The Woman at the Well
Our Lenten journey continues this week with a reading from scripture about a Samaritan woman Jesus meets at a well.
This scripture is one of the most misinterpreted of all any we will ever encounter. [That's saying something.] Part of the confusion comes when Jesus tells this Samaritan woman that she has had five husbands and the one she is with now isn't her husband. You can imagine what some (male) preachers have said about that. I've heard far too many sermons shaming people who, frankly, never gave up on finding love even though their past relationships didn't work out as they planned. Can we all agree that we don't need a story like that right now?
What if this story isn't about shame at all but about the living water that refreshes our souls. It's a story about finding connections even across religious and political divides. It invites us to appreciate even those who are supposed to be our enemies as we draw from that deep well together.
Join us as we hear again the (oh so good) story of the Woman at the Well.
Worship 10am
John 4:1-42
In person or online at the links below (Facebook or YouTube)
Thank Offering - March 15th
On Sunday, March 15th, the United Women in Faith (UWIF) will be holding their annual Thank Offering Sunday. This Sunday features the voice of our UWIF during worship as well as a guest speaker. This year's speaker will be Rev. Sherrie Lowly. Join us as we celebrate together!
Women's Choir Rehearsals after church
As a part of our Thank Offering Service, a Women's Choir will rehearse after church immediately following worship. Please reach out to Brianna (brianna@firstumclombard.org) if you plan to attend.
Special Lent Opportunities
This week, we begin a special season in the life of the church known as Lent, from the Latin for 40. For forty days, we prepare for the coming of Holy Week, especially Easter. Join us for these upcoming opportunities:
Daily Devotionals
Men’s Fellowship and United Methodist Men have made available a daily Lenten devotional by the Society of St. Andrew. Please pick up a copy in the back of the sanctuary. The study is entitled
Blessed Are The Meek. You can also pick up a donation box for the Society of St. Andrew and put a coin inside as a part of your Lenten discipline.
Lenten Studies
we will be using An Unlikely Lent by Rachel Billups that focuses on the lesser known persons in the Holy Week story. Join us as we explore Holy Week together and see it through the eyes of those who might have experienced it firsthand.
Two options:
Wednesday nights at 7:00 (discussion group).
Sunday mornings at 8:30am (video & discussion).
Service Opportunity
3/21 Feed My Starving Children
Join us on Saturday, March 21st from noon to 2pm at FMSC Schaumburg email office@firstumclombard.org or use this link sign up. This is a gathering by the Salt Creek Cluster of United Methodist Churches.
March 29th Palm Sunday
April 2nd Maundy Thursday 7pm
April 3rd Good Friday 7pm
April 5th Easter Sunday – 6:30am and 10am
Have You Checked Out the Card Rack Lately?
There are loads of new Birthday cards, with more cards coming for the upcoming holidays – Easter, St Patrick’s Day, and Valentines if you missed that!
The Rack is in the back of the sanctuary. They are $2.00 per card or $3.00 for two cards with all proceeds going to the Kids Above All program. The Card Ministry has been supporting Kids Above All for over 5 years.
For 2026, Card Ministry meets on Saturdays from 9:00AM to 12noon on March 21, 2026, April 11, 2026, May 2, 2026, and June 20, 2026. We will be in the card room in the Calvary church building until further notice. Come for an hour or the whole time, drop-ins are welcome!
For those unfamiliar with the Card Ministry, we get together once a month to make handmade cards for the card rack. We try to keep different types of cards in the rack – birthday, get well, anniversary, thinking of you, baby, and holidays. When you hear an announcement in church about someone you want to contact, you can stop and pick up a card on your way out. If you have a special request such as a graduation with specific school colors or a special anniversary or birthday, we can design or make these, with advance notice.
For the card ministry, all supplies are provided. We have paper, stamps, inks, dies, embossing folders, etc. You can follow our design suggestions or make your own. Be as creative as you would like. If you fall in love with your card, or one that someone else made, you can take them home for the regular price, just as if they were in the card rack.
