COMING UP SOON
Advent & Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019 - First Sunday of Advent
8am & 10:15am Worship Services with Holy Communion, Bishop Sally Dyck Preaching
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019
5:30pm - Last TGiW Supper of the year
Friday, Dec. 6, 2019
3:30-5pm - Club 34 Christmas Gathering
5-7:30pm - First Fridays Christmas Party
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019
4pm - Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra Holiday Concert
Sunday December 8, 2019 - Second Sunday of Advent
8am & 10:15 am Worship, Children’s Christmas Musical in the 10:15 service
9am - Cookie Walk-Fellowship Hall
4-7pm - Special Friends Christmas Party
7pm - Senior High 180 Christmas Party
Wednesday December 11, 2019
5:30pm - Family Christmas Caroling at Plymouth Place, followed by pizza at the church
6:30pm - Jr. High 180 Christmas Party
Sunday December 15, 2018 - Third Sunday of Advent
8 & 10:15am Worship
Sunday December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
8 & 10:15am Worship, Candles lit for loved ones in worship
5:30pm - Christmas Messiah Concert
Tuesday, December 24, 2019 - Christmas Eve
4:30pm - Family Friendly Worship
7:30pm - Lessons & Carols, Communion & Candlelight with the Chancel Choir
10:30pm - Lessons & Carols, Communion & Candlelight with the TGiW band
Sunday December 29, 2019
One Service at 10:15 am, Rev. Cynthia Zolk, Preaching
Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019 - First Sunday of Advent
8am & 10:15am Worship Services with Holy Communion, Bishop Sally Dyck Preaching
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019
5:30pm - Last TGiW Supper of the year
Friday, Dec. 6, 2019
3:30-5pm - Club 34 Christmas Gathering
5-7:30pm - First Fridays Christmas Party
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019
4pm - Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra Holiday Concert
Sunday December 8, 2019 - Second Sunday of Advent
8am & 10:15 am Worship, Children’s Christmas Musical in the 10:15 service
9am - Cookie Walk-Fellowship Hall
4-7pm - Special Friends Christmas Party
7pm - Senior High 180 Christmas Party
Wednesday December 11, 2019
5:30pm - Family Christmas Caroling at Plymouth Place, followed by pizza at the church
6:30pm - Jr. High 180 Christmas Party
Sunday December 15, 2018 - Third Sunday of Advent
8 & 10:15am Worship
Sunday December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
8 & 10:15am Worship, Candles lit for loved ones in worship
5:30pm - Christmas Messiah Concert
Tuesday, December 24, 2019 - Christmas Eve
4:30pm - Family Friendly Worship
7:30pm - Lessons & Carols, Communion & Candlelight with the Chancel Choir
10:30pm - Lessons & Carols, Communion & Candlelight with the TGiW band
Sunday December 29, 2019
One Service at 10:15 am, Rev. Cynthia Zolk, Preaching
FUMC LaGrange Task Force update (Oct. 2019) -
After last February’s Special General Conference (where a vote passed a “Traditional Plan”), our church established a Task Force to monitor the situation in the larger United Methodist Church. It is our task force’s goal to gather information and keep you updated as the church as a whole, as well as conferences and individual churches determine next steps.
Since February, churches and groups across the nation have been gathering, responding, and preparing for January 2020 when new penalties take effect (against being an openly gay, practicing clergy, and against clergy performing same sex marriages). More than 20 Annual Conferences across the U.S. declared statements rejecting the Traditional Plan, including our own Northern Illinois Conference. At least nine conferences have commissioned or ordained openly LGBTQ individuals.
While a handful of churches have left the denomination, most moderate and progressive congregations are looking to have one more shot at changing the plan through the church's political system. One option is to include a vote at the next General Conference in May 2020 that would make the United States a “Regional Conference," allowing for different decisions in different global regions. The church is currently not structured this way. Additionally at least nine plans “dealing with this LGBTQ issue” have been submitted for vote at the General Conference. These plans would require enough votes to essentially undo the vote in 2019.
Our Northern Illinois Conference has tasked an Exploratory Committee with researching and developing some future options for our community. While watching the movement at the national and global level, a small group of leaders are establishing the procedure for churches in our conference to disaffiliate, or leave the UMC, as a contingency option if needed.
From our church's perspective in La Grange, nothing still changes. We will continue to hold our Reconciling Identity at the forefront, and we reject the Traditional Plan. And we are not alone. We are meeting and participating with churches in our conference and nationally. We are part of the estimated 28,000+ churches in the U.S. that would affiliate themselves with a Centrist/Progressive movement, representing almost 80% of the churches nationally. We pray and prepare for a path forward that removes all language and bans against LGBTQ individuals from being able to safely bring their full God-given identities to the table.
For a review of past task force updates, head here, and for a review of UMC structure, head here.
After last February’s Special General Conference (where a vote passed a “Traditional Plan”), our church established a Task Force to monitor the situation in the larger United Methodist Church. It is our task force’s goal to gather information and keep you updated as the church as a whole, as well as conferences and individual churches determine next steps.
Since February, churches and groups across the nation have been gathering, responding, and preparing for January 2020 when new penalties take effect (against being an openly gay, practicing clergy, and against clergy performing same sex marriages). More than 20 Annual Conferences across the U.S. declared statements rejecting the Traditional Plan, including our own Northern Illinois Conference. At least nine conferences have commissioned or ordained openly LGBTQ individuals.
While a handful of churches have left the denomination, most moderate and progressive congregations are looking to have one more shot at changing the plan through the church's political system. One option is to include a vote at the next General Conference in May 2020 that would make the United States a “Regional Conference," allowing for different decisions in different global regions. The church is currently not structured this way. Additionally at least nine plans “dealing with this LGBTQ issue” have been submitted for vote at the General Conference. These plans would require enough votes to essentially undo the vote in 2019.
Our Northern Illinois Conference has tasked an Exploratory Committee with researching and developing some future options for our community. While watching the movement at the national and global level, a small group of leaders are establishing the procedure for churches in our conference to disaffiliate, or leave the UMC, as a contingency option if needed.
From our church's perspective in La Grange, nothing still changes. We will continue to hold our Reconciling Identity at the forefront, and we reject the Traditional Plan. And we are not alone. We are meeting and participating with churches in our conference and nationally. We are part of the estimated 28,000+ churches in the U.S. that would affiliate themselves with a Centrist/Progressive movement, representing almost 80% of the churches nationally. We pray and prepare for a path forward that removes all language and bans against LGBTQ individuals from being able to safely bring their full God-given identities to the table.
For a review of past task force updates, head here, and for a review of UMC structure, head here.