October 26, 2025
Reformation Sunday
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Readings and Psalm
Jeremiah 31:31-34
I will write my law in their hearts, says the Lord
Psalm 46
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46:7)
Romans 3:19-28
Justified by God’s grace as a gift
John 8:31-36
Jesus says, Continue in my word and you will know the truth
Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission.
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Worship Support
Presiding Minister: Pastor Chris Repp
Assisting Minister: Eileen Herrstrom
Cantor: Erica Ancell
Reader: Maddi Thackeray
Deacons: Van & Kathy Bowersox
Greeters: Joe Meyer & Erika Bilger & Family
Ushers: Jim & Kathy Eckstein
Livestreamer: Michael Miller
Sound Technician: Kevin Vail
Music Director: Nicholas Pierle
Organist: Mike Keeley
Coffee Hour: Van & Kathy Bowersox
Chancel Flowers: Grace Schoedel, Glory of God
For the upcoming Worship Support schedule, see the spreadsheet found here on Google Drive.
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Sunday Coffee Hour Hosting
Please check the coffee hour sign up sheet in the Narthex! We are in need of volunteers to host the after service coffee hour on Sundays in November and December. Thanks!
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Early Advent Project
Social Ministry and the Grace Lutheran Food Pantry would like to give our 300+ monthly Pantry patrons a little holiday gift. Personal care items are often requested.
In the month of November, we will collect care items to distribute during Advent in December.
Items to be collected:
Nov 9 - Tooth brushes
Nov16- Toothpaste( 4+oz)
Nov 23- Deodorant
Nov 30- Bath size soap
The "grocery cart" will be in the narthex for your donations.
Thank you for your generous giving!
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Grace Book Club
This Thursday, October 28!
Remarkably Bright Creatures (2025)
by Shelby Van Pelt
The next Grace Book Club selection is a delightful story about an octopus named Marcellus, who lives in captivity at an aquarium, and Tova the custodian. If you are like us, you will be ‘captivated’ by the endearing friendship the two develop. Although the book is fiction, it explores the thought-provoking themes of grief, connection and the unexpected beauty of life. We found it to be a witty and charming book that is hard to put down.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is available at book stores and at the public libraries. Note: there are numerous copies at the Champaign Public Library in their Book Club section.
We will discuss the book on Tuesday evening, October 28, at 6 PM in the narthex of Grace Lutheran Church. Please bring your own sack supper. Beverages and a light dessert will be provided.
We hope you will join us for what we think will be a ‘remarkable’ discussion!
Janet Lepp and Eileen Herrstrom
| | With Reformation Sunday coming up soon, Adult Sunday School returns to the Reformation Roots study that we began last year. This study gives us an overview of Reformation history and shows how it is still relevant to the life of the church today. This week’s session is entitled "From bondage to Freedom: Luther Rediscovers Grace.” Join us in the Hoffmeister Room at 11:00. | | |
Brown Bag Bible Study
Because of various scheduling problems, our bi-weekly Thursday lunchtime Bible Study will end up being a monthly meeting this fall, with a delayed start on October 30. All meetings will be from 12:30-1:30 in the Narthex. We’ll continue our reading in Romans that we started last spring. There’s no preparation necessary. The fall schedule looks like this:
October 30
November 13
December 11
Please bring your own lunch. (There’s a microwave in the kitchenette if you need to heat anything up.)
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On The Way
On The Way has resumed this fall on Thursday evenings. It began on
October 16, and will meet through mid-November.
On The Way is a faith-formation opportunity at Grace that connects new and prospective members with established members of our faith community. If you’re reading this, you’re a candidate for participating in On The Way!
Each 90-minute session begins with conversation on a topic of faith, continues with group reflection on a biblical text, and closes with communal prayer.
We’ll meet for On The Way in the chapel, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. On the second and fourth Thursdays that timing overlaps with Game Night, but this is only temporary.
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Chancel Flower Sign-up for 2026
Starting THIS Sunday!
You are invited to help beautify the sanctuary with flowers for Sunday services in 2026. Remember a special date in your life or a special person with a personal dedication. You may dedicate flowers for more than one Sunday.
The cost of flowers for one Sunday is $50 and the florist supplying and delivering your arrangement to church is Fleurish on Walnut Street in downtown Champaign. After the service on the Sunday you dedicate flowers, you may take the floral arrangement home.
