Sunday, September 1

10:00 AM Combined Communion Worship (Sanctuary)

11:00 AM Social Hour (Social Hall)

Monday, September 2

Labor Day

Church Office Closed

Tuesday, September 3

7:00 AM Men's Bible Study (Zoom)

Wednesday, September 4

7:30 AM Breakfast & Bible (Zoom)

4:00 PM PADS Food Donation Drop-off (Sanctuary Narthex)

Thursday, September 5

4:30 PM Cherub Choir (Chapel)

6:00 PM Chapel Music Team (Chapel)

6:30 PM Motet Choir (Sanctuary)

7:30 PM Chancel Choir (Sanctuary)

Saturday, September 7

8:30 AM God’s Gardeners (Winchester Road garden)

Sunday, September 8

Rally Day Fall Kick-Off

9:00 AM Coffee & Donuts (Sanctuary Portico)

9:30 AM Special Meeting of the Congregation (Sanctuary)

10:00 AM Worship (Sanctuary & Chapel)

10:15 AM Sunday School (Christian Ed wing)

11:00 AM Rally Day Festivities (Social Hall)

4:00 PM Junior High Fellowship (Youth Lounge)

5:30 PM Youth Bells (Classroom 04)

6:30 PM Youth Leadership Meeting (Youth Lounge)

7:00 PM Senior High Fellowship (Youth Lounge)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Special Meeting of the Congregation (Sept. 8)

Rally Day Fall Kick-Off (Sept. 8)

First Day of Sunday School & Youth Groups (Sept.8)

Cuba Partnership Guest (Sept. 15)

CARE Summer Book Discussions (Sept.15 & 18)

Presbytery of Chicago Assembly Meeting at First Pres (Sept.17)

Christian Nationalism Webinar (Sept. 19)

Mobile Food Pantry (Sept. 21)

Tackle Hunger (Sept. 29)

Worship with us on Sunday

Join us on Sunday at 10 AM for communion worship in the sanctuary. Rev. Nicole Chapman-Farley is preaching. The service will also be available on our YouTube channel. Following worship, join us in Social Hall for coffee, lemonade, sweets, and fellowship.

Flower Dedication 

The flowers today are placed to the glory of God by Kathy Heusinkveld in honor of David’s 80th birthday today! 

Congregational Meeting on Sept. 8

After an extensive and prayerful search, the APNC is delighted to present Rev. Nicole Chapman-Farley as candidate for the position of Associate Pastor. Session has approved the nomination and called a Special Meeting of the Congregation in the sanctuary at 9:30 AM on Sunday, Sept. 8 for a congregational vote. All members are asked to attend.

In order to move forward with the nomination, the congregation must vote to affirm their agreement with the discernment of the APNC and the recommendation of the Session. If Rev. Nicole’s nomination is approved by the congregation, the Presbytery of Chicago must then vote to affirm the congregation’s discernment. This step is required because Rev. Nicole is an internal candidate. If the presbytery votes in favor of the nominee, we will celebrate later this fall with a Service of Installation - a worship service of the presbytery wherein the relationship between the congregation and the nominee becomes official.

You're Invited to Rally Day - Fall Kickoff!

Join us for Rally Day, a fun-filled day that marks the exciting start of our fall program year on Sunday, Sept. 8!

Schedule:

• 9:00 AM: Donuts & Coffee beneath the sanctuary portico
• 9:30 AM: Congregational Meeting in the sanctuary All church members are asked to be present to vote on Rev. Nicole Chapman-Farley's nomination to Associate Pastor.
• 10:00 AM: Worship Services in the sanctuary and chapel
• 10:15 AM: Sunday School Kickoff: Kids and youth will be dismissed from worship to start their new year of Sunday School!
• 11:00 AM: Rally Day Festivities in Social Hall: Enjoy games and activities for kids, informational booths for adults, and delicious Walking Tacos and treats served by the Deacons!
• 4:00-5:30 PM: Junior High Fellowship (JHF) in the Youth Lounge
• 6:30-7:00 PM: Youth Leadership Meeting in the Youth Lounge
• 7:00-9:00 PM: Senior High Fellowship (SHF) in the Youth Lounge

Calling All Group and Committee Leaders!

Want to showcase your group or committee at Rally Day? Reserve a booth by emailing Michelle at mgroenke@boxp.net. We'll provide a sign and a signup sheet to help you connect with attendees. Be sure to have someone staffing your booth by 11 AM, and consider bringing a sweet treat to attract visitors!

Don't miss this opportunity to connect, celebrate, and kick off a fantastic fall season together!

We Need Sunday School Teachers & Helpers!

We’re looking for a few more volunteers to help out with our Sunday School, especially for the 6th-8th grade class. Send an email to mhuber@boxp.net or add your name to the whiteboard outside the sanctuary narthex before worship.

