February 25th, 2022
CLICK all [RED LINKS] and IMAGES for more info!
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February 27th is Camping Sunday at Wesley! Join us for both of our morning worship services as we talk about conference camping ministries. You are invited to come as you are on the 27th. Wear your casual camp clothes and come ready for a service that resembles our worship at camp: stripped down of our fancy apparel and in the midst of God's most sacred creation.
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Immediately following both worship services we will have a fundraiser for camping scholarships in the Garden Room. Stop by and purchase an individual S'mores kit for $5 a piece. You can make your S'mores over a bonfire in the courtyard next to the prayer labyrinth and have a snack after church! All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to our Wesley Camping Scholarship fund to send our kids to camp.
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That afternoon from 2:00-3:00pm we will have a camp registration party in the Conference Room. Come by with your kids and bring a laptop, tablet or phone and Kelsey can help you get your child signed up for camp! For more information, you can click here or contact Kelsey Ross.
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SERVICE UPDATE:
There will be two in-Person and online Services this Sunday
Traditional: 9:00am, Contemporary 11:30am
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Sunday's sermon:
Camping Sunday
With Kelsey Ross
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Last Week's Attendance
In-person Services: 212
Sunday School: 76
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Wesley’s Re-Entry Team – made up of health professionals and other knowledgeable members of our congregation and staff have met to discuss the upcoming discontinuation of mask mandates in Illinois. As of March 1, Wesley will follow the guidelines set by Governor Pritzker and make face-masks optional (but still welcome!) for persons in our building. At this time, masks will still be required for persons working directly with (unvaccinated) children and persons using the bus/van. Thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time. For all of the information on Wesley's policies and health guidelines concerning COVID please click here. |
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This week, we are offering a link from the Board of Discipleship on African American History. CLICK HERE to view an article highlighting 28 stories for 28 days of pioneering black leadership in the world community.
Each week we will highlight seven people of leadership in African American history. Here are this week’s prominent people you should know.
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SUNDAY SERVICE IS IN-PERSON AND ONLINE THIS WEEK |
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There will be two services this week which we will also live stream on our YouTube channel. There will be a traditional service at 9:00am and a contemporary service directly following at 11:30am
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We have awesome Sunday School opportunities for all ages!
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.
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Sunday School for PreSchool
We are meeting in-person, Ms. Shawn and Ms. Maggie will be with kiddos this Sunday! Ms. Liz will send out the Sunday Experience Link and coloring page on Sunday afternoon.
If you don't get Ms. Liz's email and would like to, please let her know at:
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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! Click the email link below for information and as always, please stay safe!
Contact Kathi Pritts for the zoom link at:
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Sunday School for Youth
Wesley's Youth team is so excited to see you again this Sunday! Click the email link below for information and as always, please stay safe! For those meeting in-person, we'll see you this Sunday!
Contact Kathi Pritts for the zoom link at:
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Please click below to join us online or in-person at Wesley in the Lounge for Adult Sunday School at Wesley (Making Sense of the Bible). We look forward to seeing you and encourage you to stay safe!
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Confirmation class prepares young people to make their own decision about following Jesus and becoming full professing members of Wesley UMC. A professing member is one who intends to live the vows of the baptismal and membership covenant in the local congregation and The United Methodist Church. A full professing member can serve on any committee, agency, or board in the UMC from the local church, district, conference, and beyond. 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. For more information about Confirmation please contact Pastor Evans at Wesley.
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Ash Wednesday at Wesley, March 2nd |
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Ash Wednesday Service will be held at 6:30pm here at Wesley Church. This service will also be streamed on our YouTube Channel. For information on the service, please click here.
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ASH WEDNESDAY DRIVE-THRU ASHES |
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DRIVE THROUGH WESLEY WEST ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2ND!
Receive an Ash Wednesday blessing on your commute! On March 2, we will be hosting an Ash Wednesday drive thru event. If you would like to receive blessing or ashes from the church, please come to the Wesley West drive thru from 6:30am - -8:30am or from 11:30am - 1:30pm.
