News of the Church

worship and children’s/youth ministry

We gather for worship on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Recordings of the services can be found at www.fpclg.org/sermons for those who are unable to attend. You can also subscribe to "FPCLG Sermons" as podcasts through iTunes or your favorite content distributor.

Cross Trainers for grades 5-8, Faith Forest for grades K-4 and Noah’s Ark Preschool for ages 2-5 meet during the 10:00 a.m. service. Nursery care is also available for infants and toddlers.

Our TUXIS High School Youth Group meets on Sunday evenings during the school year from 7:00-8:15 p.m. in the third floor youth room.

Visit our Children’s Ministry and Youth Ministry pages for more information.

Advent Conspiracy Offering for Stronghold

Over a decade ago, a few pastors lamented how they’d come to the end of an Advent season exhausted and sensing they’d missed it—the awe-inducing, soul-satisfying mystery of the incarnation.

They noticed how we struggled to find the connection between our Christmas to-do lists and the story of Jesus’ birth. The time of year when focusing on Christ should be the easiest was often the hardest. And somehow, this had become the new normal. So they came up with the Advent Conspiracy tenets—Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All—to guide themselves, their families and congregations through the Christmas season, making the Advent story personal again. That first Christmas they raised enough money for a water-well in West Africa. Over the last decade, thousands of churches have embraced Advent Conspiracy and celebrated with more relational traditions, partnered with more organizations, and channeled more resources to the poor, marginalized and forgotten. Advent Conspiracy is about the entire body of Christ telling the story of Jesus to the watching world. (https://adventconspiracy.org/)

FPCLG's Mission and Outreach Committee has selected Stronghold Retreat Center as this year’s recipient of our Advent Conspiracy Offering. Stronghold has provided our congregation a place to separate a bit from the constant barrage of input we receive in our everyday lives, and focus on tending to each other and our faith. It has given our members the opportunity to share intergenerational fellowship and worship, work alongside our neighboring congregation in Elmhurst on joint work trips, and has particular meaning to our youth, who often cite it as a highlight of their FPCLG experience. You can read more about Stronghold’s history in today’s Minister’s Monday Musing. The mission of Stronghold continues the spirit of Advent Conspiracy throughout the year, so your kind support will help a legacy of generosity and community.

You can contribute using the designated envelopes in the pew racks in Sunday worship, by mailing or dropping off your contribution to the Church Office, or through our Online Giving page.

Advent Devotionals

Advent Conspiracy pastors and church leaders from around the world have compiled devotionals with the prayer that the scriptures provided will help you find time to worship fully this Advent:

There’s a reason Worship Fully is the first tenet of Advent Conspiracy. We believe that when our hearts are oriented towards Christ, the rest of the tenets will fall into place. The way we spend, give, and love will radically change when it comes from a place of true worship.

You can follow along with the daily reading plan at https://adventconspiracy.org/devotionals/.

christmas joy offering

One of four annual special offerings of the PC(USA), the Christmas Joy Offering will be received through the end of December. The Christmas Joy Offering distributes gifts equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions to provide critical financial support to church workers and their families and to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color to provide education and leadership development. Contributions may be made using the designated offering envelope in the pew rack at the December 24 and 29 services or through our Online Giving page.

Commuter Concert series

Stop by on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., and you'll be in for a treat. Free-will donations go entirely to participating musicians. Invite a friend or neighbor, and meet us in the Sanctuary. You can also support our Commuter Concert Series through our Online Giving page.

COFFEETIME AFTER COMMUNION

On the first Sunday of each month, we share in Communion during worship and coffeetime and fellowship after the service in the Narthex. Regular and decaf coffee are provided. 

Volunteers are invited to sign up to host and provide a treat, such as doughnut holes, for one of the coffeetimes. If desired, you could also provide an additional beverage option (juice, pop, fun creamer flavors, etc.). Sign up on your own, as a family or with a group.

Contact the Church Office or use the SignUp Genius to pick a date to host. Thank you!

CLIMATE ISSUES Study GROUP

A new group is meeting on the first Thursday of each month at 7:45 p.m. in Westminster Hall to discuss climate issues. We are using a curriculum prepared by the Presbyterian Women of the PC(USA). Books cost $15 each. Please contact Betty McGinnis or the Church Office to sign up.

Provide a Dinner for Neighbors in Need

Constance Morris House is part of Pillars Community Health and serves those affected by domestic violence. After extensive renovations this past year, the residents returned to the facility this summer. Constance Morris is in need of dinners for their 20 residents, and FPCLG has the opportunity to help meet this need on the first and third Thursday of each month. This is a great activity to do as a family or with friends, and you are welcome to use the church kitchen for preparation and fellowship if signing up as a group. A main dish and side plus dessert (fruit is great) to feed 20 people can be dropped off anytime before 5:00 p.m. There is no need to worry about food allergies or restrictions. When asked what meals are preferred, the response was, “Prepare something you'd bring to your own family gathering.” You can view the schedule here to see available dates. Please contact the Church Office at admin@fpclg.org for more information or to sign up!

Magazine Collection

Our Board of Deacons is collecting magazines with lots of pictures (not technical info) for use at an area nursing home's memory care unit. Examples are People, National Geographic, Better Homes & Gardens, etc. Please place donations in the blue bin in the Ashland Ave. vestibule.  

"Buy a Part, Be a Part"

Our “Buy a Part, Be a Part” fundraising campaign for our Living Waters mission in El Salvador provides the opportunity to fund a specific piece of the water purification system that will be installed for our next partner community in El Salvador. Click here to visit our Living Waters Webstore and sponsor a piece of the system!

Reminder to Save Pop Tabs

Pop tabs from cans are collected in a labeled drawer in our 'recycling center' in the east cloister and delivered to Ronald McDonald House, which receives the market value of the recycled metal plus a charitable match from United Scrap Metal to support their mission of providing a home away from home for families who have a child in the hospital. Little things like pop tabs can make a big difference!

Drop Off Your Food Pantry Donations

Food donations (of both non-perishable items AND fresh produce!) for the local food pantry may be placed in the bin in the Ashland Ave. vestibule of the church. In addition to food, the pantry gratefully accepts donations of toiletries and other non-food items. We feature an "item of the month" to highlight some of these needed supplies. December’s item of the month is disposable diapers.

“YOU ARE LOVED” COMFORT CARE TOTES 

Many thanks to our generous congregation for supporting the “You Are Loved” Comfort Care Totes project for people going through cancer treatment. If you are aware or become aware of anyone of any age to whom you would like to give one of these totes, please let your deacon know or contact the Church Office.

2024 “PER CAPITA” AMOUNT IS $36.50

Each year, PC(USA) churches pay to support the work of their Presbytery, Regional Synod and National General Assembly based on each church’s total membership. You help us to cover this cost by paying the $36.50 per capita amount for each member of our church in your household. Per capita contributions may be made through our website or sent in to the Church Office. Contact Rick Foulke at 708.354.0771 or rfoulke@fpclg.org with questions.  

CLICK TO GIVE

Online giving on our website allows you to make one-time donations or set up recurring payments by charging your checking account, savings account or credit card through one of the industry leading vendors for secure payment processing. A confirmation e-mail is sent to you for each gift, and a record of your gifts is also visible to you. It is very quick and easy. To make an online gift, click this link. There is no need to set up an account, but taking a few minutes to do so will make it easier to track your giving history as well as make subsequent or recurring gifts. You can also complete our direct debit authorization form to set up recurring payments directly from your account.