Sunday Sign-Ups:

• Ushering
• Offering counting
• Crucifer (Cross-bearer)
• Scripture Reader/Liturgist (We need two for each Sunday)
• Acolyte (typically a child or youth)

Website Update

First Church website and logo update

As shared in April, First Church is updating our website and logo as part of our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. The new website will help support all four pillars of the plan and the new logo will update our visual mark while keeping our identity intact. 

Updates on this project:

The new logo and brand colors for First Church have been finalized! This stage of the project was completed last month with input from staff and lay leadership, and is now guiding the web development team as they begin the design phase of the website project. (We are still determining the launch timing for the logo, stay tuned!)

Now, we are actively working on content pages for the new site, guided by direction and input from staff, lay leaders and subject matter experts in the congregation. 

The Ministry Brands web development team has started to build out the new First Church site framework. Select staff and lay leaders will have the opportunity to review the site at key stages and give feedback to the developer. 

Review and revisions of this initial phase of development will wrap at the end of November. We are planning for a V1 website launch in early December!

Huge thanks to everyone who has participated in the focus groups, provided content, given input and offered feedback throughout this process. We appreciate you! 

Questions? Please contact Lindsay Theile or Marianne Griebler. 

Lead Beyond Our Walls:

UMC Bishops Condemn Proposed Plan for Livestreamed Execution

The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church has issued a pastoral letter condemning the proposed livestreamed execution of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009.

Here is a link to that letter.

While grieving with victims’ families and affirming the need for accountability, the bishops remind us that every person bears God’s image and remains within reach of grace. Their letter calls us to resist turning death into spectacle and to follow Jesus in seeking justice without surrendering to vengeance. We invite you to read the letter and prayerfully consider how we can bear witness to Christ’s courageous love amid violence and suffering.

If you'd like a conversation and prayer partner to talk about how it is with your soul and spirit in this time of violence, please reach out to Pastor Britt- britt@faithatfirst.com to schedule a time with one of our pastors.

Flute Recital/Fundraiser for Refugee One: Saturday, October 24th

Tommy Swanson of Harmonious Healing, LLC, will be presenting a flute recital in the sanctuary on October 24, 2026. Proceeds of ticket sales will be donated to Refugee One.

Questions? Contact Krys Juleen: krys@faithatfirst.com

Putting Faith Into Action: Immigration Justice: Sunday, October 25th

12:00-1:30pm | Dining Hall

Join us in the Dining Hall for lunch and an interactive fireside chat where Pastor Britt Cox will sit down with Claudia Marchan, Executive Director, Immigration Law and Justice of Northern Illinois, an organization rooted in the United Methodist Church that provides provides free, high-quality legal services to immigrants with low incomes, engages in education and advocacy efforts, and builds cross-cultural relationships. Claudia will discuss how current immigration policies and practices are impacting the clients they serve throughout our region and how faith communities can respond.

Co-sponsored by Mission & Outreach and Social Justice

RSVPs encouraged; please email Dan Owens at danielowens13@gmail.com

Nursery Coordinator Job Posting

First Church Children's Ministry is looking for a new Nursery Coordinator! Review the job description and apply to make an impact in the lives and faith formation of our youngest disciples for years to come. Send any questions or requests for more information to Colin McDonald, Director of Children's Ministry, at colin@faithatfirst.com.

Review Job Description Here.

Bottoms Up: A Fundraiser for the Bundled Blessings Diaper Pantry: Sunday, November 15th

See this link for the full flyer.

Buy tickets here.

Nurture Within Our Church Community:

Men's Fellowship: Sunday, October 18th

8:00am | Dining Hall

The Men's Fellowship is meeting this Sunday at 8 am for their monthly gathering in the dining hall. Pastor Britt will meet with us and share her updated ministry here.

Questions email Jim Hagedorn (jehdvm@gmail.com) or call/text at 847-644-7986

Mom's Night Out: Thursday, October 22nd

Mom's Night Out- JOIN US!

Linda Federer's home with Cohost Stephanie Peters 

RSVP if you can- Lfederer30@gmail.com 

This delightful and ever-changing group of Moms are always fun! Bring a dish to share, a friend, or just come. 

NEXT MNO- 

Tues Nov 17th at Cherie Asante's with Chris Nieuwsma cohost 

December - TBA - Julie Womack with ?? Cohost -  

January - NEW YEAR -  need hosts!   

Craft Day: Saturday, October 24th

10:00am-12:00pm | Dining Room

Join us for a fun and creative time together. Bring any project you would like to work on, including quilting, crochet, knitting, sewing, beading, jewelry, painting and more. All projects are welcome.

We will meet in the dining room, so there will be plenty of space to spread out. Please bring your sewing machine if sewing.

Beginners are welcome. All ages and skill levels are invited to join.



Please email Courtney Zirkle or Glynis Doyle if you need a building access code or ride.

Children in Action: Sunday, October 25th

12:00-1:00pm | Kitchen

Children in grades 1-6 are invited to team up and jump into games, fellowship, and various, hands-on service projects, all in the name of putting faith into action. With lunch provided! Register and learn more about this month's activity. 

