Local Scouts to Receive Eagle Awards Sunday

For their Eagle Scout project, Austin Gum and Nicholas Ciraulo designed and installed new landscaping at Woodridge United Methodist Church.

This Sunday, Austin Gum and Nicholas Ciraulo of Boy Scout Troop 516 in Woodridge will receive their Eagle Scout awards – the highest advancement rank in Scouting. Both seniors at Downers Grove South High School, the pair will join nearly 50 Scouts from the local troop who have achieved the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. Becoming an Eagle Scout is no easy task. According to Boy Scouts of America, a Scout must progress through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star and Life before becoming an Eagle Scout. He must also live by the Scout Oath and Law in his daily life, earn 21 merit badges, serve six months in a troop leadership position, take part in a Scoutmaster conference and successfully complete an Eagle Scout board …

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Small Miracles Preschool Named Woodridge's Favorite

Small Miracles received the most votes and reviews in our Readers' Choice contest.

This week, we asked you to vote for your favorite Woodridge preschool.  It turned into a showdown between Woodridge United Methodist's Small Miracles Preschool and the Woodridge Park District's Tot School.  In the end, Small Miracles received the most votes (205 to 180) and shout-outs from Woodridge readers. Rosa Pavlo wrote, "Both of my kids went to Small Miracles and I really going to miss that place after this year ends. They are now part of our family and treat my children like their own! LOVE IT!!!"  Cate Trompeter wrote, "Small Miracles was the perfect school for my daughter. She was very shy and the teachers were so welcoming and sweet. She attended Small Miracles for 3 years and still says it is the best school around! She also had…

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Small Miracles Preschool Collecting TP

The preschool will be collecting toilet paper for the West Suburban Community Pantry through March 6.

Small Miracles Preschool, part of the Woodridge United Methodist Church, is collecting toilet paper, and they need your help!  The preschool will be collecting toilet paper through Thursday, March 6. Their goal is 75 packages of toilet paper.  All TP will be donated to the West Suburban Community Pantry.  It's the third year for the toilet paper collection. 

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Woodridge United Methodist Church Screens Modern-Day Slavery Film

The church will host a screening Wednesday of CALL+RESPONSE, a documentary that spotlights slavery in the 21st century.

Want to learn more about modern-day slavery?  Woodridge United Methodist Church will screen CALL+RESPONSE, a documentary that spotlights 21st century slavery, on Wednesday at 7 p.m.  The screening is free and childcare is provided. The church is located at 2700 75th St. Following the screening, the director of the Salvation Army PROMISE program and founder of Anne’s House will present ways modern-day slavery is being fought in the Chicago area. CALL+RESPONSE is a "critically acclaimed, theatrically released, feature rockumentary," according to a UMC press release.  "Actors and activists Julia Ormond, Ashley Judd, Daryl Hannah along with prominent luminaries Dr. Cornel West, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, New York Times…

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Christmas Services in Woodridge

Services for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Woodridge's five churches.

Christ the Servant Catholic Church, 8700 Havens Dr.  Christmas Eve  4 p.m. and 10 p.m. Christmas Mass  Please walk if you can, carpool if you can, and expect the parking lot to be full by 3:00 pm. Please be considerate of other worshippers and refrain from saving seats. Christmas Day  10 a.m. Christmas Mass  First Baptist Church of Woodridge, 6613 Taylor Dr.  Christmas Eve  6 p.m. Carols and reading of Christ's birth  Christmas Day  10:45 a.m. to noon  Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2600 W. 75th St. Christmas Eve  4:30 p.m. Family worship with carols  Christmas Day  10 a.m. Lessons and Carols  St. Scholastica Parish, 7800 Janes Ave.  Christmas Eve  4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Early Evening Liturgies (overflow mass will be held in the gym at 4 p.m…

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Woodridge UMC Gets New Look Thanks to Eagle Scout

For his Eagle Scout project, Austin Gum, 16, organized and completed the re-landscaping for the front of the church with 40 volunteers.

Woodridge United Methodist Church has a new look, thanks to 16-year-old Austin Gum.  For his Eagle Scout project, Gum planned, organized and carried out the re-landscaping for the front of the church. The full project will take two phases. On Oct. 22, Gum coordinated 40 volunteers over an eight hour period to finish the first phase. Volunteers included parents, church members and other scouts.  Gum attends Downers Grove South High School and is a member of Boy Scout Troop #516 in Woodridge.  An Eagle Scout is the highest ranking a Boy Scout can receive. The young man must plan out his Eagle Scout project and present it to Boy Scout officials for approval.  Once his paperwork goes through, Gum should be named an Eagle Scout in the spring.  …

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Muslims and Christians Share Sacred Stories at United Methodist Church

The two religious groups both worship at Woodridge church.

For the last two years, the Irshad Learning Center has met at Woodridge United Methodist Church to worship. About 40 people from both groups decided to spend time together sharing sacred Christian and Muslim stories Tuesday night at the church. "We all live together in this greater suburban area," said Rev. Jim Galbreath from United Methodist Church.  "Many places Christians and Muslims appear to be in conflict. We wanted to explore places where we have contact." The Christians shared Old and New Testament bible stories, including those of Ishmael, the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the call of Abraham, the Parable of the Sower and the expulsion of Hagar. The Muslims shared stories of Najashi, a good Christian king who helped a group of…

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It's the Holiday Season

Christmas Eve and Day Services in Woodridge

Looking for a service this weekend? We list the ones in Woodridge here.

Below are the Christmas services offered by churches in Woodridge. First Baptist Church of Woodridge and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Woodridge are missing from this list but will be added once the information becomes available. Christmas Eve: 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. Christmas Day: 10 a.m. Dec. 26: 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Christmas Eve: 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. There will be traditional carols and candlelight (or glowsticks) at each ceremony. Christmas Day: No services. Dec. 26: Service of lessons and carols with an original poem, "'Twas the Day After Christmas" Christmas Eve: 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m. Christmas Day: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m. Dec. 26: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m. Christmas Eve: 4:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Christmas Day: …

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Melissa Sersland

3:59 pm on Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Thank you for pointing that out. I've corrected the time in the article.   more ›

It's the Holiday Season

Three Woodridge Churches Celebrate Thanksgiving with Ecumenical Service

The annual service supported the West Suburban Community Pantry, which parishioners donated to at the event.

Three local churches gathered Sunday at Woodridge United Methodist Church to celebrate their annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving service. Woodridge United Methodist Church, St. Scholastica Catholic Church and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church participated in the event, where parishioners donated food and monetary gifts to support the growing needs of the West Suburban Community Pantry. The Rev. James Galbreath, senior pastor of Woodridge United Methodist Church, delivered a special sermon for the children in attendance. The adults were treated to music from a handbell choir and combined musicians and choirs from all three churches.  

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