A Christmas advertisement caught my attention this past weekend in the Sunday ads that come with our newspaper. It was a full-page ad showing presents giftwrapped, with the slogan underneath: “Hard to wrap, easy to give…” As you look more closely at the presents you notice that power tool handles are sticking out on one side of the wrapped boxes, and the working ends of a weedwhacker, leaf blower and chain saw are sticking out the other end. Well, isn’t that like our lives?! Like hope? And like joy? Hard to wrap! Hard to contain any of them in a box with wrapping paper…and sometimes, over the course of a pandemic, maybe even not so easy to give... Read the rest of Lisa's message here.

The service will be livestreamed to YouTube and to our Website and posted later to Facebook

“All I want for Christmas to be free from apathy - Unwrapping Love”

We are decorating a UMCG Children's Christmas Tree this year in the Atrium area. Every week the kids are making ornaments that relate to the sermon theme. We also have a "present" under the tree that will reveal the day's theme. Please have the children come and open the gift to get a peek of what they will be learning about.

Dec. 19 - UGLY SWEATER DAY! Feel free to have the kids wear their favorite Ugly Christmas Sweater this Sunday while we make a manger scene ornament.

Contact: Julie Popplewell

Monday, December 20 for Dec. 24 Messenger and Dec. 26 Bulletin

Monday, December 27 for Dec. 31 Messenger and Jan. 2 Bulletin

The storm system that struck on Friday evening into Saturday morning — including one tornado that caused destruction across some 240 miles — is blamed for nearly 90 deaths and counting. Twisters sheared roofs and shattered windows at some United Methodist churches and parsonages, as well as badly damaging congregation members’ homes and local businesses.

Give online to the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s U.S. Disaster Response and Recovery through Advance #901670. Or, give your contribution to our UMCG offering, with a note earmarking your gift to UMCOR disaster response, using this same Advance number.

The painting has already begun in the Atrium! The office and church are open during this process.

Worship in this timeframe will be online only; no in-person worship, as well as no classes, studies or groups onsite. Look for updates from your group leaders for groups and studies. Contact information for each group can be found on the church calendar.

Please check future Messenger emails for updates on this project. Questions? Contact Debbie Sampiller.

We need 1 Acolyte at 4:00 pm 12/24, and 5 Acolytes at 6:00 pm 12/24. Please sign up with Jane at jsiarny@att.net or by phone/text at 630/715-8590.

 For contributions to be considered as a 2021 tax deduction, they must be received in the church office by 4:30 pm on December 30th, or postmarked via the mail December 31, 2021. You may also make a donation online before midnight on December 31st or you can text 630-686-7120 and include donation amount in message. Donations received in the church office or postmarked January 1, 2022 or after, by IRS law, must be considered a 2022 donation even if the check is dated for 2021. Questions?, Please call Debbie Sampiller in the church office Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.

Click here for the registration form or register online. 

Attention all high school seniors and college undergraduate and graduate students! UMCG scholarship applications are now open. You can find the application form on our website undersign-ups or click this link. The deadline to submit your application is May 6, 2022 at 11:59 PM. No application will be accepted after that date, and all parts of the application must be received by May 6. This year, the scholarship committee will only accept official transcripts, so please plan accordingly so that the transcripts are received prior to the May 6 deadline. Please contact a committee member with questions or if you need help: Colleen Fasbender, Barb Pribble, Suzanne Zefron, Gwen Powell, Don Mendenhall, and Nancy Tweed. 

Photographers Needed: We are a busy church with lots of great activities and events. Carolyn Burnham is looking for people that can help photograph activities held by the church including some in-service photography. You don't need to be a pro, but would love some people that enjoy photography to help out from time to time.

Livestream Volunteers: We are looking for people that might be able to assist Alex Johnson during worship services from time to time. We are still setting this up, so if you want to get in on the "ground floor" or can help later, let us know.

Contact: Carolyn Burnham

We have created a list of folks who are not able to join us in worship, and we encourage you to take a few moments and send them well-wishes during the holidays. The list is available in the church office.

On Friday, December 10th students, parents and mentors of our Tri-City Methodist Confirmation Class were the honored guests of the Jewish Congregation Beth Shalom for shabbat services. We were greeted with an orientation program before the service to learn more about Jewish practices, shared in worship, fellowship with challah bread and a viewing of the Torah scroll at the end of the services. We learned about the many similarities and differences between our congregations and religions. 

The NIC weekly eNews is here.

The NIC December/January Reporter is available here.

Submit information each week by Wednesday at 12pm for inclusion in Bulletin Announcements or the Weekly Messenger.  Please use the submission form. This form can also be found on the sign-ups page on our website. You may also send them to communications@genevaumc.org. Information sent to this email goes to Carolyn, Debbie, and Lorie.