November 10, 2024
Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
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Readings and Psalm
1 Kings 17:8-16
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44
Widows are visible everywhere in today’s readings. Jesus denounces those scribes who pray impressive prayers but devour widows’ houses. He commends the poor widow who in his view gave far more than the major donors. Jesus doesn’t see her simply as an object of compassion or charity. She, like the widow of Zarephath who shares her last bit of food with Elijah, does something of great importance.
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Worship Support
Presiding Minister: Pastor Chris Repp
Assisting Minister: Marlys Scarbrough
Reader: Erika Bilger
Deacon: Nancy Marshall
Cantor: Erica Ancell
Ushers: Dave & Carol Larson
Greeters: Dave & Carol Larson
Livestreamer: Dave Brown
Sound: Kevin Vail
Music Director: Nicholas Pierle
Organist: Dana Robinson
Flowers: Grace Schoedel, to the glory of God
For the upcoming Worship Support schedule, see the spreadsheet found here on Google Drive.
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Usher Request for Upcoming Sunday Services
Over the past few months, the group of people who hand out bulletins for the worship service has become a little smaller. Having ushers who do this adds a personal touch for those attending worship. If you would like to participate in this ministry, please contact Dave Larson or visit with him on Sunday morning.
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Stitch & Craft
Please join us for Stitch & Craft tonight, Friday, November 8th at 7 p.m. We will meet in the Narthex at Grace Lutheran Church. Bring whatever project you would like to work on. We hope you will join for this lovely time!
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This Saturday!
November 9, 2024, 9am - noon
Fall Outside Cleanup Day at Grace Lutheran Church
Please come help get the outside of Grace tidied up for the winter. We will be mainly raking leaves, trimming some bushes, cutting down flowers, pulling weeds and various other outside tasks.
We will assemble in the Fellowship Hall where coffee and donuts will be provided. Please bring extra gloves, rakes, pruners and trimmers. Paper Yard waste bags will be provided. All yard bags will need to be moved to the Union Street curb for pick-up on Thursday, November 14th.
ALL help is really appreciated and needed!
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Adult Sunday School
We’ll continue this week with short excerpts on Reformation topics from the Select Learning course on the Reformation. Join us in the Hoffmeister Room at 11:00 a.m.
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It’s Stewardship Time!
Actually, stewardship is a year-round practice that covers not only financial support of our congregation, but also all of the other support our members provide: the time and talent you so generously share in all of the tasks involved in worship support, the behind-the scenes efforts to maintain and improve our property and building, and your presence at our services and other activities. In all of those ways you have stepped up and pitched in. Thank you!
November is the time when we focus on financial support of Grace in advance of writing a budget for the coming year. Pledge cards have been sent out in the mail, and you will be hearing Temple Talks during 3 Sunday services this month. The pledge cards will be collected during the Sunday service on November 24. Please take time to consider this important part of our life together at Grace.
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Do You Want To Build a Snow Man?
Or a Santa Claus, or a Christmas Tree? We can teach you how. Stop by the wood carving group on Mondays from 6:45-8:00 in the Narthex kitchenette. (It’s a warm place where we can make a mess that’s easy to clean up.) We can get you started on one of the ornaments in this picture.
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Thanksgiving Eve Service
November 27, 7:00 pm
at Grace Lutheran Church
Join us for a Special Thanksgiving Service the evening before Thanksgiving. We will be partnering with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and St. Matthew Lutheran Church to celebrate the holiday with music and fellowship.
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Grace Lutheran Church Christmas Gifts for Children in Foster Care
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is looking for help to provide Christmas gifts for children in their foster care program. Sign-ups to sponsor a child will be available through
November 17. The suggested donation is approximately $50 per child, and our initial target is to sponsor around 40 children. Any extra money raised will be donated to LSSI to use as needed in the foster care program. There are two ways that you can help:
1. Sign up to sponsor one or more specific children. You'll receive a copy of their wish list(s) and can go shopping yourself for their gifts. Please return the gifts in a gift bag to church on Sunday, November 24 or December 1.
2. Provide a monetary donation, and we'll do the shopping for you! Simply send a check to the church with LSSI in the memo line or contact Brian or Amy Nicely for Paypal/Venmo options.
Thank you for your generosity and help in making this Christmas special for the LSSI foster care children!
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Brown Bag Bible Study
Let’s meet for lunch and read the Bible together! Pastor Repp is leading an every-other-week Bible Study over lunch from 12:30-1:30, in the narthex. We’ve started with Paul’s letter to the Galatians. There is no preparation necessary, but if you want an introduction and overview of Galatians, have a look at this video:
-November: 14
-December: 12
Bring your own lunch. (There is a microwave in the kitchenette if you need to heat anything up.)
