766 Graceland Ave
Des Plaines, Illinois 847-299-5561  VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2013 August 5-9th
First Congregational Church again is offering Vacation Bible School this year from August 5 through
August 9. Sessions run from 9:00am to 12:00pm. The theme for this summer is Cokesbury's Everywhere Fun Fair: Where God’s Word Comes Together. We are looking for volunteers to make this community and church event even more successful than last year. Kids fourth grade and up can be teacher assistants. Please talk to Christine O'Brien or Sue Almerigi for more information. or register here http://2013.cokesburyvbs.com/FirstCongregational A HUGE Thank you to the Wednesday Work Crew
Recognize this good lookin' group? They're the Wednesday Work Crew! They volunteer EVERY Wednesday to fix, paint, repair, replace and up keep along with MANY tasks. If you see them, Thank them for making our church a nicer place.
The Confirmation class at First Congregational UCC toured the Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines in February when they dropped off a large collection of soup and other non-perishable food items plus cash donations collected during "Souper Bowl Sunday."
Our Annual Book Sale is on!
Creative Conversation’s annual book sale has started in Webster Hall. If you have more book donations, please contact Jo Reilly at 847/632-0354. I wish every Church said what this Church said in their bulletin.....
It’s easy to poke fun at some of the things churches say on their welcome sign. It’s easy to question some of the things that make it inside a church bulletin.
It’s easy to say “this is bad,” but it’s a lot harder to say “this is good.” Anyone can critique, but creating is a lot more difficult. So what does a great welcome message look like? What does an awesome welcome message look like? It looks exactly like what “Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Community” has in their church. My friend attended there recently, and I got a copy of what they hand out. I posted a photo of it below so you could see what it looks like, but the image got cut off so here’s what it says: We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, yo no habla Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds. We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or like our pastor who can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s Baptism. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” we’ve been there too. If you blew all your offering money at the dog track, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church. We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you! Bravo to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Community! That should be made into a poster and hung in church offices around the world. I love the thought that a few members of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Community getting together and saying, “Let’s invite everyone to come meet Jesus!” And then they started writing their list. And it got long. Why? Because everyone needs Jesus. Everyone changes when they meet Jesus. And they wanted to make sure everyone knew they were invited to meet him. - John Acuff Christmas Pageant 2012:
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Matthew 18:20
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2012 All Church Camp Retreat
Twenty-four congregants of all ages participated in our second annual retreat that took place on August 24 through 26, 2012. The Children's and Adult Education Ministry (CAEM) made cabin and camping arrangements this year at the Indian Mound Boy Scout camp outside of Milwaukee, WI. The facility provided the flexibility to stay in the cabin or camp in field behind it. The cabin also contained a kitchen that allowed the group to prepare our own food, and help keep the cost of the retreat affordable. Food was purchased by CAEM and generously prepared by Sue Almerigi.
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>Some of us arrived on Friday, the rest on Saturday. We sat around camp fires, talked, played games, hiked, caught (and released) frogs and toads (and a snake), we enjoyed the company of three juvenile grouses, laughed, learned from Co's creative thinking program and worshiped in the great outdoors. A great time was had by all.
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>Some of us arrived on Friday, the rest on Saturday. We sat around camp fires, talked, played games, hiked, caught (and released) frogs and toads (and a snake), we enjoyed the company of three juvenile grouses, laughed, learned from Co's creative thinking program and worshiped in the great outdoors. A great time was had by all.
Summer Sunday School is FUN!
Children's Day 2012: May 20th
A Celebration of a Great Sunday School Year
Sunday School:
Sunday School is in full swing, but it's not to late to join the fun! First Congregational is still taking registrations for the 2012-2013 year. Stop by on Sunday at 9:30 to see what all the buzz is about.
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Want
to help shape the future of our Church? First Congregational Sunday
School is in need of a few new teachers. 9:30-10:45 on Sundays. No
experience is required. We try and put new teachers with experienced
teachers. Contact Sue Almerigi at sewnspark@sbcglobal.net or Paul
Whittenhall at whttnhl@gmail.com for more info. The future is in our
hands
Junior Youth Choir
Our church’s Junior Youth Choir welcomes all children ages second grade through eighth grade. Highlights of the JYC year are a Winter Retreat and a Spring Musical. Weekly rehearsals are held at 10:45am on Sunday in the second floor Bennett Room. For further information, contact JYC Director Frank Potempa at 847/296-2568.
Welcome To First Congregational Church Of Des Plaines!
First Congregational Church of Des Plaines, United Church of Christ is a vibrant community of faith located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.
Founded in 1869, we are a warm, welcoming church rich in history and tradition. Our congregation highly values our ministerial leadership, youth education and programs, community involvement, worship and fellowship.
