Support Sharing A Story’s fundraiser by ordering mums through Sunday, Sept. 13, or until the pre-ordered plants sell out. Cost: $12 per plant. Mums will be available for pick up on Sunday, Sept. 20, 10-11:30 a.m. in the Courtyard. Proceeds will be used to purchase and distribute books to children in need. 

Order Blooms for Books 

Sunday, Aug. 16, Memorial Park

Help with set up, tear down, hosting and more.

Sign up here.

Wednesday, Aug. 19, carpool from Gary Church at 12:30 p.m., return in evening

Join members of Gary Church’s Anti-Racist Book Club as we return to the Hermitage Street Community Garden. We will work alongside our Englewood neighbors to help with gardening and other projects. Contact Judy Selby through the Church Office to RSVP.

Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2-6 p.m., Activity Center or Commons
Each pint donated can save up to three lives. The need is constant, and every pint is precious. Register here. Walk-ins also welcome. 

In 2025, our blood drives collected enough units to save as many as 171 lives! Next blood drive: Nov. 18.

You might be interested to read this from The United Methodist Church's Discipleship Ministries: Stewardship Is in My Blood.

Sunday, Aug. 30, 10:10 a.m., Chapel
Get better acquainted with pastors and staff, learn more about what it means to be United Methodist and about the history of our Gary Church congregation. Sign up here. We will receive new members during worship on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Contact Jennifer Castino if you're interested in membership.

Camp Gary will be back this fall with expanded hours! The days offered will be Fridays, Sept. 25 and Oct. 9 and Monday, Nov. 2. The new time will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The campers will bring their own lunch for a noon time lunch break. (It will be optional for children to leave at lunchtime if a half day is preferable.)

Activities will include games, stories, songs, crafts, snacks and fun time hanging out with friends. Registration will be open to preschool through fifth grade. And, if you need it, you’ll have access to a quiet workspace stocked with coffee and donuts. 

Register today!

Tuesday, Sept. 29, doors open at 5:30 p.m., livestream starts at 6 p.m., Anderson Room

You're invited to a watch party! Gary Church is livestreaming Bill McKibben's keynote talk from Faith in Place's 2026 Environment & Spirituality Summit.

The Summit's theme, Grounded Resistance, explores how we engage the world from a place of deep grounding, collective support and sustained resistance. McKibben is an author, educator and environmentalist who helped found 350.org, the first global grassroots climate campaign, and recently founded Third Act, an organizing movement for people over 60. Drawing on decades of organizing, writing and movement-building, he'll ground the Summit in the moral and spiritual stakes of the climate crisis and invite communities of faith to harness their collective power to confront fossil fuel reliance and advance climate justice.

The watch party is free, and all are welcome—invite friends! Learn more about the Summit and register to join at aes-summit.org. 

April 17–24, 2027 with an optional Greek Isle Cruise Extension April 23–27

Join Educational Opportunities for the Journeys of Paul Tour in Greece! Walk in the footsteps of the Apostle across Thessaloniki, Philippi, Berea, Corinth and Athens. Stand on Mars Hill, visit Philippi — home of Lydia, Paul’s first recorded convert in Europe —and explore the ancient places where the Gospel first took root and spread throughout the world.

More than a tour, this pilgrimage is an invitation to encounter Scripture with fresh eyes and an open heart. Through daily devotions, conversation, learning and fellowship, travelers will experience the biblical story in a living classroom full of sacred wonder. Plus, they can take in the majestic beauty of the Greek islands with an optional Greek Isle Cruise extension, with stops including Mykonos, Ephesus, Patmos, Crete, Santorini and Athens.

Whether you are a seasoned traveler or considering your first pilgrimage abroad, you won’t want to miss this unforgettable journey of faith-filled discovery and holy adventure.

Register by 8/17 for a $75 discounted rate.

Learn more at the informational sessions:

Wednesday, Aug. 5, 7 p.m. on Zoom

Sunday, Aug. 9, 10:10 a.m. in the Anderson Room

For more details, click here. Questions? Contact Carey Williams Bebar.

Second Friday of the month, 7-9 p.m., Commons

This no-gambling, no-pressure, open-to-anyone version of Mahjong makes its debut at Gary Church. Register to get on the email list and let us know you're coming. 

(Game Night with bridge, dominoes and other games you bring will continue on the fourth Friday of the month at 6:30 p.m.)

6:30-9 p.m., Gary Commons

Join your Gary Church friends for games of bridge, dominoes or anything you like. Contact Fern Evelhoch through the Church Office for more information and to let us know you're coming.

Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Adams Park

Join Pam Keller for our annual session of plein air (outdoor) watercolor painting in Adams Park. No painting experience expected. Registration coming soon.

Mark your calendars for these other fun art and fellowship opportunities:

• Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: ceramics (with additional sessions on Nov. 12 and Nov. 21)
• Saturday, Jan. 9, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: assemblage and collage
• Thursday, Feb. 4 (on zoom): Lenten art and faith with Pastor Daniel Cochran
• March TBD: open art studio
• Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: framed live botanicals
• Friday, June 4-Saturday, June 5: Gary Church Art Gallery

Fourth Friday Breakfast

Fourth Friday of the month, 8:30 a.m., Seven Dwarfs Restaurant, 917 E Roosevelt Rd.

All are welcome to join Dan and Sandy Fridley for food and fellowship. RSVP here to reserve your place at the table. 

Semimonthly men's breakfast (September through May)

Second and third Saturdays of the month, 7:30 a.m., Egg'lectic Cafe, 145 N. Hale Street, Wheaton

All Gary Church men are invited to join. RSVP here to reserve your place at the table.

Mondays, 7 p.m., Activity Center
Let’s get together for some fellowship, laughs and a little bit of exercise. We’ll set up courts in the gym and rotate through positions. No experience necessary. Bring your own pickleball racquet and ball. Sign up and sign the waiver here. Contact Mark Mathis through the Church Office for more information.

Gary Church has plots at Atten Park in Wheaton this year to harvest produce for local food pantries. Can you help with planting, weeding, watering and harvesting? Sign up here.

Stewardship is using the gifts and resources God has entrusted to us. At Gary Church, this takes many forms: tithing regularly, teaching a class, serving on a committee, making care cards, singing in choir, baking cookies, supporting missions, etc.

We invite you to love courageously and prayerfully consider how sharing your spiritual gifts and financial resources can help you to continue to grow in joyful faith and serve all in love.

• “Get Connected” will show you the many ways you can share your spiritual gifts.

• “Stewardship Campaign: Love Courageously” will show how you can pledge your resources.

Order T-shirts and/or sweatshirts with our 2025-2026 theme, "Love courageously," based on 1 Corinthians 16:13b-14. Order here.

Scripture reminds us again and again to give thanks to God, from whom all blessings flow. Here at Gary Church we continue to fill our gratitude jar! Share what you are thankful for by filling out a card at the Welcome Desk or by using the form here.