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
For details, go to the
menu bar to:
Our Ministries/​Build Community/Adult Faith Formation

High School Sunday Morning 1-hour
Gospel Study
11:00am with
Dominic LoGalbo
The Gospel Study is a combined study with Confirmation Students. Come join us for great discussion and ways to apply these lessons to our lives. November 4 & 18 will be the dates we meet this month. Email
Dominic LoGalbo dlogalbo@sbcglobal.net with any question! Friends are ALWAYS welcome to join in our Virtual Programming! Email Pastor Melody Eastman for more details.

Confirmation Zoom Program Planning thru February, 2021
Confirmation is up and running on Zoom! We have planned a schedule that allows our group to connect weekly, alternating Wednesdays & Sundays. Zoom link is emailed out weekly. It is not too late to join Confirmation! Email Pastor Melody Eastman with any questions meastman@graceglenellyn.org. The dates to meet are:
Sun morning 1-hour Gospel Study @ 11:00am with Dominic LoGalbo
Wed evening 1-hour Confirmation Discussion @ 7:30pm with Pastor Melody.
Nov 4 & 18; Dec 2 & 16;
​Jan 20; Feb 3. 

Faith Formation
​for Kids
For details, go to the 
​menu bar to:
Our Ministries/​Build Community/Faith Formation/Youth

​Choir!!!
Like to sing? All welcome, older kids too.
Practice
When Reopened
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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House Church Worship
via phone or internet
Every Sunday, 9:30 am
​We currently have five “House Churches” of worshipping members (each House Church consisting of 6-8 members/families meeting via Zoom or calling in by phone.) Thank you to our House Church leaders:  Jon & Cathy Milleville, Becky Ficarella, Mark Hamilton, Sigrid Elliott/Karin Slenczka, and Sue Pagnoni/Sue Jacobson.  Those of us that have experienced House Church have found this to be a very sacred experience.  Pastor Melody will join one House Church each week on a rotating basis to celebrate communion.  If you are unsure how to sign on, go ahead and register and let us know you need some help; we’ll walk you through it!  We would be so blessed to have you join us.  And the best part!?  Inviting friends to join us is always welcomed!
Register online for a House Church at graceglenellyn.org 
(on the main page Announcements) or contact Becky Ficarella directly at 847-347-0928 or
bficarella@
graceglenellyn.org

Tuesday Evening
House Church
Starting Tues, 9/8, 7 pm
Want to attend a House Church, but Sunday morning doesn’t fit your schedule? We are also offering a Tuesday Evening House Church service. This will be a trial run through during the months of September and October. If you would like to sign up for this particular group, please register through the Grace website, indicating that you are interested in the Tuesday evening group. Missed a Sunday service and just want to join in on a Tuesday to make it up? No problem. The Zoom link to join will be sent out on Tuesdays through the Grace E-Blast so that you can participate as well. Any questions may be directed to Becky Ficarella at 
bficarella@
​graceglenellyn.org.
​​
Communion Sets
can be picked up this week from the church office on Wednesday 7:30-3pm; Thursday 1-3pm.
Next week on Monday from 10:30-3pm; Tuesday 1-3pm; Wednesday 7:30-3pm; Thursday 1-3pm.
House Church communion dates are as follows:
Milleville 8/23
Ficarella 8/30
Hamilton 9/6


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

Reminder:  Liturgy, sermon, and children’s bulletin will be available on the website Sunday mornings.

Reverse Advent
Food Drive
The Reverse Advent Food Drive for the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry will begin a little earlier this year. We are asking you to begin collecting items each day starting Nov 25th. You may then bring your filled bags to the Food Pantry Dec 21-23 between 9 and 11am. You can find a grocery list on Grace's Website at graceglenellyn.org.

Women of Grace Looking for a Host
Becky Ficarella will be going on maternity leave soon. Please contact her if you would like to be the new host! No dates are currently set for Nov & Dec.
​bficarella@
​graceglenellyn.org.

The Oct/Nov/Dec issues of Christ in Our Home and The Word in Season are in 
Please let the office know if you would like to pick up copies of one or both and they will be placed in an envelope by the handicap door for easy pickup.  Also, let the church office know if you would to have one or both mailed to you and which size you prefer.  Thank you.

