"How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."
--Psalm 36:7-9
"The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say, 'What are you going through?'"
--Simone Weil
Women's Book Study
If you are a female student looking for a small group to join, come check out Women's Book Study! We will be meeting at Brooke's apartment Tuesday nights at 8pmthis semester and will be discussing the book Reluctant Pilgrim by Enuma Okoro.
If you are interested in hanging out with some awesome ladies, send Brooke an email atmcclure1@illinois.edu for her address or to get answers to any questions you might have.
Graduate Study
A number of our Grad students are beginning a study on Rob Bell's bookLove Wins. They meet on most Tuesday nights at 8:15pm at the Wesley Foundation. On the first Tuesday of the month they move to Wesley Theater to watch a film and have a discussion on a faith topic.
If you're looking to get in shape this might be the right group for you! They meet onSaturday mornings for a devotion and then break into groups for various forms of exercise. Occasionally the time gets moved around to accommodate football games. Some participants are training for the Illinois Marathon and others have more tame goals.
Each week we will be looking at a new story in its historical context and modern issues that it may raise. This is a great study for international students, new Christians, or people who simply want to "beef up" on some well known stories. We meet in the Wesley Student Lounge Friday afternoons from 2:30-4:00pm.
Pastor Rob will be leading this study and can be contacted atrkirby@wesleyui.org.
Illinois Football Pizza Party
This weekend kicked off the start of the 2011 Fighting Illini football season. This Saturday, September 10th, the team will be playing South Dakota State University at home. If you do not have a ticket to the game, but still want to cheer on your Illini, come to Wesley! We will be watching the 11am game in the student lounge. There will be free pizza!
All Church Potluck this Sunday!
After the contemporary worship service this Sunday at 12:30pm, there will be an all church potluck at Wesley! All are welcome.
Students and visitors are our guests, so there is no need to bring food, just your appetite! New staff members will also be introduced.
September 11, 2001 Memorial Banner
Continuing the rest of the week, there is a September 11, 2001 memorial banner outside of Wesley. If you happen to be walking by, feel free to come and write your thoughts and prayers as we remember the events of ten years ago and look forward to a peaceful future.
Weekly Services
Sunday9:30am - Traditional Worship, Sanctuary
11:15am - Contemporary Worship, Sanctuary
Wednesday
8:30pm - Midweek Student Worship, Watseka Lounge
Upcoming Events
September 10 - Illini Football Pizza Party, 11am Student Lounge 11 - Church potluck, 12:30pm Great Hall 15 - Food Pantry Distribution October
"Defeatism about the future is a crime. The danger is not in trying to do too much, but in trying to do too little." --Philip Noel-Baker
Grad Student Forum on Faith and Suffering
Theodicy is one of the historic questions of faith. What is the nature of God's existence and presence in a world filled with real evil and real suffering? Notable theologians and philosophers have wrestled with this question; yet it is a question that tugs at the heart of any Christian engaged in ministry.
In this week's forum, we will be in conversation with one another and hear from contemporary theologians about this important question of faith. Join the conversation this Tuesday at 8:15pm in the Wesley Foundation Theater (on the 2nd floor, above Etc. Coffeehouse).
Women's Book Study Kick-Off
If you are a female student looking for a small group to join, come check out Women's Book Study! We will be meeting at Brooke's apartment Tuesday nights this semester. Our first meeting is thisTuesday night at 7:30. We'll be watching a 'chick flick' and getting to know each other. Popcorn included! We will also be talking about what book we will be reading this semester.
If you are interested in hanging out with some awesome ladies, send Brooke an email at mcclure1@illinois.edu for her address or to get answers to any questions you might have.
September 11, 2001 Memorial Banner
Starting this Tuesday, September 6 and continuing the rest of the week, there will be a September 11, 2001 memorial banner outside of Wesley. If you happen to be walking by, feel free to come and write your thoughts and prayers as we remember the events of ten years ago.
Midweek Brainstorming
Do you have ideas for student programming?
Would you like to see improvements in our worship services?
We would love to hear all of your thoughts and ideas at our brainstorming session right after Midweek this Wednesday, around 9:30pm in Etc. Coffeehouse. Wassail, coffee, and tea will be available.
Illinois Football Pizza Party
This weekend kicked off the start of the 2011 Fighting Illini football season. This Saturday, September 10th, the team will be playing South Dakota State University at home. If you do not have a ticket to the game, but still want to cheer on your Illini, come to Wesley! We will be watching the 11am game in the student lounge. There will be free pizza!
