Scroll down for special events, classes, worship, and service opportunities

Just some of the great stuff happening at Grace....

Whether you're looking for study, friendship, an opportunity to give back, or a place to worship, we have a place for you to plug in. Feel free to check out any of the opportunities below--or ask about starting something yourself!
(Check out the calendar page for more details on each event.)

Faith Formation/
Study

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Faith Formation for Adults
A big part of Christian discipleship is responding to the world around us. That call is complicated when we are flooded with information—and sometimes unsure how to tell the difference between fact and frenzy. Our winter series (led by Pastor Melody, who did her undergraduate work in the School of Journalism at Indiana University) continues our conversation on how we get our information, how opinions are formed, and how we can learn to sort through all the chatter. 
Coming up in February
at Adult Forum
Feb. 2 & 9: By request of the class, we’ll do some more exploration of the dynamics of racism: how the word is used today, how the dynamics continue to play out, and how the conversation has changed since the 1960s.
Feb. 16:  No class. Share a cup of coffee with some friends!
Feb. 23:  To be determined. We’ll give the class an opportunity to request a follow-up topic to clarify any issues raised in the conversation on racism—or have another session of Stump the Pastor before we begin our end-of-year emphasis on the Catechism!
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Choir!!!
Like to sing? All welcome, older kids too.
Practice
8:30am Sundays
7:00pm Wednesdays
Quality leadership with Bradford Thompson. 
NEW MUSIC OPPORTUNITY!!
Generations Choir!!!
Fun new music program for  people of all ages to join. This will be a monthly opportunity to gather all ages, including our youngest members, to learn and rehearse on new song and present it on the following Sunday during the 9am service. This group will typically meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Songs chosen will appeal to all ages, sometimes with instruments, snapping and clapping of hands. Great way to involve the entire family!!!
Also...
Handbell choir opportunities for holidays. Fun, fellowship and worship enhancement, join us!!!

Womens' FaithTalk
Date Change:  Starting in February, Women’s FaithTalk will move the second Thursday of the month.  On February 13 at 10:00am we will be showing the movie “Smoke Signals.”

Monday Night Bible Study
starting on January 6, 7:00pm, will study Your Bible! The Study Begins.   This study guide, prepared by Dr. James A. Walther, Sr., consists of seven sessions:
​What Is the Bible?​
How Did the Bible Come to Be?​
What Is the Old Testament About?​
What Is the New Testament About?​
How Has the Bible Been Preserved and Handed On?​
How Shall We Study the Bible?​
What Is the Place of the Bible in Our Lives?​
This course offers an introduction to the library of books which are the foundation of our faith and provides a refreshing orientation to the Book.  It opens a door of understanding to all other Bible study.  While this will be a review and perhaps a fresh perspective for those who have been with us regularly, it should be of great interest to those who are now considering starting group Bible study after some time away.  Dr. Walther is an ordained Presbyterian minister and spent his career as a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.  A few years ago, we studied his four-part series Great Themes of the Bible, and many years back, Revelation.​
​
The Monday night group has become cohesive over the years, sharing treats and conversation as well as our Bible study.  Still, there is always room for more, and we will make you feel welcome.  The regular participants chose this topic with you in mind!  Contact Mark Hamilton or Vince Hardt if you have not participated before and wish to join us now.  We will make sure there are sufficient course guides available.

​Worship

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Worship Schedule
One  Sunday Service at 9:00am. Faith Formation for all Ages afterward at 10:15am.
Wednesdays at 12:30pm
A mid-week worship service takes place at 12:30pm every week using the lessons from the previous Sunday.
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Also - full worship service on the third Wednesday of each month after the Faith and Friendship lunch (11:30am). 
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Travelling?  You can find an ELCA congregation at www.elca.org/
​FindACongregation.  You may search by city, state, or zip code

Updated Hearing Assistance
​We have upgraded our Hearing Assistance system. We now have three receivers which will pick up the signal from the mics. You may use one of the earbuds we provide, or bring your own earbuds from home. If you have a hearing aid or cochlear implants, you can use one of the neck loops; simply plug the loop into the receiver and place the loop around your neck. (Note, your hearing aid must have a T-coil and be set to the “T” or “M/T” setting.)


 

​Fellowship

Generations Choir
Wednesday, January 22, 6pm 
​All ages singing together! We gather at 6:00pm to enjoy a potluck meal together. Check out the sign up in the Narthex, bring a dish. Dinner is over by 6:30 or so, learn our song from 6:40-7:15pm. The group will present the song on Sunday January 29th during the 9:00am service.

