April 4, 2019
Greetings!
This Week:
 Friday 4/5: OA at 9 am, Alanon at 7 pm, Twelve Angry Jurors performance at 7:30 pm
Saturday 4/6: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am, Twelve Angry Jurors performance at 7:30 pm
Sunday 4/7: Confirmation Class at 8:15 am, 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, Messy Church at 4:30 pm, OA at 7 pm
Monday 4/8: Hooks and Needles at 7pm, AA at 7:30 pm
Wednesday 4/10: Be Still and Know 12 Step Meeting at 4 pm, Carillon Handbell Choir at 7:30 pm
Thursday 4/11: Chancel Choir Rehearsal at 7:30 pm
Friday 4/12: OA at 9 am,Spiritual Directors at 10 am, Junior High Lock-in starts at 7 pm, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 4/13: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am, Junior High Lock-in ends at 10 am, Conservatory recital at 6 pm
Sunday 4/14: Confirmation Class at 8:15 am, Adult Education: Chaos and Kingdom at 8:30 am, Palm Sunday Worship at 10 am, All Teams Meeting at 11:15 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, Ring & Sing/Treble Choir at 11:15 am, Open and Affirming Anniversary Planning Meeting at 5:30 pm, OA at 7 pm
Food Pantry
In April. please bring kitchen supplies like aluminum foil, plastic wrap, sandwich or freezer bags, non-stick spray, salt, pepper, spices, or vanilla extract. Any shelf-stable foods are always welcome.
Messy Church
The next Messy Church is this Sunday from 4:30 to 6 pm in the Dining Room. We will explore the theme of Healthy Body, Healthy Soul through hands on activities, message, music and food. If you are willing to assist with Messy Church or have questions please contact Amanda Ries .
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 April 8 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.
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 .
Junior High Lock In and 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 April and May. The first gathering in April will be an overnight lock-in at the church with games, food, and more! Email Nick at nicholas.redmond@gmail.com to RSVP and get a permission slip. All 6-8th grade youth and their friends are welcome at all events.
·      Friday, April 12 at 7 pm to Saturday, April 13 at 10 am - Junior High Lock-In
·      Sunday, April 28 from 6:30 to 8 pm - Junior High Youth Group
·      Sunday, May 5 from 6:30 to 8 pm - Junior High Youth Group
·      Sunday, May 19 from 6:30 to 8 pm - Junior High Youth Group
Green Team - Tip
A bill currently in Springfield (HB2076) would protect the environment from BPA in receipts. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that impacts the health of all people. Receipts printed on thermal paper (the shiny type) contain BPA and should not be put in recycling. Unfortunately, the alternative is sending them to the landfill. If given a choice, opt for a digital receipt.

Household Waste Collection
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.

Green Team Meeting
Note change of date and time: The Green Team will meet in the Drawing Room Kitchen at 9:00 am on April 14 to plan the April 28 environmental fair. All are welcome!

2019 Earth Day T-Shirt
Team Sierra and Parks Project are excited to share the exclusive 2019 Earth Day t-shirt! Create a fundraising page with Team Sierra and ask your friends and family to donate to protect our planet on your behalf. Raise $35 or more to earn your shirt. Show off your shirt while you celebrate our planet on Earth Day weekend, April 19-22. Go for a hike, host a planting party, or clean up your local park.
Create your fundraising page here .
Preparing for Easter
Would you like to help transform our sanctuary for Easter? Bring flowers with you to Easter Sunday service to be added to our living cross, or come to the sanctuary on Good Friday at 2:00 pm. We are assembling a crew to help with many tasks. If you can help with this wonderful transformation, please contact Janet Bednar .
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.
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 .
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!
Open and Affirming Celebration
The 20 th Anniversary of Open and Affirming happens in June this year. If you’d like to help plan a celebration, please join us on April 14th at 6 pm in the Pastor's Study.
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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Developing Partners
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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.
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 Tom Pitman.
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.