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. 

Womens' FaithTalk
Second Thursday
of the month
TBD
Faith and Pandemic: What's the point of faith in times of crisis? Is there more to it than just trying to make ourselves feel better? A time to process the past months, ask the real questions, and rediscover what hope is really all about. 

Monday Night Bible Study
The Study of Hebrews 
resumes this coming Monday, March 30, 7pm, using Session 3 from our study book, via the electronic platform  
GoToMeeting.  Details have been sent to the regular participants.  Anyone else interested in joining, please contact Mark Hamilton kandm1053@comcast.net
or Vince Hardt, vvince2001@hotmail.com.  Thereafter, we will meet on each Monday evening except when Council is meeting. [Appears next Council meeting is April 6 as Council will be meeting twice per month during the current situation.  We will send dates as we know them.]

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!!!

​Worship

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Worship Schedule
NO WORSHIP SERVICES 
Update on reopen TBD

Resurrection of the Lord: Easter Day
To Be Determined - Worship at 9:00am followed by refreshments in the Fellowship Room.
Easter Egg Hunt in Grace Gym @ 10:30am or so. Bring a basket and join in the fun! FInd eggs filled with stickers an special treats! No candy or sweets will be in these eggs. We will hand out a fruit snack to children after the hunt is complete. See you there!

Grace Together
Dear Friends of Grace:
Our website is being updated almost daily with new resources, including instrumental and sing-along music from Bradford; coloring pages for relaxing, meditation and prayer; coloring pages for little ones; links to videos and articles to help you manage stress and anxiety; and, of course, Wednesday and Sunday sermons from Pastor Melody.
Resources are available online at 
www.GraceGlenEllyn.org. and https://www.youtube.
com/results?search_query=
​Grace+Glen+Ellyn
Some spiritual health resources are available including:
Sunday Sermons:  Pastor Melody is recording video sermons while community worship is suspended.
Music for Meditation:  Director of Music Bradford Thompson is periodically uploading piano instrumentals for you to use for devotions or centering time. 
Listen to Amazing Grace, It Is Well With My Soul, and an original composition, 

Traveling?  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

Grace’s Website
is being updated almost daily with new resources, including instrumental and sing-along music from Bradford; coloring pages for relaxing, meditation and prayer; coloring pages for little ones; links to videos and articles to help you manage stress and anxiety; and, of course, Wednesday and Sunday sermons from Pastor Melody.  And more resources are in the planning, so check back often!  Resources are available online at 
www.GraceGlenEllyn.org
​Reminder:   Liturgy, sermon, and children’s bulletin will be available on the website Sunday morning.

A Big “Thank You” 
to everyone that joined us in our “Shopping Cart Brigade in April” food drive supporting the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry.  In the course of one day, our small group gathered 150 bags of food - enough to serve 65 households for two weeks – and raised $450.  Thank you so much!
In addition to the tangible gifts, it is also important to let the volunteers at the Pantry know that the community supports them – especially during the extreme challenges they are facing.  It does make a difference.  Thanks again!
Dominic LoGalbo

Community Vacation Bible School 
Grace Family, we have made the decision to cancel
​ the Community VBS Program for the week of June 22-26th due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be sending communication out to those already registered to participate and volunteer within the coming weeks. We will offer a different opportunity later in the summer and will be sure to communicate those details as soon as they are available. With Thanks!  Becky

Generations Choir
Bring a potluck item to share for dinner. We will meet for dinner from 6:00-6:45pm and then sing in the balcony from 6:45-7:15pm. Young and old are invited! You do not need to read music to join this group.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
 May & June: Generations is on break!
 July: Rehearsal is Wednesday, July 15, presenting at worship on Sunday, July 19.
 August: Rehearsal is Wednesday, August 12, presenting at worship on Sunday, August 16.
​
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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From Rev. Seth Carey:
DuPage PADs has been given the impossibility of doing business as usual and the need to keep our homeless population sheltered (in place, if possible).  DuPage PADS is utilizing a combination of family reunification efforts and temporary housing in the form of motel stays. Naturally, this is very expensive. 
PADS is currently housing 90 people in 75 rooms, and has already raised nearly $200k in individual donations and state grants. Which is great news, except that they are projecting this effort to cost between $100-$150k per month. 
As such, I am reaching out to my friends and colleagues who are also PADS partners and supporters to see if you will join me in an attempt to raise an additional $100k. 
Grace Response:  Based on this request from Rev. Seth Carey, Grace Council authorized a one-time payment of $1,000 from our Outreach budget to assist in this effort to house our homeless population.

Circle of Care
While the COVID-19 virus is spreading through our community and forcing people to stay home and avoid social contact, this affects many that have not been able for various reasons to acquire the basics they may need.  If you are in need of groceries, sundries, or even gas put in your car, please do not hesitate to ask for assistance.  
There is no fee for the service of shopping and delivery. The person who is able to help you with your needs will arrange a method of payment for the goods with you.  This may include cash, check, PayPal, Venmo.
You can request assistance through the Grace Lutheran website graceglenellyn.org  under Service Opportunities, choose CIRCLE OF CARE.  There is an option to offer your services or receive help.
Thank you and stay well,
Sooz Hufnagle

​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

​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

The Pill Bottle Ministry
This ministry is moving forward under the direction of Mark Hamilton. The ministry meets every Tuesday evening from 6-7:00pm in the gym kitchen. Additional volunteers are always welcomed and needed! If you know someone who needs Community Service Hours, they can contact Mark at 630-841-2941 to schedule their service.

​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.

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'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.