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, Sunday sermons from Pastor Melody.  And more resources are in the planning, so check back often!  Resources are available online at 
www.GraceGlenEllyn.org. and 
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Grace+
Glen+Ellyn

Community Quilters
1st & 3rd Wednesdays
of the month
9:30-11:15 am
When Reopened
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..

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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PADS - Public Action to Deliver Shelter
PADS has come up with a plan to feed the people who have been housed in hotels.  Grace has been asked to supply 110 adult meals and 40 child meals and deliver them to three hotel locations (50 meals for each location) at 4:00pm. (Meals must be store bought or restaurant bought, no home cooking at this time.  Fruits, vegetables and individual desserts are also appreciated.  Joe and I have an extra-large freezer so we can store meals if people want to purchase them ahead of time. Meals can also be brought to Grace left in the upstairs gym kitchen freezer.  There will also be a box at Grace for the donations.  Joe Jacobo will pick them up from Grace on the Tuesday afternoon of our PADS date.
1)   First Tuesday of each month we provide 50 meals to each of three locations.  I've adjusted our schedule to just have 3 categories:
​a. Meal - Six store/restaurant individual meals that can be heated in a microwave as not all guests have access to a stove-top.  Bagged meals (like Bertolli skillet meals) count as multiple meals.  Meals can also be the non-frozen meals found in the isle with the canned chili.
     b.  Juice Boxes for our children - they can be any non-water drink - all guests have water available to them.
     c. Extra - this can be fruit, vegetables or individually packaged snacks.  This will give us something extra to add to the meal bags.
2)   We also need a minimum of four volunteers to help with the delivery of the food.  At about 3:30 meet to make up the food bags.  At 4:00 arrive at the hotels to deliver the food - it takes just under an hour.  If you can volunteer, please let one of us know (Joe (630) 740-4527; me (630) 740-4542).
Once we have the meals we put them in grocery bags by room (most rooms are single adults but some have two or more adults and up to six children).  We deliver the meals to the rooms.    If any guests don't want their meals or are not home to accept them, we deliver them to the offices located on site for the Red Roof Inns and just a short drive away for the Extended Stay.
Hotels are: Red Roof Inn, 1113 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove; Extended Stay, 3150 Finley Road, Downers Grove; Red Roof Inn, 1698 W Diehl Road, Naperville.  
Thank you for all of your support of the PADS program.
Donna Jacobo, Grace PADS On-site Food Coordinator
(630) 740-4527, 
donnahjacobo@yahoo.com

Food Pantry Drive-Thru Food Drive: 
First Friday of every month
at Grace Lutheran
9am-Noon.   
Most urgently needed items this week include:  Chicken/Beef Broth, Shampoo/Toothpaste/Deodorant, Paper Towels, Pickles/Relish, Jelly, Sugar/Flour, Apple Juice, Flavored Rice-A-Roni, Boxed Baked Goods, Ketchup.
Due to the use of the gym by the Food Pantry for food sorting and storage, the gym will not be available to any groups until
​September of 2021.

Lutheran Disaster Response for
Hurricanes
Lutheran Disaster Response is engaging with Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response and the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast and Southwestern Texas synods, which are assessing the immediate needs and initiating a response. While the extent of the damage is not yet known, we will accompany devastated communities from immediate relief through long-term recovery. This is our commitment as a church.
What you can do: Pray - Please pray for people who have been affected by hurricanes. May God's healing presence give them peace and hope in their time of need.
Give:  Your gifts designated for “Hurricane Response” will be used entirely (100%) for direct response until it is complete. Together, we can help provide immediate and long-lasting support for those whose lives have been impacted by hurricanes. 
Give Online:  
https://community.elca.org/hurricane-relief?
Give by Mail:  Make checks payable to Lutheran Disaster Response. Write "Hurricane Response" on your check's memo line and send to: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116
Give by Phone:  Call 800-638-3522 to make a donation with a credit card. Operators are ready to assist you Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

Seeking High School
and College Students
to help their neighbor
Are you looking for things to do this season? Would you be willing to help Grace members with errands or yard work? We are hoping to compile a list of students that would be willing to help homebound and elderly members with any yard work or errands that might otherwise be too difficult for them. Please let Becky Ficarella know if you are able to help!
​
Walk in Ministry 
is able to assist clients with files on record by calling 630-469-2862. The hours are Monday-Thursday from 10 til noon.

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

​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.


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.