Overflow with Hope – Rick and Brenda Beerhost

First Congregational Church of

Evanston
United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Church
Founded 1869
Sunday, July 23rd 2023 | 10 o’clock in the morning
Eighth Sunday After Pentecost
 ORDER OF WORSHIP
Responses in italics may be spoken out loud.
Please stand, if you wish, at places marked by an asterisk (*).

Prelude Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer J. Bert Carlson

Words of Welcome Mark Daniels

*Call to Worship
As we harvest our growing abundance in this time of mid-summer, may we relish in the
fruit of our labor,
As we harvest the fruitful seeds of nature and God’s Garden, let us share in the
bounty with our neighbors.
While we channel resources – water, light, fertile ground to the produce we desire in our
gardens,
May we also recognize that the weed, the rabbit, the caterpillar also has needs
for sustenance. 275-a mighty 276-sing.mus, Page 1
We have enough, and an attitude of plentifulness increases through sharing.
Let us praise God, the Author of the harvest, and Maker of heaven and earth.
Amen. JESUS CHRIST: ASCENSION AND REIGN

275
*Opening Hymn AA Mighty Fortress
Mighty Fortress Is Our
Is Our God #275 God

& œœ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ # œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
1 A might - y for - tress is our God, a bul - wark nev - er
2 Did we in our own strength con - fide, our striv - ing would be
3 And though this world, with dev - ils filled, should threat - en to un -

œ œ œœ
œœ œœ œœ œ
4 That word a - bove all earth - ly powers, no thanks to them, a -

? œœ œœ œ œœ œ œœ œ
œ œ
&œœœ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ # œœ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ
fail - ing. Our help - er he, a - mid the flood of
los - ing, were not the right man on our side, the
do us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his

œ œ œ
œœ œœ œœ
bid - eth. The Spir - it and the gifts are ours through

? œœ œ ˙˙ œœ œœ œ œ œ
œ
œ
& œœ œœ œœ œ œœœ œ .
œ œ œ ˙ œ œœ œ œœ # œœ œ ˙˙ . œ
 ? œœ œ ˙˙ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ
& œœ œ œ œ œœœ œ œœ œœ # œœ ˙ .
œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ ˙. œ
mor - tal ills pre - vail - ing. For still our an - cient foe doth
man of God’s own choos - ing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ
truth to tri - umph through us. The Prince of Dark - ness grim, we

? œœ œ œœ œ œ œ
œœ œœ œ ˙˙ ˙. œ
him who with us sid - eth. Let goods and kin - dred go, this

œœ œœ œ œ œ œ
œ ˙. œ
& œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ .. œœ œ œ
œ
œœ œ
œ œ ˙˙ ..
œœ
œ
seek to work us woe. His craft and power are great, and
Je - sus, it is he. Lord Sab - a - oth his name, from
trem - ble not for him. His rage we can en - dure, for

œ ˙.
? œœ œœ œœ œ œ ˙ . œœ
mor - tal life al - so. The bod - y they may kill; God’s

œœ œ # œ œ œœ œœ ˙.
275-a mighty 276-sing.mus, Page 2

˙. œ JESUSœCHRIST: ASCENSION AND REIGN

& œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ
˙˙ ..
Long before Isaac Watts began to Christianize the Psalms, Martin Luther had already done so when he

œ œœ ˙
created the text and tune for this, his most famous hymn, which is based on Psalm 46. Luther encouraged
metrical versions of psalms as well as chanted psalms and new hymns.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Martin Luther, 1529; trans. Frederick Henry Hedge, 1852 EIN’ FESTE BURG
MUSIC: Martin Luther, 1529, alt. 8.7.8.7.6.6.6.6.7
armed with cru - el hate, on earth is not his e - qual.
age to age the same, and he must win the bat - tle.
lo, his doom is sure. One lit - tle word shall fell him.

œ . b œj œ œ # ˙ . œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
truth a - bid - eth still. His king - dom is for - ev - er.

