First United Methodist Church of Evanston, IL

Summer Office Hours
2024-06-09 - 2024-09-08
Summer Office Hours
Beginning on June 10th, the church office will be closed on Mondays and Fridays. If you have church business in the building, the office will be open as they usually are between 10am-4pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and from 8am-12pm on Sundays. Staff will be working remotely on Mondays or Fridays, depending on which of those days they take for sabbath. We will resume program year hours beginning September 3rd.

Fall Family Welcome
2024-09-06 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
You’re invited to Children’s Ministry’s Fall Family Welcome, Friday, September 6, 2024 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the front lawn of First United Methodist Church (1630 Hinman Avenue).
Join Children’s Ministry leaders, volunteers, and other families with children ages 0 through 6th grade for casual fellowship and a preview of our 2024-25 program year for children and adults. Light dinner will be provided along with a taste of “Messy Church,” a monthly opportunity for children, youth, and adults of all ages to engage and get messy in hands-on activities and worship, beginning Rally Day Sunday, September 8!
To aid in our planning, please register by Friday, August 30.

Rally Day
2024-09-08
Our new program year at First Church begins on Rally Day Sunday, Sept. 8!
9:15am Christian Education for adults, youth, and children
10:30am Worship in the Sanctuary with children’s processional
10:45am Children’s Chapel and Connect 456
Community Hour with ice cream on the church lawn after worship.
Church Council has chosen “Collaboration, Connection and Care” as the theme for 2024-25 and proposed a focus on Goals IV (Action for Justice) and V (Collaborative Leadership) of the current strategic plan into next summer. By expanding that plan for one additional year, we have additional time to reflect on the outcomes of the 2024 General Conference and develop the next strategic plan.

Men's Fellowship Breakfast...attention date change
2024-09-08 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Chicago)
The Men’s fellowship breakfast will not meet on Sept. 8, Rally Day. It is going to be held the following Sunday, Sept. 15, at 8 am at the Merion.
The regular schedule of second Sunday meeting time will resume on October 13.

Celebration of Community
2024-09-08 09:15 - 09:30 (America/Chicago) | Dining Room
Join us as we gather as a church community of all ages and celebrate that we are learning and growing in Christ together. This will serve as a gathering place before children and adults go to their respective places for the education hour.

Confirmation- 7th & 8th Grade
2024-09-08 09:15 - 10:15 (America/Chicago) | Room M
7th and 8th graders— it’s time for Confirmation to begin! We will meet in Room M on Rally Day morning. See y’all soon!

Adult Christian Education Preview
2024-09-08 09:15 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | Dining Room
On Rally Day Sunday, Sept. 8, the Adult Christian Education Council is hosting an overview of opportunities for adults to learn and grown in faith. All are welcome to the dining room from 9:15-10:15am to hear about plans for four tracks of classes and groups, specific opportunities, and a bit about the work Adult Council is doing. This gathering is a great opportunity for long-time members, new visitors, and everyone in-between.

Messy Church
2024-09-08 09:30 - 10:15 (America/Chicago) | Great Hall
Messy Church is Christ-centered. Messy Church is creative. Messy Church is for all ages. Messy Church is where YOU belong!
Life is rarely neat and tidy. But God isn’t afraid to enter the mess.
Messy Church is an opportunity for children, families, and adults to engage in hands-on creative activities, celebratory worship, and time together in community. Join us for a different kind of Sunday School for children and adults on this Rally Day Sunday!

Chancel Choir Rehearsal
2024-09-08 09:30 - 10:15 (America/Chicago) | Sanctuary
Adults and high school youth rehearse music for worship in the Chancel at the front of the Sanctuary. No audition required. Email Dr. Brian Schoettler for more information.

Worship in the Sanctuary
2024-09-08 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Sanctuary
Please find up to date information about this Sunday here.

Children's Chapel and Connect 456
2024-09-08 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)

Community Hour with Ice Cream
2024-09-08 11:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Front Lawn

Eucharist Service
2024-09-08 11:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Tittle Chapel

Communications Committee Meeting
2024-09-09 19:30 - 20:45 (America/Chicago) | Zoom
The 2024-25 Communications Commitee meets monthly on the second Monday of each month at 7:30pm online. Questions? Please reach out to committee chair Andy Shotwell at ashotwell@gmail.com.

