Staff Meeting
2024-09-11 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room

Children's Choir Rehearsal
2024-09-11 17:15 - 18:00 | 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
2024-09-11 18:30 - 19:15 | 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.

Chancel Choir Rehearsal
2024-09-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Choir Room
Adults and high school youth rehearse music for worship. No audition is required. Email Dr. Brian Schoettler for more information.

Sunday School
2024-09-15 09:15 - 10:15
Sunday School takes place before Worship from 9:15-10:15 a.m. from mid-September through May, with an emphasis on learning and responding to stories in the Bible through reading, conversation, and play. Sunday School is offered for children ages Pre-K-6th grade. Classroom locations are posted throughout the building.

Adult Education- Social Justice
2024-09-15 09:15 - 10:15 | Room 32
For Sept. 22, and 29, these two classes are meeting together to reflect on the United Methodist Social principles, as they are an important part of understanding United Methodism,. On Oct. 6, the two classes will meet separately. Social Justice will continue exploration on the Social Principles in their updated form, and Methodism 101 will begin with a brief history of John Wesley and discussion on what Methodism has in common with other Christian denominations.

Adult Education Class- The Christian Experiment
2024-09-15 09:15 - 10:30 | Glenna Hall
A weekly gathering that creates community and explores faith-based questions. More. Led by Matt Rader and Kristi Hubbard.

Connect456
2024-09-15 10:45 - 11:30
Connect456 is designed to help children in grades 4-6 connect to the church community as older elementary and middle school students preparing to make their own way at First Church. Each week features a unique means of connecting, including serving in leadership with younger children, learning about our church history and United Methodist identity, observing worship and more!

Children's Chapel
2024-09-15 10:45 - 11:30
Children’s Chapel seeks to excite and build confidence in children’s experience of worship and sense of belonging at First Church. Children ages three through 3rd grade are invited to experience the wonder of worship and joy of service in a lively, child-friendly setting. Throughout the program year, children take part in the seasons of the Christian year, exploring rituals, sacraments, and songs of our worship tradition as well as hands-on aspects of our church mission that children might shape and help share the story of our faith.

Faith Formation Council "Train the Trainer" Event
2024-09-15 11:30 - 13:00 | Memorial Garden
This is a “train the trainer” event on walking the labyrinth for members of the Faith Formation Council to prepare them to lead sessions for the congregation later in the fall.

Methodist Youth Fellowship
2024-09-15 11:30 - 13:30
Methodist Youth Fellowship (aka MYF) is open to all youth (7th-12th Grade). We’ll gather twice each month on Sundays 11:30-1:30pm. This is a time to have lunch and engage in music, games, an activity, service project, lesson or anything in between. This is our time to hang out as a youth group and build connections. Hope you’ll join us!
Questions? Contact Sydney Harkrider at sydney@faithatfirst.com.

Installation Service for District Superintendent
2024-09-15 15:00 - 17:00 | Sanctuary

Nominations and Leadership Development Committee Meeting
2024-09-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Glenna Hall
The Nominations & Leadership Development Committe first meeting of the new year. Agenda to be shared in early September.
Please address any questions to:
Pastor Grace Imathiu, Commitee Chair, grace@faithatfirst.com
Mike Bergmann, Vice Chair, mgbergmann@yahoo.com

Faith Formation Council Monthly Meeting
2024-09-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
The Faith Formation Council will meet monthly by ZOOM. Attendees will receive the ZOOM link in advance. Any questions contact Tom Scott or Lee Rader.

Young Adult Social- Howl at the Moon
2024-09-20 18:00 - 22:00
This month’s Young Adult Social takes place at “Howl at the Moon”. This is a piano bar, and our group is having a special happy hour event for those attending. Contact Sydney for details, and we hope you’ll come out to sing and have a great time with us!

Styrofoam Collection
2024-09-21 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Fuel Your Faith Program Fair
2024-09-22 11:30 - 12:30 | Great Hall
Fall is often a season of new beginnings. In this new season, what do you need to fuel your faith? Spiritual food in the form of a small group? A Bible study or Christian education opportunity for yourself or a child or youth? Social opportunities for a not-yet-launched young adult? Does your soul need community with and the support of others?
Stick around after worship for a program fair that focuses not on what you can do for the church, but what the church has to offer to help you “grow in your relationship with God” so that you can “live your faith in the world.” Come to “taste” (yes, there will be snacks) and see the goodness of First Church’s many opportunities. Please invite a new person to come along with you!

Bundled Blessings Committee Meeting
2024-09-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Conference Room

Diaper Packing-Underwriters Lab
2024-09-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Room M
A group of volunteers from Underwriters Lab will be packing diapers for Bundled Blessings and learning about the diaper bank. The event will be 10-11:30am on Tuesday, September 24. Contact Person: Nancy Brown, bundledblessings@outlook.com, 847-271-1712.

