The Pilgrim

A Message From Our Senior Pastor
I have been thinking a lot about being the church. As I prepare for a mid-August sermon about Saul’s
conversion I wonder what it must have been like for him to feel led by God to be a missionary to non-Jews.
The cost that would have had on his reputation, the toll on his friendships and relationships and how many
would turn their backs on him must have given him pause. And then I imagine the mistrust and misgivings
of those he suddenly embraced as brothers and sisters of faith whom he formerly wanted to lock away and
throw away the key! I think of what it must have been like for the Blodgetts, the Curtiss’s and the Rodgers
to defy the Fugitive Slave Act by harboring fleeing persons of color in their homes at risk of a fine of
$1000.00 for doing so, in 1866, the modern equivalent of such a fine would be a quarter of a million
dollars! They all put their livelihood and family on the line for what they believed in. Finally I think about
sitting in my office overlooking the Fishel Park and reflecting on the tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians
fleeing radical ISIS fighters who seek to kill them for the faith they profess. Such thoughts push me always
from the comfort I take in Christ, to the places and missions I know Christ is pushing me to engage.
Trying to be the church (God’s people) takes guts and courage. Admittedly, there are times when
I feel ready to take on the world and boldly move, and there are others where I find my faith and conviction
Curabitur felis erat,
tempus eu, placerat et,
pellentesque sed, purus.
wanting and my excuses plentiful.
Our church has been built on the shoulders and prayers of people, who like us, hoped that their
faith and actions would change the world. They believed that their lives lived in Christ would take on
deeper meaning and truly have an impact on the world. They have left us a pretty remarkable legacy. Now
the baton has been passed to us. And I wonder if we pray and seek the Holy Spirit to open our lives what
God will have in store for us.
The longer I am here the more I feel the Holy Spirit working on me to start something that reaches
out to those who have no Christian church experience; to literally begin to work on brand new disciples;
people who already aren’t satisfied with the status quo of the world, who are spiritually hungry, but have
not found a church setting that would fit them.
In wrestling with this calling within a calling I think about our capital campaign. I hope and pray
that we all are prayerful at this juncture in the life of our community of faith, not only how the campaign
seeks to meet the needs of our building now that are immediate, but how might it shape the building
operations and capabilities to minister to those coming in the doors in our future. In a nutshell how does
the work we do now pave the way for future ministry and future
generations to connect to Christ? How do we share this “Good News”?
This idea cannot be what we “think” it should be. It must truly be where
God leads us. So one request of all of you reading this, please, commit
yourself to pray for our church, the ministries and lives affected by them
at least once a day, everyday, for the next four months. I believe in the
power of prayer. And I am excited to see where such prayers might take
us.
The Pilgrim
page 2
• Diving into our Capital
Campaign
page 3
• Our Church Ministries
• Spiritual Pit Stop
• Rally Day!
page 4-5
• Schooled/Youth Ministry News
Pastor Rix
page 6
• Rally! Rally! Rally! Children’s
Minisry/Ms Jan
page 7
• Ladies of the Morning/Evening
• Article -Virginia Hopley
• New Members Events
page 8
• Get Connected to UCCDG
• Garage Sale
• FCLC
• Bridge Club
page 9
• PADS
page 10-11
•Music Ministry -Jim Molina
page 12
• Two Way Street Coffee House
page 13
• What’s New in Downers

