Stories of Invitation
Stories of Invitation
By Jim Merk
My story of invitation is two-fold, an invitation made to me by friends and the invitations by Pastor Juancho. Just about five years ago my wife and I were invited by friends to a performance at New England Congregational Church; they were featuring a folk group and serving desserts. To my surprise the church had a large room with a stage. Unfortunately, the stage lights weren’t being used and the room was very bright, not what you would expect for a performance. The show was good and so were the desserts, but the room and stage lacked interest.
From that invitation, I came up with the idea to start a Cultural & Fine Arts Committee here at Wesley. With the committee formed we started to come up with different ideas of what types of entertainment we should bring to Wesley and the community. The Gathering Place would be a perfect venue for the performances we would be bring, but the stage and the Gathering Place need work. Thanks to the Trustees and monies from the Memorial Committee, we were able to renovate the stage and the Gathering Place. With those renovations completed we have brought ten performances from Luau’s to Madrigals for your enjoyment. Many of you have come to these performances, and have brought your friends. On behalf of the committee, we THANK YOU!
From that simple invitation, a whole new program was developed. Many of you have invited people to come to one or more of the events we have held over the past four years. This is a very easy, non-threatening way to have people come to Wesley to find out what we are all about.
This brings me to the second part of my story. Pastor Juancho has gone above and beyond in inviting people to these events. About a month ago I was introduced to a couple who were invited by Pastor Juancho to come to a number of events. Dick and Sandy Arcus had been members of Pastor Juancho’s former church. They had enjoyed the performances and now would like to help! They are now part of the Cultural & Fine Arts Committee. They drive in from Lemont both for Sunday services and to help the Cultural & Fine Arts Committee. To say the least I am personally gratified.
I would like to end by reading you a few verses from The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24):
When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
Remember that it is OK to “go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come” or to invite them to come to events like those that the Cultural & Fine Arts Committee sponsor. It may lead to them coming to Sunday services and hopefully joining the church.
Stories of Invitation
By Kathy Breazeale and Lin Waid
As you must know by now, with all the information and training we have gathered thru our Church Turnaround program and coach, the most important element of church growth is becoming invitational. We must invite, invite, invite. Invite our neighbors, our friends, our family members, our massage therapist, our barber, our teachers, that is anyone who we have even the slightest relationship with. You don’t have to invite them to worship right away. Invite them to something less formal like the upcoming Fine Arts ½ Way to St. Paddy’s Day Event, or the spaghetti supper, or the Upcoming Trunk or Treat. Maybe your neighbors would like to put their car in the parking lot for trick or treaters. Maybe your neighbor is a retired teacher and might like to volunteer at Greenman School with you. It is proven that nowadays, people do not usually come into your church because of banners or beautiful signs out front or ads in the newspapers or phone books (as you know, both of these medias are getting lost to users of the internet). People come because they are invited. What did I just say? Repeat after me: “People come because THEY ARE INVITED”. And they STAY and become part of the church when they come with the person who invited them, maybe picked them up, introduced them to their church friends, sat with them at church or a potluck dinner. How do I know this works? This is not a new-fangled idea. It works. I have asked Lin Waid up here to talk about why and how she came to Wesley. Lin has a story that she remembers well. It has something to do with a neighbor from a long time ago.
Lin, how did we meet? Lin, how many years has your family been coming to Wesley?
(Lin’s story)
And friends, would you be surprised if I told you that I don’t remember the actual event that Lin is talking about. I remember being friendly neighbors with them but not the actual invitation. See how we touch other’s lives and not even know it. I can’t take credit for her whole story, but because Lin was invited, many years later she is an active and vital part of Wesley United Methodist church. So, I am asking you to make a point to invite a person to some event or happening.
By Jim Merk
My story of invitation is two-fold, an invitation made to me by friends and the invitations by Pastor Juancho. Just about five years ago my wife and I were invited by friends to a performance at New England Congregational Church; they were featuring a folk group and serving desserts. To my surprise the church had a large room with a stage. Unfortunately, the stage lights weren’t being used and the room was very bright, not what you would expect for a performance. The show was good and so were the desserts, but the room and stage lacked interest.
