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Our Mission:
Knowing Christ,
Following Christ,
Serving Christ.
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This week's eNewsletter feature article
is written by Rev. Amanda Golbek,
FPCE's director of youth ministries.
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Highlights
Our annual Youth Sunday Worship Service will take place this Sunday, April 22, with a single service at 10 am.
There will be no Sunday Education classes, and an open-house brunch will be held afterward in Roy Hall. As part of our worship, a special collection will be taken to help fund the Youth Missions Scholarship Fund. Envelopes can be found inside Sunday's bulletins.
Our regular Prayer Gathering will be held Wednesday, April 18, at 7 pm in the Parlor. All are welcome to come and join in fellowship with our amazing God, seeking His wisdom, comfort, and guidance!. At 6 pm in the Dining Room, a Wednesday Night Dinner will be held with a menu of Greek pork chops with dill yogurt sauce, cucumber and tomato salad, pita, and baklava. Cost is $5 per person. Reservations at the front desk by Monday are appreciated.
Rebuilding Together is Saturday, April 28! Sign up using Sunday's bulletin insert or by visiting the
FPCE website. A wonderful single mom and college-aged son will get our help transforming their tiny home and yard near ETHS. Contact Caryl Weinberg with questions at
[email protected].
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Anniversary Organ Recital April 29
 As part of FPCE's 150th anniversary celebration, and in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the installation of our Aeolian-Skinner sanctuary organ, the Northshore chapter of the American Guild of Organists will host an organ recital celebrating their 60th anniversary as a chapter. The recital will take place at 4 pm, Sunday, April 29, and is open to the public. After its installation in 1958, our Sanctuary organ was used for the chapter's very first recital. The chapter's last six deans will perform at this program. If you love to hear outstanding organ music played on a great instrument, you will not want to miss this event!
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Worth Noting
On Saturday, April 28, Prison Ministry will be taking Angel Tree children to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park.
We're seeking volunteers to ride along or drive in order to facilitate this day special for children who have a parent in prison. We leave the church at 11 am and will return around 4 pm. If you can help, please contact Sonia Evenstad at 847-869-5112 or
[email protected]
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Remember those in prison as if you were with them. Hebrews 13:3.
The 2017-2018 FPCE picture directories have arrived! They are available to be picked up at the front desk for those who have pictures in the directory. For members who don't have pictures, directories can be purchased for $5.
Porn addiction is a reality that needs to be acknowledged by Christians.
Are you struggling with porn? You are not alone, and help is out there. Pastor Henry is looking to start a Resisting Porn Accountability Group here at the church. If you're interested, please reach out to him via email or by calling the church office. All inquires will be strictly confidential.
The next Senior Varsity will meet on Thursday, May 3. Fr. John Kartje, who is president of Mundelein Seminary as well as an astrophysicist, will discuss the relationship between religion and science. Registration will begin at 10:30 am, the presentation starts at 11 am, and lunch will be served at Noon (cost: $5 for lunch). Please register by May 1 at the front desk by calling (847) 864-1472. All are welcome, especially seniors.
Friends in Christ will be hosting its Spring Potluck Dinner on Monday, May 7, 6:30 pm, in the church dining room. Mike Denesha, Chaplain and FPCE Stephen Ministry leader, will speak on the topic "My Walk with Cancer, and the Power of Healing Prayer." All are welcome to attend. Main dish and drinks will be provided. Please bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share. RSVP to Bonnie Kath ([email protected] or 847-507-4146) by Thursday, May 3.
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Book Club discusses 50th book May 15
The Parish Nurse Book Club will meet again Tuesday, May 15, from 1:30 to 3 pm in the parlor. This is the 50th book the club has read since starting in 2012. We will be reading
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. Goodreads says "Kathleen Grissom brings to life a thriving plantation in Virginia in the decades before the Civil War, where a dark secret threatens to expose the best and worst in everyone tied to the estate." All are welcome!
Here's a list of all the books the club has read over the years!
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Pray for Our Mission Partners
Pray for our mission partners, Souper Saturday at FPCE, from pages 102 and 103 of 52 Weeks of Prayer for Mission. Lift up this weekly ministry as it brings some of the area's neediest to our doorstep. Ask God to guide the leaders and volunteers as they interact with our guests. Pray for wisdom, safety and peace.
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Missions
We are seeking a donation of airline fly-points to purchase a ticket for one of our Mission Partners who is hoping to attend the 150th celebration of First Presbyterian Evanston.
If you are interested in helping, please contact Caryl Weinberg.
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Elevator Repair
The elevator repair project is now scheduled to begin in June and be completed in time for the 150th Anniversary celebration July 27-29. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause, and we will be working to minimize the impact this has on FPCE services and events.
