What's Happening at 
First Congregational Church
of Glen Ellyn, Il
Palm Sunday
April 5, 2020
Online Only



Music: FCCGE Choir; Handbells (previously recorded)


FCCGE Facebook Page                                                                                             
This Week at FCCGE

All worship services, programming and meetings are suspended until further notice

4/5 - You will receive a link to April 5th's worship service in your computer inbox around 10:30 am.
(The link does not have to be watched at 10:30-
it can be watched at any time in the future!)

Also our service will be online at fccge.org and on the church Facebook page around 10:30 am every Sunday

FCCGE App Now Available
Church in Your Pocket
After a year's worth of work, our app is available! Simply go to the Apple Store or Google Play and search "First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn" to download your free app. Access sermon podcasts, worship videos, events, our calendar, Giving and more.
Holy Week

Tenebrae means “shadows,” and for centuries, Christians have held tenebrae services during Holy Week, gradually extinguishing candles in the sanctuary. At the same time, an Advent wreath is a time-honored practice of worshiping at home, lighting candles of hope, peace, joy, and love. Read more and access your devotional.
Adorn Our Sanctuary and Your Easter Table
Pick Up April 11th 12-2 pm

We are continuing to take flower orders to decorate the sanctuary for our online services, Sunday bulletin dedications and your homes. Choices include: lily ($11.95), azalea ($20) and hydrangea ($24.50).  You can pick up your flowers outside the parking lot doors on Saturday, April 11th from 12pm - 2pm (*new hours) .

To order please contact  Jennifer Darnall  at 708.712.3712. and submit payment to the church office by mailing to 535 Forest Ave. Glen Ellyn, Il. 60137 . Please indicate "Easter Flowers" in the memo line.  Orders must be received by Monday, April 6th *new deadline .
Palms, Holy Week Devotional and C rucifixion Nail Available for
Pick-Up
Sat. April 4, 11 am - 4 pm

Each year our Church starts Holy Week, as Jesus did, with a symbolic parade of palms through the Church grounds and building, gathering to worship in the Sanctuary. While that isn’t possible this year, we invite the Congregation to pick up your palms, a Holy Week printed Devotional and a crucifixion nail between 11 am and 4 pm on Saturday. We will have volunteers in the parking lot who will hand these items to you through a car window in order to minimize contact. We also ask that you try to coordinate the pick-up of these items with friends and neighbors (leaving them on doorsteps where possible) in order minimize traffic and congregating.
Stay Connected
Fireside Chats
Weekly Musing from
Pastor Seth

Every Wednesday, Pastor Seth will share his latest Fireside Chat from, well, eh, his "fireside". These short and entertaining videos will update you on FCCGE happenings and simply be a weekly check-in on all of you.



Uniting Together-Helping Others
Care Notes for Families


CareNotes are written for people dealing with intensely emotional situations who are looking for concise, easy-to-read guidance and support. These wellness-oriented booklets address real-life emotional, psychological and spiritual needs. Click here for Care Notes available from FCCGE. If you would like to receive one or more of these Care Notes for your family, please email Cathy Basso , Youth Education Coordinator to request.
Care for Our PADS Guests-How You Can Help!

DuPage PADS has been making adjustments in how they are caring for our homeless population. You can help easily by donating supplies or funds that they will use to care for these precious souls. Consider making this small effort to make a huge difference in someone's life. Read more here on how you can donate supplies. Donate funds here.
Want to Help? Here's How!

Many of you lovely folks have asked how you can help others in this time of great need. We have relationships with wonderful organizations that could use assistance in many ways. Please contact them through the following links:


Donate Food
Support
Be the Church Campaign Update

Many thanks to everyone who has participated in our Be the Church annual fund drive. At this time, we have collected 200 pledges and $817,187   towards our $1,000,000 goal. This will help us to support staff and ministries that make a real impact in our community. If you still intend to pledge, you can submit your pledge by by mail or send your pledge via e-mail . Blank forms are available by clicking here and on the church website under GIVE>Be the Church Annual Fund 2020-21 or upon request by e-mail or US mail .You can also give online to your annual fund 2020-21 through our secure portal here . Anyone who is set up for automatic giving (via credit card or checking account) and has not yet turned in their pledge for 2020-21, will automatically renew for the 2020-21 church fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2020. If you wish to make any changes to your automatic payments, please contact the church office (or 630-469-3096 ext. 10).
Thank you for helping us to Be the Church. 
New Option for Your Giving

Credit card merchants and banks charge us a surcharge for every online transaction and you, as the giver, now have the option to cover those fees when you give online to FCCGE. For instance, say you pledge $2000/yr, FCC actually only gets $1945 of your pledge. This year we will be paying credit card companies nearly $13,000 in fees, $13,000 that could go to FCC and it's missions. Simply check the box that says " Optional: - Give additional 2.75% to help offset the processing fee" or "Cover Fees" on our online platforms and your full gift will be received by FCCGE. If you have our office enter your giving info, please let us know that we can set it to have you cover those fees by contacting Laura or calling her at 630.469.3096 X 10.
Giving During the Interim

We have a number of options for you to give during this interim period of At-Home Church:
Virtual Coffee Hour
You're Invited!
11:30 am Sundays

Missing your FCCGE friends on Sunday mornings? Well, we have a solution! Join us for Virtual Coffee Hour! It's easy, click on the link below and join our faith community for some Sunday morning chit chat. We had 45 peeps stop in and out last Sunday and it was so fun seeing everyone's faces and/or hearing their voices! Sorry, we haven't figured out how to send you a virtual cup of coffee, so you're on your own for that :-). You can choose to hear only the voices of others or have your computer camera on. You can also connect via your cell or home phone. Instructions are in the link. Join by clicking here: https://zoom.us/j/656163261
(The first time you go in on your computer, it will ask you to download ZOOM to use this free service).
Worship DVDs Available

We are recording a full worship service every week and posting it on our website , but if would like a DVD of the service each week, e-mail us or leave a voicemail message at the church office at (630-469-3096 ext. 14) and we will mail one to you each week.
Pastor Availability
Pastors Kendra and Seth want you to know that even though we cannot gather face-to-face together for awhile, they are available by phone if you need to talk, share news or just check in.

Seth: 630.207.0118
Kendra: 704.798.7083
Like Us on Facebook and Keep in Touch with Others!
MUSIC
Stay connected with FCCGE Music

Families, Youth and Children
    Community Vacation Bible School, 
  June 22-26, 2020

This year's VBS will be hosted at First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn from 9:00 am to noon, June 22-26, in partnership with Grace Lutheran and Faith Lutheran for participants age 4 thru rising 5th graders - online registration is now live right here .
At-Home
“Pajama Church
School "
 Sunday Mornings

Please check your e-mail for information and resources for at-home “Pajama Church School" and Confirmation lessons, online resources, and spiritual practices for families.  If you are not receiving these e-mails or if you have friends who would like to receive them as well, please visit our church website , click on the Youth drop-down menu and select “Youth Registration Form.” You may also contact Catherine Curtis , Director of Christian Education.
[535 Forest Ave.]  [630.469.3096]  [ info@fccge.org ]  [ fccge.org ]