From that invitation, I came up with the idea to start a Cultural & Fine Arts Committee here at Wesley. With the committee formed we started to come up with different ideas of what types of entertainment we should bring to Wesley and the community. The Gathering Place would be a perfect venue for the performances we would be bring, but the stage and the Gathering Place need work. Thanks to the Trustees and monies from the Memorial Committee, we were able to renovate the stage and the Gathering Place. With those renovations completed we have brought ten performances from Luau’s to Madrigals for your enjoyment. Many of you have come to these performances, and have brought your friends. On behalf of the committee, we THANK YOU!
From that simple invitation, a whole new program was developed. Many of you have invited people to come to one or more of the events we have held over the past four years. This is a very easy, non-threatening way to have people come to Wesley to find out what we are all about.
This brings me to the second part of my story. Pastor Juancho has gone above and beyond in inviting people to these events. About a month ago I was introduced to a couple who were invited by Pastor Juancho to come to a number of events. Dick and Sandy Arcus had been members of Pastor Juancho’s former church. They had enjoyed the performances and now would like to help! They are now part of the Cultural & Fine Arts Committee. They drive in from Lemont both for Sunday services and to help the Cultural & Fine Arts Committee. To say the least I am personally gratified.
I would like to end by reading you a few verses from The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24):
When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
Remember that it is OK to “go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come” or to invite them to come to events like those that the Cultural & Fine Arts Committee sponsor. It may lead to them coming to Sunday services and hopefully joining the church.
Stories of Invitation
By Kathy Breazeale and Lin Waid
As you must know by now, with all the information and training we have gathered thru our Church Turnaround program and coach, the most important element of church growth is becoming invitational. We must invite, invite, invite. Invite our neighbors, our friends, our family members, our massage therapist, our barber, our teachers, that is anyone who we have even the slightest relationship with. You don’t have to invite them to worship right away. Invite them to something less formal like the upcoming Fine Arts ½ Way to St. Paddy’s Day Event, or the spaghetti supper, or the Upcoming Trunk or Treat. Maybe your neighbors would like to put their car in the parking lot for trick or treaters. Maybe your neighbor is a retired teacher and might like to volunteer at Greenman School with you. It is proven that nowadays, people do not usually come into your church because of banners or beautiful signs out front or ads in the newspapers or phone books (as you know, both of these medias are getting lost to users of the internet). People come because they are invited. What did I just say? Repeat after me: “People come because THEY ARE INVITED”. And they STAY and become part of the church when they come with the person who invited them, maybe picked them up, introduced them to their church friends, sat with them at church or a potluck dinner. How do I know this works? This is not a new-fangled idea. It works. I have asked Lin Waid up here to talk about why and how she came to Wesley. Lin has a story that she remembers well. It has something to do with a neighbor from a long time ago.
Lin, how did we meet? Lin, how many years has your family been coming to Wesley?
(Lin’s story)
And friends, would you be surprised if I told you that I don’t remember the actual event that Lin is talking about. I remember being friendly neighbors with them but not the actual invitation. See how we touch other’s lives and not even know it. I can’t take credit for her whole story, but because Lin was invited, many years later she is an active and vital part of Wesley United Methodist church. So, I am asking you to make a point to invite a person to some event or happening.
What Wesley Church Means to Me
“What Wesley Church Means to Me”
By Carole Ruby (January 2012)
My father, Lyle Hessel (Boy Scout Executive) was transferred to Aurora in the summer of 1955. I was between my sophomore and junior year of high school. A new friend, Pat Paul (she later married Allan Rieke who became a Methodist minister), invited me to join her in Wesley’s youth group. I did and my family (Mother, Emma Hessel; Father,Lyle Hessel; older sister, Valerie; younger brothers, Darryl [earned his Eagle Award in Troop 11 and became a Methodist minister in Georgia] and Norman) all followed me to Wesley Church.
Why is Wesley important to me: I met my husband, John Ruby, here in 1957 (he was directing Wesley’s college youth choir at Wesley that summer while he was attending IL State and I was singing in the choir). One evening after rehearsal, he invited me out for a cup of coffee. John’s parents, Elsie and Wesley Ruby attended Wesley Church. It was wonderful having both sets of parents being part of our church. John and I dated at Illinois State for 3 1/2 years being married at Wesley Church on Dec. 27, 1960.
