Sunday Readings

Acts 1:6-14

Jesus’ companions at prayer after his departure

Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35

Sing to God, who rides upon the clouds. (Ps. 68:4)

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

God will sustain and restore those who suffer

John 17:1-11

Christ’s prayer for his disciples

In these days between Ascension and Pentecost, we gather with the disciples in the upper room, waiting for the Spirit to transform the church around the world. In today’s gospel Jesus prays for his followers and for their mission in his name. Amid religious, social, and economic divisions, we seek the unity that Jesus had with his Father. Made one in baptism, we go forth to live our faith in the world, eager for the unity that God intends for the whole human family.

Sunday Worship Support

Presiding Minister: Pastor Chris Repp

Assisting Minister: Dennis Archer

Reader: Russ Dankert

Deacon: Kathy Bowersox

Greeters: Bev Kieffer & Jim Fleming

Ushers: Brian & Amy Nicely

Livestreamer: Michael Miller

Sound Technician: Kevin Vail

Music Director: Nicholas Pierle

Organist: Mike Keeley    

Coffee Hour: Kathy & Van Bowersox

Chancel Flowers: Juanita & Ken Loschen, In celebration of our wedding anniversary

For the upcoming Worship Support schedule, see the spreadsheet found here on Google Drive.

Please Note:

• There is no Adult Sunday School this Sunday, May 17th, due to the Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting.

Digital copies of the documents for the Congregational Meeting can be found here for anyone attending on Zoom. Please use your Grace Lutheran access password to view:

• February 2026 Congregational Meeting Minutes
• May 2026 Congregational Meeting Agenda
• 2025-2026 Annual Report for Grace Lutheran Church

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

THIS SUNDAY! May 17th, 2026

Please plan to attend our next semi-annual Congregational Meeting on May 17th, 2026, at 10:45am (following the worship service). We will vote on Officer and at-large Council openings, Nominating Committee, the 2025 Audit Report, and Amendments to the Grace Lutheran Constitution. The meeting will be conducted in-person with a Zoom option to participate.

Copies of the Agenda, Minutes of the last Congregational Meeting, 2025-2026 Annual Reports, and an explanation of Amendments to the Constitution are available in the Narthex.

To help keep the meeting flowing smoothly, please formulate in advance any questions you may have to add to the agenda. If desired, you may submit questions prior to the Congregational Meeting to me at scarbrou@illinois.edu.

Marlys Scarbrough

Congregational President

Please see the end of the News and Events section in this GraceNotes for the full information on the proposed changes to the Grace Lutheran Constitution.

Faith Circle, This Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Faith Circle meets on the third Tuesday evening of each month at 7 pm in the narthex. All are welcome. We begin the evening with refreshments (coffee and snacks provided by the hostess) and fellowship. The lesson leader presents the Bible study, beginning around 7:30 pm.

This month’s Faith Circle is on Tuesday, May 19. It is being hosted by Susan Monte, with Kathy Bowersox serving as this month’s lesson leader.

We collect an offering each month, which will support the ministries of WELCA (Women of the ELCA) as well as selected local and ELCA charities. We use the Bible study materials from Gather Magazine, a WELCA publication. Plan to attend and bring a friend!

Thank You for Your Generosity

The display of paper flowers in the narthex is a beautiful reminder of the special women in our lives, but more important is the impact the purchase of these flowers will make in the lives of people recovering from storms and turmoil. Through your generosity, 101 blankets will be purchased and distributed through Church World Services. 

Thank you,

The Social Ministry Committee

New! Senior Night Dinner at

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

on Sunday, May 31st at 5pm

We would like to cordially invite all of the seniors from all three ELCA churches in Champaign-Urbana to join us at a dinner in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church fellowship hall on May 31st at 5:00pm. We have been having occasional meals here and there when our senior members can skip making dinner and enjoy each other's company.

Please RSVP to Jenelle at jent74.jk@gmail.com by May 25th if you would like to attend!

SEEKING HOPE in troubled times “as the deer longs for water” — that's the timeless theme of Psalm 42, the uplifting text for this concert.

Four composers' diverse interpretations will bring you a range of emotions, as the BACH choir joins with an orchestra of harpsichord, strings, horns, flutes, and oboes.

