pm

Mision FronterasThe United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries last week announced the new Lake Titicaca Border Mission Advance project number: 3021288. FUMC Downers Grove members Jeff Wasilevich and Debbie Rissing will serve as site hosts and coordinators of this mission site for 18 months, starting in May. All gifts made in support this mission are 100% tax deductible; those made through the church will receive Advance credit for the church and the Annual Conference, and will help the church achieve its Rainbow Covenant goals.

If you'd like to support this mission, checks may be made payable to: Advance GCFA. On the memo line, write: L. Titicaca Border Mission 3021288. Checks may be dropped in the collection basket, given at the church office, or mailed to: Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068 GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068 (if you mail your check, please note church number 51918 on your check to ensure FUMC gets Advance credit). To make a credit card gift by phone, please call The Advance at 888-252-6174. To make an online gift, please visit the Mision Fronteras donate page.

To learn more about this mission before Jeff and Deb fly to Lima on April 10, please attend one of the information presentations in room 213 on Wednesday, March 30, either from 9 to 9:45 a.m. or 7:30 to 8:15PM. They'll present a PowerPoint presentation on the extreme poverty and dire needs of the people near Lake Titicaca. To receive electronic newsletters from Deb and Jeff, please send your email address to jeffandeb@gmail.com. There is more information on the Mision Fronteras website.

Pacific Emergency

March 23, 2011 - 9:53pm

UMCORUnited Methodists and friends are urged to pray for the people of Japan during this crucial hour and support the emergency effort through giving. If you would like to make a donation via check, please make the check out to FUMC and in the memo line put Japan/Pacific Emergency. If you would like to donate via credit card, visit UMCOR's website.

Easter Flowers

March 22, 2011 - 1:08am

It is time to order Easter flowers to decorate our Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, April 24. Ordering envelopes will be in your bulletin or you may contact the church office. This year we are continuing to offer flowers in addition to Lilies to enhance the beauty of our Sanctuary.

Easter Lilies ~ $13.00
Tulips ~ $11.00
Azaleas ~ $17.00
Hydrangeas ~ $28.00

We are also taking orders for colorful window boxes for $35. Plants and window boxes may be picked up after the11:00am Worship Service. All orders MUST be in by Sunday, April 17.

Housing Needed For Visiting Youth Choir

March 22, 2011 - 1:14am

The saying is that everything is bigger in Texas and the Custer Road UMC Revelation Choir is a great example. The 125-member high school choir will present a concert in our sanctuary on Tuesday, June 14 and we are soliciting housing for as many of the youth and their chaperones as possible. While they are prepared to roll out sleeping bags on the gym floor and use our showers if necessary, we would like to provide homes for as many of their group as possible. Home stays have always been a memorable part of our Chapel Choir tours. Host families will need to provide breakfast on the 15th. Please check your calendar and contact Don Dunham regarding how many youth you are willing to host, if you have pets and whether you have a gender or age preference.

40th Annual Chapel Choir Tour

March 22, 2011 - 1:31am

The Chapel Choir started their 40th Annual Spring Break Tour on Sunday evening at Gary Memorial UMC in Wheaton. It was a great night. The youth group at Gary Church greeted us warmly with a pizza dinner. They sat at table with our students and strangers became friends. It felt like we were really on tour.

On Saturday, March 26 we will pack two 45 passenger motor coaches, the technical term for buses, and head east!

  • First stop the University of Michigan for lunch and tee shirts. Then to the Pontiac MI area, a concert at Waterford Central UMC Saturday evening.
  • Worship at both Grace & Peace UMC and Four Towns UMCs on Sunday and an afternoon at the Henry Ford Museum.
  • Monday we cross the border at Sarnia ON, Lunch in London and singing at St Paul’s United Church in Oakville ON.
  • Tuesday we play in Niagara Falls.
  • Wednesday we arrive in Toronto for a concert at Humber Valley United Church.
  • For years, the choir has wanted a beach, so on Thursday we’ll goback to Niagara Falls and spend the morning at an indoor water park. A concert at First Baptist Church of London ON Thursday evening will be our last in Canada.
  • On Friday, we enter the USA at Port Huron MI. Our last tour concert will be at First UMC Birmingham MI.

Watch for updates on the DGFUMC web site!!

Come see the Chapel Choir perform their tour concert here at home on Sunday, April 3 at 4:00pm and 7:00pm.

PADS Help Needed For April 5

March 18, 2011 - 11:25am

We are in need of someone to help out with the 11pm-3am shift for PADS on the evening of April 5. If you are available and willing, please contact Diane Kerr in the church office (630.968.7120).

THANK YOU!!

Daylight Saving

March 7, 2011 - 11:13pm

ClocksDon’t forget that on Sunday, March 13, clocks move forward an hour.

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God, as known to us in Jesus Christ, welcomes all.

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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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