n
Message From The Moderator… Diving into our
August has been a busy month, preparing for our capital campaign kick-off this fall. As we go
to print mid-month, much progress has been made to lay the groundwork for our campaign. What
all has happened in just a few short weeks?
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We have welcomed Jesse Winters, Campaign Director from James D. Klote & Associates onsite to
assist with our Readiness Assessment report. This will serve as the roadmap for prioritizing our
capital campaign projects, and has been presented to the congregation on August 24 th . At that
meeting, we summarized the results of our Readiness Assessment and responded to focus group
feedback and introduced the chairmen of our Capital Campaign Steering Committee. This
Committee is charged with leading and overseeing the campaign this fall, and will report on a regular
basis to the Cabinet and the congregation. This meeting is posted on our website.
Many of you – over 125 – participated in our six focus groups, and I thank you for your valuable
feedback. These focus groups have served as an important vehicle to hear your voices, strategically
plan our future, and share your ideas, thoughts, and visions framing our capital campaign - one that
we hope has full congregational support and ownership. Learning about the remarkable history our
congregation shares was a bonus at these meetings. Not only should we be proud of our first 150
years firmly rooted in social justice and community building, but we are pro-actively designing our
next 150 years as a church and high impact congregation!
A communications plan for full transparency is in the works, which will update everyone – in real
time and with many different media – about the progress of our campaign, including income, loan
paybacks, and expenditures. The congregation will know every step of the way what’s happening
with the campaign and our building, along with any change of course, from start to finish.
Strong consensus for a professionally managed, tightly directed capital campaign has been built
across First Congregational leadership and throughout our congregation in 2014. As I think back to
last winter when these conversations about our building began, first with 9 Cabinet members, then
to our very dedicated Working Group of 15, up to our June 1 st meeting with nearly unanimous
congregational support for financing our emergency building needs, and now to our fall capital
campaign kick-off, I am amazed and overwhelmed with the commitment, momentum, teamwork,
and energy that our church has generated around something bigger than all of us.
A capital campaign is a special time for our congregation, as we all consider giving sacrificially for
the future of our church and the far-reaching missions that our building houses. We will be taking
a giant step and a deep dive collectively, growing together as a congregation and a community. As
you prayerfully prepare for our campaign, consider reading Mark chapter 5, when the disciples ask
Jesus how they will feed many hungry men with just five loaves and two fish. After Jesus’ blessing,
those who had eaten the loaves miraculously number 5,000! Think of the impact of a restored
walkway to our church – it is just a short length of concrete but can provide safe access to many for
our church services and community outreach programs.
As present-day disciples, through our faith, and under our roof, we too offer ministry, missions,
community building and programs that transform hundreds, maybe thousands, of lives. This is just
the beginning, and there is no better time to invest in our church. We are ready!
As always, you can ask, email or call me with any questions about the capital campaign
(vhopley@comcast.net, 630/987-9298).
-- Virginia Hopley

Spiritual Pit Stop
Is your train moving so fast that everything is a blur? Take a break for a few
minutes of peaceful devotion, sharing, and prayer. We meet
every Tuesday evening from 6:00pm - 6:45pm in the Chapel. On Tuesday,
September 16 and Tuesday, September 23 we will meet in the Church Library as
the Chapel will be used for the Garage Sale. For more information contact Jane
Culligan at jlculligan@gmail.com.
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Rally Day!!!
September 7 th
Our worship service will be a
Communion Service
so please expect it to go a little longer
than our normal hour.
We will “kick off” this program year with
a traditional church potluck. We
will have a dessert contest as well
with a special prize given to the
most delicious dessert, the most creatively
named dessert, and the
dessert with the most Pizazz.
Sunday
Morning Worship
is at 9:30 AM
Everyone is Welcome!
Missed Church?
No problem!!
No matter who you are or where
you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome here!
We will also have an official start to our
Capital Campaign
and a guest speaker to join us
for the late morning.
We know it is also the Fine Arts Fair and the Bears
Season Opener J we will do our very best to be
mindful of everyone’s time. However, this is
important. Every member has pledged in joining to
share there time, their talents, and their treasures
to the full life and ministry of First Congregational
UCC. During this capital campaign we are asking
everyone to do just that, continue to live out that
church promise and pledge. We look forward to
seeing you there!
UCC Broadcast Ministry
Live Channel
http://www.uccbroadcastministry.org/
Walk Thru the Bible
Every Tuesday
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