Our son, Steven, was born on Aug. 15, 1963 and was baptized at Wesley. Our daughter, Kirsten, was born on May 14, 1968. She was baptized at Wesley. Steve attended Wesley Nursery School. He earned his Eagle Award in Troop 11. His daughters, Holly and Tori were both baptized at Wesley. Tori attended Wesley Nursery School in 2001-02. She was in the preschool when I was asked to take over for Marjorie Minor in May, 2002. Both grand-daughters attend West Aurora High School. I retired as Director in May, 2011 and the school is where I enjoy volunteering as often as possible.
What Wesley Church Means to Me
By Tom Johnson (January 2012)
My name is Tom Johnson. I became a member of Wesley Church in 1948. Prior to this time I was a member of Locust Street Methodist Church. I had been baptized there and confirmed. When our Swedish Methodist Church merged with Wesley Church, Dr. Olin Clark Jones was the minister and Edwin “Bud” Burke was the Youth Director. Moving from a small church of about 40 people was quite a change. I became involved with Youth Fellowship. In 1954 I was married to Barbara Marie Hinckley in what is now used as the all-purpose room (Gathering Place). The Rev. Jerry Richardson performed the ceremony as The Rev. Galloway was on vacation. Our 4 children – Susan, Scott, Gary and Sally – were all baptized and confirmed at Wesley. My Granddaughter Melissa Penson was confirmed here also. Our children attended Wesley Nursery School for about 8 years. I served as Treasurer of the church for a period of time. Wesley Church has given me spiritual and moral support for 63 years now. Even though I leave the church periodically to attend a church in Arizona, I always return. Wesley Church is my spiritual home.
What Wesley Church Means to the Fowler Family
By Dorothy Fowler (August 2011)
Our daughters Marilyn and Jayne (9 and 2 years old at that time), my husband Bob and I moved to Aurora in June of 1958. Bob was transferred from the Milwaukee plant to the now Aurora Caterpillar plant. We moved in a few doors from long time Wesley Church member Caryl Martin. In a few weeks she had us at church on Sunday. Then she took me to a summer Bazaar work meeting. That was the beginning of new friends and co-workers.
Marilyn and Jayne enjoyed Nursery school, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, confirmation preparation class and Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) in their growing up years. Jayne had the privilege of going twice with the Rev. Bower – high school level – on the canoe trip to Canada. Marilyn was married at Wesley Church and Jayne choose Wisconsin where she went to school for four years.
I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom so I had more time for the church. My activities started with the Nursery School Board (now Wesley Pre-School), Sunday School Teacher, WSCS that reorganized as United Methodist Women today. My social life was belonging to a circle. That was “opportunities unlimited” to be with friends. Bazaar projects were making mincemeat, pickled beets, crafts, refinishing antiques or anything that could be sold at luncheons, dinners, weddings, anniversaries and birthdays.
Bob supported me through many projects. He repaired Nursery and Sunday School toys. After he retired we did the 2-year old Sunday school room. The boys enjoyed having a grandpa there.
In 1988 the Wesley Church Senior Fellowship was organized. That included noon potlucks at church with a program, trip to Chicago Post Office, plays, tours like Fermi Lab, Fox River paddle boat luncheon, Millie’s Pancake House in Wisconsin, Red Oak Nature Preserve, picnic at Philips Park and many more. We were 40 plus people strong. Wendy Connell is keeping us together with lunch at Colonial. Everyone is welcomed to enjoy this light hearted fellowship.
Bob is now at McAuley Nursing Home approximately 2.5 years. The support of Juancho’s regular visits plus cards, flowers and church friends keep him in touch. Marilyn lives in St. Charles and attends Circle and Senior Fellowship with me. Jayne comes once a month from Wisconsin. I thank the Lord every day for Wesley Church and our 50 plus years of support by our many long-time friends. I thank those of you that are working now to restore this beautiful building, initiate new programs to give our beloved Wesley Church a future.
WHAT WESLEY CHURCH MEANS TO ME
By Bill Moore (June 26, 2011)
First, I want to tell you where I came from. My wife, Freda, and, Helen, our three year old daughter, arrived in Aurora on December 31, 1946, New Year’s Eve. It was ten below zero and a foot of snow on the ground. I could imagine what Siberia was like. I had recently been discharged from the Navy after serving almost two years on the tropical island of Trinidad. Our daughter, Carolyn, was born two years later. She was in the first class of Wesley Nursery School. I came to Aurora to work for a small CPA Firm. I opened my own Public Accounting Office three years later.
