August 30, 2018
Greetings!

Introducing our Field Ed Students:
Marietta Herbert-Davis:
Marietta is a native of Chicago, nurtured in the Englewood and Altgeld Gardens communities. She is the oldest of six children, the mother of two adult sons, and a grandmother.
Marietta became an active member of Trinity United Church of Christ in 1988. She loves to sing and was a member of the Sanctuary Choir for 20 years as a second soprano. She answered the call to ministry and was ordained as a Deacon at Trinity in 2007 by Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. She is currently serving as a Deacon and a member of the Prayer Service Team under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III.
Marietta believes in education, “Study to show thyself approved” (2 Timothy-15). She was a Licensed Practical Nurse (William L. Dawson Institute,1980) and received a BA in English from Chicago State University (1989) BS in Nursing from Chicago State University (2002); MA in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University (2010), MDiv from Virginia Union University (2013). She is currently a Doctoral student at McCormick Theological Seminary focusing on how to meet the spiritual needs in Christian families when they are faced with daily trauma and crises. Marietta is seeking ordination under the United Church of Christ.
Favorite scripture : Isaiah 40: 28-31 (KJV)
Favorite hobbies : Swimming, fishing, traveling, and dancing.
Marietta loves being a friend, a teacher, a minister of Jesus Christ and looks forward to meeting and serving you.   
Jennifer Burney:
Jen was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church, and as an adult joined a Disciples of Christ congregation where she attended with her mother for 12 years until the church closed. She then found Pilgrim Congregational in Oak Park, a UCC church. In 2014 she answered God’s call and started her seminary journey.
Jen believes God is still speaking and calling us to work for justice. Dr. King’s words still ring with truth when he said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Jen believes we see this many times in the Bible. One of her favorite passages is Micah 6: 8, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Jen lives in Broadview with her husband of 17 years and their cat Samson.
Jen looks forward to working and worshiping with all of you over this next school year.
This Week:
Friday 8/31: OA at 9 am, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 9/1: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am
Sunday 9/2: Worship at 10 am, Fellowship Hour at 11:15 am, OA at 7 pm
Monday 9/3: AA for under 30s at 4:30 pm, AA at 8 pm
Wednesday 9/5: Be Still and Know 12 Step at 4 pm, Carillon Handbell Choir at 7:30 pm
Thursday 9/6: Chancel Choir Reharsal at 7:30 pm
Friday 9/7: OA at 9 am, Alanon at 7:30 pm
Saturday 9/8: Saturday Meals Program at 8 am, Kindermusik at 8 am
Sunday 9/9: Confirmation Class at 8:15 am, Worship at 10 am , Kick Off Picnic at 11:15 am, Work Trip Informational Meeting at 3 pm, OA at 7 pm
Kick Off Sunday
Please join us for our annual Kick-Off Sunday picnic on September 9th on the 6th Avenue lawn after worship. A broasted chicken lunch and beverages will be provided. Please bring either a side dish or a dessert to share, as follows: if your last name starts with
  • A-H, bring a dessert
  • I-P, bring a side dish
  • Q-Z, bring a snack or appetizer.
Bounce house, face painting, and visiting with new friends and old in your church family. See you there!
Add Your Blessing to our 12 Confirmands' stoles
Confirmation Students will be wearing stoles as they participate in leading worship over the 10 months of the class. We'd like everyone in the congregation to add your blessings to these stoles by writing on them. The stoles are on the table inside the Founders' Room door. NOTE: Our class grew this week from 10 to 12 students. If you have already added your blessing to the first ten stoles, please be sure to add your blessing to the two remaining stoles. If you've not yet blessed the stoles, please do.
Adult Work Trip Informational Meeting
Are you willing to put your time and energy where your heart is? It’s one thing to talk about helping others. It’s another to actually do it. 
October 20-28 are the dates of the Adult Work Trip including travel days to and from the Houston, Texas work site. We hope to have 12 adults representing our church's love to our sisters and brothers in need.
We need a wide variety of skill sets for this trip: Meal planning and preparation for site workers, site workers including folks to do cleaning, painting, carpentry, and roofing. You need only an interest; the experts on site will show us how to do it. 
Informational meeting:  Sunday, September 9 at 3 P.M . in the Drawing Room.  Register here , or sign up in the Founders’ Room.
West End Art Festival - Hot art, Cool jazz, Great wines!
The 23 rd annual West End Arts Festival is a feast for the eyes, ears, and palate with a line-up including exhibits from fine artists from throughout the Midwest, culinary demonstrations from local chefs, wine tastings led by sommeliers, and live jazz performances all weekend. This free event is on Saturday, September 8 and Sunday, September 9 along Burlington Avenue between Brainard and Waiola.
For details, visit the website or our Facebook page @WestEndArtsFest.
H ooks and Needles
The knitting and crocheting ministry meets at 7pm on the second and fourth Monday each month in the Family Room off the Chapel. The next meeting is September 10. Please call Claudia Byrne at 708-205-1409 or email her if you have questions.
Nurturing Spirits
Safe Church Training
If you’d like to work with the children and youth and have not participated in Safe Church Training in the last 18 months, please plan to attend on Sunday, September 23 at 11:30 in the Dining Room. Reservations are required.  Please click here to reserve your spot.
Confirmation Mentors – Share a Journey with our Youth
We have a large confirmation class this year and need up to 12 mentors. Are You on a Faith Journey? 
A Confirmation mentor is a friend, a confidant, and a positive force in the life of a youth. A mentor is neither parent nor peer, social worker nor savior. The main thing a mentor offers is a listening ear and an interest in your youth’s questions and explorations. You don’t have to have all the answers—in fact, one of the greatest gifts you can offer are your own honest questions. With humility, offer your youth the greatest gift you can give: yourself—warts and all.
If you would like more information about how to be a Confirmation Mentor, please contact Pastor Carly as soon as possible. Confirmation starts in September!
Parents of Confirmation Students:
Confirmation Class begins at 8:15 am and that leaves a lot of time before worship for parents to get in trouble. Maybe you'd like to spend time with other parents and explore some life and faith issues together.
The coffee and tea will be ready. We'll wrangle up some finger food or other snacks, and get to know one another.
Sound like a good idea? Would you want to join in?  Click here for a participation Survey .
Wedding Officiants and Event Coordinators Needed
We have a significant increase in the number of inquiries about weddings, memorials, and other events in our church. For all non-member events with more than 75 people expected, we require a member-host to be present to answer questions and provide direction. And, while couples may bring their own wedding officiant, some couples prefer to have someone “from the church” officiate. The state of Illinois does not require marriage officiants to be licensed or registered. So we are looking for a few good people to offer this service. If you’d like to participate in weddings as an officiant, as a wedding coordinator, or as a coordinator for other events, register for this informational even t on September 30 following worship in the Drawing Room. 
Music News
Music Program Rehearsals Start Dates
If you’d like to join an ensemble, contact Ryan Cox to be added to the mailing list for any of these programs:
Chancel Choir rehearsal begins 9/6 at 7:30pm
Carillon Handbell Choir rehearsal begins 9/5 at 7:30pm
Ring and Sing/Treble Choir rehearsal begins 9/16 at 11:15am

