March 21, 2019
Greetings!
This Week:
 Friday 3/22: OA at 9 am, Galaxy Theater rehearsal at 6:30 pm, Alanon at 7 pm
Saturday 3/23: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am, Evelyn Biegert memorial at 2 pm
Sunday 3/24: Adult Education: Chaos and Kingdom at 8:30 am, Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, Ring and Sing/Treble Choir at 11:15 am, Called to Care at 11:30 am, OA at 7 pm
Monday 3/25: Galaxy Theater rehearsal at 6:30 pm, Hooks and Needles at 7pm, AA at 7:30 pm
Tuesday 3/26: Galaxy Theater rehearsal at 6:30 pm
Wednesday 3/27: Be Still and Know 12 Step Meeting at 4 pm, Galaxy Theater rehearsal at 6:30 pm, Carillon Handbell Choir at 7:30 pm
Thursday 3/28: Galaxy Theater rehearsal at 6:30 pm, Chancel Choir Rehearsal at 7:30 pm
Friday 3/29: OA at 9 am, Galaxy Theater performance at 7:30 pm, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 3/30 Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am, Conservatory recital at 3 pm, Galaxy Theater performance at 7:30 pm
Sunday 3/31: Adult Education: Chaos and Kingdom at 8:30 am, Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, Ring & Sing/Treble Choir at 11:15 am, Galaxy Theater performance at 2 pm, OA at 7 pm
Food Pantry
It’s paper products month! In March, we’re collecting paper towels, napkins, diapers, and bath and facial tissue for the Second Baptist Food Pantry. Non-perishable foods are always welcome as well. Thank you for your generosity.
Hooks and Needles
Hooks and Needles makes prayer shawls and baby blankets for the church, and blankets and newborn hats for Pillars Community Health in La Grange for new moms. If you would like to make any of these, whether or not you can attend the 2nd and 4th Monday get-togethers at the church, we would be delighted to pick up your crocheted or knitted items!

Hooks & Needles will meet next on March 25 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.
One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing is on March 31 this year. This is a special Mission offering of the UCC. By making a donation you will help fund the UCC’s ministries both locally and internationally that assist refugees and people displaced in war-affected countries throughout the world. It assists those who have been hit by disasters like tornadoes in the South and California’s wildfires. The international assistance goes to training and housing those who are displaced and rebuilding their homes, villages, and livelihoods in Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Carib bean.
Please give generously to help those in need! You can write a check any Sunday in March, with OGHS in the memo line, and we will add it to our offering. Thank you for sharing with others the love of God and his abundant blessings worldwide!
Easter Lilies
Are you ready to order a lily to grace the sanctuary Easter morning? You may come to the office or Founders’ Room after worship through April 10th. The cost is $13.50 per lily, and it is yours to take home after the Easter service .
Easter Morning Breakfast
Join us on Easter Sunday for breakfast of eggs, ham, sausage, potatoes, pancakes, fruit, baked goods, coffee, milk, and orange juice from 8:30 am to 9:55 am in the Founders Room. We look forward to seeing you! Remember there will be no coffee hour after the service.
Special Opportunities to Sing
On May 19 the Chancel Choir and friends will sing Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms as the Choral Sermon. Rehearsals will begin after Easter and take place on Thursday evening and Saturday morning. This will be a multi-generational choir and all singers 3 rd grade and up are welcome. It’s a challenging piece and I’m confident we can do it! For our younger singers, participation in the Treble Choir is preferred. We will also perform the piece the afternoon of May 19 at Oak Trace Retirement Community in Downers Grove. Please contact Ryan Cox for the complete schedule and to say yes to singing!
Green Team News
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, in conjunction with the IEPA and Brookfield Zoo will host a household waste collection day on April 13th from 8 am to 3 pm in the zoo’s north parking lot. Free zoo parking is available for participants. Click here for a list of accepted items.
Evening Book Club
We will meet next on May 2 nd at 7:30 pm to discuss Run by Ann Patchett. The Washington Post says this book is “Engaging, surprising, provocative, and moving...a thoroughly intelligent book, an intimate domestic drama that nonetheless deals with big issues touching us all: religion, race, class, politics and, above all else, family." We always have light treats and beverages!
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.
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 a parent or grandparent. Sign up in the Founders' Room or email Linda Lauterbach .
Open and Affirming Celebration
The 20 th Anniversary of Open and Affirming happens on June 23 this year. If you’d like to help plan a celebration, please see Rev. Carly.
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. 
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.
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  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.
Evelyn Kelly.
The Maley family.
Stephanie McCollough.
Prayers for Margaret Melkonian.
Chris Moe, who is in La Grange Hospital.
The family and friends of Tom Pitman.
Judy Sather.
The family and friends of Rudy Schade.
Christina Thomas, Joy Palomo-Clark's cousin, a young mother dealing with cancer.
Charlene Tobin, prayers for healing.
Prayers for Jean Tomkinson's recovery and rehab at home.
Healing for Robin Vesperman.
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. Thank you for reaching out to others. 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 someone who would like a visit from the church, please advise the minister or the office.