June 21, 2018
Greetings!
Ask the Question
We ran out of time for a number of questions asked in worship on April 15. Here is the next installment on responses to those questions.

You have been here almost 5 years. How much have we changed? What still surprises you about us?

As of today, June 21, I have been the pastor and teacher of FCCLG for 4 years, 2 months, and 2 weeks! I jumped in with both feet running during the busiest week of the Christian year: my first Sunday was Palm Sunday, April 7, 2014. I came with a specific call to lead the congregation into being a 21 st Century church by following through with the Alban Plan the congregation had adopted in the previous pastorate before I arrived. The plan involved a major change in the structure of the congregation’s leadership, increased lay leadership in each … (More)
This Week:
Friday 6/22: OA at 9 am, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 6/23: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am
Sunday 6/24: Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, OA at 7 pm
Monday 6/25: AA for under 30s at 7 pm, Tiny Toes Music at 5:30 pm, Hooks & Needles at 7:30, AA at 8 pm
Wednesday 6/27: Be Still and Know 12 Step at 4 pm, Council at 7 pm
Friday 6/29: OA at 9 am, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 6/30: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am
Sunday 6/17: Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, OA at 7:00 pm
What Makes your Heart Sing?
Ministry is the work of each of us. Where would you like to focus your time, energy, and passions to be a part of God's Revolutionary Love and Extravagant Grace?   Tell us here!  Our Volunteer Coordinator will link you with others with the same interests.
Google Reviews
If you love FCCLG and want to help us reach out to others, write a Google Review. This is a fast and easy way to help us grow.  Click here to get there.
Thank You! 
A huge thank you to Jerry Palmer and his team of wizards and wonders who readied the offices on the main floor for our newest space sharing partner to move into. They emptied the space, replaced carpet, fixed electrical issues, repaired a window, painted, re-keyed the doors, and made the space GORGEOUS! Thank you to Amy Crumrine, Steve Lester and his daughter, Dick Lauterbach, Petra Palmer, and Mike Ries. Well done, good and faithful children of God!
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? Ryan will work to find an ensemble for you. Please contact Ryan Cox to sign-up.

First Conservatory: 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, violin, viola, cello, and bass. Other instruments could be made available with interest. Click here to visit the website.

Tiny Toes Music: Babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers also have a great opportunity in our building. Tiny Toes Music is the local offering for Music Together, known internationally for educating little ones and their guardians together. Click here for the website.
Styrofoam Recycling
The Green Team offers church attendees the opportunity to properly dispose of their styrofoam waste for recycling. Please look for the recycling box in the Founders Room, and bring your styrofoam packaging, cups, and food containers before the 1st Saturday of each month. They will be taken to the Western Springs recycling program. The next collection will be July 7th.
H ooks and Needles
The next summer meetings will be in our homes. The knitting and crocheting ministry meets at 7pm on the 4th Monday of the month, June through August. Please call Claudia Byrne at 708-205-1409 or email if you have any questions. Next meeting is June 25 th at Barbara Hultman’s house at 4739 S. Johnson Ave. Western Springs, IL 60558.
Nurturing Spirits
Summer Musical Camp
Rescue in the Night! -- Featuring Lions! Daniel! and God! coming to Music Camp 2018. This awesome opportunity to sing, play, learn, and have fun will be July 23rd-July 27th from 2-6 p.m. Performances will be July 27th at 7pm and July 29th at 10am. See Ryan Cox, or email him for registration information. Click on the image for the registration brochure !
BEDS PLUS
We are presently in need of volunteers to help staff our summer shelter. Summer shelter is a bit more informal and a great opportunity to share a shift with a friend or family member, work with more flexible schedules, and try one or a few shifts without having to commit to a monthly shift. If you are interested in volunteering - please visit the link below. It is a sign-up genius link where you can sign up for one or multiple shifts that fit into your summer schedules. Last year, the summer transitional shelter was instrumental in housing many of our chronically homeless clients in the fall. BEDS could not provide these services and success stories without each volunteer's devotion and commitment.
 
Why summer shelter?
Many individuals believe that being exposed to the elements is difficult on the homeless during the winter months. However, during the summer, extreme heat and the loss of stability can be detrimental to the health and the ability to house vulnerable individuals.
Last year BEDS was able to house 9 chronically homeless individuals at the end of the summer. Clients can often decline without shelter and need to start their progress over when they return in the fall. Summer Transitional Shelter provided consistency, support, and safety for these vulnerable individuals.

Zackley Car Wash
IThe Zackleys are having a car wash to raise money for the Boundary Waters trip. Bring your car to the back parking lot on Sunday, July 15th, starting immediately after church until around 3:00. We will also be selling a variety of baked goods.
Food Pantry
In June, we are collecting canned meat and beans, or any shelf-stable items for the Second Baptist Food Pantry. Thank you!
Messy Church
The next Messy Church will be August 5th. See you then!
Back to School Already?
It's not too soon to be watching for sales on school supplies to help out the LeaderShop's annual school supply drive. They are seeking contributions of supplies to be distributed at their School Supply Distribution and Resource Fair, where local students and their families can learn about community resources and collect school supplies for the upcoming year. Contributions of all school supplies are appreciated, but the top 10 most needed items are: binders, washable markers, dry erase markers, wide ruled notebooks, packages of loose leaf paper, dual pocket folders (sturdy), school glue (stick or bottled), pens (erasable, red, black or blue), pencils, and scissors. Please place your donations in the collection box at the 6th Avenue entrance now through August 12 th . Thank you for your generosity!
Evening Book Club
Ever wonder what it was like to be part of a top-secret government project during WWII? Come join us August 23 for a discussion of The Girls of Atomic City - The untold story of the women who helped win World War II by Denise Kiernan. Could you have done what they did for the war effort? All are welcome - we meet in the Chapel Family Room at 7:30.
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
Give to FCCLG when you shop on Amazon! Click the logo for our Amazon Smile page.
  Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God. Please lift these friends, family, and members in your prayers.
Thoughts and prayers for the family and friends of Maria Balz, who died on May 19th.
Prayers for the Clayton family.
Dick Lauterbach, recovering from surgery.
Renee Meier, who is dealing with cancer.
Prayers for Margaret Melkonian.
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.
For Vera Weiss to regain her strength and fight cancer.
Brian White, who awaits healing.
Those living in fear and without hope, and those who use fear to control others.
Those killed, the injured, and their families in acts of violence.
Children at the border.