December 2019

First Chronicles
The Newsletter of the First Congregational Church of Evanston UCC

Advent Reflections
In 1958 there was a cosmic change in the universe. That Upcoming Events
was the year advent calendars started hiding chocolate
behind each door counting down to Christmas. What Sunday, December 1
was once a sweet tradition (started a century earlier)— 10:00 a.m. Advent Peace: “Iron Plows and Pruning
opening doors to see pictures or Bible verses, designed Hooks”; Communion and Pageant Rehearsal
to fuel anticipation—became in that year a feeding
frenzy. Today, the choices of advent calendars are almost Saturday, December 7
scary—Lego toys, stuffed animals, and cosmetics are a 1:00 p.m. Christmas Party and
few of the options. My most/least favorite is the Barbie Greeening of the Sanctuary
Advent Calendar, which reveals accessories and clothing
in the days leading up to the celebration of the birth Sunday, December 8
of Christ. 10:00 a.m. Advent Hope: “Shoots From a Stump”;
It is into this arena that we are stepping when we Pageant Rehearsal
light the advent wreath. Our storytelling of the babe in 11:00 a.m. Congregational Budget Meeting
a manger is now in the context of CBD-laced chocolate.
And thoughtful reflection about inviting Jesus into our Saturday, December 14
lives is drowned out by the sound of elongated commer- 3:00–5:00 p.m. Pageant Dress Rehearsal
cials designed to play louder so you can still hear them
from the kitchen. Sunday, December 15
This is the world into which the Spirit of God has 9:00 a.m. Pageant Final Dress Rehearsal
come, in the flesh. The creator of all, who sees all, still 10:00 a.m. Advent Joy; Christmas Pageant
chooses to be present with us. The child born in a barn
has something to say about the frenzy and the distrac- Sunday, December 22
tions. The angels come among us to proclaim good 10:00 a.m. Advent Love: “Human Birth”
news in this place, with these people, just as surely as 3:00 p.m., Mudlark Theater’s A Christmas Carol
they came to the shepherds, to Mary, and to Joseph.
The One who brings Peace breathes deeply with Tuesday, December 24
you as you light the candles of your wreath. The Christ 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service: “A New Earth”
who is Love encourages you when you speak about your
personal faith. The Spirit who is Faithful envelops your Sunday, December 29
whole being when you pause to reflect on God’s gift 10:00 a.m. Christmas Carols and Storytelling
of grace. The community of this church that is Family
nurtures you along your journey this Christmas, and Sunday, January 5
throughout the New Year. 10:00 a.m. Epiphany and StarWords
Blessings, Rev. Ann

Megan Bauer Anne Doyle Merna Johnson

Happy Birthday
to everyone Katie Bezaitis Sheran Fiedler Susan Lutton
cele­brating Thomas Borst George Gauthier Charles Moore
a birthday Katherine Colton Oscar Geracaris Andy Nelson
in December! Alan Cubbage William Greene Rachel Schmahl
Evan DeStefano Jackie Hanks Cheryl Sefton
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This Month’s Chancel Choir Anthems
December 1
Paul Manz, “E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come”
December 8
Walter Pelz, “Splendor Is Coming”
Philip Dietterich, “Carol of the Advent”
December 15
John Rutter, “Shepherd’s Pipe Carol”
December 22
G. F. Handel, “Behold! A Virgin Shall Conceive” and
“O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings” (from Messiah)
Hugo Distler, “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”
December 24 (Christmas Eve Candlelight Service)
John Rutter, “Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day,”
“Gabriel’s Message,” “Nativity Carol,” “Shepherd’s
Pipe Carol,” and “A Gaelic Blessing”
Christmas Pageant 2019 Rehearsal Schedule
Sunday, Dec. 1, 10:00 a.m., Church House: Optional
Rehearsal (Thanksgiving weekend),
Sunday, Dec. 8, 10:00 a.m., Church House: Rehearsal
Saturday, Dec. 14, 3:00–5:00 p.m., Sanctuary: Dress
Rehearsal
Sunday, Dec. 15, Sanctuary: 9:00 a.m., Final Dress
Rehearsal; 10:00 a.m., Pageant
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A New Earth
Listening to the news and watching the weather ex-
tremes around us, it is easy to get caught in despair
about our human ills on display in current affairs, persis-
tent oppressions, and destructive changes to our planet.
Our reparative actions can feel minuscule in response
to the enormity of the calamities we face. With times
steeped in crisis, our world seems desperate for a season
of hope and poised for a life-giving change.
Advent is a time of hope-
ful waiting as we look for-
ward to the promise of peace,
love, and joy of God’s trans-
forming presence on earth.
“A New Earth,” this year’s
UCC advent devotional,
explores how “the promise of
God’s presence and restora-
tion is not just for humanity but for all creation.” Our
species and our whole planet are in need of healing,
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Come Sing with Us!
Holiday singers are invited to join the Chancel Choir
for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. This beauti-
ful service on Tuesday, December 24, at 5:00 p.m. will
feature scripture and carol singing, candle lighting,
and choir anthems with instrumental accompaniment.
Choir rehearsals for this service will begin on Sunday,
December 1, at 11:30 a.m. in the choir room of the
Church House. If you have never sung with our choir
and would like to take advantage of this opportunity,
contact music director David Lornson at 847-864-8332,
ext. 23, or dlornson@firstchurchevanston.org.
Christmas Party and Sanctuary Greening December 7
The whole congregation is warmly invited to our
Church Christmas Party and Greening of the Sanctuary
on Saturday, December 7,
from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. There
will be activities and refresh-
ments for all ages! Come make
an advent wreath, decorate the
sanctuary with greenery, sit
and visit with friends, decorate
angel-tree gift-tag ornaments,
sing carols, and dip a cookie
into a cup of hot chocolate.
Everyone is welcome—bring a friend! Each child
will receive an advent gift to help prepare for the
season. Sign up in the narthex or RSVP to spetersen
@firstchurchevanston.org.
reconciliation, and transformation to create a new way
of living together and a renewed earth.
In our Christmas pageant this year, “The Shepherds’
Story,” we continue with this theme and explore the
ways we are interconnected with one another and all
creation. We follow the Christmas story from the per-
spective of the shepherds, whose journey from the
field to the manger is also a journey from distress to
new hope. Like the lowly shepherds who were the first
honored guests to visit the new King, we each have an
important role to play, no matter how small, to take
action and live into God’s promise and new earth.
Pick up a copy of “A New Earth” devotional in our
sanctuary this advent. Then gather your friends and fam-
ily and join us on Sunday, December 15, at 10:00 a.m.
for the premiere of Andrew Biliter’s, “The Shepherds’
Story” and be open to awe, transformation, and action
for change in your life and our shared world.
With Hope,
Sarah Petersen, Director of Learning and Outreach.
 Please consider prayerfuly these three statements presented by the FCCE Church Council
for vote at the Congregational Meeting on December 8, 11:00 a.m.

