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First Chronicles

March 2007
Vol 20, No. 2

Table of Contents

AS WE OBSERVE LENT IN TRANSITION

By: Rev. Dr. James E. Roghair, Interim Pastor

Are you observing Lent? Some of us grew up with elaborate expectations of Lenten observances, and others with no expectations at all. Many of us are somewhere in between. But regardless of where any of us falls on that spectrum, we can recognize the ebb and flow of the seasons of our lives: As there is Lent, and then there Easter, so there is confession and then pardon. There is sadness and then joy, there is death and then resurrection. We experience the pattern in our lives. It is a gift of God’s grace.

Observing Lent invites us to consciously put roots into some of the sadness of human life. During the Ash Wednesday service I referred to the story of a little girl whose beloved friend had died. After being missing for a few hours, she told her mother that she had been sitting on the lap of her friend’s mother, helping her cry. I suggest that Lent is a time for us to help God cry. God is sad for the pain and sin of our world. Jesus takes on the sins of the world in his suffering and death. Lent invites us to participate in the sadness that God experiences. (The sermon is at http://www.firstchurchevanston.org – click ‘Sermons,’ or pick up a copy on Sunday.)

During this time of transition, many of you experience church life as uncertain. But I encourage you to expect that after uncertainty, will come certainty. The time of uncertainty is a time of Lent – an opportunity for sitting on God’s lap, as it were – crying with God. Or listening for God’s direction and encouragement. That intimacy in uncertainty will pay off in richly in a time of certainty to follow. God’s blessing on you all. Jim

THANK YOU, OUTGOING LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS!

One regular item of business at our annual meeting is the election of candidates recommended by the Nominating Committee for Ministry Team leadership positions. At this year's annual meeting on January 28, we voted to reaffirm continuing team members and leaders while also welcoming new members to the church leadership team.

As we begin this new term in our church cycle, the Congregation and the Ministry Council want to offer their heartfelt thanks to all those who so ably served our church in recent years, and who have now stepped down from their leadership roles. It has been the steady leadership of people like these that has helped sustain the vitality and well-being of our church. We’ve been blessed by the gifts of these members, and we’ll remember their many contributions as we continue their work in the months and years ahead. ~ The Ministry Council

BENEVOLENCE RECIPIENTS - 2006

BEHIV $2,400
Child Care Center of Evanston $1,000
Childcare Network of Evanston $2,200
Community Renewal Society $1,000
Evanston Day Nursery $1,200
Global Education Fund $ 800
Good News Partners $1,300
Infant Welfare Society of Evanston $1,000
Interfaith Action of Evanston $1,500
Meals at Home $ 800
YWCA $1,800
Total $15,000

PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE LAUNCHED

The Pastoral Search Committee recently began its work, electing officers and starting to chart a course of action for the search for a new senior minister. The members of the committee are: Megan Cahill; Beth Chill, co-secretary; Travis Clifton; Alan Cubbage, chair; Merna Johnson; Claire McFadden; Lacey Ogbolumani, vice-chair; Bob Phelps, co-secretary; Carole Schumacher; Kwesi Steele; Nick Tucker; and Ann Vikner. Ex-officio members are: Kathy Koestring and Joe Page.

A key component of the search process will be to create an accurate profile of First Congregational, both in its demographic information and the faith beliefs of our congregation. As part of that, the search committee plans to survey members of the congregation about their thoughts on the church and religion. Your input will be important in helping find a good match between First Congregational and our new minister.

The committee will be providing regular updates on the search both in the newsletter and with reports in church. Please contact a member of the committee if you have any questions or suggestions on the search process.

FAITH, ART AND EASTER SERIES

First Congregational Church of Evanston will host a series of lectures on “Faith, Art and Easter” during March. Led by Laura Mueller, a lecturer at the Art Institute of Chicago, the slide lecture series will examine how painting, prints and drawings by such artists as Giotto and Caravaggio depict the key moments of the Christ’s death and resurrection.

The hour-long lectures will be held at 11:15 a.m. Sundays at First Congregational, 1417 Hinman Ave., Evanston. The schedule for the lectures is:
March 11: The Circle and the Kiss: Unity and Betrayal, focusing on works depicting the Last Supper and the betrayal of Christ.
March 18: Via Crucia, focusing on the crucifixion and events leading up to it.
March 25: Seeing is Believing, focusing on the resurrection.

First Congregational’s renowned choir will perform selections from Handel’s “Messiah” on Palm Sunday, April 1, as part of the series.

NEARER MY GOD TO THEE

On a bitterly cold, one degree day, seven intrepid members of the “Nearer My God to Thee” Sr. Club met as usual and made gorgeous valentines for our two homebound members while we described the best love stories we knew. Some stories were from books, others from movies and one from television. We’re a romantic bunch even now! Church matters were also discussed as everyone is very involved and interested in these more practical matters, too. We look forward to our March meeting and more jolly fellowship.

