Sunday, November 19

10:00 AM Worship in the Sanctuary with Rev. Amy M. Heinrich

10:00 AM Worship in the Chapel with Rev. Dr. Brian R. Paulson

10:20 AM Sunday School Pre-K - 7th grade

11:00 AM Jr/Sr High Choir (Choir Room)

11:00 AM Social Hour (Social Hall)

11:15 AM Alpha/Omega Chimers (Room 04)

11:15 AM Confirmation (Youth Education Room)

11:15 AM Fourth and Fifth Fellowship (Fellowship Hall)

11:15 AM Liturgist Training (Chapel)

4:00 PM JHF (Youth Lounge)

5:30 PM Youth Bells (Room 04)

6:00 PM First Light Service (Chapel)

7:00 PM SHF (Youth Lounge)

Tuesday, November 21

12:00 PM Lunch & Learn: “Thanks-LIVING” with Dr. Robert Heinrich (Social Hall)

Wednesday, November 22

7:30 AM Breakfast & Bible Study (Zoom)

Thursday, November 23 - Friday, November 24

Happy Thanksgiving (Office is Closed)

Sunday, November 26

10:00 AM Worship in the Sanctuary with Rev. Dr. Brian R. Paulson

10:00 AM Worship in the Chapel with Rev. Amy Heinrich

11:00 AM Jr/Sr High Choir (Choir Room)

11:00 AM Social Hour - (Social Hall)

11:15 AM Alpha/Omega Chimers (Room 04)

5:30 PM Youth Bells (Room 04)

Monday, November 27

2:00 PM Advent Book Study (Dougherty Room)

6:00 PM Advent Book Study (Zoom)

Sunday, December 3

10:00 AM Worship in the Sanctuary with Rev. Nicole Chapman-Farley

10:00 AM Worship in the Chapel with Rev. Dr. Brian R. Paulson

10:20 AM Sunday School Pre-K - 7th grade

11:00 AM Jr/Sr High Choir (Choir Room)

11:00 AM Advent Wreath Workshop & Lunch (Social Hall)

11:15 AM Alpha/Omega Chimers (Room 04)

11:15 AM Confirmation (Youth Education Room)

4:00 PM JHF (Youth Lounge)

5:30 PM Youth Bells (Room 04)

6:30 PM Advent Vespers Service (Sanctuary)

7:00 PM SHF (Youth Lounge)

Upcoming Events

First Light Service (Nov. 19)

Lunch & Learn: Thanks-LIVING with Dr. Rob. Heinrich (Nov. 21)

Advent Book Study Begins (Nov. 27)

Advent Wreath Workshop & Lunch (Dec. 3)

Advent Vespers Service (Dec. 3)

Chancel Choir & Orchestra Major Work “Gloria” by Antonio Vivaldi (Dec. 10)

Ecumenical Advent Worship Service (Dec. 13)

Children & Youth Christmas Pageant “Los Posadas” (Dec. 17)

Lunch & Learn: Christmas Music with Bel Canto Ringers (Dec. 19)

Christmas Eve Worship at 10 a.m., 7 p.m. & 10 p.m. (Dec. 24)

Sacred Ground Study Begins (Jan. 7)

Worship this Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary or Chapel

Rev. Dr. Brian R. Paulson is preaching "Take A Risk" in the Chapel and Rev. Amy M. Heinrich is preaching "Running the Race of Faith Together" in The Sanctuary.. The services will also be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Flower Dedication

The flowers in the Chapel this Sunday are placed to the glory of God by Juli and Jamie Dunsing in honor of National Adoption Month and all children still waiting for their “forever families.”

Liturgist Training

We are looking for a few more liturgists to read scripture and lead the congregation in prayer on Sunday morning. All materials will be given to you and you can pick the dates that you’re available. If you’re interested, there is a training session this Sunday in the Chapel!

First Light: Service of Hope & Healing

If you have a heavy heart or are carrying a burden of grief as we head into the holidays, then our "First Light: A Service of Hope & Healing" is for you. Join us this Sunday at 6 p.m. in our chapel. This contemplative candlelight service, led by Rev. Amy M. Heinrich and our Stephen Ministers, is a space for hope and healing. Music will be led by Charles Murphy and the Chapel Music Team.

