Easter Sunday
April 21, 2019
Services at 9:00 am and 10:30 am



Scripture: John 20: 11-18
 

Music: 
 Combined Choir and Orchestra

 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This Week at FCCGE
(Click the blue links to be taken to the article!)



4/18 - NO Celebration Choir Rehearsal 
4/18 - 6:15 pm All-Church Dinner
4/18 - 7 pm Maundy Thursday Worship
4/19 - 12 Noon Good Friday Worship
4/21 - 9 and 10:30 am Easter Sunday (Last in Re-Lenting Sermon Series )
4/21 - NO Choir Rehearsals, Youth Fellowship or Group Gatherings
4/22 - Easter Monday (Office Closed)
4/23 -  8 am Bible Study
4/23 - 9 am Parent/Child Playdate
4/23 - 7 Plenary and Committees 
4/23 - 7:15 pm Last Bells Rehearsal


This Week
Annual Fund 2019 Update

As of the end of February 2019, we are eight months into our Church year.  The update on our expenses and collections, as compared to our annual budget for this time period is reflected in the Progress on Annual Giving graph.  Of our $1,057,000 in pledges, $751,709 has been collected, which represents 71% of our pledge amount. Our spending to date has totaled $759,516, which represents 65% of our annual budget.  We look forward to updating the Congregation each month on our financial stewardship.
All Our Journeys Annual Fund: Fiscal Year 2019-20
Thank you to those who have submitted their promised annual gifts!  If you have not yet pledged for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year (which begins July 1, 2019), please consider doing so to help us reach our goal.  If you need a pledge form, please find forms and envelopes on the table in back of the Sanctuary, or in the church office.
Called Forward Capital Campaign Update
We are making strong progress with our Called Forward Capital Campaign contributions and projects.  As noted in the attached graph below, contributions since the campaign began have totaled $1,079,672 through February 2019.  Thanks to all those who have met your pledges for the first fiscal year.  If you have not yet met your pledge, please join in when you can.  We have completed a number of key infrastructure projects, including parking lot paving, new exterior lighting, HVAC equipment, stained-glass window restoration, the chapel roof, our life safety (fire alarm) panel, exterior door replacements and the current replacement of the west gutters.  Bids are being gathered for the summer 2019 Pilgrim Hall renovation, as well as chimney and additional HVAC work.  Click here for graphs. 
Enrich Your Lenten Experience
Build Community
Spring Work Day
A Big Thank-You!


A big THANK YOU to the crew of 19 members who joined our Spring Work Day on Palm Sunday and to the Education staff that helped us prepare!

Celebratingwomen

Climate
Bible
Celebrating Women, Transforming Lives 
April 26th

Join us at our annual Spring Luncheon on Friday, April 26, 2019 as we celebrate women's commitment to the DuPage county community. Their incredible gifts of time, talents and treasure will be recognized, as well as their efforts to make our communities a better place for homeless families. Celebrating Women, Transforming Lives honors women with ties to DuPage County, and thanks them for their courage and philanthropy. Get tickets here.


Climate Church, Climate World
Book Discussion and Lunch
 April 28th

"Jesus didn't come with an evacuation plan.  He came with a building plan...
building the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth..." 
- Brian McLaren

Please join us for our second book discussion about Jim Antal's book "Climate Church, Climate World" on Sunday April 28th at 11:45 am in the All-Purpose Room. A light lunch will be served.
Bible Study
April 23, 8 am 

The Tuesday morning Bible Study group will begin a new book by Karen Armstrong entitled, The Bible - A Biography.  If you ever wondered how the Bible came to be written, compiled and interpreted through the ages, this is the book and discussion group for you.  Our small group, open to all people of our faith community, will meet at 8:00 am in the Main Lobby on the following dates to discuss this important piece of writing:  April 23.
Music 
AngelsCalling All Angels!
FCCGE - Angel Choir Rehearsal Video Spring 2019 -
FCCGE - Angel Choir Rehearsal Video Spring 2019 - "I Thank You, Jesus!"

Angel Choir Performs May 5th and We Need YOU!!

Join us this Spring to sing in "big church" on May 5th at the 9 and 10:30 am services. Only 2 short rehearsals leading up to the event and lots of fun to be had. We rehearse:

    • Sunday April 28th from 4-4:30 pm
    • Thursday May 2nd for 4-4:30 pm
    • Performance is Sunday May 5th at the beginning of the 9 and 10:30 Worship Services
Bring friends and family to sing with us! Ages 3- 2nd grade 
Questions? Email Sherry Flugel.

 

Menschorus
Girls

  Village 
Sing with the Men's Chorus for Mother's Day!  

