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Grace Lutheran Church of Glen Ellyn 493 Forest Avenue at Pennsylvania

Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137 www.graceglenellyn.org

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Grace To You is the monthly newsletter of Grace Lutheran Church of Glen Ellyn.

From the Pastor:

Money and holidays. Sheesh. In over 30 years of ministry, I’ve gotten a good look at the things that are the most toxic to people’s spiritual lives—and financial worries is way high on the list. So here’s a hint: Financial stress drops a lot if you’ve just got a

plan.

Folks tell me often that they are worn not only from buying presents and food for holiday meals, but from being asked to give to everything! (Yeah—Grace is in there. Not only with our support for PADS, the Food Pantry, the Holiday Shoppe, and Undies Sunday, but there’s that darn budget....) People feel guilty, or ashamed, or resentful—none of which is really condu-cive to thanking God for the gift of Christ.

So here’s my suggestion. Decide how much you want to spend on your presents this year. Don’t “buy until you’ve got everything.” Choose a reasonable dollar amount, and make your choices based on that—whether it’s for presents or food or a tree. (For you who already do this—Good Job!)

But before you buy, try taking 10% of your gift budget and setting it aside. Planning on spending $20 for your best friend? Set aside $2 and see what you can do with $18. Then, take that 10% and plan where you’d like to donate it. Maybe PADS, or an additional end-of-year contribution to Grace. Whatever you feel called to. And when you are confronted with yet another request to give, smile and tell yourself, “I have done what I want-

ed to do, and I don’t need to feel guilty that I can’t do everything.”

If you have never tithed before (tithing means setting aside 10% of your income to give to God, and learning to live on the remaining 90%), this is a pretty good way to explore it. See if you are less happy this Christmas because you spent a little less on gifts or food or alcohol.

Here’s the thing I wish people understood about God’s instructions to tithe: God didn’t do it to make us feel bad. God asks us to tithe because it ends up making us happier. Research (non-faith-based research!) has confirmed this. And yes, some people can’t give 10% because then they wouldn’t be able to afford their meds. And some people happily give more than 10%. The point is to be mindful and choose, rather than waiting to see if there’s anything left over. When you choose and plan, you feel more in control and happier about what you can do.

Does this not sound like a Holiday Message? It really is. The Promise that we are waiting for is a promise that transforms the difficult/dark/hurting parts of our lives into light and joy and hope. That’s true even for our finances.

I pray you find joy as you prepare the way for the coming of Christ into your life once again.

GGRACERACE TOTO YOUYOU Proclaim, Build, and Serve

Month of December 2018 1085418-12

Grace Lutheran Church of Glen Ellyn Grace to You Page 2 Month of December 2018

Social Committee Corner

Faith and Friendship Christmas Party: Come to our annual Christmas gathering Wednesday Dec. 19 at 11:15. All are welcome to join in this festive event of food, fellowship and holiday fun. We gather for devotions followed by lunch and gift exchange. Bring a wrapped "white elephant" gift to share. Come share in some holiday cheer with Grace friends!!!

Church Christmas Decorating: Help make the church beautiful for Christmas. Plan to stay after church on Sunday, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 to help put up decorations. It goes very quick-ly if we all pitch in, and the church is

so beautiful with all the lights!!

Poinsettia Plants will again be available for you to order to help make the sanctuary beautiful for Christmas. The plants are single stem in white, red or pink color. Each plant is $12. Please state your color choice, and have orders in the offering plate or the church office by Sunday December 9. You may take them home after your Christmas Eve service.

Christmas Worship Services

There will be two worship services at Grace on Christmas Eve. 4:00pm will be a Family Service and 10:00pm will be a Traditional Candlelight Service.

Grace Lutheran will not have a Christmas Day service. There will be Christmas Day services at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Glen Ellyn on Butter-field Road at 9:30am; and Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wheaton on Geneva Road at 9:30am for those looking for a house of worship on Christmas morning.

There will be one worship service at 10:15am on Sunday, Dec. 23 and Sunday, Dec. 30.

