Men's Fellowship Gathering
2024-12-08 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Chicago) | Dining Room
On December 8, the Men’s Fellowship group will meet at 8 am in the dining room.
Coffee and bagels offered.
After a short prayer circle…Martha Rudy, chair of trustees, will give a short program on the Northern Illinois Conference’s Repair the Harm initiative. This was introduced last Sunday in worship.
Questions…email Jim Hagedorn…jehdvm@gmail.com
see you there!

Congregational Care Xmas bag preparation
2024-12-08 11:30 - 12:30 | Dining Room
Congregational Care Xmas bag preparation: Congregational Care will be putting Xmas bags for seniors. Congregational Care members only will be present at the event. Sunday, 12/8, 11:30 am -12.30 pm. Contact person is Glynis Doyle, dleedoyle@gmail.com, 847-341-2536

2024 Annual Meeting and Report
2024-12-08 16:30 - 18:00 | Dining Room
Here is the FUMC Evanston 2024 Annual Report
Click here or on the image below to open.
We encourage all members to read the report and join us for the Annual Meeting on Sunday, December 8th, beginning at 4:30pm. Information regarding the availability of a zoom option will follow. We will also welcome our District Superintendent, Rev. Victor Melad who will lead the meeting. All members of the congregation have a vote.
On Sunday, December 1st, The Chairperson of the Finance Committee, Rich Grodsky, will be available at community hour following worship to answer any questions about the budget portion of the Annual Report.

Nominations & Leadership Development Committee Meeting
2024-12-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
This is a meeting of the members of the Nominations & Leadership Development Committee.

Advent Lunch
2024-12-11 09:00 - 14:30 | Dining room and sanctuary
Advent Lunch – On Wednesday, December 11, at 11 am First Church members (and inquirers!) 65 and better are invited to come together to celebrate Advent with festive music and lunch. RSVP with the Church Office. If you have questions or would like to help serve lunch, please contact Stephanie Clemson (sclemson@gmail.com or 847-767-5927).

Youth Christmas Party
2024-12-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Dining Room
It’s time for our Youth Christmas Party! We will have a White Elephant Exchange then play some games around the church. Dinner will be served at 7pm, so come on time and join us! Friends are welcome, too!

Pageant Dress Rehearsal
2024-12-14 10:00 - 12:00 | sanctuary and glenna hall
A required dress rehearsal for children (Pre-K through Grade 6) involved in the pageant on Dec. 15. This is a closed rehearsal only open to immediate family.

Couples Salon Holiday Gathering
2024-12-14 18:30 - 21:30
Come join Couples Salon on Saturday, December 14 at 6:30 pm for a festive evening of food and fellowship hosted by Jeanne-Marie and Tom Daly and Mari Leonard and Rich Hobson at the Dalys’ home in Evanston
Please RSVP to Jeanne-Marie at jmedaly@gmail.com to let her know you are coming and what dish you are bringing to share.

Pageant Rehearsal
2024-12-15 09:15 - 10:15 | Sanctuary
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.

Social Justice Intersections Adult Education Group
2024-12-15 09:15 - 10:15 | Room 32
Countering White Christian Nationalism continues at 9:15 am on Sunday mornings in the Dining Room:
December 22 – Protect Religious Freedom in Public Schools and Take Your Place in the Public Square. Leader- Linda Boardman
Join us on December 29 as we sing the Social Justice verses of our favorite Christmas carols

Pancake Breakfast
2024-12-15 09:15 - 10:30 | Dining Room
Our annual Pancake Breakfast will be on December 15th at 9:15am in the Dining Room. Our wonderful youth will be making pancakes and other breakfast items for everyone. Come grab some breakfast, sing a few songs with us, and have a wonderful morning before Worship. See you there!

Adult Education Class- The Christian Experiment
2024-12-15 09:15 - 10:30 | Room M
Ever had doubts? If you are like most, you have. Ever had doubts about Christian faith? Many of us have. In a recent study at a leading United Methodist Church, 95 percent of believers stated they struggle with doubt occasionally and 24 percent stated they struggle with doubt regularly. This same study also found that 44 percent believed their doubts helped them find or strengthen their faith.
Beginning on January 5, The Christian Experiment will discuss doubts. These doubts could be yours or someone you know. We will use some of Adam Hamilton’s work on doubt to help our discussions. You can find information about Adam Hamilton’s book Wrestling with Doubt here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsZPC_bsFcg
Weekly Meeting Schedule
January 5 – Is There a God?
January 12 – The Good Book? Wrestling with the Bible
January 19 – Are All Non-Christians Going to Hell?
January 26 – Is Heaven Real?
February 2 – When Prayers Go Unanswered
February 9 – Why Do the Innocent Suffer?
The Christian Experiment meets every Sunday morning at 9:15 am in Glenna Hall. There is no required reading, homework, or other expectations. Feel free to come to one meeting or all over the next six weeks. We are an open and welcoming group seeking to engage one another in Christian fellowship!