8th-12th Graders: We’d love for you to sign up as helpers for the younger kids. It’s a great way to get involved and support your church community!

Christian Nationalism Webinar

Join members of the pastoral staff in Fellowship Hall on Thursday, Sept. 19 from 4:45-8:00 PM for a webinar "Faith & Democracy: Confronting White Christian Nationalism," hosted by Christian Century and FaithandReason.org that features three renowned thought leaders on the current state of Christianity in the United States.

The guest panelists, Dr. Obery Hendricks, Dr. Gary Dorrien, and Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim, are internationally known for their insights on the Christian faith and the role that it can play for those committed to democracy, peace, and social justice.

This conversation will explore the challenges that the growing presence of white Christian nationalism poses to congregations and people of faith and conscience.

Bring your dinner, we will supply the beverages. We’ll view the webinar together on the big screen from 5-7:30 PM and then have conversation facilitated by our pastoral staff.

RSVP by Wednesday, Sept. 18 using the link below or call the church at 847-362-2174.

Summer Book Read

Please join First Pres for our all-church summer book read of Heather McGhee's The Sum of Us, sponsored by CARE (our Committee on Anti-Racism and Equity)!

Heather McGhee is an economic and social policy expert. Her book The Sum of Us is a "powerful exploration and inequality and the lesson that generations of Americans have failed to learn: Racism has a cost for everyone--not just for people of color" (Penguin Random House).

First Pres community members ages 14 and up are invited to read this book on your own and make plans to join a discussion. You could read the book, listen to the audiobook, or even check out the adaptation for young readers.

Discussions will be moderated by CARE Team members. There are two opportunities:

• In Person: Sunday, September 15, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
• On Zoom: Wednesday, September 18, 7:00-8:30 PM

Please sign up below to indicate your interest! Drop-ins are also welcome.

Interested in Joining First Pres Libertyville?

If you’ve been worshipping with us and are considering becoming a member of First Pres Libertyville, we warmly invite you to attend our Inquirers Class. This class is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our church, explore how we are united by God's love, and discover how you can become a part of our community.

Upcoming Inquirers Class:

• Dates: Two consecutive Wednesday evenings: Oct. 9 & 16
• Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
• Location: Fellowship Hall (lower level of the church)

Our Inquirers Classes are held as needed, typically two to three times per year, and provide a comprehensive introduction to our church’s mission, values, and activities.

If you decide to join the church, here are the next steps after the class:

• New Member Dinner: Meet with church leaders on Monday, Oct. 21, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Recognition: Be welcomed and recognized by the congregation during worship on Sunday, Oct. 27



For more information, please call the church at 847-362-2174 or email us at office@boxp.net. Ready to sign up? Click the blue button below!

PADS Food Collection

Drop off on Wednesdays between 4-6 PM in the Sanctuary Narthex. Please only bring items from the list below:

Breakfast: Bagels, cream cheese, instant oatmeal, store-bought muffins, granola or breakfast bars, meal replacement drinks

Lunch: Crackers, chips, ramen noodle cups or packages, protein bars, tuna or chicken salad packs, beef jerky, microwave popcorn, Jell-O cups, apple sauce pouches

Dinner: Non-perishable microwave dinners, canned baked beans, mac and cheese in boxes or cups, canned chili, microwave rice packs, sardines

Drinks: Apple or fruit juice packs, water bottles, hot chocolate packs, small containers of milk

Other: Can openers, plastic cutlery and plates, baby food

Flower Calendar

If you'd like to honor a loved one or celebrate a special occasion by dedicating a floral arrangement to be used in our worship spaces on Sunday mornings, please fill out the form below or call the church office at 847-362-2174.

Libertyville Senior Update

Click here to read the September newsletter from our friends at the Libertyville Senior Center.

How to contact a pastor or staff member

Call 847-362-2174 or email office@boxp.net. Regular office hours are Monday-Friday 9 AM - 4 PM. The office will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2 for Labor Day, but a pastor will be on call for pastoral emergencies.

Pastoral Emergencies

If you are a church member and need to reach a pastor in an emergency, please call 847-367-6460. Leave a message and a pastor will return your call as soon as they are able.

Sermon Podcasts

Podcasts of previous Sunday sermons are available on the listening platform of your choice, including Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Music. The links are also available on our website at www.firstpreslibertyville.org/podcasts. New podcasts are generally uploaded midweek.

Beware of Scams!

To avoid falling victim to scams, please verify the sender's email address before responding to any messages that appear to be from our pastors or staff. Our pastors only send email from boxp.net and will never make personal requests for money, gift cards, or any kind of assistance through email. If you have any doubts, please call the church office at 847-362-2174 to verify before taking any action.