Centralia Opera Concert
2025-07-07 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Tittle Chapel
6:30-8:30pm room reservation–more details to come!

ASP 2025
2025-07-12 - 2025-07-19
Calling all youth! Those who have completed 7th grade all the way to graduating seniors are invited to the Appalachia Service Project. We head to somewhere in Appalachia and serve the people by conducting home repairs. First Church will be attending their 27th year of this mission trip, and this tradition runs deep in the Youth Ministry. Contact Sydney for more details.

Peace Circle
2025-07-12 13:00 - 14:30 | Dining Hall
Peace Circle is a place of building community, where the emphasis is listening to others, responding to prompts or questions that addresses issues of personal concern or places of division and separation in our lives. Some themes that arose in a previous Peace Circle were concerns of health, mortality and family. For many it was beginning to know others on a deeper level, without being intrusive. This is a non-cross talk format. In order to allow for adequate personal space, the group will be limited to 14 participants.
REGISTER HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CA4AA2BA0FF2-57319033-peace

Earth Care Committee
2025-07-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Conference Room

Faith Formation Council Meeting
2025-07-15 19:00 - 20:00

Race and Ethnicity Committee Meeting
2025-07-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Conference Room

Visitor Coffee and Tour
2025-07-20 11:30 - 12:20 | Glenna Hall
Visitor Coffee and Tour

Sundays after 10:30am worship on July 20, August 24, Sept. 21 & Nov. 2

Curious to further explore First Church? Want to meet others in the congregation and tour the building? Visitors and others new and not-so-new to First Church are invited to stay after 10:30am worship on any of the dates listed above for coffee, informal conversation, and a tour of the church building where “the magic happens” (to quote Pastor Grace). For example, we’ll see the kitchen, nursery, diaper pantry, and overnight shelter space. Information on the Inquirers Class will be available for those who are curious to learn more about First Church.

Please RSVP for your preferred date as you complete this registration.
Register here!

Questions? Please contact Mary Taylor-Johnson, Director of Membership and Engagement, at mary@faithafirst.com .

Church Council
2025-07-22 18:00 - 20:00

Andy Hullinger Memorial
2025-07-26 13:00 - 16:00 | Glenna Hall and Tittle Chapel

Music Ministry
2025-07-30 14:00 - 15:00 | Sanctuary
Space reservation

Church Council
2025-07-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Glenna Hall

Earth Care Committee Meeting
2025-08-03 10:15 - 11:30 | Conference Room

DS Clergy Interview
2025-08-07 08:00 - 19:00 | Glenna Hall

Moving On Ceremony
2025-08-07 15:30 - 16:30 | Dining Hall

Leadership Retreat
2025-08-09 08:30 - 12:30 | Dining Room
Our annual Leadership Retreat for all current chairs, co-chairs and vice chairs of church committees. Join us for breakfast, lunch and getting to know each other and preparing for the year ahead in between the two meals!

Register here: https://onrealm.org/faithatfirst/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=YTQxOGJhZGQtMzJiZi00ZmNiLTkzY2UtYjMxYjAxNGM5Y2Nm

Bundled Blessings Diaper Packing for church community!
2025-08-10 09:45 - 10:30 | Dining Hall

Faith in the Wild Vacation Bible School
2025-08-11 09:00 - 2025-08-14 13:00 | Dining Hall
“Faith in the Wild” is an environmentally rooted Vacation Bible School program inspiring children to explore their place and relationships in creation. Through imaginative Bible storytelling and outdoor, immersive study of trees, water, birds, bugs and conservation, children will uncover elements of wildness and rootedness within and how experiences of wilderness can help us cultivate a deep and lasting connection with God.

Featuring daily ecological expeditions, multi-sensory activities, and special guests in partnership with the Evanston Ecology Center, Clark Street Beach Bird Sanctuary and more, families with children entering kindergarten through grade 4 won’t want to miss this free half-day program, with snacks and lunch provided!

Social Justice Intersections Seminar on Religious Nationalism
2025-08-17 12:00 - 15:00 | Glenna Hall

Adult Education meeting
2025-08-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Glenna Hall
Monthly meeting of Adult Education Council

Orientation Day
2025-08-20 07:30 - 10:30 | Glenna Hall

Youth Collaboration Meeting
2025-08-21 14:00 - 15:30 | Conference Room

Budget meeting
2025-08-22 09:00 - 11:00 | Glenna Hall

Piano Tunings
2025-09-03 09:30 - 15:30 | Sanctuary

Membership Comm Leader meeting
2025-09-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Conference Room

Board of Trustees meeting
2025-09-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Conference Room
Reserving the Conference Room on 9/4, 11/6, 4/9, & 6/4.
The other meetings will be via Zoom.

Fall Family Welcome
2025-09-05 17:30 - 19:00 | Hinman Lawn
You’re invited to Children’s Ministry’s Fall Family Welcome, Friday, September 5, 2025, from 5:30-7:00 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, play, and a preview of our 2025-26 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 7!

To help us plan, please register by Sunday, August 31. PLEASE INSERT THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://onrealm.org/faithatfirst/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=ZjUzOTk0YjgtMTc0Ny00ODAwLWFhOGItYjMzMDAwMTllNzdh

Couples Salon Sips and Dips
2025-09-06 18:00 - 21:00 | Chris and Ed Webler’s home
Come enjoy Sips and Dips with Couples Salon on Saturday, September 6th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Chris and Ed Webler’s home in Evanston.
Please RSVP to Chris at c.webler@gmail.com to let her know you are coming and whether you are bringing an appetizer, salad, dessert or sip to enjoy with mini beef sliders.

Rally Day
2025-09-07

Rally Education Day
2025-09-07 09:15 - 10:15 | Dining Hall
Come learn about adult education opportunities for 2025-2026!

Confirmation Class
2025-09-07 09:15 - 10:15 | Youth Room
Sundays 9:15-10:15am (7-8th Grade)
Confirmation is the culmination of a two-year process that focuses on building relationships with God, each other, and the larger faith community. Class meets on Sunday mornings to discuss theology, spiritual practices, and living our faith in the world. It’s a time to eat donuts, for youth to think critically and ask hard questions while growing in love and relationship with God and neighbor. A key focus is to help youth develop a sense of belonging in the congregation. At the conclusion of the process, 8th graders are invited to take confirmation vows during Sunday worship.

Email Sydney@faithatfirst.com with questions!