Freda and I both grew up in Methodist homes and the Methodist Church. I was a farm boy from Western Kentucky near a little village of Lovelaceville – fifteen miles from Paducah. Freda was a city girl from Clarksburg, WV. We met in college. On arriving in Aurora we began looking for a Methodist Church. We found that big building on the corner of May and Galena. Since it was close to our apartment – an Army barrack converted into three apartments at the corner of Illinois Avenue and Lancaster Street, we decided to check it out. When we entered Wesley Methodist Church the first person we met was Treva Dohren. Many of you will remember Treva. She immediately took us to a Sunday School Class for young married couples – about fifteen couples. She then took Helen to the Nursery room.
Over the years Freda and I both become involved in many activities of Wesley Church. Being a CPA I was more into the financial areas – Financial Secretary preparing the monthly financial statements, Finance Committee, money counting team, member of Board Trustees and other activities. Freda was Treasurer for many years of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) as it was known in those days, worked on the Annual Bazaar where her decorated eggs and beaded Christmas trees were in great demand, played the piano for Junior Church and Sunday school and other activities.
1. To see both of my daughters baptized in Wesley Church, to see them very active in MYF and Sunday School activities, to see them married in Wesley Church and to see them develop their faith and receive a Christian Education in their early years.
2. Wesley meant socializing with other Wesley friends each Sunday after worship service and the coffee hour. For many years as many as twenty would go to a local restaurant for a late breakfast or early lunch. It was great to get together again and continue our visit with each other.
3. Enjoy the wonderful entertainment provided by the Arts Committee.
4. Wesley gave me the opportunity to develop my faith through the worship service, bible study and the activities that I was involved in. I had a three year study of the entire Bible with Pastor Emery Percell. Also, the current weekly Bible studies with Juancho and visiting with others during the Wednesday evening dinners.
5. What has meant the most to me from Wesley Church is the love and support I received during the twenty years that Freda, my wife, suffered from Alzheimer’s and especially the last six years of her life when she couldn’t walk or talk due to a stroke that paralyzed her right side – the Pastoral visits, the Member visits, the Sunday altar flowers, the Choral group that came every Christmas to sing Christmas carols and the consoling words of Pastor Tracy at Freda’s Memorial Service. Wesley never forgot Freda. For that I am eternally grateful.
6. My Sundays are not complete unless I walk through the doors of WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
What Wesley Church Means to Me
By Ruth Ann Little (June 26, 2011)
Those of you, who know me, know that being up here in front is definitely outside my comfort zone. However, when Juancho called to ask if I would say a few words, I thought perhaps I should give it a try on behalf of those who are older, and grew up as children in this church. On the list of members, according to longevity of membership, I am presently #8. In fact all of us in the top 10 are members who, like me, essentially grew up here at Wesley Church. Tom Johnson and I happen to be the only ones left from our High School class – last year we lost Virginia Dolan. Having been here for 76 years this fall, there are a multitude of great stories about being a child at Wesley that I would love to share with you, but I’ll try to limit this to a reasonable length.
In the fall of 1935 my father, who was an electrical engineer with Western United Gas and Electric Company (now Commonwealth Edison and Northern Illinois Gas), was transferred from Downers Grove to Aurora. That same year Dr. Stewart White, who had been our pastor in Downers Grove, was also transferred to Aurora. We all ended up here at Wesley. I was three years old, and that was the beginning of my life in this church.
I was raised by parents who were incredibly involved at Wesley which resulted in my thinking that Wesley was my second home, and that the members were all family. When we were small our worship service was in what we now know as the Social/Fellowship Hall. There was a balcony at the east end, and that is where our family sat for church – mainly because both my parents were involved in Sunday school and we usually raced in at the last minute. My father and Ernestine Wilson were the Secretary and Treasurer and had a neat two sided desk in the room which is now Wendy Connell’s office. My mother was in charge of the nursery which went through 5 years of age, and at the time of her death was superintendent of the Sunday school. She was also scheduled to start Wesley’s nursery school the fall of 1952, but died that fall at the age of 45.
Dr. White was transferred when I was 8 and Dr. Alan Clark Jones was at Wesley from the time I was 8 until I left for college at 18. He confirmed both Dick and me which explains why I am now #8 on the list of members according to longevity of membership. That makes me one of your senior citizens, which of course I vehemently deny.
