This Week at First Pres!
May 9 thru May 15, 2021
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Godly Goosebumps
This week’s eNewsletter feature
was written by Julie Ruchniewicz,
FPCE Parish Nurse.
Greetings!
They walked in tandem, each of the 100 students, filing into the crowded auditorium. With graduation gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked and felt very grown up. Dads held back tears while moms unreservedly swept theirs away from moist cheeks.
This class would not pray during the commencement ceremony. That was not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and student speakers were cautious, staying within the guidelines of the court. They gave motivational and thought-provoking speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for holy blessings on behalf the graduates or their families. The speeches were good, but predictable.
That was until the final presentation, which inspired a standing ovation. One student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still, not saying a word, and then it happened. All 100 graduating students—each and every one them—sneezed!!!
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Weather permitting, we will be celebrating worship outdoors this Sunday morning. See below for details!
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Men's Breakfast meets in on Zoom this Saturday. See below for details and a NEW Zoom link.
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Our Wednesday Prayer Gathering will take place next Wednesday at 7 pm on Zoom. The link is available in the Events list on our home page!
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Have a late/outstanding library book? You can return it safely and without any direct staff contact. See below for details.
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The Parish Nurse Book Club meets May 11. Learn more down below.
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Condolences
We offer our heartfelt sympathy and prayers to the Bastian family, for the passing of Patty's father, Wallace Eidahl, on April 19.
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Outdoor Worship
on Sunday Mornings!
We have moved our Sunday morning worship services to the First Pres Parking lot until further notice.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information
about attending.
BRING A CHAIR - BRING A FRIEND - COME READY TO WORSHIP
What if it rains?
First Pres staff will decide 24 hours in advance whether or not outdoor attendance is feasible. If not, we will notify the congregation by email and on the website that the service will be held online only.
Want to volunteer to help on Sundays?
Interested in being part of our technical crew (audio, video and projection)?
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Prayer Companions on Zoom & in-person after the Service
Prayer changes things!
If you would like prayer and are joining us in-person or online each Sunday, we have trained prayer companions available to come before the Lord with you and lift up prayers on your behalf.
If you are with us in the parking lot, we have a companion available immediately after the service over near the audio-video tent who will then step aside privately with you to pray.
Each Sunday on Zoom, we have companions who will meet with you in a private "Zoom room" and pray with you. Join the Zoom meeting with the following link immediately after the service:
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Online class on Galatians continues Sunday
Join First Pres Associate Pastor Henry Coates and guest speakers from across the country as we explore Paul’s seminal and radical Epistle to the Galatians. We will explore the text, what drove Paul to write it, the conflict it seeks to address, and the theological concerns it brings to the forefront. We will also examine how the text has been interpreted and used by Christians (and heretics!) throughout the centuries.
The class will meet on Zoom at 11:30 a.m. and continues each Sunday through June 20 unless otherwise noted.
Register here:
The link is also available on the home page via the calendar and will be made available through the live chat, too.
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Return your First Pres library books
Do you have a book from the First Pres library you need to return? You can bring them to the main office entryway (just inside the front doors) and put them on the cart. No contact with staff - no questions asked!
Volunteers are in the midst of a new cataloguing project for the entire library and are asking that all outstanding/late selections be returned as soon as possible. Contact Courtney Ivaska for details at courtney.b.ivaska@gmail.com. |
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Men's Breakfast Zoom meeting on Saturday
May 8 – Meet via Zoom – Gary Burge, former FPCE member and current Professor of New Testament and Dean of the Faculty at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, will be speaking as we begin a new video lecture series on the gospel of John. We'll learn about the text itself, explore issues in John's culture and in ours that help us understand the ultimate meaning of each passage, and discover ways in which the eternal theology of John can be understood and lived out in our modern culture. This week Gary will be speaking on John 3.
Jim Wildenradt will be the emcee so please note the different Zoom link and instructions:
If your computer has a built-in camera and microphone click on the link below and enter the meeting ID and password. Or you may call in and when prompted, enter the meeting ID followed by the # sign and it will be like a conference call. If you have any difficulty, please call Jim’s cell phone at 847-707-6756.
Via computer:
Meeting ID: 935 0950 2931
Passcode: 307815
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,93509502931#,,,,*307815# US (Chicago)
Via Telephone:
1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 935 0950 2931#
Password: 307815
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World Relief hosts online event
World Relief is hosting a two-part virtual series on May 11 & May 18 that will equip individuals and churches to welcome newly arriving refugees and asylum seekers. This series will feature Matthew Soerens, U.S. Director of Church Mobilization and Susan Sperry, Executive Director of World Relief Chicagoland. While these events are focused toward churches, all are welcome to register to attend. Both online events will begin at noon Chicago time.
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Mission Prayer
Pray this week for Pastor Younan Shiba and his ministry with Family Life Development. He is traveling throughout May in the Middle East (Iraq and Turkey). This visit will be spent ministering to connections he has in the area as well as participating in a seminar in Northern Iraq during the middle of his stay. Pray that the Lord will give him safe travels and many opportunities to learn and share about Christ. Pray as well for his friend Reverend Bassam Haddad, a friend Pastor Younan was supposed to visit, but who is currently seriously ill, and in the hospital, due to Corona. Finally pray for Younan’s family during the time that he is gone. That God will give them peace regarding this travel.
Pray for India
In addition to our prayers for Pastor Younan, please take a few moments this week to pray for the millions of people in India who are struggling with the tragedy of the Covid-19 pandemic at this time. The devastation and loss is overwhelming for so many living there. Pray for the health of each person there and for comfort to those who have lost loved ones. Pray as well as for supernatural stamina for all the healthcare workers as the country struggles to get a grasp on this virus.
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Internships available at First Pres for children's and youth ministry
Ten month children’s ministry and youth ministry internship opportunities at First Pres. They are each 10-15 hours/week (late August – May, possibly renewable.) $5,000 stipend. For more details, please go to the First Pres website at https://firstpresevanston.org/employment/.
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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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Thursday Women's Bible Study at 5:45-7 pm via Zoom
The Thursday Women’s Bible Study is convening via Zoom on Thursdays through May 20, 2021. The group meets from 5:45-7 pm. Our current study is based on all 16 chapters of the Gospel of Mark. The study is open to women of all ages and newcomers are welcomed. Contact Alyce Claerbaut at a-claerbaut@neiu.edu for any additional information and access to the Zoom Links. |
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Nourish Women's group meets at 10 am Thursdays on Zoom
Nourish, a women's fellowship, meets on Thursdays at 10 am via Zoom. Please join our weekly virtual gatherings for a study discussion of an N.T. Wright lecture series entitled "Surprised by Hope", sharing, and prayer. Women of all ages are invited! Contact Sally Ivaska at sallyivaska1@gmail.com for the Zoom link. |
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Parish Nurse Book Club meets online May 11
Next book club meeting is Tuesday, May 11, from 1:30 pm-3 pm. We will be reading The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett.
Quote from the book: "The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities."
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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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1427 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1472
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