Coming Up in the Adult Forum in December

In December we continue our exploration of Lutheran identity and practice. Bring your questions!

12/2 – What do we believe about Confession? Part 2 This is a combined class with our middle-school confirmation students (fun, right??) to take a look at the Lutheran under-standing of confession and forgiveness. Is confession a sacrament? Do Lutherans have individual confession? The answers might surprise you!

12/9 – What Else Do You Have to Believe? Can you get thrown out of the Church if you struggle with the idea of the Trinity? The Virgin Birth? The Athana-sian Creed? What exactly are the requirements for Faith?

12/16 – What Does It Take to Be a Church? What’s the right balance between Burned Out and Checked Out? How exactly do we go about being Grace?

12/23 & 12/30 – ONE SERVICE AT 10:15 – No Class We pick up again on Jan. 6!

Women of Grace Thursday, November 29 and December 27

at 7:00pm

Women of Grace is a monthly evening gathering open to all women of Grace Lutheran Church. We meet at Reserve 22 (Village Links Golf Course) in Glen Ellyn for drinks, appetizers, and/or dinner! Join us!!

One Voice Outreach Choir

Grace Lutheran Church will one again host the One Voice Outreach Choir for a special Christmas con-cert at 4:00pm on Sunday, December 2. The choir is comprised of over 50 high school students from the Glen Ellyn and Wheaton area who represent several high schools and houses of worship. Together these teens give their time and lend their hearts to this special choir. All Grace members and friends are invited and encouraged to attend.

Family Ministry Page

Sunday Morning Faith Formation Schedule Spark (Preschool-K), Shine 1&2(1st-5th Grades): 9:15-9:45am Class Meets, 9:45am-10:00am Music in the Gathering Room with Mrs. Drager* *Please note that students must be picked up at 10:00am in the Gathering Room or they will be brought to the Quiet Play Area at the back of the Sanctuary. Ignite Confirmation (6th-8th Grades): Class meets 9:15-10:00am in the Ignite Room Fusion High School: Study meets in the Fellowship Room 9:15-10:00am: Joining Adult Forum on December 12/2, 12/9, & 12/16 There will be no Faith Formation classes on December 23rd, 30th, or January 6th. See you back to class on January 13th! Lessons & Carols Service December 16th: 10:15am Service Spark through High School aged students will all contribute and take part in the Advent Tradition of the Lessons & Carols Service. Please note that we will be rehearsing each Sunday morning during music time with Mrs. Drager to prepare for this service. The more your child is able to prepare and attend the better! Any students that would like to share an instrumental or vocal presentation during this service will need to let Becky Ficarella and/or Bradford Thompson know right away if you plan to participate! Spark & Shine Lessons & Carols Service Rehearsal & Dinner December 12th: 5:30-7:00pm. Spark and Shine students will gather for dinner with Confirmation students and re-hearse the music for the Sunday, December 16th 10:15am Service. This is not mandatory for this age group; however I do recommend that your student participate if they will be presenting any instrumental or vocal solos. It will be good for them to have a run through of their music so that we can identify their needs for being positioned in the Sanctu-ary. Ignite Confirmation Wednesday Nights in December December 5th: 5:30-7:30pm All Family Dinner & Christmas Shoppe Set Up in the gym. The entire family is invited to come and assist with this event. Please sign up in the Narthex so that we have enough food planned for everyone! December 12th: 5:30-7:00 Lessons & Carols Rehearsal. Come for dinner and plan to rehearse your role in the Lessons & Carols Service on Sunday, December 16th. Women of Grace Women of Grace will meet Thursday, December 27th at 7:00pm at Reserve 22 in Glen Ellyn. Come gather with wom-en from Grace Lutheran Church for snacks and refreshments. Friends are always welcome! Christmas Shoppe Service Project We are getting excited about the collaboration with the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry to share Christmas with 100 families. There are many ways in which you can help our efforts to make this a wonderful event! Want to help? Here are ways you can!