? œ ˙. œ œ ˙˙
œ œ # œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ
*Call to Confession -- Prayer of Confession
God of creation Sing a New
and plenty, it can Song
be easy unto
for usthe Lordthe abundant nature
to forget 276
love. We forget that there(Psalm 98) riches from this earth, enough to
# 3 G among D˙all your j
of your Refrain are
# ample

&your œ œ
4 ˙divineœ beauty, perfect specimens œ œ œ . of your œ ˙
œ holy vision œ for a
D dim Em Am7
share generously beloved children. We forget that we are all
created in
people who can love without bounds and celebrate the great diversity you

#
Sing a new song un - to the Lord; let your song be

œ our˙heartsœfrom˙the ˙ œWe confess

created. Guide us to give of that abundance, to receive with grace and
˙ . perceptionœof scarcity.
D G D 7/A G G D

&
gratitude, and to turn
that we fall short; and we ask that you show us ˙ the path again to your fruitful
garden where all things grow- andtain’sflourish. Amen.
# Dœdim
#
sung from moun high. Sing a new song

œ œ ˙ God’s œ ˙ œ œ ŒGod is
Œ
œ love overcomes˙ .human˙ sinfulness.
.
Em Am7 D7 G

& to generation,
Fine
*Words of Grace and Mercy
From generation
committed to fresh
un starts and newsing
creations.
- ing hal This
- le is- good -news!
# G we are forgiven!
- to the Lord, lu jah!
In Jesus Christ #

& ˙ ˙ œ
D 7/A Am/G D /F Em

œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ
1 Shout with glad - ness! Dance with joy! O come be -
 *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 139: 1-12, 23-24 Mark Daniels

Children’s Message Lucy Coulter

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements

Special Music “I’ll Fly Away” Traditional Arrangement

Lucy Coulter and Eleri Reyman
Some bright morning when this life is over, I'll fly away Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I'll fly away
To that home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away in the morning I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away in the morning
When I die hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away When I die hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone, I'll fly away Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly, I'll fly away To a land where joys will never end, I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away in the morning I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away in the morning
When I die hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away When I die hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away

630-fairest lord jesus.mus, Page 1

Sermon Scripture Romans 8: 18-25

Sermon ADORATION “Death Throes or Labor Pains?”Rev. Jason W. Coulter

630 Fairest Lord Jesus
bb 2
*Hymn Fairest Lord Jesus #630
b
& 2 ˙ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ œœ œœ œœ n œœ
˙ 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

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

? b b 22 œœ
4

b œ œ œ œ
b œ œ
& b b œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙˙ œ œ ˙˙ œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙˙
 ? b b 22 ˙˙ œœ œœ œ œœ ˙˙ œ œ
b 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

? b b œ œœ ˙˙ œ œ ˙ œ ˙˙ ˙˙
na - tions, Son of God and Son of

˙˙ ˙˙ œ
b œ œ œ
b bb ˙˙ œ œœ
n œ˙ œ ˙˙
& ww ˙ 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
& 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 œ œ ww
b œ ˙ ˙
Invitation toFranz
Offering
Liszt used this melody Verso in E March”
for a “Crusaders’ Minor Domenico
in an oratorio, but this hymn had nothing toZipoli
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.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*Doxology TEXT: Münster Gesangbuch, 1677; stanzas 1–3, trans. Church Chorals and Choir Studies, 1850, alt.; CRUSADERS’ HYMN
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
stanza 4, trans. Joseph August Seiss, 1873, alt.
MUSIC: Silesian folk melody; Schlesische Volkslieder, 1842
5.6.8.5.5.8

Praise Christ, all people here below;

Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, Triune whom we adore. Amen.
5/23/13
*Prayer of Dedication
We dedicate these resources to doing God’s work among God’s people. May
these gifts plant seeds of justice that yield God’s beloved kin-dom. May they
remind us to love ever more mercifully. May all walk humbly as we learn to
trod gently upon this earth. 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.
837-what a fellowship-593.mus, Page 1
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
TRUSTING IN THE PROMISES OF GOD
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine 837
What aLeaning on the Everlasting Arms #837
b
*Closing Hymn Fellowship, What a Joy Divine

& b b b 44 œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œ œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ œ œ œ .. œ œ .. œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
1 What a fel - low - ship, what a joy di - vine, lean - ing on the ev - er -
2 O how sweet to walk in this pil - grim way, lean - ing on the ev - er -

