Week of August 4, 2025

Sunday Takeaway

It was a wonderful service with great music from Jeff Kust and Tyler Kivel. There was also a sermon about the futility of life...but why should we care, right?

We concluded worship by singing the closing chorus of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Do we greet each morning anticipating that we will find new mercies?  

-Rev. Jonathan Krogh

Join us for worship on Sundays at 10:00 a.m.

On August 10, our high schoolers will lead us in worship as they share their recent mission trip experiences.

Pray for the children and volunteers participating in our Kids’ Summer Camp this week.

If you would like to include a prayer request, please contact the Church Office. You can also share confidential prayer requests through our prayer line at pray@fpclg.org.

Dear Forgiving Fellowship:

I’m musing this morning about a time in my life when I struggled to forgive. This comes at a time when there is so much hostility dividing families, communities, the nation...and perhaps because of this, I am thinking again about why Scripture commands us to forgive the sins of others when, sometimes, I don’t want to.

In my own life, the operative issue about forgiveness is how we think of it as reconciliation. While Scripture does command us to forgive, reconciliation is seen as a work in progress, because we are warned about reconciling with evil. We are commanded to forgive; we aspire to reconciliation…

  • FPCLG Sermon Podcast

  • Thank You for the Supplies!

  • This Month’s Community Concert

  • Kids’ Summer Checklist can be Turned in Sunday

  • Spirits & Spirituality on August 12

  • Discussion of “We Feed People” on August 17/Film Viewing on August 14

  • August’s Loose Offerings for World Central Kitchen

  • Thank You for Your Prayers…and for the Pop Tabs!

  • Coming Up in Women’s Ministry

FPCLG Sermon Podcast

Did you know we have a podcast? It’s a 20-minute compilation of the scripture readings and the sermon recorded in the worship service. FPCLG’s weekly podcast, “Sermons from the Sanctuary,” can be found on popular podcast platforms Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Listen to the message if you missed the service, or listen a second time to contemplate it on your own time. Go back to some prior messages. Having this pop up in your podcast feed is a convenient way to consume it while you are on a walk, doing a household task or simply resting. It usually arrives a few hours after the service. Subscribe and enjoy!

Thank You for the Supplies

FPCLG’s Water Team brings lots of supplies on each installation trip—the components of the water purification system are only the beginning. We recently created a Wish List of items for Mercedes Umaña, our fifth partner community in El Salvador, to be used for health education lessons and then gifted to the in-country educators so that they can continue the lessons in turn with their community members. We thank you for providing ALL of the items from our Wish List—we couldn’t continue our ministry as a Water Church without the generous support of our congregation. We are so appreciative and are looking forward to working with the Water Team in Mercedes Umaña at the end of this month.

August Community Concert

This month’s free Community Concert in our Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19, features Chris White, jazz pianist. 

A native of Toronto, since 2000 Chris has called Chicago his home. He has appeared extensively at clubs throughout the city and has given concerts internationally in Bangkok, Japan and Vietnam.

Chris has performed at the top jazz clubs in Chicago such as Andy’s, The Green Mill and the Jazz Showcase with his own groups and as a sideman. The Chris White Trio performs the music of Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” regularly throughout the Chicago area at the end of each year.

Chris is also an active educator, currently teaching at Lake Forest College, North Park University and North Central College.

Spirits & Spirituality

You’re invited to join neighbors and fellow FPCLG members for Spirits & Spirituality—an evening of connection, conversation and community on Tuesday, August 12, at Barrel House Social in downtown La Grange, 100 W. Burlington Ave.

Happy hour: 5:30-6:00 p.m.

Discussion begins at 6:00 p.m.

In a relaxed and welcoming setting, we’ll reflect together on how the world around us calls us to recognize that we are surrounded by God’s love—especially through the support of a generous, accepting and loving community like FPCLG.

Spirits & Spirituality is a chance to meet an amazing group of people, share meaningful conversation and explore faith in everyday life. Whether you’re a regular at FPCLG or simply curious, we invite you to come as you are.

We can’t wait to see you there!

We will meet at Imperial Oak in Brookfield on Sunday, August 17; social time is 4:30-5:00 p.m., and discussion 5:00-6:00 p.m. In our discussion, we will explore what service means to us in the context of our faith. The film is available on Disney+ and Hulu.

Emily Kallemeyn will host a viewing of the film at her home on Thursday, August 14, at 7:00 p.m. Contact Emily at 708.955.6228 or emo1573@gmail.com if you plan to attend the viewing and/or the discussion.

For the month of August, all of our undesignated gifts will be shared with World Central Kitchen, an organization that is first to the frontlines, providing fresh meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises. They have been (among many places) on the ground in Gaza to the extent that they have been given access.