As we grew up we came, with many others, to Sunday school every week – no summer off! At that time hundreds of people filled this church every Sunday. The activities were endless. My brother and I played the piano, our instruments, and by the time I was a senior in high school my mother let me teach one of the first grade Sunday school classes. My brother played on the church baseball and basketball teams who took the church league championships several different years. The Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) put on plays, the United Methodist Women (UMW) sponsored a “parade of Brides” where I got to wear my mom’s wedding dress. Growing up at Wesley was really great!
Because of my upbringing, I went on to the University of Iowa where I taught Sunday school until my work at the hospital kept me from getting to church regularly. My roommate and I were active in Kappa Phi which is a Methodist girls’ sorority, and because the dorms did not serve meals on Sunday evenings, we were always at the Methodist church where they fed us. No fast food alternatives back then! While I was in college Rev. Galloway buried both of my parents. The baptismal font in the sanctuary is in memory of them.
I returned to Aurora after college when I taught Sunday school for many years, served on several boards, etc. I was part of the group that walked from the Social Hall into our new sanctuary in December of 1956. I now have several “behind the scene” jobs here as Wesley which are the best kind, and am blessed to have many close friends here. I would go on forever telling stories of growing up here at Wesley, for it was a wonderful part of my life. In closing I would like to thank you for being my friends, for being my family.
WHAT WESLEY CHURCH MEANS TO ME
By Lois Scott (May 29, 2011)
Wesley Church website states: We are a warm, friendly church who welcomes all that enter our doors.
Richard and I found this to be true about Wesley Church back in 1957 when we as newlyweds visited Wesley. The pastor, the Rev. Morrison Galloway, and members of the congregation were warm and welcoming. They were very proud of their new sanctuary with the beautiful stained glass windows and magnificent organ. The congregation had walked into the beautiful new sanctuary on December 2, 1956 about a year earlier.
Richard and I became members of Wesley Church in May, 1958. As the years passed by, our children, Kevin and Janet, were baptized here and later attended Sunday School. They attended Confirmation preparation classes, and joined the church when the Rev. Lloyd Bower was pastor.
I became a member of W.S.C.S. – Women’s Society of Christian Service – now the United Methodist Women (UMW). Over the years, my life has been enriched knowing and working with the dedicated, hard-working Christian women of UMW. One of our yearly events was a fall bazaar with the proceeds going to missions here and away.
In the seventies, Richard and I served on the Missions Committee. The Committee brought craftsmen and musicians from Appalachia to our church for a week-end event of music and craft demonstrations. Shares of love were sold to help the people of Appalachia. Our church is still helping that area by sending a mission trip to Henderson Settlement in Kentucky each summer (for 16 years now.)
Wesley Church continues to help people around the world and at home. I am grateful that our congregation is a power for good in our community. Our church has been a home for the Wesley Nursery School for fifty nine years. We help others through many local outreach missions such as Hesed House and the School Supplies Give-Away. There are a variety of opportunities to serve and help others.
We are fortunate to have a large selection of study groups available and many small groups for fellowship. There is an active children’s and youth ministry, too.
Wesley Church has been my family’s spiritual home during the different stages of our lives. Our daughter, Janet, was married at Wesley Church. My husband’s memorial service was held here two years ago. Pastor Juancho and members of the congregation provided comfort and support to me and my family. A prayer and friendship shawl was given to me.
I feel blessed that I have been able to worship God for fifty-four years here at Wesley Church. My faith has been nurtured over the years.
I love Wesley Church and its people. In closing, I would like to thank, pastor Juancho, the church staff and the leaders for all their hard work and dedication on behalf of Wesley Church. I would also like to thank all the members of the congregation who give their time and talents to our church unselfishly.
By Carole Ruby (January 2012)
My father, Lyle Hessel (Boy Scout Executive) was transferred to Aurora in the summer of 1955. I was between my sophomore and junior year of high school. A new friend, Pat Paul (she later married Allan Rieke who became a Methodist minister), invited me to join her in Wesley’s youth group. I did and my family (Mother, Emma Hessel; Father,Lyle Hessel; older sister, Valerie; younger brothers, Darryl [earned his Eagle Award in Troop 11 and became a Methodist minister in Georgia] and Norman) all followed me to Wesley Church.