‹••‹‘–ƒ–‡‡– Crafted by Church Council

Transforming lives together through God’s love in ƒ…–‹‘  as a vision of our mission
…‘’ƒ••‹‘ǡƒ†Œ—•–‹…‡Ǥ  together.

’‡ƒ†ˆˆ‹”‹‰–ƒ–‡‡–
•ƒ‹…Ž—•‹˜‡…‘‰”‡‰ƒ–‹‘ǡ™‡™‡Ž…‘‡ƒŽŽˆƒ‹–Š  Adopted 2012 by FCCE as part
‡š’‡”‹‡…‡•ƒ†ˆƒ‹Ž›–›’‡•Ǣ™‡ƒ”‡ƒ‘’‡ƒ†  of the Mission Statement.
ƒˆˆ‹”‹‰…‘—‹–›‘ˆˆƒ‹–Š™Š‘™‡Ž…‘‡ƒ†…‡Ž‡„”ƒ–‡  Aligns with our membership
†‹ˆˆ‡”‡…‡•‘ˆƒ‰‡ǡƒ„‹Ž‹–›ǡ”ƒ…‡ǡ•‡š—ƒŽ‘”‹‡–ƒ–‹‘ǡ‰‡†‡”  in the UCC Open and Affirming
‹†‡–‹–›ƒ†‡š’”‡••‹‘ǡƒ†ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ‘”‹‰‹Ǥ  coalition of congregations.

‹‰”ƒ–‡Ž…‘‹‰–ƒ–‡‡–
‡…‘‹––‘–ƒ‡ƒ…–‹‘•…‘•‹•–‡–™‹–Š–Š‡˜ƒŽ—‡•ƒ† Adopted 2016 by FCCE as part
”‡•‘—”…‡•‘ˆ‘—”…‘—‹–›–‘‘’’‘•‡š‡‘’Š‘„‹ƒƒ†–‘ of theFCCE/Evanston
’”‘–‡…–—†‘…—‡–‡†‹‹‰”ƒ–•ˆ”‘†‡’‘”–ƒ–‹‘ƒ† Evanston Community
–Š‡Šƒ”†•Š‹’••—…Š†‡’‘”–ƒ–‹‘™‹ŽŽ…ƒ—•‡–Š‡ƒ†–Š‡‹” Sanctuary Resolution.
ˆƒ‹Ž‹‡•Ǥ       