If you have a project or a program you would like to assist as our ministry of the month, please contact the pastor or a member of the Mission & Outreach Committee.

Thank You for Your Prayers…and for the Pop Tabs!


Pop tabs from cans are collected year-round in our ‘recycling center’ in the east cloister and delivered to Ronald McDonald House in Chicago, which receives the market value of the metal plus a charitable match from United Scrap Metal to support their mission of providing a home away from home for families who have a child in the hospital. By special request from a congregation member with a personal connection, our recent batch of pop tabs was brought to a Ronald McDonald House in Memphis. The following is a personal message from that connection that they asked to share with all of you.

Our 4-year-old granddaughter, who lives in Alabama, was diagnosed with leukemia on August 16, 2023. Her parents immediately took her and her then 8-week-old sister to Memphis, TN so that she could receive treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  They were in Memphis for almost two months and spent many nights at the local Ronald McDonald House.  It was a very difficult time for our family.  During the treatment period the Ronald McDonald House provided important support to her parents by providing comfortable accommodations, and by surrounding them with others who could empathize with the challenges of caring for a very sick child.


Fortunately, less frequent visits are required now, and her chemotherapy will be completed in March of 2026.  As you can see by the photos, she is doing well!  We are so grateful for your prayers and for the contributions of pop tabs for Ronald McDonald Houses.  Thank you!


Because of the now infrequent trips to St. Jude Hospital, it has become impractical for us to deliver the large amount of pop tabs we’ve collected to Memphis.  Instead, we encourage you to continue your support of the Ronald McDonald Houses by delivering your pop tabs to one of the several Houses in the Chicago area.  Your support will help them provide much-needed care for other families.  Unfortunately, the need continues to be great.


God bless you for your support!

Little things like pop tabs can make a big difference!

Coming Up in Women’s Ministry

The Evening Book Group meets tomorrow, Tuesday, August 5, at 7:00 p.m. in the Church Parlor to discuss Hunting Sweetie Rose. Jan Schermerhorn will host, and the author, Jack Fredrickson, will join us. 

Sewing for Mission will meet on Thursday, August 14, at 10:00 a.m. in Westminster Hall.

Contact the Church Office at admin@fpclg.org or 708.354.0771 for more information.

Announcements

Worship and Children’s/Youth Ministry

We gather for worship on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Recordings of the services can be found at www.fpclg.org/sermons for those who are unable to attend. You can also subscribe to "FPCLG Sermons from the Sanctuary" as podcasts through iTunes or your favorite content distributor.

Cross Trainers for grades 5-8, Faith Forest for grades K-4 and Noah’s Ark Preschool for ages 2-5 meet during the 10:00 a.m. service. Nursery care is also available for infants and toddlers.

Our TUXIS High School Youth Group meets on Sunday evenings during the school year from 7:00-8:15 p.m. in the third floor youth room.

Visit our Children’s Ministry and Youth Ministry pages for more information.

Coffetime After Communion

On the first Sunday of each month, we gather for coffeetime and fellowship in the Narthex after sharing in Communion during worship.

Volunteers are invited to sign up to host and provide a treat, such as doughnut holes, for one of the coffeetimes. Regular and decaf coffee are provided. If desired, hosts may provide an additional beverage option (such as tea, juice, pop or a fun creamer flavor). Contact the Church Office or use the SignUp Genius to pick a date to host. You can sign up on your own, as a family or with a group. Thank you!

Preparations for Next El Salvador Visit

FPCLG’s Water Team will be traveling to El Salvador at the end of August to work with the Water Team at Iglesia Fuente De Salvacion in Mercedes Umaña, our fifth Living Waters for the World partner community. They are working diligently on the room where the water purification system will be installed, in preparation for our visit. And we are in the process of gathering supplies for the health education component of the installation. If you are interested in donating any of the supplies we’ll bring, you can view our Amazon Wish List here (purchased items can be shipped directly to the church). Thank you!

Free Community Concert Series

Stop by on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., and you'll be in for a treat. Invite a friend or neighbor, and meet us in the Sanctuary. You can support our Community Concert Series through our Online Giving page.

Documentary Discussion

The Mission & Outreach Committee is hosting a discussion of “We Feed People”, available on Disney+ and Hulu. This film documents how the nonprofit World Central Kitchen and founder Chef José Andrés have responded to humanitarian crises over a 12-year period. In our discussion, we will explore what service means to us in the context of our faith. We will meet at Imperial Oak in Brookfield on Sunday, August 17; social time is 4:30-5:00 p.m., and discussion 5:00-6:00 p.m. Please contact the Church Office if you are planning to attend.

