Mission

Neighbors Helping Neighbors - Special S.O.S.

We once again have a unique opportunity to join together for a special one-day off-site S.O.S. mission trip on Saturday, October 21 to Berry United Methodist Church in Chicago.

Last November, a DGFUMC contingent spent a day at Berry doing landscaping, painting, electrical and other small carpentry and hand-on projects, alongside their own church members.  It was a wonderful experience, so the DGFUMC Board of Trustees and Missions, Justice and Community Work Area are going back this fall.

Possible jobs this time Include:

  • painting a basement corridor,
  • repairing pews in the sanctuary,
  • changing out some light fixtures,
  • addressing some plumbing issues,
  • fixing a small garden fence,
  • several other miscellaneous projects.

Located in the vibrant and diverse Lincoln Square community, Berry UMC is a struggling urban church which has many maintenance and repair needs.

Everyone is invited to participate. Bring your family and friends or come by yourself. We will meet at 8:00 a.m. and carpool to Chicago. We will plan on returning by 4:00 p.m.

Contact Don Dunham at don@dgfumc.org  if you are able to attend or want more information. Some painting supplies, tools and other materials may be needed.

Location: 
Berry United Methodist Church - 4754 N. Leavitt, Chicago
Date: 
Saturday, October 21, 2017 - 8:00am

Disaster Relief

August 31, 2017 - 11:42am

In response to Hurricane Irma, the Mission, Justice and Community (MJC) work area is issuing a new matching grant challenge to encourage continued support for the areas devastated by Hurricane Irma, particularly the U.S. Virgin Islands. MJC will again match donations up to $2,500 through the month of September in support of United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) relief efforts in devastated areas.

To give, you may drop your donation in the collection plate, the church office or at the MJC table in the parlor Sunday morning. Please indicate “Hurricane Relief” in the memo line or on the envelope. You may also donate online at dgfumc.org. Click here to go directly to the site.

Thank you to those who made our first challenge grant such a success. Your response was overwhelming with over $7,100 in donations. Thank you for your continued support

PADS Sign-Up for 2017-18 Season

August 29, 2017 - 1:49pm

The PADS season this year will begin on September 19, 2017 and run through May 19, 2018. DGFUMC is responsbile for providing food and volunteers on the first Tuesday of each month beginning October 3. Volunteer duties are split in half for the year with the Loaves team responsible for October, December, February and April and the Fishes team for November, January, March and May. Each team has opportunities for volunteers for set-up, dinner, overnight, and clean-up the following morning as well as for food donations.

To sign-up to volunteer or to learn more about the PADS program, visit the parlor starting Sunday, September 3. If you are not available on the first Tuesday of the month, we do host every Tuesday and have volunteer opportunities available.

Please contact Sheila in the church office at 630.968.7120 or sheila@dgfumc.org for details. 

DuPage United/Fox River Valley Initiative Combined Assembly

The Missions, Justice and Community Work Area invites you to join DuPage United and the Fox River Valley Initiative as they host an evening of discussions with elected officials regarding DuPage United’s criminal justice reform strategy of expanding CIT training, Crisis Diversion Centers and affordable housing across DuPage and Kane Counties.

To learn more and to RSVP to the event click here.

If you are interested in carpooling with other church members to the event, please contact the church office at 630.968.7120.

Location: 
Benedictine University Goodwin Hall Auditorium - 5700 College Rd. Lisle, IL 60532
Date: 
Thursday, August 3, 2017 - 7:00pm

School Supplies Drive for Hope's Front Door

July 19, 2017 - 1:57pm

This Back to School season DGFUMC is collecting school supplies to support local children in need to help ensure that they are prepared to learn on day one. All donations will go to Hope's Front Door who will distribute the supplies beginning August 7. 

To participate in this important ministry, simply drop off your school supply donations in the parlor on Sunday mornings July 23 and 30 or in the church office through August 3. Thank you for your support!