Weekly Services
Sunday9:30am - Traditional Worship, Sanctuary
11:15am - Contemporary Worship, Sanctuary
Wednesday
8:30pm - Midweek Student Worship, Watseka Lounge
Upcoming Events
September 5 - Canoe Trip 6 - Grad Forum 7 - Midweek Brainstorming 10 - Illini Football Pizza Party 15 - Food Pantry Distribution October
It is wonderful meeting so many new people this week and we do hope you consider joining us for some activities. Some students just worship with us on Sundays others become involved in our Midweek Worship, Bible Studies, Service Projects and Re-creation.
After the first week or two, this email will fall into a pattern of a regular weekly E-Newsletter. Feel free to modify which emails you wish to receive by clicking on the "update profile" link at the end of any email we send you.
Sunday Worship
Sundays at 9:30am, Traditional Service A wonderful worship experience grounded in our historic traditions. Trumpets, organ, choir, formal liturgy and meaningful sermons help shape this service. Students actively participate in all areas of this worship service.
Sundays at 11:15am, Contemporary Worship Enagaing music, message, guitars, drums, keyboard, and praise singers help set the stage for this wonderfully spirit filled informal service
Sun 1:00pm Korean Language Worship by Jesus Love United Methodist Church Worship Leadership Opportunities
Free Bonfire and Volleyball on the Front Lawn of Wesley
7pm Mon. Aug 21st
We will provide hot dogs, burgers, sides, drinks, a vegetarian option, and s'mores. It's a great time to visit with other students, learn about what's going on at Wesley and get fed. In case the weather is nasty, look for us in the Watseka Lounge. You can access Watseka from the courtyard doors on the Green St. side of the building or stay to the right after entering from the parking lot.
Free BBQ on the Front Lawn of Wesley 6pm Wed. Aug 24th
We will provide hot dogs, burgers, sides, drinks, a vegetarian option, and s'mores. It's a great time to visit with other students, learn about what's going on at Wesley and get fed. In case the weather is nasty, look for us in the Watseka Lounge. You can access Watseka from the courtyard doors on the Green St. side of the building or stay to the right after entering from the parking lot.
Midweek Student Worship 7:30pm Wed. Aug 24th
Right after our BBQ you are welcome to join us for our the first Midweek Worship of the semester. It is an informal, student-led worship that provides a spiritual lift midway through the week. Time for singing and praying, time for reflection and contemplation and time with God and friends. We start in Watseka Lounge and then move upstairs into the Great Hall. On Aug 24th it is at 7:30pm. The rest of the semester we will worship starting at 8:30pm.
Friday Etc. "Hot Spot" at 7:30pm in our Coffeehouse.
Looking for a place to hangout on a Friday night? Join us for fair-trade coffee and tea, snacks, live entertainment, pool, TV and fun. We're really excited about kicking off this new time in our old coffeehouse.
Everyone is welcome to come by for a few minutes or until we close at Midnight.
Some of our activities coming this fall...
Tuesday September 1st Grad Study
7:00pm Graduate Group Meet at Greet (then meeting every Tuesday night)
We need volunteers to help at this important monthly service to the Champaign County community. Please visit our Food Pantry website to sign up online. http://wesleypantry.org/
Musicians Needed (All kinds of instruments)
As we start our new year we are looking for new musicians of all stripes including but not limited to drummers guitarists, keyboardists.
Here at Wesley we believe that bible studies are central to helping persons grow in faith and Christian love. We encourage you to find a group and get involved. Some of the studies we will be offering include:
The Wesley Peer Ministers are off for the summer, but Jarod Spohrer, Hannah Nelson and Brooke McClure will be returning in the fall, ready to give you another great school year filled with spiritual growth and fellowship. Sharon Messmore will be joining the peer ministry team in the fall and we are still looking for one or two more students to join the team. If you feel called to be a peer minister, contact Dylan by replying to this e-mail.
Summer Small Group Starting!
Are you in Champaign-Urbana this summer? Are you looking for a spiritual boost in the middle of the week? We might have just what you're looking for!
Dylan is starting an 8-week summer small group on Wednesday evenings starting June 8th at 8:00pm. The basic structure of the group session will include: opening prayer, checking in, a scriptural reading related to the nightly topic, topical discussion, prayer requests and a closing prayer or blessing. Each session will be independent from the others so if you can only make half of the sessions (or less!) do not be discouraged from coming to the sessions you CAN make it to.