Why is Wesley important to me: I met my husband, John Ruby, here in 1957 (he was directing Wesley’s college youth choir at Wesley that summer while he was attending IL State and I was singing in the choir). One evening after rehearsal, he invited me out for a cup of coffee. John’s parents, Elsie and Wesley Ruby attended Wesley Church. It was wonderful having both sets of parents being part of our church. John and I dated at Illinois State for 3 1/2 years being married at Wesley Church on Dec. 27, 1960.
Our son, Steven, was born on Aug. 15, 1963 and was baptized at Wesley. Our daughter, Kirsten, was born on May 14, 1968. She was baptized at Wesley. Steve attended Wesley Nursery School. He earned his Eagle Award in Troop 11. His daughters, Holly and Tori were both baptized at Wesley. Tori attended Wesley Nursery School in 2001-02. She was in the preschool when I was asked to take over for Marjorie Minor in May, 2002. Both grand-daughters attend West Aurora High School. I retired as Director in May, 2011 and the school is where I enjoy volunteering as often as possible.
What Wesley Church Means to Me
By Tom Johnson (January 2012)
My name is Tom Johnson. I became a member of Wesley Church in 1948. Prior to this time I was a member of Locust Street Methodist Church. I had been baptized there and confirmed. When our Swedish Methodist Church merged with Wesley Church, Dr. Olin Clark Jones was the minister and Edwin “Bud” Burke was the Youth Director. Moving from a small church of about 40 people was quite a change. I became involved with Youth Fellowship. In 1954 I was married to Barbara Marie Hinckley in what is now used as the all-purpose room (Gathering Place). The Rev. Jerry Richardson performed the ceremony as The Rev. Galloway was on vacation. Our 4 children – Susan, Scott, Gary and Sally – were all baptized and confirmed at Wesley. My Granddaughter Melissa Penson was confirmed here also. Our children attended Wesley Nursery School for about 8 years. I served as Treasurer of the church for a period of time. Wesley Church has given me spiritual and moral support for 63 years now. Even though I leave the church periodically to attend a church in Arizona, I always return. Wesley Church is my spiritual home.
What Wesley Church Means to the Fowler Family
By Dorothy Fowler (August 2011)
Our daughters Marilyn and Jayne (9 and 2 years old at that time), my husband Bob and I moved to Aurora in June of 1958. Bob was transferred from the Milwaukee plant to the now Aurora Caterpillar plant. We moved in a few doors from long time Wesley Church member Caryl Martin. In a few weeks she had us at church on Sunday. Then she took me to a summer Bazaar work meeting. That was the beginning of new friends and co-workers.
Marilyn and Jayne enjoyed Nursery school, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, confirmation preparation class and Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) in their growing up years. Jayne had the privilege of going twice with the Rev. Bower – high school level – on the canoe trip to Canada. Marilyn was married at Wesley Church and Jayne choose Wisconsin where she went to school for four years.
I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom so I had more time for the church. My activities started with the Nursery School Board (now Wesley Pre-School), Sunday School Teacher, WSCS that reorganized as United Methodist Women today. My social life was belonging to a circle. That was “opportunities unlimited” to be with friends. Bazaar projects were making mincemeat, pickled beets, crafts, refinishing antiques or anything that could be sold at luncheons, dinners, weddings, anniversaries and birthdays.
Bob supported me through many projects. He repaired Nursery and Sunday School toys. After he retired we did the 2-year old Sunday school room. The boys enjoyed having a grandpa there.
In 1988 the Wesley Church Senior Fellowship was organized. That included noon potlucks at church with a program, trip to Chicago Post Office, plays, tours like Fermi Lab, Fox River paddle boat luncheon, Millie’s Pancake House in Wisconsin, Red Oak Nature Preserve, picnic at Philips Park and many more. We were 40 plus people strong. Wendy Connell is keeping us together with lunch at Colonial. Everyone is welcomed to enjoy this light hearted fellowship.
Bob is now at McAuley Nursing Home approximately 2.5 years. The support of Juancho’s regular visits plus cards, flowers and church friends keep him in touch. Marilyn lives in St. Charles and attends Circle and Senior Fellowship with me. Jayne comes once a month from Wisconsin. I thank the Lord every day for Wesley Church and our 50 plus years of support by our many long-time friends. I thank those of you that are working now to restore this beautiful building, initiate new programs to give our beloved Wesley Church a future.
