June 6, 2024

Click the buttons above to sign up for Coffee in the Middle or to serve during worship (reading, serving communion, or acolyting).

Vicar Aaron's Message

Jesus gives a strong and challenging statement in this week’s gospel text: “Who are my mother and brothers? Here are my mother and brothers — whoever does the will of God is my mother and sister and brother.” We are reminded that family ties aren’t everything, and that our faith connects us deeply to God and to one another.

Reforming God, you create new ways of relating to one another. Connect us together with bonds of love. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

How can we know and do “the will of God”?

• Heal lands scarred by deforestation, pollution, or infestation. Teach us to cultivate the earth with respect and reverence.
• Our nations and communities are divided, O God. Teach us again to listen with curiosity and mercy, even in disagreement. Grant us the humility to acknowledge our hardness of heart and make us bold in modeling cooperation for the sake of the common good.
• Hear the prayers of all who cry out to you from the depths of fear, despair, or hopelessness. With haste, rescue victims of trafficking, exploitation, and abuse, and bless organizations and individuals who work on their behalf.
• Grant wisdom and clarity to all who are in seasons of discernment and transition: high school graduates preparing for first jobs or new educational journeys, those who are shifting careers, and those who are navigating changes in their relationships. Accompany them with your peace.

Receive our prayers, O God, and come quickly to our aid, through the power of the Spirit and the love of Jesus Christ. Amen.

In May of 2020, as an emergency response to needs of the community during the pandemic, St Andrew Lutheran Church in West Chicago started a food distribution program to feed hundreds of hungry neighbors. GLC volunteers (some of which quickly became dedicated Friday food sorters!) have worked side by side with St Andrew in sorting, distributing, and even supplying food in the early days. Who can forget the frozen airplane meals, or the pallet of bleu cheese, or when we collectively bought all of the jalepenos in the Fox Valley?! Thanks be to God that the People's Resource Center joined the effort. What was meant to be a temporary response ended up spanning nearly four years.

Next Saturday, June 15, will be the last distribution. We would like to share gratitude and more memories like these with St Andrew. If you have a fond memory, funny story, or a kind word, please click HERE. We will compile and share with St Andrew next week. Thank you for your help in recognizing St Andrew!

Results of Last Week's Poll:

UPCOMING SERVING OPPORTUNITIES:

• June 26 at 9AM - Feed My Starving Children in Aurora. Kids ages 5+ are welcome with an adult. Contact Martha Sobie to sign up by June 14.
• June 28 - Volunteers are needed to serve alongside Bethlehem Lutheran Church volunteers during the Hesed House dinner shift. Click HERE to sign up.
• June 30 - Please join us in the donating, cooking AND serving to our neighbors at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Soup Kettle. Click HERE to sign up.
• Sunday evenings at 6PM - Pick up food at Trader Joe's and drive it to Hesed House. Click HERE to sign up.

 June's Topic: Getting Quiet

Each month this summer GLC women will have a chance to meet other women and get grounded in their faith. Multiple days/times to choose from. Click HERE to register!

Once again GLC is joining with other local congregations to serve our neighbors through the Pride Picnic on June 15, from 1-4PM at River Bend Community Park in St Charles. Click HERE to sign up for this ecumenical serving opportunity!

Rising 1st-5th graders are invited to spend a day at LOMC with Pastor Trudy and Miss Michelle on July 10! We depart GLC at 8:30AM and return to GLC at 4:30PM. Camp Fee is $40 and includes a meal, snack, transportation, and t-shirt as well as team building activities including pond canoeing, gaga ball, and swimming. Click HERE to register!

Tent Volunteers

We need volunteers between services on Sunday, June 16 to help put up the tent on the front lawn in preparation for Swedish Days, the pancake breakfast, and the Polka Service! 🎪

Narthex Volunteers

Making our bathrooms available to the public during Swedish Days is one way we can show generosity in our community. We need volunteers to sit in the narthex to greet people as they come in. Click HERE to sign up!

Polka Worship Service

Join us Sunday, June 23 at 10AM on the front lawn for our annual Polka Service! Chairs will be set up, but this service fills up fast so you are welcome to bring a chair also. Please note: 10AM is the only service that Sunday and the livestreamed service will move to Saturday, June 22 at 5PM.



Swedish Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, June 22, 8AM until the batter runs out!

Click HERE to see pictures from the last week!

To see all weekly and special events please check our calendar.