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Feedback, corrections, or additions?
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Gifts of Gratitude
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This Saturday we decorate our Gifts of Gratitude tree with ornaments. We have a wonderful way to show your thanks this holiday season. Buy a gift or two for a child in need. Gifts of Gratitude will be on
Sunday December 4th, during the children's pageant. You can begin selecting an ornament or two from the tree for a child from Casa Central on
October 30th. Buy a gift between $20-$30 for the child you have chosen. If you buy clothes and want to include the gift receipt in case an exchange of sizes is needed, Target and Walmart are the closet stores to these families. Wrap or place the gift in a decorative bag (staple closed) and tape the tag to the package so it finds its way to the right child through Santa Claus at their holiday party.
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October 27, 2016
Grace, Peace, and Enough to each of the saints in La Grange and beyond, from Carly, called to be preacher, teacher, prophet, and pastor beside and among you.
Enough.What does this word mean to you? What is enough? What does it mean when we say we've had enough to eat? Enough of politics? When are we good enough? When things are easy enough?
When it comes to money and wealth, sometimes we find it hard to say "enough". In the consumer driven culture in which we live, we are so often told that wanting more is the right thing. We get caught up in credit card and other debt that traps us into a corner where we have more debts than resources to pay for them. How do we know when we have "enough"?
It has long been said that our budget is a reflection of our values. Take a look at your bank or credit card statement. What do these say about what you value? What does it say you are about? What defines you? The hopes and dreams you live by? Are these the things by which you want to be known or remembered?
What we value determines our goals and the means by which we go about achieving those goals. When we are clear about our values, we can more easily make decisions, prioritize what is important to us. When our spending plans are built upon our values, we have an integrated, whole life approach to our day to day life.
In his Financial Peace program, Dave Ramsay asks the participants the "what if" question:
If you had complete financial security, how would you live your life?
What would you do with your money?
What would you change in the world?
My question to add to these is: How does your faith in Jesus affect your answers to those questions?
Of all the issues that faith raises, Jesus has more to say about wealth and money than any other subject. The gospels give us abundant examples of what Jesus thought of the rich, the poor, exploitation, how money is spent, and what values and priorities should be ours.
[1]
As followers of Jesus, our values are influenced by what we read in Scripture, what we learn from others in our faith community, and how we are led by God's Spirit through our relationship with God. As we move through our annual pledge appeal in the coming weeks, I challenge each of us to take out our bank statements, credit card bills, and check books so that we might discern if there is a difference between what we profess as faith and how we actually live our lives.
Blessings,
Carly
[1] For an interesting read through all the references see the four posts in this series: https://godnix.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/everything-jesus-ever-had-to-say-about-money-part-1-matthew/
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ZACKLEY'S LOCK-IN AND BAKE SALE
The Zackleys want to provide your baked good for Thanksgiving! Our annual Bake Sale Lock-In will be taking place
November 19th through the 20th! Sales will begin
October 23rd after church during the coffee hour. The lovingly made baked goods will be available for pick up on November 20th. The lock-in is open to all students 9th-12th grade. Permission slips available outside of Sylvia's door.
WE'RE GOING TO EDISTO
Edisto Island was in the path of hurricane Matthew. Our work trip will include recovery work at Edisto. To reduce the cost to participants, each Zackley will need to participate in our monthly gatherings and projects. If you are interested in being part of our work trip, please see Sylvia and join us at regularly scheduled Zackley meetings.
SUNDAY SCHOOL / YOUTH REGISTRATION
Sunday School needs people to fill teacher and shepherd positions. Please sign up through Access, on the clipboard during Fellowship Hour, or contact Sylvia at
[email protected]. If you have children birth through 12th grade please fill out a Sunday School Registration
form so we can keep up to date records!
FALL YOUTH SCHEDULE
To make these the best programming we can we need volunteers! If you are able to help plan or just be at these events please let
Sylvia know!
First Sunday of the month:
Confirmation: 2:30-4:30pm Drawing Room
Messy Church: 4:30-6:30pm (Dinner at 5:45pm)
Yzals 6:30pm (6-8th grade)
Third Sunday:
Zackleys 6:30pm
Fourth Sunday:
Yzals and Zackleys service/outing
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Messy Church
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Messy Church will be
this Sunday, November 6th at 4:30. Our theme this month will be Love Your World!
Come and have a great time and support our youth. See you there! Click here for our flyer!
4:30-5:15pm: Crafts and Stories
5:15-5:30pm: Celebration
5:30-6:00: Dinner
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Music News
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SHEEP!
This year's Christmas Musical has a song just for sheep. Three to five-year-olds are invited to participate in an abbreviated rehearsal schedule to sing this showstopper! Please contact Ryan or Sylvia for the schedule and registration information by
October 30.
