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March 30, 2017
We're All Going to School!
FCCLG will be part of a growing number of congregations who will be intentionally growing leaders who are equipped to bring the church into the future.
With the blessing of the the John Biegert Lecture Fund, we'll be a part of a nation-wide program to stretch, grow, and shape leaders of the church. An you are invited to be a part of the class of student leaders!
The Convergence Leadership Project is a regional and national ecumenical program to train and equip the saints of the church for ministry in our ever-changing times. We will be a part of three symposiums that will bring together a faculty of leading edge Christian thinkers and trainers who will help you and our congregation to lead and thrive in the current world. We will host the third of these symposiums at FCCLG.
The goals of the Convergence Leadership Project are to
- develop stronger, more confident, more energized leaders
- help the church to be a unified, aligned, and alive witness to God's extravagant love
- help lay leaders and staff grow stronger as a team, get more done, while enjoying the work
- allow each of us to work, learn, dialogue, and dream with leading Christian thinkers, trainers, and change agents
- help the church to provide a progressive, contemplative, Christian witness to our community
You will hear more about the details in the coming weeks. For now, please set aside these dates.
- May 19-20: "Being Church in Dangerous Times" -- (Friday evening, Saturday) Satellite participation
- August 18-19: "Seizing the Moment"-- (Friday evening, Saturday) Satellite participation
- October 28-29: "In every Crisis there's an Opportunity" - (Friday evening, Saturday) Hosted by FCCLG!
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Children and Youth News
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Zackley Sunday and Stock Holder's Brunch
Because of the timing of the Zackleys' work trip, we will be having our Annual Zackleys on April 23rd with the Stock Holder's Brunch after the service. We hope to see you there!
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Messy Church
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Messy Church will be
this Sunday, April 2nd at 4:30. Our theme this month will be Spring festivals.
Come and have a great time and grow in faith and in your love of others on the journey. See you there! Click here for the flyer!
4:30-5:15pm: Crafts and Stories
5:15-5:30pm: Celebration
5:30-6:00: Dinner
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Music Opportunity
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Summer Musical Camp
Each year children in 1st-8th grades come together to learn, memorize, and perform a musical based on stories from the bible in just one week! Save the date - this year's camp is July 31st - August 4th.
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Health Resources
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
The FCCLG website now has mental health and substance abuse resources and services guides. Click here for the FCCLG website. This is a simple but comprehensive guide to obtain services. Please feel free to share this information. Brochures can be found in the Church Office and at the Sanctuary entrance.
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Thank You!
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Thanks to all who contributed to the special collection last week-One Great Hour of Sharing!
Here is a recap of the total amount we collected in 2016 for the special UCC funds. We are thankful for the generosity of our congregation -THANK YOU! We collected a total of $2,278.73 for the four collections-a breakdown follows:
One Great Hour of Sharing=$880.73, Strengthen the Church=$512.00, Neighbors in Need=$441.00, and The Christmas Fund/Veterans of the Cross=$445.00
Ministry of Missions
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Are you ready to order a lily to grace the sanctuary on Easter morning?
Come to the office any Sunday after worship before Palm Sunday, April 9th. The cost is $12.50 per plant, and the lily is yours to take home after the Easter service.
HOLY WEEK WORSHIP
Palm Sunday, April 9, begins a week long journey from hope to the cross and back. Join us for these deeply spiritual and moving worship opportunities:
- Palm Sunday Worship 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The Procession of Palms and Celebration of Hope
- Maundy Thursday Tenebrae 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. The Procession of Shadows leads us through word and music into the Last Supper, desertion, arrest, conviction, cross, and death. This is one of the most moving services of the year.
- Good Friday 7 PM First Presbyterian Church of La Grange. An ecumenical remembrance of Jesus' last hours with moving music, gospel hymns, and a juxtaposition of scripture.
