November 8, 2026
Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
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Sunday Readings
Amos 5:18-24
Let justice roll down like waters
Psalm 70
You are my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry. (Ps. 70:5)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The promise of the resurrection
Matthew 25:1-13
The story of the wise and foolish bridesmaids
Today the prophet Amos calls for justice to roll down like waters. Paul urges us to encourage one another with the promised coming of the Lord. Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. Surrounded by the faithful of every time and place, we celebrate Christ’s coming in our midst in the word of life and the feast of victory—the marriage feast of the Lamb.
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Sunday Worship Support
Presiding Minister: Pastor Chris Repp
Assisting Minister: Dennis Archer
Reader: Cindy Grigorescu
Deacon: Art Traugott
Greeters: Joe Meyer & Erika Bilger & Family
Ushers: Bev Kieffer & Mary Jo Erickson
Livestreamer: Jim Anderson
Sound Technician: Kevin Vail
Organist: Mike Keeley
Music Director: Kyle Schrage
Coffee Hour: Art & Shirley Traugott
Chancel Flowers: Nancy & Rodney Marshall, In honor of our upcoming 20th anniversary
For the upcoming Worship Support schedule, please contact the Grace Lutheran Church Office.
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Chancel Flowers for 2027
Eight Weeks Remain Open
Thank you to those of you who have already signed up for dedicated flowers for Sunday services in 2027. For those of you who have not yet signed up, but would like to do so, please consider dedicating flowers for one or more of the remaining eight weeks.
The dates available are: January 31, May 23, August 1, August 22, September 12, Sept 19, October 31 and November 14.
If you would like to fill one or more of these weeks, please contact Gloria Rainer. The price remains $50. Gloria will return your message request so you will know if you have received the date you requested.
Thank you,
Shirley Traugott and Gloria Rainer
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Fall 2026 Outdoor Cleanup Day
Saturday, November 14, 8-12 Noon
Join this family-friendly opportunity.
Coffee and donuts available!
Help tidy up Grace for the winter. Among the tasks, we will rake leaves, stack fallen branches, trim bushes, remove weeds, & cover A/C units.
Arrive early and help us finish by noon. On-site guidance will be available for questions. Please bring gloves, rakes, pruners and trimmers. Paper yard-waste bags will be provided. Bags will be moved to the Union Street curb for city pick-up.
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Adult Sunday School: Earthbound Session 2
We continue the Earthbound curriculum this Sunday with session 2, “Here/There.” This session will explore how we think and talk about earth and heaven and how that affects our treatment of the natural world. Join us in the Hoffmeister Room at 11:00 as we consider this important aspect of our life of faith.
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Free Advent Devotionals in the Narthex (Starting in Mid-November)
Please choose an Advent Devotional that suits you and/or your Family. They can be found in the narthex, starting in mid-November, and are free as a gift from Grace Lutheran. Past materials and new selections will be available to choose from.
Happy Advent Season!
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LSSI Foster Youth Christmas Gifts
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is looking for help to provide Christmas gifts for approximately 185 children in their foster care program in Champaign and Vermilion counties. The format of the program this year will be a combination of last year's online shopping option as well as traditional "angel tree" tags with specific wish list items.
To contribute to this initiative, you can do any of the following:
1. Navigate to https://giftlist.lssi.org/campaigns/champaign-and-danville-christmas-giving/products to select and purchase specific gifts
2. Make a monetary donation with a check made out to Grace Lutheran and "LSSI" on the memo line
3. Purchase gift cards to Walmart, Target or any fast food restaurant and drop them off in the LSSI gift card box in the church narthex
4. Coming soon: wish list tags will be available in the church narthex in early November if you prefer to do your own shopping for specific children
The target date for all online gifts to be purchased is December 4 and any monetary donations or physical gifts to be delivered to church by Sunday December 6.
Please direct any questions to Amy Nicely or Brian Nicely (please contact the Grace Lutheran church office if you need their contact information). Thank you for your generosity and help in making this Christmas special for the LSSI foster care children!
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Stewardship Time is Here!
Stewardship is actually 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 there are Temple Talks during the Sunday morning services on November 1st, November 8th, and November 15th.
Pledge cards will be collected during the service on November 22nd. Please take time to consider this important part of our life together at Grace.
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Grace Lutheran Game Nights, November 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, November 12th. Please note that there is only one game night in November due to Thanksgiving. 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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10:00am Food for Seniors (Fellowship Hall)
6:30pm Finance Committee Meeting (Hoffmeister Room)
7:00pm Bell Choir Rehearsal (Choir Loft)
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6:00am Food for Seniors (Fellowship Hall)
6:00pm Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families (Chapel)
6:30pm Sweet Adelines (Fellowship Hall)
7:00pm Council Meeting (Hoffmeister Room & Zoom)
| | | | 7:00pm Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room) | | | | |
10:00am Food Pantry (Fellowship Hall)
6:00pm Game Night (Narthex)
| | | | 1:00pm Dada Bhagwan Vignan Institute (Fellowship Hall, Nursery, Kitchen) | | |
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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