Enews: Sunday, June 19, 2022

God in your mercy, hear our prayers as we lift up to you the community of Uvalde, TX.

Sometimes we are burned out to the point we can’t try something new. We’d rather stick with the old patterns even though they lead to dead ends because we are afraid that something new will fail us or be more trouble. The people in Gerasene had lived with the man possessed by demons, and even though they said they wanted to help him, when he finally was helped, they didn’t know what to do with the man who had the power of God. That was even more frightening to them, because it meant they would have to change their ways. Sometimes in the church it is more frightening to listen to where God may be calling us to be something new than to stick with the old ways, even though they haven’t worked as well, because we know them. But we will just continue the pattern of burnout unless we are willing to embrace the transformation God intends for us. Even Peter, having experienced the resurrected Jesus, still went back to his old ways around others because of the social loss he would experience if he embraced the Greek believers in the same way he embraced his fellow Jewish believers. Paul called him out for this, and knew that the church had to be something new if it was truly to be the church of Jesus.

1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a:

God instructs Elijah to go to Mount Sinai, and comes to him there. At Elijah’s cave he experiences wind, earthquake and fire,

but God’s voice is only heard in the whisper that follows. In spite of his fear at the threats against his life, God leads him back into ministry.

Galatians 3:23-29:

Now that the way of faith in Christ has come, the law is no longer needed. Those who trust in Christ are God’s children, and we are all equal in God’s family.

Luke 8:26-39:

Jesus liberates the Gerasene demoniac, who begs to go with Jesus once he has been healed. But Jesus sends him home to tell of what God did for him.

Almighty One, we confess that we are exhausted. We are so tired of violence. So tired of being afraid. The various traumas we have experienced continued to cloud our minds, our hearts, our souls, that we are downtrodden and our soul disquieted.

We long for You, O God, and we long for healing and rest and renewal. Remind us that our rest and our hope is in You, and not in the systems and structures of this world. Call us into Your beloved community, where in sharing and working with others, we find our own renewal and rest. Call us into Your way, Your truth, and Your life, through our savior Jesus Christ, in whom we pray all things. Amen.

June, 2022

Dear friends,

Greetings in the name of our brother and savior, Jesus the Christ!

I am coming one last time to you all. Where to start, well 11 years ago you gave a “let’s try Pastor Luis” a go. We have experienced the highs and lows of ministries, we have laughed together and, yes, cried together. We have witnessed many baptisms, welcomed new members by confirmation and other ways as well, and sent forth many into life eternal. May God be praised! Throughout these past 11 years, we have been blessed by a creative and gifted staff, which I am forever grateful for all they offered and how they served us. It is so wonderful to hear that many of them went onto great adventures, truly transforming the world.

In the last 11 years, we’ve experience so many transformations. From our style (form) of worship making sure we serve all generations represented in our congregation, as well as form (structure) of leadership adapting to these changes, and are currently working on a new structure centering on empowering people for mission and ministry.

It has been a great blessing working alongside amazing leaders and a wonderful staff who has kept me grounded and forced me to keep learning and growing.

There are many wonderful things that happened in our congregation. However, an important action following the actions of the General Conference of the UMC in 2019 took place in December of that year. We took a vote as a congregation to become a Reconciling Congregation (see statement of welcome on our website). Grateful for the journey to the Task Force and for us all in affirming that ALL God’s children are truly welcome here at the corner of Main & Maple.

The last two years (Pandemic Time) has been the most stressful time in our history, at least in my time with you. We learned very quickly how to be congregation in worship, mission, and ministry virtually. That did not happen by itself,. It was a team effort and how thankful I am for all the hours many people dedicated to make it happen. With God’s grace, we are coming back slowly and it feels good to be together. Hope everyone will come back in full force by this upcoming fall.

