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Our Mission:
Knowing Christ,
Following Christ,
Serving Christ.
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True Peace of the Sabbath
,
Theologian
James Bryan Smith says that the number one enemy of Christian spiritual formation is exhaustion. He cites the work of noted Christian psychologist
Arch Hart, who says, "We need more rest today that ever before in history."
In the 1850s, the average American slept 9.5 hours a night. By 1950, that number had dropped to eight hours a night. Today, the average American sleeps under seven hours in a night. In a world that zips along at an ever-faster digital clip, this drop in sleep is destroying the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of our communities.
Remember, we are not just people with a soul housed in a body. Our bodies and souls are mysteriously linked. When the body gets sick, the soul often gets sick, too. And this lack of rest and soul sickness is seen as impacting spiritual growth.
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H
ighlights
Sunday, our offering will be dedicated to the Deacon's Fund, which helps to provide the support for a wide variety of outreach and ministry. Please prayerfully consider your extra giving this week, and use the envelopes included in Sunday's bulletins for your gifts.
First Presbyterian Evanston will host our second annual Thanksgiving Dinner with Refugee families on Saturday November 18, at 4:30 pm. All volunteers are welcome! Please sign up here to help. Contact Caryl Weinberg at [email protected] for more information.
Next Sunday, November 19, in addition to our regular offering, we will collect our annual Thanksgiving Offering. By contributing you'll be helping to respond to all the natural and manmade disasters in our world, as this year's gifts will go to
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). PDA works through relief and development both nationally and internationally. As we give thanks for all the Lord has blessed us with, may we respond generously in our sharing with those in need. Envelopes for this special collection will be included in the bulletins.
Next Sunday, November 19, is Fellowship Sunday. There will not be any Adult Education Classes between services.
An Advent Workshop for Families will be held on Sunday, November 19 from 3-5 pm at FPCE. Please note that we are hosting the workshop early this year so families can begin Advent with a devotional tool ready to go! We will be creating Advent wreaths to use at home to help prepare for Christmas. During the workshop, families will first gather together in the Dining Room for snacks and conversation. A family worship time will follow in the parlor, and the workshop will conclude with crafting of Advent wreaths in the gym. Please bring a snack to share, and sign up during fellowship time, at the front desk, or
online.
Altar Guild volunteers are needed for the preparation of the elements of the Lord's Supper for each of our Sunday communion services.
If you are interested in serving this way, please contact Elda McGinty at
[email protected]
for more information on this important behind-the-scenes role in the life of our church community.
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Worth Noting
We offer our heartfelt sympathy and prayers to the Mauck/Ribeiro families for the passing of
Howard William Mauck
,
son of long-time Evanston residents Joe Mauck and Paula and Bill Medcalf. Howard passed away Wednesday, November 1. Please pray for the entire Mauck family, and for his fiancé, Jennifer Smith. Memorial Service 2 pm this Saturday, November 11, 2017 at First Pres in the Sanctuary. Reception to follow in the dining room.
We welcome the following new members to First Pres today by Reaffirmation of Faith: Kenneth Evans, Margaret Ingram, Robert McConnell, Karen Shaw. Transfer of Membership: Melanie Myatt.
As a sequel to their previous "Repurposed Art" project, the FPCE Souper Saturday outreach team is embarking on another art adventure created by the Saturday guests at First Pres.
The project, which is supported by the Institute for Therapy in the Arts, involves weaving with disposable plastic bags. Many colorful plastic bags will be needed for the final creation. Donations of the bags should be made in the box outside the church library. Those feeling led to support the team with with your prayer or your presence are most welcome! Call Linda at 847-420-1289 for information about taking part.
December 3 at 12:30 pm (after the second service) is our "Christmas Around the World Potluck". Please sign up
here (you can find the link under Event Registration on the FPCE website, too) if you wish to help with setting up the tables, frying Filipino egg rolls, bringing a dish to share and/or cleaning up. There will also be a table at fellowship hour between services and in the Narthex after the 11:30am service.
For those who were absent or unable to make their pledges, pledge cards are available
online or at the front desk. Please let us know your giving decision as soon as possible.
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Pray for Our Mission Partner
Pray for our mission partners, Greg and Mari Chimitris, serving with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, from pages 46 and 47 of 52 Weeks of Prayer for Missions. Pray for their work at Southern Illinois University. Ask that God may guide them as they lead five bible studies on campus. Pray, as well, for the 32 students expressing interest in Christianity, and for Greg and Mari as they train student leaders.
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Angel Tree Gift Program Begins Sunday
Help make Christmas merry for a child and his or her incarcerated parent by taking an Angel Tree ornament from the Deacons' Christmas tree in the Narthex this Sunday after both services. Because of your generosity, a child will know that Mom or Dad has not forgotten them.
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Missions
First Presbyterian Church will host an overnight shelter again this winter. The dates are December 3-10 and January 14-28. You may sign up online here or in the coming weeks during coffee hour. Please contact Charlene Parris via email at [email protected], for more information.
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Children and Families
Christmas Pageant rehearsals have begun for children pre-K through 6th grade!
We practice from 4-6 each Thursday leading up to Christmas Eve, with a dress rehearsal on December 23 from 9-12. It's not too late to join us! We have both acting and speaking parts available. Everyone who participates will sing in the choir. If you plan to participate, please
register online
.
Youth (7th-12th grade) are invited to help fill roles in our Christmas Eve Pageant! We'd love to incorporate your acting and musical gifts into our family worship service. If you have a talent you'd like to share and want to be involved, please contact
Kristin Mueller.
