August2022

November 2020

First Chronicles

The Newsletter of the First Congregational Church of Evanston UCC

Minister’s Message Desk

From the Minister’s FallSarah
Calendar
Petersen (whose children’s messages are so elegantly
Last Saturday, we turned the clocks back and returned done), and Miko 1, 7Fentanes (who weaves all the video
The month of July has certainly flown by. I’ve been busy Tuesday, November p.m.
to Central Standard Time. Daylight Savings Time was
meeting with committees and individual members on “New
over, and we rolled back to the time keeping of March
piecesto together
FCCE” Gathering, Church
so beautifully). House
And to allParlor
the volunteers
ofZoom or byInphone.
this year. a funnyIt’s beenI have
twist, great only
to meet
known folks and
First who have
Sunday, stepped
November 6, 10ina.m.
to read scripture, share announce-
learn about many
Congregational aspects
during of First
Daylight Congregational
Savings Time. Would Church.
I ments,
All Saints and sing
Sunday for us.
Service You may know that liturgy means
I’m impressed
even recognize you by allin the
the work that’s
new light ofbeing done by so Sunday,
November? “the work of the
November 13,people.” What is p.m.
11:15 a.m.–12:30 true during normal
manyThisdedicated
seasonal people
shift thatto we
further the work of with
are experiencing times is even
the church Reparations Forum,truerPart
in these times of Reparations:
2: “Practicing pandemic. If you
and care for one another in these difficult
our body clocks is mirrored with the shifts that are times. I have have
What Do ideas
We or feedback
Owe?” you would like to share, please
a strong sense
happening within that
ourwecongregation.
are pulling together
Our church as aischurch.
now feel free
Sunday, to do 20
November so. We are all learning as we go forward.
pivoting from a time of outreach and engagement and
Elsewhere in this newsletter you will find informa- 10 a.m.,I would like Pageant
Christmas to extend an invitation
Casting in Sunday toSchool
everyone to
moving
tion abouttowardsome a time
of the of things
introspection
we are and discernment.
undertaking as a 11:15joina.m.–12:30
me in a “Coffee Klatch” on
p.m., Greening theThursday,
Sanctuary August 6, at
In November,
church. I’m excited theabout
church theis new
asking the members
Anti-Racism Task 2 p.m.
Sunday, This will
November 27 be an informal time to check in with
and friends of First Congregational Church of
Force that will be working to help us better understand First Evanston oneSunday
anotherin and
Adventengage is casual conversation. Join
to consider who we are becoming. This initiative, called
issues of race in this time, to identify ways we as a
“Becoming the Saturday, December 3, 1–3atp.m.
the Zoom gathering https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
church can address systemic racism, and to take action All-Church 82227173405; Christmasthe meeting
Party ID is 822 2717 3405.
Church,” is meant
that will join with others to seek justice to helpinusour Everyone
world. December
identify 11 will need to bring their own coffee! Sorry
Another task force is looking ahead to plan
our strengths and for us to I can’t
10 a.m., Newprovide that. Sunday Service
Members
re-gather as a church community. The our term
growth re-gathering,
edges. 11 a.m.,I am always eagerBudget
Congregational to connect with folks. If you
Meeting
rather than reopening, has been chosen Throughdeliberately,
a series are in need of pastoral care or just someone to talk to,
because First Congregational has never been closed.
of meetings please feel
and This Interfaith free to email
Community me or call.Service
Thanksgiving I’m happy to speak
group is looking at policies and procedures that will
conversations, we bymembers
Join phone oroftothe setEvanston
up a Zoom chat. for an
community
will
allow us and our guest organizations to make use of theinvite the Interfaith
Blessings Thanksgiving
and Peace, Service at First Presbyterian
buildings in a way that is responsible people
and of theWe are
safe. Church
Tim of Evanston, 1427 Chicago Avenue, on
all looking forward to a day when we church
can to imagine
resume in- Wednesday, November 23, at 7 p.m., hosted by
person worship. The task force is looking at a myriad of Interfaith Action of Evanston.
a new future where
concerns that will go into a sensibleweand grow back, not
well-thought-
to what was, but
out plan. The foremost concern is our responsibility to New Member Sunday
toward what we Are you interested in becoming a new member of
care for one another, especially those canamong
become. us who are
First Congregational Church of Evanston? For those
mostThisvulnerable.
is important work. Holy work, well-timed for who would like to take this step, we’ll celebrate New
Under the leadership
the contemplative time of fallof the
and Fellowship
winter. Please Committee,
lean Member Sunday during worship on December 11
a group
into is looking
this work and helpahead to Rally
us attune Day
our earsontoSunday,
what Spirit at 10 a.m. Contact Pastor Jason if you’d like to join
isSeptember
saying to us. 13.Contribute
We are looking for creative
your insights ideas for this or are interested in learning more.
and inspiration
toopportunity
the work oftothe celebrate
church. our Helplifeustogether
imagine theas achurch