The sign-up will be in the narthex on the Sundays of October 26, November 2 and November 9 following the church service. Listed below are the dates which are available for you to sponsor flowers. We do not use flowers during Lent and not during a few additional Sundays during the year. If you are unable to sign up at church, you may call Gloria Rainer and leave a message about the date you would like to sponsor flowers. Gloria will return your call and verify. If you reserve a date for flowers via a telephone call to Gloria, please send your check to her or place your check in the “Flower mailbox” labeled with Shirley Traugott’s and Gloria’s names.
At the time you sign-up, please pay for the flowers using cash or a check. Make checks payable to Grace Lutheran Church, Memo – Chancel Flowers. Thank you very much for your support and participation.
If you have any questions, please contact Gloria Rainer. Please contact the Grace Lutheran office at (217) 356-6232 or office@glccu.org if you need Gloria's contact information.
The 2026 Dates Available are as follows:
January: 11, 18, 25
February: 1, 8, 15
March: none (no flowers are used during Lent or for Palm Sunday)
March: 29 (Palm Sunday, Palms)
April: 5 & 12 (Easter, Easter Flowers are used for both dates)
April: 19 & 26
May: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
June: 7, 14, 21, 28
July: 5, 12, 19, 26
August: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
September: 6, 13, 20, 27
October: 4, 11, 18, 25
November: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
December: 6, 13, 20
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Please Join Us in Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Grace Food Pantry!
The party is planned!
The chili cooks are getting ready!
All we need is YOUR participation!
On Sunday, November 2nd at 11:00am in the Fellowship Hall, participants will begin tasting the chili entries. Participants will vote with their cash or check donations for their favorite chili. The tasting will be followed by a soup luncheon.
Bring your family and friends to the celebration and help support the Grace Food Pantry!
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Fall 2025 Outdoor Cleanup Day
Saturday, November 15th,
8 am to 12 Noon
Please come help get the outside of Grace tidied up for the winter. We will be raking leaves, stacking fallen branches, trimming some bushes, removing weeds, covering a/c units, and various other outside tasks. Family-friendly opportunity!
Arrive anytime during the first half of morning hours and help us finish by noon! On-site guidance will be available if you have any questions. Coffee and donuts will be available! Please bring your 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 by the City.
If you would like to get an early start, please contact Jim Anderson. He will be working on some of the projects before the clean-up date.
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In October, we acknowledge breast cancer and the more than 2 million women worldwide diagnosed yearly with breast cancer. Learn more about controllable risk factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, and alcohol consumption, along with how to support the breast cancer community here:
URL:https://www.breastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-awareness-month
Mammogram screening guidelines can be confusing. Use the link below to learn about the latest recommendations for when and how often you should get a mammogram.
URL:https://www.breastcancer.org/screening-testing/mammograms/recommendations
Community Wellness & Faith Community Health Services at Carle connects you and your faith community to needed healthcare and wellness support, taking a whole-person approach to health. To learn more about bringing healthcare and wellness resources to your faith community, call (217) 902-3160or email: FaithCommunityHealth@carle.com.
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Grace Lutheran Game Night
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, November 13th. If you are interested, please let Jim Fleming know. Come and join us, and feel free to bring along your favorite game!
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Reformation Sunday
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)
1:30pm ELCA Advent Concert Prep Rehearsal (Sanctuary & Choir Room)
5:00pm Hops 'n Hymns (Riggs in Urbana)
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10:00am Food for Seniors (Fellowship Hall)
7:00pm Bell Choir Rehearsal (Choir Loft)
| | | | 7:00pm Choir Rehearsal (Choir Loft) | | | | |
9:30am Worship - In Person & Live Stream (Sanctuary)
10:45am Property Committee Meeting (Chapel)
11:00am Adult Sunday School (Hoffmeister Room)
11:00am - 1:00pm Food Pantry Celebration - Chili Cookoff (Fellowship Hall)
12:00pm Women's AA (Hoffmeister Room)
1:30pm ELCA Advent Concert Prep Rehearsal (Sanctuary & Choir Room)
3:00pm Dada Bhagwan Vignan Institute (Fellowship Hall)
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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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