Women of Grace
Thursday, January 23,
7:00-9:00pm
Pa Lian Burmese Restaurant
254 E Geneva Rd, Wheaton
​This month we are trying a new spot for dinner! A highly recommended restaurant. They do not serve alcohol but you are able to bring in your own. Friends are always welcome to join us.

Arden Courts on Park Boulevard in Glen Ellyn presents “Walking the Path of Dementia: An Interactive Approach” on Wednesday January 29, 1-3pm.  
This seminar will discuss background information on most common types of dementia; physical, emotional and social changes which commonly occur within each stage of the disease; special implication for persons living with dementia to consider when in a hospital setting.  Seating is limited.  RSVP at 224-250-5562 or glenellyn@arden-courts.com.

Brown Bag and Budget
Sunday February, 8
​from 11:30am-12:30pm
Bring lunch if you like, and join us for a small group to help encourage and guide anyone who wants to improve their money management skills.  Whether you use a budget app, an Excel spreadsheet on your computer, or pencil and paper, we will share tips to help you balance your budget. Our first meeting will be on Sunday February, 8 from 11:30-12:30.  If there is continued interest we will meet on the second Sunday of every month.  Bring your laptop if you use one.

Grace Yoga
 Taking a break in January 
​Grace Yoga will start up again on Tuesday, Feb 11 at 6:15pm in the Great Room. See you next month! 

Valentine’s Day Concert! Friday, February 14 with RUNA: Join us for another evening of fantastic music with RUNA, who will make Grace the only local stop on their upcoming Midwest tour in February. 
Celebrating its 10-Year anniversary, Celtic-American Roots music group RUNA continues to push the boundaries of Irish folk music into the Americana and roots music formats. Interweaving the haunting melodies and exuberant tunes of Ireland and Scotland with the lush harmonies and intoxicating rhythms of jazz, bluegrass, flamenco and blues, they offer a thrilling and redefining take on traditional music. 
RUNA consists of vocalist and step-dancer Shannon Lambert-Ryan of Philadelphia, Dublin-born Fionán de Barra on guitar, Cheryl Prashker of Canada on percussion, Jake James of New York on the fiddle, and Caleb Edwards of Nashville on mandolin and vocals. Invite some friends to join you for this special event—they’ll thank you for it! Info on tickets will be coming soon.
RUNA Promo Videos at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNvEP7vBAgo and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIfKm0dD9LE 

Valparaiso University Chorale
Saturday, February 29th
7pm
As chance would have it, the Valparaiso University Chorale will once again make their way to Grace Glen Ellyn! They have prepared what I'm sure will be a spectacular concert for Saturday, February 29th.
We are in need of two things:
-Hosts for the students the night of the concert and 
-Food for the Choralians' dinner on the night of the concert
More information to follow, but please feel free to email me if you're able to help with either of these!  Bradford Thompson, Minister of Music 
219-718-8879  
​bradfordmthompson@
​gmail.com

Community Quilters
1st & 3rd Wednesdays
of the month
9:30-11:15 am
Creating quilts for Lutheran World Relief.
We are accepting donations of fabric (any size and shape), sheets and thread.
These quilts provide hope and comfort to people who have lost everything. You can be a part of someone's Good News! Hope to see you soon..

Flower Chart for 2020
Please consider signing up for a Sunday or two! Bouquets are still $15 each. Please indicate on the chart how you would like your flowers acknowledged in the bulletin - in honor of, in memory of, etc.

The Social Committee is involved in many different events throughout the year, and always in need of extra hands. If you are interested in helping out at any of our events, please indicate so by signing up on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Room. We hope to develop a list of volunteers we can go to when we need extra help. Thank-you!

Like Us on Facebook! 
Grace Lutheran Church of Glen Ellyn has a Facebook page and we would like you to like us! Stay in touch with events, ministries, ELCA news and check out the pictures!
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Service
Opportunities​

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The “Glovebox Bundles”
​that were assembled on November 9th at the Thrivent office of Rob Granner are available in the narthex. These bundles contain items that a homeless person could use so while you are driving and see someone asking for a handout you can open your glovebox and offer a bundle.   Thank you Rob.

