First Congregational Church of

Evanston
United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Church
Founded 1869
Sunday, September 24th 2023 | 10 o’clock in the morning
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
Church History Sunday
 ORDER OF WORSHIP
Responses in italics may be spoken out loud.
Please rise, in body or in spirit, at places marked by an asterisk (*).

Prelude How Firm a Foundation arr. Dale Wood

Introit Come Worship God Alone Roger Summers

Words of Welcome Tom Snider

*Call to Worship
Bless the name of the Holy and Sovereign One forever and ever!
Great is our God and greatly to be praised.
Bless the name of the Holy and Sovereign One forever and ever!
This generation will tell the next generation so they may tell the next generation
of God’s magnificent and mighty acts. 299-you servants of.mus, Page 1
Bless the name of the Holy and Sovereign One forever and ever!
We declare the abundant goodness, gracious righteousness, and holy love of
THE CHURCH
our God. Praise the Holy One!
299 You Servants of God, Your
*Opening Hymn You Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim #299
Master Proclaim
#3 œ œ œ
& 4 œ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ œ œ œ œœ ˙˙
œ œ
1 You ser - vants of God, your Mas - ter pro - claim,
2 As - cend - ed on high, al - might - y to save,
3 “Sal - va - tion to God, who sits on the throne!”

? # 43 œ œ œœ œœ ˙ œœ œœ œ œœ ˙
4 Then let us a - dore and give him his right:

œ œ œ ˙
#
& œœ œœ œœ # œœ ˙˙ œœ œœ œœ œœ # œœ ˙
and pub - lish a - broad Christ’s won - der - ful name.
he still re - mains nigh; his pres - ence we have.
Let all cry a - loud and hon - or the Son.

? # œœ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ œ œ œ œ ˙˙
all glo - ry and power, all wis - dom and might,

œ œ œ œ
# œœ œ œ ˙
& # œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œœ œ ˙
#œ
The name all vic - to - rious of Je - sus ex - tol,
The great con - gre - ga - tion his tri - umph shall sing,
 ? # œœ œ œœ œœ ˙ œ œ ˙˙
˙ œ œ œ
œ
# œ ˙
& # œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ
œ œ œ #œ ˙
The name all vic - to - rious of Je - sus ex - tol,
The great con - gre - ga - tion his tri - umph shall sing,
The prais - es of Je - sus the an - gels pro - claim,

œ œ
? # œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ
all hon - or and bless - ing, with an - gels a - bove,

œ #œ œ ˙˙
# œ
& œ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œœ œœ ˙˙
œ œœ œ
whose king - dom is glo - rious, who rules o - ver all.
as - crib - ing sal - va - tion to Je - sus our King.
fall down on their fac - es, and wor - ship the Lamb.

?# œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙
and thanks nev - er ceas - ing, and in - fi - nite love!

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ ˙
This hymn resembles many 18th-century drawings that show parallels between worship on earth and
worship in heaven, especially as described in Revelation 7:9–11. This 18th-century tune has had many names;
*Call to Confession -- Prayer of Confession
the one used here honors the dynasty of British monarchs, 1714–1901.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GraciousTEXT: and forgiving
Charles Wesley, 1744, alt. God, we have been the recipients of so many HANOVER
MUSIC: Anon.; A Supplement to the New Version of the Psalms, 1708 10.10.11.11
blessings. We have been bequeathed by our ancestors with the gift of the
church. Yet instead of receiving this gift as a blessing, we bear it as a burden.
We complain about the work involved in maintaining the church. We lament
the lack4/10/13
of involvement from others. We bemoan the budget and belabor our
service. Forgive us, O God. Help us to see the light that is still breaking forth
from this community in Christ. Free us from our stale cynicism and help us to
live into the hope that you promise to those who follow in the way of your
Son. We pray today in the name of the one who gave life to the church, Jesus
the Christ. 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 90: 1-6, 10-12 Tom Snider

Children’s Message Rev. Liz Jones

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements

Anthem How Can I Keep From Singing? Cliff Brock

Cara Collins and Michael Brauer, soloists

My life flows on, in endless song: above earth's lamentation, I catch the sweet,
tho' far off hymn that hails a new creation. No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging; since Love is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I
keep from singing? Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing;
it finds an echo in my soul; how can I keep from singing? No storm can shake my
inmost calm, while to that rock I'm clinging; since Christ is Lord of heaven and
earth, how can I keep from singing? The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a
fountain ever springing! All things are mine since I am his! How can I keep from
singing? No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to that rock I'm clinging;
since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
(Robert Lowry)

