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LATEST NEWS
News Archive
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Miss our Service? See it Right Here!
January 22, 2012
First Congregational Church, the oldest church in Elgin, is
pleased to offer video taken at our weekly 10:15 a.m. worship service. Now you
can see
what all the excitement is about at F.C.C.! Click the  button
to watch the video of our most recent service. If you are unable to play the
video, you will need to download and install Adobe's
Flash Player and restart your web browser before viewing the video.
To see videos dating back to January 1, 2011, please click
here to access the archives. Thanks for visiting our site!
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Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 29th
Because final authority for decision-making lies with you — the congregation
of FCC — our church gathers once a year for our Annual Meeting. The meeting
will be held this year on January 29. As has been our practice in the past, the
meeting will be held immediately after the 10:15 worship service. Both the service
and the annual meeting will take place in Fellowship Hall. (The 8:15 service
will be in the chapel as usual.) At the meeting you will be asked to approve
nominations for officers, ministries, and committees. The 2012 budget will be
presented for your approval. The Mission Grants Committee will present for approval
their nominations for mission support at home and around the world. And all of
this will take place around the tables with your family and friends and a delicious
brunch provided by the Church Council. Please plan to attend. This is the business
of your church.
Christmas Eve Services
 Our hearts were calmed as we received the newborn King as a baby
this night. The family worship included the Blessing
of the Children and the traditional service at 10:30 p.m. featured the Chancel
and Handbell choir. Both culminated with singing Silent Night by candlelight
and
Holy
Communion.
“Rejoice greatly” – Zechariah 9:9
See the 4:30pm service video,
click
here!
See the 10:30pm service video,
click
here!
Advent Vespers Service
December 11, 2011
See the video, click here!
Thank you to all who came out to our Advent Worship Service which featured an
Advent procession with lessons and carols and calmed spirits and prepared hearts
for the true meaning of Christmas. The choir of 60 voices from Redeemer Lutheran
and Grace Episcopal of Hinsdale along with our own FCC Chancel Choir accompanied
by organ and the Gargoyle Brass of Chicago filled the rafters and brought the
awareness of
Advent.
4th Annual Community Christmas Carol Sing-Along A
Wonderful Success
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Christmas Carol Sing-Along!! We sang
everything from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to Silent night and everything
in between. The group was led by banjos, guitars, piano, drums and harmonica.
Special thanks to the Elgin High School and Larkin High School choirs for coming
out and singing for us! Donations went to the Community Crisis Center or First
Congregational’s
Renovation Fund (after
175 years, who doesn’t need a renovation?)
See the video, click here!
Limited Edition Ornament Celebrates F.C.C.'s 175th
Anniversary
AVAILABLE NOW!!!
Custom Designed and Hand Painted Ameriscape Ornament of First Congregational
Church by Hestia--Made exclusively for for Shockey Jewelers and to celebrate
the 175th anniversary of F.C.C.
To purchase this ornament please go to:
Shockey Jewelers
18 Douglas Ave
Elgin, IL 60120
847-742-0113
Cost:
$22.50 plus tax
with stand (as shown) additional $5.
Mobile Food Pantry Serves
The Local Community
 On
Tuesday, November 1st FCC hosted the Mobile Food Pantry of the Northern Illinois
Food Bank in our rear parking lot and served 1,250
people. Thank you to all who volunteered to make this
possible!
F.C.C. Mobile Text Alerts
Do you rely on texts for communication more than emails? Would you like to keep
informed about all that's happening at F.C.C. and be alerted to last minute changes
or needs here at church? If you answered yes to either of these questions you
can now text fccelgin to 781-728-9542 and you will be added to our mobile text
alerts system. We hope you will consider joining us!