Here are some of the topics that will be discussed:
·Why we get together as Christians
·Learning to Love
·Pursuing God
·Servanthood
·Gandhi's Seven Deadly Social Sins
·What the Bible Says About Justice
Dylan will be hosting this small group at his apartment in Savoy. If you're interested, reply to this e-mail for more information, including Dylan's address and transportation options.
Upcoming Events
June
1-4 - Annual Conference
8 - Summer Small Group Begins
12 - 10:30am Sunday Worship Service at Crystal Lake Park
The Wesley Peer Ministers will do their best to hold these office hours every week in the Etc. Coffeehouse or in the PM Office: Dylan Boot, Campus Ministry Intern - Tuesday 1-3pm, Friday 10-noon Jarod Spohrer - Tuesday 9-11am, Friday 6-7pm Hannah Nelson - Sunday 7-8pm
Brooke McClure - Monday 12-1pm, Thursday 11am-1pm John Powers - by request Renee Schroeder - Thursday 12-2pm Erin Heath - by request
Midweek still happening tomorrow!
We will be having an abbreviated Midweek service tomorrow at 8:30 despite it being finals week. There will be food and games, including the infamous telephone pictionary! Feel free to come and go as you please if you have a final that night or studying to do.
This is a great opportunity for a study break!
Weekly Services
Sundays 9:30 am -- Traditional Worship Service 11:15 am -- Contemporary Worship Service
Wednesdays 8:30 pm -- Midweek, student led service, in Watseka Lounge
If you are a female student looking for a small group to join, come check out Women's Book Study! We will be meeting at Brooke's apartment Tuesday nights at 8pmthis semester and will be discussing the book Reluctant Pilgrim by Enuma Okoro.
A number of our Grad students are beginning a study on Rob Bell's bookLove Wins. They meet on most Tuesday nights at 8:15pm at the Wesley Foundation. On the first Tuesday of the month they move to Wesley Theater to watch a film and have a discussion on a faith topic.
If you're looking to get in shape this might be the right group for you! They meet onSaturday mornings for a devotion and then break into groups for various forms of exercise. Occasionally the time gets moved around to accommodate football games. Some participants are training for the Illinois Marathon and others have more tame goals.
Each week we will be looking at a new story in its historical context and modern issues that it may raise. This is a great study for international students, new Christians, or people who simply want to "beef up" on some well known stories. We meet in the Wesley Student Lounge Friday afternoons from 2:30-4:00pm.
This weekend kicked off the start of the 2011 Fighting Illini football season. This Saturday, September 10th, the team will be playing South Dakota State University at home. If you do not have a ticket to the game, but still want to cheer on your Illini, come to Wesley! We will be watching the 11am game in the student lounge. There will be free pizza!
After the contemporary worship service this Sunday at 12:30pm, there will be an all church potluck at Wesley! All are welcome.
Continuing the rest of the week, there is a September 11, 2001 memorial banner outside of Wesley. If you happen to be walking by, feel free to come and write your thoughts and prayers as we remember the events of ten years ago and look forward to a peaceful future.
If you are a female student looking for a small group to join, come check out Women's Book Study! We will be meeting at Brooke's apartment Tuesday nights this semester. Our first meeting is thisTuesday night at 7:30. We'll be watching a 'chick flick' and getting to know each other. Popcorn included! We will also be talking about what book we will be reading this semester.
We will provide hot dogs, burgers, sides, drinks, a vegetarian option, and s'mores. It's a great time to visit with other students, learn about what's going on at Wesley and get fed. In case the weather is nasty, look for us in the Watseka Lounge. You can access Watseka from the courtyard doors on the Green St. side of the building or stay to the right after entering from the parking lot. 
We will provide hot dogs, burgers, sides, drinks, a vegetarian option, and s'mores. It's a great time to visit with other students, learn about what's going on at Wesley and get fed. In case the weather is nasty, look for us in the Watseka Lounge. You can access Watseka from the courtyard doors on the Green St. side of the building or stay to the right after entering from the parking lot.
Right after our BBQ you are welcome to join us for our the first Midweek Worship of the semester. It is an informal, student-led worship that provides a spiritual lift midway through the week. Time for singing and praying, time for reflection and contemplation and time with God and friends. We start in Watseka Lounge and then move upstairs into the Great Hall.
Looking for a place to hangout on a Friday night? Join us for fair-trade coffee and tea, snacks, live entertainment, pool, TV and fun. We're really excited about kicking off this new time in our old coffeehouse.
