First Pres Enews - September 23, 2021

September 23, 2021

FEATURE ARTICLE

Who knows YOU?

This week’s eNewsletter feature

was written by Jim Teague,

FPCE director of communications.

Greetings!

Recently, a young man I know asked me if I would serve as a personal reference for him. I was honored to be asked, and, after waiting what I thought was a reasonable amount of time to see if he was joking, I agreed before he could change his mind.

It feels good to be asked by someone to share your opinion of them with others. There is a measure of trust that goes along with their request, their expectation that you have the same recollection of past shared activities and events as they do. When they interview for a job, or apply for a loan, a scholarship, or an academic opportunity, they will present opinions and anecdotes of their past performance. They believe (rightly or wrongly) your input to the process will conform with what they shared.

In other words, they believe you will commend them to others.

TAKE NOTE

Our weekly worship service is at 9:30 a.m. this Sunday!

Learn about our teaching series, Christian education classes and small groups down below or on our website!

Face masks are now required for all indoor public gatherings at First Pres.

first Pres is looking to hire a Sunday morning hall monitor. See details below.

Registration for our All-Church Retreat is NOW open! Scroll down to learn more and get the link.

A young adults' small group meets this Sunday with Pastor Henry and Pastor Amanda. Scroll down to learn more.

Paid hall monitor sought for Sunday services

FPCE is looking for a paid hall monitor for the children’s wing during Sunday morning service from 9 a.m. to Noon. Please contact Janice at jdobschuetz@firstpresevanston.org or 847-864-1472 x503 if interested.

Current COVD-19 Guidelines for First Pres

The City of Evanston recently mandated the wearing of face masks in all indoor public places to aid in the prevention of spreading COVID-19.

Masks MUST be worn by all individuals over 2 years of age in all public areas of First Pres and SLC. This includes the front desk area, hallways, Roy Hall, the Sanctuary, the Narthex, the Parlor, the Dining Room and all classrooms and meeting rooms in the building.

In staff offices or meetings of small groups, attendees may agree to forego the mask requirement once everyone has arrived, but only in the room where the meeting is taking place.

Sunday Morning Worship Service

Join us at 9:30 a.m. this week!

Our Sunday morning worship service will be held in person in the Sanctuary and online.

Our COVID-19 protocols can be found here.

THERE IS NO PRE-REGISTRATION FOR IN-PERSON WORSHIP ATTENDANCE.

Interested in childcare for this Sunday (available for those 4 years old and under)?

Contact Rev. Amanda Golbek at agolbek@firstpresevanston.org.

Online worship is at https://live.firstpresevanston.org/.

FELLOWSHIP OUT ON THE FRONT LAWN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SERVICE.

VISIT HERE FOR INFORMATION ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.

Prayer Companions will be available in person.

"Life Together" new members' class begins Sunday!

This new class is intended for those investigating membership at First Pres, and for those interested in learning more about engaging in the life of the church. The classes meet on Sundays at 11 a.m. on September 26, October 3, and October 10.

A few highlights:

For those not already members, this class serves as a way to join First Pres.
It is also open to existing members who are looking to increase their church involvement. Space is limited so those seeking new membership will be given priority.
The intention of the series is for all participants (new or existing member) to come away feeling more included in the church community and more clear about and empowered in the church's mission.
The class meets during the Adult Education time on Sundays at 11 a.m..

or visit the front desk and let them know you are interested.

Sunday Christian Education

Adult Education this Fall

Three Adult Education classes will take place at First Pres this fall:

The new "Life Together" class will take place in Room 103 and serves as a great way for newcomers to explore what First Pres is all about and take the necessary steps toward membership, if desired. If space allows, it will also be open to FPCE members who also want to learn more about why we do what we do. You can register here!
Missions will offer a class on racial injustice seen through the lens of Jesus and teachings of our faith. Class sessions will take place on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. in room 213 and some Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The first class is Wednesday, September 15 (see below or learn more here).
Pastor Henry Coates will be teaching a class from September 19 to October 10 in the Parlor on the written works of Dr. Andy Root, our all-church retreat speaker. The class is called “Being Christian in a Secular Age: A Refresher to the Work of Andy Root” and reintroduces us to ideas investigated prior to the postponed March 2020 retreat.

Youth/Children’s Education – Sundays at 11 a.m.

6th and 7th graders are invited to gather in the 3rd floor Youth Lounge for Sunday school with Pastor Ray and Oakley Smith.
Confirmation Class: 8th and 9th graders are invited to gather in room 206 as we spend the year digging deep into our faith.
10th, 11th, and 12th graders are invited to help as a volunteer teacher with the Children’s Sunday school or attend one of the Adult Education classes. Contact Pastor Amanda if you want to volunteer.

Small Groups this Fall

First Pres regularly offers a wide variety of small groups, and this fall is no different. You can learn all about the groups offered on our website or through this information sheet. Many of the groups are either meeting entirely online or in a hybrid form, so all can participate.

Mission Prayer

Pray this week for Good News Partners and the New Life Shelter Development Project. New Life Shelter provides emergency housing to families in the community experiencing homelessness or in need of subsidized rent because of low income. On September 15, GNP celebrated the beginning of the New Life Shelter renovation with a ceremonial groundbreaking. This is a cause for much praise! As you are praying for the work being done on the building, please focus that prayer on city permits for the building projects, which are required for the project to move forward. With the renovation expected to take approximately three months, and the housing eviction moratorium ending, there will be many in our area in need of New Life Shelter's assistance to get their bearings. Being able to finish this renovation sooner will help alleviate some of those struggles, so ask God to help the project be completed swiftly. Pray, as well, for final financial needs to be met. While it is a huge source of praise that so much money has already been raised, it appears a loan will still need to be secured to finish the project on time. Pray for God's provision for all expenses. Finally, pray for each of the team members over at GNP, asking God to give renewed strength and energy to each staff member and volunteer as this project moves toward completion.

