Evangelism
Our outreach team has a passion for God and a passion for people. From the moment you join us for worship or an event you will enter a warm and inviting environment in which to grow in your relationship with God and with your neighbor.
When you arrive you will be greeted by people who are ready to assist you and answer any questions you have about the many worship, educational, and fellowship opportunities to be found within this community.
Evangelism, or sharing the good news of God's love for all people, is at the heart of all we do and are at Community United Methodist Church. We look forward to seeing you!
The team is led by Phil Gorski. Please contact him or Pastor Melissa Hood if you have any questions.
Missions
The active support of Missions work is an inviting witness to Christ in the world today. Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" and "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:30).
Our Missions Team charter is to educate, motivate and facilitate the Community UMC family to be an inviting witness to Christ through continued strong financial support and increased personal involvement in the service ministries of UM Missions and Programs.
You can find out much more about our missions team on the missions pages!
Reminiscence Service
This service for persons with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia is held on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Main Sanctuary. It includes traditional hymns on the organ or piano, and sometimes special instrumental or vocal music. All are welcome at this service.
Senior Assisted Living Service
This service for homebound persons is held on the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall at 20 N. Center. It includes a social time for fellowship, music on the piano or by a guest musician, a hymn-sing, and a brief message. All are welcome at this service.
College Outreach
C3, the Community College Connection, maintains ties with local college students and Community UMC youth away at college. Persons interested in supporting this ministry should contact the office.
During the school year, C3 provides monthly lunches for students at local colleges, including nearby North Central College. These lunches are held on the first Sunday of each month after 11:00 worship, and include lots of home-cooked meals made by Community UMC members. Bring a friend!
C3 also keeps up the connection with Community UMC students away at college. Members are invited to "buddy" with a college student and send them regular letters or e-mails, birthday and Christmas cards, and the occasional care package, to let them know someone back home is thinking of them.
Service in the World
Missions are a major part of the Community UMC "DNA." Our youth go on yearly mission trips, having visited Costa Rica, Washington DC, Mission SD, Flagler Beach FL, Parsons KS, Juarez Mexico, Russell KY, and other locations in recent years. Adult work trips are also held regularly, with trips to help with flood relief in Iowa and on the Gulf Coast, to work on the Wesley Woods retreat center in Wisconsin, and to help at our sister UMC congregation in Joliet. The confirmation class also goes on a service project each year.
Each year we also participate in several drives and fundraisers for world missions. These include our annual School Supply drive, supporting UMCOR's Midwest Mission Distribution Center; the October CROP walk to raise funds for hunger causes; and Heifer International every November and December (a great Christmas gift). Community UMC also helps through our Second Mile donations to projects such as Nothing But Nets and to overseas missionaries. For more information, visit our missions page.
Service in the Community
Community UMC serves the needs of the local area. From September to May of each year, we serve as a PADS site, providing shelter to homeless persons every Sunday evening and staffing the site on the second Sunday of each month. We have recently installed a clothing donation bin in the back parking lot; proceeds from the resale of the gently-used clothes go to PADS.
We have had long relationships with Habitat for Humanity, the Loaves and Fishes food bank, Hesed House, Marcy-Newberry Center (the major recipients of the seeds from our annual spring drive), and other local organizations. Community UMC also helps through our Second Mile donations to projects such as Nothing But Nets and to overseas missionaries. For more information, visit our missions page.
Service in the Church
Community UMC's many ministries could not function without the many volunteers who offer their time and energy. We list just a few of the many areas of service.
Worship – Ushers; worship greeters; acolytes; altar and banner committees; Communion stewards and servers; lay readers; musicians; vocalists; drama participants;
Administration – Church committee members; office volunteers; offering counters
Christian Education – Sunday School teachers; assistant teachers; chapel leaders; Son-Light teachers; Vacation Bible School leaders and helpers
Youth Ministries – Youth Fellowship volunteers; confirmation mentors; work trip chaperones
Outreach – C3 College Connection; "Red Bag" guest welcome; senior outreach service; PADS volunteer or donator of supplies
For more information or to volunteer, contact the office.