First United Methodist Church of Evanston, IL

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 (America/Chicago) | 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!

Children in Action
2025-04-13 12:00 - 13:30
Children in grades 1-6 are invited and encouraged to step into service on Palm Sunday, April 13 from 12:00-1:30 p.m., with lunch provided! This month, we’ll help inspect and sort plastic Easter eggs to reuse all we can for this year’s Easter Eggstravaganza before painting and decorating real eggs of our own! Registration required. See details and register here.

Bookends and Beginnings hosts author Colm Toibin
2025-04-15 16:00 - 20:00 | Sanctuary
Evanston bookstore, Bookends & Beginnings, hosts author Colm Toibin, for the paperback release of his latest book, Long Island. They anticipate 300 attendees. Program to begin at 7:00 with doors open at 6:00. Contact person for the church: Krys Juleen

Children's Ministry December Monthly Dinner
2025-04-16 00:00
Children’s Ministry Month Dinner Gathering, Contact: Colin McDonald, colin@faithatfirst.com

Labyrinth Walk During Holy Week
2025-04-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Memorial Garden
Labyrinth Walk during Holy Week: Walk the labyrinth at the church in our Memorial Garden during Holy Week. Walking a labyrinth is a spiritual practice that involves walking a path (at our church, a circular single path design) to the center and back out again. It can be a time for prayer, reflection and healing. Why walk a labyrinth? …to see life as a journey of faith, to quiet the mind and practice mindfulness, to gain insight and self-knowledge, to feel solace and comfort, to renew strength and perspective, to pay attention and be present in the moment. The labyrinth will be available to walk from April 16th-18th, Wednesday-Friday during Holy Week, from 12:00 noon-1:00 pm. A member of the Faith Formation Council will be there to provide information and help guide you. You may find your way to the labyrinth by entering the Church St. door or by entering directly through the outside gate off of Hinman Ave.

Maundy Thursday Pizza Potluck
2025-04-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Great Hall
On Maundy Thursday, we remember that Jesus invites us to His table that we may leave strengthened and repurposed to love as we are loved. While Maundy Thursday worship tends to be a bit heavy, help us lighten the mood and look forward to Easter’s joy at Pizza Potluck. Following the Maundy Thursday Family Service at 5:30 p.m. in Tittle Chapel, we’ll gather in Great Hall for a taste of things to come with delicious pizza and time together around the table.
All are welcome, though not required, to bring a side dish to share. As the kitchen will be in service for Thursday Soup Kitchen, please only bring sides that require no preparation or heating. Register here!

Chancel Choir Rehearsal
2025-04-17 18:30 - 19:00 | Tittle Chapel
Chancel Choir rehearsal in Tittle Chapel balcony before worship.

Festive Prelude
2025-04-20 10:00 - 10:30 | Sanctuary
The Music Ministry of First Church present 30-minutes of music as we prepare for our Easter worship service.
The Festive Prelude and worship will feature the Chancel Choir, Brass, and Organ.

Church Office Closed
2025-04-21
In recognition of the hard work and dedication our church staff has shown in the months leading up to Easter and throughout Holy Week, we will be observing a Sabbath on the day following Easter. This time of rest is a way for our staff to renew and recharge after a season of faithful service. We will return to our normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, April 22nd. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Bundled Blessings Diaper Packing with Producemobile volunteers
2025-04-22 10:30 - 12:00 | Room M
Bundled Blessings Diaper Bank will be hosting volunteers from Producemobile team to pack diapers on Tues. 4/22 from 10:30-12. Contact Nancy Brown at 847-271-1712 or nandbrown@comcast.nst

Couples Salon Sips and Dips
2025-04-26 17:30 - 19:30
Come enjoy Sips and Dips with Couples Salon on Saturday, April 26th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Susan and Steve Prout’s home in Evanston. Please RSVP to Susan at swprout@comcast.net to let her know you are coming and whether you are bringing a sip or dip to share.

Church Council Meeting
2025-04-27 11:30 - 14:00 | Dining Room

Spring 2025 Inquirers Class
2025-04-27 11:40 - 13:30 | Glenna Hall
2025 Spring Inquirers Class

Sundays, April 27, May 4, 11, 18 & June 1, 11:40-1:30pm (lunch included)

What is Inquirers?

An exploration/inquiry into First Church, its ministries, and people.

A six-session class that meets on Sundays led by Pastor Grace Imathiu, Mary Taylor-Johnson and other church leaders.

An experience to help you discern whether this faith community will nurture you and provide opportunities to grow and serve.

What will we do/learn/think about in Inquirers?

Learn about the First Church mission, strategic planning, and what it means to be a Reconciling Congregation.

Talk about the collective faith journey and reflect on our own individual experiences.

Learn about (or review) the structure, theology, and current issues in the United Methodist denomination.

Hear about opportunities such as Adult Education and Faith Formation, soup kitchen, sack lunch ministry, diaper bank, fellowship groups, Young Adult potlucks and gatherings, opportunities for children and youth.

Build relationships with each other through weekly conversation and sharing in small groups.

Listen to what current members share about their experiences in this congregation.

Take a tour of the building.

Inquirers is also the centerpiece of our membership process, so we’ll talk about the membership vows and expectations. While we ask all persons considering membership at First Church to participate, we don’t assume that Inquirers are considering membership. If the experience helps your discern whether or not this faith community is a good fit for you, that is a win.

If    If you are interested in participating in Inquirers, or have questions about this opportunity, please reach out to Mary Taylor-Johnson, Director of Membership and Engagement, at 847-864-6182 or mary@faithatfirst.com .

Standing Together
2025-04-28 19:30 - 21:00 | Sanctuary

Bundled Blessings Diaper Bank hosting Junior Girl Scout troop
2025-05-01 18:30 - 19:30 | Room M
Bundled Blessings Diaper Bank hosting Junior Girl Scout troop to pack diapers in room M on Thurs. May 1 from 6:30-7:30 pm. Contact Nancy Brown at 847-271-1712.

Center for Family Consultation - Annual Conference
2025-05-02 - 2025-05-03 | Dining Room
Evanston’s Center for Family Consultation will hold its Annual Conference in the dining room on Friday and Saturday, May 2, and 3, 2025. This event will also be live-streamed both days. Contact: Krys Juleen, Building Event Coordinator
