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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.

FAMILY SUNDAY & EARTH DAY EXPO, April 21, 2024

Methodical Stewardship – Matthew 25:14-29

Methodists believe that all that we have – people, resources, our planet- are all giftS from God. We have a responsibility to use and share these gifts in ways that reflect God’s abundant grace. Join us we explore how to gain, save, and give all that we can following our method of stewardship. 

Submit information each week for the Messenger and Bulletin Announcements by WEDNESDAY AT 12 pm for inclusion in these communications. Please use above button 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-ups 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. 

PASTOR ROB REMINDS US IN THIS VIDEO "HOW TO SPOT A SCAM EMAIL!"

Tour Hesed House – TOMORROW, April 20, 2024 @ 10 AM

The Church in Society Committee invite you to an opportunity to tour Hesed House and learn more

about the services provided thru Hesed House and about our monthly service date – the SECOND

MONDAY of every month.

Hesed House in Aurora is the second largest shelter in Illinois and the only low threshold shelter in Kane

County. They currently serve 200+ adults and 100+ families each night in their emergency shelters. In addition, staff support 70+ households in apartments in the community along with 12 permanent

supportive rooms on-site.

For the past 32 years, UMCG has supported Hesed House. Over the past 3 decades, Hesed House has

expanded and adjusted to meet the growing and changing needs of our community neighbors.

We will plan to meet at Hesed House (659 S. River Street) at 10 AM.

If you need/want to carpool – we can arrange to meet at church at 9:30 AM.

Tour should be about 1 hour so you can plan to be home by Noon.

Come and find out all that Hesed House and you make possible for our neighbors in need.

Questions and to RSVP – Carolyn Sprawka 630-222-4150 or csprawka@gmail.com

THE APRIL CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING IS

NEXT TUESDAY, APRIL 23 AT 7 PM

• We will meet in the Gathering Room and have an option to attend via Zoom
• The agenda for the meeting is in the Document Center on our website
• Zoom: Click here to join via Zoom,
• Meeting ID: 835 6262 6225   Passcode: 876867

HOW DO YOU LOSE A CHURCH?

By Carol Zars

The United Methodist Church of Geneva, where it now stands, was dedicated on September 27, 1874. After a stirring sermo,n a collection was taken and $7,000 was pledged. This amount in 2024 would be $280,297.95. However, those good intentions went awry.

The Panic of 1873 was a financial crisis that triggered an economic depression in Europe and North America that lasted from 1873 to 1877. In the United States, the Panic was known as the "Great Depression" until the events of 1929 and the early 1930s set a new standard. The subsequent depression had several underlying causes for which economic historians debate the relative importance. American inflation, rampant speculative investments (overwhelmingly in railroads), the demonetization of silver in Germany and the United States, ripples from economic dislocation in Europe resulting from the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), and major property losses in the Great Chicago Fire (1871) and the Great Boston Fire (1872) helped to place massive strain on bank reserves, which, in New York City, plummeted from $50 million to $17 million between September and October 1873. As a result of this depression, on September 21, 1877, the church was sold at public auction for $2000. Margaret Gulliver was the buyer.

How did that happen? Several reasons:

• The financial depression, which had tested the strength of the resources of the country, forced the trustees to borrow money in the hope that the good times coming would enable them to save the church. 
• Many people outside of the church, who had subscribed liberally, had failed to meet their financial obligations due to the sudden and unexpected failure of banks and business firms.
• A number of paying members had died within the last two years, and others had left Geneva. Generally speaking, the remaining members were poor.

So, what did they do about it? With a discouraged congregation, no church building, and a debt of about $7000, the board of trustees held a meeting to try to solve the problem. Jennie H. Caldwell, the pastor's wife, was made financial agent and given the power to collect funds and settle claims and debts. After more than twenty months of constant and hard work, the debts were paid. The church was redeemed! On December 28, 1879, there was a special service to give thanks.