? b b b 44 œ œ œ . œ œ œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ œ œ œ . œ œ . œ
3 What have I to dread, what have I to fear, lean - ing on the ev - er -

b œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ. œ
b
& b b b œœ œœ ˙˙ œ œ
œ œ
œ. œ œ
œ. œ œ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ. œ œ
œ. œ œ
last - ing arms; what a bless - ed - ness, what a peace is mine,
last - ing arms; O how bright the path grows from day to day,

? b b b œ œ ˙˙ œ œ œ. œ œ œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ
last - ing arms? I have bless - ed peace with my Lord so near,

b œ œ œ. œ œ

bbbb œ ˙
œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ .. œœ œ
œ
Refrain

& ˙ ˙ ˙
œ ˙ ˙
Lean - ing,
lean - ing on the ev - er - last - ing arms.

? b b b œœ œœ œ . œ œ . œ œœ œœ ˙ œ œ. œ œ œ
Lean - ing on Je - sus,

b ˙
b
& b b b ˙˙ ˙˙ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙
˙
lean - ing, lean -
safe and se - cure from all a - larms;

œ œ .. œ œ œ œ œ . œ œ œœ œ œ ˙˙ œ œ . œ
lean - ing on Je - sus, lean - ing on

? bb œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ
bb
bb œ . œ œ . œ œœ œ ˙
&b b ˙
˙
˙˙ ˙
˙ œ œ
œ œ œ. œ œ. œ œ ˙
ing, lean - ing,

? bb œ œ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ . œ œ . œ œœ œœ ˙
lean - ing on the ev - er - last - ing arms.
Je - sus, lean - ing on Je - sus,

bb ˙
The composer of the tune (and creator of the refrain) asked the author of the stanzas to write a hymn based
on the latter part of Deuteronomy 33:27 (as worded in the King James Version): “Underneath are the
everlasting arms.” Their joint effort has proved very popular.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Elisha A. Hoffman, 1887 SHOWALTER
*Benediction and Blessing

Postlude Ancient Days (Hope of the World)Robert J. Hughes

Worship Credits and Sources:

The Call to Worship and Prayers were written by Dr. Sherry Warren who serves as Minister of Women’s and
Gender Justice for the National Ministries of the UCC. She loves to garden and grow things.

Cwm Rhondda: Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer. Music: John Hughes. Setting: J. Bert Carlson. © 1999,
Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights
reserved. Ein' Feste Burg. Music: Martin Luther. Setting: Hal H. Hopson. © 2016, Hope Publishing Company.
All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. A Mighty
Fortress Is Our God. Music: Martin Luther, 1529, alt.; Words: Martin Luther, 1529; trans. Frederick Henry
Hedge, 1852. 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. I'll Fly Away. Words and Music: Alfred Brumley. © 1932, Alfred Sacred. All rights reserved.
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. Verso in E
Minor. Music: Domenico Zipoli. Public Domain. Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow. Music:
Genevan Psalter, 1551; Words: Thomas Ken, 1695, 1709. Public Domain. What a Fellowship, What a
Joy Divine. Music: Anthony J. Showalter, 1887; Words: Elisha A. Hoffman, 1887. Public Domain. Ancient of
Days. Music: J. Albert Jeffery. Setting: Robert J. Hughes. © 1982, Lorenz Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved.

Sunday Morning Service Roles

Deacons: Lay Reader
- Bob Krause - Mark Daniels
- Doug Smith
- Mark Daniels
Livestream/Tech Support: Summer Spirit
- Gary Hardesty - Kelly Tran
- Julie Captain - Lucy Coulter
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
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 join Summer Spirit in the park
across from the Sanctuary.

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.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to fully engage
in our community. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about
accessibility, call the Church Office at 847-864-8332 or send an email to
mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org.

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 you are welcome to drop off infants to 3 year-olds with
our Nursery Supervisor.

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/

Church Staff
Rev. Jason W. Coulter, Senior Minister jason@firstchurchevanston.org | ext.21
Matthew Hogan, Music Director matthew@firstchurchevanston.org | ext. 23
Mahdia Lynn, Church Administrator mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org | ext. 22
Lucy Coulter, Summer Intern for Communications & Community Life
Kelly Tran, Nursery Supervisor
Chris Krei, Member at Large
Julie Captain and Sarah Pressly, Co-Moderators

Thank you to Worship, Music and Arts Committee for bringing today’s post-
service refreshments.

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!