Sermon on the Mount by Laura James

First Congregational Church of

Evanston
United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Church
Founded 1869

Sunday, January 29th 2023 | 10 o’clock in the morning

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
 ORDER OF WORSHIP
Responses in italics may be spoken out loud.
Please stand as you are able at places marked by an asterisk (*).

Prelude Be Now My Vision arr. Paul Manz

Introit With Joyful Singing, Praise God Franz Schubert

arr. Patrick M. Liebergen

Words of Welcome Lyn Ward Page

*Call to Worship
Come, let us walk in God’s ways.
Let us listen for God’s word.
We will dwell here in God’s tent.
We will sing God’s praises. 144-in the bleak.mus, Page 1
We gather in God’s embrace to worship the Divine One.
We will give thanks and express wonder for this miracle ofCHRIST:
JESUS life! BIRTH

In the Bleak Midwinter 144

j œ j
*Opening Hymn In the Bleak Midwinter
#144

& b 44 œœ œœ .. œ œ œ ˙˙ œœ Œ œœ . œœ œœ œ ˙ . Œ
œ
œ . œ ˙.
1 In the bleak mid - win - ter, frost - y wind made moan;
2 Our God, heaven can - not hold him, nor earth sus - tain;
3 An - gels and arch - an - gels may have gath - ered there;

œ œœ .. œœ œœ œ ˙ œ œ. j
4 What can I give him, poor as I am?

? b 44 œ
J ˙ œ Œ œ. œœ œœ œ ˙ œœ Œ
J œ ˙
j œ j Œ
b œ
& œœ .. œ œ œ
œ
.
œœ . œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ .. œj ˙ . Œ
J
earth stood hard as i - ron, wa - ter like a stone;
heaven and earth shall flee a - way when he comes to reign:
cher - u - bim and ser - a - phim thronged the air;

œ œ œ .. œ œ œ œ œ . œœ ˙˙ ..
? b œ . œJ œ
If I were a shep - herd, I would bring a lamb;

œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ. J Œ
J
b œ . j œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ
& œ. œ œ bœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙˙ ..
snow had fall - en, snow on snow, snow on snow,
 œ œ œ .. œ œ œ œ œ . œœ ˙˙ ..
? b œ . œJ œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ. J Œ
J
j œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
& œ . œœ œœ b œœ
b œ .
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙˙ ..
snow had fall - en, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak mid - win - ter a sta - ble place suf - ficed
but his moth - er on - ly, in her maid - en bliss,

? œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙˙ .
if I were a wise man, I would do my part;

b J œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ .
j œ j
& b œœ œœ .. œœ œ œ
œ ˙˙ œœ Œ œ˙ œ œœ .. œJ ww
Πin the bleak mid - win - ter, long a - go.

Πwor - shiped the be - lov - ed

the Lord God in - car - nate, Je - sus Christ.
with a kiss.

œ. œœ œœ œ ˙˙ œœ Œ ˙ œ . œœ ww
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

? œ
œ. J
b J ˙
Though this text describes winter weather in England rather than in Palestine, the poet is using familiar
surroundings as a means of making the Nativity more immediate and personal. The tune name honors a
*Prayer of Confession
Gloucestershire village near the composer’s birthplace in Cheltenham.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
God of compassion,
TEXT: Christina Rossetti, c. 1872,we
alt. are overwhelmed by the struggles of life.CRANHAM We hunger
MUSIC: Gustav Holst, 1906 Irregular
and thirst for righteousness, but find ourselves feeling empty. We grieve in
seasons of loss, feeling hopeless and lost. We want to show mercy, but we
hold on to old resentments. We want to make peace, but we don’t even know
where to begin. Come with your wisdom and guide us in your ways. Renew
us and inspire us to live faithfully, as you walk beside us. Amen.

*Words of Grace and Mercy

From generation to generation, God’s love overcomes human sinfulness. God is
committed to fresh starts and new creations. This is good news!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

*Prayer Response
(Hymn 327, stanza 3)
Eternal are thy mercies, Lord; eternal truth attends thy word:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
till suns shall rise and set no more.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
First Scripture Psalm 46 Lyn Ward Page

Children’s Message Sarah Petersen

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements

Anthem Offertory John Ness Beck

With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, shall I come before Him with
yearling calves? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten
thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give Him my firstborn for my transgressions, the
fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man; He has
shown you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do
justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6: 6-8)

Sermon Scripture Matthew 6: 25-34

Sermon “Which Jesus?” Rev. Jason W. Coulter

*Hymn I Heard My Mother Say (insert)

Invitation to Offering Blest Are They arr. Charles L. Lenz

*Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, Triune whom we adore. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication
Just God, we share our humble offering in hope and trust that, through these
gifts, your kingdom comes and your will is done. Amen.
Prayers of the People - Pastoral Prayer - Silent Prayer