By Rev. Rix Thorsell
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The fresh air and sunshine beaming down through green leaves bring the new day alive with anticipation for what’s
to come. Students walking from every direction approach a large structure that will be a second home for the next
nine months, where teenagers will socialize, work, eat, and learn together for most of their waking hours. But that
first day of school, as a freshman approaches with anticipation for what’s ahead, it’s a day of possibilities for things
to come and fill his life. There’s always excitement mixed with fear as a new student walks through those doors,
breathing in the smells of cleaned windows and polished tile floors. You can almost touch the energy in the air as
hundreds of bodies move about, trying to open new lockers or find a hidden classroom before the bell goes off.
It’s an experience that holds so much potential for the future, one that we prepare to head into as a community
this coming Fall.
As a church, we’re getting ready for our first day of school as we move into some big things on the horizon at First
Congregational Church of Downers Grove. Capital Campaigns, 150 th Anniversary Planning, a revamped Sunday
School, and an expanded and encompassing Youth Ministry program are all ripe with possibilities, with ways that
can bring us closer together as community. This coming year, like a classroom filling with students early Monday
morning, we’ll doubtlessly find ourselves called to be present in some way; to offer our talents and gifts to our
church family. This can be something scary and perhaps a little anxiety inducing, especially if we’re being asked to
give extra time and energy when we already feel as though our day couldn’t hold any more. But it can also be a
fulfilling opportunity where we find a second family that brings us back to the best parts of our high school days.
It can provide and nourish us more than we could know.
When talking about what church is, it’s always a more than a worship service one day a week. We can meet new
faces there, but the deep friendships that happen through the church (and I’ve seen a lot) are because we’ve
invested our presence in a new ministry or service project that comes along. And it’s not simply a chance for
friendship, but a place that offers ways to make meaning of those relationships and how we understand our own
lives. We learn things that would astound even the most educated academic, things that we can only get through
our presence in this Christian community.
One of the greatest things I’ve noticed is that our church has a niche for everybody. Whether you’re passionate
about the environment, have tech skills to share, love singing, acting, knitting, or any other interest, this
community has places to engage that. While there’s a lot of places to find these things (gyms, golf courses, you
name it), we’re more than a social club; our purpose seeks to walk alongside our lives, revealing the ways God is
present in everything we do. It seeks to lift us up and empowers us with the energy of the first day of school. It lets
us start over again when we need it, and build together for something greater than ourselves. It’s the thing that
affirms why we’re Christians in the first place.
This is a year that promises to be many things for many people. As we prepare for that first class to start, ready to
begin a journey that will determine the future of the congregation, we’re primed and ready to go. Christ has invited
us back to school, let’s answer the bell.

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Check out What’s New!!!
New Website Address
We’ve moved our domain to make it easier to find! Locate
our Youth Ministry site at: www.uccdgyouth.org. This will
now be a fully functioning communication tool for parents,
youth, leaders, and your pastors. Visit this site for any
questions you might have regarding upcoming changes
and additions to our Youth Ministry.
Confirmation Mentoring
For our Confirmation Program this year, we’ll be asking
our congregation to step up and play a big role in our
youths’ faith lives! Mentoring will call our confirmands to
find an active member of the congregation who they
could use as an example of what it means to be a
Christian. We will develop these relationships together as
a group during our new monthly “Confirmation
Conversations,” which will allow youth and mentors to
talk about their faith in a practical sense. Details and
information can be found at our webpage under the
“Confirmation” tab.
Youth Group
This year we are going to offer an experience unlike any
other, as we ask members in the congregation to bring
their skills to Youth Group and show us what our
community has to offer! As we partner with committees,
ministries, and other groups over the course of the year,
we hope that every youth can see how church is relevant
and useful in their busy lives. We’ll have the chance to
form community for retreats, outings, and our summer
mission trip, as well as every Sunday for our youth
groups. This is a year not to miss. Check out our website
for more information!
Broadcast Ministry
Our youth will now have the opportunity to create and air
their own youth group podcast, in addition to working with
our UCC Broadcast Ministry program. Led by station
manager, Len Potter, we will be offering opportunities to
volunteer running and broadcasting our Sunday services
online! Make an impact on how the rest of the country will
hear our message!
This will be the highlight of our Rally Day Kickoff youth
group on Sunday September 7 at 10:45 a.m. (Jr. High)
and 7 p.m. (Sr. High). Contact Pastor Rix for more details.
This year is filled with some incredible and exciting new
ways to engage our faith! Check out some highlights for
this year:
New Website Address
www.uccdgyouth.org
Come visit us!
Confirmation Mentoring
Wednesday’s
@ 6:30pm
Youth Group
www.uccdgyouth.org
Come visit us!
Sunday Morning
at 9:30 am
Everyone is Welcome!

