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Feedback, corrections, or additions?
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Back Alley Burger Fundraiser!
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Eat and Earn for FCCLG TODAY!!!
Back Alley Burger and First Congregational Chu
rch of La Grange are excited to announce an Eat and Earn fundraiser Today, Sept 29th from 11am - 9pm. Eve
ry diner who mentions FCCLG when ordering will have a percentage of their check d
onated back to the church. Last summer we raised over $300; let's see if this year we can reach our goal of $400! So tell your neighbors and friends to take a night off from cooking and plan to dine out at Back Alley Burger on Thursday, Sept. 29th. And don't forget to treat yourself to one of their shakes! Please mention FCCLG when you order! Back Alley Burger is located at 1 South La Grange Rd.
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September 29, 2016
To the Saints - technophiles and technophobes alike - of La Grange and beyond, from Carly, called to lead, minister, comfort, and stretch souls amongst you.
Once upon a time, stained glass windows served as a way to tell the Bible stories. Liturgical colors in paraments and worship décor led people through the church seasons. Incense and bells gave people a visual means to follow the pattern of the worship service. This was all at a time when most people could not read.
Then came the printing press, and printed Bibles. And the organ moved from the taverns to the sanctuary. You can be sure that people grumbled about these changes. But they soon came to love the singing and books of hymns and responses appeared in the sanctuary. With increased literacy, the way church worked was changed. We took on the task of teaching children to read on Sundays when they were not working in factories. And Sunday School was born.
Then came machines that could amplify voices, and record them too. Churches installed sound systems and all the people could hear what the preachers were saying.
Technology is here to stay. For some that is a painful reality; for others, just a part of life. Without technology our beloved church would be a dinosaur and could not relate to new generations. We have come a long way and made good use of technology in our day to day work of the church.
- We have Guest Wifi available in the building. Anyone with the password (Accepting_All) can log on to the internet with their smart phone, tablet, or computer.
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We video record the worship services in the sanctuary. What began as a security camera has been repurposed to allow our friends who cannot be in worship to experience the community.
- Our worship services are live cast to Plymouth Place's television service so all our neighbors have access to our services in the sanctuary.
- The Services are uploaded to the web and are available to stream through our portal on the internet. This allows not only our friends and neighbors at Plymouth Place to participate in our weekly worship, it allows anyone who chooses to do the same. Can't make it to worship? Check out what you missed! Then thank Erik Sander and John Hoo for their hard work keeping this ministry going. They'd gladly train you how to do it too!
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Electronic giving accounts for nearly a third of the church's offerings. These are available through
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- EFT - Electronic Fund Transfers from your bank to ours.
- QR Code in the bulletin that can be scanned by a smart phone and allow the giver to donate directly to the offering.
- And soon, text message giving from a cell phone will be available. This will work similarly to the EFTS and QR code by texting a code to our account.
These methods of giving have cut down on the cost of counting, recording, depositing, and accounting for offerings. And, because people do not have to be present to give in these ways, our summer slump in giving did not happen this year!
- Electronic Tidings - the church's newsletter retains the name it was given over a century ago, but the original publishers would hardly recognize today's digital version. We have an interactive medium where you can choose easily to access the information you desire. This not only saves us paper and postage, it allows us to give people access to much more information through links to articles and documents on in our electronic archives.
- Electronic signups for events and volunteers cut down on the demands of staff to coordinate and record who is participating and how. It also makes the work of our Volunteer Coordinator, JoAnne Konkle, easier by keeping a record of people's gifts, abilities, and interests.
- Web based membership records give each member access to their member record so that they can register new family members and changes of address, access their giving record, or look up their baptism, confirmation, or wedding dates. This helps to keep our records up to date as well.
- Of course, our webpage, and social media presence are key places of information and a portal to all of these electronic resources. These are the work of our Communications Team: Olivia Hein, Erin Bryant, and Nancy Sander.
Without technology, we could not do the ministry we do. But the presence and use of technology has not changed who we are as a congregation; it has kept us in touch with and relevant to the world around us. Just as the introduction of printed Bibles and organ music changed the face of the church, so is technology a tool and a gift that we use to do God's work of changing the world.
