If you need access to the building or would like to schedule a meeting or time in the sanctuary to pray, we ask that you contact the office by calling 309-827-8046 Monday through Thursday from 9am - 3 pm and Friday 9 am through 1 pm or sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Currently most staff members are working from home, please use phone or e-mail to contact them.
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COVID UPDATE FROM BISHOP BEARD
On January 27, 2021, Bishop Beard released a COVID update, moving Region Two (including McLean County) to Phase Four of the Restore Illinois/Coming Back to the Heart of Worship plan. See news release here. Wesley’s “Re-Entry Task Force,” established in November to help navigate changing restrictions and church community activity, is working with your Ad Council regarding adjusting COVID restrictions. The Re-Entry Task Force includes Administrative Council chair, pastors, facility manager, public health and environmental health professionals in our congregation.
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{ WORSHIP SCHEDULE }
Join us for Worship this Sunday!
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(Sunday's worship service will be posted on our website by 9 am)
Are We There Yet: God Starts With a Movement Too Small to See
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“Are We There Yet?”
Lent 2021: Wandering in the Wilderness
and What We Learned There
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Join Wesley Church as we remember a journey, long ago, traveled by Moses and the Israelites as they made their way through a never-ending wilderness and toward the Promised Land. The journey is adaptable to whatever COVID sends us and can be engaged entirely from home.
Click here for the Wesley Lent Resource page.
LENTEN DEVOTIONAL: WILDERNESS - Free devotional booklet, mailed to your home! Enjoy it together with our Daily Devotional videos.
LENT KIT: Prepared especially for you, to provide hands-on connections to our weekly worship and daily devotions. Inside your kit you’ll find a candle, a cloth, colored pencils, seeds, daily prayer cards, and more.
If you have not received a Lent kit and/or devotional booklet, call the church office (309-827-8046) or e-mail [email protected] to make arrangements for pick up or delivery.
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Sundays in Lent (worship posted by 9:00am) Following the journey of Moses and the Israelites through the desert.
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Palm Sunday, March 28 – 11:00am worship outside with our neighbors and Palm Parade. (Service will be posted online at 6:00 pm)
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Maundy Thursday, April 1 (worship posted by 6:00pm) Including Holy Communion
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Good Friday, April 2 (worship posted by 12 noon) Ecumenical Bloomington service
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Easter Sunday, April 4 – 11:00 worship with our neighbors, celebrating Christ’s Resurrection! (Service will be posted online at 6:00pm)
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Wilderness Themed Lenten
Sacred Space Centerpiece
Join us in creating a Wilderness themed Lenten Sacred Space, a place where you can sit each day to pray and spend time in personal devotion. Follow this link for ideas on creating a Wilderness themed centerpiece.
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2021 LENTEN OFFERING
Make an impact in the lives of people around the world by giving to the 2021 Missions Lenten Offering. This offering will support the work of the following projects and missions:
- Africa University Scholarships
- Central Conference Pastor Pension Fund
- El Porvenir – Clean Water for Nicaragua
- Mid-West Mission Distribution
- Our Conference Our Kids (OCOK) Endowment
- United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
- UM Ganta Hospital – Liberia
- UM Kissy Clinic - Sierra Leone
Check our website, for additional details on each recipient and to give online. You may also mail donations to Wesley UMC, 502 E Front, Bloomington, IL 61701 – be sure to mark your check “Lenten Offering”. Give as you can. Every donation is appreciated.
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ADULT STUDY OPPORTUNITIES |
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NEW! Lenten study, Moses by Adam Hamilton begins February 23. Turn your reluctance into boldness by walking in Moses' footsteps.
This 6-week study meets on Tuesday nights, 6-7 pm beginning February 23. Contact Kathi Pritts for more info.
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NEW! Join Barb Phend for an 8-week study of The Miracles of Jesus by Jessica LaGrone.
The class will meet via Zoom on Thursdays at 1:00 pm through early April. Contact [email protected] for the zoom link. Contact Kathi for the zoom link.
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Men's Group study Wednesday at noon.
Adam Hamilton brings modern eyes to the most famous set of rules in history, the Ten Commandments as more than just a set of prohibitions. Contact Greg Yount for the zoom link.
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CONFERENCE CAMPING FUNDRAISER |
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Conference camping has a long-standing history of creating opportunities for spiritual growth in young disciples of our faith. Wesley UMC is re-committing our youth and children’s ministry programs to sending our students to camp each summer to experience the joy and sacredness of summer camp programming.
When in-person camp programming was cancelled this past summer in 2020, not only were many students and volunteers disappointed and upset, but vital revenue was lost causing financial distress for both camps.