WHAT WESLEY CHURCH MEANS TO ME
By Bill Moore (June 26, 2011)
First, I want to tell you where I came from. My wife, Freda, and, Helen, our three year old daughter, arrived in Aurora on December 31, 1946, New Year’s Eve. It was ten below zero and a foot of snow on the ground. I could imagine what Siberia was like. I had recently been discharged from the Navy after serving almost two years on the tropical island of Trinidad. Our daughter, Carolyn, was born two years later. She was in the first class of Wesley Nursery School. I came to Aurora to work for a small CPA Firm. I opened my own Public Accounting Office three years later.
Freda and I both grew up in Methodist homes and the Methodist Church. I was a farm boy from Western Kentucky near a little village of Lovelaceville – fifteen miles from Paducah. Freda was a city girl from Clarksburg, WV. We met in college. On arriving in Aurora we began looking for a Methodist Church. We found that big building on the corner of May and Galena. Since it was close to our apartment – an Army barrack converted into three apartments at the corner of Illinois Avenue and Lancaster Street, we decided to check it out. When we entered Wesley Methodist Church the first person we met was Treva Dohren. Many of you will remember Treva. She immediately took us to a Sunday School Class for young married couples – about fifteen couples. She then took Helen to the Nursery room.
Over the years Freda and I both become involved in many activities of Wesley Church. Being a CPA I was more into the financial areas – Financial Secretary preparing the monthly financial statements, Finance Committee, money counting team, member of Board Trustees and other activities. Freda was Treasurer for many years of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) as it was known in those days, worked on the Annual Bazaar where her decorated eggs and beaded Christmas trees were in great demand, played the piano for Junior Church and Sunday school and other activities.
1. To see both of my daughters baptized in Wesley Church, to see them very active in MYF and Sunday School activities, to see them married in Wesley Church and to see them develop their faith and receive a Christian Education in their early years.
2. Wesley meant socializing with other Wesley friends each Sunday after worship service and the coffee hour. For many years as many as twenty would go to a local restaurant for a late breakfast or early lunch. It was great to get together again and continue our visit with each other.
3. Enjoy the wonderful entertainment provided by the Arts Committee.
4. Wesley gave me the opportunity to develop my faith through the worship service, bible study and the activities that I was involved in. I had a three year study of the entire Bible with Pastor Emery Percell. Also, the current weekly Bible studies with Juancho and visiting with others during the Wednesday evening dinners.
5. What has meant the most to me from Wesley Church is the love and support I received during the twenty years that Freda, my wife, suffered from Alzheimer’s and especially the last six years of her life when she couldn’t walk or talk due to a stroke that paralyzed her right side – the Pastoral visits, the Member visits, the Sunday altar flowers, the Choral group that came every Christmas to sing Christmas carols and the consoling words of Pastor Tracy at Freda’s Memorial Service. Wesley never forgot Freda. For that I am eternally grateful.
6. My Sundays are not complete unless I walk through the doors of WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
What Wesley Church Means to Me
By Ruth Ann Little (June 26, 2011)
Those of you, who know me, know that being up here in front is definitely outside my comfort zone. However, when Juancho called to ask if I would say a few words, I thought perhaps I should give it a try on behalf of those who are older, and grew up as children in this church. On the list of members, according to longevity of membership, I am presently #8. In fact all of us in the top 10 are members who, like me, essentially grew up here at Wesley Church. Tom Johnson and I happen to be the only ones left from our High School class – last year we lost Virginia Dolan. Having been here for 76 years this fall, there are a multitude of great stories about being a child at Wesley that I would love to share with you, but I’ll try to limit this to a reasonable length.
In the fall of 1935 my father, who was an electrical engineer with Western United Gas and Electric Company (now Commonwealth Edison and Northern Illinois Gas), was transferred from Downers Grove to Aurora. That same year Dr. Stewart White, who had been our pastor in Downers Grove, was also transferred to Aurora. We all ended up here at Wesley. I was three years old, and that was the beginning of my life in this church.