PEGGY TINZMANN NAMED 2007 “VISION KEEPER”

Peggy Tinzmann has been selected to represent First Congregational Church of Evanston as our Vision Keeper at this year’s Interfaith Action) dinner on February 25th. Interfaith Action is an Evanston-based ecumenical group that was founded in 1970 under the name Evanston Ecumenical Action Council (EEAC). It serves the Evanston area by providing assistance to the homeless, the hungry and others in need. It sponsors a network of daily soup kitchens, warming centers during winter months, a Hospitality Center for the homeless, education, training, and action on current issues such as race relations and youth needs.

Peggy is a natural choice for the role of FCCE Vision Keeper. As a student and teacher, Peggy has consistently honed her skills while also sharing her many gifts with others. Her professional career included positions as a learning disabilities teacher, chair of student teachers at Aquinas College, and curriculum developer at Northwestern University. She was also a member of the National Professional Development team for the US Department of Education. Today, whether she’s writing a new math program for children or painting a portrait of her grandson, Peggy never seems to run out of energy.

Since joining First Congregational Church of Evanston in 1992, Peggy has blessed our community not only with her many skills, but also with her warmth and enthusiasm. She sings in the Chancel Choir, serves on - and occasionally chairs - numerous boards and committees, helps prepare Saturday night dinners at Hilda’s Place, assists with the church rummage sale, and much more. Most recently, Peggy was a member of a task force charged with developing a new church structure and also served on our Interim Pastor search team. We are grateful to be graced with Peggy’s presence in our community, and we proudly proclaim her our Vision Keeper for 2007.

NOTES FROM THE WEBMASTER

By: Nathan Pedretti

In December, I took over responsibilities for managing our church website from Justin Bauer, who did an excellent job overseeing our site last year. I serve not only as an elementary K-5 music teacher, but also run a small website strategy business that works primarily with schools and districts. Over the past few months, with guidance from Justin and our Office Manager, Melia Parkes, I began updating and upgrading our website.

First, I updated our website templates to work with the most up-to-date website development tools. This allows us to now quickly post new information to the website. Next, we updated some staffing information and began posting Jim’s weekly sermons to the site. Finally, we expanded our website content to include our weekly Sunday bulletins along with special event information. All this material is now updated weekly with Jim and Melia’s helpful diligence.

Behind the scenes, we have orchestrated a move to a new website hosting company. This company provides us with 300 times more space than our old website provider for the same cost. This expanded capability will allow us to host a wide range of new data, including photos, videos, music, and decades of sermons and bulletins from our vibrant church community. This new opportunity for sharing information and communicating our message would not have been possible with our old system.

In the coming months, we’ll be adding new information about the work of the Pastoral Search Team and other groups in the church. If you have ideas or would like to help post your group’s information on our website, please email me at nathan.pedretti@gmail.com or call me at 847-581-9343.

EAVESDROPPING

By: Joyce Phelps

On Sunday, January 28th a marvelous concert was performed in the Guild Room. The room was packed and by all accounts everyone enjoyed the concert. I was privy to some conversations. The one I enjoyed the most was one lady saying to another” can you imagine walking into your church and having wonderful music every Sunday.” The other lady replied “ I understand that they have the best music on the North Shore”.

Later, I had a personal request. A guest of mine asked whether I would mind if she came a couple of times to Sunday services to hear the music. Mind? I’ll be dragging her in with a noose if she doesn’t appear!

I invited twenty-four people with music interests. Eighteen were in the audience and loved it. Bob and I had invited all our guests back to our apartment a short walk away for a party. Inviting friends to music events is a wonderful way to entertain, helps fill out the room and spread the word of our Church’s Music Program. Do hope to see you next time.

JEAN HERBERT: “A SIMPLE FOCUS”

By: Laura Wilson

Members of our congregation come from many different places. Jean Herbert’s roots trace back to the Church of the Brethren, an American Protestant tradition forged in early l8th century Germany. In Europe, they were persecuted for interpreting scripture in their own way, such as practicing adult baptism. The newly baptized called themselves “Brethren.” In those times, like our own, Christians followed their own inner experience of Christ and their understanding of the lives he wanted them to lead.

“My church had no creed but The New Testament which served as our guide for faith and practice,” explained Jean. “Our motto was ‘For the glory of God and our neighbor’s good.’” Jean and her husband, Bill, now live in Evanston. They both work at the University of Chicago Laboratory School, as social worker and coordinator of library computers, respectively.

Jean grew up in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, an industrial community of 50,000. Her mother was instrumental in Jean’s lifelong interest in social issues. “I remember watching the McCarthy hearings on television,” she recalled. The connection of faith and the world seemed to come naturally to Jean at a young age. “My mother was an organist and Sunday School teacher as well as a regular teacher. She was very active in the church.”

