IN THIS ISSUE

Sunday Worship 9:30am Traditional and 11:15am Contemporary

Free BBQ on the Front Lawn 6pm Wed

Midweek Student Worship 7:30 pm right after BBQ(8:30pm the rest of the semster)

Friday 7:30pm Etc. Hot Spot Coffeehouse

Bible Studies will be launching in September

Other Activities Coming this fall (like Canoe Trip and Martin Marty

Join Our Mailing List

QUICK LINKS

Wesley Foundation Website
Graduate Bible Study
International Coffeehouse
Wesley Pictures on Flickr

Wesley Foundation Events

Wesley SpireIt was great 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 WorshipContemporary Worship at Wesley


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 BBQ on the Front Lawn of Wesley 6pm Wed. Aug 24th

Eating at WesleyWe 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

Midweek Worship at WesleyRight 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 26th 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.

Etc Coffeehouse DoorLooking 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.



Bible Studies are Starting in September

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:

  • Sunday Snack Lunch & Study
  • Grad Study (Meet & Greet Sept. 1st 7pm)
  • Women's Study
  • International studies

Details coming SOON.

Some of our activities coming this fall...


Thursday, August 27th CSAM

  • The Christian Social Action Ministry Team meeting is scheduled to meet at 6:00 p.m. in Room 210. Do you want to help transform the world?

Tuesday September 1st Grad Study

  • 7:00pm Graduate Group Meet at Greet (then meeting every Tuesday night)

Monday September 7th Canoe Tripcanoeing

Wednesday September 9th (09/09/09) Rethink Hunger

  • All day quad display about local and world hunger inviting students to respond. Special Midweek on "Rethink Hunger."

Monday September 14th Martin Marty at 7pm

  • Renowned theologian will speak on "Religion, Violence and the Global Search for Peace" here at our very own Wesley Foundation. Don't miss out!

WELCOME TO WESLEY


The Wesley Foundation at the University of Illinois strives to be a place where all persons are warmly welcomed and encouraged to shine in their own unique way. We aim to challenge students in their faith, encourage them during times of struggle, and bring students together in fellowship. For some students, Wesley becomes a home away from home. We try to provide an environment that stimulates spiritual growth through worship, study, and service.

Please excuse this temporary site as we make repairs to our regular website.

Worship

Midweek

Wednesdays at 8:30pm (On Aug 26th we will meet after our BBQ at 7:30 instead) in Watseka Lounge Midweek is an informal student-led worship and communion service. The service provides a great spiritual break midway through the week. Not only a time for praise and singing, Midweek worship also gives us a great oppertunity to reflect and contemplate what has happened over the previous week. Its a great time to spend with God and with friends. In many ways, this service is the heart-beat of our ministry. Its a great place to connect with others and connect with God.

Sunday Services

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
Music

Midweek Praise Band

Sunday Morning Praise Band
This group leads worshippers in contemporary Christian music. Vocalists and instrumentalists are welcome! Wesley's Sunday morning Praise Band rehearses every Wednesday night in the sanctuary. Contact Nate Luzwick for more information.

Chancel Choir
Wesley's traditional choir performs at the traditional service on Sunday mornings. This group sings the "classics," and rehearses every Wednesday evening from 7-8 PM in the choir room.

Bells of Wesley
Wesley's handbell choir performs a wide range of music at both the traditional and contemporary services.


If you have a musical gift and want to become involved in any area of our music ministry,

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

Wednesday August 26th

6:00pm - BBQ on the front lawn of Wesley. This is a pre-Midweek Worship time for meeting new people, having fun, and of course eating food.

7:30pm - Fall Welcome Midweek Worship

Friday August 28th

4:00pm - International Bible Study and Coffeehouse (6ish)

Monday September 7th

8:00am - All-day canoe trip at Turkey Run State Park.

Who We Are

The Wesley Foundation at the U of I seeks to be a place where all persons feel welcome. We encourage everyone to shine for Christ in their own unique way. For many, we become a home away from home. We are a place where lifelong friendships are forged. Some people say that we challenge them to step out boldly and grow in their faith; others say that we are a place of refuge in the storms of life. We try to provide an environment that nutures growth through Worship, Study, & Service. We are a part of the United Methodist Student Movement, but we welcome you here, no matter how you find meaning in Christ, or how your Christian or non-Christian spiritual beliefs work for you.

What We Do

Mission Trips, Bible Studies, Canoeing, Worship, Hay Rides, Spiritual Discussions, and a variety of service projects are just a few of the things we do at Wesley. We've been running a few of our events in some way, shape, or form, for almost a century, but others are pretty new- many of them started and led by students who are still here. If you're looking for a place to try out a new idea, we'd love to talk with you.

What We Believe

We are a Christian ministry at the University of Illinois . Some beliefs that are lived out in our midst include:

Unconditional Hospitality- We welcome and extend the grace of God to everyone. We look to Jesus' life as an example of what it means to honor and accept all persons. Jesus consistently reached out to the least and the lost. He was quick to love and slow to condemn. We recognize that many of Jesus' harshest words were leveled at those who thought they were most religious.

Intellectual Honesty- We don't expect people to check their brains at the door. Whether it's reading the bible or exploring a social issue, we expect people to wrestle seriously with issues that the world and some times even the church prefer to paint black and white.

Personal Integrity- While we encourage everyone to participate regularly in Christian worship, study, and service, attendance is not our end goal. We believe that a person's faith should permeate their entire being leading to a personal integrity that brings together their spiritual, intellectual, and physical lives. This, in turn, leads to lives of prayer, action, and service.

The Wesley Foundation is a part of the United Methodist tradition and we share many of our beliefs with the Christian church as a whole.

Building Usage

Stop by the Foundation anytime during building hours and use our student-dedicated rooms. Come by and hang out with your friends, play pool in our rec room, use the computer room to do your homework or check your email, watch TV in our lounge, or hit the books in our study nooks. The Wesley Building is designed for students and community members. You are always welcome here.
Hours
Sunday-Thursday: 8 AM-10 PM
Friday & Saturday: 8 AM-12 AM
Summer Hours:
Monday - Friday 8 AM-5 PM