Congregational Meeting December 8
The congregation’s annual budget meeting will be held
after worship on Sunday, December 8. The meeting will
also include a vote on adopting a new mission state-
ment: “Transforming lives together through God’s love
in action, compassion, and justice.”
Congregation Members Reflect on Mission Statement
When the 2019 slate of lay leaders that make up our
Church Council began our time of planning earlier this
year, we recognized that forging our path into our next
150 years would require taking a close look at our foun-
dation. Who are we right now and who do we want to
be moving forward? How can we better serve and do
God’s work in this world, and what does that look like
now? In the end, a simple, action-oriented sentence is
the mission statement we as your church leadership
voted to bring before the entire congregation. —Anne T.
The mission statement works on many levels. It
communicates our inclusivity, activism, and compassion
for each other and those in our community. And is
something that we can all repeat easily. As a marketer,
I see many mission statements or brand objectives
that are rarely this concise and meaningful. I support
it wholeheartedly! —Amy C.
I’m feeling pretty confident that if we can endeavor
to follow our new mission statement, we’ll be going in
the right direction as far as what God asks of us: to act
justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God
(Micah 6:8). Can any of us complete this herculean
mission alone? No. Let’s do this together. Whether you
are personally called to take the bus to Springfield with
Lindsey to end money bail, to bring diapers, to volun-
teer at the warming center, to donate books for our
new children’s library, or to help scoop noodles at our
spaghetti dinner, I hope you’ll be inspired by our new
mission statement.
—Christine C.
Welcome New Members!
Tom Coggeshall and Merrylinn Grusch started visiting
the church about three months ago and have already
become involved. Both were active participants in the
all-church clean-up day, and Merrylinn is teaching
Sunday school. She works as an elementary school
teacher, and Tom is a counselor at Threshholds.
Jackie Hanks just moved to Evanston from Florida,
and we applaud her courageous spirit for being here for
our early winter! She was baptized in the Congregational
Church tradition and was happy to find a church home
here. Jackie is mother to three—one of whom is Linda
Hanks, who sings in our choir. We hope Jackie will
sing, too.
Sarah Pressly is partner to UCC ministerial candidate
Kate Alexander and has just left a position at Feed My
Starving Children to work in the development depart-
ment at Garrett-Evangelical Seminary. She has lived in
Evanston for four years. When I asked Sarah how to
introduce her, she said, “Sarah is the queen of all she
surveys.” Her strength of spirit comes through!
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Diaper Drive through December 8
First Congregational’s annual diaper drive continues
through Sunday, December 8. Our two recipients—
Learning Bridge (formerly Childcare Center) and
Childcare Network of Evanston—serve young children
through preschool, so size 2–5 diapers and size 2/toddler–
5/toddler pull-ups are requested. Place your donations
in the large boxes in the narthex. Remember that food
stamps are not accepted for purchasing diapers and pull-
ups, and these organizations serve a large number of
low-income families. Let’s see whether we can match or
surpass last year’s collection number of 3,919! Thank
you in advance for your generosity.
“The Shepherds’ Story” Pageant on December 15
Through the eyes of the nativ-
ity story’s shepherds, recog-
nize the beauty of God’s earth
and the interconnection of us
all in this new pageant writ-
ten by Andrew Biliter, artistic
director of Mudlark Theater.
At 10:00 a.m. on Sunday,
December 15, be inspired to
be better stewards of our earth
and spread the Love shown to us by baby Jesus in a man-
ger. Contact Sarah Petersen if you’re an adult who’d like
to help out with rehearsals, costumes, or scenery. Invite
your friends and family to join us for this creative and
meaningful First Congregational Christmas tradition!
Seeking Lay Readers
Anyone who has been or would like to become a lay
reader for Sunday mornings, please contact Miko, our
new administrator, at 847-864-8332 ext. 22 or email
miko@firstchurchevanston.org.
Congregants of all ages celebrated our newly refurbished sanctuary library at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 10. Please
stop by the library outside Fellowship Hall to browse, read, and borrow books for children, youth, and adults. We’re also still accept-
ing new book donations; grab a title from our wish list in the library or contact Sarah Petersen to help bring even more new ideas
into our refreshed space.
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Christmas Eve Service at 5:00 p.m.
Join us on Tuesday, December 24, for our Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service. There will be scripture and carol
singing, candle lighting, and Rutter carols presented by
the Chancel Choir with instrumental accompaniment.
Invite your family and friends to this beautiful service!
Poinsettia Plants for Christmas
If you would like to help decorate the sanctuary for
Christmas with a poinsettia, please complete the form
in the bulletin and place it in the offering plate or send
it to the church office, or and turn it in, or use the
Donate button on our website. Orders must be received
by Sunday, December 15. You may pick up your plant,
if you choose to keep it, after the 5:00 p.m. Christmas
Eve service on December 24. Plants cost $13 each.
See Mudlark’s A Christmas Carol with Church Friends
You are invited to see Mudlark Theater’s production of
A Christmas Carol, directed by Andrew Biliter, on Sunday,
December 22, at 3:00 p.m. For more
information, visit mudlarktheater.
com. To purchase a ticket with our
church group, please RSVP to Sarah
Petersen by December 15. Anne
Trompeter and Paul Janicki have generously donated
10 tickets; if a sponsored ticket would help you be able
to attend, please contact Sarah.
Bible 101
Join the growing group of Bible study-ers after church
as we venture into the New Testament. Our aim is to
talk about the stories in the Bible, explore some of the
themes, and talk about how God’s Word impacts us
today. We will study the gospel of John after worship
on December 15. You are encouraged to read ahead!