Articles

The trial of The Rev. Amy DeLong, a Wisconsin clergywoman, has been rescheduled for June 21-23, 2011 at Peace UMC, Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Rev. DeLong has been charged with being a lesbian in a 15-year committed relationship with her partner and also with doing a same-sex union.

Although the General Assembly of Presbyterians has now joined with the Episcopal, UCC and ELCA denominations in affirming gay and lesbian clergy, The United Methodist Church continues to persecute and prosecute them.

Due to an illness in Carol Lysne's family, the Adult Education Meeting for tonight, May 10 is cancelled.

Commit to as many actions as possible to reduce your energy consumption and in friendly competition see who can score the most points in moving you and your family toward a lower carbon footprint. Report your score using the DGFUMC Contact Form (choose 'Environmental Stewardship' as the category). Here are the final action items.

This Sunday, May 1st, there will be NO Sunday school. There will be nursery care. Sunday is a special day in the life of our church. It is the annual children's cantata in worship. Many of the children will be singing in it. I am encouraging those who aren't singing to attend with their families.

Let us make this Sunday, a time to worship together as families!

The Downers Grove Garden Walk in support of Bridge Communities on July 9 just got the official endorsement of the New York Times.

Tickets are available from June 1. Six gardens will be featured during the day.

One of the benefits of being United Methodist is the way we work together to be in mission all around the world.

The first, foundation level of mission outreach is through the “apportionment” giving that is a part of our regular church budget. Through apportionments, a portion of our offerings are used throughout the year to minister through the World Service and Conference Benevolence Funds. The World Service Fund enables our church’s world-wide mission outreach. All United Methodist churches share together in contributing to the World Service Fund. The Conference Benevolence Fund directs a portion of our offerings to mission and ministries within our Northern Illinois Conference, from the inner city neighborhoods of Chicago to the rural areas of western Illinois. All the United Methodist Churches in our Conference in our Conference share financially in our Conference Benevolences.

The second, “extra” level of mission giving is through the “Rainbow Covenant.” The Rainbow Covenant allows us a congregation to select specific ministries and mission projects for our congregation’s support. There are nine color “bands” of the Rainbow Covenant. To be a Rainbow Covenant church, a congregation first needs to pay its apportionments in full, and then give at least $25 to a mission in each of the color “bands” of the Rainbow.

The various colors each support an area of mission. They are:

• Burgundy— International
• Red—U.S.A
• Orange—United Methodist Committee of Relief
• Yellow—Children and Youth
• Green—Northern Illinois Conference
• Blue— District
• Indigo—Missionary Support
• Purple—Local Benevolences and Special Sundays
• White—Sister Church Relationships.

Special Opportunity for Children!

This Sunday, April 17, Palm Sunday, all children (3 year old through 6th grade) are invited to help decorate the wall between Fellowship Hall and Chapel Hall. Members of the Children and Family Work Area will be assisting children to put their handprint on the wall. We will be using different colors of water-based paint.

During this month, commit to as many actions as possible to reduce your energy consumption and in friendly competition see who can score the most points in moving you and your family toward a lower carbon footprint. Report your score using the DGFUMC Contact Form (choose 'Environmental Stewardship' as the category). Here is the list of action items for week 2. Previous weeks can be found on the Going Green page.

Action Items

1. Adjust your thermostat- recommended heating settings are 65- 68 degrees during the day and 55- 60 degrees overnight.  Recommended cooling temperature is no lower than 78 degrees (setting thermostat at these recommended temperatures can reduce CO2 by 1,500 lb/ yr. - 5 pts.
2. Do full loads of laundry and dish washing.  Use cold water wash/ rinse for laundry (90% of the energy  in doing laundry goes to heating water and only 10% to powering the machine) - 2 pts Replace all conventional light bulbs with compact fluorescent or LED - 1 pt/ bulb replaced
3. Turn down  hot water heater temperature to 120 degrees or medium temp. setting - 2 pts.
4. Install electric outlet insulator pads on all outside walls - 1 pt.
5. Add perennial and native plantings to the yard to gradually reduce lawn areas - 2 pts.
6. Install a programmable thermostat to help with (1) above - 10 pts.
7. Walk to any locations less than one mile - 2 pts.
8. Turn car off if idling for more than 15 seconds (other than at stoplights)- reduces emissions as well as wear on car - 2 pts.
9. Accelerate slowly- maintain MPH- can save 1,000 lb/ yr. CO2) - 2 pts.speed limit (20-30% energy savings driving 55 MPH vs. 75
10. Combine trips- shop at closest stores - 2 pts.
11. Buy products that use recyclable materials - 2 pts
12. Avoid buying bottled water- get everyone in the family a water bottle to fill and take along when travelling - 1 pt.

Given the ever increasing impact of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions, we invite everyone to join in a program to reduce our energy consumption, save money and protect the health and well- being of people and our planet - all at the same time.

During this coming month, commit to as many actions as possible to reduce your energy consumption and in friendly competition see who can score the most points in moving you and your family toward a lower carbon footprint.

Here is the list of action items for week 1. Report your score using the DGFUMC Contact Form (choose 'Environmental Stewardship' as the category). More details can be found on the Going Green page.

Action Items

1. Turn off lights, TV and other electronics whenever you leave the room for more than a minute - 2 pts.
2. Clean or replace furnace air filter regularly - 2 pts.
3. Reduce waste generation and recycle all aluminum, glass, plastic, paper, etc. (reducing half of a standard size garbage can per week can reduce about 2,000 lb/ yr. CO2 - 2 pts.
4. Plant new trees to commemorate births of children/ grandchildren- they not only sequester carbon but also provide shade, retain water and purify the air - 5 pts.
5. Tune-up furnace/ A/C at least every other year (saves 300 lb/ yr. CO2) - 3 pts.
6. Replace attic fan with solar powered fan (free energy for life- easier installation) - 10 pts.
7. Consider organic cleaning products such as vinegar, borax, baking soda - 1 pt.
8. Eat less meat (for each day of the week switching to vegetarian can save 700 lb/ yr. CO2) - 5 pts.
9. Buy foods locally - 2 pts.
10. Remove unneeded heavy objects from trunk to improve mileage - 1 pt.
11. Combine car trips while you’re out to reduce vehicle miles travelled (with planning most people can reduce VMT 20% saving 1,500 lb/ yr. CO2) - 3 pts.
12. Use mass transit whenever feasible, especially commuting to work-  5 pts.

Linda Lee, the resident bishop of Wisconsin, has postponed the trial of the Rev. Amy DeLong indefinitely. DeLong, an experienced and outstanding WI clergywoman is the latest person to be charged with disobeying church law by officiating at the union of two lesbians. She is also charged with being in a loving, committed relationship with her partner of 15 years.