I was raised by parents who were incredibly involved at Wesley which resulted in my thinking that Wesley was my second home, and that the members were all family. When we were small our worship service was in what we now know as the Social/Fellowship Hall. There was a balcony at the east end, and that is where our family sat for church – mainly because both my parents were involved in Sunday school and we usually raced in at the last minute. My father and Ernestine Wilson were the Secretary and Treasurer and had a neat two sided desk in the room which is now Wendy Connell’s office. My mother was in charge of the nursery which went through 5 years of age, and at the time of her death was superintendent of the Sunday school. She was also scheduled to start Wesley’s nursery school the fall of 1952, but died that fall at the age of 45.
Dr. White was transferred when I was 8 and Dr. Alan Clark Jones was at Wesley from the time I was 8 until I left for college at 18. He confirmed both Dick and me which explains why I am now #8 on the list of members according to longevity of membership. That makes me one of your senior citizens, which of course I vehemently deny.
As we grew up we came, with many others, to Sunday school every week – no summer off! At that time hundreds of people filled this church every Sunday. The activities were endless. My brother and I played the piano, our instruments, and by the time I was a senior in high school my mother let me teach one of the first grade Sunday school classes. My brother played on the church baseball and basketball teams who took the church league championships several different years. The Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) put on plays, the United Methodist Women (UMW) sponsored a “parade of Brides” where I got to wear my mom’s wedding dress. Growing up at Wesley was really great!
Because of my upbringing, I went on to the University of Iowa where I taught Sunday school until my work at the hospital kept me from getting to church regularly. My roommate and I were active in Kappa Phi which is a Methodist girls’ sorority, and because the dorms did not serve meals on Sunday evenings, we were always at the Methodist church where they fed us. No fast food alternatives back then! While I was in college Rev. Galloway buried both of my parents. The baptismal font in the sanctuary is in memory of them.
I returned to Aurora after college when I taught Sunday school for many years, served on several boards, etc. I was part of the group that walked from the Social Hall into our new sanctuary in December of 1956. I now have several “behind the scene” jobs here as Wesley which are the best kind, and am blessed to have many close friends here. I would go on forever telling stories of growing up here at Wesley, for it was a wonderful part of my life. In closing I would like to thank you for being my friends, for being my family.
WHAT WESLEY CHURCH MEANS TO ME
By Lois Scott (May 29, 2011)
Wesley Church website states: We are a warm, friendly church who welcomes all that enter our doors.
Richard and I found this to be true about Wesley Church back in 1957 when we as newlyweds visited Wesley. The pastor, the Rev. Morrison Galloway, and members of the congregation were warm and welcoming. They were very proud of their new sanctuary with the beautiful stained glass windows and magnificent organ. The congregation had walked into the beautiful new sanctuary on December 2, 1956 about a year earlier.
Richard and I became members of Wesley Church in May, 1958. As the years passed by, our children, Kevin and Janet, were baptized here and later attended Sunday School. They attended Confirmation preparation classes, and joined the church when the Rev. Lloyd Bower was pastor.
I became a member of W.S.C.S. – Women’s Society of Christian Service – now the United Methodist Women (UMW). Over the years, my life has been enriched knowing and working with the dedicated, hard-working Christian women of UMW. One of our yearly events was a fall bazaar with the proceeds going to missions here and away.
In the seventies, Richard and I served on the Missions Committee. The Committee brought craftsmen and musicians from Appalachia to our church for a week-end event of music and craft demonstrations. Shares of love were sold to help the people of Appalachia. Our church is still helping that area by sending a mission trip to Henderson Settlement in Kentucky each summer (for 16 years now.)
Wesley Church continues to help people around the world and at home. I am grateful that our congregation is a power for good in our community. Our church has been a home for the Wesley Nursery School for fifty nine years. We help others through many local outreach missions such as Hesed House and the School Supplies Give-Away. There are a variety of opportunities to serve and help others.
We are fortunate to have a large selection of study groups available and many small groups for fellowship. There is an active children’s and youth ministry, too.
Wesley Church has been my family’s spiritual home during the different stages of our lives. Our daughter, Janet, was married at Wesley Church. My husband’s memorial service was held here two years ago. Pastor Juancho and members of the congregation provided comfort and support to me and my family. A prayer and friendship shawl was given to me.
I feel blessed that I have been able to worship God for fifty-four years here at Wesley Church. My faith has been nurtured over the years.
I love Wesley Church and its people. In closing, I would like to thank, pastor Juancho, the church staff and the leaders for all their hard work and dedication on behalf of Wesley Church. I would also like to thank all the members of the congregation who give their time and talents to our church unselfishly.