First United Methodist Church of Evanston, IL

Homelessness in Evanston
2024-05-05 09:15 - 10:15 (America/Chicago)
Join us as we pick back up on our fall 2023 discussion of homelessness in Evanston to learn about current services for those experiencing housing and food insecurity and explore our response as a Faith Community.

Festival Choir Rehearsal
2024-05-15 18:30 - 21:00, 2024-05-17 18:30 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Sanctuary

Festival Choir Concert
2024-05-17 19:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Sanctuary
On Friday, May 17th, the Festival Choir of First United Methodist Church of Evanston presents a concert featuring two choral masterworks: Paul Winter’s “Earth Mass” and Louis Vierne’s “Messe solennelle.” The 7:30pm concert is free and open to the public.

Connecting Through Storytelling
2024-05-19 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Dining Room
Participants in the spring Connecting through Storytelling Class share their stories to a live audience of congregants, friends, families, etc.

Finding God in the Natural World (Adult Ed Class)
2024-05-26 09:15 - 10:15 (America/Chicago) | Rooms 33 and 34, Third Floor
Please join us for the final session of this four-week exploration of nature as God’s first sacred text. Participants will be invited into a deeper understanding of God through nature. For additional details and online registration, click here.
Note: Rescheduled from May 5. Thanks for your patience.

Music Ministry
2024-05-26 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Sanctuary

Diaper Days -- A Two-Week Community Diaper Drive sponsored by Bundled Blessings Diaper Bank
2024-05-27 - 2024-06-07

Men's Retreat on Bridging the Generational Divide
2024-06-08 09:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago)
Men of all ages and life stages are invited to the first men’s retreat in recent First Church history! Our Retreat Leader Rodric Smith will facilitate reflection and conversation around the topic “Bridging the Generational Divide.” Our time together is an opportunity to grow in our relationships with those that we know and don’t yet know. We also expect to explore what separates us and how we can join together, and to enjoy each other’s company.
$20 registration fee covers lunch and expenses. Register now. Questions? Please contact Tom Butler at theo1033@comcast.net.
Retreat Leader Rodric Smith, PhD studies the role of love in leadership development systems. He retired from the US Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel after 24 years. During his time in service, he led undergraduate and graduate leadership development efforts in classroom, mentoring, coaching, facilitation, consulting, seminar, and conference settings at the United States Air Force Academy.

"I've Been Meaning to Ask..." Sermon Series
2024-06-09
Join us for summer worship at our 9:00 am outdoor service or the 10:30 am service in Tittle Chapel. This summer, our two services will be very distinct in format. 9:00 am will be conversational and reflection focused. 10:30 am will look more traditional with a sermon.
Our first sermon series will begin on June 9th and we invite you to join us!
During the month of June we will focus on questions that begin with “I’ve been meaning to ask…”
In essence, this question also implies the following statements: “I’ve been thinking about you and I’ve been wanting to check in… You’ve been on my mind… I haven’t known how to have this conversation, but I’m getting started with a question.”
The ellipses symbolize the main objective of this series: to cultivate courageous conversations—and to keep having them, even if we need to pause. And provide us a starting point to ask questions such as: “where are you from?” “where does it hurt?” and “what do you need?”
These weekly sub-themes provide a trajectory for going deeper. As you can see, these questions aren’t surface level; they invite us to share our pain and seek ways to care for one another. May this series help us to behold each other as images of the divine. May it help us strengthen our capacity for empathy and compassion. May it remind us of the power of asking unassuming questions. May it show us that courage is rooted in the heart. Through vulnerability and authenticity, may our courageous conversations lead us to glimpse hope, joy, and beauty—and to become the community God created us to be.

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.

9:00 am Summer Outdoor Worship
2024-06-09 09:00 - 09:45 (America/Chicago)
Join us for a new, conversation and connection-based take on our Summer Worship service. Now in the Memorial Garden!
Come as you are, and bring a blanket or chair if you have one!

Holy Communion
2024-06-09 10:10 - 10:25 (America/Chicago) | Glenna Hall
Holy Communion on Sundays that HC is not celebrated in the main service.

10:30 am Worship in Tittle Chapel
2024-06-09 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | Tittle Chapel
In the Summer, we move our traditional 10:30 worship service to the beautiful (and air-conditioned) Tittle Chapel!

Summer Couples Salon
2024-06-22 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago)
Come join Couples Salon on June 22nd as we celebrate summer outdoors (fingers crossed!) at the Federers’ home in Evanston. Clark and Linda and Mike Bergmann and Rob Meyer are co-hosting this fun evening of good food (Green Chili Enchiladas by Rob!) and fellowship, which will begin at 6:30 pm.
Please RSVP to Linda by text at 224-420-0999 or by email at Lfederer30@gmail.com to let her know you are coming, and whether you are bringing an appetizer, dessert or side dish to share.