We are a friendly church striving to serve God and meet the spiritual needs of our congregation through worship, fellowship and community service.
Founded in 1869, we are a warm, welcoming church rich in history and tradition. Our congregation highly values our ministerial leadership, youth education and programs, community involvement, worship and fellowship.
We are a friendly church striving to serve God and meet the spiritual needs of our congregation through worship, fellowship and community service.
Praiseformance!
Congratulations and great job on all your hard work. The Junior Youth Choirs Spring Musical "Praiseformance" was enjoyed by all.
JOIN FCC's RELAY FOR LIFE TEAM 2013
Calling all cancer survivors, fighters, families and friends! Please join our effort to support our cancer fighters and survivors and raise money to for cancer research. Last years team of 34 raised over $2,400 for this worthwhile event and also reinforced our church's presence in the community. The event starts at 6:00 pm on June 28 and ends at June 29 at 6:00 am.
Please let Chris Thomas know if you are a cancer fighter and survivor and how you might like to participate. His telephone number is 847-376-3691 or you can email him at: cthomas5688@mindspring.com
Sign up by following this link: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/FCCDP
Please let Chris Thomas know if you are a cancer fighter and survivor and how you might like to participate. His telephone number is 847-376-3691 or you can email him at: cthomas5688@mindspring.com
Sign up by following this link: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/FCCDP
Complimentary coffee hour and light treats for all:
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Thanks for a Great
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Graceland Cemetery Tour
On Sunday September 30th, FCC kicked off the Halloween season by by touring Graceland Cemetery. Not only was it fun for all ages, but it was educational too! After we went out to Red Apple Buffet for a wonderful dinner filled with laughs and fellowship-
Pilgrim Fellowship Mission Trip 2012
8 kids, 3 chaperones, Fraiser Colorado YMCA of the Rockies, and Winter Park: Making a difference
FCCDP.... Alive and Kicking!
FCC Mother's Day 2012: Love Grows
FCC's Got Talent! The Stage is BACK!
A big thank you to all that performed and helped make this Grand re-opening of the Stage at FCC a HUGE success.
Eighty percent of first-time church attenders go because someone they know personally invited them. Have you invited someone to church lately? Watch this hilarious video that shows how if you put in a little effort you might get your neighbour to join you at church.
Check out the United Church of Christ for up to date news
Want to Learn More About Our Church?
If you or someone you know is contemplating membership at FCCDP then plan to attend the next
Church Information Night
Pizza will be served. This is a good opportunity to learn more about the United Church of Christ in
general and about our church’s organizational structure. Please speak with Rev. Co for more information on upcoming dates. 847-299-5561
Church Information Night
Pizza will be served. This is a good opportunity to learn more about the United Church of Christ in
general and about our church’s organizational structure. Please speak with Rev. Co for more information on upcoming dates. 847-299-5561
Metal Recycling
Our metal recycling efforts will continue in 2013 to help future mission trips and to benefit the
church’s general budget. On one Sunday of every month, we will have a metal drop-off after the
9.30am worship service. Nearly $2,000 has been generated to date, with much of the credit going to
Don Cameron and his crew of metal haulers…thank you, Don! We
will take anything metal and if you have larger items that you can’t bring give us a call and we can come over and get them. For future questions or information about a pick up please call Don at
847/297-0493. Save those aluminum cans and bring them to church because you are helping the church as well as the environment!
church’s general budget. On one Sunday of every month, we will have a metal drop-off after the
9.30am worship service. Nearly $2,000 has been generated to date, with much of the credit going to
Don Cameron and his crew of metal haulers…thank you, Don! We
will take anything metal and if you have larger items that you can’t bring give us a call and we can come over and get them. For future questions or information about a pick up please call Don at
847/297-0493. Save those aluminum cans and bring them to church because you are helping the church as well as the environment!
Annual Book sale
Creative Conversation’s annual book sale has started. Please check out the collection in Webster Hall. More book donations are also welcome. For more information, please contact Jo Reilly at 847-632-0354.
"Expand your Table"
This year, Exodus, the organization that Project Survivor works with, is sponsoring an "Expand your Table" Program. It is an opportunity for you to host a refugee family for Thanksgiving....a family that was persecuted in their homeland for religious or political reasons.
Basically the program works this way - you volunteer to host a family, pick them up at their apartment (most likely in Rogers Park) and share your Thanksgiving dinner and the afternoon with them and then take them home. Exodus will try and match your family as to # of children etc.
Sign up is by contacting Jessica Davis at jessica.davis@e-w-s.org or at 630-307-1400 X108. Just identify yourself as a member of FCC and she will take it from there.
We have many things to thank God for. Let's give thanks together with a refugee family. If you want more information before you sign up, please contact Joyce Beets or Jackie Schmitt, co-chairs of Project Survivor.
