This Week at First Pres!
May 17 - May 23, 2020
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New Life – and Faith – in a Pandemic
This week’s eNewsletter feature
was written by Rev. Henry Coates,
FPCE Associate Pastor.
Greetings!
Jacob David Golbek Coates was born five minutes after midnight on the morning of April 27. The journey to his birth did not go as expected, but as a good friend of ours at First Pres once said to me, “Nobody’s birth goes as planned.”
Someone once said that joy is gladness not based on circumstances. When Pastor Amanda and I found out that she was pregnant, back in August of last year, joy was our overwhelming emotion. Under the circumstances of our world way back then, our gladness was abundant. When Jacob finally appeared, that prevailing joy remained, but the world of August 2019 looks and feels much different than the reality of our COVID-19 spring.
If the “Joy of the Lord is our strength,” then, why am I feeling so weak at times these past couple of months? I need a savior — I require a shepherd, now more than ever.
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Upcoming Online Events
10 a.m. Sunday Worship
Beginning Sunday, you can also call in to listen to the service (this is audio only).
Call 1 (312) 626-6799, and when asked enter the Meeting ID: 478 195 199 and the Password: 207174. If you are unable to connect, contact Hannah McConnell via email at
847-864-1472, Ext. 505.
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After our Sunday Service
Online fellowship time/adult education will take place on Zoom following our Sunday service. Join us at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/478195199?pwd=eFNvbzgrakZQcTkzQ1FnbDBWUnlYZz09. The Zoom Meeting ID is 478 195 199 and the password is
207174. This information will also be available on our home page immediately after the service. This will lead into our adult education time, when we will continue our look at God's assuring words of "Be Not Afraid".
Please note that each class is a "standalone" event and does not require any previous attendance.
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Wednesday "Bible Jeopardy!"
Our next virtual Wednesday event will be a game of "Bible Jeopardy. Join us as we play online, Wednesday, May 20, at 7 p.m. We will join together on Zoom, and will have randomly assigned teams. Bring your thinking caps and an attitude of fun!
Find the link on the FPCE home page on Wednesday just prior to the event.
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Greeting cards outreach
The COVID-19 Task Force is seeking groups and individuals who would be interested in sending cards as an outreach to those who are particularly isolated during the pandemic crisis. Cards have been donated to FPCE and are available if you are unable to get your own. Contact FPCE Parish Nurse Julie Ruchniewicz at
jruchniewicz@firstpresevanston.org if you would like to receive a list of names to contact. You can arrange to pick up cards from FPCE or purchase your own. FPCE will not be covering any postage costs, so please consider that in your decision to help.
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Making, sharing face masks for health and safety
Can you sew? Donate homemade masks to the church!
The COVID-19 Task Force is accepting donations of face masks to share with congregational members in need as well as Souper Saturday guests we serve each week. If you sew, or have extra face masks please consider dropping them off at the the church on Saturdays between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. at the rear door (ring the bell and then you can open the door, drop the masks in the appropriate box and exit. New unused masks only. For guidance on wearing and making face masks please check out the CDC website here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
If you are in need of a face mask please email the COVID-19 task force email at:
covid19@firstpresevanston.org and we can help match you with a donation.
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Blue Ribbons to honor those on COVID-19 front lines
You can honor those in our neighborhoods who are serving as local first responders, in healthcare, and in jobs deemed essential requiring them to run a greater risk of infection by the coronavirus. We have blue ribbons available for pick-up on Saturday mornings between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.
at the back door of the FPCE building. Buzz the doorbell and you will be let in to take a ribbon from the box there near the dumbwaiter.
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Provide meals for New Life Shelter
The FPCE COVID-19 Task Force is encouraging members to prayerfully consider providing a meal for the families of New Life Shelter near Howard Street. The shelter is a ministry of our missions partner, Good News Partners. A number of small groups have already signed up to provide these meals, but we are still looking for a few dates to be filled (we have committed to serving these meals each Monday night). To provide a dinner for the shelter, you can choose your own menu. There are 32 residents (which includes 15 children). A group could deliver four casseroles, ingredients for a salad, bread and dessert all of your choice to feed a group this size. Meals should be delivered between 2:30-4:30 p.m. on the day of the meal. Please contact Caryl Weinberg at
cweinberg@firstpresevanston.org to sign up, to get the address and phone number of the shelter, or with any questions.
Open dates are: May 25 and June 8. Thank you in advance!
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Mission Prayer
Please pray for an anonymous FPCE mission partner couple serving in New Zealand. Praise God for the milestone of the husband having passed his Ph.D. doctoral examination at the University of Aukland in New Zealand. Pray for them as they parent their three daughters. Ask God to look after the vulnerable refugees and migrants whose livelihoods are jeopardized during these trying times. Please pray for wisdom, strength, and courage for our family so we can continue being the salt and light among those they are serving.
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Officer Nominations Invited
The Nominating Committee asks you to suggest elder, trustee, or deacon candidates for the 2021 slate. A candidate must be a church member, gifted by the Holy Spirit, and willing to serve. Confidential suggestions may be given to
Rosemary Mauck or
Richard Bell.
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Summary notes from the April Session Meeting are available
here
.
The most recent summary of the Chicago Presbytery Meeting is available
here
.
Paper copies are also available in our literature racks.
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1427 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
847-864-1472
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