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Worship

Register your attendance


Prayer requests


Altar flowers

Sign up to provide flowers for the altar during worship.


New member information


Acolytes wanted

If you’re a fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh grader, we’d love to have you serve as an acolyte in worship. To learn more about this meaningful position, contact Pastor Daniel Cochran or sign up here.


Safe sanctuaries covenant


Serve in love

Get connected

There are many ways to get connected to God and others at Gary Church. Click the link to see where you would like to serve.


Special Blend fellowship

Sign up to set up, host, clean up or provide food for Special Blend on Sunday.


Maintenance need
If you find something on Gary Church property that needs attention, please let us know.


Exploring Membership

We will receive new members during worship on Sunday, April 19.


Exploring Membership Lunch
Sunday, April 12, 12:15 p.m., Commons  
Interested in learning more about Gary Church? Would you like to chat with our pastors about membership or our many missions and ministries? Join Pastors Mary Zajac and Daniel Cochran for a casual lunch followed by a building tour! 


Contact Jennifer Castino if you're interested in membership and/or the lunch.


Wednesday, April 15, 7 p.m.

When your people are besieged by a more powerful nation, what does it mean to have faith? When your people are oppressed with no end in sight, what does it mean to seek justice and practice hope? Christians in places like Ukraine, Lebanon and Palestine have been forced to answer these questions, and their lived witness has a great deal to teach American believers. Scholar Leaders are working with Christian leaders to be light amidst their nations' greatest darknesses.


Join Christopher M. Hays, Evan Hunter, and Evelyn Reynolds from Scholar Leaders to learn more about what faithfulness requires on the underside of empire. Register here.


Saturday, April 25, 9 a.m.-noon

Celebrate Earth Day and Trails Day with others from Gary Church. Sign up here. For questions, contact Elaine McCluskey through the Church Office.


Saturday, May 2, 9 a.m.-noon, Arlington Heights: First United Methodist Church

Attend this Creation Care Summit with members of Gary's Green Team. For more information and to register, click here.  

Sunday, May 3, 1 p.m. check in, 2 p.m. walk, Glen House Snack Center, 800 Roosevelt Rd.

The 2026 CROP Walk raises funds for and awareness of the ever-present food insecurity issues in DuPage County and around the world. Portions of the CROP funds support Wheaton and Glen Ellyn food pantries. 


Donate to the Gary Church Team:  Click the "Donate" Button on this webpage

Register to Walk the 3 Miles:  Click "Join The Team" on this webpage



The 3-mile walk will start and end at:
Glen House Snack Center
800 Roosevelt Rd. Suite 5
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(For GPS, use Local Glass Studio which is adjacent to Glen House Snack Center.)

Map of Walk Route


Open call for artists

Artists — ages 14 and up — are invited to explore the theme of Courageous Love. 
Please reflect on the courage to love: first, in receiving love without condition, and then
in embodying that love in the world through compassion, acceptance and grace. 
Through your art, consider how courageous love might be seen, felt and lived — and what it asks of us today. 


Deadline for submissions is Tuesday, May 5. Download the application here. 

Questions? Contact creativearts@garychurch.org.



Gary Church Art Gallery
Friday, June 5, 5:30-8 p.m., Commons
Saturday, June 6, 4-8 p.m., Commons
This year’s theme is “Courageous Love” and will feature original artwork from local artists and members of our own congregation. The Opening Gala (with refreshments) will be celebrated on Friday, June 5, 5:30-8 p.m., with opening remarks at 6:30 p.m. Selected works will remain on display during Special Blend fellowship on Sunday, June 7.


If you have questions or would like to participate in this ministry, please see a member of the Art Gallery Leadership Team: Lisa Grigsby, Pam Keller and Rebekah Stoneberg, creativearts@garychurch.org.


Wednesday, May 6, 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! More blood drive dates in 2026: Aug. 19, Nov. 18.


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

Gary Church wants to recognize 2026 graduates from high school, college or vocational school. The names of graduates will be printed in an upcoming edition of the Chimes newsletter. Please let us know if you know anyone we can celebrate by Sunday, May 17. 


On Sunday, May 31, we will present high school graduates with an afghan knitted by the Gary Knitters, along with Dr. Seuss's "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" signed by members of the congregation.


Monday, June 22- Thursday, June 25, 9 a.m.-noon


Incoming fifth through eighth graders are invited to a week of summer fun, missions and growing in faith together. At BLAST, campers will have the opportunity to partner with community organizations in hands-on mission. We will engage in team-building activities as we learn that we are one body, the church. And most importantly, we will have plenty of fun in the sun!

 

We need you to help make our campers feel loved. Adults and high school youth are invited to be camp leaders. Register to be a camper and/or a leader.


Illinois Pilgrimage

Thursday, June 25–Sunday, June 28

(Orientation: Tuesday, June 2, 7-8 p.m. via Zoom)

 

His face and name are on our license plates, but what does it mean to be United Methodists living in the "Land of Lincoln"? Join the Northern Illinois Conference’s General Commission on Religion and Race Pilgrimage Committee for a journey across Illinois as we explore the tensions between the state’s celebrated identity and its racial history. This spiritual pilgrimage invites United Methodists into honest reckoning, deeper understanding, and a renewed call to love boldly, serve joyfully and lead courageously.


For details and to register, go to the NIC website.


Friday, April 10, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Lower Level

Drop off your kiddos at Gary Church and enjoy some well-deserved time away. Each month features a movie, craft and free play for kids ages preschool 3s through fifth grade. Suggested cash donation of $5 per child. Register here.


Breakfast fellowship

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

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.

Fourth Friday Game Night

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.

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.

2026 Stewardship Campaign

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.

 

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

Did you know that there is a digital suggestion box for Gary Church's music ministries? You are welcome to provide your ideas, feedback, or requests for a favorite hymn, worship song, or piece of music, as our worship through music is an integral part of our shared community. Share your thoughts

here.

This ministry provides free one-on-one help with homework and basic English and math to elementary students. We partner with World Relief to help students in need. Consider offering an hour from your week to tutor children from our community. Although we try to keep tutors and students paired, we understand that you cannot be there every week. The children are a joy and glad to get your attention. There is some preparatory training required, and we have some experienced educators to provide support as needed.

 

The timing is Tuesdays, 6-7 p.m. during the school year. If you have questions, contact Jeff Bray through the Church Office. Register 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.

Order Grow in Faith | Serve in Love shirts

You too can wear a Gary Church hoodie or T-shirt. Each symbol on the shirt stands for a word in our mission statement. The plant is “grow.” The fish is “faith.” The hands are “serve.” And the heart is “love.” Our mission statement, “At Gary Church, our mission through Christ is to grow in joyful faith and serve all in love.” Order here.