All-Church Retreat

October 15 & 16, 2021

“Anxious Church:

Being Disciples in a

Mid-Pandemic World”

Led by

Dr. Andrew Root

Professor and Carrie Olson Baalson Chair of Youth and Family Ministry

at Luther Seminary

Learn more and register here!

$15 online or in-person

Afghan Refugee Welcome Kits

First Presbyterian Evanston, through our First Friends ministry is collecting items to create Welcome Kits for the refugees, including those coming from Afghanistan. Welcome kits contain small household items that refugee families need to get started in their new home. This tangible "welcome" is a great way to establish connection between us and our new neighbors. World Relief Chicago will be following up with these families after the initial connection to help support them in creating a sustainable life within the Chicagoland area. We are hoping as a community we can collect enough items to create at least two full kits.

Please sign up via the sign up genius link,

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4bafae2ba2ff2-afghanistan

as your commitment to purchase that item, and then bring the item(s) to church. This helps us get complete kits! A container will be at the front desk for drop off.

If you have any questions, please contact: Sally Ivaska sallyivaska1@gmail.com or Caryl Weinberg cweinberg@firstpresevanston.org

Young Adults' Small Group meets Sunday

Are you in your 20s or 30s and looking for a small group? Come on out to Pastor Henry’s house on Sunday, September 26. Faith, real talk, and food! Contact Pastor Henry at hcoates@firstpresevanston.org if you are interested in attending.

First Pres film series, class on racial injustice continues

First Presbyterian Evanston is doing an exciting film series on racial injustice using the lens of Jesus and teachings of our faith. The series, entitled "See, Hear and Know Our Neighbors' Story" is a great place for those who are believers to join together to learn and have thought provoking discussions. We will be having well respected moderators to help guide discussions in proactive and positive ways. This is not in anyway limited to those who consider themselves Christians, and all are welcome to join. We just wanted people to understand that we are looking at these issues through that lens. Please feel free to share with anyone who you think might be interested. You can learn how to register and more about each of the films and topics at www.firstpresevanston.org/film-series

Note: You can still watch an abbreviated version the first film "The Long Shadow" online for free at this link for a few more days. You can also watch a recording of this week's Q&A with the director, Frances Causey here.

Parish Nurse Book Club meets to discuss ‘I Am Malala' on November 2

Our next book club meeting will be on November 2 from 1:30-3 p.m. in the Parlor. We will be reading I Am Malala by Malala Yousaufsei.

Goodreads introduces the book with the following information: “On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive. Instead, Malala’s miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey form a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen she became a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.” All are welcome to attend!

For more information email Julie Ruchniewicz at jruchniewicz@firstpresevanston.org

Men's Breakfast meets in person and on Zoom this week!

First Pres Saturday Morning Men’s Breakfast will meet at 8 a.m. this Saturday in person in Room 213 as well as on Zoom. This will be a bring your own food gathering. To receive the weekly Zoom link, email Bob Bastian at bob.bastian55@gmail.com.

Nourish women's Bible study meets Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.

The Nourish women's Bible study meets at 9:30 a.m., Thursdays, in Room 213. We will also be connecting with folks on Zoom during the meeting. Our study this fall will focus on daily disciplines of discipleship, using a video series and the book "Liturgy of the Ordinary" by Tish Warren Harrison. Look for her book in the First Pres library or any local library. All ages are welcome and childcare will be provided. Please join us and bring a friend! Questions? Need the Zoom link? Contact sallyivaska1@gmail.com.

Childcare help needed Thursday mornings

First Pres is looking for volunteers to provide childcare from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursdays in the nursery. Masks, vaccination, and background check are required. Contact Pastor Amanda at agolbek@firstpresevanston.org if you are interested.

Loop Bible Study meets in person and online each Friday

The regular Friday Bible study in the Loop, run by FPCE member John Mauck, takes place every Friday at Noon at 1 N. LaSalle St. on the 25th floor, conference room on the right, in Chicago, 60602. You can also watch online live at

https://www.facebook.com/LoopGroupBibleStudy. To get weekly reminders, email a request to be added to the list to info@mauckbaker.com.

Officer Nominations for 2022 sought

The Nominating Committee asks you to suggest elder, trustee, or deacon candidates to serve First Pres in 2022. A candidate must be a church member, gifted by the Holy Spirit, and willing to serve. Confidential suggestions may be given to Rosemary Mauck.

Interfaith Action workshop on Reparations continues

Register today to attend a three-part workshop on Faith, Justice and Reparations in Evanston. Sessions will take place on Sunday afternoons from 4 to 5:30 on September 19, 26, and October 3, via Zoom. We will explore what “reparation” means, how Evanston’s history of exclusion and discrimination calls for repair, what is happening with our current Reparations programs — and consider how we, as people of faith, are called to act at this significant moment in history. For more information and registration: https://tinyurl.com/evanston-reparations

No clothes donations being accepted

We are not accepting donations for the Deacons Clothes Closet at this time. Donations left at FPCE (other than new face masks), will be discarded. CLICK HERE for alternative giving locations!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2021

9:30 a.m. Bulletin for online service

Summary notes from the August 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.

1427 Chicago Avenue

Evanston, IL 60201

847-864-1472

VISIT FIRSTPRESEVANSTON.ORG