Pastor’s Blog

As the last echoes of Thanksgiving fade—along with the leftovers in our refrigerators—our hearts turn toward a new season. While Thanksgiving is a day of giving thanks, Advent is a season of preparing our hearts for the greatest gift: Jesus Christ. As we step into Advent this year, we carry forward the gratitude of Thanksgiving and open ourselves to the promise of The Light of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy. In a world that often feels divided and anxious, our journey through Advent offers more than a flicker of light. It provides a brilliant beacon. This light is not fragile or fleeting; it is theRead More →

At UMCG, we believe in planning for the future while honoring the past. The Trustees, led by our chair, Ron Donovan, have developed a 40-year asset management plan to ensure the long-term health and vitality of our church. This proactive approach helps us move away from a “fix it when it breaks” mentality and embrace a thoughtful, forward-looking strategy. What Is an Asset Management Plan? An asset management plan is like a roadmap for caring for our facilities and properties. It helps us: The annual version of this plan, which Ron calls the “Book of Work,” provides a clear and easy-to-use system for managing projectsRead More →

As we look to the future of our ministry at UMCG, I’m excited to announce a bold new role: the Minister of Formation and Outreach. This full-time ordained position will focus on intentional outreach, lifelong faith formation, and additional pastoral support—all essential in helping UMCG grow and deepen its impact in our community. This role reflects the growth we’ve experienced since 2021 and our church’s commitment to building an engaged, intergenerational faith community. Our SPRC and Church Council have been praying and supporting the formation of this position. Building on a Legacy of Intentional Outreach Interestingly, this vision of reaching out intentionally and welcoming peopleRead More →

Months ago, long before the election tightened and pundits forecasted nail-biting outcomes, a few of us pastors planned to serve. We knew that whatever the results, this election would stir up difficult emotions and worries. To help us stay grounded in our mission as a church, we decided to roll up our sleeves together at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The election outcome, personally, left me unsettled—and I know I’m not alone. Many in our church community feel anxious, angry, even fearful. Like many of you, I carried a full range of emotions the day after the election. With all that care, prayer, and processingRead More →

Worship: At the Heart of UMCG At the United Methodist Church of Geneva, worship is where we come together to encounter God. It is in worship that we sing, pray, read scripture, and hear the Word proclaimed. We feast at Christ’s table, wade in the waters of baptism, and cling to each other during services of death and resurrection. We celebrate the sacred covenant of marriage, and in each of these moments, God meets us, holding us in divine grace and love. In the video below, you’ll hear about how worship has been central to our spiritual life. These moments are sacred, not only becauseRead More →

Music Ministry: Elevating Our Worship Music has always been at the heart of worship at UMCG. It’s through song that we lift our praises, connect with the Holy Spirit, and draw closer to one another as a church family. Whether it’s the stirring notes of our Christmas Cantata or the beautiful harmonies of a Sunday choir, music elevates our worship experience and helps us encounter God in profound ways. In the video below, you’ll hear about how music has shaped our worship experiences and deepened our connections to the church. Of course, our music ministry isn’t just about singing songs—it’s about leading the congregation intoRead More →

Congregational Care: Strengthening Our Bonds At UMCG, we are committed to caring for one another as Christ cares for us. Whether it’s through a comforting prayer shawl, pastoral care, or support in times of grief, our congregational care ministries are central to the life of our church. These ministries remind us that we are a community—bound together in love, through both our joys and our sorrows. One of the most impactful ministries we offer is Stephen Ministry, where trained members of our congregation provide confidential, one-on-one Christian care to people who are hurting. As Stephen Ministries puts it, “God works through Stephen Ministers to plantRead More →

Discipleship: Deepening Our Roots At UMCG, we believe that discipleship is a lifelong journey—one that begins in childhood and continues through every stage of life. From our children’s Sunday school to adult small groups, we strive to provide opportunities for everyone to deepen their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Discipleship is about planting seeds of faith, nurturing them, and watching them flourish. In the video below, you’ll hear from members of our congregation about how discipleship has transformed their life starting at a young age. Whether it’s the spiritual growth seen in a small group or the joy on a child’s faceRead More →

Missions: Extending Our Reach At UMCG, our commitment to missions has always been about more than just meeting immediate needs—it’s about transforming lives, both within our congregation and beyond. Whether it’s through local outreach programs or global initiatives, our mission efforts reflect the heart of our church: loving our neighbors as ourselves and sharing God’s grace wherever we go. Our giving to apportionments makes up our first mile of giving that combines the dollars from United Methodists around the world to make an exponential impact. We then go a second mile in giving to help mission partners here, near and far away, proving not justRead More →

Over the past two weeks, we’ve explored four of the six core strategies from Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church that will help us reflect, transform, and grow younger as we celebrate 185 years as a church. We’ve looked at the importance of prioritizing young people, practicing empathy, fostering a warm community, and taking Jesus’ message seriously. Today, we’re diving into the final two strategies: engaging with families and empowering leaders of all generations. These last two strategies are deeply connected to the vibrancy and vitality of our church as we look forward to our next 185Read More →