This Week at First Pres!
September 27 - October 3, 2020
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Political Idolatry?
This week’s eNewsletter feature
was written by Rev. Raymond Hylton,
FPCE Senior Pastor.
Greetings!
Many of you know that I am not American by birth. I came to America back in 1981 from the grand Island of Jamaica. At that time, President Ronald Reagan had just entered the White House. The Rev. Jerry Falwell was overseeing the Moral Majority, and his core message was to "Bring America Back to God."
Even then, I found it strange the way politics and faith in America were joined in a symbiotic relationship. The politicians needed the church, and the church needed the politicians — to raise their visibility and fulfill their agendas, both religious and worldly.
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Pop-up small groups are launching! See below for how you can get connected.
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Our new Adult Education Class begins this Sunday! Look below for details and how to sign up.
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Online Wednesday Prayer Gathering this week at 7 pm. See the details below!
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Come join the bell choir! See below.
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We have two new positions we are hiring for. See more info below.
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Interactive Devotional Email Series |
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Join as an integral member of the whole church body in taking part in our “Filled Up Poured Out” Devotional series. We are studying the passage used for the sermon series during the previous Sunday teaching. After signing up, you will receive an email each weekday to help you reflect on that week's scripture through a different lens, using a variety of mediums. There are offerings for children as well. May the Lord use this to fill us up that we may be poured out in love and service for God’s glory. Sign up HERE. |
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Sign up for "Pop-up" Small Groups! |
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As FPCE continues in its COVID-19 lifestyle, we realize that many are increasingly hungry for connections. In this new reality, the Small Groups Committee is starting an experiment the week of September 27: “POP-UP GROUPS.” They are like Small Groups but a) short-term (only 4 weeks), b) with focused expectations centered on connecting (i.e. no “teaching” or “study”), and c) organized around a clear affinity or topic that meet felt needs. All on Zoom! Here they are:
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A group for healthcare workers – 8:15 pm on Thursdays, led by Ben Fergus (Email him to sign up at benjamin.l.fergus@gmail.com).
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Exploring Christian mindfulness and meditation – 7 pm on Fridays, led by Eugenia Jeong and Evan Fojtik (Email them to sign up at evanandeugenia@gmail.com
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Discussion of a short book called “Liturgy of the Ordinary,” – 7:30 pm on Mondays – led by Pastor Amanda Golbek and Hannah McConnell. We will have an intro discussion on 9/28, then start the book on 10/5 (Email Hannah at hmcconnell@firstpresevanston.org to sign up for this group).
This information is also available on our website.
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Adult Education class on Reading While Black begins this Sunday after our service!
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This week, following our 10 a.m. online Sunday morning worship service, FPCE will be offering a new Adult Education series led by Rev. Henry Coates, associate pastor. Over the course of the next 7-8 weeks, we will look at the ideas discussed in the book Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope. The book is written by Esau McCaulley (PhD, St. Andrews), an assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.
This Sunday, Pastor Henry will be introducing the series. He recommends the following preparation:
We are looking forward to having as many folks as possible take part in this new class beginning THIS SUNDAY on Zoom after the service.
The Zoom link for this class will be made available at the end of the service on the FPCE website.
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SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10 AM
You can find our online worship service by clicking the button on our home page (like the image above) which links to live.firstpresevanston.org.
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After our Sunday Morning Service
Extended online fellowship time will take place on Zoom following our Sunday service. This will be the same link for the Adult Education class. Join us at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/478195199?pwd=eFNvbzgrakZQcTkzQ1FnbDBWUnlYZz09. The Zoom Meeting ID is 478 195 199 and the password is 207174. You can call in at 312-626-6799 and use the ID and password to get in, too.
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Prayer Companions available Sunday!
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In-person outdoor worship meets again this Sunday at 5:30 pm
This Sunday, September 27, FPCE will host in-person worship services in the parking lot (weather permitting). The service begins at 5:30 pm and will run no longer than one hour. We still have openings for more folks to attend. You will need to check in at the Parking Lot entrance when you arrive. Masks are required. Details about the service and the precautions being taken are available on the registration page. Sign-in will be on the Chicago Avenue side of the parking lot near the Walker Chapel Entrance. There will be no parking available in the lot. If you drive, you will need to find parking in the surrounding area and walk to the FPCE lot. Please bring your own chairs and blankets, and note that there will be no access to the FPCE building, including restrooms. |
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Online Wednesday Prayer Gathering at 7 pm
This Wednesday, September 30, FPCE will host it's bi-monthly online Prayer Gathering at 7 pm. We will be focusing on our refugee families and the many challenges they are facing. All are invited to join us as we bring our concerns and cares, praising our amazing God in the process.
Zoom link:
You can also join by phone at 312-626-6799, using the following information:
Meeting ID: 949 2591 4870
Passcode: 592928
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Condolences
We offer our heartfelt sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of Maura Kelly for her passing on September 17.
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Mission Prayer
Pray for our refugee families. Several are expecting new babies and all are facing challenges with COVID, employment situations, homeschooling and more. Join us for prayer on Wednesday night at our Prayer Gathering as we focus our attention on this group and lift them up before the Lord.
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Come make a joyful noise -
with bells!
Chancel Bell Choir and the Beginners Bell Choir are both looking for new members! The beginners meet at 4 pm on Wednesdays in the FPCE parking lot, while the Chancel Bell Choir meets at 5 pm. All are invited to join in this socially distanced activity! Contact Hannah McConnell at hmconnell@firstpresevanston.org with any questions you might have.
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Parish Nurse Book Club meets online October 10
The Parish Nurse Book Club will be meeting again online on Tuesday, October 10, from 1:30-3 pm. We will be reading This Tender Land: A Novel by William Kent Krueger, the bestselling author of Ordinary Grace. Amazon describes This Tender Land as "The unforgettable story of four orphans who travel the Mississippi River on a life-changing odyssey during the Great Depression." All are welcome to join us as we discuss this book on Zoom. Contact Julie Ruchniewicz at jruchniewicz@firstpresevanston.org for the meeting link. |
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Local photo exhibit documents social justice protests
The Chicago Alliance of African American Photographers (CAAAP) is hosting an exhihbit entitled WE MATTER at the Perspective Gallery, a not for profit gallery of photography, located at 1310-1/2 Chicago Avenue in Evanston. The exhibit documents the local protests set off by the death of George Floyd. Members of CAAAP and other Chicago photographers have captured these protests, which thrust demands for social policy change and economic accountability into the public dialogue. A Zoom conversation with the photographers will be held Thursday, October 15, at 7 pm. More details are available at perspectivegallery.org. |
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Men's Breakfast on Zoom
The Men's Breakfast group continues to meet weekly on Saturday mornings from 8-9 a.m. via Zoom for scripture, prayer and speakers (but BYO Breakfast). Please join us!
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Nourish women's bible study meetings on Zoom
Nourish, a women's fellowship, meets this fall on Thursdays at 8 pm via Zoom. Please join our weekly virtual gatherings for Bible study, discussion, sharing, and prayer. Our first fall meeting will be September 10. Women of all ages are invited! Contact Sally Ivaska at sallyivaska1@gmail.com for the Zoom link. |
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Job opportunities at FPCE:
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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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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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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
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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.
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1427 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1472
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