Summoned2Serve

August 8-9

Summoned2Serve is an outreach ministry event that has become part of the fabric of First Church. If you have served over the past 3 years, then you know what it means to make a difference in our community and to feed the hungry overseas. The need is great, the mission is critical, and we need your help to make it happen.

We begin our weekend of service on Saturday, August 8 by sending groups out to help in our own local community. All ages are welcome to help. We will also have activities at the church available for those with small children.

On Sunday, August 9, we will have an 8 am service at the church, then go and meet at McHenry County College at 9:30 am to pack 100,000 meals of rice and nutrients to be sent abroad.(Because of Summon2Serve there will be no SNA service that week.) That's 100,000 chances to provide sustenance for someone who may otherwise go hungry and for God and His people to make a difference.

If you do not use a preprinted offering envelope, please be sure to include both your first name and last name on the outside of the envelope. We have many families with identical last names and without a first name, your contribution may be listed as 'anonymous', rather than being credited to your contribution statement.

This also applies to worship attendance, so please put in first and last names on the attendance registration pads and please include all those in your family who are attending service that week. Attendance numbers are needed for multiple church conference reports, so please remember to sign the registration each time you worship.  Thank you.

Lost & Found

There is a lost & found area in the back of the coat room in the narthex - hanging items & a box on the floor with more items. There are jackets, sweaters, blankets, travel mugs, sunglasses and more! Please check the lost & found and recover your belongings.

Summer Sunday School

Summer Sunday School is offered every Sunday through August 30th at 9:30 a.m. Children are expected, encouraged, and welcomed to come to the sanctuary and participate in the first part of the worship service with the rest of the First Church family. After a Children's Time in worship, the children and adult helpers will leave for Sunday School in room 120. 

Community Dinner News

The Community Dinner is announcing new summer hours!  We are instituting summer hours in an effort to streamline this program.  There will be only one shift for volunteers 4pm to 6:30pm and will encompass all aspects of the dinner. Serving time will be changed to 5 to 6pm.  If you are interested in helping with this on going ministry please email Elyce Meador or call 815-455-4701.

Stressing Out? 

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), over 50% of Americans report significant stress and unhealthy concern in the categories of finance, work, relationships and health.  The APA concludes that having someone to talk to and offer emotional support is the most important factor to emotional well being.  That's exactly what a Stephen Minister offers. Imagine how powerful that emotional support is when combined with the power of the Holy Spirit!  "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20 NKJV

If you would like to know more about having a Stephen Minister visit you, please contact one of our pastors 815-459-0785 or Barb Bradford 815-459-5346.

United Methodist Men

Men, on August 13, we will be going as a group again to the Sycamore 

Threshing and Steam Show. We will meet and have breakfast together at 

8:00 a.m. at the Burnt Toast in Algonquin. We will leave at 

approximately 8:45 and carpool to the show. All men of the church and 

their friends are welcome to join us. Please R.S.V.P. email Ron Young or 
call 815-404-3115

The Well Women

UMW is presenting a new opportunity for spiritual growth for all church women this summer. A five week book study and 'girl night out' is being offered. The Wednesday night event will begin with a pizza supper July 29th. It will run on Wednesdays 6:30-8pm through Aug. 26th. The Well Women by Ladine Householder is the story of a group of contemporary women who are guided on a West Bank tour by a Samaritan woman. The book is a fun read and will be available for purchase the first night of the study for $15. To sign up for the class email Pat Dunn or call 815-459-9023. Come join us for five evenings of fun, fellowship and growth! 

UMW Seeking Space

The United Methodist Women host Rummage Sales every year to raise funds for local and global missions. The United Methodist Men assist with these sales and also receive a percentage of the income for their mission activities. Unfortunately, these Rummage Sales may not always coincide with the downsizing or decluttering of your homes. We're hoping to give you more opportunities to donate items to the UMW Rummage Sales by finding free or inexpensive year-round storage space. We would then be able to accept your donated items on a monthly basis prior to the rummage sale. If you know of or have a clean, dry, electrically-fitted storage space we could use, please email Karen Gilmer.

UMCOR Sager- Brown Mission Trip

August  8-15th  2015 

We have just been notified by Sager Brown that they have a cancellation by another Group the week our Mission Team is going thus its not too late to join us. We would love to have you join us ! The registration cost per person is  $255.00

Sager Brown Mission Trip may be the perfect opportunity for you. We are reaching out to invite YOU to join the team attending the United Methodist Committee On Relief, UMCOR  Sager Brown International Relief Mission Trip Aug 8-15 at Baldwin, La . If you feel stirred or have interest or questions please email Mike and Diana Friske or Paul and Molly Azzaline.