Rally! Rally! Rally!
Rally round the flag boys…” as the old military song states – it’s time for First Congregational
Church to Rally Round! September 7 th is our “kick off” Sunday to begin a whole new year of
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Sunday School, Junior Fellowship, Junior Choir and Junior Drama!!! Yay! Come to our NEW Sunday school program; THE TREASURE
HUNTERS! See what Miss Jan has in her special treasure chest to share with you each week! All of our classes will be on the
second-floor from now on. Meet some of your new teachers! Meet up with old friends and meet some new friends too! Oh…. And
speaking of friends – PLEASE INVITE A FRIEND OR MORE TO JOIN YOU IN OUR FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS OF THE
YEAR! Introduce your friend to your Sunday school friends and show them the fun we have at First Congregational! Following Sunday
school, you and your friend (s) can join us for a Rally Day Party in Fellowship Hall. Great food and fabulous desserts. Special games
and PRIZES TOO!!! Go on an exciting treasure hunt all over the church. You will NEVER FORGET the fun you had on Rally Day 2014!
SO DON’T MISS OUT!!!
New this year: This year instead of the normal Christmas pageant, we are going to perform a musical called: “Miracle on Main
Street”. Full of comedy fun, great songs and a wonderful message. We would also love to have a few adults for some key roles! There
is even a Christmas pageant – within the show. Miss Jan, Lydia Walsh-Rock, and Natalie Olsen will be directing this awesome new
show and we will surprise the congregation with an exciting new way to present the birth of Jesus. We will meet in the Chapel right
after Sunday school, each Sunday at 10:45 a.m beginning on September 14th. Each 45 minute rehearsal will get us prepared for our
production in mid-December. These rehearsals are for children from 2 nd grade through 6 th grade. Children ages 3 years – 1 st grade
may join us as we get closer to our production date to also perform in this awesome musical. A couple of Saturday afternoon
rehearsals will be called toward the end of Nov. and early Dec. We will cast the speaking and solo parts on Sunday, September 21 st .
Come one, come all and be a part of this special, first time Christmas musical!!!
Junior Fellowship will “kick off” on Sunday, September 28th. Our first outing will be a bowling party at the Suburbanite Bowling
Alley on Ogden Ave. Please join us and bring a friend to enjoy bowling, snacks and a quick meeting to discuss our upcoming Junior
Fellowship activities. PLEASE INVITE YOUR PARENTS also to this first outing as we will be having a planning meeting. Junior
Fellowship is for grades 4 th - 6 th . This is a terrific way to get to know your fellow First Congregational friends better and to be a
part of an exciting group that has fun each month and helps with various service projects throughout the year. Our new Junior
Fellowship times will be 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month. Our first service project will be: PROJECT STUFFED
ANIMALS! As you know, there are many children fleeing South America, through Mexico into the U.S. to escape the violence in their
countries. Many of these children are coming into the Chicago area. They are scared, sad and lonely. Many are arriving without any
adults to accompany them. We at First Congregational Church are collecting new or slightly used stuffed animals to help calm and
soothe these frightened children. I would love our Junior Fellowship and Sunday school children to be a part of PROJECT STUFFED
ANIMALS. Miss Jan will be collecting these stuffed animals on September 14 th , September 21 st and September 28 th . Please go
through your menagerie and see if you can send one or more of your stuffed friends to help a child in need. We may be young but
we CAN change the world!
Happy Fall!
Miss Jan – Director of Children’s
CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL ON
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 TH !!!

UCCDG News!
Ladies of the Morning
Friday, September 5 th 9:30 a.m.
Ladies of the Morning (Ladies of the
Evening are always welcome, too.)
will meet for breakfast on Friday,
September 5 th at 9:30 a.m. at Omega
Restaurant. 1300 Ogden Ave.
630/963-0300
Bring your calendars! This will be our
annual "pick the dates and locations"
meeting for the next year.
Please contact Peggy Gutzke at
peggy.gutzke@gmail.com or 630-
971-1382 if you have questions.
As always friends are welcome.
Ladies of the Morning
& Evening and
ANYONE ELSE!
Friday, September 19, 8:00, 8:30,
9:00 ... a.m. Come when you can and
stay as long as you can.
Join us in Fellowship Hall to help sort
and price items for the All Church
Garage Sale. If you are interested in
joining the Garage Sale
Committee or need more information,
contact Peggy
Gutzke at 630-971-1382 or
peggy.guzke@gmail.com
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First Congregational Church of Downers Grove has been blessed with the installation of not one
– but two – first rate ministers in the last two and a half years. Both Pastor Scott Oberle, Senior
Minister, and Pastor Rix Thorsell, Associate Minister for Youth and Young Adults, have hit the
ground running, exceeded our expectations, and challenged us, as a faith community, to live
our lives as change agents for God by putting our faith into action every day.
So what is our responsibility, as a congregation, for maintaining respectful, positive, and
healthy relationships with our clergy? It is definitely a two-way-street. The Fox Valley
Association has very clearly outlined these expectations below. As Moderator, I have been
charged with relaying these commitments to the congregation. Please take a few moments to
read and reflect on the many facets of what our ministers have been called to do at First
Congregational, as well as what Pastors Scott and Rix can expect from the congregation, to
foster a long-standing and growing partnership with our church.
-- Virginia Hopley
New Members Meeting
Tuesday, September 23 rd at 7pm
New Members Events!
New Members Events!
New Members Tour
Sunday, September 28 th at 11am

