Wesleyan - Wesley United Methodist Church ...

wesleyan                              NOVEMBER 2020 EDITION

Pastor’s Column…..........…….....2   Wesley History………………….10

Events………..……………………3                 Not Dead Yet (NDY)……….…...11

Prayers Inspired by Psalms…..4&5     Discipleship…………….…..12&13

Governing Board……………….6&7            Congregational Care……..…....14

Children & Families…………….8&9         Financial Update………..…...…15

As you read this newsletter, the nation will be learning the results of one of the most
historic elections ever. Future generations will wonder what it was like to live through a
pandemic, a climate crisis, and a contested election with polarization at an all-time
high. They may wonder what got you through such a time as this. Where did you find
comfort and guidance?
During the month of November, we turn our attention to the timeless Psalms. Thew
Elliott writes, In this season, as we finish out a strange, surprising, and--for many--
devastating year, we’ll look for a moment to the Psalms. We’re familiar with the cele-
bration and comfort we can find in this collection of 150 prayers, poems and songs: the
23rd Psalm is a symbol for care, and the 150th is a constant model for exuberant
praise--let everything that has breath praise God! We may be less familiar with the ex-
pressions of confusion and dismay found in the collection, accompanied by wonderful
models for dealing with the anxiety and frustration of difficult times. Even as we live
with fear and anger, let’s celebrate that we are not alone--that we have each other, and
we have ancestors known and unknown who faced trouble and found strength and
comfort to inspire them forward in the midst of struggle.
My social media accounts and email inbox are filled with people predicting that good
things are ahead of us as a country and other people predicting that we on the verge of
massive unrest. Which is it? I don’t know. What I do know is that God is with us. All
of us. That is what the Psalms teach us. Places like Wesley United Methodist Church
are an anchor during turbulent times. We can lean on each other and God to get us
through each day and every hour.
This is typically the time that we ask you to make a financial commitment to Wesley
UMC. We decided to delay our annual stewardship campaign a couple of months.
And so, we are asking everyone where possible to keep up their current level of giving
until then. As in 2016, this election has enormous implications for our congregation
and the people we serve. Considering so much uncertainty in November, we want to
be free to respond in real time to whatever may happen. There will be an opportunity
for you to make a financial commitment to 2021. Stay tuned!
It seems that every time I sit down to write this article, I am overwhelmed with gratitude
for all of you and for God. I continue to feel blessed to be your pastor and encouraged
by the work all of you are doing in ministry and mission. Despite of and in the midst of
all that is happening around us, I take comfort in knowing that we are here for each
other. We will get through this together!

Worship and Weekly Events
Sunday Worship
Join us at wesleyumcaurora.online.church on Sunday mornings at 10am to
watch worship together. You can find a sermon archive on our Vimeo page.

Meditation Mondays
John presents a short video meditation to start out your week.
A new video is available every Monday via any of the platform links.

Tuesday Prayers with Kathy
Kathy will lead the congregation in weekly prayers. Join live on Tuesdays at
11am (email jennifer.wumc@gmail.com for link to Zoom meeting). Or watch a
recording later via any of the platform links.

Wednesday Midweek Moments with Michelle
Michelle presents music and a time with kids every Wednesday. You can
watch on any of the platform links.

Saturday Sabbath
Consider unplugging from social media for the day.

InterFAITH Aurora Thanksgiving
Save the date! InterFAITH Aurora’s annual Thanksgiving service will be held virtually
on Sunday, November 22nd at 3pm. More information to come.

  We were fortunate to have Elgin Dis-
  trict Superintendent, Rev. Darneather
  Murph-Heath, preach for us on Sun.,
  October 11th!

Writing Prayers and Liturgy:
Some Prompts from the Psalms

During our current worship series based on Psalms, the worship team invites you to
create your own prayers inspired by the Psalms. Thew created this sheet of writing
prompts based on the structures of several psalms to give you some guidance and
encouragement. This is a great meditative practice for anyone. If you create some-
thing you want to share, we'd love to have it and will look for an opportunity to incor-
porate it into one of our services.

Here are some models you might use for inspiration, based on the Psalms indicated.
You can repeat the two prompts to create a longer piece that keeps the same struc-
ture as the repeating blanks change.

Question / Answer (Psalm 15, Psalm 24)

Who can be trusted with ____________?

Those who_________________.

Contrast: Even Though / I Will (Psalm 4)

Even though _______________,

I will _____________________.

Plea (Psalm 102)

Answer my prayer!

Listen when I _______________

Hear me when __________________

Praise (Psalm 146)

I will praise you, God!

With ______________________

For __________________________

When __________________________

Thanksgiving (Psalm 34)

I will bless you at all times!

