December 27, 2018
Greetings!
To the saints in La Grange and elsewhere: Grace to you and peace from Carly, called to be a servant of Christ among you.
              I tend to think of the end of the year like the end of a life. As we approach the eve of 2018, I'm reflecting upon final things.
              I heard a story about an elderly man who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness so he decided to have his funeral while he was still alive so he could to enjoy it! He invited family and friends to join him for a sort of farewell reunion. As they say, “A good time was had by all.”
              Over the years, after memorial services and funerals, people have jokingly (I think) told me what they want me to say at their service or what they don’t want me to say. Some asked with humor, another more seriously.
              It got me wondering about a variety of things in my life. First, who would do my funeral and what would they say? Second, do I have all my arrangements in order so that my survivors will not be left with a mess? (Like the messes in my office or woodshop.) Perhaps more importantly, are my financial dealings and all those legal type things in order and does anyone know where to find the information?
              When my parents died, we found the information easily. We had worked with them to do the hard work of preparing for what is inevitable. And this preparation was a blessing beyond compare when we were all "emotional hot-messes."
              Over the years I have officiated many, many funerals; from very young infants, to a couple of folks who were just shy of 110, and everything in between. Every time I do a funeral I consider these things.
              How about you? Will folks remember you for your faith in God and the people you helped in Christ’s name? Will you be remembered because you showed others how to embrace God’s love, or will they remember you for your great collection of crystal figurines?
              Let me stress again that even though it may be difficult to do, it is critically important and a gracious gift to your survivors to have funeral plans, legal papers, medical decisions, and financial dealings clearly spelled out and easily found.
              If you need help beginning that process, we have an excellent document available in the office or in PDF format here . It is titled: Funeral Planning and Last Things. It is not a legal document but it can be a real blessing to anyone who must deal with the death of a friend or loved one.
 
May God’s blessings fill your life, and may God’s peace and joy fill your heart and mind.
Carly
This Week:
Pastor Carly will be on vacation January 3rd through January 18th. Please contact the office if you have a pastoral emergency.

Friday 12/28: OA at 9 am, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 12/29: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am
Sunday 12/30: Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, OA at 7 pm
Monday 12/31: AA at 7:30 pm
Wednesday 1/2: Be Still and Know 12 Step Meeting at 4 pm, Carillon Handbell Choir at 7:30 pm
Thursday 1/3: 7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Friday 1/4: OA at 9 am, Alanon at 7 pm
Saturday 1/5: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am
Sunday 1/6: Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour and Town Hall Meeting at 11:15 am, Messy Church at 4:30 pm, OA at 7 pm
Notice of Annual Meeting, Town Halls, Budget, and Annual Report
Our Annual Meeting will be held January 20 th following worship. The full Annual Report and Budget will be available for download after January 6 th . Watch the Sunday bulletins, your email, and your mailbox for more information. The Town Hall meetings to present and discuss the 2019 Budget will be January 6 th and January 13 th in the Founders’ Room following worship. Please review the budget and accompanying introduction, and bring your questions, concerns, suggestions, and ideas to the town hall meetings. The last day to make 2018 pledges and contributions is December 30 th . All requests for reimbursements for Ministry expenses are due December 30 th .
Taking Down the Greenery
Time to put the decorations away for next Christmas! Please join us after church on Sunday January 6th. Contact Janet Bednar for more information.
Food Pantry
For January, we would especially appreciate donations of oatmeal, pasta, and crackers. Donations of any nonperishable food items will be gratefully accepted.
Green Team News
Annual Recycling Check-Up
Recycling can be confusing - it can even be a little tricky for the experts to keep up. Visit the Illinois EPA website for their interactive Online Curbside Recycling Guide for lists of items that can and can’t go in your curbside bin. Scarce.org has a crash course in what holiday items you can and can't recycle.

Microfibers Part 2
A couple of Tidings ago, we learned that synthetic fabrics like nylon, acrylic, and polyester (the fleece and yoga pants we love) shed millions of microfibers when they are washed. The microfibers travel through our waterways, polluting shorelines and being consumed by fish and other wildlife. What can an individual do? Here are a few suggestions:
  1. Buy clothes made from natural fibers.
  2. Use liquid laundry soap instead of powder. Laundry powder scrubs and loosens more microfibers.
  3. Use the coldest wash setting you can. Higher temperatures release more fibers.
  4. Wash synthetic clothes less frequently and for a shorter duration.
  5. Buy a Guppy Friend wash bag, which traps the fibers.
These suggestions and more can be found at the Plastic Pollution Coalition's website .

Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls believes everyone around the world deserves a good pair of shoes. Drop off your gently used shoes, rubber banded together, in the box provided at the Sixth Avenue entrance. Your donation will be shipped to needy souls in developing countries.

Holiday Lights Recycling
Recycle any unwanted Holiday Lights until January 13 at these locations:
La Grange Village Hall, Police Dep’t., Public Library, Stone Ave & La Grange Road stations, La Grange Park Village Hall.

Wine Corks Recycling
Deposit your natural wine corks in the red box provided in the Styrofoam collection closet at the bottom of the stairs by the Sixth Ave/Parking Lot entrance. This natural cork is repurposed to make surfboards, footwear and insoles and helps provide a living to the workers.
Call to Care Ministry
Come and learn with others how to support families, friends, and loved ones with effective Pastoral Care training. Learn the techniques of Active Listening, the Spirit of Presence in silence, and comforting adults and children with words of prayers and encouragement. Join us for Session 2 on January 6th at 11:30 a.m. in the Drawing Room. Led by Marietta Hebert-Davis.
Messy Church
The next Messy Church is January 6th from 4:30-6pm in the Dining Room. If you can assist or have questions, please contact Amanda Ries .
Community Diversity Movie and Discussion
The Ministry of Missions invites you to the “Expanding Our Circle” movie and discussion series organized by The CommUNITY Diversity Group of La Grange. Join us to view The Long Shadow and learn more about the history of race relations in the US. The movie will be shown on January 11 th at 7 pm at the Lyons Township Performing Arts Center (4900 Willow Springs Rd, Western Springs, park in South Lot). Click here for more information about the movie, or here for more information about this and other movies in the series.
Hooks and Needles
Hooks & Needles will meet next on January 14 th at 7 pm in the Family Room off the Chapel. Call Claudia Byrne at 708-205-1409 or email her if you have questions.
JR High Youth Group
The Junior High Youth Group meets on the second Sunday of the month from 6:30 -8 pm in rooms 104/105. All 7th and 8th graders are invited for an evening of games, snacks, and more! Friends are welcome, too! Contact Nick Redmond if you have any questions. The next meeting is January 14 th .
Evening Book Club
We will meet January 31 st at 7:30 in the Chapel conference room. Our original book choice, Educated , has been put on hold as there are hundreds of people on the wait list. Instead, we will read The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens, an award-winning mystery-thriller and book club favorite that will keep you mesmerized to the end.
SMP Christmas Party
Saturday December 22 was the Saturday Meals Program Christmas event. Once again, Jim Peterik graced us with a concert, there were gift bags, McDonalds gift cards, hats, gloves, and a wonderful meal. Thank you to everyone who helped to make this happen, it was really appreciated.
C an’t Get To Sunday Services?  
You can watch them live on Sunday at 10 a.m. on the web.  Click here   to see Sunday worship streamed live and to view past worship services as well.  Or follow these instructions on how to watch through your Roku Device. Contact the church office to have the worship bulletin emailed to you on Fridays. This ministry is brought to you by the estate of Ginny Palansky, and maintained by your gifts, offerings, and pledges.
Attracting Friends Retaining Members Nurturing Spirits 
Developing Partners
Give to FCCLG when you shop on Amazon! Click the logo for our Amazon Smile page.
  Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God. Please lift these friends, family, and members in your prayers.
Emil Balz.
Jameson Hogan.
Tom Pitman, doing rehab in Oak Park.
The family and friends of Jeff Berman, Carol Berman’s son.
Prayers for Jim and Vi Clayton.
Audrey Johnson, a friend of Saturday Meals Program.
Renee Meier, who is dealing with cancer.
The Maley family who mourn the sudden loss of mother and grandmother Pat Maley.
Prayers for Margaret Melkonian.
Janet Roman.
Fred and Vera Weiss.
Brian White, who awaits healing.
Our sister congregations in Downers Grove and Waukegan.
The people of Indonesia.
Those impacted by wildfires here and abroad.
Those killed, the injured, and their families in acts of violence.
Those at the border.
Those living in fear and without hope, and those who use fear to control others.

If you would like to send your thoughts and prayers to someone listed above, please use one of the Touch Cards in your pew. Place the completed card in the offering plate and the office will address and mail it. Thank you for reaching out to others. We encourage you to let us know if you or someone you know is hospitalized or receiving medical treatment. Due to HIPAA privacy laws, we are not notified by hospitals or doctors. If you know someone who would like a visit from the church, please advise the minister or the office.