Covenant Hike Group
2025-12-07 14:00 - 15:15 (America/Chicago)
The Covenant Hike Group invites all who have a wonder of the natural world to share nature immersion with each other through 3 seasons while experiencing the presence of God. The format is simple. We begin with a brief reading (scripture or poem), hike along while sharing joys and concerns, and appreciate 5 minutes of silence at mid-point. Each hike concludes with an optional, brief time of sharing about our experiences on the hike, closing prayer, and a cool or hot drink. All ages are welcome.

Each month we will meet at a designated location at 2 p.m., hiking various paths in our area for about an hour at a comfortable pace for everyone. The group will meet each first Sunday from October through May, and participants may join in as schedules allow.

Facilitator: Jim Johnson. Contact Jim at jjohnso@luc.edu with any questions and to be placed on the distribution list.

Finance Ad Hoc Committee on Designated Funds
2025-12-08 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)

Contemplative Practices Group
2025-12-08 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
Advent Contemplative Practices Group on Zoom:
In the 1960s, the well-known Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, brought contemplative practice out of the cloister into the realm of ordinary people. In the 1970s, Father Thomas Keating developed a form of contemplative practice called centering prayer; and John Main, a Benedictine monk, advocated a practice of contemplative meditation.
We will be utilizing the small group format for contemplative practice outlined in the book “Where Two or Three Are Gathered” by Rev. Daniel Prechtel with an emphasis on lectio (reading), meditatio (meditation), oratio (prayer), and contemplatio (contemplation).
The contemplative practice group will meet on Mondays, December 1st – December 22nd during Advent from 10:30am-11:30am on Zoom and will be facilitated by Glynis Doyle.
If you have any questions, would like to receive an outline of the format of the class, or would like to register, you can contact Glynis at dleedoyle@gmail.com.

Piano Tunings
2025-12-09 09:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Sanctuary ;Glenna Hall ;Dining Hall
Heat on. No work or cleaning during this visit

Coffee, Conversation, and Friends
2025-12-10 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.

Wednesday Bible Study- Online
2025-12-10 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | online
The Wednesday Bible Study is a longstanding group that meets online every Wednesday 10-11:30am with the exception of a short break in the summer.
Please contact Janet Lutz at janetatl@aol.com with any questions.
Realm Registration Event.

Staff Meeting
2025-12-10 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room

Advent Luncheon
2025-12-10 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Dining room and sanctuary
Advent Lunch – On Wednesday, December 10, at 11 am First Church members (and inquirers!) are invited to come together to celebrate Advent with festive music and lunch.
RSVP: here

Children's Choir Rehearsal
2025-12-10 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
2025-12-10 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.

Festival Choir Rehearsal
2025-12-10 19:30 - 20:15 (America/Chicago) | Choir Room
Adults and high school youth from the congregation and the community rehearse in preparation of Mozart’s Requiem for the Festival Choir Concert on November 21, 2025. No audition is required.

Chancel Choir Rehearsal
2025-12-10 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Choir Room
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.
Meets in Choir Room!

Progressive Christianity Reading Group- Online
2025-12-11 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | online
First Church’s Progressive Christians Reading Group invites new and former participants to participate as the group gathers each Thursday 1:00-2:00pm online to discuss and reflect on selected books, typically one book per month.
Interested? Email Christie at cecook.phd@gmail.com for the current/upcoming reading and the Zoom link.
Realm Registration Event.

Soup Kitchen
2025-12-11 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.

God's Story, Our Stories Bible Study- Online
2025-12-11 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | online
The Lectionary Bible Study Group meets online each Thursday evening. We are a band of curious explorers, reflecting upon the lectionary passages for the coming Sunday. We ask many questions. We have “ah ha” moments in our discussions. We attempt to unearth how these ancient stories inform our current day stories. We deeply seek to live out our best understanding of the heart of these stories week by week in the midst of our common humanity. Several group members rotate the facilitation.
Come and join us! You may be placed on the group distribution list by contacting Bill Brown at bbrown@wwbrown-inc.com.
Realm Registration Event.

Pop Up Soup Kitchen with Soul & Smoke
2025-12-12 14:45 - 17:45 (America/Chicago) | Kitchen ;Fountain Foyer ;Dining Hall

Soup kitchen/ Rethink Food/ IAE
2025-12-12 16:15 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)

Pageant Dress Rehearsal
2025-12-13 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | sanctuary and glenna hall
A required dress rehearsal for children (Pre-K through Grade 6) involved in the pageant on Dec. 14. This is a closed rehearsal only open to immediate family.

Diaper Packing
2025-12-13 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)

Men's Fellowship Gathering
2025-12-14 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Chicago) | Dining Room
The men’s fellowship group meets on the second Sunday of each month in the dining room for a light breakfast, fellowship and often a short program. Contact Jim Hagedorn (jehdvm@gmail.com) for more information or to be added to our contact list.

Men's Fellowship Gathering
2025-12-14 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Chicago) | Dining Room

Faith & Parenting Class
2025-12-14 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Sundays at 9:15am in Room 24. BEGINS NOVEMBER 9TH.
Does not meet on First Sundays of the month.
Faith & Parenting offers a space for parents of children at various stages to share and reflect on how their personal and familial faith journeys are nurtured and challenged through the vocation of parenting. Brief guided reflections based on scriptures from children’s Sunday School will accompany each session.
For more info, contact Colin McDonald, Director of Children’s Ministry, at colin@faithatfirst.com .

Pageant Rehearsal
2025-12-14 09:15 - 10:15 (America/Chicago) | sanctuary and glenna hall
Pageant participants who attended the 12/14 dress rehearsal join for a final run-through before worship. Please meet in Glenna Hall to sign in.

Soup Kitchen Volunteer Information & Training Session
2025-12-14 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Chicago)
Join First Church community members as a 2026 Dining Team Volunteer! Whether volunteering regularly or just one time, your gifts of hospitality and community building are needed as we welcome ~70 neighbors each Thursday evening at Soup Kitchen. Join the training and information session Sunday, December 14th from 12-1:30pm. RSVP requested by Friday, December 12th via Realm so we can provide a light lunch for all.

Questions? Contact jessica.e.hager@gmail.com

Note: Current and prospective volunteers encouraged to attend since the training will outline clarified roles and volunteer needs for 2026. School-aged volunteers are welcome!

Archives Committee
2025-12-16 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | Archives-Room 37

Faith Formation Council Meeting
2025-12-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)

Total Child Staff Holiday Lunch
2025-12-18 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Glenna Hall

SPRC meeting
2025-12-18 17:15 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Glenna Hall
Reservation: OWL and Laptop for virtual option

Third Thursday Women’s Plus Basketball at First Church
2025-12-18 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Great Hall
Third Thursday Women’s Plus Basketball at First Church

Calling all women and non-binary folks who want to play ball or just have a ball.

What: Basketball for adults. Your children can watch (the way we watch their games). No skills are required. Fierce competition and great gentleness are welcome. The ultimate goals are fun and connection. Your friends who have not yet experienced First Church awesomeness are also welcome.

When: Third Thursday of Every Month from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Where: First Church Gym
Who to Contact: Kathryn Grant-Bolton at kgrant@depaul.edu or 847-529-6256
