All that Christmas Is and Means...
This week’s eNewsletter feature
was written by Jim Teague,
FPCE director of communications.
Greetings!
“I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel. I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards… and decorating trees and all that, but I’m still not happy.
I always end up feeling depressed.”
– Charlie Brown in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” which first aired December 9, 1965
If you’re as old as I am, you might remember the first showing of A Charlie Brown Christmas on television in 1965. I know I watched it, because to this day my mom tells the story of me being mesmerized by the music and overjoyed at the antics of Snoopy. To be honest, though, my first recollection of watching it was a few years later, when the thought of someone being unhappy about Christmas seemed so preposterous to me that it was almost inconceivable.
I mean, it was Christmas! How could anyone be glum about Christmas?
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Our Sunday Worship Service begins at 9:30 a.m. |
The church offices and building will be closed Thanksgiving Day, November 25, and Friday, November 26. |
Face masks are required for all indoor public gatherings at First Pres. |
Angel Tree is back this year with online donations. Get details below on how to give!
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Our annual Gingerbread House decoration event takes place December 5. Get details below.
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You can help fight gun violence while shopping for gifts. Get all the info below.
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Sunday Morning Worship
at 9:30 a.m.
Our Sunday morning worship service will be in person in the Sanctuary and online this week. Join us at 9:30 a.m. on November 28 for this service.
Prayer Companions will be available in person.
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Thanksgiving Offering to bless sister church
This year’s Thanksgiving Offering will go to our sister church, the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the Christmas Lutheran congregation hard, both in terms of illness and finances. Because tourists have not been able to travel there, the economy of the entire region has been shaken, and members are facing tremendous challenges, which impact the giving to the church. Still, they plan and act in faith, knowing the Lord will continue to provide for them. May our generosity through these special offerings (given in addition to our regular gifts to First Pres) overflow toward them in our donations--and in our prayers--just as the Lord has been generous to us.
You may give through the First Presbyterian website by choosing Thanksgiving Offering in the dropdown, or by check made out to First Presbyterian Evanston with "Thanksgiving Offering" in the memo. Thank you in advance!
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Advent & Christmas
at First Pres
Gingerbread House Decorating
December 5, 3-5 p.m.
Reservations required. $10 per house.
(Scholarships available)
Lessons & Carols Worship Service*
December 12, 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Worship Service with Childrens’ Pageant*
December 19, 9:30 a.m.
Blue Christmas Worship Service*
December 22, 7 p.m.
Christmas Eve Services –
4 p.m. Family Service*
11 p.m. Candlelight Service*
*Event is in person AND online
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All-Church Education Adult
Advent Class 2021
Tough Questions at Christmas –Surprised by Hope, Love, Joy & Peace
Classes meet each Sunday, November 27 to
December 19, at 11 a.m.,
in person in the Sanctuary
or on Zoom.
Teacher – David Ivaska
Exploring the challenging stories of the first Christmas;
Listening to the hard questions we face this Christmas.
This class serves both as a follow-up to our fall retreat with Andy Root,
as well as a preparation for our church entering 2022!
Learn more about the weekly topics here.
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Join us for our Gingerbread House decorating event!
Sunday, December 5,
from 3-5 p.m. in Roy Hall
Families will need to register to reserve their gingerbread houses.
Cost: $10 per house
*Due to supply chain challenges we may have to limit the number of houses each family is able to reserve.
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Angel Tree goes virtual again in 2021 |
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First Pres has a rich history of supporting Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree. Over the years, our tradition has been to pull a tag off the Christmas trees and provide a gift to a child whose parent is incarcerated.
Like last year, due to COVID, Angel tree will be done “virtually” again in 2021. Our Virtual Angel Tree web page is now available! Please help the First Pres Deacons support Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree by sponsoring an Angel. Our church has promised to provide gifts for 85 children.
The link to Virtual Angel Tree is https://firstpresevanston.org/angel-tree/. The Access Code, which is unique for First Pres, is INPZA. We hope that all of our Angel Tree commitments will be fulfilled by December 13, so please make your donations before then. Thank you for your support and generosity! |
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Next Agape Meal will be held Sunday, December 5
First Pres members and friends are invited to our monthly Agape meal at Noon in the Dining Room. We will enjoy a time of fellowship with each other and a simple meal prepared by Kris Economos and her super Souper Saturday team. This is our way of continuing the feast we celebrate at the communion table during that morning's service.
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It is time for the annual Christmas Pageant!
Let us know right away if you will be participating!
Explore the Nativity scriptures by participating
in the 2021 First Pres Children’s Pageant!
All children and youth 3 years old through high school are invited to participate.
We will share this presentation at the 9:30 a.m. worship service
on Sunday, December 19!
Rehearsals will be during Sunday school (11 a.m. to Noon)
November 28, December 5, and December 12.
We will also have a dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 18.
We have something for everyone who wishes to participate:
Record a reading from home, participate live in-person, help with the technology, or be an online host.
Email Pastor Amanda to sign-up!
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Mission Prayers
Please pray for Dr. Hani Hanna, the new President of Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo. (ETSC). Dr. Hanna took over from Dr. Atef Gendi several months ago. Please pray for him as he takes on this very significant role impacting the church in Egypt and throughout the Middle East. The seminary currently has 505 students, representing a 60% growth in the past five years. They began an online program for learning, which has continued. Please pray that the impact of COVID on the economy not inhibit students from attending. Pray that God continues to use ETSC to grow the church in Egypt and beyond. Ask God to help them step into the need and cry for theological training and leadership in the underground churches of North Africa. Pray that the faculty at ETSC be able to thrive despite increased class loads and other demands.
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Ten Thousand Villages purchases to help fight gun violence
Wait until the weekend of December 3 through 5 to do your Christmas shopping! On Friday, December 3, from 5–8 p.m., FPCE will partner with Together Chicago and Rev. Michael Allen to host a community shopping event at Ten Thousand Villages Evanston at 915 Chicago Avenue in Evanston. Ten Thousand Villages Evanston will donate a portion of all the funds received that night, and all day Saturday and Sunday during store hours as well, to Together Chicago.
To help, you MUST mention Together Chicago or First Presbyterian Evanston before the purchase is completed. More details to come!
Pastor Michael Allen, co-founder of Together Chicago, will be present on Friday night to share with us about that amazing ministry that is helping to significantly reduce gun violence in the neighborhoods in Chicago where they are working. You may shop online, but you must shop through Ten Thousand Villages Evanston during those same days/times and you must alert them that you are shopping for Together Chicago through their community shopping events drop down menu. (That link will be coming!) Questions? Contact Caryl Weinberg at cweinberg@firstpresevanston.org. |
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Book Club to discuss Michelle Obama autobiography December 14
The next Parrish Nurse book club selection is Becoming by Michelle Obama. According to Goodreads, "In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address." We will meet on Tuesday, December 14 from 1:30-3 p.m. in the Parlor. All are welcome!
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Saturday Men’s Breakfast, in person in Room 213, on Zoom
The Men's Breakfast will meet in Room 213 this week (in accordance with CDC and Illinois Dept. of Public Health guidelines). We provide coffee, tea, donuts and bananas! We can also be joined via Zoom, but hope to see everyone in-person. We intend to continue meeting in-person in Room 213 (and via Zoom) on Saturdays going forward. To receive the weekly Zoom link, email Bob Bastian at bob.bastian55@gmail.com.
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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
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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!
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021
Scripture: Luke 21:25-36
Sermon: Stay Alert
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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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1427 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1472
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