The Good Shepherd
Starting this week, we take a big turn in our Easter-tide, the name for the liturgical season of Easter. This week, we begin a 4-week journey through the Gospel of John as we remember some of the highlights of Jesus' ministry with his Disciples, especially the last few weeks with them. We'll hear themes about vines and branches, true friends, and a prayer that we may all be one.
This week, we start that series with a passage of scripture where Jesus identifies himself as The Good Shepherd, one who cares for his sheep (which means us). This pastoral image would have been immediately relatable for people in Jesus' context, and they would have understood his message clearly. For our context, we will ask "who are the shepherds we know?" and "are we really any comparison to sheep?" Hope to see you this week in person or online.
Sunday, April 21st 10am
Please note that due to Facebook's policy changes,
we are now required to post our service to Facebook
AFTER it is finished.
If you prefer watching us live,
visit us at our YouTube link below.
Thank you!
Memorial for Sandy Burke on Saturday, April 20th
On Saturday, April 20th, we will hold a memorial for Sandy Burke. The service will be at 11am with a visitation starting at 10:30am. Rev. Michael Mann and Rev. Wesley Dickson will be presiding.
There will also be a visitation the night before at Brust Funeral Home from 4-8pm.
Join Magdalene House for their Second Annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 20th, in the Fellowship Hall.
Pancakes will be served starting at 9am until 1pm.
Please note that we will also be holding Sandra Burke's funeral during this time and the funeral will be in the sanctuary while this event will be in the Fellowship Hall.
The Auction for Mission will be May 5th!
The Grillin' for Missions Auction team is excited to present this year's event on Sunday, May 5. We have many wonderful donated items which will be featured in our silent and live auctions, and on our flat rate purchase table. We also have more than 90 gift cards donated by members and local business which will be sold prior to and during the event.
Once you sign up for the auction, you receive a "paddle number" which you can use to bid for gift cards, silent auction items, or live auction items.
Bidding on silent auction items begins on April 28! Come to the chapel to see all that's available and begin your bidding! There is an amazing variety of items ranging in value from $5 to $200. The gift cards and flat rate purchase items are available that day also. TIP: Get those gift cards spoken for that day. They are very popular!!
Everything culminates on Sunday, May 5 with the Grillin' for Missions Lunch, final bidding on silent auction items, the final purchases of gift cards and flat rate items, and the LIVE AUCTION. All this happens downstairs in Fellowship Hall.
Everything culminates on Sunday, May 5 with the Grillin' for Missions Lunch, final bidding on silent auction items, the final purchases of gift cards and flat rate items, and the LIVE AUCTION. All this happens downstairs in Fellowship Hall.
Live auction items include a pair of Cubs tickets (with parking!), a Weber kettle grill, fudge, Pick the Sermon Topic, fudge, a quilt, Cooper's Hawk Lux Trio, DQ monthly treats for a year, custom-made Village of Lombard Street sign, banana bread, VIP church parking, Choose the Hymns, and Portokalopita, a delicious orange cake.
Don't forget that we have events throughout the year. Sign up for events in the hallway each Sunday before church. Bring your calendars! There are many opportunities for fun, fellowship, and enrichment! Don't miss out!
Don't forget that we have events throughout the year. Sign up for events in the hallway each Sunday before church. Bring your calendars! There are many opportunities for fun, fellowship, and enrichment! Don't miss out!
New Sign-Up Tools
This week, we will be beginning two new sign-up tools to volunteer to be a liturgist or to sign up for Coffee&. The Liturgist helps to lead us in our call to worship and opening prayer each week. They also help us by serving communion on communion Sundays. The Coffee& sign-up invites a person or group to prepare the coffee and bring some tasty treat for all to enjoy. Please volunteer and help to make worship special for everyone!
Church Photo Directory
September 10th
On Tuesday, September 10th, our church will be taking photos for our new church directory. Please hold that day, Tuesday, September 10th, as a time to meet at church for those photos. In May, we will be sending out a way to sign up for your photo slot. There will be an opportunity to purchase photos afterwards if desired, but you do NOT need to pay to have your photo in our church directory. Please join us!
Vacation Bible School
Monday, June 24th - Friday, June 28th
8:30am-12:00pm
First Congregational Church
535 Forest Avenue
Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137
Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137
This year's theme is Operation Restoration: Mending God's World
Join a number of congregations who are pooling our resources to offer kids in our area a unique Vacation Bible School experience. Much like a day camp, children will learn about bible stories, mending actions, and explore ways to live out faith in daily life.
Cost is $25 for first participant and $15 for each additional. Scholarships available!
Spots can fill up quickly, so sign up soon!
Week at a Glance
Saturday, April 20th
9:00am Pancake Breakfast (Fellowship Hall)
10:30am Visitation (Sanctuary)
11:00am Funeral (Sanctuary)
Sunday, April 21st
8:30am Adult Sunday School (library)
10:00am Worship and children’s church
11:00am Coffee & (parlor)
Acolytes: David & Ruthie
Tuesday, April 23rd
6:30pm Trustees (library)
6:30pm SPRC (parlor)
7:00pm Two Rivers Nation (Cub Scouts – 3rd floor ed.)
Wednesday, April 24th
6:30pm Finance (library)
Thursday, April 25th
6:15pm Choir Rehearsal (chapel)
7:15pm Bell Choir Rehearsal (youth lounge)
Sunday, April 28th
8:30am Adult Sunday School (library)
10:00am Worship and children’s church
11:00am Coffee & (parlor)
Acolytes: Ella & Angie
The General Conference of the United Methodist Church will meet starting next week. About 862 delegates from across the globe will gather in Charlotte, North Carolina, to vote on the policies and procedures of the United Methodist Church as a whole.
This gathering usually takes place every four years, but 2020 was not held due to the pandemic. The policies and procedures that guide us (called our Book of Discipline) is re-written each time this body meets through specific legislation submitted to improve or change the Book of Discipline.
You may hear about only a few pieces of legislation being considered next week, but there are over 1400 petitions to be considered. Those petitions wind their way through committees for a full week
before the full gathering will consider them. Expect the next week to be relatively quiet before we receive more definitive answers the following week.
For a beginner's guide to General Conference, visit this link. For updates each day or to livestream the general plenaries, you can visit this website.
Let us be in prayer for our General Conference as it meets next week!
Weekly Update on
Merger Process with Calvary: Villa Park
As we reported last month, Eric Haimann, Tom Price, Pat Price, and Pastor Michael continue to work with representatives of Calvary Villa Park to form a Merger Document that will spell out all of the specifics of what a potential merger could include.
Last night, this merger team met for two hours to finalize our Merger Document. That document will now be released to our Church Council for review/changes and then to the broader church. After Council has given their input, we will have a general church question and answer session(s), receive feedback, make changes, and then proceed with a vote. That process will take at least one month (after Council has given their approval). The projected date for completion is July 1st.
Become an Acolyte
Acolytes bring in the light of Christ each Sunday morning, reminding us that Christ's light is always with us. Children are accompanied by an adult to help them as they perform this essential part of worship. To sign up your child or loved one, click this link to email Pam Lohman.
The family of Pat Baker; Tom Hayes; Ellen and Mike Wolatz; Gifford Smith and Stanley Koslowski; the people of Palestine & Israel; The family of Gwen Voss; Irene and Samantha (sister and niece of Chris Marousek); The family of Sandra Burke; Ashley and Ava; Brandon
Support the Lombard Chamber 2024 Lilac Ball.
Ticket information available at LombardChamber.com