The Evangelism & Outreach Ministry
F.C.C. Is Celebrating Its
175th Year! F.C.C. Was Proud to Be Included on
The 2011 Gifford Park Association's House Walk
 First
Congregational Church of Elgin was founded May 12, 1836, one year after Elgin
was incorporated as a city. The church's records, which include marriage, birth
and death certificates, are some of the most valuable for those researching Elgin's
history as well as the background of the church. The church is also known for
its spectacular stained glass windows, especially the famous “Rose” window
facing Chicago Street. The church was included on the 2011 Gifford Park
Association’s
House Walk Tour on September 10th and 11th.
F.C.C.'s 175th Anniversary Featured in Daily
Herald Articles
First Congregational Church of Elgin — the first congregation to
be formed in the city — marked a special anniversary on Thursday,
May 12, when it celebrated the 175th anniversary of its founding.
It’s a milestone just as important to the city as the church because it
commemorates the beginning of the city’s long religious heritage.
Click
here to read the history article written by F.C.C.'s
own Jerry Turnquist
Click here to read the historic walk article
Breakfast With the Bible
We continue to study the Old Testament book of Exodus. There are
so many foundational, familiar, fascinating, and frustrating stories to explore.
Bring your Bible to
fellowship hall at 9:15 for an in-depth
look at of one of the Bible’s most interesting books. Remember, breakfast
is served each Sunday, beginning at 9:00, and childcare is
available.
Scrips Program Raises Money for F.C.C.
Doing some shopping? Thinking of "simple" gifts for friend
or neighbor or trying to keep to that budget? Why not give Scrips? Scrips is
a program where you can buy gift cards/certificates which are loaded at the full
face value, yet a percentage is donated back to our church. Participating in
Scrip is easy and allows you to give back to the church without spending an extra
dime.
You can sign up online by clicking
here and then place your
orders online.
Click here to see the complete list of retailers that Scrips offers.
For questions, to get instructions on how to place orders online and begin purchasing
ScriptNow products or to place verbal order, contact Jennifer Phillips at 224-588-7034
or by e-mail at phillipsville500@yahoo.com.
ONLINE GIVING
FCC is truly coming into the 21st century. At its April
meeting, the Church Council approved the option of online giving
to our church. Now you can choose
to have your regular offering, or renovation pledge, or any other gift automatically
transferred from any bank account. This service is available through the United
Church of Christ and will operate just like your online bill payments. It will
promote consistent giving and make it easier to forecast cash flow. FCC will
have complete control over contribution information, and confidentiality will
be maintained as in the past. Click here for
more information and to download the authorization form.
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The first phase of the F.C.C.
Renovation
Is Now Complete!
Click here to see more photos!
Acolytes, Ushers and Other Volunteer Schedules
In Worship in January
January 1 (10:15 only): First Sunday after Christmas
Preacher — Rev. Pat Lindquist
Scripture readings:
John 1:1-5, 10-18
Sermon: I Remember Three Christmases
Holy Communion
January 8: Epiphany Sunday
Preacher — Dr. Paris Donehoo
Scripture readings:
Acts 11:1-18
Matthew 2:1-12
Sermon: What's on the Menu?
Anthem: Light Everlasting by O.C. Christiansen
January 15: First Sunday after Epiphany
Preacher — Dr. Paris Donehoo
Scripture readings:
Isaiah 35:1-7
Luke 7:18-23
Sermon: Eyewitness News
Anthem: Go and Tell John by Lloyd Pfautsch
January 22: Second Sunday after Epiphany
Preacher — Rev. Lois A. Bucher
Scripture readings:
Jonah 3:1-15, 10
Mark 1:14-20
Sermon: Get
Up, Go...
Anthem: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light by Richard Erickson
January 29: Third Sunday after Epiphany
Preacher — Dr. Paris Donehoo
Scripture readings:
2 Timothy 4:1-5
Matthew 22:37-40
Sermon: The K.I.S.S. Method
Anthem: The Loving God Who Made Us All by Andrew Birling
175th Annual Meeting
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The United Church of Christ.