JANUARY 2019 EDITION WHAT YOU CAN FIND INSIDE. Asset Based Community Development..3. Pastor s Column...2. United Methodist Women.6

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1 JANUARY 2019 EDITION WHAT YOU CAN FIND INSIDE Pastor s Column...2 Let s Go Fellowship Connectors....3 Asset Based Community Development..3 6th Grade Interfaith Fieldtrip...4 Relevant Times Adult Sunday School...5 United Methodist Women.6 Congregational Care...8 Birthday Celebrations....9

2 I Resolve: Stories that Illuminate from the Children of God Have you made your New Year s resolution? It s that time of year when we resolve to do something different. But what can we possibly do this year that will make a difference? It seems like no matter what we do, problems continue in our lives and in the world. What resolution can we make that will change things for the better? Perhaps we can resolve that we are all children of God! Let us resolve to welcome all people... to stand up against prejudice and discrimination... to protect the environment.. to stand up for the oppressed and vulnerable and those who live on the margins. For when we do, there is nothing and no one who can separate you from the truth that we are family. This January you are invited to join us in a new worship series stories that illuminates how we are all children of God. Mark Miller, in his song, Child of God, writes, There is no thing or no one who can separate, they can t separate you from the truth that you re someone, you are family. Join us for a wonderful new series created by Wesley s Core planning team. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4:18-19 Worship Series: January 6 th Epiphany of the Lord Matthew 2:1-12 Message Title: I Resolve: To Trouble Those Who Thirst For Power January 13 th Baptism of the Lord Luke 3:15-17, Message Title: I Resolve: To Live Out My Baptism of Fire and Water January 20 th 2nd Sunday After the Epiphany 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Message Title: I Resolve: To Fully Express The Gifts I Am Given January 27 th 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany Guest Preacher: Dr. Mary Nelson

3 CONNECTORS A new group has been meeting to implement our new strategic plan to improve the way visitors move into discipleship and membership at Wesley. We discovered a way to follow up with inactive members, we are discovering ways to follow up with first time visitors, we discovered ways to monitor and track our progress, we discovered a way to publish our small group programs for visitors and we discovered how to improve our communication with visitors. Our next meeting is January 13 th at noon following the worship service. All are welcome! LET S GO ADULT FELLOWSHIP Let s Go is a social group open to all adult members and friends of Wesley. Save the date for these fun upcoming events: January 12, Saturday: Stone Soup Party at McKnight s. Bring a soup ingredient to add to the stock pot, and a donation for missions. Start time TBD. February 9, Saturday: Pizza Party at Lindgren s. We will make homemade pizzas in the pizza oven. March 16, Saturday: St. Patrick s Day Party at Breazeale s. Our annual party for wearin o the green and eating Irish foods! ASSET BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT There is a small group meeting monthly to talk about Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). We met in December to spend a night together talking about our community and creating an asset map and inventory of our neighborhood. We listed all of the individuals, associations, institutions, public space, local economies, and cultural/stories around us. Our Sunday, January 27th, Dr. Mary Nelson who teaches ABCD at DePaul University, will be our guest preacher to talk about her work with congregations in their neighborhoods. You won't want to miss Dr. Nelson tell her stories. Our next meeting is scheduled for January 10th at 6 pm. Dinner will be served. MUG CLUB BREWINGS Enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation. This is a social group of men with lots to talk about and too much time on our hands. We have not had too many solutions, but we ve had lots of fellowship. We invite you to join us! For more details call Herb at or check with any of the other men who are regular attenders! Mug Club Brewings: Where: Colonial Café at West Plaza When: Every 9am On the third Thursday of the month we meet at Bruce Lindgren s 2pm. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP Wesley UMC has a Caregivers Support Group that meets the third Thursday of each month for lunch, at noon at Mother s on Galena. If you are a caregiver for a loved one or a friend, or are working for a company that places caregivers in homes of those in need; if you have been a caregiver; or if you anticipate being a caregiver and want to come and commiserate with us, you are invited to join us. All are welcome, men and women, young and old. We offer one another support, compassion, and a willing ear to listen. Jan 3 Jan 10 Jan 17 Jan 24 Jan 31 For more information, contact Wendy Evans at wendy-evans@att.net, or stop and chat at church on Sundays.

4 SIXTH GRADE INTERFAITH FIELDTRIP Over sixty sixth graders from Meadowview Elementary School in Woodridge visited Wesley United Methodist Church on Wednesday, November 28 th. For thirty minutes, Pastor John talked to the kids in the sanctuary about what makes United Methodist distinct and why participating with the interfaith community is essential for us. They also got to hear the organ played by Thew Elliot. They also visited a Hindu Temple, Mosque, and would later be visited in class by a Rabbi. The sixth-grade teachers at Meadowview designed a unit to help the sixth graders learn about other faith communities. The teachers were stirred by the recent rise in religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States. The field trip was the culmination of their unit. NEW COFFEE MAKER AND COFFEE A big WESLEY Thank You to Darrel Voitik for helping us purchase a brand new, state of the art, coffee maker. We brewed our first cups on Sunday, December 23 rd. We quickly ran out of coffee and had to make more! Darrel has also made it possible for us to purchase coffee that is locally roasted by Marcus from Modest Coffee who resides down the street from the church. Modest is sold at Priscos and to high-end restaurants in the surrounding area. We hope to one day open up a coffee bar that is open throughout the week for anyone who comes through our building or is in the neighborhood. If you know anyone who is or would like to become a barista, contact the church office!