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Online Event: Toward Truth and Healing:
How Churches Face Accountability for their Indian Boarding Schools
Sunday, November 10, 7-8:30pm CT
Friends Peace Teams
Many Christian church denominations operated Indian boarding schools during the 19th and early 20th centuries, in collaboration with the federal government’s policy of forced assimilation. Now they are re-examining the roles they played, the harms that were done to Native American families and nations, and the ongoing impacts in Native communities today. Representatives of Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Quaker faith communities will share how they are conducting research and approaching questions of accountability, apology, reparations, and healing.
Sunday, November 10, 8-9:30pm ET; 7-8:30pm CT; 6-7:30pm MT; 5-6:30pm PT
REGISTER HERE:
https://friendspeaceteams.org/accountability-boarding-schools-2024/
Vance Blackfox and Liz Andress, Co-leads of our ELCA Initiative, will be two of several speakers at this event. We hope you can attend and we encourage you to invite others.
-Liz Andress
(Image is Wounded Yellow Robe, Henry Standing Bear and Chauncy Yellow Robe: Lakota boys before and after they entered school in 1883 and three years later.)
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ELCA Truth & Healing Movement Webinars
See https://elca.org/truthandhealing for more details and to join sessions (no registration required). Attend live sessions or watch recordings later.
Nov. 10 - Webinar: Toward Truth and Healing: How Churches Face Accountability for their
Indian Boarding Schools - hear from representatives of several Christian denominations about what each is doing
Nov. 18-19 - Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium - focus will be on the book "Custer Died for Your Sins", a great follow-on to our Oct. 27 discussion
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Lutheran Summer Music High School Program
Enrollment for LSM 2025 is open now! Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) is a faith-based residential music academy for high school students who come together to immerse themselves in musical excellence and build a supportive and fun community. Musical experiences include large ensembles (band, choir, orchestra), chamber music, private lessons, and electives like handbells, jazz, musical theatre, composition, conducting, church music and more.
Priority enrollment deadline: December 1. Standard enrollment deadline: March 1.
Learn more at LSMacademy.org.
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LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE
for Hurricane Relief
ELCA.org/hurricanes
In late September, Hurricane Helene hit the coast of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, ravaging communities in the southeast, from Florida to Virginia. As the floodwaters have started to recede, the extreme devastation — especially in North Carolina and Tennessee — has become clearer. Entire towns, roads and bridges have been washed away, and millions are without power and cell service.
Whatever unfolds because of this storm, Lutheran Disaster Response will be there. Lutheran Disaster Response has strong relationships in the region and is already at work on the ground. Working alongside synods and other partners, Lutheran Disaster Response is prepared to provide support throughout the impacted region. We anticipate that our greatest impact will be reaching those in underserved and rural areas.
Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response equip us to respond to those affected by hurricanes and related disasters, such as mudslides, severe storms and flooding. These gifts also empower us to respond to disasters whenever and wherever they strike. Gifts to “Hurricane Response” will be used in full (100%) to assist those affected by hurricanes, until the response is complete.
Give through your congregation or make your check out to
Lutheran Disaster Response and send to:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
ELCA Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009
and write “Where needed most” or “Hurricane Response” on your check’s memo line.
The following QR code will also connect you to the information and donation page:
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Reminder - Meal Train for St. Andrew's Campus Ministry
“No matter how you support St. Andrew's, I am grateful for your support as we care for students and young adults at the University of Illinois!”
-Grace + Peace, Pastor Jon Fry
You can view the Meal Train page at: https://mealtrain.com/4wmkg5 or by clicking here.
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November 10 to November 17 | | |
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Grace Food Pantry Sunday
9:30 a.m.: Worship Service (in-person/livestream)
11 a.m.: Adult Sunday School (Hoffmeister Room)
12 p.m.: Women's AA (Hoffmeister Room)
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10 a.m.: Food for Seniors (Fellowship Hall)
6:30 p.m.: Finance Committee Meeting (Hoffmeister Room)
6:30 p.m.: Wood Carving Group (Kitchenette)
7 p.m.: Bell Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
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6 a.m.: Food for Seniors (Fellowship Hall)
6 p.m.: Adult Children of Alcoholics (Chapel)
6:30 p.m.: Sweet Adelines (Fellowship Hall)
7 p.m.: Council Meeting (Hoffmeister Room)
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7 p.m.: Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room) | |
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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/.
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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.
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Pastor's Discretionary Fund
The Pastor's Discretionary Fund allows the church to offer financial assistance to people in our community. The office receives requests for help with rent, utilities, and other needs, and your donations make this important work possible!
To donate to this fund, you can give online at https://glccu.org/donate/ or by mailing a check to the church office with "Pastor's Discretionary Fund" in the memo line.
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