January 28th, 2022
CLICK all [RED LINKS] and IMAGES for more info!
SERVICE UPDATE:
There Will be In-Person and Online Services this Sunday
Sunday's sermon:
Birthing of a New Heart
Last Week's Attendance
Traditional Service: 101
Contemporary Service: 35
Sunday School: 61
Online views: 117 (unique viewers)*

*Unique views are the number of the unique users that click on one of our sermons. If a single user views 5 times on a link, the server will record 5 views and 1 unique view.
Wesley UMC Celebrates 70 Years of Ministry on February 6, 2022!
We are so excited to announce that Bishop Frank Beard will be joining us on February 6th to celebrate this monumental occasion!

February 2022 marks 70 years we have worshiped here at Wesley UMC Bloomington. Please be a part of our upcoming celebrations on Sunday, February 6th along with all of our Wesley staff as we reminisce through our many transformations that have made Wesley the wonderful church community it is today! Click here for more information!
A Special Offering to Build on Wesley’s Firm Foundation
To celebrate our Wesley UMC 70th Anniversary, we will collect a special offering on Feb 6th 2022 to invest in the Wesley West Construction project (click here for more information about the project). This project is being planned by our Trustees Committee to protect and enhance the Distribution Ministry at Wesley West (click here for more information about this ministry). 
A gift of 70 items would be symbolic of the 70 years we are celebrating. For example, children could offer 70 pennies, youth could offer 70 dimes, and adults could offer 70 dollars. Of course, your donations are not limited to these suggestions! We would be delighted to receive $70, $140, $280, or any amount at all, to support the expansion project.
Special Offering boxes will be located at the sanctuary doors beginning Feb 6. You may place your offering in the box or send to Wesley UMC, 502 E. Front St, Bloomington, IL 61701, or give through our Give page. Please indicate ‘Wesley West Building Project’ on your check or in the Other Ministry Fund option on the website.
We want to assure you that we take the health and well-being of our community, congregation, and staff very seriously. With the serious spike in recent infections and close contact cases, we are going to continue service this week in-person and online. We are encouraging those who can view online to do so while the numbers for confirmed infections become manageable. For those who would like to attend in-person worship, please wear your mask at all times when inside Wesley Church. Keep up to date on the Church COVID policies and procedures HERE.

Thank you for your patience as we navigate through this brief wave of infections. Stay well – and please wear your masks!

Blessings,
Wesley Staff
  • We will stream two services this week. There will be a Traditional Service at 9:00am and a Contemporary Service at 11:30am.
Stewardship through Wesley
To look after the world for God.
Current numbers:
We are asking for everyone in our congregation to please return an Investment Goal. Our goal is for 300 members to return a card. 

Currently, we have 194. 

We have a budget goal for 2022 of $1.2 million. Please bring in your commitment card at your earliest convenience as the successes of our Wesley UMC Bloomington Ministries and our Church depend on it!

Currently, we have received $861,231.
You can also view and invest online at www.WesleyUMCBloomington.org/stewardship2021
Sunday, January 30th
SUNDAY SERVICE IS IN-PERSON AND ONLINE THIS WEEK
In Wesley’s elementary Sunday school programming an Orange© philosophy and strategy is central. We believe that two combined influences make a greater impact than just two individual influences.
Faith & Character

The ParentCue.org is an amazing resource that also uses the OrangeⒸ philosophy for teaching our children! Weekly activities and devotionals are offered to guide kids to trust Jesus. All of this is aimed at being done in a way that changes how they see God, themselves, and the rest of the world.

Sunday School for PreSchool

We are meeting in-person! Ms. Liz will send out the Sunday Experience Link and coloring page on Sunday morning. If you don't get Ms. Liz's email and would like to, please let her know at:
Sunday School for Children

We look forward to gathering online for our Children's Sunday School if you aren't able to make it in person! Please click the link below and as always, please stay safe!
Sunday School for Youth

Wesley's Youth team is so excited to see you again this Sunday! Please click on the link below to join us online! For those meeting in-person, we'll see you this Sunday!
Sunday School for Adults
Please click below to join us online or in-person for Adult Sunday School at Wesley (Making Sense of the Bible). We look forward to seeing you and encourage you to stay safe!
Confirmation Continues!
Confirmation class prepares young people to make their own decision about following Jesus. Wesley UMC offers Confirmation class for students in 8th grade. The class covers the history of Methodism, the history of the home church, sacraments, missions, discipleship and making a confirmation stole. Wesley confirmation class has eleven students. We will celebrate the completion of this chapter in their faith journey in April, 2022. We would like to thank Paula Witt for sharing Wesley United Methodist Church’s history with our confirmands. For more information about Confirmation please contact Pastor Evans at Wesley.
Tuesday, February 1st
WBB OPEN HOUSE!
What a great way to see our classrooms and meet our teachers! As always, we encourage your thoughts and questions.

