October 18, 2026
Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost
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Sunday Readings
Isaiah 45:1-7
An earthly ruler as the instrument of God’s will
Psalm 96:1-13
Ascribe to the Lord honor and power. (Ps. 96:7)
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Thanksgiving for the church at Thessalonica
Matthew 22:15-22
A teaching on giving to the emperor and to God
In today’s first reading God uses the Gentile ruler Cyrus to accomplish divine purposes. When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus, he tells them to give the emperor what belongs to him and to God what belongs to God. To gather for worship reminds us that our ultimate allegiance is to God rather than to any earthly authority. Created in the image of God, we offer our entire selves in the service of God and for the sake of the world.
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Sunday Worship Support
Presiding Minister: Pastor Chris Repp
Assisting Minister: Helen Repp
Reader: Lacy Grichnik
Deacons: Gail Hug and Van Bowersox
Greeters: Kathy & Van Bowersox
Ushers: Brian & Amy Nicely
Livestreamer: Jim Anderson
Sound Technician: Kevin Vail
Organist: Mike Keeley
Music Director: Kyle Schrage
Coffee Hour: Kathy & Van Bowersox
Chancel Flowers: Debbie Peterson, In memory of my dad, Fritz Wojcik
For the upcoming Worship Support schedule, please contact the Grace Lutheran Church Office.
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Cupboard Cookies
We are replenishing the stock of cookies in the kitchenette! These cookies are used for the coffee hour on Sundays when no one is specifically signed up to host. Please consider donating (shelf-stable) cookies! Thanks in advance!
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Faith Circle - Tuesday, October 20th!
Faith Circle meets on the third Tuesday evening of each month at 7 pm in the narthex. All are welcome. We begin the evening with refreshments (coffee and snacks provided by the hostess) and fellowship. The lesson leader presents the Bible study, beginning around approximately 7:30 pm.
This month’s Faith Circle is on Tuesday, October 20th. It is being hosted by Helen Repp, with Kathy Bowersox serving as the lesson leader. We collect an offering each month, which will support the ministries of WELCA (Women of the ELCA) as well as selected local and ELCA charities. We use the Bible study materials from Gather Magazine, a WELCA publication. Plan to attend and bring a friend!
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2027 Chancel Flower Sign-Up Time!
You are invited to help beautify the sanctuary with flowers for Sunday services in 2027. 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 take place in the narthex on the Sundays of October 25th and November 1 following the church service. Listed here 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. (Please contact the Grace Lutheran church office if you need Gloria's phone number or address.)
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.
2027 Dates Currently Available to Sponsor Flowers:
January: 17, 24, 31
February: 7 only (due to Lent)
March: (no flowers are used during Lent)
March: 21 - Palm Sunday (Palms)
March: 28 – Easter (lilies and hydrangeas )
April: 11, 18, 25
May: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
June: 6, 13, 20, 27
July: 4, 11, 18, 25
August: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
September: 5, 12, 19, 26
October: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
November: 7, 14, 21, 28
December: 5, 12, 19
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Save-the-Date!
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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God's Work; Our Hands Follow-up:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
Once again the members of Grace have given generously to support the mission of Lutheran World Relief:
"Affirming God’s love for all people, we work with Lutherans and partners around the world to end poverty, injustice and human suffering." (Mission statement of LWR)
With your donations, we are able to send 50 school kits, containing; pens, pencils, spiral notebooks, scissors, pencil sharpener, ruler, and eraser to Lutheran World Relief. We are also able to share 75 personal care kits, containing; soap, towel, comb, nail clippers, and toothbrush. An additional gift of $1,750 is being given to Lutheran World Relief to offset shipping expenses.
These donations will be taken to the Central Illinois Ingathering at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Thomasboro on Saturday, October 31st.
Thank you so much for your generous support!
The Social Ministry Committee
| | A huge "THANK YOU" to everyone who pitched in to help us host the East/Central Conference Day! We did a fabulous job all the way around: the building grounds looked welcoming, the kitchen was a well oiled machine, and of course the technical aspects were flawless! | | |
Adult Sunday School - Fall 2026
Beginning on October 18 we’ll be led through a six-session program from Select Learning focused on creation and our relationship to it, drawing on the Lutheran emphases on justification and vocation.
The series explores the origins of some common misconceptions about Scripture’s portrayal of creation, inviting us see care for creation as part of our baptismal vocation. We’ll also learn how God's people throughout the Church are living out that call.
Join us at 11 a.m. after the service in the Hoffmeister Room for our Adult Sunday School class! Meeting weekly throughout the year, unless otherwise noted.
FALL SCHEDULE:
October 18 – Earthbound, session 1
October 25 – Earthbound, session 2
November 1 – Bishop’s Holy Land Presentation
November 8 – Earthbound, sessions 4-6
November 15 – Earthbound, sessions 4-6
November 22 – Earthbound, sessions 4-6
November 29 – Earthbound, sessions 4-6
December 6 – St. Andrew’s Presentation
December 13 & 20 – TBD
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World Food Day is October 16th!
Your gifts help our church respond to hunger and poverty through hundreds of projects in more than 60 countries around the world, including the United States. These gifts are brought together with the skills, capacity and resources of local communities to make transformative changes.
One out of every 11 people — as many as 720 million — in our world are hungry. As members of the ELCA, we are called to respond. We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work. ELCA World Hunger is uniquely positioned to accompany communities in need because we work with congregations in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as other partners and Lutheran churches overseas. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to farm animals, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger make it possible for the ELCA to respond, supporting sustainable solutions that get at the root causes
of hunger and poverty.
Click the link to make an online donation at:
Support ELCA World Hunger Today
Offering envelopes are also available in the pews at Grace Lutheran Church.
You Can Mail Your Donation:
(Make checks payable to ELCA World Hunger)
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
ELCA Gift Processing Center
P.O. Box 1809
Merrifield, VA 22116-8009
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“God’s Work; Our Hands” T-shirts
“God’s Work; Our Hands” T-shirts are printed and set to purchase in all sizes. They will be available in the Narthex on Sundays after Services for just $10 now (supplies are limited)!
Please contact Kathy Bowersox with any questions or to purchase one at another time.
| | Get Ready! From Pastor Chapman at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church: | | |
Save-the-Date - Visit from the Bishop
Sunday, November 1st
Bishop Greg Busboom will be joining us for the Sunday Morning Service at Grace Lutheran Church, and will give a presentation in the Fellowship Hall following the service:
9:30am—Sunday Morning Service
10:45am—Presentation in the Fellowship Hall
Light refreshments will be provided after the service, in the Fellowship Hall. Please keep an eye out for the sign-up sheet in the Narthex if you would like to bring anything. Thanks!
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Grace Lutheran Game Nights, October 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, October 22nd. 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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7:00pm Bell Choir Rehearsal (Choir Loft)
7:00pm Confirmation Class (Hoffmeister Room)
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7:00am Food Pantry Truck Delivery (Fellowship Hall)
10:00am Comrades in Art (Narthex)
7:00pm Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
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10:00am Food Pantry (Fellowship Hall)
6:00pm Game Night (Narthex)
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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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