Supplies needed include:
- Crayons (24 pack)
- Pencil Case
- Loose Leaf Paper (wide and college ruled)
- Pencils
- Plastic Rulers
- Notebooks (wide and college ruled)
- Backpacks
- Scissors
- Erasers
- Hand Sanitizer
- Pens (red, blue & black)
- 3 Ring Binders
- Colored Pencils
- Highlighters
- Composition Books
- Pencil Sharpeners
- Pocket Folders
- Mechanical Pencils
- Washable Broad Tip Markers
- Dry Erase Markers
- Post-It Notes
- Glue
- Glue Sticks

Paul Webster

Paul WebsterPaul Webster, a United Methodist missionary in Zambia, will be with us this Sunday to share about the Mujila Falls Agricultural Center, a project that our congregation has been connected with through our special mission offerings.

The Center works to improve nutrition and increase income among the Lunda people of extreme North West Zambia. They have the highest infant mortality rate and lowest life expectancy of all the tribes in Zambia. The Center helps the Lunda people through egg and milk production, planting soybeans and corn, and community and educational efforts. The food production offers better nourishment for the people, and the small incomes made possible through improved farming allow families to send their children to school.

Paul will speak briefly about this world-impacting work in our worship services on Sunday, and all are invited to hear him share more fully about the Agricultural Center at a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall at 11:15.

Location: 
Fellowship Hall
Date: 
Sunday, May 28, 2017 - 11:15am

6th Annual DuPage Human Race

The Human Race is a 5k Run/Fitness Walk. A family friendly, ‘feel good’ community event & fundraiser that benefits over 70 non-profit organizations serving DuPage County. DGFUMC is a proud sponsor of this event. For event details and to register, visit dupagehumanrace.org.

Location: 
The Esplanade at Locust Point, 1901 W. Butterfield Road, Downers Grove
Date: 
Saturday, May 6, 2017 - 9:00am

Annual Spring Cleaning Bucket Drive

March 30, 2017 - 8:51am

Bucket pick-up Sundays, April 2 and 9

Bucket drop-off Sundays, April 23 and 30.

The Missions, Justice & Community Work Area is sponsoring a Cleaning Bucket Drive to help support families served by the People's Resource Center and Sharing Connections.

We will be handing out buckets on April 2 and 9. We ask you to take a bucket and fill it with cleaning supplies. Each bucket will have a list of suggested supplies in it. Please return the filled buckets to the church on Sundays April 23 or 30.

Thank you for your support!

All Church Mission Trip

The Mission, Justice and Community Work Area is dedicated to reaching out to serve others and getting as many people as possible to become involved in connecting our members to each other and those in need. This inspired the idea of an All Church Mission Trip, where people of all ages (12 and above) can work, laugh and live life for a week together while helping others less fortunate. We will work as teams, growing bonds of fellowship and respect.

This July we will be traveling to inner-city Detroit to support Cass Community Social Services whose motto is: “Fighting Poverty. Creating Opportunity.” Started as an outreach ministry of Cass Community United Methodist Church, Cass Community Social Services (CCSS) works across the city in areas of concentrated poverty providing programs for food, health, housing and jobs.

Location: 
Cass Community Social Services, Detroit, Michigan
Date: 
Sunday, July 16, 2017 - 8:00am

Benefit Concert for Syrian Refugees

February 17, 2017 - 11:47am

Sunday, February 19 at 5:00 p.m.
Gary United Methodist Church
224 N. Main St., Wheaton

St. Andrew UMC Immigration Ministries is working with partners Gary UMC, World Relief, and other Syrian groups to hold a fundraising concert for Syrian Refugees on Sunday, February 15. Admission is $10. All proceeds above costs will go towards the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and World Relief. Funds for UMCOR will go towards international relief efforts and funds for World Relief will go towards resettling Syrian Refugees in this area.

Noted area musicians will present works ranging from brilliant and well-loved classical instrumental and vocal works to exciting jazz movements.

To purchase tickets, click here.

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Welcome

God, as known to us in Jesus Christ, welcomes all.

We welcome people of any race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, social or economic status, employment status, or life situation; including people with physical or mental illness or disability.

We practice loving acceptance of each person and respectful discussion
Reconciling Ministries Network of our differences.

Affiliated to Reconciling Ministries Network

First United Methodist Church 1032 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515 - Phone: 630.968.7120 - E-mail: dgfumc@dgfumc.org

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