Prayer of Our Savior

Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For630-fairest
thine islord
thejesus.mus,
kingdom, Page
and1 the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
ADORATION

630
*Closing Hymn Fairest Lord Jesus #630
Fairest Lord Jesus
b bb 2
& 2 ˙ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ œœ œœ œœ n œœ
˙
1 Fair - est Lord Je - sus, Rul - er of all
2 Fair are the mead - ows, fair - er still the
3 Fair is the sun - shine, fair - er still the

œ œ œ œ œ
? b b 22 ˙˙ œœ œœ ˙˙
Beau - ti - ful Sav - ior, Rul - er of the

œœ
4

b œ œ œ œ œ
b œ œ
& b b œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙
˙ œ œ
˙
˙ œœ œœ ˙
˙ ˙˙
na - ture, O thou of God to earth come
wood - lands, robed in the bloom - ing garb of
moon - light, and all the twink - ling, star - ry

œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ œ ˙˙ ˙˙
na - tions, Son of God and Son of

? bb ˙˙ ˙˙
b œ œ ˙ œ œ œ

b bb ˙˙ œ œœ
& ww œ n œ˙ œ ˙˙ ˙
˙
œ œ
œ œ
down, thee will I cher - ish, thee will I
spring. Je - sus is fair - er; Je - sus is
host. Je - sus shines bright - er; Je - sus shines

? b b ww ˙ œ œ ˙˙
Man! Glo - ry and hon - or, praise, ad - o -

˙ ˙ n œ œœ
b ˙ œ œ ˙ œ
b bb œ œœ
& ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙˙ ww
hon - or, thou, my soul’s glo - ry, joy, and crown.
pur - er, who makes the woe - ful heart to sing.
 ? b w ˙ œ œ ˙
˙ ˙ ˙ nœ œ
bb w ˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ
b
& b b œ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙˙ ww
hon - or, thou, my soul’s glo - ry, joy, and crown.
pur - er, who makes the woe - ful heart to sing.
pur - er, than all the an - gels heaven can boast.

œ bœ œ
œ œœ
œ ˙ œ œ
ra - tion, now and for - ev - er - more be thine!

? b b ˙˙ œ ww
b œ œ œ ˙ ˙
*Benediction and Blessing
Franz Liszt used this melody for a “Crusaders’ March” in an oratorio, but this hymn had nothing to do with
the Crusades. No record of the German text exists before the middle of the 17th century or of the Silesian
folk melody before the first half of the 19th century.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Choral Response Amen
TEXT: Münster Gesangbuch, 1677; stanzas 1–3, trans. Church Chorals and Choir Studies, 1850, alt.; John Rutter
CRUSADERS’ HYMN
stanza 4, trans. Joseph August Seiss, 1873, alt. 5.6.8.5.5.8
MUSIC: Silesian folk melody; Schlesische Volkslieder, 1842
Postlude Postlude in Bb Major Douglas E. Wagner

5/23/13
Sunday Morning Service Roles
Deacons: Lay Reader: iPad/Tech Support:
- Laima Day - Lyn Ward Page - Julie Captain
- Doug Smith
- Bob Krause
Zoom/Livestream Fellowship: Sunday School
Support: - Board of - Barbara Bright
- Sarah Pressly Deacons Sarah B.
Petersen
Want to volunteer and get more involved in Sunday services? See the sign-up sheet in
the back of the sanctuary or contact Mahdia at mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org

Worship Credits and Sources:

Call to Worship and Prayers by Rev. Mary Petrina Boyd from the Abingdon Worship Annual 2023.

Music Permissions Be Thou My Vision. Setting: Paul Manz. © 1992, MorningStar Music Publishers.
All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights
reserved. With Joyful Singing, Praise God. Music: Franz Schubert; Words: Patrick M. Liebergen
(ASCAP); Setting: Patrick M. Liebergen (ASCAP). © 2014, Candelaworks Music (ASCAP), a division
of Jubilate Music Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE
LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. In the Bleak Midwinter. Music: Gustav Holst, 1906; Words:
Christina Rossetti, c. 1872, alt. Public Domain. From All That Dwell Below the Skies. Music:
Geistliche Kirchengesang, 1623, alt.; harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906; Words: Stanzas 1, 3,
Issac Watts, 1719. Public Domain. Offertory. Music: John Ness Beck. © 1987, Beckenhorst Press,
Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights
reserved. Blest Are They. Music: David Haas. © 1985, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Setting: Charles L. Lenz. © 2013, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission
under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.
Music: Genevan Psalter, 1551; Words: Thomas Ken, 1695, 1709. Public Domain. I Heard My Mother
Say. Words and Music: African-American Traditional; Harmonization: Joyce Finch Johnson, 1992. ©
1993, The Pilgrim Press. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE
LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Fairest Lord Jesus. Music: Silesian folk melody;
Schlesische Volkslieder, 1842; Munster Gesangbuch, 1677; stanzas 1-3, trans. Church Chorals and
Choir Studies, 1850, alt; stanza 4, trans. Joseph August Seiss, 1873, alt. Public Domain. Amen.
Music: John Rutter. © 1981, Oxford University Press, Admin. Hinshaw Music, Inc. All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Postlude. Music:
Douglas E. Wagner. © 1994 and this Arr. © 2016, Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved.
 Annual Meeting