Thank you for ________________________

Contrast: I See / I Long For (Psalm 53)

All around me, I see ______________________________
I long for _________________________________

Governing Board Study
For a three month period over the summer the Governing Board read and studied The
Adept Church: Navigating between a Rock and a Hard Place by F. Douglas Powe, Jr.
The biblical basis for the text is the story of Esther as told in the fourth chapter. The
opening passage from Esther 4: 14.
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from
another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who know but that you
have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Key to Wesley Church is the warning about remaining silent and letting care for the
community come from another place and the declaration that we have come to where
we are because God has called us “for such a time as this.” So what is this calling and
what should we be doing as we so often feel stuck “between a rock and a hard
place?”
We are called to adopt those things which will place Wesley in a strategic place to be
life-giving for the future and not just try every new thing that comes along, hoping for
the best.
We are called to learn to adapt to those things which will work for Wesley Church in
our context and in this place where we have been called to be in ministry.
We are called to be adept at being creative in new ways of doing ministry while still
maintaining that which is and has been fruit producing in our ministries over time.
We reviewed how Jesus was able to do all of these in his ministry.
The study gave us three definitions of churches today with imagery of water. Refer-
ences by Powe were made to the writings of Howard Thurman. So what kind of
church do you think defines Wesley?
A Swamp – A swamp is a place that lacks movement. It is often dark and friendless.
There is no outlet for the water in a swamp. It is still and frightening. Churches that
are swamps are stagnant, holding on to whatever they have and focusing on what hap-
pens inside them. There is no movement and the swamp is a place of eventual decay.
A Reservoir – A reservoir is a place where water is stored until it is needed. A reservoir
church does do more than a swamp church. It shares, although carefully, and avoids
risks that might lower the reservoir too fast. When outward focus fails, the reservoir
can quickly become a swamp.
A Canal – A canal serves as a channel through which water can flow outward. A canal
church is always looking to connect itself outward to those in its community. The ca-
nal church lives to build relationships and uses all its resources strategically to reach
out.

“A canal church is always looking outside itself rather than simply trying to attract
people to come into it.”
A driving force in a canal church is connection – connecting people inside and outside
the church to Jesus.
You may want to read the story of Esther and then consider your experiences and ob-
servations about Wesley Church. The Governing Board is going to use the definitions
as we consider the directions for Wesley in the near and longer-term future. It is our
determination to find how God is calling us to open ourselves and become that canal
that shares the love of God through Jesus through the relationships we build as indi-
vidual members of the congregation and as the congregation as a whole.
If you have questions, please contact any member of the Governing Board, particularly
if you would like to read and study the book.
Blessings & Peace,
The Governing Board

   Governing Board Minutes of October 19, 2020 are posted on the church website.
   https://www.wesleyumcaurora.org/governing-board--minutes.html

Dear Wesley Families,
It's been difficult to navigate how to move forward during this time of quarantine. For
the safety of our children and families, we will continue to be distanced and look for-
ward to when it's safe to gather again. I deeply miss spending time with our children
and youth!
During this time, I've been providing storytime on our Vimeo page as well as sending
home activity packets for children. Our Youth Group met on Zoom for virtual game
night on Thursday, October 29th.
Because Halloween feels slightly canceled this year, I wanted to bring some cheer to
our younger Wesley kids and dropped off Halloween goodie bags filled with crafts,
trinkets, and most importantly, candy!
I appreciate your support and patience as we navigate this time away from one anoth-
er.
Stay healthy and feel loved,
Michelle Curiel
Children & Families Discipleship

Study Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON)

and faiths.
If you want to make a financial donation to JFON, you may do so through the church.
There are two ways to do this. The first is to donate online through our donation page
at wesleyumcaurora.org. The second method is to write a check and mail it to the
church with “JFON” in the memo line.

Wesley Named as an Illinois Sesquicentennial House of Worship
This year Wesley was honored by the Illinois State Historical Society as an Illinois Ses-
quicentennial House of Worship! Wesley will have its history recorded at the Society
as well as the Illinois State Library for the use of future researchers.

It was a beautiful day on October 9th
                                              for the Not Dead Yet (NDY) group to
                                               meet on the lawn at Wesley UMC.

The NDY group met briefly on 10/23. We had planned a Halloween party com-
plete with treats. Each attendee was to get a new paper mask to decorate using
the stickers supplied. A Halloween card was made for everyone (we hope) in the
group but they all will have to go in the mail. Hope you are all staying safe and
we will get together when this is over or the weather allows us to be outside
again.
Wendy & Ruth Ann

Let’s Go Adult Fellowship
Let’s Go is a social group open to all adult members and friends of Wesley. Due to the
pandemic we have not been meeting. We hope to be able to start planning events
again sometime, keeping safety in mind first and foremost. Our first event will be a joy-
ous Welcome Back to Live Fellowship Party! Stay tuned for details. Please contact
Meredith Lindgren if you are interested, 630-788-6911 or psalmmom418@gmail.com.

