May 14, 2020
Budget Update

Where are we financially? The COVID-19 crisis has had serious implications for our finances. Our budget is based upon receiving $7756 per week; of that, $6970 must come from donations. Our weekly giving has been as follows :
Please give what you are able to help mediate our financial situation, and thanks to those who have given.
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.

Made possible by the estate of Ginny Palansky and maintained by your gifts, offerings, and pledges.
Book Club Notice

Time on your hands? Doing extra reading these days? Please join us for the next edition of our book club on June 25 th at 7 pm. We’ll be reading A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel by Amor Towles. The story of a Russian aristocrat under house arrest (!) in Moscow during the tumult of the 1930s. This historical fiction has it all: fantastical romance, politics, espionage, parenthood and poetry. Not sure if we’ll meet in person or on Zoom – stay tuned!
GREEN TEAM

Styrofoam Recycling
Please note that the Styrofoam dropoff in Western Springs is canceled until further notice.
The new collection point for Styrofoam for our church will be at Laurie Braun’s house across the street from the church at 115 S. 6 th Avenue. Please separate the food containers from the block type foam and place in a bag or box. Laurie, Dawn Mackie, and Claudia Byrne have offered to periodically drive the foam to the Dart Container Corp. collection site in Aurora to avoid the emissions created by unnecessary trips. Please remember that all Styrofoam should be clean and that foam peanuts or popcorn are not accepted.

Green Team Tip
Your computer may go to sleep, but it’s still sucking up energy. Turn the computer and monitor off at the end of the day.
Kids Hope USA

Last fall our church continued the important mission of community outreach by setting up a Kids Hope USA program. Kids Hope is a national organization founded in 1993 which facilitates mentoring relationships with at-risk children through church-school partnerships. Through Kids Hope our church was paired with Congress Park School in Brookfield. Five mentors were trained and in February began meeting with students who were identified by school personnel as needing attention from a reliable, caring adult. Mentors met with their students one-on-one at Congress Park each Wednesday over the lunch hour. Very importantly, the program is designed to have each mentor-child relationship supported by a behind-the-scenes prayer partner and a scholarship provider. Due to the Covid-19 crisis and school closures our program has now ended for the 2019-20 school year. We have remained in touch with our contacts and students at Congress Park School and are hopeful of resuming the Kids Hope program in the future.
Thanks to everyone who helped by being part of this meaningful service program!
 
·        Linda Lauterbach who mentored a 1st grade boy, Megan Lauterbach was her prayer partner, Julia Cunningham provided the scholarship.
 
·        Dick Lauterbach who mentored a 4th grade boy, Jerry Palmer was his prayer partner, Bobbi Nunez provided the scholarship.
 
·        Susan Schwall who mentored a 6th grade girl, Angela Harrison was her prayer partner, the Harris-Schmidt family provided the scholarship.
 
·        Gail Harris-Schmidt who mentored a 6th grade girl, Nancy Heil was her prayer partner, Mike Donaldson provided the scholarship.
 
·        Kathy Donaldson who mentored a 3rd grade girl, Amanda Ries was her prayer partner, Kids Hope provided the scholarship.
 
For more information and to impact more kids, please contact Kathy Donaldson who is our Kids Hope Director.
Congratulations Sylvia Miller!

Our Member in Discernment and former Children and Youth Director, Sylvia Miller, has been approved for Ordination by the Chicago Metropolitan Association of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ. While a member of our congregation, Sylvia is currently serving as Minister of Faith Formation at Manhattan Beach Community Church in Manahattan Beach, California.
Message from Missions
Your Missions Ministry provides monetary help to many agencies, including Pillars and BEDS Plus, both are providing needed services during this pandemic.
 
Need Help?
Pillars Community Health is maintaining a COVID-19 Coping Help Line at 708-995-3898.
 
Want to Help?
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 .
Music News

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 .

Joyful Noise Virtual Orchestra
Pentecost will be celebrated on May 31 and your instrumental talents are needed to bring even more spirit to the hymns. Players will be emailed sheet music to practice, followed by a “play-along” track to record with proper tempo. Two deadlines: let Ryan know by Wednesday, May 20 if you would like to participate, and recordings are due by 6 pm on May 26 . 
Week at a Glance: May 14 to May 24

Sunday (May 17)
10 am: Worship ( www.fcclg.org/videos )
10:45 am: Virtual Coffee Hour (Zoom)
Monday (May 18)
7:30 pm: Alcoholics Anonymous
Sunday (May 24)
10 am: Worship ( www.fcclg.org/videos )
  Prayer is at the heart of our relationship with God. Please lift these friends, family, and members in your prayers.
The Bain family at the death of Carol Bain.
Emil Balz at Meadowbrook La Grange.
Laura Brown (a friend of Renee Bryant since 5th grade), and her family, lost her brother
Erik, probably due to COVID-19. She also lost her sister Lou Ann to cerebral
hemorrhage two days later.
Jim and Vi Clayton.
The family of Ron Kloss, Janet Bednar’s and Jim Kloss’ father.
Stephanie McCollough.
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 family of Richard Tobin.
Eric Wodicka, boyfriend of Erin Swan (Chris and Renee Bryant’s daughter) who was
diagnosed and hospitalized with leukemia.
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