January 18, 2018
Greetings!

Grace and peace to each and all the saints from Carly, called to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable in La Grange and beyond.
              When I was a junior in high school, an elderly woman in the congregation changed my life. What Ruth Brown did was simple, ordinary, and even mundane: she asked me to sit beside her in worship. Then she did the same thing the following week. This became a regular event in the following months.
              During the quiet time before the prelude, she inquired about me and how my week had been. She affirmed me and continued


This Week:
Friday 1/19: OA at 9 am, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 1/20: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am
Sunday 1/21: Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, Annual Meeting at 11:15am, Ring & Sing / Treble Choir at 11:15am , Zackley Meeting at 6:30pm, OA at 7 pm
Monday 1/22: Tiny Toes Music at 4:30 pm, Hooks & Needles at 7 pm, AA for under 30s at 7 pm, AA at 8 pm
Wednesday 1/24: Be Still and Know 12 Step at 4 pm, Council at 7 pm, Carillon Handbell Choir at 7:30 pm
Thursday 1/25: Chancel Choir at 7:30 pm
Friday 1/26: OA at 9 am, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 1/27: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am
Sunday 1/28: G uatemala/Adult Education at 8:30am, Worship at 10 am, Nurture Potluck at 11:15 am, Ring & Sing / Treble Choir at 11:15am , OA at 7 pm
Thank You
The ministry of Worship would like to thank the elves who assisted in packing up and storing all the Christmas decorations for next year.
Thanks for your Time & Energy: Faith Ullrich, Mary Cooper, Bob Klestil, Janet Bednar, Ryan Cox,
Sherri Ries, Dean Zigulich, Chris and Dylan Bart.
Can’t Get To Sunday Services?  
You can watch them live Sundays at 10 a.m. on the web.  Click here  to see Sunday worship streamed live and past worship services as well. This ministry is brought to you by the estate of Ginny Palansky, and maintained by your gifts, offerings, and pledges.
Winter Warriors
Do you ever wonder how the church entries, sidewalks, and parking lot are kept clear of snow? 

A.     The new glycol snow-melt system that was funded by the church's budget surplus
B.     Magical elves
C.     It doesn't really get cold enough to snow in La Grange
D.     None of the above 

Yes, D is the correct answer. The snow is cleared and entries salted from a pool of just eight volunteers who make time amid their full-time jobs, parenting, and/or other responsibilities in the community. Typically, only two are able to come out any given snowfall. If you think you're up to helping out occasionally, please contact Erik Sander 708-557-4859 to be added to the snow-alert text distribution list. Full article.
The Church Needs YOU!
We are in need of people to fill officer and committee positions on almost every committee. If you are interested in helping the church leadership, please see here for more info. or please contact Jill Tobin or JoAnne Konkle for more information on the openings. 
Music News
Ring and Sing and Treble Choir begin January 21st after the worship service. This rehearsal will also serve as child care during the annual meeting for children K-8th. Rehearsal takes place in room 304. Ring and Sing, for children K-2nd will be until 11:45am or when the annual meeting ends, whichever is later. Treble Choir, for 3rd-8th will go until 12:15pm. It’s a great time of year to join the groups!