There is only one constant in ministry in today's world: CHANGE. We can be sure that these technologies will be replaced by something else the same way that chanting was replaced by congregational hymn singing so many years ago. It's only a question of what will God give us as a tool to reach out to the people of La Grange.
Blessings, Carly
P.S. If you'd like to help steer the future of technology in our congregation, be in touch with Chris Hein who heads up our Technology Task Force!
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This event will NOT be held this Saturday. If you had hoped to come but did not sign up, be assured that it will be offered through Messy Church next summer.
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CALLED TO SACRED JUSTICE
Chicago Metropolitan and Fox Valley Associations-Joint Fall Meeting and Youth Event. Free youth event
on
October 15,2016. Click
here for more information.
Zackley's and Yzals Go To The Keller's Farmstand's Corn Maze!
When: October 23rd meeting at the church at 1:15pm to leave by 1:30pm to drive there
Where: Keller's Farmstand
2500 Johnson Rd.
Oswego, IL 60543
(630) 219-8194
http://www.kellersfarmstand.com/locations/oswego-farmstand/
Families are welcome! We will need drivers to get us there so if you can drive please let Sylvia, Brian Kasnick or Jenni Geist know so we can make sure we have enough seats for everyone! Church will pay for entrance but please bring money for any food or souvenirs. Pumpkin and apple picking are offered as well as homemade cider donuts, kettle corn, and fudge which are all sold in the concession stand. All those who are not attending with their parent must bring a permission slip.
SUNDAY SCHOOL / YOUTH REGISTRATION
Sunday School has resumed! We need 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)
Zackleys: (High School) (Welcome to join Messy Church!)
6:30
Second Sunday:
Yzals 6:30pm (6-8th grade)
Third Sunday:
Zackleys 6:30pm
Fourth Sunday:
Yzals and Zackleys service/outing
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Pew Cushion Repairs
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Are you tired of hard pews and numb bottoms? In previous weeks we began repairs on our pew cushions. We're looking for volunteers to
join us on Saturday, October 1st from 9am-12 noon in the Founders Room to lend a hand!
Please sign up
online
through Access or call either Debbie Llewellyn (708-602-0070)
or Jan Ceranek (708-784-3482) with any questions.
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Neighbors In Need Offering!
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This Sunday, October 2nd is the Neighbors in Need annual offering. The 2016 theme is "This we believe", connecting the issue of child hunger to the work that our congregations are doing to serve the community and abolish this injustice. Please give to support the Neighbors in Need offering and help to abolish child hunger throughout the United States.
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Children and Youth Music Opportunities
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Choral Sermon Choir Invitation
Come sing with the Chancel Choir for the December Choral Sermon. This year's piece is Carols and Lullabies by Conrad Susa. It is ten Spanish language carols arranged for choir with the interesting accompaniment of guitar, harp, marimba, and vibraphone. If singing in Spanish is daunting, that's ok - we'll learn it together! Rehearsals are 7:30-8:30pm beginning
October 6. The orchestra rehearsal is December 10 from 1-3:30pm and will be performed during the 12/11 service. Contact Ryan Cox to let him know you'd like to sing, and to get the choir door code.
Tiny Toe
s 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.
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A Special Thanks!
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Dear friends @ FCCLG,
First of all, we'd like to thank all of you for your prayers and concern during our extended stay at hospitals and Nursing Facilities for Rehab. Your thoughtfulness and compassion are very much appreciated and helped us through some difficult times. We're grateful to the Lord for allowing us to experience it all together yet despite our advanced ages. We were both discharged from the Nursing Home June 30th and have had someone from an Agency taking care of us here at home 7 days a week. Unfortunately, I needed more surgery and had to spend another week in the hospital in the meantime, while Emil stayed home. The hospital discharged me last Friday and after a few rough days in our apartment , things are finally looking up. Before we let you go, we'd also like to thank the congregation for the altar flowers, which always remind us that you're thinking of us and brighten our day. Thank you for everything and may the Lord bless you and keep you.
Emil & Maria Balz
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Messy Church
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Messy Church will be
this Sunday, October 2nd at 4:30. Our theme this month will be Love Your Neighbor!
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
6:00-7:00: Yzal/Zackleys
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Status Of FCCLG Building Projects!
