Weekly Bulletin
GUIDE POSTS
Sunday, February 11
9:00 a.m. – Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
10:00 a.m. – Worship (Sanctuary)
11:30 a.m. – Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
4:00 p.m. – Sunday Afternoon Book Discussion Group (Brown Parlor)
Tuesday, February 13
10:00 a.m. – Staff Meeting (Conference Room)
6:00 p.m. – Music & Worship Team Meeting (Conference Room)
7:00 p.m. – Church Council (Guild Room)
Wednesday, February 14
5:30 p.m. – Children's Choir Rehearsal (Children’s Music Room)
6:15 p.m. – Fellowship Dinner (Small Dining Room)
Thursday, February 15
1:00 p.m. – Warming Center (Plymouth Hall)
Sunday, February 18
9:00 a.m. – Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
10:00 a.m. – Worship (Sanctuary)
11:15 a.m. – Sunday Forum – Healthy Congregations (Gibson Parlor)
11:30 a.m. – Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
Tuesday, February 20
10:00 a.m. – Staff Meeting (Conference Room)
Wednesday, February 21
5:30 p.m. – Children's Choir Rehearsal (Children’s Music Room)
6:15 p.m. – Ash Wednesday Dinner and Service (Plymouth Hall)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to First Congregational Church! We invite visitors to sign the Guest Book and join us for refreshments and fellowship in Fellowship Hall (in the lower level of the building) after worship. If you are visiting today with children, they are invited to join us for Sunday School after Disciple Dialogue with a recessional to our Church House, three doors away. We also have an infant room, with a changing table, crib and comfortable rocker on the lower level. If you need those facilities during worship, an usher will be happy to escort you.
The rose in the chancel is a “peace rose.” It sits on the communion table to symbolize our prayers for peace in a troubled world.
The chancel flowers are given in loving memory of John Boynton by Susan and Tom Ward and John Boynton III.
The lay reader today is Nick Tucker.
You are welcomed and seated today by Barb and Mike Fonda, Jean Herbert, Nick Tucker and Cherie Weil.
Thank you to Peggy Tinzmann for hosting today’s coffee hour. Thank you to Ann Tanner for hosting last week’s coffee hour.
Joys and Concerns: Our known homebound members include: Kay Clark, Virginia France, Bud Goff, John Hands, Dixie Hoffman, Esther McGinnis, Irv Newgren, Franklin and Pat Snyder. Nina Stevens and Mary Fran Symonds. Please inform the pastor or church office if we have missed anyone.
Songs of Sorrow, Songs of Hope - African-American spirituals like “Give Me Jesus,” meld West Coast Africa with the words of the Bible. Created for “praise houses” or slave churches, or sung in the cotton fields, these moving songs used the call-response pattern learned in Africa but also found in music from around the world. Antiphonal singing during slavery times was a way of teaching and was also a way for synchronizing work activity on the plantations. Yet, the lyrics reach far beyond the time and place. Sometimes, they encoded secret places to meet, or favorable times for the Underground Railroad. Beyond that purpose, the spirituals affirmed the Israelites’ success in overcoming slavery. The singers and “shouters” identified with Jesus’ suffering. The personal relationship with the Savior offered them hope and the model for non-violent pursuit of justice. (Thanks to Laura Wilson for preparing this information.)
Interfaith Action Vision Keeper Benefit Dinner will be held on Sunday, February 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hotel Orrington. This fund raising event for Interfaith Action (formerly EEAC) is also an occasion for the Houses of Worship in Evanston to recognize and honor a Vision Keeper from among their membership. Our Church Council has voted to designate Peggy Tinzmann as our Vision Keeper for 2007. We hope you will help us fill out a table for ten so that we may show our appreciation for all that Peggy does in the life of this church. The price of $60.00 provides major annual support for the Hospitality Center. Please call the church office with your reservation (by February 19) or place a check in the offering plate for your tickets.
Correction: We regret that the name of Frank Magee was not listed in the Annual Report for deaths in 2006.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the First Congregational Church, or wish to know more about our church, please call the office at (847) 864 – 8332, or send an email to firstcongo@mcleodusa.net. Thank You!
Printed copies of Rev. Roghair’s sermons are available in the Narthex. His sermons are also posted on our website.
Prayer Circle: If you are interested in being part of the church's virtual prayer circle or if you have a prayer concern you would like to offer up, please send a note to joysandconcerns@gmail.com. We want to respect privacy so we ask that you seek a person's permission before offering up their needs for prayer. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sunday Afternoon Book Discussion Group - Today, the Sunday Afternoon Book Discussion group will meet at 4:00 pm in the Cora Brown Parlor to continue talking about Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Ann Vikner will lead the discussion beginning with Lincoln’s inauguration through the rest of his life. This is a wonderful book and we invite anyone who is interested to join this informal gathering.
Thanks to Kingsley Day and Sheran Fiedler for substituting for our Music Director who is away today.
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2008