March 6, 2025

WORSHIP - March 9, 2025

"Is There a God?"

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5 (NRSVUE)

Preacher: Reverend Sara L. Isbell

Daylight Savings time starts this Sunday! Don't forget to "spring forward!" We may lose an hour of sleep, but we gain an hour of sunlight in the evening.

Jeanette Wooldridge

Meet Our New Receptionist and Office Assistant!

Jeanette Wooldridge loves playing music, reading, and has a deep sense of compassion for those she interacts with. After obtaining two bachelor's degrees in Architectural Sustainability and Facilities Management from Ferris State University, she spent the last three years working in the hospitality industry and enjoyed the everyday interactions with the ever-changing guests. Recently relocated back to her hometown of Pontiac, Illinois, Jeanette has enjoyed baking with her family and joined the Bloomington Normal Community Concert Band as a tuba player. Please feel free to stop by the desk and say hello!

The 2025 Lenten Offering at Wesley

Every year in February, the Missions Committee of Wesley Church selects global/national missions for the special Lenten Offering. 

This year the Lenten Offering supports:

Missionary Guillermo “Willie” Berman and Manos Juntas VIM Mexico

Wesley Church is in covenant relationship with Board of Global ministries missionary Willie Berman. Willie is serving in his home country of Mexico as the Mexican Methodist Border Mission Coordinator at Manos Juntos (Hands Together) in Reynosa.

United Methodist Organization for Relief (UMCOR)  

UMCOR is the global humanitarian aid and development organization of the United Methodist Church be it from war or conflict, hurricane, famine, earthquake or flood.

Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya (ODIM).

ODIM provides clinical services and proactive community health and education programming in San Juan and San Pablo, Guatemala.

Assistance for Immigrants

 In consultation with the Immigration Projection, funding will be provided for legal and safe status.

You will hear more opportunities to learn about the impact these organizations make during the Stewardship Story moments in our Sunday services in March. Contributions may be made using the offering envelopes in the pews and notating “Lenten Offering”or online at WesleyUMCBloomington.org/GIVE/

The 2025 Rummage Sale is Approaching!

The 2025 Rummage Sale will take place on Saturday, May 10th from 8:00am-2:00pm with a bags and boxes sale starting at 1:00pm.

Our annual Rummage Sale will be here before you know it, and we cannot do it without your help! Set up will take place from Monday May 5th – Friday May 9th, and the sale will take place on Saturday, May 10th from 8:00 am-2:00 pm. 

Times for dropping off your donations at the Interstate Center throughout the week are: 

Monday, May 5th from 12-9:00pm. 

Tuesday, May 6th – Thursday May 8th from 9:00am-9:00pm. 

Donations will not be accepted on Friday May 9th. 

We are still looking for volunteers for the following tasks:

- Volunteers to coordinate an area of the sale - We are still looking for area coordinators for Lamps and Tools! 

- Volunteers to help set up at the Interstate Center on Monday, May 5th at 9:00am 

- Volunteers to help clean up at the Interstate Center on Saturday, May 10th at 2:00pm 

- Volunteers to use their trucks to help with clean-up on Saturday 

- Volunteers to help with furniture pick-ups during the week of the sale 

- Volunteers to bake something for the bake sale 

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Brenna Martin at bmartin@wesley-umc.com, sign up on the church’s website, or talk to any of the Committee Chairs listed below! 

We appreciate all the time you give to this very important ministry of our church, and we look forward to another great year serving our community together! 

-The 2025 Rummage Sale Committee Chairs 

Stephanie Peterson, Beth Sennett, Brenna Martin, Stephanie Hoy, and Kelsey Ross 

"Called Good" Young Adult Ministry

Wesley UMC Bloomington is proud to know we have an ever-growing young adult presence. Our 20s-30s ministry is called "Called Good" and currently meets once per week on Tuesdays. If you would like to join us for a book study or discussion, please contact Kelsey Ross.

Next Thursday at Wesley

No Ticket Required!

This Tuesday, March 11, at Hope Church UMC at 1 Yount Drive, Bloomington IL.

Does your faith make room for questions?

Everyone has doubts. Where is God when bad things happen? Does God hear our prayers? Is there a heaven? How can we know? Often we treat such questions as the enemy of faith. But uncertainty doesn’t mean our belief is lacking. Doubt can be a path to a deeper, richer encounter with God.

In Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith, join best-selling author and pastor Adam Hamilton as he discusses some of our most significant sources of doubt and shows how a steady trust in God can emerge from them. You will delve into questions like: “Does God exist? How can I know?” “Is the Bible true?” “Why do prayers go unanswered?”



Hamilton approaches these sources of doubt with honesty and insight, drawing on the rich wisdom of the Bible, Christian tradition, and his experience walking with thousands of people on their spiritual journey. Whether you’re a longtime Christian or someone brand new to faith, this book will lead you to a trust in God that is unafraid of hard questions. Wrestle with doubt and find faith—belief and trust, not certainty; mystery rather than simple answers. Contact Kathi Pritts kpritts@wesley-umc.com if you would like materials to form your own group with neighbors, pew buddies or anyone churched or non-churched with doubts.

Good Grief - by Granger E. Westberg

Wednesdays at 6-7pm in the Lounge with Kathi Pritts

AND Thursday at noon at Kathi's house at 9600 Walnut Way, Bloomington.

Timeless wisdom for all who grieve.

For more than fifty years, Good Grief has helped millions of readers - including NFL players and a former first lady - find comfort and rediscover hope after loss. This classic text includes a foreword by Dr. Timothy Johnson, a leading communicator of medical health care information. An afterword by the author's daughters tells how the book came to be.

Good Grief identifies ten stages of grief--shock, emotion, depression, physical distress, panic, guilt, anger, resistance, hope, and acceptance--but, recognizing that grief is complex and deeply personal, defines no right way to grieve. Good Grief offers valuable insights on the emotional and physical responses persons may experience during the natural process of grieving. Reflection questions help readers explore their own experience with each stage.

Whether mourning the death of a loved one, the end of a marriage, the loss of a job, or other difficult life changes, Good Grief is a proven steady companion in times of loss. Contact Kathi Pritts at KPritts@Wesley-UMC.com for more info.

The Illinois Great Rivers Conference (IGRC) is comprised of all or part of 87 counties in downstate Illinois. Wesley UMC Bloomington is part of this conference, so this study is open to all Wesley members!

Our next paper distribution will be Saturday, March 15th. Lead groups will be SURGE and Pub Rotary Club. We are all hoping for warmer weather! 

Below are our most needed items:

• Toilet paper
• Diapers - Every size EXCEPT Preemie, Size 5 and 2T-3T. So, Newborn, Sizes1-4, 6 & 7, 3T-4T, 4T-5T, 5T-6T, XS and L/XL Goodnites
• Body Wash, Shampoo and Body Lotion
• Money or gift cards so we can purchase in bulk, tax free

Upcoming volunteers opportunities:

1. March 6 from 10-12, dividing bulk products at Wesley West

2. March 13 from 1-2:30, packing bags at Wesley West

3. March 15 from 8:30-11:30, paper distribution at Wesley West

Let Karen Daudelin know if you are interested in helping:  daudelinkp@gmail.com

Thank you for your ongoing support of this vital ministry!

-Karen Daudelin

daudelinkp@gmail.com

Join the Plarn Sleeping Mat Weavers!

Mark your calendars! Throughout the year, Plarn Weavers will meet every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. They're always looking for new members!

For questions, contact Sue Deason at (309) 838-8024 or suevk@yahoo.com.   

There are many ways to give from the safety and comfort of your home. The easiest way is to click below to give online with our secure and SSL-encrypted donation site.

You may also submit an online offering by texting. To do this, simply text:

"${your donation amount}OFFERING"

to:(309) 822-4442

For mail-in offerings, please mail a check to: Wesley United Methodist Church - 502 East Front Street, Bloomington, IL 61701

Email Pastor Sara L. Isbell for prayers and Pastoral concerns.

Wesley Emergency Number after Office Hours:

Rev. Sara L. Isbell  217.299.4870 

Wesley United Methodist Church:

502 E. Front Street

Bloomington, IL 61701

Office 309.827.8046

Visit www.WesleyUMCBloomington.org for more information about our news and events.

You can also visit us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

You can view the February 2025 issue of News of Wesley online! Click the image above to view or download! (Needs updating)

We've updated our Leadership Directory on our website!