This Week at First Pres!
May 24 - May 30, 2020
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Stay Tuned! …Don’t lose 'the signal'
This week’s eNewsletter feature story
is written by Jim Teague,
FPCE communications coordinator.
Greetings!
You may have heard about this week’s flooding that knocked out a power substation in the basement of the Willis Tower in downtown Chicago. As of Wednesday morning, the power was still out, and social media were making note of how “disappointed” the tower looked, darkened against the backdrop of the otherwise dazzling Chicago skyline.
In addition to its impact on the cityscape and the Tower’s workforce, the power outage has knocked several TV stations off the air because their signal is sent by way of the antennae on top of the massive structure.
My wife and I get the bulk of our TV programming via antenna, so we have been without our nightly TV ritual of watching the PBS NewsHour since Monday evening. On the nights when we are not having family dinners together with our sons, Linda and I usually have ours together while watching the news and chatting about the day’s events. But not this week.
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Upcoming Online Events
10 a.m. Sunday Worship
You can also call in to listen to the service (this is audio only):
Call 1 (312) 626-6799, and when asked enter the Meeting ID: 478 195 199 and the Password: 207174. If you are unable to connect, contact Hannah McConnell via email at
847-864-1472, Ext. 505.
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After our Sunday Service
Online fellowship time/adult education will take place on Zoom following our Sunday service. Join us at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/478195199?pwd=eFNvbzgrakZQcTkzQ1FnbDBWUnlYZz09. The Zoom Meeting ID is 478 195 199 and the password is
207174. This information will also be available on our home page immediately after the service. This will lead into our adult education time, when we will continue our look at God's assuring words of "Be Not Afraid".
Please note that each class is a "standalone" event and does not require any previous attendance.
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Prayer Gathering Wednesday
Join us on a Zoom meeting, Wednesday, May 27, at 7 pm, for a time of reflection, prayer, praise and fellowship. We will come together to seek God's presence, ask for wisdom to overcome our challenges, and encourage each other. All are welcome!
The Zoom link will be available on the
FPCE home page just prior to the gathering.
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Greeting cards outreach
The COVID-19 Task Force is seeking groups and individuals who would be interested in sending cards as an outreach to those who are particularly isolated during the pandemic crisis. Cards have been donated to FPCE and are available if you are unable to get your own. Contact FPCE Parish Nurse Julie Ruchniewicz at
jruchniewicz@firstpresevanston.org if you would like to receive a list of names to contact. You can arrange to pick up cards from FPCE or purchase your own. FPCE will not be covering any postage costs, so please consider that in your decision to help.
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Making, sharing face masks for health and safety
Can you sew? Donate homemade masks to the church!
The COVID-19 Task Force is accepting donations of face masks to share with congregational members in need as well as Souper Saturday guests we serve each week. If you sew, or have extra face masks please consider dropping them off at the the church on Saturdays between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. at the rear door (ring the bell and then you can open the door, drop the masks in the appropriate box and exit. New unused masks only. For guidance on wearing and making face masks please check out the CDC website here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
If you are in need of a face mask please email the COVID-19 task force email at:
covid19@firstpresevanston.org and we can help match you with a donation.
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Thank You!
A heartfelt thank-you note from Souper Saturday
You are all familiar with the bible story about fish and loaves. Another miracle occurred two weeks ago, it was fruit and cookies. Our simple request for individually packaged fruit and cookies to help us serve “to go meals” turned in two tables over flowing with love. We were stunned sorting through your generous donations. But then again we should not be stunned or surprised. First Presbyterian Church has always supported Souper Saturday. Whether it’s a steady supply of volunteers, funding, hunger walk participants or a remarkable facility, First Pres is there supporting us so we can support those in need.
Serving “to-go" meals during the pandemic has been a logistics challenge. We’re preparing and serving meals for some of our regular guests here at First Pres and also for 20 guests housed at Hilda’s Place and another 64 guests housed in one of the hotels. We are so blessed to be able to do this and your generosity is allowing us to continue to support our community.
What a wonderful way to celebrate Souper Saturday’s 37th anniversary, established May 1983. Proverbs 22:9 - Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
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Blue Ribbons to honor those on COVID-19 front lines
You can honor those in our neighborhoods who are serving as local first responders, in healthcare, and in jobs deemed essential requiring them to run a greater risk of infection by the coronavirus. We have blue ribbons available for pick-up on Saturday mornings between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.
at the back door of the FPCE building. Buzz the doorbell and you will be let in to take a ribbon from the box there near the dumbwaiter.
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Condolences
We offer our heartfelt sympathy and prayers to the Ostrowski family for the passing of Ruth Ann's mother, Ann Carolyn Votaw, on Mother's Day, May 10.
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No clothes donations being accepted
We are not accepting donations for the Deacons Clothes Closet at this time. Donations (other than new masks ), will be discarded.
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Men's Breakfast on Zoom
The Men's Breakfast group continues to meet weekly on Saturday mornings from 8-9 am via Zoom for scripture, prayer and speakers (but BYO Breakfast). Please join us!
May 23 - Our own Ray Koenig Jones will be speaking and sharing his PowerPoint presentation via Zoom "Lessons Learned from the Church's Response during Nazi Germany."
May 30 - Dr. John Ng, President of Meta, which provides consultation services to top international corporations, will be our guest. He also serves our FPCE partner Eagles Communications as the chairperson of their board of governance and as honorary chairperson of the Eagles Leadership Institute.
If you would like to hear Ray and/or John's presentations (women are welcome to join us for these special events) and are not on the Men's Breakfast email list, contact Bob Bastian at
Bob.Bastian55@gmail.com
for the Zoom link.
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Mission Prayers
Please pray for Emmaus Ministries, which is working hard to stay in contact with the men they serve while not being able to gather or meet in person. Pray that they are able to reach these men via phone or text.
Medical Benevolence Foundation has asked for prayers specifically for their partners in Malaysia and Haiti where they are seeing high levels of COVID-19 cases.
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Officer Nominations Invited
The Nominating Committee asks you to suggest elder, trustee, or deacon candidates for the 2021 slate. A candidate must be a church member, gifted by the Holy Spirit, and willing to serve. Confidential suggestions may be given to
Rosemary Mauck or
Richard Bell.
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Summary notes from the April Session Meeting are available
here
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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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1427 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1472
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