Archives Committee
2024-09-10 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | Archives-Room 37

Church Council Meeting
2024-09-10 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Glenna Hall

Coffee, Conversation, and Friends
2024-09-11 10:00 - 11:00 UTC
This group of women “of a certain age” meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Year round we gather at LePeep in Evanston for informal conversations on a wide variety of topics: books, the news, restaurants, grandchildren, and places to visit. No matter what’s on the table, we are all ears. Come join the conversation and make some new friends.

Staff Meeting
2024-09-11 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room

Children's Choir Rehearsal
2024-09-11 17:15 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Choir Room
Children in grades 1-6 rehearse weekly and sing in worship monthly. No audition is required and new singers are welcome throughout the year. For more information, email Dr. Brian Schoettler.

Handbell Choir Rehearsal
2024-09-11 18:30 - 19:15 (America/Chicago) | Choir Room
The Handbell Choir plays in worship seasonally. Basic music reading skills required (instrumentalists are especially welcome). Open to adults and youth in grades 6-12. New members are welcome throughout the year – email Dr. Brian Schoettler for more information.

Chancel Choir Rehearsal
2024-09-11 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Choir Room
Adults and high school youth rehearse music for worship. No audition is required. Email Dr. Brian Schoettler for more information.

Soup Kitchen
2024-09-12 17:30 - 19:00 UTC | Dining Room
As part of Interfaith Action of Evanston, First Church hosts a weekly soup kitchen each Thursday evening. A host team of First Church volunteers is needed each week, and 5-6 times a year we also need cooking teams. Interested in helping? Please contact Dave Koester (davekoester57@gmail.com) about current scheduling needs.

Sunday School
2024-09-15 09:15 - 10:15 (America/Chicago)
Sunday School takes place before Worship from 9:15-10:15 a.m. from mid-September through May, with an emphasis on learning and responding to stories in the Bible through reading, conversation, and play. Sunday School is offered for children ages Pre-K-6th grade. Classroom locations are posted throughout the building.

Adult Education- Social Justice
2024-09-15 09:15 - 10:15 (America/Chicago) | Room 32
For Sept. 22, and 29, these two classes are meeting together to reflect on the United Methodist Social principles, as they are an important part of understanding United Methodism,. On Oct. 6, the two classes will meet separately. Social Justice will continue exploration on the Social Principles in their updated form, and Methodism 101 will begin with a brief history of John Wesley and discussion on what Methodism has in common with other Christian denominations.

Adult Education Class- The Christian Experiment
2024-09-15 09:15 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | Glenna Hall
A weekly gathering that creates community and explores faith-based questions. More. Led by Matt Rader and Kristi Hubbard.

Connect456
2024-09-15 10:45 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
Connect456 is designed to help children in grades 4-6 connect to the church community as older elementary and middle school students preparing to make their own way at First Church. Each week features a unique means of connecting, including serving in leadership with younger children, learning about our church history and United Methodist identity, observing worship and more!

Children's Chapel
2024-09-15 10:45 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
Children’s Chapel seeks to excite and build confidence in children’s experience of worship and sense of belonging at First Church. Children ages three through 3rd grade are invited to experience the wonder of worship and joy of service in a lively, child-friendly setting. Throughout the program year, children take part in the seasons of the Christian year, exploring rituals, sacraments, and songs of our worship tradition as well as hands-on aspects of our church mission that children might shape and help share the story of our faith.

Faith Formation Council "Train the Trainer" Event
2024-09-15 11:30 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Memorial Garden
This is a “train the trainer” event on walking the labyrinth for members of the Faith Formation Council to prepare them to lead sessions for the congregation later in the fall.

Methodist Youth Fellowship
2024-09-15 11:30 - 13:30 (America/Chicago)
Methodist Youth Fellowship (aka MYF) is open to all youth (7th-12th Grade). We’ll gather twice each month on Sundays 11:30-1:30pm. This is a time to have lunch and engage in music, games, an activity, service project, lesson or anything in between. This is our time to hang out as a youth group and build connections. Hope you’ll join us!
Questions? Contact Sydney Harkrider at sydney@faithatfirst.com.

Installation Service for District Superintendent
2024-09-15 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Sanctuary