You'll discover Marianna Martines, an associate of Mozart, whose work is now getting the attention it deserves. Judith Weir, the first woman named Master of the King’s Music, chose Psalm 42 for her piece commissioned for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

You'll hear how Palestrina’s 16th-century version flows sweetly, like a refreshing stream, while Herbert Howells adds the beautiful blue notes of the 20th century. 

As the Deer Longs

Sunday, May 31 - 4:00 pm

First United Methodist Church

210 W Church St, Champaign

Tickets: $20/adults $10/students

Click Here to Purchase Tickets

Grace Lutheran Game Nights in 2026

Gather with friends and enjoy an evening together! Every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, from 6-8:00pm, a group meets for Games in the Narthex. The group gathers to enjoy each other's company and engage in card and board games. Mark your calendars!

The next date for Game Night is Thursday, May 28th. If you are interested, please let Jim Fleming know. Come and join us, and feel free to bring along your favorite game!

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING May 17, 2026

CONSTITUTION INFORMATION:

At its February 2026 meeting, the Congregation Council passed a resolution recommending that the congregation approve amendments that will bring Grace’s constitution into conformity with the Model Constitution for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We adopted our current constitution on March 19, 2018, and at that time it conformed with the ELCA model constitution. Since then, ELCA Churchwide Assemblies in 2019, 2022, and 2025 approved updates to the model constitution. These updates include provisions that ELCA churches must make in their church’s constitutions. By amending our constitution to include these requirements, we can once again bring it into conformity with the model constitution.

You can view the draft amended constitution by clicking here CONSTITUTION. This draft conforms with the ELCA model constitution.

At CONSTITUTION, you can view our current (March 19, 2018) constitution in which yellow highlighter marks the required changes. It is important to note that there are no changes in any provisions except those required by the ELCA.

Alternatively, you can access these documents on the church website by clicking on Resources and choosing Grace Lutheran Constitution.

You can address questions about the changes or the process for effecting the changes to Van Bowersox at soxxos@sbcglobal.net.

Here is the resolution that Council recommends for approval at the congregation meeting on May 17, 2026.

Whereas,

the text of the constitution of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Champaign, IL, adopted March 19, 2018, is not in conformity with the required provisions approved by the Churchwide Assemblies of 2019, 2022, and 2025;

Resolved,

that the congregation approve amendments that will bring our constitution into compliance with the Model Constitution for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America without making any changes in the following provisions that are not required and that uniquely describe our church’s structure and governance:

·       paragraph C5.05 authorizing the mission endowment fund,

·       chapter 1 on Name and Incorporation,

·       chapter 10 on Congregation Meetings,

·       chapter 11 on Officers,

·       chapter 12 on Congregation Council,

·       chapter 13 on Congregation Committees, and

·       chapter 14 on Organizations Within the Congregation.

May 17 to May 24

Sunday,

May 17

9:30am Worship - In Person & Live Stream (Sanctuary)

10:45am Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting (Sanctuary)

12:00pm Women's AA (Hoffmeister Room)

4:00pm ECIYO Rehearsal & Performance (Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, Narthex and Classrooms)

Monday,

May 18

No Events Scheduled

Tuesday,

May 19

6:00pm Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families (Chapel)

6:30pm Sweet Adelines (Fellowship Hall)

7:00pm Faith Circle (Narthex)

Wednesday, May 20

7:00am Food Pantry Truck Delivery (Fellowship Hall)

10:00am Comrades in Art (Narthex)

Thursday, May 21

10:00am Food Pantry (Fellowship Hall)

Friday,

May 22

No Events Scheduled

Saturday, May 23

No Events Scheduled

Sunday,

May 24

World Hunger Sunday

9:30am Worship - In Person & Live Stream (Sanctuary)

11:00am Adult Sunday School (Hoffmeister Room)

12:00pm Women's AA (Hoffmeister Room)

Prayer Requests



We have two formal ways of praying for one another at Grace. One is in the Sunday morning worship service, where we pray for people by name in the Prayers of Intercession. They will also be listed in the emailed and printed versions of GraceNotes, but not in the web version. Please send prayer requests for the Sunday-morning prayers to office@glccu.org. You may also submit prayer requests on our website at https://glccu.org/prayer-requests/.

Using GLC Facilities



Our facilities are available for use by members and by outside groups. If you would like to use any part of the facility, please fill out a Facilities Use Request, found on the web site, and contact Karen in the office to ensure that it is on the calendar, so that the space is ready for you and that you are aware of how to adjust the appropriate thermostat.