Feeling Down? Check out UMC's Blue Christmas Service

This service acknowledges those grieving, hurting and worrying during the holiday season.

It's an old adage I think the O.C. put it best: "The holidays make everything that's already bad seem worse."  I don't quote my favorite high school TV show to mock or be sarcastic. For those struggling, missing someone or facing other problems, the uber-cheery holiday season can feel hollow and devastating.  That's why the Woodridge United Methodist Church is holding a Blue Christmas Service.  "If the holiday season is not such a happy time for you or your family due to loss, struggles, health concerns, or problems, this service acknowledges those difficulties and will allow you to express your feelings," according to the church's e-newsletter.  "This is not a gloomy service, but a redemptive and hopeful one," the newsletter said.  I'm …

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Business Profile: Small Miracles Preschool

Learn about the goals, field trips and teachers at the preschool and what parents can do to make their child's first school experience a great one.

Just as the school year is starting up, we talked to Brenda Hoppestad, director at Small Miracles Preschool. Small Miracles Preschool is located at 2700 75th Street, adjacent to the Woodridge United Methodist Church. Patch: On average, how many children are enrolled in the preschool? Hoppestad: Up until this year, we were licensed for 74 students. Over the past several years, however, many of our classes filled very quickly, and we had a lengthy waiting list. Just this summer we moved our 2 ½ to 4-year-old classes into a larger room, allowing us to enroll more children in both our 3-year-old and 4-year-old classes. Our DCFS representative visited in early August and approved the renovation! Our license is now for 95 children. We are not …

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Your Guide to Easter Services in Woodridge

Easter services for Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Easter is Sunday! Here are the services for this weekend at Woodridge churches. Woodridge United Methodist Church Sunday, April 24th - Easter Sunday God's Sparklers perform at both Worship Services 9:00 AM Worship 10:30 AM Worship Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Sunday, April 24th - Easter Sunday 8:30 AM Services 10:30 AM Services Breakfast Begins at 9:00 AM on Easter  St. Scholastica Saturday, April 23 - Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil 8:00 PM: Easter Vigil Mass in Church Sunday, April 24th - Easter Sunday 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM,  12:00 PM: Easter Sunday Services. 10:00 and 12:00 services will be held in church and gym Christ the Servant Catholic Church Saturday, April 23 - Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil 7:30 PM: Easter Vigil Mass in Church Sunday, …

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Good Deeds

Woodridge UMC Pastor Shrinks 20 Pounds, Raises $1,500

Pastor Jim Galbreath challenged his parishioners to donate money for each pound he lost.

One of pastors at Woodridge's United Methodist Church has shrunk. Pastor James Galbreath challenged his congregation to donate money for every pound he could lose from Aug. 15 to Oct. 3. After the official weigh-in, Pastor Jim lost 20 pounds, raising almost $1,500.  "I starved myself quite successfully," he said. "People were very generous." The money will help fund the church's mission trip to the Philippines this February. Pastor Jim said the funds will be especially needed because of Typhoon Megi, which hit the northern Philippines Monday. He said the witnesses to his weigh-in were a little skeptical to how much weight he'd actually lost. The church used a traditional scale instead of a digital one to weigh him. His weigh-in team had to…

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The Incredible Shrinking Pastor

Woodridge United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Rev. James Galbreath is on a weight-loss mission to raise money for a service trip to the Philippines.

The Woodridge United Methodist Church is shrinking its new pastor. At least, that's the goal of one of the church's fund-raising programs. A group of churchgoers will make a service trip to the Philippines in February. To help finance the trip, the Rev. Dr. James Galbreath issued his congregation a challenge: Pledge to donate money for every pound the senior pastor can lose.   The challenge began Aug. 15 and will run until Oct. 3, Pastor Jim said. "I had a weigh-in to start it," he said. "I had to go and be there in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and had witnesses check my weight at that time." On Oct. 3, Pastor Jim will face the scale again. He said he's been trying to eat less and exercise a lot more. He's averaging 12,000 steps a day on…

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Dennis Robaugh

10:08 pm on Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Nifty story, Melissa.   more ›