April 16, 2020

Week at a Glance: April 17 to April 26
Sunday (April 19)
10 am: Worship ( www.fcclg.org/videos or call 708-381-1297)
Monday (April 20)
7:30 pm: Alcoholics Anonymous
Sunday (April 26)
10 am: Worship ( www.fcclg.org/videos or call 708-381-1297)
Join Us in Virtual Worship
Click here at 10 a.m. on Sunday to watch the service or follow these instructions to watch through your Roku Device. You can also call 708-381-1297 to listen over the phone.

Made possible by the estate of Ginny Palansky and maintained by your gifts, offerings, and pledges.
MESSAGE FROM MISSIONS
Thanks to your generosity, your Missions Ministry provides monetary help to many agencies, including Pillars and BEDS Plus, both of which are providing needed services during the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Need Help?
The coronavirus pandemic is hard on everyone; for some, it can create an emotional crisis. Pillars Community Health is maintaining a COVID-19 Coping Help Line at 708-995-3898.
 
Want to Help?
People experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus. BEDS Plus has responded with measures to mitigate this risk. Some clients are in temporary housing; about 30 clients are in a 24/7 location. This excerpt from the BEDS Plus website outlines current needs:

Temporary housing and other costs from the coronavirus pandemic have strained our resources. Our response will cost more than $100,000. While our frontline staff and remaining volunteers risk their health to continue operations, you can help the vulnerable individuals and families they serve.

- Cick here to donate to our COVID-19 response efforts:
$25: one hour of shelter; $75: overnight housing; $125: shelter meal; $500: shelter night

- Click here to directly provide shelf-stable meals and other essentials,

BEDS Plus is also encouraging residents to contact state legislators and county commissioners to advocate for aid to agencies providing homeless services. Complete information can be found on the BEDS Plus website at beds-plus.org.
Book club via Zoom
UPDATE: Our ZOOM meeting will be on Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 pm in your living room. Our selection is Isaac's Storm: A Man, A Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History by Erik Larson. It's the story of the 1900 hurricane that inundated Galveston, TX and is told largely from the perspective of Isaac Cline, who was the senior U.S. Weather Bureau official in Galveston at the time. If you are new to the book club, please contact Linda Lauterbach at lslauterbach@gmail.com for the meeting code. It will be sent to regulars. You may serve yourself snacks or beverages!
Exploring Membership
Official welcoming of new members is postponed for the time being, but everyone is always welcome to join us, in whatever way available!
Gardening, Anyone?
Carly has available 4'x4' raised beds for organic gardening in the yard of the parsonage. If you like to garden but don't have the space, see Carly for more information.
Thrive with Pride Cafe
Thrive with Pride Cafe meetings will be postponed until a later date. Thank you for your understanding.
Youth Group Meetings
Youth group meetings will be postponed until a later date. Thank you for your understanding.
Green Team News
Green Tips:
 1) As of 3/3/20, the EPA has a list of disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease such as Clorox, Lysol, and Purell products; click here for more info.

2) Can’t get to the store to buy a greeting card for someone’s special day? Make one using these ideas:
 
Write poetry. Perhaps you can craft a haiku for Mother's Day , or something without a specific structure. Just try it!
 
Music News
Calling All Musicians
Have you been inspired by the virtual choirs and soloists seen in our church services or on Facebook and Youtube? Let's take that inspiration and add it to an upcoming FCCLG worship service. Please contact Ryan if you would like to sing or play. He will work with you to select music and how to best lend your talents to our services through audio or video recordings. This is a great opportunity for musicians of all ages.

Friends of Music
Our church is fortunate to have a vibrant music program with volunteers as the cornerstone. Augmenting our volunteers with guest players and singers for special services is made possible through the Friends of Music fund. Choral Sermons, Easter and Christmas Eve musicians, as well as regular Sunday morning guests would not be possible without these gifts. The 2020 giving drive has begun and brochures are being mailed. If you do not receive one, or would like to learn more, please ask Ryan Cox .

FCCLG: 140 Years and Counting!
March 2021 marks our 140th anniversary and we'll start planning the celebration in October . If you'd like to help commemorate this momentous occasion, raise your hand! Better yet: Sign up in the church office.
  Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God. Please lift these friends, family, and members in your prayers.
Emil Balz at Meadowbrook La Grange.
Jim and Vi Clayton.
Nancy Heil’s friend Vanessa, a UCC member and restorative justice practitioner,
       who recently had a kidney transplant.
Ron Kloss at Plymouth Place.
Stephanie McCollough.
The family and friends of Dorothy Mackie, Dawn Mackie’s mother, who died March 10 th .
Margaret Melkonian, at home.
Sister Marlene Schemmel, Congregation of St. Joseph, as she battles kidney cancer.
Bob Taylor, who is fighting stage IV liver cancer that has spread.
The Tobin family, particularly Charlene and Jill, in the death of Richard K. Tobin.
Sarah Carr’s cousins, the Wilson family, with Liam, who was born 13 weeks early and
should be going home soon.
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.
Those in the path of COVID-19.
 
If you would like to add your loved one to the touch list with their permission, email your concern to info@fcclg.org, or text it to 708.294.3997