church
weandcan become!
kick off the new church year. Rally Sunday can Congregational Budget Meeting, December 11
Grace
offer and
us aPeace,
time to renew our commitments and perhaps Save the date for our Congregational Budget Meeting
Pastor
become Jasoninvolved in new ways. on Sunday, December 11, immediately following
It looks like online worship will continue for the worship. We’ll review, discuss, and vote on the budget
Greening of the Sanctuary
foreseeable future. I am very grateful to everyone who submitted by the Trustees with the input of all our
The
worksWorship,
so hardMusicto make andourthe virtual
Arts Board will be
worship a meaningful boards and committees. Your voice and your vote are
decorating our sanctuary for Advent and Christmas
and inspiring experience. It’s surprising how much extra important—see you there!
on November 20, immediately following worship.
effort is required to put together a weekly streaming
broadcast. Many thanks to David Lornson (for provid- 1
ing and coordinating the music that is so uplifting), Our new church sign!
Reparations and First Congregational Church
Engage with First Congregational Church of Evanston
and the Evanston community in film screenings,
exhibits, forums, and decision-making around
reparations commitments our church will make along
with interfaith congregations throughout Evanston.
These commitments will be dedicated on Martin Luther
King Jr. Day, January 17. Click here for a curated list of
Reparations Resources to continue learning.
“Redlining Evanston” Exhibit
On your way into or out of the sanctuary, take a
moment to view and reflect on the new “Redlining
Evanston” exhibit now on display in our narthex.
This three-panel exhibit, created by Dino Robinson
of the Shorefront Legacy Center, includes a timeline,
photographs, and maps that tell the story of the impacts
of the practice of redlining in Evanston.
Redlining is the practice of systemic racial
discrimination where areas with predominantly Black
residents were marked in red on government maps and
deemed as risky investments. This made it extremely
difficult for Black residents to get approved for home
loans and accumulate residential wealth. As we consider
as a congregation what reparations are due to Black
residents, we not only weigh the enormous cost of
slavery but also the continued, systemic practices of
racism, including redlining, that have negatively
impacted the Black community for generations.
Forum, Part 2: “Practicing Reparations: What Do We Owe?”
Join us after worship on November 13 for the second
in our two-part series on the theology and practice of
reparations, as we make decisions together about our
congregation’s reparations commitments. Sponsored by
our Antiracism Task Force, these discussions are being
led by Pastor Jason, Sarah Petersen, and Carrie Bradean.
All are welcome to attend and engage in dialog at our
forums and be a part of our reparations decision-
making. As a congregation, we will be deciding on a
2 holiday tradition to life!
reparations down payment amount that will be
dedicated on MLK Jr. Day along with the reparations
commitments of a coalition of interfaith congregations
around Evanston. Come learn and share your voice as
we make this important decision together!
In this forum, we’ll be talking about the history of
race in our country and what we as individuals and as
an institution owe in reparations. We’ll talk about the
logistics of where our local reparations money will be
going, and how the practice of reparations goes beyond
one payment. We’ll begin to determine the reparations
amount our congregation will commit to making locally,
as well as ways to take action on a national level as part
of the larger reparations movement.
Christmas Pageant Casting on November 20
We are busy creating another one-of-a-kind Christmas
Pageant for First Congregational Church. Mudlark
Theater artistic director Andrew Biliter is once again
collaborating with Sarah Petersen to craft an original
script and production that will help us see the nativity
story, and our place in the universe, in a whole new way.
All youth, from infants through high schoolers, are
invited to join our pageant. On Sunday, November 20,
at 10 a.m., we’ll have a casting rehearsal to find a part
for everyone who’d like to participate. Infants through
preschoolers don’t need to attend casting or weekly
rehearsals; just email Sarah if you’d like your child to
participate and we’ll have costumes ready for them! For
school-age children, please plan to attend the casting
rehearsal so we can match you with the best part for you
to play. If you can’t attend November 20, please email
Sarah so we know you want to be in the pageant, and
we’ll save you a role.
Rehearsals will be during Sunday School on
November 20 (casting), November 27 (optional),
December 4, and December 11, with a dress rehearsal
on Saturday afternoon, December 17. We’ll present
the pageant during 10 a.m. worship on Sunday, Decem-
ber 18. Have friends who might like acting? Invite them
to join you in the pageant! If you’re an adult who’d like
to participate or help with costumes, set, or rehearsals,
we welcome your assistance. Email Sarah Petersen to
volunteer or learn more. Join us in bringing this favorite
 The Daffodils Remain
by Rhonda Storm

