First Congregational Church of

Evanston
United Church of Christ

An Open and Affirming Church

Founded 1869

Sunday, January 28th 2024 | 10 o’clock in the morning

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
 ORDER OF WORSHIP
Responses in italics may be spoken out loud.
Please rise, in body or in spirit, places marked by an asterisk (*).

Prelude I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light arr. Wayne L Wold

Introit Lord, You Give the Great Commission

Cyril Taylor / Jeffrey Rowthorn

Words of Welcome Paul Janicki

*Call to Worship
We come today for worship,
Giving thanks with whole heart
In the company of this congregation,
We worship the One who is gracious and merciful.
Holy and awesome is God’s name!
Let us worship God together! Amen! GOD’S COVENANT WITH ISRAEL

Guide
GuideMe,
Me, OO Thou Great Jehovah 65
#4 j
*Opening Hymn Thou Great Jehovah #65

& 4 œ œ œ . œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œœ
œ œ œ
1 Guide me, O thou great Je - ho - vah, pil - grim through this
2 O - pen now the crys - tal foun - tain, whence the heal - ing

œj œ
3 When I tread the verge of Jor - dan, bid my anx - ious

? # 44 œ œœ œœ . œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
# œ j
& œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ
œ œœ œœ œ . œ
bar - ren land. I am weak, but thou art might - y. Hold me
stream doth Let the and cloud - y pil - lar lead me

œj œ
fears sub - side. Death of death, and hell’s de - struc - tion, land me

? # œœ œœ œ œœ œ . œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

# œ œ jœ jœ
& œ œ œ œœ œœ œ
œœ .. œ œ œœ œœ .. œœ œ œ œœ
with thy power - ful hand. Bread of heav - en, bread of heav - en,
 ? # œœ œœ œ œœ œ . œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ

# œ œ j jœ
& œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ .. œ œœ
œ œ œ
œœ .. œ œ œ œœ
œ
with thy power - ful hand. Bread of heav - en, bread of heav - en,
all my jour - ney through. Strong de - liv - erer, strong de - liv - erer,

œ . œ œ œ œ œ œœ .. œ œœ œ œœ
? # œœ œœ œ œœ
safe on Ca - naan’s side. Songs of prais - es, songs of prais - es

œœ œ. œ œ œ œ
J J
# œ . œj œ œ w œ . j œ
& œ. œ œ œ œœ œ w œ . œ œœ œœ œ
œ œœ œœ
feed me till I want no more; feed me till I want no more.
be thou still my strength and shield; be thou still my strength and shield.

œœ .. œœ œœ œ œ œ w œ œœ .. œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ
I will ev - er give to thee; I will ev - er give to thee.

?# J œ œ œ wœ œ J œ œœ œ œ
*Prayer of FewConfession
Welsh hymns are as well known or loved as this 18th-century text that did not gain its popular tune
until the early 20th century. In both its original text and in English translation, it is a stirring hymn of
Gracious and Merciful God, maker of covenant, faithful and just, we examine
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
our lives in light
TEXT: William of1762;
Williams, your righteousness
stanza 1, which
trans. Peter Williams, 1771; stanzas endures
2–3, trans. forever.
William Williams, 1772 You
CWM give us
RHONDDA
MUSIC: John Hughes, 1907 8.7.8.7.8.7.7
commandments, raise up prophets among us from among our own people.
You speak to us, and ask us to become accountable. Yet often we ignore your
ways and disdain your works. We close ourselves to your prophets and to the
suffering in our world. Forgive us and renew us, that we may walk in
faithfulness with you today, tomorrow, and all days. 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 Mark 1: 21-28 Paul Janicki

Children’s Message

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements

Anthem Be Thou My Vision Bob Chilcott

Cara Collins, soloist

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, be all else but naught to me, save that
thou art; be thou my best thought in the day and the night, both waking and
sleeping, thy presence my light. Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word; be
thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord; be thou my great Gather, and I thy
true son; be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one. Be thou and thou only
the first in my heart; O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art; great heart
of my heart, whatever befall, still be thou my vision, ruler of all.
(Early Irish, tr. Mary Byrne,
819-beversified Eleanor Hull)
820-nothing.mus, Page 1
819-be 820-nothing.mus, Page 1
Sermon Scripture Jeremiah 7: 23-26
LIVING AND DYING IN CHRIST

Sermon
819LIVING AND DYING IN CHRIST
Be Still, MyRev.
“Functional Atheism”
Soul
Jason W. Coulter
819
b 4 Be Still, My Soul
j
& bb bb 44 ŒŒ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ .. œœ œœ œœ œœ .. œœj œœ ˙˙ ..
*Hymn Be Still, My Soul #819

& b4 œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ .. œœ œœ œœ œ .. œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
1 Be still, my œ soul: the Lord is on thy side.
21 Be still, my soul:
soul: thy
the God doth
Lord is un
on - thy - side.
der take

œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ .. œœ œœ œœ œ . œœ wœ ˙
32 Be still, my soul:
soul: the
thy hour doth
God is has - tening
un on
der - take

? b b 44 Œ œœ œœ ˙˙ .. œœ œ œ . œ w .
3 Be still, my soul: the hour is has - tening on

? b bb 4 Œ œ œ œ œJ œ ˙.
b J
b
& bb bbb ŒŒ œœ œœ œœœ ˙˙.. œœ œ œœ œœ .. œœjj ww
& œœ œœ œ ˙ . œœ œœœ œœ œœ .. œœ ww
Bear pa - tient - ly the cross of grief or pain.
Bear guide
to pa - tient
the - ly
fu - the cross
ture sure - of
ly grief
as or
the pain.
past.

? b b Œ œœ œ
œœœ
œ ˙˙ .. œ œ
œœ œœœ
œ . w
œœœ œœ. œœœœJ www
to
when guide the fu
we shall be - ture
for -sure
ev - ly
er as
with the
the past.
Lord;

œœœ ˙ ..
when we shall be for - ev - er with the Lord;

? b bb Œ œ
b J
b bbb Œ œ ˙. œœ œœ... œjj œ ˙˙ ..
&
&b b Œ œ œœ œœ ˙ . œœœ œœœ œ œ œ œ ˙.
 ? b Œ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ .. œ
œ
œœ œœ œ. œœ w
w
bb J

b b Œ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ .. œœ œœ .. œj œ ˙˙ ..
& b œ œœ œœ œ œ
Leave to thy God to or - der and pro - vide,
Thy hope, thy con - fi - dence let noth - ing shake;

œ œ œ œ. œ œ ˙.
when dis - ap - point - ment, grief, and fear are gone,

? b b Œ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ .
. œ œ
b œ œ . œJ œ ˙ .
b j
& b b Œ œœ n œœ œ A ˙˙ .. œ œ œœ œœ .. œ ww
œ
who through all chang - es faith - ful will re - main.
all now mys - te - rious shall be bright at last.

? bb Œ œ œ œ ˙. œœ œœ œœ œœ .. n œœ n ww
sor - row for - got, love’s pur - est joys re - stored.

˙.
819-be 820-nothing.mus, Page 2

b œ œ œ J
LIVING AND DYING IN CHRIST

b bb Œ œ œ œ ˙ . œœ œœ .. j
& œ œ œ ˙. œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
This meditative text seems to be rooted in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God,” while also
reaching forward to 1 Thessalonians 4:17b, “we will be with the Lord forever.” Much of the appeal of this
hymn comes from its tune, named for the tone poem on which it is based.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Katharina von Schlegel, 1752; trans. Jane Laurie Borthwick, 1855, alt. FINLANDIA
MUSIC: Jean Sibelius, Be still,
1899; arr. my 1933,
The Hymnal, soul:alt. thy best, thy heaven - ly Friend
10.10.10.10.10.10
Music Arr. © 1933, ren. 1961 Presbyterian Board of Christian Education (admin. Westminster John Knox Press)
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

? b b Œ A œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ .. œ œ œœ œœ .. œj œ ˙˙ ..
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

bœ œ œ J
6/7/13

bb œ œ
b
& œ œ n œœ œ A ˙˙ .. œœ œ œœ œœ .. œœj ww
through thorn - y ways leads to a joy - ful end.
his voice who ruled them while he dwelt be - low.

? b b œœ œ œ œ ˙. œ œ . œœ ww
all safe and bless - ed we shall meet at last.

œ œ
b œ œ œ ˙. œ œ œ œ. J

Nothing Can Trouble 820

j
Nada te turbe
& 44 œœj œœ œœ œœ j j œ œ œ
1

œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ
Noth - ing can trou - ble; noth - ing can fright - en. Those who seek
Na - da te tur - be, na - da te es - pan - te. Quien a Dios
Invitation to Offering Where True Charity and Love Dwell Kaye Saunders

Where true charity and love dwell, God is also there. Since the love of Christ
has joined us in one body, let us all be glad and rejoice now and always. And
as we love and serve our Lord, the living God, so let us with sincerity love
each other. Where true charity and love dwell, God is also there.
*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
We worship with our whole hearts, and give with our whole hearts,
remembering your covenant with us, O God. As we share these gifts, may
they be for the work of faithful justice and gracious mercy through your
church and in your world. 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.
722-lord speak to.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,
and DISCIPLESHIP AND
the glory, for MISSION
ever and ever. Amen.

