Featured Events
Happy Pride Month!
We are grateful that Downers Grove is such a vibrant and welcoming community, where our Mayor Bob Barnett will proclaim June as Pride Month in our village at the June 2nd council meeting. Our Mission & Justice Ministry has several activities planned to celebrate the month. We still have t-shirts available for sale, so if you’d like one email Myste to arrange to pick it up. We hope you’ll join us for any and all of the following events:
DG PrideFest 2026 welcomed 1000+ visitors to Lincoln Center on Sat., June 6
This vibrant, family-friendly celebration of community, inclusion, and pride was a wonderful celebration with local organizations and businesses providing music, delicious food, a colorful costume parade, and interactive games! A great group of volunteers represented UCCDG there with a table for cookie painting and information about our church. Find pictures and details on the EQDG website.
Sun., June 14, 12 p.m.: Aurora Pride Parade
Please join us at the parade immediately following our worship service! We will carpool over together - or you can meet us there. We’ll be marching and giving away our beads in the Aurora Pride Parade. Lunch of sandwiches, chips and water will be provided. Please email Myste if you’d like to come along.
Sun., June 28, time TBD, Chicago Pride Parade
We’re organizing a group to hand out beads at the Main Street Metra Stations to people taking the train downtown for the Chicago Pride Parade. Please sign up with Laurie after services in Fellowship Hall. or via this link. We are also looking for two members to carry our banner in the parade itself. Please email Myste or Dave Humphreys if you are interested.
If you have any questions about these activities. you can email Myste.
Community Survey on Housing in Downers Grove
Now thru June 12th
ATTENTION ALL WHO LIVE OR WORK IN DOWNERS GROVE: Please take 10 minutes to complete this Housing Survey to help the village understand our community's needs, strengths and goals related to housing. More information is available on the village website.
FCC Book Club
Weds., July 1, 6:30 p.m. , Library
All are welcome to join us to discuss Hester by Laurie Albanese.
For more information, please contact Linda Schranz.
Women’s Fellowship Events
This casual, fun group meets twice a month, usually on Fridays. Please invite friends, as well as new and long time members, to join us for any of our gatherings! Reach out to Peggy Gutzke with any questions or to sign up.
June 19th, 9:30 a.m. , Parlor Join us for Stitch and Chat!
July 10th, 11:30 a.m. , Wasabi Join us for lunch at Wasabi, 5130 Main Street in Downers Grove.
Annual Church Garage Sale News
Donations are now being accepted. Sale is Sat, Sept. 26 - Sun. Sept. 27
The garage sale team has already been working hard in preparation for this year’s church garage sale! Donations drop off dates for this year will be the second Sundays of the month from 10:30 to 11:15am in the 1101 building. (That’s June 14, July 12, August 9, and September 13.) We will also take donations while we are sorting and pricing items in the 1101 building on Wednesdays from 9:30 to noon through September 9. Please note that the last date for donation drop-offs is Sunday, Sept. 13, and this is the last year we will be able to accept furniture. Please check the list of items we will accept here before donating.
We will also be collecting jewelry in our big basket on Sundays in the Parlor and Fellowship Hall, and during the week the basket will be in the church office for donations. We accept all jewelry even if it’s broken or has missing pieces!
If you have questions, or for drop-offs by appointment, please contact Gail Clark at gclark214@comcast.net or Jan Hibbeln at janhibbeln@gmail.com.
Fishel Park Concerts’ Hydration Station: Volunteers Needed!
Tuesday evenings Jun. 9 thru Aug. 11, Fishel Park
Come out and enjoy free live music while you volunteer! Our Outreach & Membership Ministry provides water to community members coming to Fishel Park for the Summer Concert Series. We have a Hydration Station set up in the parking lot just north of the park. Please sign up to help pass out water on a Tuesday evening from June 9 - August 11. If you have questions, please contact Linda Schranz.
Food Bank Volunteering at GCFD
Sat.., June 20, 9:00 - 11:45 a.m.
Take Action . Become a food bank volunteer and join us in ending hunger and food insecurity. Adults, and kids (over 11) are invited to help repack bulk products into family-sized portions. Address is: 4100 W Ann Lurie, Chicago, IL. We have reserved 15 spots. We can carpool from either church or Jewel (63rd and Main). Contact Laurie Tsukuno 630-276-6011 cell or ltsukuno@aol.com for further information. Use this Group Registration Link to sign up.
Sign Up as a Rotary GroveFest Volunteer & Benefit UCCDG
GroveFest dates are Thurs. June 25 thru Sun., June 28, Downtown Downers Grove
The Signup Genius site is OPEN NOW, but the best slots go quickly, so sign up here today! When you list First Congregational UCC in the comments field, our church will earn $40 per volunteer shift. Every bit helps... last year we earned over $1,000 because of our volunteers!
For more information email Community Liaison Dave Humphreys or call or text 630-968-5526. More details at the Rotary GroveFest website.
Men’s Summer Retreat at Tower Hill
Aug. 21 - 22, Tower Hill Retreat Center, Sawyer, MI
Most men in the church and in culture don’t have a lot of places to talk about faith, life, struggles… this retreat will be a combination of some mission work helping with a few small projects around the camp and lively discussions along with some games, cards, campfires and inspirational devotion time. This time together offers space for reflection, service, nature, and meaningful connection—no pressure, no prerequisites, just an open invitation to show up as you are.
We will leave at 10am on Friday, August 21th and return at 7pm on Saturday, August 22nd. Cost will be dependent on number of participants, but we'll try to keep the weekend at $100/person. Accommodations are in the new retreat center at Tower Hill camp in Sawyer, MI right off Warren Dune State Park and Lake Michigan.
Contact Pastor Scott with any questions. Or sign up online today - our spaces are limited. RSVP required by August 1st.