Church Offering Counting
2024-12-15 11:30 - 12:30 | Conference Room

Sanctuary Organ Tuning
2024-12-17 08:30 - 16:00 | Sanctuary

Staff Holiday Lunch
2024-12-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Glenna Hall
Total Child hosts a holiday lunch for their staff.

Delivery of Poinsettias
2024-12-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Sanctuary
Delivering of flowers with a delivery window of 9-12:00pm. I will be there to receive the flowers. Grace

Winter Overnight Shelter
2024-12-22 - 2025-01-12
Every year, the Interfaith Action of Evanston provides an Overnight Shelter for the community. First Church is hosting from December 22 to January 12. Many volunteers are needed to provide this vital service, and there are still a number of vacancies on the sign-up sheet. Please read the info and sign-up if you can!

Music Ministry
2024-12-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Sanctuary

Christmas Eve Family Service
2024-12-24 16:00 - 17:00 | Sanctuary

Community Time with Birthday Cake for Jesus
2024-12-24 16:45 - 17:30 | Great Hall

Chancel Choir Rehearsal
2024-12-24 18:00 - 18:30 | Sanctuary
Chancel Choir rehearsal begins at 6:00pm. Festive Prelude begins at 6:30pm. Worship begins at 7:00pm.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
2024-12-24 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-24 23:00 - 2024-12-25 00:00 | Sanctuary

Church Office Closed
2024-12-25 - 2025-01-01

Social Justice Intersections Adult Education
2024-12-29 09:15 - 10:15 | Dining Room
Come sing the social justice verses of many Christmas Carols at 9:15am on Sunday, December 29 in the Dining Room. We will focus on verses like this from “O Holy Night” – “Truly He taught us to love one another.  His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother. And in His name all oppression shall cease.

R3 Meeting
2024-12-29 11:30 - 14:00 | Glenna Hall

NU swim Team Diaper Packing for Bundled Blessings
2025-01-02 12:30 - 14:30 | Dining Room
Northwestern Swim Team will pack diapers for Bundled Blessings on Thurs Jan 2, 1-2:30 in the dining room. We will be setting up at 12:30. Contact Nancy Brown, 847-271-1712.

Social Justice Intersections
2025-01-05 09:15 - 10:30
SOCIAL JUSTICE INTERSECTIONS GROUP MEETS SUNDAYS, 9:15AM, DINING ROOM
Hi First Church sisters and brothers –
Many focus on a daily practice, especially during Lent. This Sunday, continues our Lenten study, “Anti-Racism as Daily Practice.” Our leader will be Joyce Hodel. We are using a book by the same name which adds a sub-title, “Refuse Shame, Change White Communities and Help Create a Just World.” We look forward to to seeing you Sunday.
Lisa Jacob
Joe Agne
Here are our addition dates and leaders:
– March 30, Pastor Britt Cox
– April 13, Chris Nieuwsma
– April 27, Dr. Jennifer Harvey, the book’s author and Academic Dean of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
We take a break from our study on April 6 for Earth Care Sunday, and on April 20, Easter Sunday, when will sing the social justice verses of our favorite Easter hymns.

Messy Church!
2025-01-05 09:30 - 10:15 | 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!

Compline Night Prayer Service
2025-01-07 20:30 - 21:00 | Zoom
Compline Night Prayer Services Return
On Tuesdays beginning January 7th, you are invited to a thirty minute Night Prayer Service to end your day in community and peace. These services from 8:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., available via Zoom, are patterned after the ancient monastic tradition of Compline (meaning completion)–the final prayer of the day. We will follow a simple liturgical format for this service of quietness and reflection before rest. Persons of all ages are encouraged to give this spiritual practice a try. The zoom format invites participation from anywhere! We are enriched when family & friends in many locations join in. The services, sponsored by the Faith Formation Council, will continue through Lent, concluding on April 8th. Participants may attend as schedules allow. Contact Tom Scott (tom.scott.goblue@msn.com) to sign up or with questions.
