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May 12, 2016
    


Touch List

Your Cards and Prayers Will Comfort and Touch...
 
Maria Balz, who is recovering from hip surgery.
Kathy Bloom.
Our thoughts are with Marjorie Duhatschek who is recovering from surgery.
LuAnn Hall, who is recovering from surgery.
Our thoughts are with LuAnn Hall's niece Jessica.
Bert Happel, Jim Happel's brother.
The family and friends of Lois Hindman, who died on April 2nd.
Linda Lauterbach's friend Sophia, her husband, and 22 month old son; Sophia has a brain tumor.
Petra Palmer's granddaughter's friend Summer who is having chemotherapy for leukemia.
Helen Pancner, Viola Clayton's daughter, who has continuing health struggles.
Jennifer Powers as she deals with health issues.
Ron Sander, Erik Sander's father, as he and his family manage his ongoing illness.
Vera Weiss.
 
 
Music News

Choral Sermon - join the congregation on May 22 for the exuberant African Mass by Norman Luboff.  The Chancel Choir, Treble Choir and soloists will be accompanied by a one person orchestra - the fabulous percussionist Angela Kepley on tuned drums.  Come celebrate with the choirs on their last full Sunday until the fall.

Summer Musical Camp registrations are available in the church office.  This program is for students in 1st-8th grades and will take place from July 25-29 from 2-6pm. Performances will be 7pm on 7/29 and 10am on 7/31.  This year's show will be "The Old Testament Fast Forward" which attempts to tell the entire history contained in the Old Testament in 35 minutes.  We will likely not succeed, however we will have fun trying! Please contact Ryan Cox for more information.

Volunteer Opportunity

BEDS Plus Summer Volunteer Opportunities 
This summer BEDS Plus is 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. 

Here is how it works  -

-   Clients must apply for transitional shelter with our
    program manager and comply with the same rules that
    apply during the regular season. Priority will be given to
    those who are employed and those waiting for
    permanent supportive housing placement.

-   Clients must agree to stay at the shelter each night
    unless otherwise prearranged with their case manager.

-   Up to 15 clients will qualify.  As each client gets 
    housing, another client may qualify.

-   Volunteer crews will be smaller, with longer shifts.
    Clients will help with set up and clean up each day. 
    Staff will be on-site each evening.

-   Hours will be 7pm - 7am, just like the regular shelter
    season.

-   Shelter is not advertised or open to new clients
    unless they go through the application process and
    there is an open spot.

Shelter will rotate to a new church each week from
   June 6 through August 14 (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. Our next sessions are May 9th and June 13th. If you'd like to volunteer, or need more information email volunteer@beds-plus.org or please click here.
Church News and Reminders
FCCLG AND Q-BBQ FUNDRAISER 
Looking for another excuse to go out for dinner and enjoy one of Downtown La Grange's wonderful restaurants, well now you have it. FCCLG and Q-BBQ have teamed up for a fundraising event where all you have to do is go out to eat. Present this flyer , either in paper or a digital copy on your phone, when purchasing your meal on Wednesday May 25 at Q-BBQ in La Grange and they will donate 20% of the receipt back to the church. Tell your friends, family, and co-workers, this is a great opportunity for use to help local businesses and for them to help us.

STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH OFFERING
There will be a special offering on Pentecost Sunday, May 15. It is the day UCC traditionally celebrates the birth of the church. Your gifts for this offering are going to be used to awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop spiritual life in our youth and young adults. The offerings are directed to our church's conference, the local Church Ministries, and The Stillspeaking Ministry to accomplish these purposes. Please give generously to Strengthen our Church!

REMINDER: ALL TEAMS MEETING FOR MAY
Please remember that the May meeting happens this Sunday, May 15! 

COOKIE AND SNACK COLLECTION
On Sunday, May 22, please bring a box of cookies or a non-perishable snack item such as crackers or pretzels to the Founder's Room before or after church. The Ministry of Nurture will serve these treats during our summer Fellowship Hours. Your support is greatly appreciated.
  
HOOKS AND NEEDLES  
Join us as we knit and crochet for charity. Beginners are welcome - we will be glad to give instruction. We meet every Monday except the first Monday of the month in the Family Room off the Chapel at 7pm 

BOOK CLUB
Evening book club will meet on Thursday, June 2nd to discuss The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. This work of fiction entwines two love stories set ninety years apart. All are invited to the chapel conference room at 7:30 for discussion and light snacks. And yes, we really do discuss our reading selections!  

MESSY CHURCH 
Our next Messy Church will meet on June 5th at 4:30pm. Our theme this month is Bible Roads . We hope to see you there!      
4:30-5:15pm: Crafts 
5:15-5:30pm: Celebration 
5:30-6:00: Dinner 
6:00-7:00: Yzal/Zackleys 
               
THIS  WEEK IN OUR CHURCH
Ministry Opportunities
USED CLOTHING COLLECTION 
San Lucas Church in Humbolt Park is in need of gently used, laundered clothing for their community closet - specifically for adult and teen males. Let's clean our closets and help men in need of clothes for work or play. Please drop off bags in the closet by the entrance of the Chapel by May 15th.

Invitation to Congregation to Join Conversation Circles
Please join us on May 22nd, 2016 when the Ministry of Missions will sponsor Conversation Circles*. Immediately after the church service and coffee hour, the World Café format will be used to explore any local community concerns which our participants wish to discuss. Topics may include but are not limited to subjects such as youth and young adult substance abuse, racial and ethnic educational inequalities, or issues of the homeless. The format is a very flexible way of identifying and discussing problems. There will be a group welcome and explanation of the process. Afterwards we will break into three to four separate tables with facilitators for the discussions. The groups will regather to determine how we want to move forward to create solutions for a chosen issue. The entire process will last 60 to 90 minutes. We hope to invite other area churches to work with us on a chosen issue later in the year. This is a wonderful opportunity to make our community a better place to live!
 
*Please note that this is not the same as a Peace Circle.

 
 
ST. BARBARA'S FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION
"One for Others"
When grocery shopping, try to remember the phrase "one for others." Even in these days of stressed budgets, most people can afford to buy one item for a local food pantry. Beyond helping others, keeping the hungry in mind helps us, too, by reminding us to be grateful for what we ourselves can afford. And if you go shopping with children, letting a child help choose the one item for those less fortunate is a good way to instill the attitude of thinking of others. During the month of May, St. Barbara's food pantry is especially in need of the following items, which are displayed outside the sanctuary: laundry detergent, dish detergent, cat or dog food, pancake mix, pancake syrup (maple flavor), fruit or pudding cups, and Jello-o gelatin and pudding.
Donation baskets are located outside the sanctuary and the chapel. If each person brought one item in May, the baskets would be overflowing! Know that your donation will be much appreciated.
Children and Youth News

Zackleys BBQ!
Sunday, May 15th the Zackleys will have their end of year BBQ starting at 4:30pm. We invite the upcoming Freshman (current 8th graders) to join! We'll meet in the church parking lot to BBQ. The church will provide the food.

The Zackleys and Yzals will meet on the first of the month after Messy Church 6-7:15 during the summer. 

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.

SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL
The Ministry of Education has decided that with the casual atmosphere and smaller numbers during the summer, we will not have Summer Sunday School. Please encourage your children to grab a blessing bag or a toy from the back during service! We still need people to volunteer for the nursery though!
 
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND THE PET PARADE
June 4th in the La Grange Pet parade. As we have in years past, our High School group, the Zackleys will be selling water. If you would like to donate bottled water please bring it to the office before June 4th.

We will also be handing out fliers for our Messy Church gatherings during the Pet Parade. If you are available to help please let Sylvia know!