CHRISTMAS MUSICAL REHEARSAL
Starts on November 5 at 10am in the choir room. All children K-8 are welcome, including friends and neighbors! For the full rehearsal schedule and registration form, please see Ryan or Sylvia. The performance will be on December 18 during 10am worship. Please register by October 30.
Tiny Toes
Music is a newer addition to the music offerings housed at FCCLG. Tiny Toes is this area's organization offering Music Together classes. The Fall session starts soon! To enroll, visit
www.tinytoesmusic.com
Tiny Toes classes:
- Are for children ages birth to kindergarten and their parents and caregivers.
- Build on your child's natural enthusiasm for music and movement.
- Provide you and your child with the basic musical skills needed to enjoy and participate in musical activities.
- 45 minutes of PURE FUN with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers every week!
RING 'N SING
Music for grades 1-8! We sing. And we ring. Sometimes at the same time. Join the fun! Rehearsals continue after worship from 11:15-11:45am. This program is great for introducing new families to our great youth programming.
TREBLE CHOIR
An extension of Ring n' Sing, this ensemble is designed for children in 3rd grade and up. The focus is on voice development, music reading and singing more challenging music. Rehearsals continue Sunday 11:45am to 12:15pm.
BARITONES AND BRUNCH
Come to FCCLG on November 12 at 10:30am for Baritones and Brunch. This is the next event in the alliterative concert series and it will feature Ryan and some of his baritone friends singing their favorite arias and sacred pieces. These concerts have been highlights in our church's musical life - you will not want to miss this one! Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students and will be available starting October 16th. Proceeds will go towards the Instrument Repair Fund to help with organ repairs. Your support is greatly appreciated. For more info, please contact Ryan Cox.
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FCCLG Building Project Updates
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Air Conditioning Project
The air conditioning project for the Founder's room and sanctuary has been completed. The final demonstration of the units was accomplished on Wednesday, October 26. A final walk-through of the systems will be scheduled for next week to identify minor touch-up issues and to transfer the final operating information for the units. Hallelujah, we will be able to worship in the sanctuary on hot summer days! When you see him, please give a special thank you to Erik Sander for spearheading and leading this project. I am sure he has spent many a sleepless night to make sure that this project was a success.
Founder's Room Painting
The Founder's room painting project is complete. On the first go around, the Founder's room ceiling center section was repaired and painted. Subsequently, sections of that painting job started to peel. The painting company was called and they have rectified this issue. They are leaving their scaffolding up in the Founder's room in case there are more areas that need touch up.
Founder's Room Kitchen Remodeling
Work will start on the kitchen remodeling project this week. Nancy Sander is leading that effort (it is a family affair). All appliances have been ordered and a contract for the work has been awarded. We are hoping that the kitchen will be completed before Thanksgiving.
Founder's Room Carpeting Replacement
The carpet and padding have been ordered by Nancy Sander and should arrive by the end of October. We are waiting for the completion of the Kitchen project before the carpet is installed. Once started, the installation should not take more than a week and could possibly be done sooner. When the time comes, we will be asking for volunteers to move furniture and such out of the Founder's room so the carpet can be installed. Please keep reading the Tidings and listening to announcements during the worship services for further details.
Sanctuary Carpet Replacement
We are still hopeful that we will have substantial funds left with the help also of generous donors to be able to replace the Sanctuary carpeting. Please stand by for further information.
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Ready To Play Bridge?
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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
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Wine Tasting For BEDS Plus!
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Click here for the full
Flyer!
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Chipotle Fundraiser For BEDS Plus!
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November 8th event! Click here for the full
Flyer!
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LATTE, the LaGrange Area Teen Theater Ensemble
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 Gas Light
Insanity lurks within.... Some dreams are too good to be true... All appears the essence of Victorian bliss and tranquility... Yet can this kind and suavely handsome husband, Mr. Jack Manningham, slowly be driving his gentle, devoted wife Bella, to the brink of insanity? Insinuating kindness masks sinister motives. Sweet Bella becomes increasingly isolated, confused, and confined. Jack escalates accusations of Bella of playing wicked pranks and tricks that she can't recall, tormenting Bella to make her question her own sanity. Frightened, Bella becomes paranoid and believes everyone is against her. Until one fateful evening when a keen police inspector pays her a visit, shedding
light on information that could save her life. Could Mr. Manningham be the homicidal maniac wanted for a murder committed fifteen years earlier in this very house? Evidence against Manningham unfolds... Laying wake to a even more dangerous madness...
Gaslight delivers a Gothic thriller that is brilliant, suspenseful!