Spooky Story Night: Wednesday, October 28th

5:30-7:00pm | Memorial Garden & Dining Hall

Come in costume for family-friendly, faith-affirming spooky stories, scary fun activities, and trick-or-treating with friends from Youth Ministry! Because you can't spell book without... BOO! 

Dare to register here.

Children's Ministry Volunteer Education Session: Sunday, November 1st

12:00-1:00pm | Room 34

First Church’s Children’s Ministry program is enriched and made possible by a dedicated network of lay volunteer leaders. Signing up for one hour, one Sunday a month is all it takes to make an enduring impact in the spiritual lives of our children and church. But how can we equip ourselves as adults, not only to teach or assist, but to grow in faith beside children? 

In this session, new and seasoned volunteers will gain resources for better managing classrooms and nurturing connections, while maintaining safe and welcoming spaces at church for children and families alike. 

Are you being called to serve (and play!) with First Church’s Children’s Ministry? Join the conversation, and learn to lead with confidence, curiosity, and heart. Send any questions or requests for more information to Colin McDonald, Director of Children's Ministry, at colin@faithatfirst.com.

First Church Women's Retreat: Friday, November 13th and Saturday November 14th at St. Mary's of the Lake

Spiritual Identity: Finding Deeper Connection with God through Identity and Spiritual Practice

Do you find yourself longing for a deeper spiritual life in the days between Sundays? Do you feel that you don’t have any time to squeeze more into your daily life? Are you bored with the spiritual practices that you currently employ? Do you find that you are in a different stage of life, and what you used to practice no longer resonates for you?

This retreat is open to any woman who can relate to any or all of these questions. We will use our understanding of our true selves, and the stage of life we are in, to help us discern what spiritual practices will have the most meaning for us, and how we can work these practices into our daily lives.

Check-in begins at 4pm and dinner at 6:15pm. Please arrive when you can with programming to begin at 7:30pm.

Cost: $180 (meals, housing, and supplies). Please contact Pastor Britt if you are interested in a scholarship to cover the cost.

Coordinators: Mari Leonard, Britt Cox, Sydney Harkrider

Sign-up here.

Registration deadline is Sunday, October 25th.

Steward:

Stewardship 2027

The Stewardship Committee invites our congregation to come together across the four Sundays of October under a theme of “Practicing Hope” to share our faithful commitments that power the ministry and mission of First Church. This theme reminds us that even when we can’t see it, God and the spirit are at work among us.

As our First Church community enters a new chapter together we are called to strengthen the annual resources that maintain our building as a beacon of welcome to all, sustain our pastors and staff who teach us the ways of God’s love and honor our commitment to our United Methodist brothers and sisters with the apportionment funds that allow us to bring God’s light and love the places that need it most. This witness of our church and its people signals who we are and what we are called to do in this moment. You're invited to enter your 2027 estimate of giving online today.

Budgets & Bagels: Sunday, October 18th

11:30am-1:00pm | Glenna Hall

Join members of the Stewardship Committee and other church leaders to learn more about the 2027 budget and financial goals to support the ministry and mission of First United Methodist Church - Evanston.

Celebrate:

Fisk College Choir Concert: Friday, October 16th

Purchase Tickets Here

Festival Choir Invitation

Festival Choir begins

First Church’s Music Ministry invites local singers to participate in our upcoming Festival Choir concert featuring music by American composers including Leonard Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms." Our first rehearsal will be Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 7:30-8:15pm and rehearsals continue weekly until the concert on November 20. Music will be provided at the first rehearsal. Please know that even if you can only join us for some of the rehearsals, you can still sing on the concert. Email brian@faithatfirst.com or simply join us at rehearsal.

The congregation and community are invited to attend the concert in our sanctuary on Friday, November 20 at 7:30pm. Admission is free and open to the public.

Naming Our Saints on All Saints Sunday

As we prepare to observe All Saints Sunday, we invite members and friends of First Church to submit the names of loved ones who have died and whom you would like remembered in the church bulletin.

Please submit names by Thursday, October 29 at 5:00 p.m. to ensure they are included.

At the conclusion of worship on All Saints Sunday, we will gather in the Memorial Garden, where there will also be an opportunity to speak aloud the names of saints we carry in our hearts.

Together, we will remember their lives, give thanks for the ways they have shaped us, and entrust them once more to God’s eternal love.

Click here to submit names.

Calendar at a Glance:

Check out the church calendar for details and a complete listing of events.

Need to reserve a room or request publicity for your church event? Please submit event information and room reservations via the Communications and Calendar Request.

This webpage is only accessible via the link in the weekly E-News or by using the search bar on the website.

FUMC Merch:

Want to rep FUMC? Click here to browse our merch!

Items are made to order, so you’ll get your gear fast. Click here to shop.

Stay Connected!

First United Methodist Church

516 Church St.

Evanston IL 60201

847-864-6181

www.faithatfirst.org

First United Methodist Church

is a community of Christians

inviting all people

to grow in their relationship with God

and to live their faith in the world.