Donate items for the Shoppe or a cash donation for volunteers to purchase needed items December 5th 5:30-7:30pm: Come join the Confirmation class and their family for dinner and set up of the Christmas

Shoppe in Grace Gym. December 7th 1:00-3:00pm: Meet in the Fellowship Room to decorate and prepare the space for the Hospitality &

Giftwrapping Station. This is the room where guests may wrap gifts and create cards while they enjoy coffee, co-coa, and cookies.

December 8th 9:00am-6:00pm: Sign up for a shift to help guests wrap their gifts and help to replenish snacks and beverages as needed.

Sign up in the Narthex for these shifts. Please reach out to Becky with any questions. With thanks! Becky Ficarella 630-469-1555 x17 bficarella@graceglenellyn.org

Grace Lutheran Church of Glen Ellyn Grace to You Page 3 Month of December 2018

Sunday 8:00 & 10:15am Grace Lutheran Worship Sunday 9:15-10:00am Faith Formation - All Ages Sunday 2:00-6:00pm FCCC Worship Service Sunday 5:00-6:00pm Support Group Mon-Fri 9:00-1:00pm Senior Service Center 3rd Monday 9:00-11:00pm Food Pantry Board of Directors Monday 11:00-12:30pm Sr. Center Exercise Class Monday 1:00-3:00pm Food Pantry for Clients Monday 4:30-9:00pm Bright Lights Theatre Monday 5:30-8:30pm Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers 2nd Monday 6:00pm Finance Ministry 3rd Monday 7:00pm Grace Church Council Monday 7:00pm Bible Study 1st Tuesday 9:30am Social Ministry 1st Tuesday 11:00-12:30pm Sr. Center Exercise Class 2nd Tuesday 11:00-12:30pm Sr. Center Exercise Class 3rd Tuesday 10:00-Noon Sr. Center Book Club 4th Tuesday 11:00-12:30pm Sr. Center Exercise Class Tuesday 1:00-3:00pm Wooly Knitters Tuesday 1-3pm & 5-7pm Food Pantry for Clients Tuesday 3:00-7:00pm Parish Counselor Tuesday 6:00-7:30pm Pill Bottle Project 1st Tuesday 6:00pm Property Ministry Tuesday 6:15pm Grace Yoga with Becky! Tuesday 6:45-9:30pm Society for Creative Anachronism Wednesday 7:30-8:30am Bible Study 3rd Wednesday 11:15am Faith & Friendship 4th Wed. 10:00-Noon Sr. Center Movie Wednesday 1:00-3:00pm Food Pantry for Clients Wednesday 1:00-7:00pm Parish Counselor Wednesday 8:00-10:00pm Support Group 4th Thursday 7:00pm Women of Grace (Reserve 22) Thursday 1:00-3:00pm Food Pantry for Clients Thursday 1:00-7:00pm Parish Counselor Thursday 3:30-5:30pm Kiwanis Club Backpack Snacks Thursday 4:30-9:00pm Bright Lights Theatre Thursday 7:00-8:30pm Titans Basketball Friday 6:30-7:45pm Support Group Saturday 8:30-11:00am Sunflower Dancers Saturday 9:00-1:00pm Slanchogledi Language School Saturday 6:00-8:00pm FCCC Worship Service

Grace Lutheran Church of Glen Ellyn Grace to You Page 4 Month of December 2018

Weekly Building Usage Weekly Building Usage

Noses and Numbers

Date Attendance Offering 8am 10:15am 10/7 31 59 $ 5,553 10/14 xx 90 $ 8,675 10/21 32 85 $ 6,451 10/28 32 130 $ 4,454 Grace’s total income through October 2018 was $316,074 while expenses incurred during that same time period were $382,174 leaving Grace with a defi-cit of $66,100. We are grateful for your support in helping us meet our expenses.

Welcome to the Falam Christian Church of Chicago!

