November 9 , 2017
Greetings!

Grace and peace to the saints and sinners of La Grange and beyond, from Carly, called to be a leader, pastor, and teacher among and beside you. 

The first frost to hit our backyard garden struck just this week. The Halloween pumpkins sit in the leaf piles on the sides of the streets, the Christmas decorations are up in the stores, and today I heard holiday music as I sat in a waiting room. 

But what happened to Thanksgiving? Why have we leapt over the only secular holiday that is based upon a biblical mandate? 

In the Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, God commands the ancient Israelites to observe the Feast of Booths — in Hebrew, Sukkot, "to rejoice before the Lord your God" at the time ….. [ more ]
Disaster Relief
To aid victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate and the earthquakes in Mexico, click here
To donate by mail, make checks payable to United Church of Christ. Mail to: United Church of Christ c/o Financial Services, 700 Prospect Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100.
100% of funds to the United Church of Christ designated for U.S. disaster relief are used for disaster relief and rehabilitation programming within the United States.
Harvest Home
You are invited to our annual Harvest Home dinner on Wednesday, November 15 th at 6:30 pm in the dining room. Bring your friends and family and enjoy a complete turkey dinner! Tickets are available during fellowship time or in the office: Adults $8, children 4-12 $4, under 4 free. There are volunteer opportunities for kitchen workers and servers. Check out the signup sheet during Fellowship Hour.
This Week:
Friday 11/10: OA at 9 am, Be Still and Know 12 Step at 4 pm, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 11/11: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am, Children's Musical Rehearsal at 10 am, Conservatory Recital at 1 pm
Sunday 11/12: Adult Education-Uppity Women in the Bible at 8:30 am, Worship at 10 am, All Teams Meeting at 11:15 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, Children's Musical Rehearsal at 11:15 am, Yzals Meeting at 6:30 pm, OA at 7 pm
Monday 11/13: Hooks & Needles at 7:00 pm, AA for under 30s at 7 pm, AA at 8 pm
Wednesday 11/15: Harvest Home Dinner at 6:30 pm, Carillon Handbell Choir at 8:00 pm, Council at 8:15 pm
Thursday 11/16: Chancel Choir at 7:30 pm
Friday 11/17: OA at 9 am, Be Still and Know 12 Step at 4 pm, Alanon at 7:30
Saturday 11/18: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am, Children's Musical Rehearsal at 10 am, Bake Sale Lock-in at 6 pm
Sunday 11/19: Adult Education-Uppity Women in the Bible at 8:30 am, Worship - Work Trip Sunday at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, Children's Musical Rehearsal at 10 am, OA at 7 pm

*November 19th - Community Thanksgiving Service at Second Baptist in La Grange at 7 pm.
CROP Hunger Walk 2017
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2017 Walk. Our church raised $1460 which will be used for both local and worldwide hunger projects. Canned goods donations went to local food pantries, including peanut butter and jelly to our own Saturday Lunch Program. FCCLG walkers included Dawn Fresa, Dylan Bart, Claudia Byrne, Adrienne Bryant, Erin Bryant, Nancy Heil, and Linda Lauterbach. Please note that some of us actually walked at an earlier time due to our on-site hosting duties. Special thanks to Jerry Palmer who spoke from the pulpit and energized all of the La Grange/ Western Springs walkers, JoAnne Konkle who gave a tour of the Saturday Lunch kitchen to the Children’s Walk participants, Betsy Colombe who organized our hosting duties and Missions members Jill Tobin, Linda Lauterbach, Laurie Braun, Dawn Mackie, and Nancy Heil who served as hosts. We are also grateful to the many people who donated to the Walk!
Looking for Leaders and Workers!
Nominating has openings to fill on almost every committee. Do you have a particular interest or talent? Do you know about finance? Interested in the Church history? Good with Technology?  Do you like working with children and youth? You could help the future of our church by donating your time by serving on a committee. If you are interested in helping the church leadership, please contact Jill Tobin ( jatobin51@aol.com) or JoAnne Konkle ( joanne3230@comcast.net) for more information on the openings. 
Flashlight Collection
We are collecting flashlights for Puerto Rico until November 12th . Our former custodian, Fred Gonzalez, is from Puerto Rico and his parents are still living there. He asked if we could help the people by donating flashlights. There is little electricity on the island and none out near his parents’ town. So if we could give them some light, it would be a huge help to the people of Puerto Rico! There are solar powered and hand crank flashlights available, along with small LED ones which will provide some light for them. Please drop them off in the box near the sanctuary, labelled Flashlights.
Thank you for helping give light to the people of Puerto Rico!
Zackleys Bake Sale
The annual Zackleys bake sale is coming up! We will spend the entire night November 18th baking for the congregation. Zackleys will meet in the dining room at 6pm on November 18th and will stay to hand out baked good after church on the 19th. We will collect orders every Sunday starting October 22nd. You can find order forms in your bulletin, the Tidings and in the office! The last day to order these yummy treats will be November 12th . Permission slips for Zackleys can be found outside of Sylvia's door.
Adult Education Opportunities
 Gather with us in the Drawing Room at 8:30 on Sunday Mornings for good coffee, engaging conversation, and challenging questions. 

