May 2, 2019
Greetings!
This Week:
 Friday 5/3: OA at 9 am, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 5/4: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am, Choral Sermon Rehearsal at 10 am
Sunday 5/5: Confirmation Class at 8:15 am, Adult Education: Acts Part I at 8:30 am, Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, Ring and Sing/Treble Choir at 11:15 am, Messy Church at 4:30 pm, Junior High Youth Group Meeting at 6:30 pm, OA at 7 pm
Monday 5/6: AA at 7:30 pm
Wednesday 5/8: Be Still and Know 12 Step Meeting at 4 pm, Carillon Handbell Choir at 7:30 pm
Thursday 5/9: Chancel Choir Rehearsal at 7:30 pm
Friday 5/10: OA at 9 am, Spiritual Directors at 10 am, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 5/11: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am, Choral Sermon Rehearsal at 10 am
Sunday 5/12: Confirmation Class at 8:15 am, Adult Education: Acts Part I at 8:30 am, Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, Ring & Sing/Treble Choir at 11:15 am, OA at 7 pm
Food Pantry
In May, please donate snack foods such as crackers, nuts, seeds, granola bars, pretzels, popcorn, and dried fruit. Other shelf-stable foods are always welcome.
Hooks and Needles
Hooks and Needles will meet next on May 13 th at 7 pm in the Family Room off the Chapel. Contact Claudia Byrne at 708-205-1409 or email her if you have questions or would like a pick-up.
Junior High Spring Schedule
The Junior High youth group has been having a great time at their monthly gatherings this year and the feedback has been heard: more youth group! We will meet twice a month in May. All 6-8th grade youth and their friends are welcome.
·      Sunday, May 5 from 6:30 to 8 pm
·      Sunday, May 19 from 6:30 to 8 pm
TEACH Benefit
Join us for the 9th Annual TEACH Benefit Dinner on Saturday, May 4, at the Grand Oaks Pavilion in the Hyatt Lodge in Oak Brook. The 2019 Cultural Unity Award honorees are Lourdes Duarte and the Celine and Don Woznica Family. A Flamenco dancer will cap off the evening. Click this link to find out more about the event and purchase tickets.
War, Peace, and Justice
The united voices of the Apollo Chorus and the Chicago Community Chorus present a concert that explores the universal challenges of togetherness in " Make Them Hear You: Music of War, Peace and Justice. Venues are the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago on Friday, May 3 at 7:30 pm and St. John Brebeuf, in Niles on Sunday May 5th at 3 pm. Email Linda Lauterbach (or call her at 708-352-5332) for more details.
Spring Cleaning
It is time to spruce up the church after a hard winter. Property Committee is sponsoring a Spring Cleaning celebration on May 11 from 1-4 p.m. One priority will be getting the leaves out of the planting beds and lawn, but there will be a list of other chores also. Perhaps you have seen something around the church and thought to yourself "Someone should fix that!" We'll add it to the list. Bring the whole family and spend as little or as much time as you want.
Feed My Starving Children
On Saturday, May 18 from 2-4 pm, our church is scheduled to pack food at the Aurora facility at 555 Exchange Court. This is a fun outreach activity. Children ages 6 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Sign up in the Founders' Room or email Linda Lauterbach .
Choral Sermon
On May 19, Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms will be sung by our intergenerational choir, accompanied by harp, piano, and percussion. The boy soloist is Aurelio Tapia. This exciting, beautiful work uses some of the most well-known psalms, sung in Hebrew, to explore our relationship with God and each other. There will be two performances that day. The first at our 10 am worship service and the second at 3 pm at Oak Trace Senior Living Community, 200 Village Drive, Downers Grove. All are welcome at both!
BEDS Plus Needs Volunteers
Partnering with BEDS Plus, we are hosting a week of summer shelter on June 17-24. BEDS Plus needs volunteers. There will be four shifts per night with a minimum of two volunteers per shift, laundry once a week, breakfast supplies for a week, and simpler meals supplied for a maximum of 25 clients each evening.
You can sign up for one shift or as many different shifts that will work with your summer schedule as you would like. You can also sign up for a meal team, laundry, or supplies. Sign up directly here or contact Erin Molek at volunteer@beds-plus.org ; 708-354-0858 ext. 113.
March with FCCLG in the Pet Parade!
What's more fun than watching the Pet Parade? Marching in it with FCCLG! This year's theme is Heroes and Superheroes, so dress up yourself, the kids, and the dog (or not) and join us for this 1.5-mile parade through downtown La Grange on Saturday, June 1. Let the office know if you're interested. Details to follow.
All-Church Campout
What better way to get to know one another and build community than by sitting around a campfire, going on a hike, or relaxing in the summer shade! You’re invited to join us for an all-ages campout August 16-18 at Camp Bullfrog Lake in Willow Springs, IL!
Tent site reservations will be done as a group – email Nick Redmond for more information or to reserve your spot. If you would like to stay in a cabin or RV campsite, you’ll need to reserve it yourself. If camping isn’t your thing - the campground is less than 20 minutes from La Grange and we’d love to have you stop by for part of the weekend! Contact Nick or Matt Davis if you have any questions.