Sermon Scripture Matthew 1: 1-17 or so… 320-the church of.mus, Page 1

Sermon “From Generation to Generation” Rev. Jason W. Coulter

THE CHURCH

*Hymn
320TheThe
Church of Christ in Every Age #320
Church of Christ in Every Age
### 3 œœ œ˙ œ œœ
& 4 œœ œ˙ œ œœ ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ #œ
œ
1 The church of Christ in ev - ery age, be - set by
2 A - cross the world, a - cross the street, the vic - tims
3 Then let the ser - vant church a - rise, a car - ing
4 For Christ a - lone, whose blood was shed, can cure the

œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙ œœ œ œœ œœ œ
5 We have no mis - sion but to serve in full o -

? # # # 43 œ ˙ œ ˙˙
œ
œ ˙ ˙

###
& œ˙ œ œœ œ˙ œ # œœ ˙ œ œœ œ œœ œ ˙˙ œœ
change but Spir - it - led, must claim and test its
of in - jus - tice cry for shel - ter and for
church that longs to be a part - ner in Christ’s
 ? ### 3 œ ˙ œ ˙˙ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ
4 œ ˙ œ ˙

###
& œ˙ œ œœ œ˙ œ œ
#œ ˙ œ œœ œ œœ œ ˙˙ œœ
change but Spir - it - led, must claim and test its
of in - jus - tice cry for shel - ter and for
church that longs to be a part - ner in Christ’s
fe - ver in our blood, and teach us how to

œ
? # # # œœ œœ œ œ œ œ ˙
be - dience to our Lord: to care for all, with -

˙˙ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ̇ œ œ œ œ œ
œ
###
& ˙ œœ ˙˙ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙
˙
her - i - tage and keep on ris - ing from the dead.
bread to eat, and nev - er live be - fore they die.
sac - ri - fice, and clothed in Christ’s hu - man - i - ty.
share our bread and feed the starv - ing mul - ti - tude.

? # # # ˙˙ œœ ˙ œœ ˙œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙
out re - serve, and spread Christ’s lib - er - at - ing word.

œ œ œ ˙

Invitation to Offering Love is the Spirit of This Church Thomas Matthews

*Doxology In this challenging text by a British Methodist minister, the odd-numbered stanzas develop the image of
Praise God, “thefrom whom
servant church,” whileall blessings
the second flow;
surveys the many needs and the fourth describes the true source of
strength for the task.
Praise Christ, all people here below;
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Fred Pratt Green, 1969 WAREHAM
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
MUSIC: William Knapp, 1738
Text © 1971 Hope Publishing Company
LM

One God, Triune whom we adore. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication
4/10/13
Great God, please receive our gifts for the glory of your name and the
blessing of your people. May we be dedicated stewards of your abundance
and use these gifts for the benefit of your kindom. 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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
 THE CHURCH

TheChurch’s
Church’s One Foundation 321
## 4
*Closing Hymn The One Foundation #321

& 4 œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ œœ œ œ œ œ ˙.
œœ œ œ œ ˙.
1 The chur - ch’s one foun - da - tion is Je - sus Christ her Lord.
2 E - lect from ev - ery na - tion, yet one o’er all the earth,
3 Though with a scorn - ful won - der this world sees her op - pressed,
4 Mid toil and trib - u - la - tion, and tu - mult of her war,

? # # 44 œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙ œ œ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
Yet she on earth has un - ion with God, the Three in One,

œ
5

˙ œ œ œ œ
## œ œ œ ˙
& œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ ˙˙ ..
œ œ œ ˙ œ
She is his new cre - a - tion by wa - ter and the word.
her char - ter of sal - va - tion: one Lord, one faith, one birth.
by schis - ms rent a - sun - der, by her - e - sies dis - tressed,

# ˙ œ œ œ œ œœ # œ ˙ .
she waits the con - sum - ma - tion of peace for - ev - er - more:

? # # œœ œœ œœ # œœ œ
and mys - tic sweet com - mu - nion with those whose rest is won:

œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
## œ œ . j
& œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
˙ œ œ œ . œ œœ œ ˙˙ ..
˙ œ
From heaven he came and sought her to be his ho - ly bride.
One ho - ly name she bless - es, par - takes one ho - ly food,
yet saints their watch are keep - ing; their cry goes up: “How long?”
till with the vi - sion glo - rious her long - ing eyes are blest,

? ## œ œœ œœ œœ œ ˙ œœ œ œœ .. # œœ œ œ ˙˙ .
O hap - py ones and ho - ly! Lord, give us grace that we,

œ œ œ # œ .
J
##
& œ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
˙
With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.
and to one hope she press - es, with ev - ery grace en - dued.
And soon the night of weep - ing shall be the morn of song.
and the great church vic - to - rious shall be the church at rest.