Creation Camp 2024: "Linked by Love"
2024-06-24
First Church’s Children’s and Youth Ministry programs are returning to Camp Wesley Woods in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Join us for a four-day overnight camp experience suitable for children and youth entering grades 3-8 in the fall of 2024 as together we seek to create life-giving relationships and life-changing memories.

Learn more and register at https://faithatfirst.regfox.com/creation-camp-2024.

Mom's Night Out
2024-06-26 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago)
Happy Summer! Come celebrate with us!
Stephanie Peters Host and Jackie Owens Cohost 6:30-8:30 pm
RSVP to Stephanie at stephdeloney@gmail.com
(Stephanie Deloney Peters)
This MNO will hopefully be in Stephanie’s beautiful backyard! You can bring something to share IF you want (No guilt!)
Thank you to Mari Leonard and Debbie Zimmerman for a wonderful patio party – the charcuterie board and salads were awesome! The rain cleared and we were able to enjoy Mari’s creativity with outdoor spaces!.
Thank you to EVERY host and Cohost and Participant of MNO! It has been a wonderful year to make new friends and reconnect!
Save the Date!
Sept at Cherie Asante’s

Appalachia Service Project
2024-07-13 - 2024-07-20
Our youth ministry serves the Appalachia area every Summer, and we are returning once more! We have been placed in Tennessee and it’s time to start getting our group together! Appalachia Service Project is a week of service work for youth to help in various ways. We’ve built wheelchair ramps, painted houses, or even just some basic home repairs. This is a week of showing God’s love in action, and we’d love for as many youth to come with us! Contact Sydney for more details.

Summer Lunch Bunch
2024-07-17 12:00 - 13:15 (America/Chicago) | Fountain Square
Our first Summer Lunch Bunch is Wednesday, July 17, with Pastor Britt Cox, Colin McDonald, and Mary Taylor-Johnson. BYO lunch and gather at Fountain Square from noon to 1:15pm to enjoy informal conversation together. (Rain location: Church dining room.) Sign up so we know to look for you.
Your staff misses the casual conversations of our program year potlucks and so we are planning two of three pop-up lunch gatherings between now and Rally Day (Sept. 8). Bring your lunch or pick it up on the way and gather at a specified downtown Evanston location on selected Wednesdays.
Sign up now for July 17 and watch the E-News for future dates!

First Hands Clark Street Beach Bird Sanctuary Event
2024-07-20 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
Enjoy this beautiful setting and camaraderie as we help with weeding, watering,…or whatever needs to be done that day. Bring water, a hat, sunglasses and gardening gloves if you have. If no, they have extras. Just north of the Clark Street Beach entrance, between the bike path and the beach. If you’re up for it, stick around once our shift is over for a BYO lunch/snack at a nearby picnic table. It’s our 4th (5th?) year here, and they are happy to have us back again! Please respond to First Hands leader Rebecca Beiter via email to bob.beiter@comcast.net to sign up. Rebecca will forward the city waiver that needs to be completed annually as well as further details. Come join us!

Young Adult Potluck
2024-09-22 17:30 - 19:30, 2024-07-28 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Calling all Young Adults! Join us for our Potlucks every other week at 5:30pm. Feel free to bring your favorite side item or dessert! Contact Sydney Harkrider at sydney@faithatfirst.com for the location!

Summer Lunch Bunch
2024-07-31 12:00 - 13:15 (America/Chicago) | Fountain Square
Our second Summer Lunch Bunch gathering is Wednesday, July 31, with Pastor Britt Cox, Colin McDonald, and Mary Taylor-Johnson. BYO lunch and gather at Fountain Square from noon to 1:15pm to enjoy informal conversation together. (Rain location: Church dining room.) Sign up so we know to look for you and can let you know if we are moving indoors.
Your staff misses the casual conversations of our program year potlucks and so we have planned a few pop-up lunch gatherings before Rally Day (Sept. 8). Bring your lunch or pick it up on the way and come as you are.
Sign up now for July 31 and watch the E-News for future dates!

Faith in the Wild: Vacation Bible School at First Church
2024-08-12 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
“Faith in the Wild: Vacation Bible School for Outsiders” is an environmentally-focused program for children entering kindergarten through 4th grade to inspire them 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.
Each session will take place at and around First Church. VBS is free and open to the public. Sign up at https://faithatfirst.regfox.com/2024-vacation-bible-school

Adult Education Council Meeting
2024-08-19 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Glenna Hall
Monthly Adult Education Council Meeting
Third Monday of each month from 7:00-8:00pm
Jan Womack, Vice Chair Womack.jan@gmail.com