Sabbatical Leave for Ryan
The Church Council has approved a sabbatical leave for Ryan Cox for June 10 through September 2, 2019. A sabbatical is a period of special leave intended for professional development which is not possible during the intense program year. Ryan has been our Director of Music for 15 years and this is an ideal time for him to refresh and renew. Ryan’s goal during this time will be to search for and study choral music with more diverse and eclectic styles as well as to expand the depth of his knowledge of traditional music. Ryan plans to visit other congregations around the country and in Europe to experience a broad variety of church music programs. He will also participate in music classes and/or conferences. Ryan will also spend some time with his family, coming back to us in September refreshed and rejuvenated. There is a plan in place to manage the musical needs of the congregation over the summer. A Sabbatical Committee of church members has been formed to provide guidance and assistance. AnnLaura Tapia, our organist, will serve as Sabbatical Music Director in Ryan’s absence. All expenses incurred in connection with this sabbatical period will be paid from the Hautau Fund, which is a restricted fund of this church designated to be used for sacred music education. 
BEDS Plus Needs Volunteers
Partnering with BEDS Plus, we are hosting a week of summer shelter on June 17-24. BEDS Plus needs volunteers. There will be four shifts per night with a minimum of two volunteers per shift, laundry once a week, breakfast supplies for a week and simpler meals supplied for a maximum of 25 clients each evening.

You can sign up for one shift or as many different shifts that will work with your summer schedule as you would like. You can also sign up for a meal team, laundry, or supplies. Sign up directly here or email Erin Molek or call 708-354-0858 ext. 113.
Summer Camps Available
Summer Camp: While Summer Music Camp is on hold for this summer, there will still be Summer Camp experiences for children and youth! Check out these options!

Peace Camp : Youth ages 4-14 are guided in cooperation and conflict resolution. Campers learn skills to approach their problems peacefully and to create their own solutions to the injustices they see in the world. Three opportunities are offered: La Grange, IL - June 17 - 21, 2019, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Brookfield, IL - July 22-26, 2019, 9:00 am-3 pm **children must be at least 6 years old**, and Oak Park - July 29 - August 2, 2019, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Church Camp: Tower Hill and Pilgrim Park are two camps owned and operated by the United Church of Christ in Illinois. There are many camping opportunities for all ages, all stages, and all interests.

Summer Music for All Ages
Summer Musicians of all ages are invited to play, sing or ring starting in June. The choir is off for the summer, so we need you! Not a soloist, but want to lend your talents? We will find an ensemble for you. The goal is to have musicians scheduled for all Sundays before Ryan leaves on sabbatical, so contact Ryan soon to sign-up.
First Conservatory, A ministry of FCCLG: Music lessons taught by excellent teachers are offered throughout the week at First Congregational Church. Children and adults alike are welcome! Instruments taught include piano, voice, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, violin, viola, cello, bass, and harp. Other instruments could be available with interest and summer is a great time to start. Visit the website for more info .
CROP Walk
The 2019 CROP Hunger Walk will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2019. Congratulations to the twelve walkers and people who donated $2873 for the 2018 Crop Walk. Our LG/WS/BRKFD walk raised a total of $23,445. We were 79th in the whole country.
C an’t Get To Sunday Services?  
You can watch them live on Sunday at 10 a.m. on the web.  Click here   to see Sunday worship streamed live and to view past worship services as well.  Or follow these instructions on how to watch through your Roku Device. Contact the church office to have the worship bulletin emailed to you on Fridays. This ministry is brought to you by the estate of Ginny Palansky, and maintained by your gifts, offerings, and pledges.
Attracting Friends Retaining Members Nurturing Spirits 
Developing Partners

Our LiveStream viewership has grown to 24 viewers in just a few weeks. This service is much appreciated by members and families who are unable to attend services in person. We received this thank you letter this week:

We watch your broadcasts each week and enjoy them very much. It gives us a connection to FCCLG as we recognize familiar faces and hear familiar liturgy.

We thank you, especially, for the Holy Week services this past week. We were part of all three, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and today, Easter Sunday. The services were beautiful in their telling of the story and its meaning, the music was a beautiful complement to the words, and the whole brought tears to our eyes. This music always touches us deeply and the word opens our souls to the message.

Our heartfelt thanks to all who worked so hard to bring this to your wider congregation as well as to your resident one. We feel most richly blessed to share it with you. We thank Carly and Ryan, most especially, for all that went into the planning and execution of this most beautiful of holy celebrations.

Marion & Clyde Anderson
(Jean O'Brien's parents)
Colorado
  Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God. Please lift these friends, family, and members in your prayers.
Emil Balz.
The family and friends of Evelyn Biegert.
Joan Burke, at the death of her brother.
Prayers for Jim and Vi Clayton.
The family and friends of Fred Figge.
Barbara Hultman.
Evelyn Kelly.
The Maley family.
Stephanie McCollough.
Prayers for Margaret Melkonian.
Chris Moe, who is healing at home.
The family and friends of Rudy Schade.
Christina Thomas, Joy Palomo-Clark's cousin, a young mother dealing with cancer.
Prayers for Jean Tomkinson's recovery and rehab at home.
Fred and Vera Weiss.
Our United Methodist kin.
Those killed, the injured, and their families in acts of violence.
Those at the border.
Those living in fear and without hope, and those who use fear to control others.

If you would like to send your thoughts and prayers to someone listed above, please use one of the Touch Cards in your pew. Place the completed card in the offering plate and the office will address and mail it. We encourage you to let us know if you or someone you know is hospitalized or receiving medical treatment. Due to HIPAA privacy laws, we are not notified by hospitals or doctors. If you know of someone who would like a visit from the Called to Care Ministry team, please contact Jennifer Burney, Called to Care Ministry Leader, by calling the church office.