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Children and Families
We invite you to take a moment to interactively pray for the children and youth in our church. Our large bulletin board outside the Sanctuary has sheets with the names and ages of children and youth. Each week, we encourage our whole church to choose a child's name, write him or her a prayer, and then continue to pray for that person throughout the week. As you write on the pages, please use your words to encourage the children and youth in our church through prayers, Bible verses, and blessings. If you notice that your child or youth's name is not included, please stop by the front desk and fill out a page so that we can include you. As we take the papers down, we will return them to the children and youth with our words and prayers. Thank you!
Registration for Church Camp at Phantom Ranch in Mukwonago, WI, is now open! Children currently in 2nd through 6th grade are invited to join us for a week of fun, friends, and faith-building! From June 17-22, we sleep away in cabins staffed by at least two counselors and spend the days horseback riding, playing games, learning Bible stories, and sharing life together. Brochures are available at the Children's Ministry table, and scholarships for some or all of the camp fees of $425 are available. Register online
here.
Has your family outgrown your Fisher Price Little People characters and sets? We are looking for gently used Little People toys for use in our Crib Room here at church. We are in search of playsets, vehicles, people, animals, and other fun pieces. As we collect these items, we will also share the donations with families in our First Friends ministry. Thank you!
Summer Save-the-Dates!
- Family Camp Weekend, Stronghold Camp, Oregon, IL - July 6-8
- Vacation Bible School, on-site at First Pres - August 6-10
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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!
Youth Sunday is coming April 22! All youth 6th-12th grade are invited to participate.
We will rehearse April 21 from 1-5 pm. Come give of your gifts to help us worship God. If you can't make rehearsal you are still welcome to participate. We will lead one service at 10 am on Sunday, April 22, with a brunch to follow. Meet in the choir room at 9 am on Sunday.
This Friday, April 20, there is no NUBS gathering.
Join us Saturday, 1-5 pm for Youth Sunday rehearsal.
There is no High school Youth Group (PYGS) this Sunday.
Join us in the morning for Youth Sunday!
All 7th and 8th grade youth are invited to Middle school Mania at Phantom Ranch Church Camp June 17-22. Register Now!
This year we are trying something new and crafting a special middle school experience at Church Camp. All children and youth will be at camp at the same time but the middle school youth will have special activities, chapel and campfire time. They may even go on an overnight camping and rock climbing excursion!
Cost is $425. Contact Pastor Amanda for registration materials.
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Young Adults and Families Events
Pastor Henry is looking to put together a Book Group starting in May. Our first book will be Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. All are welcome join the reading and discussion. Reach out to Pastor Henry for more information.
First Pres has a small group for folks in their 20/30s which meets every other Sunday at Pastor Henry's house. If you are interested in coming, know you are most welcome to join. Reach out to Pastor Henry in person or by email.
We're putting together another team for the Chicago Spartan Race Sprint! The race takes place Sunday, June 24, and scholarships are available for the registration fee. All are welcome if they're willing to push themselves and work together in a team. If Pastor Henry can do it, you can do it! Interested? Reach out to Pastor Henry. Deadline for signups is the end of April.
Want to know Jesus more fully? Looking for a Sunday school class that will delve deep into the bible and not shy away from hard questions? Come to Pastor Henry's class on The Gospel of Mark! We are studying Mark chapter by chapter, attempting to take in a holistic view of the Scripture text that encompasses historical, literary, and theological insights. Mark's Gospel centers around the question Jesus asks of his disciples, "Who do you say I am?" All are welcome, from first time visitor to long time member, to join with us as we seek the answer! When: After the First Service. Where: Upstairs in the Parlor. NOTE: This class does not meet this week due to Fellowship Sunday.
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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Website offers member services
Members and giving non-members: Did you know that you can get on-line access to the church directory, the church calendar, and your giving records? Simply go to the First Pres website (
www.firstpresevanston.org) and click on "
Member Login" to get instructions. You can also pick up a printed copy at the front desk.
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Employment Opportunity
First Pres is seeking applications for a part-time salaried position of Worship Band Director. The post will require 10-12 hours of work per week (flexible work hours, Monday through Friday plus Sunday mornings). The
job description is posted on the First Pres
website. To apply, please e-mail your resume to
[email protected] attn: Eleanor Ehresman.
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Reclaim lost and found items by April 29
The members closet and lost and found at the front desk are full of unclaimed items. If you have an item that needs to be picked up or if you have a lost item, please claim it at the front desk by April 29. On April 30, all unclaimed items will be donated or discarded.
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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 March 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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