Mission

We once again have a unique opportunity to join together for a special one-day off-site S.O.S. mission trip on Saturday, October 20 to Berry United Methodist Church in Chicago.

This will be the third year that volunteers from DGFUMC will work with Berry UMC members doing landscaping, painting, electrical, small carpentry, and other hands-on projects. This has been a rewarding experience supported jointly by the DGFUMC Board of Trustees and Missions, Justice, and Community Work Area.

Possible jobs this time include:

• painting projects
• replacing cabinets
• addressing some plumbing issues,
• landscaping and outdoor clean-up
• several other miscellaneous projects

Located in the vibrant and diverse Lincoln Square community, Berry UMC is a struggling urban church which has many maintenance and repair needs.

Everyone is invited to participate. Bring your family and friends or come by yourself. We will meet at DGFUMC at 8:00 a.m. and carpool to Chicago. We will plan on returning by 4:00 p.m.

Contact Don Dunham at don@dgfumc.org  if you are able to attend or want more information. Some painting supplies, tools, and other materials may be needed.

Our Senior High group is going on it's annual Mission Trip. This year we are going to Red Lake Reservation, Minnesota, through Group Workcamps. At Workcamps, teenagers come together to serve individuals and communities while building strong, long-lasting relationships with their friends and youth leaders. In six short days, hundreds of teenagers from youth groups across the country repair and transform homes while growing closer to Jesus.

See the attached registration form for more details.

The Mission, Justice and Community Work Area invites you to come hear church member Maggie Roth share her experience of traveling to Haiti with Watts of Love! More than one billion people in the world live without any electricity. Families in extreme poverty around the world are forced to depend on kerosene to light their lamps at night. As well as being a major household expense, kerosene is toxic and flammable, causing many injuries from burns and health issues from toxic soot. 

Watts of Love has, as its central mission, the goal of bringing safe light to families in the developing world. Starting with its first project in the Philippines in 2013, this organization has sought to free communities around the world from the harm caused by kerosene and help sustain them economically by enabling work outside daylight hours. 

Maggie Roth has been working with Watts of Love for the past year and traveled with a team to the Central Plateau region of Haiti from January 2 to 9 this year, to deliver safe lighting to impoverished communities. Please come and hear her story and view photos as she relates her experiences on that trip.

Lunch will be provided by MJC. Please sign up below or contact Sheila in the church office if you plan to come, so that we can estimate numbers.

What do you buy the person who has everything? How about a goat, a colony of honeybees, or a beautiful handmade craft?

The Advent season is filled with many warm traditions, and one of those traditions at Downers Grove First United Methodist Church is the Alternative Gift Fair. Many of you are familiar with the beautiful crafts handmade by the artisans of the UPAVIM (United for a Better Life) cooperative in Guatemala. These are gifts that give twice - first, your family and friends will enjoy receiving these lovely items. Second, you will also be empowering the women of La Esperanza in Guatemala City by giving them an opportunity to improve the quality of life for themselves and for their families through access to education, employment opportunities, daycare services for their children, health care services, and programs for personal and professional development. Choose from a large selection of colorful bags, scarves, Christmas ornaments, kitchen accessories, jewelry, and more.

Heifer International works with communities to find sustainable solutions to end world hunger and poverty. In the past, many of you have donated to Heifer's Living Gift program and some will recall the plaques that hang in the west stairwell recognizing DGFUMC for a high level of donations. This Advent season, MJC will partner with John Smoke to Fill the Ark in the hopes of once again reaching an impressive level of giving in our congregation. To learn more, visit our table in the parlor Sunday morning.

Best of all, you’ll be able to check off a few more names on your holiday gift-giving list while making a difference in our world. What a perfect way to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas!

Please come visit us in the parlor after each service during the Advent season.