Church Camp June 22nd-26th
Each year, we offer a summer camp experience that joins together Downers Grove UMC, Evanston First, and other churches for a camp experience like no other.
This week-long summer camp aims to change campers from the inside out! This camp is an all-inclusive summer camp that offers a fun, enriching, spiritual, and biblically based camp experience.
This year's theme is In the Wilderness.
Camp scholarships are available. Email office@firstumclombard.org for more information on how to apply.
Join us for Prayer Group Thursdays at 9am
All are welcome to attend our prayer group dedicated to praying for our congregation, community and world needs will meet every Thursday morning at 9am in the church chapel at FUMC.
Women's Bible Study Thursdays 1pm by Zoom
Join the Women's Bible Study as they meet via zoom at 1pm every Thursday. Please email the office for zoom link at office@firstumclombard.org.
Week(s) at a Glance
Saturday, March 7th
9:00am Crafters
9:00am Crafters
Sunday, March 8th
8:30am Adult Sunday School
10:00am Worship
11:00am Women’s Choir Rehearsal
11:00am Coffee &
Acolytes: Amelia & Ruthie
8:30am Adult Sunday School
10:00am Worship
11:00am Women’s Choir Rehearsal
11:00am Coffee &
Acolytes: Amelia & Ruthie
Liturgist:
Slides: Martha
Slides: Martha
Sound: Tom
Coffee&: Men’s Fellowship
Coffee&: Men’s Fellowship
Ushers: Bob & Ron
Monday, March 9th
9:00am Global Sewing Ministry
6:45pm Finance Team
Tuesday, March 10th
6:30pm SPRC
Wednesday, March 11th
7:00pm Lenten Study @ First Church UCC
Thursday, March 12th
9:00am Prayer
6:15pm Choir Rehearsal
7:15pm Bell Choir
Saturday, March 14th
8:30am Men’s Fellowship (Library)
9:00am Conference Finance and Administration (Chapel)
9:30am United Women in Faith (Parlor)
Sunday, March 15th Thank Offering Sunday
8:30am Adult Sunday School
10:00am Worship
11:00am Coffee &
Acolytes: Ella & Evie
Liturgist: United Women in Faith
Slides: Becky
Sound:
Coffee&: United Women in Faith
Ushers: Carol & Phyllis
Sign Up to be a Liturgist
A liturgist stands up front and leads us all as we say our call to worship, opening prayer, and scripture. Sign up below!
Help us Serve Coffee&
Could you bring a tasty treat for us to enjoy after church? Your contribution could help us enjoy this time of connection and fellowship. Sign up below!
Coffee & Sign-up
The person usually brings items for us to enjoy after worship
Sunday, April 19th
Sunday, April 26th
Sunday, May 3rd
Sunday, May 24th
Sunday, May 31st
Liturgist Sign Up
Liturgist for Sunday, April 19th
Liturgist for Sunday, April 19th
Liturgist for Sunday, April 26
Liturgist for Sunday, May 3
Liturgist for May 10th
Liturgist for Sunday, May 3rd
Online Suggestion Box for Trustees
Is something broken? Can we fix clean an area? Send us a suggestion!
email: Trustees@firstumclombard.org
Become an Acolyte
Acolytes bring in the light of Christ each Sunday morning, reminding us that Christ's light is always with us. Children are accompanied by an adult to help them as they perform this essential part of worship. To sign up your child or loved one, click this link to email Pam Lohman.
Pray for those who are healing: Tessa K. (major health issues); Ray J.; Dwayne P. (chemo); Esther F. (health concerns); John & Diane; Jackie Z. (in the hospital); Bill G. (palliative care);
Pray for those mourning: The family of Jerry Scanlon. The family of Rich Zurawski. The family of Gifford Smith. The family of Louise Price.
