Children's Choir Rehearsal
2025-10-08 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
2025-10-08 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.

Holy Hurt Book Group
2025-10-08 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Glenna Hall
Holy Hurt – Healing from Religious Trauma
Wednesdays 7pm-8:30pm | Starting the week of Oct. 8th through November 12th | Glenna Hall
Led by Rev. Britt Cox and shared weekly facilitation with group participants
Many of us carry invisible wounds from faith communities that once promised love, belonging, or truth—but instead delivered shame, fear, or harm. In Holy Hurt, therapist and theologian Dr. Hillary McBride gently guides readers through the complex terrain of religious trauma with compassion, insight, and hope.
This class will be a space for honest reflection, guided discussion, and spiritual care as we explore themes like:

Naming and understanding religious trauma
Reclaiming your body, story, and relationship with the Divine
Grieving what was lost—and holding onto what still gives life
Finding new ways of connecting with God, others, and yourself

Whether you are deconstructing, rebuilding, or simply curious, this class offers tools for healing, language for your journey, and community for the road. All are welcome, especially those carrying questions or wounds from past faith experiences.
Class will be capped at 15 people and we ask that folks register ahead of time here on realm. Purchase the book and read through chapter 1 prior to the first class.
Register here at the Realm Registration Event.

Chancel Choir Rehearsal
2025-10-08 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!

Bundled Blessings Diaper Packing with AbbVie
2025-10-09 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Room M

Bundled Blessings Diaper Packing - Skokie Rotary and other volunteers
2025-10-11 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Room M

Men's Fellowship Gathering
2025-10-12 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
2025-10-12 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Chicago) | Dining Room

Sacred Time: Making Space for Integernational Spiritual Practices
2025-10-12 09:15 - 10:15 (America/Chicago) | Room 32/33/34
Join us for a three-part introduction to shared spiritual practices designed for integration in your family’s everyday. Children, parents and caregivers at any age and stage are encouraged to attend this special class offering co-presented by Children’s Ministry and Faith Formation.

Sacred Time: Making Space for Intergenerational Spiritual Practices
2025-10-12 09:15 - 10:15 (America/Chicago) | Room 34
For centuries, spiritual practices were lived out in the daily rhythms of monastic
life. But we don’t live in monasteries! Our daily rhythms look much different in
Chicagoland in 2025; therefore, we require spiritual practices that fit our current
context.
Join us for a three-part introduction to shared spiritual practices designed for
integration in your family’s everyday as we explore practices that provide
opportunities for us to slow down and spend time with God and each other.
Children, parents and caregivers at any age and stage are encouraged to attend
this special class offering co-presented by Children’s Ministry and Faith
Formation.
Leaders: Colin McDonald and Virginia A. Lee

SPRC meeting
2025-10-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Glenna Hall
Reservation: OWL and Laptop for virtual option

Festival Choir Rehearsal
2025-10-15 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.

Third Thursday Women’s Plus Basketball at First Church
2025-10-16 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

17thFisk University Choir Concert sponsored by Lula B. Sherman United Methodist Church
2025-10-17 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Sanctuary and Kitchen
Fisk University is one of the oldest HBCUs in the country founded in 1866. The Fisk Choir (originally known as the Mozart Society) was formed in 1879. Sherman is proud to provide the North Shore Community with this presentation of African American sacred music, a two-hour celebration of the black experience in song and sacred dance. After the two-hour concert, Sherman hosts a reception for the choir and its philanthropic supporters in the Great Hall and kitchen.
Purchase ticket here: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/shermanmethodistnet/lula-b-sherman-fisk-university-choir-concert

Sherman Methodist hosts the Fisk College Choir
2025-10-17 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Sanctuary

Memorial Service for Jean Perry
2025-10-18 09:30 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Sanctuary and Dining Hall

Styrofoam Collection
2025-10-18 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
The Earth Care Committee holds its monthly Styrofoam collection time at First UMC Evanston on the third Saturday of the month at the Church Street entrance between 10am and Noon. Material to be collected includes all clean No. 6 plastic foam. Acceptable items include disposable coffee cups; take out containers (such as clamshells); plastic plates, bowls and cutlery; meat and poultry foam trays and packing foam. When recycled, these items can be processed into a material used to make park benches, picture frames, and other items. Recycling these items helps keep this harmful plastic, which cannot be processed locally, out of the waste stream.

Styrofoam Collection
2025-10-19 09:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
Bring your Styrofoam to Church to be Recycled!
Every 3rd Saturday of the month, 10 am to 12 noon, at the Church Street entrance.
And now every the 3rd Sunday of the month, near the front office.

Earth Care Lending Library
2025-10-19 11:30 - 12:00 UTC | Great Hall
Looking for a place to continue growing in your understanding of environmental justice and how to care for God’s creation?
Visit the Earth Care Lending Library, which is open every 2nd Sunday after worship in Great Hall. A small lending library with books for readers of all ages, the titles were curated by the Earth Care Committee and include Newbery Award-winning children’s books, as well as titles by leading voices from the spiritual and scientific communities.

Adult Education Council Meeting
2025-10-20 19:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Glenna Hall

Faith Formation Council Meeting
2025-10-21 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)

Communications Committee Meeting
2025-10-21 19:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room

Coffee, Conversation, and Friends
2025-10-22 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. We meet at Le Peep 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.

Harvest Soup (Total Child families)
2025-10-22 17:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Dining Hall

Membership Committee Meeting
2025-10-22 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room
The Membership Committee meets monthly to discuss ideas and work on strategies to encourage member and visitor engagement in First Church worship, programs, and other opportunities. Please address any questions about this committee and its work to Lynelle Diener, Chair.

Nov. 1 Diaper Packing and Breakfast
2025-10-23 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
On Saturday morning, Nov. 1, Inquirers and other First Church folks are invited to gather at the church to pack diapers in preparation for the monthly diaper pickup day when our social service agency partners come to pick up the diapers for the families in their networks.
Breakfast 9-9:30am
Diaper Packing 9:30-11am
Thank you!

Mom's Night Out
2025-10-23 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago)
Mom’s Night Out – Greta Connor’s HomeAsk someone to join you!

New to MNO? You’re welcome here!Email Linda Federer at Lfederer30@gmail.com for more info or to get connected.

Mom's Night Out
2025-10-23 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago)
CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU! Always welcoming Moms of every age!

At Greta Connor’s home with Catharina Maerklin co-hosting.

RSVP if you know you are coming to ggconnor.28@gmail.com Or 773-655-5382

Bring something to share IF you can- but no pressure. Come as you are!

Looking Ahead:

November 12th – WED – at Cherie Asante’s with Chris Nieuwsma co-hosting

Dec 4th – THURS – at Sue Hagedorn’s

Thank you all!
– Linda Federer

Update: The Christian Experiment changes from Room 33 to Room31 for one week
2025-10-26 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago)
The Christian Experiment room change Fromm 33 to 31 for one week

Social Justice Intersections Planning Meeting
2025-10-26 11:45 - 13:30 (America/Chicago) | Dining Hall