722 Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak

#4
*Closing Hymn Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak #722

& 4 œ œœ # œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ œœ
œ
1 Lord, speak to me that I may speak in liv - ing
2 O lead me, Lord, that I may lead the wan - dering
3 O teach me, Lord, that I may teach the pre - cious
4 O fill me with your full - ness, Lord, un - til my
O use me, Lord, use e - ven me, just as you

œœ œ œ œœ œ
5

? # 44 œ œ œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ
œ œ œ œ

# œ œ
& œœ œœ œœ # œœ œ œ œœ
œ œ œ #œ œ
ech - oes of your tone. As you have sought, so
 ? # 44 œ œ œœ œœ œ œ œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ
œ œ œ œ

# œ œ
& œœ œœ œœ # œœ œ œ œœ
œ œ œ #œ œ
ech - oes of your tone. As you have sought, so
and the wa - vering feet. O feed me, Lord, that
truths which you im - part. And wing my words that
ver - y heart o’er - flow in kin - dling thought and

œœ œ nœ
will, and when, and where un - til your bless - ed

? # œœ # œœ œ œœ œ œ œœ # œœ
œ œ œ

#
& œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ
œ œœ ˙˙
œ
let me seek your err - ing chil - dren, lost and lone.
I may feed your hun - gering ones with man - na sweet.
they may reach the hid - den depths of man - y a heart.
glow - ing word, your love to tell, your praise to show.

œ œ # œœ œ œœ œœ ˙
face I see, your rest, your joy, your glo - ry share.

? # œœ œœ œ œ œ
œ
œœ
œ
œ œ ˙
*Benediction and Blessing

Choral Response Into Your World Roger Summers

Postlude Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovaharr. Paul Manz

Two great truths inform this text: first, that the testimony of experience is powerful and persuasive; and
second, that no one should venture to minister on one’s own strength rather than God’s. The tune reflects a
19th-century practice of adapting piano pieces as hymn tunes.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Worship Credits and
TEXT: Frances RidleySources:
Havergal, 1872, alt. CANONBURY
MUSIC: Robert Schumann, 1839, alt. LM
Call to Worship and Prayers from UCC Worship Ways
Music Permissions Houston: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light. Music: Kathleen Thomerson. © 1910, Celebration, admin. The Copyright Co. All rights reserved.
Setting: Wayne L. Wold. © 1998, Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Lord, You
Give the Great Commission. Music: Cyril Vincent Taylor, 1941. © 1942, ren. 1970, Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Words: Jeffery W. Rowthorn,
1978. © 1978, Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Cwm
Rhondda. Music: John Hughes. Setting: Hal H. Hopson. © 2016, Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-
735926. All rights reserved. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah. Music: John Hughes, 1907; Words: William Williams, 1762; stanza 1, trans. Peter Williams, 1771;
stanzas 2-3, trans. 6/24/13
William Williams, 1772. 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. Be Thou My Vision. Music: Slane; Words: Early Irish, tr. Mary Byrne,
versified Eleanor Hull; Setting: Bob Chilcott. © 2005, Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-
735926. All rights reserved. Be Still, My Soul. Music: Jean Sibelius, 1899; arr. The Hymnal, 1933, alt. © 1933, ren. 1961, Presbyterian Board of Christian Education
(admin. Westminster John Knox Press). All rights reserved. Words: Katharina von Schlegel, 1752; trans. Jane Laurie Borthwick, 1855, alt. Reprinted and Podcast with
permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Where True Charity and Love Dwell. Music: Kaye Saunders; Words: Ubi Caritas. © 2017, St. James
Music Press. Used with permission. License #23508. Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow. Music: Genevan Psalter, 1551; Words: Thomas Ken, 1695,
1709. Public Domain. Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak. Music: Robert Schumann, 1839, alt.; Words: Frances Ridley Havergal, 1872, alt. Public Domain. Into
Your World. 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. God of Grace. Music: Paul Manz. © 1974, Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Podcast
with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved.
Sunday Morning Service Roles:
Deacons: Lay Reader
- Bob Krause Paul Janicki
- Candy Heaphy
- Eda Uca

Livestream/Tech Support: Sunday School

- Gary Hardesty - Rhonda Storm
- Julie Captain - Liz Jones
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

Save the Date: Annual Meeting on February 4th

Save the date for our annual meeting, which takes place immediately after service on
Sunday, February 4. Childcare will be provided. We will elect FCCE's volunteer
leadership team for 2024 and pass an important resolution to modify the required
quorum for important congregational votes.

If you’ll be out of town or otherwise unable to attend, please complete the proxy form to
allow another member to vote on your behalf. The proxy form and additional meeting
materials will be available in late January.

Thank you for participating in this very important part of our congregational and
community life!

Support our Winter Clothing & Magazine Drive

Please donate your News Magazines, new men's black socks size Large
and EX Large, Gloves/Mittens Ex Large and Knit Hats- preferably
Black. Please bring them to the Sunday Service, (box in Coffee Hour area)
or contact Mahdia to drop off in Church Office
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 & 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!