For more information, please click here. You may also feel free to email our Director, Julie Loy.
Wednesday, February 3rd
Join us for Wednesdays at Wesley!
(please check email on Tuesday for possible cancellations)
12:00-1:00 Men's Study Group
(online only)
Contact Greg Yount for more info
6:00-7:30 Children’s Activities 
6:00-6:50 Chimes of Glory
6:30-7:30 Wesley Brass 
6:30-7:30 Sr. High Study:
Love Wins by Rob Bell
6:50-7:20 Wesley Singers
(with children’s activities) 
7:00-8:30 Bells of Wesley 
7:15-8:30 Chancel Choir
Sunday, January 30th
National Gun Violence Survivor Week Vigil
In response to the recent hostage crisis at Congregation Beth-Israel, there will be a vigil for National Gun Violence Survivor Week on Sunday, Jan. 30 at 3:00pm, on the steps of the McLean County History Museum.
Sunday, February 13th
Scout Sunday Feb 13, 2022
We would love for our scouting participants to join us in the February 13th service. BSA girls, boys, Brownies, Girl Scouts and all who are in organized scouting. Please contact Jim Robinson to be part of our ceremony!
Join us for Scout Sunday as this is an opportunity for units to attend services in uniform, conduct a flag ceremony, speak about Scouting, present religious awards and/or formally thank the chartering organization for their support throughout the year. All scouting organizations are encouraged to participate! Click here for info
Wesley SURGE will be hosting SouperBowl of Caring after both worship services on Sunday, February 13th! Bring your loose change to church that morning and drop it in the bucket of the team you think will win! Look for us with our buckets in the back of the sanctuary. All proceeds will go to our Safe Harbor meal fund at Wesley. 
Friday, February 18th
Begins Feb 18th at 6 pm 
Contact Steph Hoy or Kathi Pritts to reserve a space. Bring your own art materials or we will provide material choices and a small donation can be made.

Our first project will be an acrylic paint on canvas CROSS project for all ages and all ability levels. 
Thank you for all of your support throughout the year! Just One is one of the many vital ministries here at Wesley UMC Bloomington.

Through the month of January, Just One will be collecting deodorant and hand soap. Each donation goes directly to local children, teens, and adults in need of these basic products. You can leave donations in the hall across from the Garden Room at Wesley.
Making offerings to Wesley ministries is easier than ever with our multiple methods of giving. Simply click the 'Give' logo to view our web page. You can also text your offering by texting:

"$(dollar amount)" to: (309) 822-4442
We gave away 320 bags of paper goods and 270 packages of diapers on a very cold, wintery day. Over 1,000 individuals were helped through this ministry. In addition to paper goods, we gave away eggs, food boxes, scarves, ear warmers, hats, gloves and winter coats. We had 32 volunteers including 5 from Vision Point Eye Center.

OUR NEXT DISTRIBUTION IS FEBRUARY 19
Volunteers Please! CLICK HERE

Drop-off of paper products can be placed in the bin across from the Garden Room.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS WITH THE WESLEY RUMMAGE SALE!
Wesley celebrates 50 years of our amazing rummage sale! This year, Wesley's annual Rummage Sale is coming to the Interstate Center in April and we would like to get the ball rolling! We will need volunteers and donations to get it started. For more information, click here!
Book Studies at Wesley

Here at Wesley, we LOVE our book studies!

Start the New Year with Friends at Wesley! We have many different book studies here at Wesley UMC, and we are sure there is at least one you will love! Wesley is consistently offering new studies on faith, discovery, exploration, and more. It is such a privilege to see how successful our studies are throughout some of the toughest times our communities have endured. We offer in-person as well as online studies. All throughout the week, there is a different study offering the welcoming presence of like-minded and curious people just like you. Your families and friends are more than welcome to join!!
HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY! 
Ida Meihsner turned 100 on January 25, 2022.


 CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Kimberly and Justin Iverson
(and dog, Cooper)
They will be welcoming a baby into the world in July! Updates as they come.
Winterfest 2022 was AWESOME!
Last week, members of SURGE Youth Group went to Little Grassy for our annual Winter youth retreat. To see some pictures of what makes SURGE so successful, click here and head over to the Wesley Youth webpage!

Share your great news with the Wesley family!
CLICK HERE or call 309-827-8046
In memory of:
Mike Ehrmantraut
Mike passed away Tuesday January 25. Service announcements will be released soon. Please keep his family in your prayers.

In honor of our brave friend Emma Welp, Brownie Troop 1045 is hosting a Valentine’s Day Card Shower for Maggie (sister Girl Scout from GSGCNWI) who was recently diagnosed with DIPG (Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma). If you’d like to add a card (store bought, homemade or even computer generated) to our troop mailing, we will be collecting them until 2/7. 

We are so grateful to Wesley UMC for being our home base and would love to have the church staff and the congregation participate with us as we lift the spirits of Maggie and her family.  
Hospital Visits

As healthcare facilities are beginning to allow area clergy to visit patients again, please remember to notify the Church office or a pastor when you or a loved one are admitted to a local hospital. Hospitals are not currently allowing churches to inquire about their congregants' inpatient status or room number. We will not know if you have been admitted to the hospital unless you give us a call.

If you have news to share with the Wesley family let us know by clicking HERE or calling 309-827-8046.
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. CLICK HERE to submit your offering online, TEXT "$__ OFFERING" to 309.822.4442, or mail your offering to the church:

Wesley United Methodist Church
502 East Front Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
The offerings you make to Wesley UMC are the source for all the wonderful things we do in our communities. Click the Wesley Give image and share the possibilities of a better day with our local friends and families
Ways to Connect:
Visit us online at www.WesleyUMCBloomington.org; subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on Facebook or continue to look for our emails in your inbox. Tell your friends and families about the Alive newsletter! There just may be something we can do together!
Wesley Emergency Number after Office Hours:
Rev. Sara L. Isbell  217.299.4870 

Wesley United Methodist Church:
502 E. Front Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
Office 309.827.8046
 
Visit www.WesleyUMCBloomington.org for more information about our news and events.
You can also visit us on Facebook, instagram, twitter, and YouTube