First United Methodist Church of Evanston, IL

Faith Communities & ICE
2025-03-09 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago)
First United Methodist Church members are invited to an information session regarding how faith communities can prepare and respond in this time of ever-changing immigration policies. At this event, folks will learn ways to respond if ICE enters your building, Know Your Rights basics, and learn how to prepare congregations to respond. This is a great event for usher/welcoming teams, safety teams, immigration justice teams, etc.! Speakers include Rev. Luke Harris-Ferree, Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Commander Scott Sophier, Evanston Police Community Relations Unit, and Liza Roberson-Young, City of Evanston – Welcoming City Ordinance.

Lent Contemplative Prayer Group
2025-03-10 10:30 - 11:30 | Zoom

Lent Contemplative Prayer Group
2025-03-10 10:30 - 11:30 | Zoom
Lent Contemplative Prayer Group 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, March 10th – April 14th during Lent, from 10:30am-11:30am on zoom and will be facilitated by Glynis Doyle and Maryellen Scott. 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.

Organ Tuning
2025-03-12 08:00 - 17:00 | Sanctuary

Piano Tunings
2025-03-13 09:30 - 15:30 | Sanctuary

Mom's Night Out
2025-03-13 18:00 - 21:00
Join us for the Woman’s Club of Evanston Revue, “Life is But a Meme!” benefiting the Ted Fund. Ladies night is Thursday, March 13 at 8 PM. Doors open at 7:30 at the WCE clubhouse, 1702 Chicago Ave. Tickets are $50 each. Evelyn McGowan reserved a table for us. There are several seats left! Come for the songs and skits, laugh about Evanston and our world , support the all-volunteer cast, and benefit the Ted Fund! http://tedfund.org/ (a great cause!). We will meet for dinner at Prairie Moon at 6pm before the show. If you just want to come for dinner, please email Linda Federer at lfederer30@gmail.com.
You can pay Evelyn McGowan via cash, check , PayPal (em4mail@gmail.com), or please email for Venmo or Zelle. It’s always a fun event!

Apollo Chorus of Chicago Concert
2025-03-15 05:00 - 21:00
Thursday, March 13, 2025 rehearsal (evening, time TBD)
Saturday, March 15, 2025 concert (Brahms’ Requiem)
Will need dining room and Glenna Hall

Jerry Specht Memorial Service
2025-03-15 10:00 - 13:00 | Tittle Chapel

Peace Circle
2025-03-15 13:30 - 15:00 | Dining Room
Peace Circles are one way to join the separated. In areas of conflict and misunderstanding around areas of division, be it race, gender, age, sexual orientation and many isms that you may identify, it is a format of listening to each other’s stories by responding to prompts. This is an effort to join what divides and joins us in being a beloved community. I am requesting a sign up of a limit of 14 participants. Once people have registered, I will send information on the circle format.

New Member Sunday
2025-03-16

Creation Camp Informational Session
2025-03-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Room 34
Parents, caregivers, counselors and campers interested in learning more about this year’s Creation Camp are encouraged to join Children’s and Youth Ministry camp leaders after Worship on Sunday, March 16 for an information and Q&A session designed for new and returning families alike. Get informed and get excited before we get going!

Bundled Blessings diaper packing with Northfield Girl Scouts and moms
2025-03-16 14:30 - 16:00 | Room M

School Picture Day
2025-03-18 08:00 - 15:00 | Glenna Hall
Total Child will host a school picture day for current students. The photographer will set up and take photos in Glenna Hall.

All-Bach Organ Concert
2025-03-21 19:30 - 20:30 | Sanctuary
Dr. Brian Schoettler presents an all-Bach organ concert in observance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s birthday. Included on the program is Bach’s monumental Passacaglia and, maybe the most famous work for organ, the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. The 7:30pm concert is free and open to the public.

New Members-First Friends Lunch
2025-03-23 11:40 - 12:40

Pat Kline's Celebration of Life
2025-03-29 | Sanctuary

ASP Sunday
2025-03-30

Handbell Choir Rehearsal
2025-03-30 10:00 - 10:15 | Sanctuary

Visitor Coffee and Tour
2025-03-30 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 March 30 or April 13 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 Inquirers Class will be available. Please RSVP for either date here.
Questions? Please reach out to Mary Taylor-Johnson,
Director of Membership and Engagement, at 847-864-6182 or mary@faithafirst.com.

Music Ministry
2025-03-30 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-04-08 14:30 - 15:30 | Sanctuary

Evanston Lighthouse Rotary
2025-03-31 16:30 - 21:30 | Dining Room

Festival Choir Rehearsal
2025-04-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Choir Room
Adults and high school youth from the congregation and the community rehearse in preparation of Handel’s “Messiah” (Parts II & III) for the Festival Choir Concert on May 16, 2025. No audition is required.

Wedding
2025-04-04 08:00 - 2025-04-05 17:00 | Tittle Chapel
Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5, 2025 – Wedding Rehearsal and Wedding Ceremony

Dinner for Earth Care Committee and Special Guests
2025-04-05 18:30 - 20:30 | Glenna Hall

Earth Care Sunday
2025-04-06

Children's Council
2025-04-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Dining Room and Conference Room
Children’s Council acts as both a work committee and an advisory board to the Director of Children’s Ministry. The Children’s Council focuses on formulating and supporting the vision of our various children’s ministries. We consult with the Director of Children’s Ministries to plan the yearlong calendar. Under the umbrella of Children’s Ministries are the following programs: Sunday School, Chapel, Connect 456, Nursery, Summer Camps (Creation Camp, VBS, Family Camp), Fellowship Groups, Pageant, and holiday celebrations (e.g, Advent, Lent, Easter).

Bundled Blessings Diaper Bank hosting ETHS Community Serivce club for diaper packing
2025-04-10 16:00 - 17:30 | Room M
Bundled Blessings Diaper Bank hosting ETHS Community Service club for diaper packing on Thurs. 4/10, 4-5:30 pm in room M. Contact Nancy Brown at 847-271-1712.

Mom's Night Out
2025-04-10 18:30 - 20:30
Come Join us for some lively conversation and friendly moms of all ages!!!!
Every MOM is Welcome!
Julie Womack’s home with Jess Chadwick as Cohost
RSVP to womackjulie@gmail.com
Bring something to share if you wish – no guilt!

ASP Fundraiser Dinner
2025-04-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Dining Room
Come join us as our youth and adult volunteers tell you all about our annual Appalachia Service Project mission trip! We need your help to help the people of Appalachia! Please join us for a pasta dinner and consider our auction table so you can donate to our cause and get a gift out of it! Hope you’ll help our Youth Ministry go on ASP for the 27th year!