? # # œœ œœ œœ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙˙ ..
like them, the meek and low - ly, may live e - ter - nal - ly.

œ œ ˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ
This hymn was one of twelve written by an English curate to affirm the articles of the Apostles’ Creed with
biblical allusions such as 1 Corinthians 3:11 here. Though not created for this text, the tune was joined to it in
*Benediction and Blessing
1868, and the two have been inseparable ever since.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Samuel John Stone, 1866, alt. AURELIA
MUSIC: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864 7.6.7.6.D
Choral Response Amen Leon Roberts
Postlude A Trumpet Fancy Leon Nelson

Worship Credits and Sources:

Call to Worship by the Rev. Cheryl A. Lindsey of UCC Worship Ways. Confession by Rev. Jason Coulter

Music Permissions How Firm a Foundation. Music: Early American Tune. Setting: Dale Wood. © 2001, The Sacred Music Press. All
rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Come Worship God Alone. Words
and Music: Roger Summers. © 2005, The Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation. All rights reserved.
Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. You Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim. Music:
Anon.; A Supplement to the New Version of the Psalms, 1708; Words: Charles Wesley, 1744, alt. Public Domain. Hanover. Music:
William Croft. Setting: Noel Rawsthorne. © 1991, Kevin Mayhew Ltd. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission
under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. 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. How Can I Keep from
Singing? Music: Cliff Brock. Words: Robert Lowry. © 2017, St. James Music Press. Used with permission. License #23508. The
Church of Christ in Every Age. Music: William Knapp, 1738; Words: Fred Pratt Green, 1969. © 1971, Hope Publishing Company. All
rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Love Is The Spirit of
This Church. Music: Thomas Matthews. Words: James Villa Blake. © 1984, H.T. FitzSimons Company. All rights reserved.
Reprinted and 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. The Church's One Foundation. Music:
Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864; Words: Samuel John Stone, 1866, alt. Public Domain. Aurelia. Music: Samuel S. Wesley, 1864;
Words: Samuel J. Stone, 1866; Setting: Charles H, Webb Jr. © 2013, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. All rights reserved.
Used by permission. Amen. Music: Leon Roberts, 1981; arr. Hanan Yaqub, 1998; Words: Traditional liturgical text. © 1981, GIA
Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights
reserved. A Trumpet Fancy. Music: Leon Nelson. © 2008, Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission
under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved.

Sunday Morning Service Roles:

Deacons: Lay Reader
- Nick Tucker - Tom Snider
- Candy Heaphy
- Doug Irwin
Livestream/Tech Support: Sunday School
- Gary Hardesty - Linda Krei
- Julie Captain - Ashley King
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
Congregational Meeting October 1st after Service
On Sunday, October 1 there will be a congregational meeting after worship.
The meeting will be informational in nature and consist of:

• Updates from the Becoming the Church Task Force

• A report on our communications rebranding, including the new logo and
website
• News from the Anti-Racism Task Force about the reparations work and
plans for 2024

It’s Time for FCCE’s Annual Diaper

Drive!
The 2023 FCCE Diaper Drive is now underway!

Please bring your donations of diapers, pull-ups and wipes to

the boxes in the Narthex on Sunday mornings, from October
1st through November 5th. Our recipient groups are Childcare Network and Learning Bridge, two
organizations in Evanston with many clients who will appreciate your generosity.

Sizes requested by Learning Bridge are diapers in sizes 4, 5, and 6 and pull-ups in sizes 5 and 6.
They would also really like packages of wipes for parents to use! Childcare Network also requests
diapers in sizes 4,5 and 6, pull-ups in any size ranges and packages of wipes.

Thank you in advance for your contributions to the children and families of our recipient groups!
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 4. The space at the back of the
Sanctuary available for our families. Children K-6 are invited to Sunday School in the
First Congregational Community Center after the Children’s Message.

Visitors: We are delighted that you are joining us for worship. Please sign the
Welcome Book at the back of the sanctuary. 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 fellowship space 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 you are welcome to drop off infants to 4 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 Community Center, 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 Rev. Liz Jones 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/
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
Rev. Liz Jones, Minister of Communications & Community Life |
liz@firstchurchevanston.org
Dave Canfield, Student Pastor | dave@firstchurchevanston.org
Jordan Griffin, Justice Fellow | jordan@firstchurchevanston.org
Kelly Tran, Nursery Supervisor
Julie Captain and Sarah Pressly, Co-Moderators

Chancel Choir Quartet

Cara Collins, soprano | Christina Adams, alto
Michael Brauer, tenor | Joseph Roberts, bass
Please join us immediately following today’s service for fellowship and
refreshments, along with the Artifacts and Memorabilia Sale in the Narthex
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!