All are welcome.  Only 2 rehearsals - Sun, Apr 28 and Sun, May 5 @ 7pm.  Perform in worship on Sun, May 12.  Contact Michele Hecht
Women's Chorus will sing on Father's Day - watch for info in late May.
Girls Next Door Ac apella  Group to Sing at FCCGE
May 15th, 7:30 pm

The Girls Next Door Acapella group will be singing in our sanctuary for a special performance on Wednesday, May 15th at 7:30 pm. Please join us for this fun and upbeat group of talented young women, featuring our own Charlotte Graham. The concert is free and open to the public and a free will offering will be taken. Listen!
Village Vocal Chords Coming to FCC!
May 8th, After All-Church Dinner

The Village Vocal Chords, an all-women's award-winning barbershop chorus will sing at FCC on May 8th at 7 pm. Come for this super fun, free concert and bring friends. A free will offering will be taken to benefit the FCCGE music ministry. See you there!  Click here to listen!
Help Others
Annual Rebuilding Together
April 27th


The 22nd Annual Rebuilding Together is on Saturday, April 27. This is an event to repair, paint and clean up a selected house that is in need of a little help. This year we are going to Chicago Heights to assist Maxine Neal. If you would like to join the team, contact Randy Briasco.

Refugee Welcome Kits Due April 28th!  

If you are supplying items for the World Relief Welcome kits, please remember to drop them off in the atrium by Sunday April 28th. Please attach the card you chose to your items. Thank you for your support of this important mission!

What's New for Families, Youth and Children?
Vacation Bible School 2019
*New Dates*

We are very excited by the upcoming renovations to Pilgrim Hall which will be coming this summer.  Due to the timing during VBS, we are joyfully announcing our partnership in VBS with our sister faith communities of Grace Lutheran and Faith Lutheran Churches of Glen Ellyn.  Our VBS program will be a joint program on NEW DATES and located on-site at FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH of GLEN ELLYN from Monday, June 17 - Friday, 21 from 9:00 am to Noon.  It may be a different location but we will have the SAME wonderful activities:  crafts, games, and VBS bread!   Register online as a participant or volunteer here.   Our theme this year is Celebrating God's Creation!  (We are limited to 100 participants so don't delay!)
Come to our Annual Michigan Getaway Weekend!!!
July 12-15


You'll love this affordable weekend of fun at UCC Tower Hill Camp on their BEAUTIFUL PRIVATE SHORELINE of Lake Michigan in Sawyer, MI. Attendees choose either tent camping or lodging in Schrag Hall and can enjoy swimming, playing in the sand, climbing the dunes, star gazing, storytelling, campfires and spending relaxed time with family and friends. A wonderful opportunity to connect with our church family.

Hear FCCGE Music on the Go!



We are in the season of Lent - visit our church  Spotify account to see music from our Lenten worship services and music suggested by church staff by searching for "fccge535." 

This Week



Sunday, April 28th - Jr Hi Youth Fellowship Year-End Party and Rockin' Jump!
Spring/Summer Dates

Wednesday, May 1st from 6 to 8 pm - 4th grade Bible Family Pizza Party, Rehearsal, & Game Night
Sunday, May 5th 10:30 am worship - Presentation of 4th grade Bibles
Friday, May, 17th from 6 - 10 pm - 8th grade Confirmation Dinner, Rehearsal, & Party
Sunday, May 19th 9:30 am - Confirmation Sunday
Sunday, May 19th6 to 8:00 pm - Sr Hi Year-End Party 
Sunday, June 9th 9:30 am - 1st day Summer Church School Preschool - 5th grades
Vacation Bible School - July 17-21st - 9 am- Noon
More Awesome Summer Stuff for Individuals and Families

Outdoor Ministries offers a variety of summer and fall camps for everyone.  Check out this link for complete details.

Don't forget to click the tiny little blue " View Entire Message" link at the bottom left of this newsletter to see all articles!
Visual Arts Ministry (VAM)
        Greg Schreck                 Jeremy Botts
Sanctuary and Main Gallery 

 In the Sanctuary and Main Gallery, we welcome the return of a Lenten exhibit first appearing here in 2013, a moving depiction of the 14 stations of the cross, by fine art photographer Greg Schreck and graphic designer Jeremy Botts, both professors of art at Wheaton College. While working at a rehabilitation center for torture survivors in Chicago in 2012, Greg was struck by the profound physical and emotional traumas these individuals had experienced. He thought of Christ, who suffers in solidarity with those who suffer. His exhibit tells the story of the via dolorosa ("way of sorrow") these survivors were traveling, by linking it to the Christian devotional practice of the 14 stations of the cross. In this way, the stations tell not just the story of Jesus' suffering, but the stories of all of those in our midst who are wounded by war, political upheaval, and unspoken violence. Jeremy's work is a collection of archival digital images ("abstract icons") created in response to Greg's work. To learn more about the exhibit, pick up a handout in the gallery.
Artist in Residence

Don't miss Ashley Giampoli's beautiful and inspiring photographs, taken during travels to Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, and Africa. (The gallery is located in the hallway adjacent to, and around the corner from, the Parlor, downstairs from the library, elevator Level G).
First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn | | [email protected] | http://www.fccge.org
535 Forest Avenue
Glen, IL 60137
630.469.3096