Tiny Toes Music
Tiny Toes Music continues its partnership with First Conservatory and is the local offering of the nationally recognized program, Music Together. This program is for children 0-6 and their guardians and meets at First Congregational on Wednesday mornings beginning September 19. More info and registration here.
Food Pantry
In September we’re collecting condiments and sauces such as BBQ sauce, syrup, mustard & ketchup, hot sauce, salad dressing, honey, gravy, etc. Any shelf-stable items are welcome, and thank you for your generosity!
Messy Church
There is no Messy Church in September. The next Messy Church will be October 7th at 4:30. See you then!
Soles4Souls
Don't toss those unwanted but still wearable shoes! The Positively Green Team encourages you to donate them to Soles4Souls, a group that distributes shoes to those in need all over the world. A drop-off location is conveniently located at Life Storage, 405 Shawmut Ave., La Grange.
Positively Green Team
Green Team Survey - what are your interests?
Help us plan activities and programs by responding to our short survey here .

Tip: Cleaning kitchen surfaces and cutting boards spray full-strength white vinegar on food prep surfaces and wipe with a clean cloth. Spray cutting boards with vinegar at night and let it evaporate overnight. Spray vinegar on cabinets and floors to deter ants.

Styrofoam Recycling
The Positively Green Team offers the opportunity to properly dispose of their styrofoam waste for recycling. Bring your clean styrofoam packaging, cups, and food containers to the closet at the bottom of the stairs near the 6th Avenue entrance.
Evening Book Club
Evening Book Club will discuss Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horwitz on October 4th at 7:30pm. Mr. Horwitz reports on modern attitudes on the Civil War and how it is discussed and taught, as well as attitudes about race. All are invited to the Family Room off the Chapel to join us for this timely discussion and light snacks.
Altar Flowers
Is there a special date coming up? There are many Sundays open in the coming months to donate altar flowers. Check the calendar in the Founders’ Room or visit the office and sign up today!
Aging Care Connections Sports Ball Gala
An evening of fun and fundraising to benefit the work of Aging Care Connections.
When: Friday, September 14 at 6:30 pm
Where: Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge - 1200 Burr Ridge Pkwy., Burr Ridge
Click here for the flyer .
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.
Emil Balz.
Prayers for the Clayton family.
Mary Clair, infant niece of Kevin Cunningham.
Renee Meier, who is dealing with cancer.
Prayers for Margaret Melkonian.
Bobbie Nunez’s new grandson, Evan Joseph Felice.
Prayers for Eva Stevens and 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.
Nana Yeboah at the death of her aunt.
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.
Table Rock Lake accident victims.
Victims of the fire in Prospect Heights.