Youth Awakening
"Youth Awakening: Faith and Social Witness in 2018" will be a gathering of UCC High School students. February 25, 2018 4 pm to 8 pm on the Elmhurst College campus. Rally, music, games, food, and closing time of reflection. More information here.
Volunteer Opportunity - Urgent! Nursery Shepherds needed!
Do you like to play Legos? Do you need help putting together an alphabet puzzle? Than we have the perfect volunteer opportunity for you! We need help making sure that the nursery ministry is fully staffed each Sunday morning! You'll get to play with our wonderful little ones AND build flying submarines with wheels! If your talents include driving toy cars, making voices for animals and you are safe church trained please sign up to help in the nursery. The sign up is in the Founders Room or you can contact Sylvia with your Lego credentials!
Sunday School Sign-up for 2018
Superb! Amazing! Exciting! These are all words to describe our Sunday School experience! Want to get involved in this program? You're in luck! The Sunday School Teacher/Shepherd Sign-up is ready for your name! We have the most amazing children in our Sunday School and they need your help in learning the stories of the bible! So come on down to the Founders Room and sign up to help in our super amazing, full of fun and learning classrooms!!
Disclaimer: You must be Safe church trained to participate in said amazing, superb, exciting Sunday School rooms. But don't worry, we will have training again February 18th . Put it on your calendar!
Annual Meeting
Our Annual Meeting will be held January 21 following worship. The 2017 Annual Report is available here .
Hooks and Needles
Our next scheduled meeting will be on Monday, January 22 . We meet every Monday except for the first Monday of the month. Feel free to drop in anytime and join us at 7 pm in the family room off the Chapel. Because of winter weather cancellations, please call Linda Lauterbach (352-5332) or email to confirm we are meeting. Winter is a great time for charity knitting!
Guatemala/Adult Education
Join us in the Founders' Room on January 28 at 8:30 am to learn about our work in Guatemala with Common Hope's Western Springs Vision Team. We will show pictures of building a house for Francisca Hernandez Lopez and her family. She had worked 100 hours at Common Hope to earn her new home. Learn about life in Guatemala by taking part in a Privilege Walk. - Linda and Dick Lauterbach
Potluck Sunday Luncheon
To welcome the New Year, please join us immediately following worship on January 28 in the dining room to share a meal and fellowship! The Ministry of Nurture will provide bread & butter, plates, utensils, and beverages. If you are able, you are invited to bring a crock pot creation or dish of your choice to add to the spread. Or just bring yourself and enjoy this special version of coffee hour.
Women’s Mid-Winter Retreat
We have put away the lights and decorations of Christmas. We’ve put away the tunes and songs of joy. We have reached a quiet time, not the reflective time of Lent. The time when new life is known to be coming, but before it is stirring in the womb. A time when a woman knows she has another life within her, but has not felt it move. We feel the hope... but are still afraid. Join us, as we explore hope, as it waits to be born.
The Women’s Retreat will be held at Plymouth Place on February 3 rd , 2018 from 9:00 to 3:30 pm.
Messy Church
Messy Church will be on Sunday, February 4th at 4:30 pm. Our theme is A New Start . Come and have a great time and grow in faith and in your love of others on the journey. Click here for flyer. We need volunteers!
4:30-5:15pm: Crafts and Stories
5:15-5:30pm: Celebration
5:30-6:00: Dinner
Missions Book Discussion Group
Evicted by Matthew Desmond made Bill Gates' list of 5 books you should read right now. "Desmond has written a brilliant portrait of Americans living in poverty. He gave me a better sense of what it is like to be poor in this country than anything else I have read." Join us on February 5th at 7:30 in the drawing room for our discussion of this important book.
All Teams Retreat
When: February 11 th from 11:30 to 3:00pm
Where: Founders’ Room
FCCLG Day Ski Trip to Lake Geneva
Who:  All are welcome! Those younger than 6th grade must have an adult with them.
When:  February 24 th meeting at 7 am. 
Please let Sylvia know if you will be going and how many friends you will be bringing by February 11 th. Payment and paperwork due by February 18th.
Where: We will be meeting in the church parking lot and drive together to Grand Geneva
How Much:  Group of 15 or more:     
Area ticket $39
Area ticket & ski/snowboard rental $54
Group beginner ski or snowboard lesson - $2
Helmet Rental-$5
What is needed: a copy of Grand Geneva’s Release of Liability Form and the Rental Form signed for each participant and payment, before the trip. Those 6th-12th grade and not accompanied by an adult must turn in a permission slip. Please call the church office for rental forms. We need to pay with one check and turn in all the forms at the same time. If you are paying by check, please make it out to First Congregational Church.
Food Pantry
We would especially appreciate donations of oatmeal, soups, and stews. As always, donations of any nonperishable food items will be gratefully accepted.


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  Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God. Please lift these friends, family, and members in your prayers.
Jeffrey Arnold, as he recovers
Emil and Maria Balz.
Fred Bell, who is recovering from leukemia.
The family and friends of Marjorie Duhatschek, who died on December 28 th .
Karl Fresa at the loss of his brother.
Prayers for Jane Heil to regain strength and comfort.
Prayers for Barbara Hultman as she recovers from hip surgery.
Genesis Matthiesen’s friend Vincent Franco, who has lost his way.
Renee Meier, who is dealing with cancer.
Adrienne O’Toole, as she heals after having a liver transplant.
Petra Palmer’s granddaughter’s friend Summer who is having chemotherapy for leukemia.
Prayers for Tom Pitman, who is living with cancer.
Prayers for Steve Roper, as he recovers from open heart surgery.
Prayers for Mike Tobin as he faces surgery.
Nancy Coleman’s friend Sharon Veltre, who continues to fight her battle against cancer.
For Vera Weiss to regain her strength and fight cancer.
Those living in fear and without hope, and those who use fear to control others.