Gather with the congregation in the sanctuary immediately after

worship on Feb. 5th for the Annual Congregational Meeting. Hear
reports from church leadership and vote on our new slate of members
for boards and committees.

Sponsor Flowers for Sunday!

Announcing an opportunity to sponsor flowers for a

Sunday service. This has been true forever but since it
is the beginning of a new year, we want to bring it to
your attention again. You may sign up to
have flowers placed on the altar in honor of or in
memory of a loved one. While you may bring in a
bouquet and place it on the altar yourself,
the alternative is to pay $35 and a member of the
flower committee will purchase the flowers and
arrange them for the altar.

For the next few Sundays, Candy will be available during coffee hour with a sign-up
sheet and to answer any questions. Later, we will coordinate with Mahdia if it is easier
for you to contact her.

Tuesday Bible Study

In the new year, we continue our study of the Book of Genesis,
picking up at chapter 12 where we meet Father Abraham and get
introduced to the great patriarchs of old. Join us on Zoom every
other Tuesday night at 7:30pm for this six-part study of Genesis,
starting on January 24th. Visit the website or contact Mahdia in the
Church Office at mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org for details on
how to get involved.
Welcome to First Congregational Church of Evanston, UCC

We are glad you chose to be with us on this Sunday morning!

And we want you to know that no matter who you are, or where
you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

Childcare is provided in the downstairs nursery for infants and

children to age 5. The space at the back of the Sanctuary
available for our families. Children K-6 are invited to Sunday School in the Church
House after the Children’s Message.

Please sign the Attendance Pads in the pews. We invite our visitors to include your
name, address and email so that we might acknowledge your visit with a card. All are
welcome to join us after services in the narthex or outside for refreshments and
conversation.

Babies and Toddlers: Little ones enrich our community and add vibrancy
to our congregation. Please don't fret about coos or cries during the
service. All ages are welcome here. Visit our rocking chair area to find
books & coloring pages for use during the service, or drop off infants to 3
year-olds with our Nursery Supervisor.

Children: Young people are invited to come forward for the Children's Message during
worship. Afterwards, children in grades K-6th are welcome to walk with our teacher
team to our Sunday School classroom at the Church House, 1/2 block down Hinman
Ave. At the end of the service, leaders bring children back to the sanctuary to join their
families for fellowship time. Adult visitors are welcome to accompany their children to
Sunday School. Connect with Sarah Petersen if you have any questions.

Use this QR Code to check out events and ongoing programming at

FCCE.
 WELCOME to First Congregational Church of Evanston

Mission Statement
We express God’s love in action, compassion, and justice.

Open and Affirming Statement

As an inclusive congregation, we welcome all faith experiences and family types; we
are an open and affirming community of faith who welcome and celebrate differences
of age, ability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and national
origin.

Immigrant Welcoming Statement

We commit to take actions consistent with the values and resources of our community
to oppose xenophobia and to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation and
the hardships such deportation will cause them and their families.

First Congregational Church of Evanston, UCC

Sanctuary: 1445 Hinman Avenue (at Grove Street)
Mailing address: 1417 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: 847-864-8332 | Email: info@firstchurchevanston.org
Website: www.firstchurchevanston.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/firstcongregationalchurchofevanston/
Instagram: @fcce.ucc

Church Staff
Rev. Jason W. Coulter, Senior Minister jason@firstchurchevanston.org | ext.21
Matthew Hogan, Music Director matthew@firstchurchevanston.org | ext. 23
Sarah Petersen, Director of Learning & Outreach
spetersen@firstchurchevanston.org |ext. 24
Mahdia Lynn, Church Administrator mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org | ext. 22
Kelly Tran, Nursery Supervisor
Chris Krei and Nick Tucker, Members at Large
Julie Captain and Sarah Pressly, Co-Moderators

Chancel Choir Quartet

Christina Adams, soprano | Hannah Little, alto
Michael Brauer, tenor | Joseph Roberts, bass

To make a donation to First Congregational Church you may do so during

the offering, or you may make an electronic donation through the church
website by using this QR Code. Thank you for your generosity!