Recent News

Musicians Needed!

We are looking for a drummer and a bass player for the contemporary worship team for the Sunday evening PraiseBreak! services. We play every Sunday evening at 5pm for the Junior and Senior High Youth Groups, and practice once a week. Practice times TBA based on participant’s schedules. Please contact the office or JJ Mannschreck for more information. jj.mannschreck@garrett.edu

Praise Break! Dinnertime!

Praise BreakDue to popular request, we are expanding the fellowship time after the Sunday night PraiseBreak! service into a full meal! At roughly 5:40pm, there will be a short meal time following the time of worship. Starting on November 20th, there will be a short meal time following the time of worship. All youth 6th-12th grade are invited!

If you would like to help prepare the meals, please contact JJ Mannschreck or the church office for more information. We are in much need of Volunteers! (jj.mannschreck@garrett.edu)

Volunteer Youth Leaders Needed

IgniteAlongside the revitalization of our Youth Programs comes a need for a few volunteer Youth Leaders to be involved on regular weekly basis. Responsibilities would range from setting out snacks and organizing the community meal to chaperoning games and leading bible discussion. If you are interested in getting more involved, please contact the church office or JJ Mannschreck for more information. (jj.mannschreck@garrett.edu)

Volunteer Youth Leaders Needed

IgniteAlongside the revitalization of our Youth Programs comes a need for a few volunteer Youth Leaders to be involved on regular weekly basis. Responsibilities would range from setting out snacks and organizing the community meal to chaperoning games and leading bible discussion. If you are interested in getting more involved, please contact the church office or JJ Mannschreck for more information. (jj.mannschreck@garrett.edu)

Musicians Needed!

We are looking for a drummer and a bass player for the contemporary worship team for the Sunday evening PraiseBreak! services. We play every Sunday evening at 5pm for the Junior and Senior High Youth Groups, and practice once a week. Practice times TBA based on participant’s schedules. Please contact the office or JJ Mannschreck for more information. jj.mannschreck@garrett.edu

Introducing JJ

JJ and Sara

JJ Mannschreck has recently joined the DGFUMC as an intern. He is currently a second year student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. His primary experience has been in the area of Youth Coordinating, but he has a passion for every type of Spiritual Formation. During his internship at DGFUMC, he is grappling with the vocational concerns of whether to pursue Pastoral Leadership or to become a Professor of Religion.

He was recently married, in August 2011, to his lovely wife Sara. Sara is starting graduate level courses at Wheaton College in the Spring of 2012. The two met while at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. JJ is originally from Troy, Michigan, which is a northern suburb of Detroit. JJ comes from a long line of Pastors, Religious Teachers and Missionaries.

During this time with us, he will be participating in many different aspects of our church life. You may have already seen him singing in the Chancel Choir, teaching Onward Bound, or leading small groups. He is excited to help start some new opportunities for the high school youth, so watch out for those. 

When you see JJ and Sara in church, please introduce yourself and welcome them to DGFUMC.

Interfaith Youth Project 2011

Interfaith LogoHi! Just a reminder that the next meeting of the Interfaith Youth Project is this coming Sunday, November 13th at the Jewish Congregation Beth Shalom in Naperville. They are starting around 10:30 so please come right after worship ends at 10:30 and you won't miss too much. Parents are encouraged to come with students to see a Jewish house of worship and to learn about the Jewish faith and traditions. Our program will end around 12:45 so you can be picked up then. If you need to leave early, that's fine too. If you need a ride home, please contact Laura Temple. You are invited to attend whether or not you have attended interfaith programs in the past. Hope to see you there

Congregation Beth Shalom
772 W 5th Ave
Naperville IL, 60563

Two weeks after that, on Sunday, November 27th, we will be having our 3rd Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Feast. Our hosts will be the Mohammed Webb Foundation and we will meet at the Islamic Foundation Mosque in Villa Park right after our worship ends at 10:30. (Hurry on over!!!) This is event is for all church families so siblings, parents, grandparents are all welcome and encouraged to attend, even if you haven't attended an interfaith event before.

Our hosts will be providing main courses and side dishes - both traditionally American and some from their own heritage and traditions. We are asked to bring desserts. There should be no meat or meat products in the desserts to ensure they are halal. A tour of the mosque will follow the meal. Then we will have a chance to watch afternoon prayers. This event has really been enjoyed by those who have attended in the past so we hope you can make it!

Successful Year for Youth InTent Program

Youth InTentThere were many weddings, graduations, birthdays and anniversaries this year, meaning a busy year for Don Dunham, Bruce Ritter, 39 youth and a number of parents who assisted in the Youth InTent program this year. Nearly $20,000 in tents, tables and chairs rentals from 63 clients provided revenue to the youth program and earned participating students credit toward future mission trips and choir tours. Three new tents were purchased to keep up with the demand. There were several weekends when practically the entire inventory of eight tents, 26 tables and 200 chairs were in use and others where the same tent was set-up and taken down multiple times over a two or three day span. A very special word of gratitude is expressed to Tim Hopkins, who for the third straight year graciously donated the use of his utility van for towing the trailer and storing chairs.

If anyone knows of an available cargo van for 2012, please contact Don Dunham.

Information about the program is available in the church office and on the web site.

Open Door Opened

The Open Doora.k.a. Open Door Homework Hang-Out

Our new Youth Room is finally complete! We are finally opening the doors to Open Door!

Open Door will be open on Mondays and Fridays from 2:30pm to 6:00pm for youth from grades 6-12 to come and do homework, play games, eat snacks, and just hang out! Stay for as long as you like, and let's make use of our awesome new youth space!

For more information, feel free to contact JJ Mannschreck (that intern guy).

Reception for Nick Nicholas

Nick at the 2010 CROP Hunger WalkOn September 18, Rev. Nick Nicholas, our congregation's youth minister for the past 10 years, announced his plans to pursue other areas of ministry, including teaching at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Nick will continue to lead the Sunday morning Jr. High and Sr. High classes through mid December. In addition, he will continue to lead the Sunday afternoon Jr. High Youth Fellowship through early December, and the evening Sr. High Youth Fellowship through October, and work with the Interfaith experiences that include our church's youth.

So many in our congregation have been especially enriched and encouraged by Nick's ministry, adults as well as youth. There will be an opportunity to celebrate and thank Nick at receptions on December 11, following the morning worship services and also following the Chapel Choir's Christmas concert that evening.

More information will be sent soon about the receptions and a congregational love gift for Nick. 

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