To all who took extra time to organize the sending forth luncheon on May 22… Norma and I cannot say enough “Thank YOU”. Thanks to all who shared their stories in how Pastor Luis impacted their lives. And to YOU All, thanks so much for your expressions of love, care, words of encouragement and YES for your generous gift (Norma loves the lilac plant and the United Women in Faith plant too).

And now, as I move to Sycamore for new adventures, I covenant to continue in prayer with you all as you welcome Pastor Michael Mann as your new Lead Pastor. I know that God is in the midst, so I invite you to re-discover/discern how God is calling in this new chapter of our journey of faith.

Looking forward to hearing all the great things God is about to do.

And all God’s people say “Amen”!

Blessings & peace,

Pastor Luis Felipe

Juneteenth

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox Court House two months earlier in Virginia, but slavery had remained relatively unaffected in Texas—until U.S. General Gordon Granger stood on Texas soil and read General Orders No. 3: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

The Northern Illinois Conference Anti-Racism Task Force 2022 Speaker Series Second Event

Our second event is coming up on Thursday, June 23 online via Zoom from 12:00-1:30 pm CT.

Unafraid: Stand up for Social Justice

Representatives from different conferences discuss what the local church and their conferences are doing to address racism.

via Zoom

Speakers: Rev. Derrek Belase, Rev. David Lagos-Fonseca, Rev. Dana Neuhasuer, Rev. Brian Tillman, & Rev. Kathy L. Williams

Moderator: Rev. Pamela Pirtle.

Click here to register Online.

Click here for more information.

Click here to find out more about our speakers.

Important Reminder

The FUMC Lombard website is a great place to follow everything that is going on in our church. And with the upcoming changes to our Church Leaders, you’ll have questions. On the home page, top header, find the tab “Livestreaming and All About Us”. It will pull down and you will see the tab “Our Church Leaders”. There you’ll find the names, positions, and all church emails listed!! Please use this valuable information to help make our upcoming transitions easier.

Auction Update

While auction day is past, you may still sign up for events and buy some items that are available.

Events coming up in the next month are the Greek Islands Dinner (June 17), the Luau (June 25), and Relaxin’ with Refreshments (July 9). Contact Denise Karhoff King if you’re interested in these or want to know about other events.  The sign-up sheets will be available for your review on most Sundays as we go forward.

The following items are available for sale: Reza’s Restaurant gift card, Westin hotel gift certificate, beach bags, child car seat afghans, cloth baskets, a toiletry bag, and autographed athletes’ photos. Contact Susan Friend about these items.

And now, for the big news! Auction Estimated Net Revenue $20,000

Congratulations! Thank you for making this possible!

Craft Club Resumes

The Craft Club resumed the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. until noon in the church library. Please bring your craft projects and join us for the fellowship!

Dear Church Family,

Over the past few years, First UMC of Lombard has participated in the DuPage PADS Program serving the needs of the homeless in DuPage County. March 20, 2020, marked a change in the delivery of services to the homeless through DuPage PADS by going from a “Congregant Model” to an “Interim Housing Model”. What this has meant is different ways for congregations to provide service.

During the recent Leadership Team Meeting a proposal was made to provide a mission moment during the worship service about the DuPage PADS Programs. An immediate service opportunity was also discussed where First UMC of Lombard would assemble 40-50 DuPage PADS Snack Packs for children who are in residence at the Interim Housing Center located in Downers Grove at the former Red Roof Inn.

FUMC’s DuPage PADS Program Coordinators propose to present the Mission Moment during the 10 a.m. worship service followed by the service opportunity on Sunday, July 31st. More information to follow.

In the meantime, should you have any questions please contact Pat or Tom Price at Layleaders1@FirstUMCLombard.org.

Yours in Mission,

Pat & Tom Price

Humanitarian Assistance to Ukraine

United Methodists and others wishing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country may contribute to Advance #982450, UMCOR International Disaster Response and Recovery. This fund will provide direct assistance to those in Ukraine as well as assistance to Ukrainians fleeing to neighboring countries.

Click on the image for more information.