We are so blessed to welcome the Falam Christian Church of Chicago (FCCC) to Grace! We have entered into an agreement with this congregation to use Grace’s worship and faith formation space on Satur-day evenings and Sunday afternoons, beginning in December. This congregation is made up of brothers and sisters who have come to the United States from Myanmar (formerly Burma) as refugees. Myanmar is home to many different language groups; Falam is the language this Christian community uses in wor-ship. (Christians make up around 2% of Myanmar’s population.)

After the group’s first worship service at Grace on November 4, we received a very gracious note of thanks, which is copied in part here:

“Dear Rev. Melody, Good Morning! We, the Falam Christian Church of Chicago, had a trial service yes-terday at your church space. Every FCCC member was happy and praising God for all your considera-tion, grace, love, care and support. Someone said, ‘They allow us refugees to use this building??’ My church members were in awe for letting us use your church building.

“Once again thank both you and your church mem-bers for showing your love to us!! May God continue to bless Grace Lutheran Church’s ministry!”

We are looking forward to opportunities to get to know our new friends, and share worship and fellow-ship! Please hold them in your prayers as they contin-ue to grow in their witness to Christ’s gospel.

Music for the Lessons & Carols Service

Any students that would like to present an instru-mental solo or duet are invited to share their talents during our Lessons & Carols Service on December 6th during the 10:15am service. Please let Becky Ficarella know if you are interested!

Grace To You Article Submission Schedule

Submit articles and photos to the church office at info@graceglenellyn.org.

January Issue Due December 5 February Issue Due January 2

Grace Lutheran Church of Glen Ellyn West Conference - Metropolitan Chicago Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 493 Forest Avenue at Pennsylvania Avenue

Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137 Office: 630.469.1555

Fax: 630.469.1561 Email: info@graceglenellyn.org

www.graceglenellyn.org

Every Member: Minister & Missionary!

Melody Eastman, Pastor Bradford Thompson, Minister of Music

Barbara Sudds, Office Manager Becky Ficarella, Ministry Associate

Carole LoGalbo, M.S., LCPC Parish Counselor Church Office Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:30am - 3:00pm Tuesday and Thursday 1:00-3:00pm

Prayer Requests

Greg Barber, Kathy Maras, Dolores Nosal, Rich Davison, Dorothy Tracy, Elaine Roete, Farrel Benefield, Carrie Wiebe, Marty Friend, Joan Rosland, Eric Scanlon, Anne Marie Keenan, Tammy Rollo, Lucy Storey, Cindy Carlson, Zachary Galllian for healing and strength.

Prayers for our Homebound Member: Anita Blakemore

Congratulations to Catheryne Morreau and Joseph Room married at Grace on November 3.

The family of Aimee Gerhardt for comfort in grief.

A Note of Thanks from Kathy Maras

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, You have my deepest gratitude for your thoughts and prayers, and cards and visits during my healing journey. You have made my heart lighter. Your prayers have reminded and shown me that God supports us always - I have seen so many healing miracles in the stroke ward at MarianJoy these last four weeks! We have all benefited from your faith and grace, especially me. Thank you so much! Kathy Maras

Grace Lutheran Church of Glen Ellyn Grace to You Page 5 Month of December 2018

Grace Yoga with Becky! Tuesdays 6:15-7:15pm

Do you need to unwind from the hectic pace of life? Looking for a way to stretch and build muscular strength? Searching for a yoga class that offers a biblical view? Grace Yoga with Becky meets on Tuesdays from 6:15-7:15pm in the Narthex. The next session will run from

November 13-December 18 (no class on Nov. 27), with a cost of $8 per class when purchased in a five-week bundle. Walk-in's are welcome at $10 per session. Please reach out to Becky Ficarella with questions and more details.

AmazonSmile

Remember to shop at AmazonSmile when making purchases online. In order to browse or shop at AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. Here is the link for Grace Lutheran:

http://smile.amazon.com/ch/36-2496438

When you sign on, you will see “Supporting Grace Lutheran Church” in the upper left hand corner. Then just shop as you normally do.

22 people attended our first “Grace Foodies” at Fire and Wine in Glen Ellyn!

Grace children on Reformation Sunday.