Wooly Knitters
We are a charity knitting group called Wooly Knitters, and we meet every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00-3:00pm at Grace Lutheran Church, 493 Forest Avenue in Glen Ellyn. We have more than 15 members and we make hats, scarves, mittens and afghans to donate to local veterans and community groups including Hines VA Hospital, Operation Support Our Troops Illinois, PADS, Glen Ellyn Food Pantry, Serenity House, Children's Home and Aid, Family Resource Center, and others. We try to provide free yarn to our knitters in return for their time and beautiful work and can always use yarn or monetary donations to keep us going. In addition to the contributions to our community, we have shared information and friendship which has enriched the lives of our members, and we would always welcome new knitters (or crocheters) to join us each week. Please feel free to call me at 630/624-6002 or via email at robinbella@ymail.com. Thanks so much for your consideration.  
Robin Bellezzo

​Glen Ellyn Food Pantry
The Glen Ellyn Food Pantry is in need of volunteers. Their greatest need right now is volunteers willing to pick up food donations from local retailers. Please contact Terri Venzon, Supervisor of Food Pantry Operations, if you can volunteer.  630.469.6988 
​GEFPServices@
​GlenEllynFoodPantry.org  
www.GlenEllynFood​Pantry.org

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. There is no cost to Grace or to you, the customer. The shopping experience is identical to Amazon.com with the added benefit that the Amazon-Smile Foundation will donate a percentage of your purchase amount to Grace.

Building Users Wanted
The gym at Grace is available on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings as well as various other times during the week and on the weekend.  We also have classrooms that are available during the day and evenings. If you know of anyone looking for weekly space; music, basketball, arts, theatre, darts, exercise, dance, instruction, etc. please have them contact the church office at
​630-469-1555 or info@graceglenellyn.org.

Wanted: small, travel size toiletries for PADS
to use in their outreach to the homeless members of our community.  As you travel, please bring back any unused soaps, shampoos, etc. from your hotel room and put them in the basket under the table in the Narthex.

Carole LoGalbo, our Parish Counselor, has moved to a new office.  She is sharing an office with the Parish Counselor at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn.  This offer came at a time when Grace is considering various mission partners for its space and there is a need for flood remediation in our building.  Her contact information remains: 630-668-4594 and carolelogalbo@gmail.com

Grace Council Notes
The Grace Council would like to propose three possible ministry outreach programs for the congregation's consideration.  Any new program will need involvement and support from the congregation to be successful. Here are the three ministries options proposed:

• Community quilting group for Lutheran World Relief
• 'Adulting' Classes, for young adults to learn basic skills in cooking, sewing, repairs, etc.
• Computer Basic Skills Classes for seniors and/or the immigrant community

Please respond to Susan Jacobson at susan.lb.jacobson@gmail.com or Barbara Sudds in the church office if you are interested in any of these ministries or have a passion for something else that you think we should try. We will gather additional information on how we can best start the new ministry once we understand where the congregation's interests are.

Drivers Needed for ESSE 
Personable and reliable drivers are needed part-time to transport seniors to the Adult Day Care Center at Faith Lutheran, Glen Ellyn.  Center is open Mon-Fri 7am-5pm.  Flexible hours, $14 an hour with mileage reimbursement.  Please contact Cathy at ESSE, 630-260-3773.

Mission Quilts for
Lutheran World Relief​
In 2017, LWR distributed over 305,000 quilts to people arriving in refugee camps! It's their bed, coat, shade, protection against mosquitos and shelter from the rain - their everything! Quilts come from congregations like ours, you don't have to know how to run a sewing machine; if you can cut fabric or tie a knot, you can be a part of providing comfort to a child who has fled home.
If you're interested in starting a LWR quilt group here at Grace, please contact Pastor Melody. What a great way to make new friends, build fellowship and be a part of something wonderful!
https://lwr.org/
get-involved/quilts

Circle of Care Ministry
Would you be willing to lend a helping hand during a difficult time by providing meals for those in need and their families? As a need arises, Pr. Melody would like to have a list of volunteers that she could call upon.  Please contact Barbara in the Grace office to have your name and contact information included on the Circle of Care list.  Thank you. 

The Pill Bottle Ministry
In an effort to get the thousands of pill bottles we have out of our church and into the hands that truly need them, we have scheduled several evening sessions for everyone to come out and help prepare pill bottles for shipping.  Pill bottles need to be sorted, labels removed, washed, and then packaged for shipping to remote areas around the globe. These bottles provide patients the opportunity to safely transport and store their medications. Please join us every Monday and Tuesday evening from 6-7:30pm in the gym foyer and gym kitchen.

​Purchases from the Feed My Starving Children MarketPlace provide fair wages to hard-working artisans and life-saving FMSC MannaPack™ meals for starving children around the world. Check out their merchandise for sale at fmscmarketplace.org.

Grace's Altar Guild is looking for more members. If you are looking for a way to help out at church, altar guild is a great place. The commitment is flexible and the task is interesting and meaningful. If you think you may be interested, talk to Cathy Milleville or Pastor Melody.