ThanksLiving with Dr. Robert Heinrich on Nov. 21

Dr. Robert Heinrich, a clinical psychologist and meditation practitioner, will guide us on a journey to appreciate the power of gratitude and mindfulness in enhancing our daily lives. Join us on Tuesday, Nov. 21 from 12 – 1:30 p.m. in Social Hall. Lunch is $12. Click here to RSVP by noon on Monday:

Advent Book Study begins Monday, Nov. 27

Looking for ideas on how to have a Christmas with less stuff and more meaning? Join us as we use the book Advent Conspiracy: Making Christmas Meaningful (Again) to dive into four simple but powerful, countercultural concepts - Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All - to help us substitute consumption with compassion and focus on Jesus’ birth. We will meet on Mondays for four weeks (Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18). Join us from 2 - 3 p.m. in the Conference Room or from 6- 7 p.m. on Zoom. Please sign up at www.firstpreslibertyille.org.

Advent Wreath Workshop & Crèche Piece Pick-up on Sunday, Dec. 3

Join us after worship on Sunday, Dec. 3 in Social Hall as we prepare for the arrival of the Advent season. Lunch will be served!

Click here to sign up to:

• Make an Advent wreath with evergreens and candles to take home and enjoy through the season
• Pick up your next (or first) nativity scene figure to put together at home
• Sign up to be part of an Advent service by lighting the weekly Advent candles or participating in another way.

RSVPs are needed by Sunday, Nov. 27 so we can be sure to have enough food and wreath materials.

Advent Vespers Service on Sunday, Dec. 3

The Vespers Choir will present Carols and Lullabies/ Christmas in the Southwest, Conrad Susa’s beautiful setting of 10 Spanish carols featuring harp guitar & percussion. Join us on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 PM in the Sanctuary.

Chancel Choir & Orchestra Major Work on Dec. 10

Join us for worship on Dec. 10 in the Sanctuary for the Chancel Choir & Orchestra's major work: "Gloria" by Antonio Vivaldi.

Ecumenical Advent Worship Service: "Incarnational Wonder"

Join us on Wednesday, Dec. 13 for our annual Ecumenical Advent Worship Service. This lovely contemplative service is led by women in ministry from First Pres and other area churches. Come at 6:30 p.m. for a twinkly-lighted reception with sweets and savories in the Social Hall and then join us for worship at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel. All are welcome!  

Christmas Pageant: Las Posadas (The Inn)

Our Children & Youth Choirs will present "Las Posadas (The Inn)" during worship on Sunday, Dec. 19,

Sacred Ground: A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race & Faith

Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity.

The 11-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.

The bi-weekly discussion series will begin the week of January 7 and run through the week of June 2. We will not meet during Holy Week. We are partnering with other area churches for this study!

Register for Sacred Ground Small Group: https://forms.gle/Ho64XbUW69XpJUqe9

A Note from Linda Westman in the Business Office

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, in this season of gratitude it seems appropriate to acknowledge all the wonderful things I’ve witnessed that FPC members offer through their generosity of time, talent and finances. As we approach the end of the year, we encourage you to review the fulfillment of your 2023 pledge commitment. As of Nov. 15, budgeted pledge revenue is behind by $17,323. [Budgeted pledge revenue: $993,500; Actual pledge revenue: $976,177]

Flower Dedications

Honor a loved one or celebrate a special occasion by dedicating a floral arrangement to be used in our worship spaces on Sunday mornings.

The cost is $40 per arrangement and you may take the flowers home after worship or you may donate the flowers to the Deacons, who will deliver them to someone on our prayer list. To make a dedication, click the link below, call the church office at 847-362-2174, or send an email to [email protected]

Note from Pastor Brian Paulson about email scams

This is a reminder to be careful to check the address on any emails purporting to be from me. I will never make a personal request for funds or gift cards or any kind of assistance through an email. Likewise, I will not send an email requesting a call that appears out of context. Church emails all end with @boxp.net and I am bpaulson. If you have any doubt, please call into the church office and inquire before responding.

How to contact a pastor or staff member

Call 847-362-2174 or email [email protected].

Our office hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.



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.