Welcoming All.
First United Methodist Church of Park Ridge
418 West Touhy Avenue
Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
847.825.3144
Rev. Scott Himel, Pastor
LOVE SUNDAY 2025
Please join us and the women of UWFaith in welcoming Candice Klopfenstein, who is our featured speaker during LOVE Sunday worship on February 16 at 9:30 AM.
Candice is an award-winning children’s book author and mosaic artist. Through her writing and art, she desires to connect others with hope and beauty. Within her art practice, Candice creates mosaic art from stained glass, smalti glass, natural stone, and found objects such as shell fragments and beach glass, creating beauty from brokenness. In addition to her studio practice, leading art workshops for others who have experienced loss or trauma has been a deeply rewarding part of her creative journey. Her artwork has been on display in various exhibitions throughout the US, and internationally.
Candice’s journey of writing the children’s book “The Place Where I Belong” began when she was an in-home tutor for a newly arrived refugee family. Through this and other connections with the local refugee community, she came to understand the fundamental desire of people everywhere to have a secure and peaceful place to call home. Her personal journey of belonging has led her to create ways for others to experience a life full of peace, hope, joy, and laughter, to reaffirm value and bring hope to children and families everywhere.
You’re invited: Sundays at 9:30AM
We invite you to sanctuary worship every Sunday at 9:30 am, which is also live streamed on YouTube and shared on social media early Sunday afternoon. Each worship service experience includes time of reflection and prayer, Scripture readings, a powerful message, and singing. Our music is a blend of traditional Wesleyan hymns and contemporary praise songs. Open table Communion meal is offered on the first Sunday of each month. All are invited to help lead our services through singing and reading as liturgists.
Faith Formation for All Ages
Children 3 years old to 5th grade Our current children’s curiculum is Cokesbury Kids “Big Faith”. Children may join us in-person or virtually from home. If you are attending in person, the children will leave the 9:30 am worship service after the children’s message, and head to our classrooms – Rooms 103 and 104. If you prefer to join virtually, we will provide the information you need to join the class, along with the materials the in-person group is using. In person, at home, or hybrid, we are here for you.
Youth Our Youth are continuing to learn creative discipleship through Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living. They are focusing on connecting bible stories to contemporary issues they face in everyday life.
Online Learning for Adults Sunday morning and weekly online classes, and monthly online seminars on a variety of topics for adults continue to refresh us in faith. Contact the church office or our pastor for more information.
Compassion in Action
Opportunities open to all members and friends include meals to healthcare workers, support of local food pantries, creation of face coverings for anyone in need, prayer squares for first responders, care for the clients of Avenues to Independence, and outreach to the most vulnerable neighbors: the homeless, refugees, and the unemployed.
We continue to partner in service to Methodist agencies and community organizations including UMCOR, Justice For Our Neighbors, Exodus World Service, Feed My Starving Children, The Night Ministry, New Hope Community Food Pantry, International Health Partners, Church World Service, Reconciling Ministries Network, and Kids Above All.
February 2, 2025 • Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
“Biblical Fairness”
Series: Tough Questions (Week 3). Scripture: Genesis 25:29-34; 33:4-11
We continue with our “Tough Question” sermon series, and our question this week is, “Why are people sometimes rewarded in life for doing bad things, and how do we address this concerning dynamic?” Fairness is the underlying idea of this question, and it’s a topic that touches so many aspects of our lives from law and the courtroom, to civil rights, to sports, to the classroom, to business deals and practices, and perhaps most pertinent to our everyday lives, it impacts our personal relationships. The last category is the concern of our passage this week. What can we learn about fairness from two brothers squabbling over a bowl of lentil soup? Well, quite a lot, actually (e.g. Don’t negotiate on an empty stomach!). The story of Jacob and Esau is a fascinating one that has many practical life lessons in terms of how we are called to treat others (and how not to treat them). See you Sunday.
~ Pastor Scott
