Presbytery Approves FPCE Mission Study

Olga Ricketts-Peart (FPCE member) and Judy Hockenberry, the Chicago Presbytery Committee on Missions co-liaisons, contacted First Pres Interim Senior Pastor Tassie Green on Tuesday to report the church's Mission Study has been approved. They congratulated the church for "the succinct and well-crafted Mission Study" and gave the committee's approval for moving forward with the search for a new senior pastor.

The next step will be for the current FPCE Nominating Committee to bring forward a slate of candidates for the Pastoral Nominating Committee. It is hoped these names will be presented to Session at its October 22 meeting, and then presented for approval by the congregation at the November 10 meeting to elect officers, which will take place immediately after our Sunday worship service on that date (see below for more details on that meeting).

Sunday Worship Service

The Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

World Communion Sunday

October 13 | 9:30 a.m.

"Do Unto Others: Kindness"

Rev. Dr. Tassie Green, Interim Senior Pastor

Luke 6:31-36

In person and online!

Download Bulletin

Deacons’ Offering Collected Again Sunday 

The Deacons’ Offering, which we collect every other month, will be taken Sunday morning. Please use the envelopes included with the bulletin to designate this donation. These funds provide for the wide variety of ministries performed by the Deacons here at First Pres. Donations can also be made online using the dropdown menu and selecting "Deacon Donations - General."

Pie-osity is coming November 3! 

What is Pie-osity? It's a celebration of God's abundance to us and, as an extension of that, our bearing good fruit in our lives and out in the world. Following our Stewardship pledging during the November 3 worship and communion service, all are invited to take part in an Agape meal up in the dining room where we will partake in all kinds of pies (including gluten free offerings, too)! Our 2025 Stewardship Campaign's theme is "Disciples Bear Fruit" and we will rejoice in our great God after honoring the goodness we have received by giving back through our pledges. Learn about our Stewardship campaign here.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Helping Hurricane Victims

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene inflicted devastation across the Southeastern United States, the region is taking another unprecedented hit from Hurricane Milton. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (https://pda.pcusa.org/) is seeking donations to help in its efforts to care for communities adversely affected by crises and catastrophic events.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is the emergency and refugee program of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. The core budget, including staff and administrative costs, is funded through the One Great Hour of Sharing, and its program work is additionally funded through designated gifts.

To support PDA's efforts in assisting those impacted by disasters in the USA, scan the QR code shown here, or visit: https://pda.pcusa.org/situations/national/.

In addition to responding to national disasters, PDA offers assistance internationally in response to natural and man-made disasters and refugee crises.

Pocket Crosses to share

with overseas Partners

We are making pocket crosses to share with partners in parts of the world where it is not legal to be a Christian. These small pocket crosses go through security without a problem and have nothing visible on the outside to reveal what is inside. Supplies and instructions are available near the front desk on a stand or in the closet. Here is a video to see some possibilities for creating this. Make the pocket as simple or as complex as you like! Then return them to the front desk as you make them. Some are needed by October 20 and the rest by November 20. Thank you!!! Contact Caryl Weinberg with questions. 

'Do Unto Others' Teaching Series Journal Available



Beginning this Sunday, we begin a new worship teaching series entitled "Do Unto Others."

Our world seems to be consumed with division (often typified in the colors red and blue. Rather than stay in our monochromatic silos, the Golden Rule in Scripture challenges us to engage in conversation and seek to create whatever common good we can with our relatives, friends, and neighbors who we might consider to be on the “other side” politically and ideologically. As we attempt to come together, the idea is not that we are obliterating either one or trying to change each other, but rather we discover the beauty that can be created when we work together to make the world a better place. The “purple space” is where we cultivate kindness, compassion, humility, respect, and love for one another and for the good of all the world, no matter what.

If you are interested in a guided meditation journal to use throughout the series, click here to download for use digitally or to print. 

Mission Prayers

Please pray for the family of Michael Weller, PC(USA) mission worker who passed away this week.

Please pray for the family of Michael Weller, a mission co-worker of PC(USA) serving in Ethiopia, who passed away on October 6. Michael and his wife Rachel and their four children lived in Ethiopia beginning in the middle 1990s, serving until about three years ago when he was diagnosed with cancer. They were co-workers of FPCE Director of Missions Caryl Weinberg, though each lived in different parts of Ethiopia. Michael was a pastor, teacher, and mentor, who loved the Lord and loved his people deeply. He taught scripture to unreached people through the use of stories, and by living with them—even in huts away from his family—for months at a time. Many Ethiopians attribute their faith and their knowledge of Jesus and the Bible to Michael. Testimonies to his ministry are coming in from church leaders, members, and co-workers from throughout Ethiopia. Michael was here in Chicago last year and spoke at the Ethiopia Network hosted by First Presbyterian Evanston. Please pray for Rachel, and their children, Brian, Thomas, Amira, and Lydia. Pray that the Lord will meet them and hide them in the shelter of God’s wings. Pray that they and many others will be comforted even as they are assured that Michael is now with Jesus.