In this month of Domestic Violence Awareness, Gaslight also helps to shine a gentle light on emotional manipulation and the importance of friends helping friends to free themselves from unhealthy relationships. The teens of LATTE have had their lives influenced and are grateful they are now able to look honestly at the relationships of their friends and help them in the same way that they have seen on the stage.
LATTE will be performing their next show on
November 11 at 7 PM and November 12 at 2 PM & 7 PM
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Di Nico's Fundraiser For FCCLG!
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Who's hungry? Treat yourself to a meal at Di Nico's Pizza, Pasta, and Subs in La Grange on
Sunday, Nov. 13th and 50% of your purchase comes back to FCCLG! They are taking orders from
11am - 7pm. Be sure to show the included flyer when placing your order. Ciao! Click
here for the flyer!
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Harvest Home
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You are invited to UCC's annual Harvest Home dinner on
Weds, November 16 at 6:30 pm. in the dining room. Bring your family and friends, and enjoy a delicious turkey dinner! Tickets are available during fellowship time or in the office: Adults $8.00, Children 4-12 $4.00, under 4 free. There are volunteer opportunities for kitchen workers and servers. Check out the sign-up sheet during Fellowship Hour.
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Amazon Smile
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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 as your charity. Consider making your holiday purchases through Amazon which donates 0.5% of your purchase back to FCCLG.
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What Can We Do About Racism?
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Race Relations is the topic of a nine week study which is being discussed in Debby Irving's book,
Waking Up White and Finding Myself In the Story of Race.
Adult Education meets at 8:30 each Sunday morning in the Drawing Room and goes till November 20th.
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Pastor's Community Office Hours!
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Carly continues holding "office" from 4 to 6 p.m. on the first through third
Thursdays in November at Owl and Lark Juice and Coffee Bar at 41 South La Grange Road in La Grange. This is an intentional effort to be available for church members and friends, as well as a community presence. Drop in and visit!
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Thanksgiving Service - Nov. 20th
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Our Community Thanksgiving Service will be
SUNDAY, November 20th at 7 pm at Grace Lutheran Church.
Location:
200 N Catherine Ave, La Grange
Click here for map!
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Serving at FCCLG
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- Bring in treats of your choice and serve beverages and snacks after worship
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Proclaim the scripture to the congregation during Sunday service
- Deliver the donated altar flowers to home-bound church members after worship
- Arrive at 9:30 am, pass out programs, collect the offering
Greeters
-Arrive at 9:45 am, wear your name tag, smile!
- Pick up the Saturday Meals Program laundry outside the kitchen after worship and return it clean before next Saturday
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Attend the Nursery during worship on Sunday
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Saturday Meals Needs Your Help!
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The Saturd
 ay 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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St. Barbara's Food Pantry Collection
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Thank you to those of you who donate faithfully; even one item makes a difference. This month, donations of canned tuna, canned soup, and laundry detergent are especially appreciated.
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October 15-21, 2017 - Save the date! Adult Mission Trip
Just think...
At this time next year you could be at the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, MS where you would work to improve the home and the morale of a family in need. You would bunk with fellow UCC members in the comfortable Mission house, do rewarding work and make fast friendships.
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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. Call Linda Lauterbach or the church office if you need a code to get into the building.
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Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God. Please lift these friends, family, and members in your prayers.
Charlotte Ansted, who was born very early and is being treated in the NICU.
Emil and Maria Balz who are recovering at home.
Prayers for Erin Markus-Bryant's nephew Emmett, who is suffering from kidney failure.
Prayers for Renee Bryant's friend Melissa, who was just diagnosed with breast cancer.
The family of Cheryl Buchignani, who's father died on
October 9th.
The residents of Edisto Island, where we take our annual work trip, who were hit by Hurricane Matthew.
The family of Carolyn Gifford, who died on October 13.
The family of Carol LaSage, mother of Kathy Mazur, who died this week.
Linda Lauterbach's friend Sophia, her husband, and young son; Sophia has a brain tumor.
Gary Melkonian, who is recovering at home.
Petra Palmer's granddaughter's friend Summer who is having chemotherapy for leukemia.
Thoughts and prayers for the Palmers' neighbor's brother, wife and newborn son, who need to gain strength and weight.
Jennifer Powers as she deals with health issues.
Frank Shannon, Brian Shannon's father, struggling with multiple medical issues at Loyola Medical Center.
Rev. Jennifer Mills-Knutsen, Carly's friend, who is struggling through chemo half a world from home.
Jill Tobin, as she recovers from a car accident.
Thoughts and prayers for Faith Ullrich's brother in law Richard Storm, diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
Victims of hatred and terror; and those seduced in to believing violence is the only option.
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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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