Uppity Women in the Bible  -- November 5- 19 
Women in the Bible are often hidden in the narrative or behind the actions and narratives of the men around them. We’ll see to understand, debate, and explore the issues raised by the stories of some often misunderstood Biblical women.
November 12 -- Delilah: Enemy or Entrepreneur?
November 19 -- Herodias: Heartless or Hurt?

These three sessions will be based on Barbara J. Essex's book Bad Girls of the Bible . This book can be found here . Copies of the specific chapters are available in the office.

Coming Soon: Creation and Birth Narratives in Diverse Cultures  -- Nov.26 – Dec. 17
A survey of creation and Birth narratives in faith traditions from around the globe.
Hooks and Needles
We make prayer shawls, baby blankets and pocket prayer squares for members of the congregation. We also donate to organizations like Project Linus. Meetings are Mondays, except for the first Monday of the month, at 7 pm in the Family Room off the Chapel. Coming every Monday is not required, we do a lot of our stitching at home. Please email Linda Lauterbach for the door code. Our next gathering on November 13th .
Tavern Table Talk
Here’s an opportunity to talk about faith in the real world. We’re taking conversations to the local tables in our community. We’ll ask questions and discuss our responses as Christians to issues of the day. Join us on the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Palmer Place (56 S La Grange Rd), or on the Fourth Tuesday of each month at Wild Monk (88 S La Grange Rd). Both locations are accessible to all. All are welcome to join in on the conversation! Our next conversation will be on November 28th at Wild Monk!
Gifts of Gratitude
"We have a wonderful way to show your thanks this holiday season. Buy a gift or two for a child in need. Gifts of Gratitude will be on Sunday December 3rd . We will put up the Gifts of Gratitude Tree early to give everyone time to fulfill a child's wish. Select an ornament or two from the tree for a child from Casa Central. Buy a gift between $20-$30 for the child you have chosen. If you buy clothes and want to include the gift receipt in case an exchange of sizes is needed, Target and Walmart are the closest stores to these families. Wrap or place the gift in a decorative bag (staple closed) and tape the tag to the package so it finds its way to the right child through Santa Claus at their holiday party."
Messy Church
Messy Church will be Sunday, December 3rd at 4:30 pm. Our theme is Messy Christmas. 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
Concerned About the Environment?
 FCCLG is exploring interest in starting a Green Team, and we need you and your ideas! An organizational meeting will be held in the fall. Watch this space for more information.
Food Pantry
Make Thanksgiving a feast for your neighbors who need a helping hand this holiday season. In the month of November, we're collecting Thanksgiving fixings for the Second Baptist Food Pantry: canned sweet potatoes or yams, brown sugar, pecans, canned green beans or corn, boxed stuffing mix, canned pumpkin, Jell-O, etc. And, as always, donations of any nonperishable food will be appreciated. Place your donation in the wicker basket outside the chapel or sanctuary and know your gift will help a struggling local individual or family.
Volunteer Opportunity
We are seeking interested individuals in assisting with the church service. We would like any adults who love children to sign up to provide the weekly children’s sermon. You can be added to a monthly rotation or just do it once. The children thank you in advance for your participation! Contact the church office or let Deb Gardiner-Zigulich know of your interest.
For the Love of Jerusalem
“For the Love of Jerusalem” is an interfaith event bringing together Christians, Muslims and Jews to explore their love for Jerusalem. It will be hosted by Grace Lutheran Church of La Grange, 200 N. Catherine Ave. on this Sunday, Nov. 12 , from 1:00 – 3:30 . Three exceptional speakers will facilitate the discussion. All are welcome to attend. For further information call 708-352-0730 or click here !
Impress to Connect - Job Search Conversations
Please join Laura Cognato on Thursday, November 16 from 7-9 pm. She will be the speaker this evening and is a former ICN member. Laura has walked the walk; she understands first hand what many job seekers experience in their search. Laura was between positions and hadn't been on a single interview in more than a year. Two years ago she faced the "FourFecta" of job search hurdles when she discovered a new ( click here for more article)
For further information, please visit our website at www.interfaithcareernetwork.org.
Give back to FCCLG when you shop on Amazon! Click here
  Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God. Please lift these friends, family, and members in your prayers.
Emil and Maria Balz.

The Biegert family as they mourn the death of Evelyn’s sister, Phyllis Langhofer.

Prayers for Bonnie Day’s granddaughter Ashley Albers who is dealing with health issues.

Karl Fresa at the loss of his brother.

Prayers for Barbara Hultman as she recovers from hip surgery.

Genesis Matthiesen’s friend Vincent Franco, who has lost his way.

John Moellman at the loss of his mother who was 98.

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.

Nancy Coleman’s friend Sharon Veltre, who continues to fight her battle against cancer.

Prayers for Vera Weiss who is living with cancer.

The victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate and earthquakes in Mexico.

Prayers for those killed, the injured, their families, and first responders in Las Vegas, New York City, and Texas.

Those living in fear and without hope, and those who use fear to control others.