There once was a house here.

My mother planted daffodils.

Rising from the damp cool earth,

They wore their Easter bonnets and
the sweetest scent of spice and must.
The smell of the Earth’s librarians.

Papery trumpets blast their tiny Easter hymns.

The daffodils keep the time.
Thalia, Actaea, and Poeticus come to play.
Professor Einstein, good to see you.
Our heads are bowed in thanks.

The soil is warm, lovely, inviting and sweet.

Lilacs blooms, and the daffodils rest.
A summer snow of cottonwoods falls
on the playground.
This is a snow day for clover chains.
We have dandelion butter on our noses.

My sister’s a dragon and I am a princess.

We run and climb the burled mulberry tree.
We pause for ballerinas, giving them hollyhock skirts
and rosebud hats
We chase swallowtails and put lightning bugs in a jar.

Through tall grass an aimless walk leads us into the yard.

The dragon attends to other business now.
The Paper Garden I’m not as a princess, just an old, old friend.
Stories and Arrangements by Rhonda Storm I stroke the trunk of the mulberry tree.
My first memories of flowers and gardening go back
to my childhood. We always had an unkempt but pro- Rain took the roof and
ductive vegetable garden, and I grew zinnias. The love time, the house
of gardening has never faded, but in recent years this But the daffodils remain.
pursuit became quite difficult because of an arthritic
hip and other health issues.
Missing the colors and working with plants, I
decided to recreate my beloved flowers in paper. I am
still at the beginning of my journey but am finding joy in
working with brilliantly colored crepe papers, bleaching
and manipulating tissue paper, sculpting and gluing,
working with wire, making arrangements, and telling
stories through paper flowers.
It’s fun! Please come and visit my little Narthex
Gallery show. I welcome the opportunity to introduce
you to paper flower making and the stories the works
have to tell.

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 “Ripples” Retreat
We had a wonderful time at “Ripples,” our First
Congregational Church of Evanston UCC Inter-
generational Retreat at Tower Hill Camp and Retreat
Center in Sawyer, Michigan, at the beginning of
October! Time spent in conversation, art making,
outdoor worship, hiking, playing, resting, singing, eating,
and sunset watching together made the weekend
meaningful and fun. Where do you see the “ripples”
continuing in your life?”

Save the Date: All-Church Christmas Party

on Saturday, December 3
Our festive All-Church Christmas Party returns on
Saturday, December 3, 1–3 p.m. We’ll have cocoa,
caroling, crafting, and a cookie exchange. Come join in
the fun! If you’d like to be a part of the planning group,
email Sarah Petersen.

Celebrating Carole Schumacher

A memorial service was held at
First Congregational Church on
Saturday morning, October 29,
for longtime member Carole
Schumacher, who passed away
on September 4. A joyful spirit,
Carole sang in our choir and had
a deep love for music and the
arts. A gifted painter and sketch
artist, she drew on her love of nature for much of her
best work. She was preceded in death by her husband,
Joseph, who owned a camera store that Carole sub-
sequently managed.

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November Birthdays
Beth Babbitt Borst • Shane Colton
Owen DeStefano • Jessica Don
Paul Janicki • David Lornson
Bennett Peterson • Nathan Sefton
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