July 6, 2018
Greetings!
From the Cutting Room Floor
Grace and peace to the hands and feet of Christ in La Grange and beyond, from Carly, called to be a servant leader amongst and beside you.

The lectionary texts offer more than can be shared in a 12 minute, 1000 word “moment” on Sunday morning. Each week, I read and study, sift and distill what the scriptures offer and assemble a large amount of verbiage and mental images that are relevant to the text. Then, when I construct the sermon, most of what I have assembled in preparation lands on the cutting room floor. 

The narrative from Mark this past Sunday was a healing story wrapped inside another healing story. The sermon focused on having the heart, the faith, the courage to persist in the midst of hopelessness. But I’d like to share with you snippets of what landed on the cutting room floor (more)

This Week:
Friday 7/6: OA at 9 am, Be Still and Know 12 Step at 4 pm, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 7/7: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am
Sunday 7/8: Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, OA at 7 pm
Monday 7/9: AA for under 30s at 4:30 pm, AA at 8 pm
Wednesday 7/11: Be Still and Know 12 Step at 4 pm
Friday 7/13: OA at 9 am, Spiritual Directors at 10 am, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 7/14: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am
Sunday 7/15: Worship at 10 am, Zackley Youth Group Car Wash and Bake Sale at 11:00 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, OA at 7:00 pm
Saturday Meal Program Laundry Helpers
Thank you so much to all the SMP laundry helpers! Your help is appreciated by more people than you realize! Please sign up in the Founders' Room this summer as we continue to host the Saturday Meals Program weekly throughout the year. Again, a huge heartfelt thanks to you all!
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.
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 Positively 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 .
Zackley Car Wash
The 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.
H ooks and Needles
The 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 July 23rd at Margaret Melkonian’s house at 437 South Brainard Avenue, La Grange, IL 60525.
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 !
Food Pantry
In July we’re collecting bottled water, iced tea and juices in plastic or cardboard containers for the Second Baptist Food Pantry. Any shelf-stable items are always welcome. Thanks for your generosity!
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.
Harmony, Hope, and Healing
We have an opportunity to come together on Saturday, August 25th , when the ensemble from Harmony, Hope and Healing (HHH) presents a concert in the chapel of the Congregation of St. Joseph. Marge Nykaza, Executive Director of HHH, invites you to sing with the HHH ensemble for a truly memorable event. Experience the power of music to unite, uplift and inspire at this multi-generational, multi-cultural, ecumenical event. Click here for more information.
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
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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.
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 now in remission.
Prayers for Tom Pitman, who is living with cancer.
Prayers for Steve Roper, as he recovers from open heart surgery.
Prayers for Eva Stevens family as they suffer the loss of her father.
Prayers for Dick Tobin as he deals with several health issues.
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.