Environment and Climate Change Discussion Group

This group is open to all and meets one Thursday evening per month in the Parlor to discuss climate issues. Please contact Betty McGinnis or the Church Office to sign up.

Faith Forest Kids’ Summer Camp

Kids in preschool (at least four years old and potty trained) through incoming fourth graders are invited to join us for our Faith Forest summer camp taking place August 4-8, 9:00-11:15 a.m. Join us for a week of crafts, games, stories and snacks. Students will be divided by grade levels for age-appropriate activities. Please sign up for which days your child(ren) can attend, and note their ages in the comment section. Sign up here! Suggested donation to help cover costs is $30 per child for the week, which can be paid through our Online Giving page, through Venmo, or by cash or check (made out to FPCLG) to the Church Office. 

Kids’ Summer Checklist

Happy summer! We are offering a Kids’ Summer Checklist to promote the use of our Church Library as well as other ways to be involved at church. Click here for the checklist with ways for incoming K-8th graders to earn points to win prizes. Print out the checklist and keep track on the back or on a separate piece of paper. Copies are also available in the Church Library (accessible via the Ashland Ave. entrance and down the stairs). The library is open on Sunday mornings and also during office hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) We hope you enjoy the activities you choose to participate in!

Tote Bags for Sale

Support the TUXIS mission trip to Milwaukee this summer AND celebrate our Grace Garden by purchasing a canvas shopping bag. You can purchase one for $8 or two for $15. They are available during the week in the Church Office (M-F, 9-2), or contact Kelly at khiggins@fpclg.org. As always, we appreciate your support!

Provide a Dinner for Neighbors in Need

Constance Morris House is part of Pillars Community Health and serves those affected by domestic violence. They are in need of dinners for their 20 residents, and FPCLG has the opportunity to meet this need on the first and third Thursday of each month. This is a great activity to do as a family or with friends, and you are welcome to use the church kitchen for preparation and fellowship if signing up as a group. There is no need to worry about food allergies or restrictions. You can view the schedule here to see available dates. Please contact the Church Office at admin@fpclg.org for more information or to sign up!

"Buy a Part, Be a Part"

Our “Buy a Part, Be a Part” fundraising campaign for our Living Waters mission in El Salvador provides the opportunity to fund a specific piece of the water purification system that will be installed for our next partner community in El Salvador. Click here to visit our Living Waters Webstore and sponsor a piece of the system!

Food Pantry Donations

Food donations (of both non-perishable items AND fresh produce!) for the local food pantry may be placed in the bin in the Ashland Ave. vestibule of the church. In addition to food, the pantry gratefully accepts donations of toiletries and other non-food items. We feature an "item of the month" to highlight some of these needed supplies. August’s item of the month is facial tissue.

Reminder to Save Pop Tabs

Pop tabs from cans are collected in a labeled drawer in our 'recycling center' in the east cloister and delivered to Ronald McDonald House, which receives the market value of the recycled metal plus a charitable match from United Scrap Metal to support their mission of providing a home away from home for families who have a child in the hospital. Little things like pop tabs can make a big difference!

Magazine Collection

Our Board of Deacons is collecting magazines with lots of pictures (not technical info) for use at an area nursing home's memory care unit. Examples are People, National Geographic, Better Homes & Gardens, etc. Please place donations in the blue bin in the Ashland Ave. vestibule.  

“You are Loved” Comfort Care Totes

Many thanks to our generous congregation for supporting the “You Are Loved” Comfort Care Totes project for people going through cancer treatment. If you are aware or become aware of anyone of any age to whom you would like to give one of these totes, please let your deacon know or contact the Church Office.

2025 “Per Capita” Amount is $38.00

Each year, PC(USA) churches pay to support the work of their Presbytery, Regional Synod and National General Assembly based on each church’s total membership. You help us to cover this cost by paying the $38.00 per capita amount for each member of our church in your household. Per capita contributions may be made through our website or sent in to the Church Office. Contact Rick Foulke at 708.354.0771 or rfoulke@fpclg.org with questions.  

Click to Give

Online giving on our website allows you to make one-time donations or set up recurring payments by charging your checking account, savings account or credit card through one of the industry leading vendors for secure payment processing. A confirmation e-mail is sent to you for each gift, and a record of your gifts is also visible to you. It is very quick and easy. To make an online gift, click this link. There is no need to set up an account, but taking a few minutes to do so will make it easier to track your giving history as well as make subsequent or recurring gifts. You can also complete our direct debit authorization form to set up recurring payments directly from your account.