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Most of us think we already know The Lord’s Prayer. After all, we say it together every Sunday in church, and sometimes we even say it by ourselves at home! But do we take the time, when we pray, to think about what these words really mean – what we are actually asking God for?
This Lent, Wesley United Methodist Church will be studying The Lord’s Prayer together, using Adam Hamilton’s new book, “The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught.” Each Sunday in Lent, Pastor Sara and Pastor Evans will examine a phrase of The Lord’s Prayer and preach on its meaning and impact for our lives. Then, small groups throughout the week will meet to discuss that portion of the prayer, using the book and video provided for the series. Adults, youth and children are all included in this study. Books are available for $10; let Kathi Pritts know if you would like a copy. For gathering times, and locations, please click here.
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Join us for Wednesdays at Wesley!
(please check email on Tuesday for possible cancellations)
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February 19th was an extremely cold day for our paper distribution but our faithful volunteers managed to serve 303 families, around 1000 individuals, plus delivered 60 food boxes to our neighbors at the Washington Street Apartments. Thanks to the generosity of our congregation, we had enough supplies for every family. Eggs, donated by our egg lady Shari and warm scarves and hats, donated by some of our knitters were also greatly appreciated by our guests.
OUR NEXT DISTRIBUTION IS MARCH 19
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Current Donations Needed:
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Drop-off of paper products can be placed in the bin across from the Garden Room.
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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!
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The rummage sale is rapidly approaching (April 23rd) and we are excited to host it again!
Ways YOU can help make this rummage sale a success:
- You can clean out your closets, basements, garages, etc.! Drop offs to the Interstate Center are as follows:
Monday, April 18 Noon – 9PM
Tuesday, April 19 9AM – 9PM
Wednesday, April 20 9AM – 9PM
Thursday, April 21 9AM – 9 PM
We will unload your vehicle for you!
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You can work at the Interstate Center, organizing and pricing items. Just come out to the West Expo Building and we will find a place for you. We welcome you anytime, any day! If you work just 5 hours you can participate in the Friday evening worker sale!!
Monday, April 18 noon – 9PM
Tuesday, April 19 9AM – 9PM
Wednesday, April 20 9AM – 9PM
Thursday, April 21 9AM – 9PM
Friday, April 22 9AM – 4PM
Saturday, April 23 7AM – 3PM Sale Day!!
If you plan to work on sale day, please email Diane Yount at: g.yount@frontier.com or call/text her at 309-531-1500.
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WBB Pie Fundraiser Chair
Wesley’s Bright Beginning Board is looking for an enthusiastic and organized person to chair the pie fundraiser. This is the largest fundraiser for Wesley’s Bright Beginnings Preschool and is a short term project from early October until the week before Thanksgiving. The chair works closely with Sysco food service. WBB staff help distribute flyers and collect orders for the preschool and board members assist with pie pick up.
If you are interested or would like more information, please email
Diane Yount at g.yount@frontier.com
or call her at 309-531-1500.
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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 February, Just One will be collecting tooth brushes, tooth paste, mouth wash, dental floss, and dental picks. 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.
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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
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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!!
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Wesley’s Business Administrator, Myrna Simpson, is retiring! |
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Myrna has worked tirelessly for Wesley Church and our congregation for the past 22 years and her efforts have been greatly appreciated. The Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) is hosting a reception to honor Myrna on Sunday, March 6th, between worship services. Please join us in thanking Myrna for all she has done for Wesley over the last 22 years and wishing her the best in retirement!
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I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated in our UMW Hershey Bar Snowman and Elf fundraiser in 2021. From makers, sellers, and buyers, you ALL made the project a big success! Here are some facts that tell the story.
3,435 Hershey Bars were made into snowmen and elves. Yes, we sold 3,435!
The profit for Wesley’s UMW was $10,090.11.
557 candy bars were donated. These donations were used to:
Provide a snowman to every person who stayed at Home Sweet Home Mission and Safe Harbor on Christmas Eve. In addition, we gave a snowman to each home at the Washington Street Apartments and Wood Hill Towers. All of our profit was turned over to Wesley’s UMW and then divided between the following local agencies:
Wesley’s Bright Beginnings, The Baby Fold, Recycling Furniture for Families, Home Sweet Home Ministries, The Salvation Army, Midwest Food Bank, Faith in Action, Chestnut Health Systems, Children’s Home & Aid, Habitat for Humanity, Dreams are Possible, Neville House, Homes of Hope, Our Conference Our Kids IGRC and Fostering Dignity.