CONGREGATIONAL WORK DAY 3.0
Please join us for the third annual event to spruce up the church grounds, maintain the inside of the building, and enjoy some fellowship. The event will take place Easter Saturday April 15th from 1 to 4pm. Items include planting, clearing leaves, climbing ladders, and replacing ligh
t bulbs. Sign up in the Founders Room.
Please bring your own tools.
EASTER MORNING
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
Please join the Ministry of Nurture for breakfast on Easter morning BEFORE church from 8:30 to 9:55 am in the Founders' Room. We look forward to seeing you!
LIVING CROSS
The Ministry of Worship is asking church members to donate flowers on Easter Sunday April 16 to create the annu
al
"Living Cross" that adorns the altar on Easter morning. Please bring flowers to the narthex area. Thank you for sharing in this long standing tradition.
EV
ENING BOOK CLUB
We
will discuss Hershey: Milton S. Hershey's Extraordinary Life of Wealth, Empire, and Utopian Dreams by Michael D'Antonio on Thursday, April 27th at 7:30 pm in the chapel conference room. "If it's a rule that behind every great fortune lies a great crime, M. S. Hershey was the exception," Michael D'Antonio writes in this thorough and highly readable biography of the candy magnate. "He was the good millionaire." You may be able to guess the flavor of snacks we will serve on this evening!
HOOKS AND NEEDLES
Hooks and Needles meets in the Family Room off the Chapel on all but the first Monday of the month at 7:00 pm.
We make blankets for Project Linus and Still Missed along with prayer shawls, baby blankets and prayer squares for the church. Please join us in this valuable ministry. Beginners are welcome; we would love to teach you to knit or crochet. Email Linda Lauterbach at
[email protected] or call the church office at 708-352-0800 if you need a code to get into the building.
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Ministry Opportunities
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We are still in need of seven talented individuals in our leadership roster.
We need two members for the
Ministry of Communication. This ministry promotes and publicizes the ministries and events the church in the community. They oversee church communications, including the church website, social media, The Tidings and church publicity. If you are creative, interested in reaching out, or good with graphic design, this is a good fit for you.
We need two members for the
Ministry of Membership. This team oversees our hospitality and nurture of guests and creates a climate of church growth within the congregation. They help to orient and integrate new members. If you like to meet new people, enjoy being a host, or want to introduce others to the congregation, this is a great team to join.
We need two members for the
Nominations Committee. This team matches the gifts and graces of members with the various offices and ministries of the church. It meets in November and December only. If you enjoy talking to people -- even if only by phone -- and you'd like to get to know the gifts and graces of others, this is a great match for you.
The Ministry of Education is in need of one member for a three year term. The Ministry of Education meets once a month. It is responsible for the education of the children, youth and adults of the church. It envisions, plans, coordinates and executes a stimulating program of Christian education, youth groups, Messy Church, and coordinates the Nursery during weekly worship.
Click here for the Updated Roster!
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Fellowship Opportunities
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READY TO PLAY BRIDGE? The church bridge group is beginning to play for the season. We always have room for more players. You are welcome no matter your level of play. We play once a month at a time mutually arranged between the two teams playing each other. If you have a partner, all the better. If not, we will see if we can find you a partner. If you are interested in playing, contact Doris Bryant, 708-352-3034 or
[email protected].
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Service Opportunities
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Please sign up for the following opportunities during Fellowship Hour in the Founders' Room. You can also call the church office at 708-352-0800! We'd be happy to sign you up!
Fellowship Hour
- Bring in treats of your choice and serve beverages and snacks after worship
Liturgists
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Proclaim the scripture to the congregation during Sunday service
Flower Delivery
- Deliver the donated altar flowers to home-bound church members after worship
Ushers
- Arrive at 9:30 am, pass out programs, collect the offering
Greeters
-Arrive at 9:45 am, wear your name tag, smile!
Laundry Superheros
- Pick up the Saturday Meals Program laundry outside the kitchen after worship and return it clean before next Saturday
Nursery Attendants
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Attend the Nursery during worship on Sunday
Audio Visual Technicians -- training available!