When Jean graduated from high school, she selected Manchester College, a Brethren school. “It was one of the few colleges to have a peace studies department. There was campus concern in the civil rights movement going on in the south. It was a natural thing to do - to follow this interest.” Led by students from Bennett College as well as The Agricultural and Technical College of Greensboro, North Carolina, Jean and many college students participated in the lunch counter sit-ins of February, 1960. This non-violent disobedience slowly removed segregation of restaurants in the south. It was the beginning of the end to a larger system of discrimination.

“The relationship between the individual and society’s rules is still being played out,” said Jean. Her current activity with our Faith and Public Issues continues this journey. She brings a rich background to our congregation’s ministry to the world.

“We have always stood for peace. We don’t bear arms. Instead we bear food, medicines, farm tools, books. We dig wells, run clinics, teach classes. We also try to listen and reconsider, give the benefit of the doubt. We try to do what Jesus did.” - some thoughts from The Church of the Brethren

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

1 Robert Gaskill
2 Leif Steele
3 Margot Goode
3 Matthew Munro
7 Margaret Huntsman
7 Jack Robinson
8 Colby Kingsbury
9 Henry Doyle
9 Julia Doyle
10 Michaela DeStefano
10 Tom Lindsey
10 Kermit Myers
10 Harrison Stamell
11 John Cunningham
15 Kevin Caines
16 Dixie Hoffman
16 Luke Lawless
16 Rose Lawless
17 Michael Wait
18 Hope Little
20 Jane Baker
30 Gary Hardesty
31 Paula Hoerner

2007 RUMMAGE/TREASURE SALE

It is February and donations are flowing into the church house. So let’s get to work. We will in the next six months do a lot of sorting. After all, we have many departments, clothing, children’s clothing, toys and baby furniture, Christmas items, Linens, China and Glass, Kitchen of course, and many more. But we must be ready on “Casual Sunday”.

Let us give you a little idea of what doesn’t sell and what does.

The Poor Sells are: golf clubs, skis, computers, Nordic machines and large furniture. What does sell? Everything else that is in good condition.

There will be a different look to Plymouth Hall this year as we are not accepting any large furniture. We are hoping for small pieces and of course, we always hope for antiques. The departments will have more room and more tables , in fact the departments can have tables not only against the wall but also stretching out to the center and maybe the linens will have more room to for display.

Eric is the person to call if you have the need for him to pick up your donations, just call him and he has space in the back of his “Jimmy”. And the back is able to take small pieces of furniture. Eric’s phone number: 847 328 9095.

The Treasure Room is already showing donations and we need volunteers who would like to work with us a day here, a day there. Camaraderie is the name of the game. For time, just call Betty Phillips at 847 256 0245 or Joyce Phelps at 847 733 9972.

JOYS AND CONCERNS

We have received word of the death of Eunice J. Seepe (born August 26, 1907; died September 20, 2006), former member of First Congregational Church. Ashes will be interred at memorial Park in Skokie. Call the church office for family contact information.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

On Sunday afternoon, April 15th at 4:00 pm the Book Discussion Group will meet in the Brown parlor to discuss: TERRORIST by John Updike. Glennis Lundberg will lead the discussion. John Updike’s novels have won many awards including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. This book is about Ahmad Ashaway, an 18-year-old, who is in the thrall of Shaikh Rashik who runs a store front mosque and preaches divine retribution for “devil.” Everyone is welcome join this informal discussion.

READY, SET, GO....SELL PIZZA!!!

This year we will have an all church fundraiser selling Chicago's Legendary Gino's East Deep Dish Pizza! It will be fun and simple. You will be given an order form to take orders and collect the $10.00 per pizza ahead of time. We will be selling the four different pizzas from April 8-22, 2007. The pizza will be delivered to the church on Sunday May 6, 2007 for you to pick up and deliver to your customers.

Prizes will be awarded to the family or individual who sells the most pizza.

Everyone should have a supply of these delicious pizzas in their home freezer for a quick meal or when company stops by.

Let’s make this the best pizza sale ever and make money for our church.

This fundraiser will take the place of the Pancake Breakfast. Questions call Barb Lee 847-251-0007.

CHANCEL CHOIR MUSIC FOR MARCH

March 4
Vierne ~ “Kyrie Eleison”
March 11
First Anthem by the Children’s Choir
Nystedt ~ “Cry Out and Shout”
March 18
Hampton ~ “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”
Martin ~ “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
March 25
Holst ~ “The Heart Worships”
Holst/Proulx ~ “O God, Beyond All Praising”

COME SING WITH US!

The Chancel Choir welcomes singers to join them in presenting music from Part II of Handel’s “Messiah” on Palm Sunday, April 1st. The mid-week Lenten study, led by Dr. Roghair, will also focus on this portion of Handel’s “Messiah”. Choir rehearsals will begin on Sunday, March 4th at 11:30 in the Choir Room of the Church House. Come join us!

IT'S TIME TO SPRING AHEAD!!

Don't forget to set your clocks one hour ahead on Sunday, March 11th.

Last Updated: Sunday, January 27, 2008