We illuminate our community with God’s grace as we lovingly accept, listen to, and serve all in the Spirit of Jesus.

SUNDAY SERVICES TAKE PLACE IN-PERSON & ONLINE AT 9:00 AM

Worship Service airs live on our Website , YouTube  and  Facebook at 9 am.

Go to the Worship Page on our Website to find more information about future services.

Christ the King Sunday, November 24, 2024

When Friends Blow It - John 21:15-19

Even a good friend will make a mistake. Jesus’ friend Peter had a propensity to blow it -a lot- and with much heartache. Jesus shows us how friendships can be restored. Join us this Sunday as we conclude this series on what the Bible shows us about friendship.

This week's Bulletin can be found in the Document Center.  

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE OR EVENT INFORMATION

Submit information for inclusion in Messenger and/or Bulletin Announcements by Wednesday at Noon. Please use the button BELOW or click here for the COMMUNICATIONS submission form -- all requests for communicating an event should be made via this form, including getting items on the calendar and reserving rooms for your event. This form can also be found on the sign-up page on our website. If you cannot use the submission form please email communications@genevaumc.org. Information sent to this email goes to Carolyn, Lorie and Kimberley, as does the submission form. 

***THE THANKSGIVING DEADLINE IS TUESDAY AT 10:00 AM FOR COMMUNICATION

IN MESSENGER AND BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY NEXT WEEK.***

READY TO BAKE AND/OR EAT PIES?



It's time to bake some pies again! Please join us at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church this Sunday, November 24 at 6 pm -- our own Pastor Rob will be preaching this special community service. We are asked to bring pies to share after we worship together, and sign up ahead of time to get an idea of the count. Please do so here.

ZOOM INTO THE FUTURE: JOIN OUR TOWN HALL!

Curious about the 2025 church budget? Wondering how the new Minister of Formation & Outreach will shape our ministry? Have questions about what it takes to maintain our church for the next 40 years? Join us for a Zoom Townhall Meeting on December 1 at 3 p.m. to dive into these topics and more!

This is your chance to learn, ask questions, and prepare for the Annual Church Conference on December 4th. Can’t make it live? A recording will be available. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape the conversation about our church’s future!



Click for Zoom link

Meeting ID: 897 7140 7613

Passcode: 503502

All are invited to attend a potluck dinner and the All Church Conference on Wednesday, December 4

The potluck dinner will start at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Conference at 7:00 p.m. Come enjoy dinner together and then stay to hear about the latest church business.

If you have any questions, email Sharon Anderson.

A link to sign up for the potluck dinner is here -- hope to see you there!

We can show love and care to grieving families by helping with upcoming memorial service receptions. Volunteers are needed to greet, serve, bake, wash dishes, and set up for:

Nov. 22: Afternoon reception for the Vondrak Family

Nov. 23: Lunch for the Maier Family

Nov. 30: Afternoon reception for the Hardy Family

If you can offer your time and support through these acts of hospitality, don't hesitate to get in touch with Gale Dias or Cindy Caliendo. If you can serve as a greeter, please get in touch with Linda McConnell. Together, we can extend God’s grace to those in need.

Remember to stay for the Volunteer Reception!

A reception for all UMCG volunteers will be held on this Sunday, November 24, 2024, in Fellowship Hall immediately following the worship service.



If you volunteer a little or a lot, your contributions to the life of our church are appreciated, and we are grateful for your support. Join us as we say thank you to all UMCG volunteers.

MAKE YOUR OWN ADVENT WREATH

Sunday, December 1

10-10:30 a.m. Fellowship Hall

All supplies provided: candle holder ring, candles (wax or battery), and greenery. A booklet of readings will also be available.

Come join us and make an Advent Wreath to use at home. We also need volunteers to make Advent Wreaths for some of our homebound folks.

For more information contact Pastor Becky 630-452-5193 or pastorbeckyn@gmail.com

Angel Tree tags, supporting children through Tri-CIty Salvation Army, will be available in Fellowship Hall after worship this Sunday. Please pick up a tag with details about a child to shop for this Christmas. Then have fun shopping and bring the gift to church UNWRAPPED with your Angel tag attached by DECEMBER 8.

