Daily Notes of Grace

Older adults -- Messenger 5 / 2010

Older Adults to be Lauded in May, Luncheon of OPUIS on May 12, Cantigny trip on May 19, Lake Geneva cruise June 15, College of Du Page course, Adult Vacation Bible School July 19, Annual Senior Lifestyle Expo August 25

ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) -- Messenger 5 / 2010

Thursday, May 6, Grace’s ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) group meets for an informal, “Dutch Treat” luncheon at 11:45 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month.  Blueberry Hill Breakfast Café,    49 S. LaGrange Road, LaGrange (N.E. corner of Harris and LaGrange Road), is the location for our gathering of good fellowship, good conversation, and good food.  If you have never attended this luncheon, why not give us a try?

YFG - Messenger 5 / 2010

No YFG Mixers in May

   While Young Families of Grace Mixers are generally held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, there will be no mixers during May. Instead, Sunday, May 9, will be left open so families can fully celebrate Mother’s Day, and Sunday, May 23, will be left open for the Sunday School End-of-Year party.

   The next Mixer will be held on Sunday, June 13. We’ll welcome an outside speaker with a topic entitled “Intentional Parenting.” Watch the bulletin and your email for  details.

   Do you have a dog or cat? Or perhaps a bird or reptile, shall we say, “bat” likes to travel? If so, mark your calendars for Saturday, June 5! Plans are underway for members of Grace Lutheran Church of La Grange to walk in the La Grange Pet Parade. This will be an ALL-CHURCH event, sponsored by YFG. Folks who don’t have pets are more than welcome to join in. Let’s show the community what Grace Lutheran Church is all about by fully participating in this event! Sign up now in Fellowship Hall. Contact event coordinator Nikki York at  HYPERLINK “mailto:nyork78@yahoo.com” nyork78@yahoo.com with questions.

   YFG Ladies’ Night Out continues its bi-monthly gatherings for Grace women who need a night out. Whether you have teens, babies or no children at all, you are invited to join the fun and fellowship. Make some time to develop some new church friendships; you’ll be glad you did! The date is Friday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. The location planning is underway. Contact Casey Brown at  caseyb07@gmail.com or Adriane Wong at  adriane.h.wong@gmail.com with questions.

   Gentlemen, are you starting to wonder when you’ll get your own YFG Guys’ Night Out? All that’s needed is for you to speak up! Email your interest to yfg@att.net and YFG will do the organizing. 

Preschool -- Messenger 5 / 2010

Preschool nears close

The school year at Grace Lutheran Preschool is quickly drawing to a close! The month of May will be filled with spring activities, celebrations and picnics as we end the year. We are very grateful for the love and support of the parents, staff and congregation. This has been a year of growth and lasting memories for all of us.

   We extend a special “thank you” to Janet Kings for the gift of music she shared with the preschoolers again this year. Each month, she lifted the students’ voices in song. While the preschoolers enjoyed all the songs, their unanimous favorites were “Hands A-Washing” and “Aiken Drum.” Thank you, Mrs. Kings.

   The preschool will continue to save General Mills Box Tops for Education and Campbell product labels throughout the summer. The school recently received a check for $210 from General Mills for box tops collected this year. The curriculum is enriched as a result of the collection efforts, so the support offered by church members and preschool parents is appreciated.

   The last day of classes is Thursday, May 20. The 3’s will end the year with family picnics at Spring Rock Park in Western Springs. The four-year-olds will host year-end family celebrations on Friday, May 21. 

   There are several openings in the Monday-Wednesday morning 3-year-old class for the 2010-2011 school year. Families interested in an afternoon 4’s class should call the Preschool office and ask to be placed on a waiting list that’s being compiled to assess adding a class.  

   Registration will open in July for the six-week “Terrific Two’s” class set to begin Friday, September 24. This parent-child class is held on Friday mornings and lasts for one hour.  Registration for “Terrific Two’s” is held on a first-come first-served basis. Children must be two, three or four years of age by September 1. 

   Parents’ Day Out will be held on Fridays in November and December 2010 and January 2011 for children ages 2 through 5 (pre- kindergarten). Registration for Parents’ Day Out will be held in September. 

   The staff asks that you share this information with family, friends and neighbors and you that contact the preschool office for more information or to schedule a visit. 

   Have a safe and happy summer!

Social Ministry - Offering of Letters -- Messenger 5 / 2010

Offering of Letters scheduled for June

One in four children in the USA lives in a family that struggles to put food on the table. Over 16 million American children face the threat of hunger daily. Renewal of the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit by the federal government are real steps toward a day when no parent has to send a child to bed hungry.

   The Social Ministry Committee invites the members of Grace Church to paricipate in the 2010 Offering of Letters. We communicate with our members of Congress through an ‘offering of letters’. and work to win passage of bipartisan legislation to end hunger in our country.

   The Social Ministry Committee will conduct the Offering of Letters on the last three Sundays in June. Further information will be provided.”

Heifer Program -- Messenger 5 / 2010

Sunday School completes successful Heifer program

In April, we  celebrated the success of our Sunday Church School Lenten project. Focusing on Jesus’ invitation to “feed the hungry,” donations will provide 31 families across the globe with a “living loan” of an animal.    Along with Heifer International the students are helping to improve not only the health, but the standard of living for each family that receives an animal.  These families will maintain a sense of dignity and integrity when they in turn pass the gift of a “living loan” on to another family when they are able.

This year our Sunday Church School classes and the Youth Group raised over $1400. 

Pre 3:   Bees and Trio of Bunnies

Pre 4’s:    Flock of Chicks

Kindergarten:   Trio of Bunnies

1st Grade:   Sheep

2nd Grade:   Trio of Bunnies

3rd & 4th grades:   Sheep

5th grade:   Llama & a Hen

6th grade:   llama

In addition the Youth Group raised over $250 at the Easter Breakfast.

Youth and Family Ministry - Messenger 5 / 2010

Wellness House Walk on May 2, Youth car washes May 8, May 29, June 5, June 12, Whirlyball May 16, High School lock-in May 21, Work Camp June 19, Leadership Lab Juliy 18

Youth and Family Ministry Walks, Washes and Whirls into May

Break Bread Together & Other news -- Messenger 5 / 2010

Dinner Club Taking Reservations

Looking for a great way to spend a Sunday evening?  

   Consider attending the May 16 gathering of Break Bread Together, a rotating dinner group!

   Casual home settings and small groups of six to eight people make it possible for diners to get to know others in the congregation better, a primary goal of this group. The host provides the entree and guests provide other parts of the meal. Diners may sign up to be a host or a guest.  

   Reservations for the Sunday, May 16 dinner can be made at the 10 a.m. coffee hour on Sunday, May 2 and or by calling Nancy Long at (708) 246-4197. Guests may be singles or couples.  

   Don’t miss this chance to meet new friends and enjoy the old!

Other news

Our sympathy to

   Sheila Cusack and family on the death of her mother, Therese Cusack

Baptism

   Johnathan Anders Osegard on April 11

The History of Grace Lutheran Church of La Grange -- Messenger 5 / 2010

(Part I) The Early Years: April 14, 1887 - April 14, 1926 

Letters of thanks -- Messenger 5 / 2010

Letters from Pillars (Constance Morris House), American Red Cross, LATH, IRIM, Community Nurse Health Association