Another interesting article from The UNITED METHODIST REPORTER, January 18, 1985…

“THEY PAID OFF $500 MORTGAGE THAT SAVED $1 MILLION CHURCH”

The United Methodist Church of Geneva recently paid off two mortgages on their property, dating back to 1872 and 1922. It was discovered in a recent title search of the property, during the construction of a building addition, that a mortgage in the amount of $500 was placed on the property in 1872 to help raise money to help buy back the church building which was sold at a sheriff's auction. Another mortgage was also discovered on the premises dating back to 1922 in the principal amount of $1000. This mortgage was placed on the property by the congregation to purchase a new furnace and organ.



The congregation was not aware that either of these two mortgages existed on the premises until the recent title search was done. The General Board of Global Ministries waived all interest accumulated on these mortgages and agreed to have them released from the property upon the payment of the full principal amount of $1,500.

excerpts from A Step Back in Time by Shirley Anderson & Northwestern Christian Advocate

HELP US PLAN OUR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WEEKEND!



The 185th Anniversary Steering team is looking for people to volunteer to help coordinate the events for our Anniversary Celebration on September 27-29, 2024

We are looking for people to help on one of the subcommittees that will plan each day's event:

Fri, Sep. 27: Church History Celebration and Reunion with previous clergy and staff

Sat, Sep. 28: Afternoon Block party and Family Fun Day

Sun, Sep. 29: Worship Service with Bishop Schwerin and Reception Following

To volunteer or learn more about joining one of our planning teams, please email Chuck Howlett.  

SHARE YOUR STORIES/PHOTOS TO HELP CELEBRATE OUR ANNIVERSARY!

Share Your Personal Church Stories: Whether you've been a part of our church family for decades or you've recently joined us on this journey of faith, your story is an integral part of our collective history.

Click this link to share stories and photos or documents; If you need to upload multiple files use this link.

***If you have photos or documents that need to be scanned, you can drop them off in the office

and we will scan and return to you.***

Pastor Rob’s sermon this past Sunday on “Methodical Behavior” –acts of compassion, acts of service, and love for God and neighbor—was underscored during our Mission Moment when we heard from our local Kane County chapter of LEAP (Leadership, Education, Altruism, & Philanthropy). 

The LEAP program teaches high-school age students “the art, science, and business of philanthropy” by providing hands-on experience in fundraising, grant making, and community service. To help prepare the next generation to bring about positive change, our church provides meeting space and mentors (Ellen Odom, Chuck Howlett, Sharon Anderson, and Chris Schmal) for the LEAP program. Four LEAP students (Jack, Mia, Lucas, and Julia) shared their experiences and hosted a reception in Fellowship Hall following the service to express their gratitude for UMCG’s support. More information about LEAP can be found at www.LEAPCircle.org

TOMORROW, April 20, many communities will be celebrating Earth Day with family-friendly events.

You can plant a tree with the Kane County Forest Preserve in Elburn, visit Peck Farm in Geneva and celebrate with a scavenger hunt or spend some time at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles and experience a nature friendly storywalk and crafts.

Click here for more information on family-friendly offerings in the area.

Join Jane Siarny and others at Fellowship hour to create get well cards by recycling greeting cards. (Supplies are provided and feel free to bring some of your own.) She is also available Sunday afternoon 1-5 pm. (This is part of a new program she's created called AWEsome Ministries: Combining the Arts, Wellness & the Environment for Health, Hope & FUN!)

Jane is also hosting a Wing & a Prayer Wellness Reunion Class at St. Mary's Park (weather permitting) followed by lunch! Send her an email if you'd like to attend -- jsiarny@att.net

Are you excited about this Summer's Vacation Bible School? Do you want to help teach it?

Click here for a sign-up genius sponsored by Baker Memorial UMC to get willing volunteers to help make this experience a great one for our kids!

Prairie Central eNews is here.

The NIC weekly eNews is here.

Download the NIC Reporter here.