5 RELEVANT TIMES ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL Warm Hearts Provide Warmth for Aurora Children because members of the Relevant Times Adult Sunday School Class collected hats and mittens for the children at Smith School. Sandra Frazier presented them to the School Social Worker, Julie Parikh, who was delighted to receive them on behalf of the children. On January 13 th the class will begin a New Year s Series: Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times by Adam Hamilton. You'd be hard-pressed to overstate the extent to which fear, anxiety, and worry permeate our lives today. Fear wreaks havoc on our relationships and communities. It leads us into making bad decisions. It holds us back from the very pursuits that promise fulfillment and joy. Making matters worse, not a week goes by when some new threat or calamity isn't dominating the headlines. Why are there so many tragedies? We wonder. What will happen next? Drawing on recent research, inspiring real-life examples, and fresh biblical insight, Hamilton shows how to untangle the knots we feel about disappointing others, failure, financial insecurity, loneliness, insignificance, and aging. Then he helps readers understand and counter fears related to such outsize perils as terrorism, death, and the apocalypse. The Relevant Times Adult Sunday School Class meets at 10:15 Sunday mornings in the Church Library with Debbie Fisher in the Library and Wednesday evenings at 6:00pm with Pastor John in the Parlor.

6 18 women met for the December unit meeting on December 3 rd at the home of Lekha Cristanujaya for appetizers, program, and instillation of officers and a white elephant gift exchange. Much fellowship and laughter was had by all. Susanna Circle Mari Curless will host Susanna Circle at her home on January 7th at 6 p.m. Potluck supper. United Methodist Women Board Meeting UMW board Meeting is January 16th at 5:45 p.m. in Pastor John s Office. Pick up your supper and eat while we plan. Hannah Circle Hannah Circle will meet on January 24th at 1:00 p.m. at Bright Oaks, 1340 River Street, Aurora. Join us for fellowship. Please consider joining the ladies if you are interest in attending a daytime UMW Meeting. Esther Circle Esther Circle will meet on Jan 24 th at 6pm in the church library for continued Bible study. Congratulations to all the new Officers! We look forward to another successful year! President Mari Curless Vice President Shirley McKnight Secretary Sharon Livingston Treasurer Lekha Cristanujaya Program Resources Kari Nicholson - Rigaud Membership Secretary Jan Allman Rememberances Vicki Martin Social Actions Emmy Lou John Communications Jamie Reynolds Contact Persons Susanna Circle Kristi Mennecke Hannah Circle Emmy Lou John Esther Circle Emmy Lou John Needle Crafters Martha Griffith Tuesday Crafters Vicki Martin

7 Faith United Methodist Church Grant St Dolton, Illinois Drive, or take public transportation Doors open 9:00am Event begins 9:30am Leave for 4:00pm If you would like to go please register with the link provided. Wesley UMC will cover your registration fee. If you have any questions please contact John Bell.

8 THANK YOU Thank you to all who purchased Poinsettias they were a beautiful sight on the altar! Sixteen of the 27 were designated for homebound members. The Visitation committee delivered them along with an attached tag stating: This poinsettia has been at the front of our church. It has heard the hymns sung, the prayers offered, and the sermon preached. Now it comes to share God s love with you. That s one blessing that will never wither away. A special thank you to Pat Price, Juanita Beck and Karen Covalt for taking their time to arrange to poinsettias for us. It was beautiful. OPERATION PAPERBACK Wesley Received a very nice Thank You card from Charmanie Lowe, a solder who received books from Wesley UMC.

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11 Bad Girls Bible Study Meredith Lindgren Caregiver Support Group Wendy Evans Club 345 Jessica Garza Fine Arts Committee Jamie Reynolds Hesed House Bob McKnight Let s Go Fellowship Meredith Lindgren psalmmom418@gmail.com Morning Needle Crafters Martha Griffith clayhannie@aol.com Mug Club Herb John herbjohn@ymail.com Prayer Group Mary Terrell terrell.mary1@gmail.com Prayer Shawl Ministry Martha Griffith clayhannie@aol.com Special Events Coordinator Lynn Burnett Le.burnett@yahoo.com Sunday Morning FaithLink Emmy Lou John emmyloujohn@yahoo.com Tuesday Crafters Vicki Martin vickimartin2@comcast.net United Methodist Men Herb John herbjohn@ymail.com United Methodist Women Vicki Martin vickimartin2@comcast.net Welcome Desk Volunteers Judy Brown judybrownprestbury@gmail.com Wednesday Night Bible Study Darrell Voitik dvoitik1@gmail.com Wesley Gardeners Meredith Lindgren psalmmom418@gmail.com Wesley Golfers Ralph Breazeale jrbreeze47@comcast.net Yoga Classes Ann Merk asm52@yahoo.com

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