Join our Children's Choir this fall! Children in Pre-K (4 yrs) through 5th grade are invited to sing together from 4-5 pm on Thursday afternoons at First Pres.
We've started rehearsals, but children are invited to join us as we prepare music for the Christmas Pageant in December. Our choir will sing in worship once a month as well, so there will be opportunities to sing even if your family isn't in town for Christmas. Register children through the First Pres
website
(under events registration), or contact
Kristin Mueller
for more information.
Are you looking for an opportunity to serve with children? Each week, our childcare rooms are supervised by a staff member and a congregational volunteer. If you would like to hold babies in the Crib Room or draw pictures and play Legos in the Blue Room, contact Kristin Mueller. We'd love to get to know you and then incorporate you into our sign-up schedule!
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Youth and Families
More details about Youth events can be found in our weekly email. Text YOUTHGROUP to 42828 to subscribe!
Our next Service Saturday will take place THIS SATURDAY, November 11, at 10 am in Roy Hall. We will be assembling Homeless Outreach Kits. If your ministry or service organization would like to partner with the youth on a Service Saturday project, please contact Liz Ribeiro.
FPCE Youth Ministry is in need of a working cell phone with a camera.
Can you help? Contact Liz Ribeiro for details.
Calling mentors and leaders: The youth ministry needs you! The youth ministry is seeking spiritually mature adults to invest in and guide our students. If you are interested in serving as a NUBS or PYGs leader, or confirmation mentor please reach out to Liz Ribeiro.
NUBS meets each Friday, from 7-9 pm, in the NUBS lounge. Students from grades 6-8 are invited.
PYGS meets from 4-6 pm each Sunday afternoon. Dinner is served and a $5 donation is requested to cover costs. All high school students are welcome.
Parent Small Group - A parent small group will be held on Sunday evenings from 4-6 pm during the high school PYGS youth group time. Focus of the scripture teaching will mirror the youth devotionals to help keep in step as a family. Please email leaders Alison Velasco
[email protected] and Susan Hood
[email protected] to join. All parents are welcomed. If you are interested in joining or leading a small group on Friday nights during the NUBS youth group please email Liz at
[email protected]. Training for leaders will be provided by the small group ministry team.
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Young Adults and Families Events
Come join the 20/30s small group, this Sunday evening at Pastor Henry's condo, 6-8pm. Email or text Pastor Henry at (609) 529-3853 for details!
J
oin the 20/30s group for a night of board games at Pastor Henry's condo in evanston on Thursday, November 16, starting at 7 pm.
Email Pastor Henry with any questions, including his address!
Family Open Gym
Thursdays, 4-7 pm, Roy Hall
Open for parents and their children to come run around, shoot some baskets, play some games. No need to RSVP; just show up and have a great time!
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Save the Date
 Book Club will meet on Tuesday, November 28 from 1:30-3 pm in the Parlor. We will be reading The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.
According to Amazon.com, "
In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women-a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947-are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption."
All are welcome to take part!
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Stewardship Campaign Update
Our total pledges to date for the 2018 Stewardship Campaign are as follows:
Goal (2018 Budget): $1,050,000
Funds pledged: $898,312
Pledges: 177
Faith Commitments: 22
Total Giving Unit Commitments to date: 199
Last Year's Total Giving Unit Commitments: 292
Thank you for your support.
Pledge Cards are still available in the FPCE Lobby or
online.
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Holocaust Museum hosts Kristallnacht Commemoration Tonight
The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center will host a commemoration of the 79th anniversary of the November Pogrom, also known as Kristallnacht, tonight, 7-8:30 pm
. The community is invited to join with Survivors and descendants for a program of dramatic readings drawn from the anti-Jewish decrees of the Nazi regime and the experiences of those impacted by them. The evening also includes remarks from the Consulates of Israel and Germany, a candle lighting, music and prayer. The museum is located at
9603 Woods Dr, Skokie, IL 60077.
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Opportunities to Serve
Are you interested in becoming a regular visitor to one of our homebound members? If so, Friends in Christ would love to hear from you! Whether you are an old pro at visiting, or are willing but would like a little training, please step forward and call Bonnie Kath (847-507-4146). There is someone out there who would love a visit from you!
The Deacons' Clothes Closet needs your donations of gently used clothes for women & men. Please no children's clothing. Pants, shirts, jackets and shoes for larger men are especially needed.
We are looking for volunteers once a month to run our projection slides on Sundays at 10 am in the summer, and 9 am and 11:30 am during the school year. Training provided. Contact Neal Ostrovsky at
[email protected].
Be a role model for a homeless child! Volunteer at the New Life shelter, five minutes from church. Contact Tom Alrich at
[email protected].
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Resources for You
Do you need a ride, a meal or someone to run an errand for you? A member of Friends in Christ is ready to help with your need.
Please call Bonnie Kath at 847-507-4146.
Christ Caring for People through
People. Stephen Ministers are lay people trained to care for someone going through a difficult time by listening, supporting, praying and encouraging. If you could benefit from this confidential ministry call RuthAnn Ostrowski at 312-613-0644 for more details.
In cases of after-hour emergencies - please call our Emergency Answering Service at 866-259-7088.
The Counseling Center (TCC) provides professionally trained Christian counseling
in our own facility. Contact TCC Director Charles Miyamoto at 847-864-9133.
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Summary notes from the October Session Meeting are available
here.
The most recent summary of the Chicago Presbytery Meeting is available here.
Paper copies are also available in our literature racks.
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