- Run the cameras as we transmit our services to Plymouth Place and then upload them to the web
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The Saturday Meals Program is a ministry of our congregation that serves anyone who would like to share a hot meal.
There are two shifts of volunteer service available each Saturday:
Breakfast set up and serving is from 8 to 10 a.m. Breakfast volunteers cut and plate pastries, serve hot food to
 guests in a buffet line, run the dishwasher, make sandwiches and pack brown bag suppers for distribution after lunch.
Lunch set up and serving is from 10:45 to 1 p.m. Lunch volunteers plate desserts, serve hot foods to guests in a buffet line, run the dishwasher, and wipe down tables and chairs following the meal.
Email Volunteer Coordinator JoAnne Konkle for information.
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FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS FOR MARCH
The donation baskets for the food pantry have be
en almost empt
y for several weeks. Please, don't forget to pick u
p an item or two for your neighbors in need when you go
sho
pping. We're collecting peanut butter and canned tuna for the Second Baptist
Food Pantry in March. If you forget what to buy, any nonperishable grocery item wo
uld be appreciated.
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FCCLG Fundraising
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S
mashburger Night - April 6th
It's time for another Eat and Earn event for FCCLG. Thursday, April 6th between the hours of 4-8pm we will be teaming up with Smashburger in La Grange, so come on down and Smashburger will donate $1 for every burger that is purchased with this flyer. Invite your friends and family out for a great meal without the hassle of messing up the kitchen.
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Here's an easy way to give back to FCCLG! When you shop on Amazon, use
smile.amazon.com and choose First Congregational Church of La Grange UCC as your charity. Consider making your purchases through Amazon which donates 0.5% of your purchase back to FCCLG. Thank you for supporting us!
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Text Giving
Text
FCCLG100 to
73256 to give using your text messaging. Click the link and complete your gift. Standard text messaging rates may apply.
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Community Events and News
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HELP INTERFAITH CAREER NETWORK HELP OTHERS
ICN has many tools to assist job seekers, but we need your assistance to provide the most important element in a job search which is open positions. If you are a hiring manager or aware of open positions in your company, please send this information to
[email protected]. Any and all postings are welcome. ICN job seekers are at all stages of their career, in every industry, with a broad spectrum of education and experience. All job postings will be communicated to the over 400-member ICN Yahoo group.
Ideally it will be a WIN/WIN for your company and a qualified job seeker in your community. If you have any questions or for additional information you can also contact Judy Kennedy (
[email protected]) at 708.352.8943 or Tom Rohan (
[email protected]) at 708.772.4231. Lastly, to learn more about ICN visit our website at
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Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God. Please lift these friends, family, and members in your prayers.
The family and friends of longtime member Joyce Allen, who died on January 11th. *The family will hold a gathering for their mother April 22nd at 2 pm in the Sanctuary.
Emil and Maria Balz who are recovering at home.
Renee Bryant's friend Melissa, diagnosed with breast cancer.
Prayers for the family of John Cepek, a former member who died on March 15th.
Prayers for Viola Clayton for a speedy recovery. She needs strength and good mobility.
Angie Crees, Olivia Hein's sister.
Prayers for Fred Gonzalez who is recovering at home.
The family and friends of Jeanne Hayden, who died on February 16th.
Prayers and thoughts for Cindy and Nick Johnson whose infant son Lincoln died on February 28th.
Ron Kloss, Janet Bednar's father who is recovering from complications of a fall and surgery.
Prayers for Joe Lucas who is in the hospital struggling with health issues.
Petra Palmer's granddaughter's friend Summer who is having chemotherapy for leukemia.
Those living in fear and without hope.
Those who use fear to control others.
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Sign up here to receive the UCC Daily Devotional in your inbox!
Into the Mystic: Listen to podcasts of the UCC General Minister, John Dorhauer, here.
Disaster Ministry Learn about the UCC's efforts and what you can do
here!
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