We also donated to Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana and The Lessie Bates Davis Home in East St. Louis, both of which are sponsored by UMW.
That’s a lot of giving! The wonderful thing about our candy bar snowmen and elves, they are a gift that gives back!
It takes many willing hands to make 3,435 snowmen and elves! We worked together on Tuesdays between July and November. The best part is the fellowship that comes from working together! Maybe next year you would like to join in the fun! Do you have to be a member of UMW? NO! You might consider that, too!
We had some top buyers who should be mentioned. For the second year in a row, Julie Dobski bought 225 snowmen. Amanda Wycoff bought 100. If you bought 225, or 1, every candy bar purchased helped our UMW. And the snowmen and elves are just as fun to hand out as to receive! A top seller was Rusty DePew. He offered them for sale for a few days out of his office, selling 183. They are very easy to sell!
I want to give special thanks to my immediate committee. They worked tirelessly, always supportive in every way. Thank you to Judy Bute, Linda Burks, Nancy Esken, Pat King, Mary Ann Knudson, Elaine Stokes, and Paula Witt. These ladies worked almost every Tuesday from July until December. A larger group of snowman makers began in September, helping on Tuesdays. It took ALL of us to get the job done! THANK YOU, EVERYONE!
-Tricia DePew
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WESLEY SCOUTS TAKE 3rd PLACE!
Last Saturday, Scouts from Wesley's Troop 918 along with companion Troop 8888 of Second Pres participated in WD Boyce 1st Aid Rally. Scouts were judged on knowledge, ability and willingness to jump to action in a situation where first aid was required. Out of thirteen Troop teams, the Wesley-based team place 3rd! Way to Go Scouts!
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Wesley West Construction Update
Thank you so much for the generosity of everyone who is donating their resources to the Wesley West Construction project. So far we have received a total of $10,131 for this project and even more in pledges. Wesley is such a giving family and with this project, our great community is our focus!
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Souper Bowl of Caring
We received $512.81 for the Souper Bowl of Caring. As in past years, this has been added to the Safe Harbor fund to be used for meals served at Safe Harbor by youth and Church & Society. Thank you so much for your generosity, Wesley!
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Share your great news with your Wesley family!
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The Rev. Dr. John D. Trefzger
The Rev. Dr. John D. Trefzger, Minister Emeritus of First Christian Church in Bloomington, IL, died on February 15, 2022 at Luther Oaks Retirement Community in Bloomington, IL at the age of 98. Please view his full obituary here.
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Larry Hutson
Larry D. Hutson age 82, of Bloomington, IL, passed away at 8:40 PM on Friday, February 11, 2022, at OSF St Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington, IL. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Larry's family and friends. Please view his full obituary here.
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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.
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Illinois State University’s Center for Math, Science and Technology and the ISU Office of Sustainability invite campus and community members to The Green Screen. Films feature a different topic each month, with a focus on the global climate change crisis.
March 15, 2022 – Chasing Ice
Director, Jeff Orlowski
Photographer James Balog deploys cameras to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers and compress years into seconds. The film captures ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate.
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This year's Scout Summer Youth Camp theme is WILD WILD WEST!
Camp dates are from June 13-17th at the awesome Comlara Park in Hudson, IL! Cub scouts of all ranks absolutely LOVE this yearly event and your scout has the opportunity to earn badges, see friends, make new friends, and experience all the unique scouting activities we have to offer!
We would love for your Boy Scouts to volunteer a day or more at our camp this year as well. To take advantage of this youth leadership opportunity, please have them contact Bloomington Cub Scout Camp Director Meghan Hillebrandt and we can get them placed in a position that they can excel in helping with!
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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. 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
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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 |
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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
You can also visit us on Facebook, instagram, twitter, and YouTube
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