Get Connected!
This young fellow found a happy new home
thanks to the Garage Sale last year! Do
YOU have treasures to donate? It’s time to
start collecting those
discards (new and
used) to donate to the
all-church garage sale.
The sale is one of the
major money makers
for our church, and we
need everyone’s help.
The sale will be held September 20 and 21, and
we will be accepting items the previous week.
We gladly accept furniture, household items,
sports equipment, electronics, tools, books,
music/movies, jewelry, collectibles, crafts, baby
items, toys, games, holiday decorations and
more. If you have items that need to get out of
the house before that time, we have storage
space at Peace Memorial Manor. To make
arrangements for storage, or if you would like to
serve on the committee, contact Gail Clark at
630-960-1731 or gclark214@comcast.net.
NEWS FLASH!!!!
We will hold an extra half price sale day
(open to the public) on Sunday, September
21 from 11:00 – 1:00. More
bargains for all!
Don’t forget we need many, many volunteers
the week before the sale for set up, the days of
the sale, and for clean up. Thanks for your
support again this year!
Your garage sale committee.
We are in need of teachers for subs and for a
part time Infant/toddler position. The first
weeks have been spent getting to know each
other. We have wonderful families! Again, if
you know of anyone that is in need of
preschool, childcare or a teaching job, have
them contact Sue Larsen at
suelarsen@uccdg.com or 630/968-0527.
FCLC- Our Doors Are Open
We are celebrating the opening of the FCLC 2014-2015
school year. We offer full time childcare and preschool
classes for children ages 6 weeks-5 years old. Our
infant/toddler room is currently filled, with a waiting list.
The preschool has a few openings.
Our “FCLC’S Mission” is to serve our
families by providing the safest and best
childcare possible. We want our parents to
go to work knowing that their children
will be well cared for.
Wanted!!!
Bridge Players, Individuals or Couples
October 2014
Thru - May 2015
First Congregational Bridge Group
We play once a month at a day
and time determined by the two
couples who are scheduled to play each other.
A donation of $10 per person is collected with the
October bridge scores. This money goes toward our
May potluck chicken and towards a church
ministry/ministries.
Questions? Email Bob + Marilyn Katrein at
bobmarkn@aol.com. Please complete the form below
and return it to the Katreins at 4944 Cornell, Downers
Grove, IL 60515 by September 15 th . Thank you!
Name_______________________________________
Address _____________________________________
Phone # ____________________________________
Email _______________________________________
Partner’s Name _______________________________
Address _____________________________________
Phone # ____________________________________
Email _______________________________________
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What’s New in Downers!
13
First Tuesday’s of the Month
Fine Arts Festival
September 6 & 7, 2014
NO COST!!!
Contact Erin @ 630.725.0991
Up-Coming Events
DuPage PADS
10 th Annual Run for Home
September 6 th 8 am-10 am
703 W. Liberty St., Wheaton, IL
Girls' Night Out
"Women Helping Women"
October 2nd
NO COST!!!
Up-Coming Events

Phone: (630) 968.0358 Fax: (630) 968.7568
Email: office@uccdg.org Website: www.uccdg.org * Broadcast: www.uccbroadcastministry.org
Other Communications: www.twitter.com/uccdg * www.facebook.com/uccdg
FCC Learning Center: www.facebook.com/fdcdg