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Feedback, corrections, or additions?
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May 11, 2017
 Th
is Sunday, May 14
will be "Ask the Question Sunday." Inste
ad of a sermon, Carly will answer questions from the congregation.
Bring your questions, doubts,
wonderings, and queries about faith, the Bible, mission, ministry, or church, and we'll give it a go.
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Convergence Leadership Project
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WE'RE ALL GOING TO SCHOOL!
FCCLG will be part of a number of congregations who will be intentionally growing leaders who are equipped to bring the church into the future.
With the blessing of the John Biegert Lecture Fund, we'll be a part of a nationwide program to stretch, grow, and shape leaders of the church. And 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. All events will be on Friday evenings and Saturday days.
- May 19-20: Being Church in Dangerous Times--satellite participation
- August 18-19: Seizing the Moment--satellite participation
- October 27-29: In every Crisis there's an Opportunity--hosted by FCCLG!
Please sign up in the Founders' Room during Fellowship Hour or call the office. For more information please go to
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Messy Church
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Messy Church will be
Sunday, June 4th at 4:30 pm. Our theme this month will be The Story of Hannah.
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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Children and Youth News
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IT'S TIME FOR SUMMER CAMP!
No matter your age or your stage, our United Church of Christ  Conference has a summer camp that is right for you. Whether at Tower Hill or Pilgrim Park, whether your interest is in sports or theater, whether you want to spend a few days or a full week, there is a camp for you. Check out the offerings on the posters outside Sylvia's office, or online at the
Outdoor Ministries website.
PET PARADE JUNE 3
The Zackleys will be selling water during the Pet Parade again this year! We will accept donated cases of bottled water in the office.
BOUNDARY WATERS
The Zackleys will be taking their annual Boundary Waters trip
July 22-30, 2017. All registration forms with deposit are due on June 11. Some financial aid is available if you contact Sylvia before June 1st. Click
here for the information packet!
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Music News
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SUMMER MUSICAL CAMP
Summer Musical Camp
registrations are available in the church office. A collaboration between the music and children's education, this program is for students in 1st-8th grades and will take place from July 31 - August 4 from 2-6pm. The performance will be 7pm on 8/4. We are going back to our camp roots for this year's show! In 2010 we began with "Oh Jonah" and that "landmark production" will be remounted, complete with whale mouth! Please contact Ryan Cox for more information. [email protected]
SPRING CHORAL SERMON
Vivaldi Gloria: Make sure to join us in worship at 10am on May 21 as the choir and orchestra will be performing Vivaldi's Gloria for the Spring Choral Sermon. The choir will also be singing a fantastic setting of Psalm 117 by Telemann and the orchestra will play a wonderful trumpet sonata by Baldassare for the prelude. And, the congregational hymns will be accompanied by the full orchestra. Not to be missed!
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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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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 or call the church office at 708-352-0800 if you need a code to get into the building.
BEDS Plus Summer Volunteer Opportunities
BEDS Plus is again offering a transitional summer shelter. The program is modeled after other successful programs around the region that provide a smaller-scale summer shelter program for clients who need additional time to achieve stability. Clients must apply for transitional shelter and comply with the same rules that apply during the regular season. Priority is given to those who are employed and those waiting for permanent supportive housing placement. The shelter will rotate to a new church each week from June 4 through August 12 (10 weeks).
Our Congregation will host this transitional program for the week of July 10-17. While we are not responsible for providing volunteers, you are welcome to volunteer for the many tasks that hospitality of this kind requires. Volunteers are required to attend one Volunteer Orientation session prior to volunteering. The next training dates are May 8, 2017, and June 12, 2107 at First Presbyterian Church of La Grange.
FCCLG WOMEN'S RETREAT
Save the date and watch this space for coming news - the annual FCCLG Women's Retreat will be
August 12th and 13th this year. Back again to Diamond Lake! Plans are in the works. Mimosas?
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Ministry Opportunities
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We are still in need of several talented individuals in our leadership roster. Please see available positions below.
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, email
Doris Bryant or call at 708-352-3034.
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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 MAY
During the month of May, we are collecting canned fruit and vegetables for Second Baptist Food Pantry. Your donations are much appreciated. A reminder: Please do not donate food that has passed its "best by" or expiration date.
Thanks! Missions
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FCCLG Fundraising
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Here's an easy way to give back to FCCLG! When you shop on Amazon, use
smile.amazon.com/ch/36-2169150 choose First Congregational Church of La Grange UCC as your charity. Consider making your purchases through Amazon for
Mother's Day. They intern donate 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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OLDER WORKERS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
Interfaith Career Network - Please join us on Thursday, May 18 from 7-9 pm for a presentation that will cover easy-to-implement tactics to help improve your job search. "Older workers, as a rule, have a tougher time finding jobs" says a recent report from the National Labor Department. Our speaker, Lauren Milligan, will cover topics including resume and cover letter tips, interview strategies and modern search techniques. She will talk openly and candidly about age discrimination and how you can overcome it. Lauren is a Career Advancement Coach at ResuMAYDAY, a company that helps create vibrant and eye-catching resumes filled with impact and creativity to express the best from each job seeker...regardless of your age. Join us at St. John of the Cross Parish Center, 5005 S. Wolf Road in Western Springs. This meeting is open to everyone and there is no cost to attend.
CHORALE ENSEMBLE
The Chicago-based professional choral ensemble, Bella Voce will celebrate Monteverdi's 450th birthday by performing his Joyous Mass for 6 Voices: "Missa in Illo Tempore" at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in LaGrange on Sunday, May 21 at 3PM. Included is a colorful program of organ music performed on Emmanuel's historic Casavant pipe organ by George Tarasuk. Tickets: $25 adults, $15 students.
For information call
708/352-1275.
AGING WELL MONTH
Aging Well Month resource guides listing free events are available in the church office. Aging Well Month consists of community organizations, agencies and businesses partnering to create events to educate, entertain, and encourage activity for older adults. For general questions about Aging Well Month contact Linda Hussey, Aging Well Month Coordinator at (708) 603-2342 or
[email protected].
***Congratulations to Ted Tomkinson who was honored last week as a volunteer for Aging Well Month!
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
email us this information. 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 at 708.352.8943 or
Tom Rohan at 708.772.4231. Lastly, to learn more about ICN visit our
website.
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Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God. Please lift these friends, family, and members in your prayers.
Ojo Adedji, seeking asylum in the U.S., whose court hearing has been postponed to June.
Emil and Maria Balz.
Renee Bryant's friend Melissa, diagnosed with breast cancer.
Prayers for Viola Clayton for strength and good mobility.
Fred Gonzalez, who is recovering after heart surgery.
Joyce Hagen-McIntosh's nephew who is going through a challenging time.
Angie Crees, Olivia Hein's sister.
Ron Kloss, Janet Bednar's father.
Petra Palmer's granddaughter's friend Summer who is having chemotherapy for leukemia.
Prayers for
Patricia Spencer for healing after breaking her arm in a fall.
Nancy Coleman's friend Sharon Veltre, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
Those living in fear and without hope, and 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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