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Air conditioning:
- It was decided that trying to cut in the openings for the sanctuary diffusers would introduce unacceptable risks which might affect the appearance of the sanctuary for the Ries wedding on October 8. It was decided to do the remaining work after the wedding. At this point and with the experience with this contractor I cannot give an exact date for the completion of the AC project.
Painting of the Founder's room ceiling:
- John Moellman has received quotes from painting contractors and will be arranging for the work to be done hopefully in October.
Founder's Room carpet replacement:
- The carpet has been ordered and the carpet will be replaced after the Founder's Room painting has been executed. The carpet will be installed before the wedding on December 2 which will be using the room for a reception.
Founder's Room Kitchen:
- The long lead items for the kitchen update will be ordered. The objective will be to get as much of the update done to make the kitchen usable for the December wedding reception.
- Two contractors were identified through Dan Rusic. Nancy Sander has conducted walk throughs with these contractors and we are now awaiting quotes.
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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.
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Carly's Community Office Hours!
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The Return of Community Office Hours. Carly will be holding "office" from 4 to 6 p.m. on the first through fourth Thursdays 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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Let's explore what it means to belong, to sense that you're at home in the community of faith. Three gatherings are planned for those who have been worshiping and participating in the ministries of the congregation and who would like to explore a deeper relationship.
- Sunday, October 9th in the Dining Room following our Sunday morning worship. We will explore the work and ministries of the congregation and tour the church building.
- Sunday, October 23, at 4:30 p.m. the journey will continue over dessert in small groups over dessert the church manse where we'll explore the vision and values of the church.
- Saturday, November 5 at 4:30 p.m., we'll explore faith journeys over wine and cheese at the manse.
- During morning worship on November 13th, participants will have an opportunity to formalize their relationship with FCCLG.
This is an exploration only with no obligation or strings attached. There is no cost to participate, but registration is appreciated. Sign up in the Fellowship Hour following worship, or
online.
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Pop Quiz: Do you have what it takes to be the first ever FCCLG Trivia Champions?
Join us in the Founder's Room on Friday, October 14th to see who will take home bragging rights. Doors open at 7:00pm. Each table will consist of a team of 10 players and if you don't have a team, that is no problem! We will find a team for you to join!
$20 per person at the door. BYOB and BYOS(nacks). There will be different raffles held throughout the night, so be sure to arrive early to get your tickets situated before the games begin!
For questions and to reserve your team's table, please contact Mike Ries at 708-308-0426.
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Unleashing the Ministry Chicago Metropolitan Association and Fox Valley Association will gather on
October 15 at St. Paul's UCC of Palatine for our Fall Meeting. The theme will be Unleashing the Ministry. Watch for more information in the Tidings and the Bulletin.
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Mission Trip Opportunity:
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Oct 31 @ 8:00 am - Nov 5 @ 5:00 pm Church World Service Disaster Center & Heifer Ranch. Get more information and register
here.
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Save the Date - November 6th!
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Our Community Thanksgiving Service will be
SUNDAY, November 6 at 7 pm at Grace Lutheran Church.
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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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Check your calendar and think about those special dates this year you could celebrate with altar flowers! To reserve a Sunday, sign up at Fellowship Hour or contact the office. Dates are first-come, first-serve, so reserve early!
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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. Amazon then donates 0.5% of your purchase back to FCCLG.
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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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Hooks and Needles meets in the Family Room off the Chapel on all but the first Monday of the month.
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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St. Barbara's Food Pantry Collection
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St. Barbara's
is especially in ne
ed of
peanut butter and jelly. Thank you for all your support!
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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.
Bonnie Geist, Jenny Geist's mother, as she recovers from two back surgeries.
Bert Happel, Jim Happel's brother.
Linda Lauterbach's friend Sophia, her husband, and 22 month old son; Sophia has a brain tumor.
Bobbie Nunez's new granddaughter Sienna, who continues to be cared for in the NICU and is doing very well.
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.
The family of Allison Taylor, Robert and Rose Taylor's daughter, who died on August 20.
Char Tobin, for God's healing touch and comfort.
Victims of hatred and terror; and those who are seduced in to believing violence is the only option.
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