Collaborate, Connect, Care Staff Meeting
2024-09-25 12:00 - 13:30 | Dining Room

Mom's Night Out
2024-09-26 18:30 - 20:30
BACK to School and BACK to MOM’s NIGHT OUT! HAPPY FALL!
Sept 26th Thursday 6:30-8:30 pm
This is a warm, friendly informal gathering of moms of EVERY age who want to make friends, share ideas, and laugh. Meet someone new every time you come! You can bring something to share – but no pressure! Come as you are!
Host -Cherie Asante
RSVP cherie.asante@gmail.com or 913-530-5258
(Cherie does not have a cohost – anyone want to volunteer?)
NEED HOSTS and COHOSTS for this Fall and Winter! Please let me know!

Northern Illinois Conference Youth Retreat
2024-09-27 - 2024-09-29
The Northern Illinois Conference has created a Youth Retreat for all folks to attend. This is a great opportunity to have both a Fall and Spring retreat every year, so let’s do it! The cost will be $160 by August 15th or $175 after that date. This open to all youth, so I hope you’ll join Sydney and head over to Lake Geneva for a weekend!
Interested? Contact Sydney Harkrider at sydney@faithatfirst.com .

Limitless Apple Orchard and Dinner Outing
2024-09-28 12:00 - 19:00
You’re invited to join the Limitless group for our 4th annual Apple picking Saturday, September 28th at Apple Holler Apple Orchard. Apple Holler Apple Orchard is located at 5006 South Sylvania Ave. Sturtevant, WI 53177. Please meet at the Apple orchard entrance at 12:00pm or contact Stephanie Peters to caravan/carpool from the Peters house at 11:00am. Please RSVP to Stephanie Peters at stephdeloney@gmail.com
We have decided to go to the same Apple Orchard as last year since it is a little closer, offers more apples, is all inclusive, and has dinner options on the way back home for those that would like to enjoy dinner afterwards. Oh and the donuts and apple dumplings were amazing!
https://www.appleholler.com

Visitor Coffee with Tour
2024-09-29 11:30 - 12:30 | Glenna Hall
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 worship on September 29 or October 20 for a Visitor Coffee. The event will include informal conversation, coffee and snacks, and tours of rooms in the building where “the magic happens” (to quote Pastor Grace). Information on the membership process will be available for those who may be interested.
Please RSVP for either Sept. 29 or Oct. 20 by email to mary@faithafirst.com .

Dos and Donuts - Using Realm Connect on your phone
2024-09-29 11:35 - 12:15
Want to feel more connected to the First Church congregation? Do you want convenient access to the Church Directory? Are you hoping to get more engaged in small groups or volunteer opportunities?
Stop by Glenna Hall after church on Sunday the 29th to get some help using Realm Connect on your phone (hint: it’s MUCH easier on the app than on the website!).
Questions? Contact Realm@FaithAtFirst.com

Do's and Donuts- Using Realm Connect on your Phone
2024-09-29 11:35 - 12:30 | Glenna Hall
Want to feel more connected to First Church congregation? Do you want convenient access to the Church Directory? Are you hoping to get more engaged in small groups or volunteer opportunities?
Stop by Glenna Hall after church on Sunday the 29th to get some help using Realm Connect on your phone (hint: it’s MUCH easier on the app than on the website!)
Questions? Contact Realm@faithatfirst.com

JRC Set Up
2024-09-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Sanctuary

First Wednesday Potluck
2024-10-02 17:30 - 19:00 | Dining Room and Kitchen
Bring a side or dessert to share and join your church family for good food and fellowship on the first Wednesday of each month!
This month we’ll savor Autumn’s official arrival with cozy wild rice soup.
Please register to aid in preparations, noting any dietary restrictions or food allergies in the memo field.

JRC- Rosh Hashanah
2024-10-03 09:00 - 14:30 | Sanctuary, Nursery, Glenna, Kitchen, Playground, 3rd Floor Rooms, Dining Rooms, Chapel, Great Hall

Covenant Groups -- St. Francis Peace Prayer
2024-10-06 09:15 - 10:15
Long before there was a Campaign for Kindness, there was a prayer known as the St. Francis peace prayer (Lord, make me an instrument of your peace…) This well-known prayer has been in widespread ecumenical use since early in the twentieth century. In this five session covenant group members will practice applying the prayer in their daily lives and will engage in reflection and mutual support. Come join us as we work to become more effective instruments of peace in a world which deeply needs them.
There will be both a ZOOM version and an in-person version. The ZOOM version will be on Wednesday evenings from 7-8 beginning October 2 and ending October 30 and will be led by Kim Coffing. The in-person version will be on Sunday mornings from 9:15-10:15 beginning September 29 and ending November 3 (no meeting on October 20) and will be led by Jim Johnson.
Questions? Contact Tom Scott at tom.scott.goblue@msn.com.