A gift box will be located on the same table as Angel Tags for the collection of gift cards (or money and we will purchase cards) for Salvation Army, Kane County CASA, and the 2 homeless shelters we support – Lazarus House and Hesed House. A check should be made out to UMCG. We suggest amounts of $20 from Target, Walmart or gas cards are always welcome -- teens love fast food or movie gift cards!

CAN YOU HELP BAKE OR WORK OUR 2ND ANNUAL WHOVILLE FEST?

We are so excited to host the Whoville Fest again and are looking for help working the event and/or baking treats for the party!

Click here to access our online signup!

COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECT -- GIFT BAG FOR PETS

This year the community outreach project for Whoville Fest will be to gift the dog and cat companions of the Meals on Wheels recipients a “Max Bag” of goodies. Each handcrafted Max Bag will include a toy and treats and will be assembled by the guests at Whoville Fest on December 7. The volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels will then deliver the bags on their meal delivery day.

We are looking for donations of cat and dog toys to include in the bags. A donation box is located in the Donation Station through Thursday, December 5, 2024. NO RAWHIDE BONES, PLEASE.

Advent Tea and Worship Service

Join us for the beautiful tradition of the Advent Tea and Worship Service Event on Monday, December 2nd at 9:30 am and 7:00 pm.

Our theme is Inner Christmas and the Holy Nights. Experience a service inviting us to draw inward creating a sacred space for the miraculous event of Christmas and consider ways of carrying this gift deep within our hearts and carrying it forward into the world.

Afterwards, we will have a festive celebration with tea and refreshments.

Come ONE, Come ALL, to our First UMCG Family Christmas Caroling Party on Saturday, December 14th!

You don’t have to have a great singing voice to sing Christmas carols, just a willingness to share the Spirit of the Christmas season with our homebound members in the church!

We will meet at the church at 12:30 PM; divide into groups, and drive to four, of our homebound members homes in Geneva and St.Charles by 1 pm. We’ll plan to sing right outside their doors for about 10 to 15 minutes and then move on to the next home. After we’re done caroling, we‘ll come back to the church, and sing to some of the neighbors around the church. To top off the afternoon, we will then enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies up in Fellowship Hall.

This is an ALL church activity, and would like to encourage families to join us for this fun afternoon of caroling to our homebound members in our church.And please invite a friend to join us in this caroling party! The more the merrier, and the stronger our voices will be!

Click here to RSVP -- the more the merrier! There will also be a sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall starting November 24.Any questions please talk to or contact Christine Donovan, 630-698-0021, ckd5@sbcglobal.net

THE CANTATA BAKE SALE IS COMING SOON!

Start your shopping list: Sugar, flour, butter . . . chocolate, of course! Get your favorite recipe out-- we are hoping for a delicious treat table!

Proceeds are for UMCOR hurricane relief, and Missions will match your donations this year!

Can’t wait to see all the delicious holiday treats! 

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL ADVENT STUDY: THE CHRISTMAS LETTERS

 By Magrey R. DeVega

BEGINS DECEMBER 1

Abingdon Press: “This Advent, Magrey de Vega invites you to explore some of the letters in the New Testament, the Epistles, to hear about the miracle of Christ's birth from those who first told the story.

Romans, 1 John, Philippians, and Colossians contain the earliest attempts by the church to understand and celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We are meant to read them as if they're written to us, to guide us, and to teach us and help us follow Christ. Spend time with these holy, ancient words this Advent, and come to appreciate the meaning of Christ's birth like never before.”

Adult Sunday School meets in the Parlor each Sunday at 10:30 am. The book is available through Amazon and other locations. The study will also be supported with a video each week. Please consider joining them and invite a friend for good discussions and fellowship! Contact Jim McConnell with questions.

An obituary is now available here for longtime member Ken Vondrak, whose service will be held TODAY at 3 pm at UMCG.

To buy tickets, use this link: https://www.genevafoundationforthearts.org/get-started/p/steeplewalk

Prairie Central eNews is here.

The NIC weekly eNews is here.

Download the NIC Reporter here.