Our conference camping ministries are planning a FITNESS CHALLENGE-FUNDRAISER to help raise and replace money lost in the pandemic this summer! Beginning on March 1st, you are invited to walk/run/hike or jog 262 miles, which represents the distance between Little Grassy to East Bay, our 2 conference-owned and operating camps in the IGRC.
Everyone is invited to take the next 6 months and complete the distance while tracking your miles in a private Facebook group with other people across the state!
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Registration for the event is $50 which covers roughly half a day of camp programming for 1 student.
You are invited to ask/find a sponsor who would match your donation through your fitness journey, which would fully fund a whole day of camp for 1 student!
Kelsey Ross, our Director of Youth Ministries at Wesley, is planning to complete the "round trip" tier of the fundraiser, and do 524 miles between March 1st and August 31st, and is looking for a sponsor/running buddy who will match the registration fee of $80!
Additional information about a Wesley 5K run to be held in warmer weather will be announced at a later date.
Consider donating or joining our effort to get outside and get well as we support the summer ministries at our conference camps. For more information and to sign up for the walk/run challenge visit https://igrcamps.com/lake2bay/ . Contact Kelsey with any questions.
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Camping Registration for this summer is officially open! Specific details about summer programming are to be announced, but we can assure you that the conference is taking all steps necessary to keep everyone safe this summer. If you have an interest in having your child (3rd through 12th grade) attend camp this summer, please consider registering them early to reserve a spot.
If you have any questions about summer programming at our conference, please reach out to Kelsey at [email protected].
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Paint the Town WESLEY
is for everyone:
families with kids,
empty-nesters, individuals,
the young at heart, etc.
ALL are encouraged to participate and are welcome to invite friends!
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Wesley UMC is finding new ways to do ministry during Phase 4 of COVID-19. Please plan to join us for "Paint the Town WESLEY" events. Watch the Alive for details as we begin to schedule events on various days of the week.
As a church family we will be engaging in safe, socially distanced activities in an attempt to show the community how much God loves them, who we are, and to bind us together during this challenging time.
SATURDAY, MARCH 6 – GLOW-IN-THE-DARK SNOWBALL FIGHT
Join us on March 6th from 6-7:00 pm for Paint the Town Wesley: Glow-in-the-dark snowball fight! We will have hot chocolate, glow sticks, lawn games and PLENTY of (real or fake) snow for a big all-church snowball fight in our parking lot. There will be something for everyone and we are excited to spend some time together as Wesley family in the winter weather. Dress warm and come prepared for a night of fun and games. Any questions contact Kelsey.
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DRIVE-THRU EVENT AT WESLEY WEST
Saturday, February 20 - 9-11 am
We still need your help!
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Donations Needed:
Diapers: sizes 5, 6, 4T-5T; Facial Tissue; Baby wipes
Donations can be dropped off in the collection box located at the entrance door
of Wesley West at any time,
Monday - Friday.
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We are always looking for volunteers!
If you have a group who would like to help the following dates are open: Feb. 20, Mar. 20, May 15, and June 19.
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Monetary donations are welcome! CLICK HERE to give online
be sure to note WDM in the memo OR mail to the church at:
502 E. Front Street, Bloomington, IL 61701
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Just One Collection
for February
Too many children are arriving at school with inadequate winter wear. The Church and Society committee wants to help fix that problem. For the month of February we will be collecting new or gently used winter coats for children in kindergarten to 5th grade – around sizes 6 to 14. We will then distribute those coats to some of our local schools.
The coats can be placed in the Just One box which will be located just outside of the parking lot (east) door of the church anytime during the month of February. Staff and committee members will empty the box daily.
Note: 19 coats have been delivered to Washington and Bent schools. The most pressing need at this time is larger sizes for the bigger kids.
Thank you, Wesley, for all that you do!
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Wesley Rummage Sale is scheduled
for June 26th!
Watch future publications for
additional information.
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If you have news to share with the Wesley family
let us know by e-mailing
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{ DAILY DEVOTIONS }
Click here to enjoy a daily devotion from Pastor Sara,
Pastor Justin and other leaders in our church.
Ways to Connect:
look for our emails in your inbox.
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THANK YOU!
We have received tremendous financial
support through these uncertain times.
We are SO grateful to our
congregation for giving generously
and stepping forward in FAITH!
There are many ways to GIVE
from the safety and comfort of your home.
TEXT "$__ OFFERING" to 309.822.4442,
or mail your offering to the church:
502 East Front Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
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Wesley Emergency Numbers after Office Hours:
Rev. Sara L. Isbell 217.299.4870
Rev. Justin Iverson 701.809.1203
Rev. Sally Hamon 217.853.9117
Wesley United Methodist Church:
502 E. Front Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
Office 309.827.8046
You can also visit us on Facebook and YouTube
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