Caregivers Support Group
If you are a caregiver for a loved one or a friend, or are working for a company that
places caregivers in homes of those in need; if you have been a caregiver; or if you
anticipate being a caregiver and want to commiserate with us, you are invited to join
us. All are welcome, men and women, young and old. We offer one another support,
compassion, and a willing ear to listen. If you are interested in joining us, please con-
tact Wendy Evans at kaileysboppy@gmail.com and let her know so she can add you
to the list. We meet the third Thursday of the month. We have been meeting live at
church under the trees on the New York Street side of the building, with masks,
chairs, and our lunches! There is always room for more!

Wesley Gardeners

Tuesday Crafters
Tuesday Night Crafters are currently holding virtual gatherings via Zoom. At this time,
we are sharing projects we have been working on. Please contact Vicki Martin at 630-
859-2320 or vickimartin2@comcast.net if you are interested in joining the Crafters on
one of these meetings.

Mug Club
Enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation. This is a social group of men with lots to talk
about and too much time on our hands. We have not had too many solutions, but
we’ve had lots of fellowship. We invite you to join us! For more details call Herb at
630-264-2892.
When: Each Thursday at 9am (temporarily meeting via Zoom)

Bad Girls Bible/Book Study
The Bad Girls are meeting weekly on Tuesdays on Zoom until further notice. We are
just starting a new book, “Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an In-
ternational Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them together,” by Ron
Hall and Denver Moore. If you are interested in joining us for lively discussion, please
contact Kari Nicholson-Rigaud so she can send you the link for Zoom. Her email ad-
dress is nich16@gmail.com. For more information, contact Meredith Lindgren at
psalmmom418@gmail.com, or call me at 630-788-6911.

                                                                       Bad Girls
                                                                 Halloween Meeting

Pastor Appreciation
                              We celebrated Pastor Appreciation
                              Sunday on October 18, 2020. The
                              Governing Board placed a basket of
                              mums with balloons, a small gift for
                              Alison, and a sign reading "Pastor
                              John, We Appreciate You". Thanks
                              for all you do Pastor John!

                        November Birthdays
Carol Stoffel 11/1               Vincent Escobedo 11/18
Brigitta Neumann 11/2            Joe Janavicius 11/19
Max Mallar 11/6                  Genevieve Akyea 11/20
Ava Mallar 11/6                  Hollie Coffi 11/25
Alyx Ptak 11/10                  Juanita Beck 11/28
Cheryl Thompson 11/12            Sandy Arcus 11/30
Inti Smith 11/13                 Deborah Brown 11/30
Isaiah Burnett 11/15             Jim Merk 11/30

Rev. John Bell
Senior Pastor

Bad Girls Bible Study                Mug Club                     United Methodist Men
Meredith Lindgren                    Herb John                    Herb John
630-788-6911                         630-264-2892                 630-264-2892
psalmmom418@gmail.com                herbjohn@ymail.com           herbjohn@ymail.com

Caregiver Support Group              NDY Group                    United Methodist Women
Wendy Evans                          Wendy Evans                  Mari Curless
630-897-5149                         kaileysboppy@gmail.com       630-892-9373
kaileysboppy@gmail.com               Ruth Ann Little
                                     ruthann32@icloud.com         Welcome Desk Volunteers
Fine Arts Committee                                               Jennifer Pawlowski
Jamie Reynolds                                                    jennifer.wumc@gmail.com
                                    Prayer Shawl Ministry
630-460-3989                        Mari Curless
Supernatural_Winchester@outlook.com 630-892-9373
                                                                  Wesley Gardeners
Hesed House                                                       Meredith Lindgren
                                     Special Events Coordinator   630-788-6911
Bob McKnight                         Lynn Burnett                 psalmmom418@gmail.com
630-896-5287
redwoodcats@sbcglobal.net            le.burnett@yahoo.com
                                                                  Wesley Golfers
Let’s Go Fellowship                  Sunday Morning               Ralph Breazeale
Meredith Lindgren                    FaithLink                    630-897-6657
630-788-6911                         Emmy Lou John                jrbreeze47@comcast.net
psalmmom418@gmail.com                630-264-2892
                                     emmyloujohn@yahoo.com        Yoga Classes
                                                                  Ann Merk
Morning Needle Crafters                                           630-454-4349
Mari Curless                         Tuesday Crafters
                                     Vicki Martin                 asm52@yahoo.com
630-892-9373                         630-859-2320
                                     vickimartin2@comcast.net