June 2017
First Chronicles
The Newsletter of the First Congregational Church of Evanston UCC
Human Dignity
The best sermon I remember hearing was delivered by
our former seminary intern and Christian Education
director Jonathan Shotwell. He preached about Jesus
healing encounter with a blind man in the community.
After the encounter, the man not only was able to see
again but was perceived differently, because Jesus did not
call him a blind manrather, a man born blind. Jesus
saw his humanity first, and healed the stigma surround-
ing his condition.
We are often caught in a cycle of descriptors that
lead us away from basic humanity, dignity and whole-
ness. This is especially true for those of us who live with
mental illness personally, or who know and love some-
one struggling with mental health issues.
A few years ago I shared from the pulpit the fact that
I live with Major Depression, take medication, and have
a counselor. This broke all the rules I learned in seminary
about self-disclosure, but I made the choice to speak up
because the secrecy, not the illness, was impeding my
ministry. Many members and friends of our congrega-
tion approached me after that sermon and shared their
own experiences. New avenues of communication and
care opened up, and we were reassured that our human-
ity, indeed, comes first in our life together as a family
of faith.
There are increasing resources available to learn
about mental illness. In our weekly Friday email in the
last month, we advertised seminars on mental illness and
homelessness and on mental health issues among first
generation immigrants. Coming up in Wilmette, there is
a workshop on the dual diagnoses of mental illness and
addiction.
This Wednesday, June 7, we are hosting guest speak-
er Rev. Kathy Dale McNair from the National Alliance
on Mental Illness to speak with us about mental health
and faith. We will learn how to maintain and enrich our
extravagant welcome for all people across the spectrum
of neurological functioning.
Look for more information in August and Septem-
ber regarding an all-day class on mental health first aid,
which will be led by Samantha Handley from our con-
gregation. The more we are equipped with information
about how to love and support one another through all
kinds of challenges to body, mind and spirit, the more
we reflect Gods embrace and affirmation of the fullness
of our human lives.
Blessings,
Rev. Ann
Upcoming Events
Pentecost SundayWear Red!
Sunday, June 4, 10:00 a.m., Sanctuary
First Wednesday Dinner
Wednesday, June 7, 6:00 p.m., Church House
Guest Speaker: Rev. Kathy Dale McNair,
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Annual Meeting of the UCC Illinois Conference
Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10
Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst
Celebration Sunday: Honoring the Chancel Choir,
Graduates, and Sunday School Teachers
Sunday, June 11, 10:00 a.m., Sanctuary
Quarterly Meeting (after worship)
Sunday, June 18, 11:00 a.m.
Chicago Pride Parade
Sunday, June 25, noon3:00 p.m.
Broadway at Montrose, Chicago
All-Church Retreat at Tower Hill
Sawyer, Michigan
Friday, June 30Sunday, July 2
Church Office Summer Hours
MondayThursday, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.
Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
This Months Chancel Choir Anthems
June 4 (Pentecost)
Kingsley Day, Breathe on Me, Breath of God
June 11 (Celebration Sunday)
Robert Ray, Credo and Acclamation
(from Gospel Mass)
Volunteer Your Gifts during Worship This Summer
While the Chancel Choir is on break from June 18
through September 3, we are looking for instrumental-
ists, singers, or poetry readers of all ages to present a
special piece during the Sunday offertory. If this oppor-
tunity interests you, please speak to David Lornson or
email him at dlornson@firstchurchevanston.org.
Thank You, Teachers!
Were so grateful for the care, creativity, and spirit our
Sunday School teachers share with our children each
week. Thank you to Thekla Metz, Julie Captain, Ravi
Batista, and Sarah Petersen!
Volunteer for Summer Spirit and Play in the Park
From Sunday, June 18, through Sunday, September 3,
children in worship head outside with adult leaders and
high school assistants to Raymond Park. During Sum-
mer Spirit, we let God speak to us through the breeze,
through running and laughing, deepening friendships,
and time together outside. Well have a bin of bubbles,
balls, and easy art supplies so you can focus on fun with
the kids at the park! We invite all congregants to volun-
teer for one or more Sundays during the summer. Teen
volunteers are welcome to sign up to be an assistant.
Your help gives our hardworking Sunday School teach-
ers a little rest and allows more people a chance to get to
know the awesome children in our church family. Con-
tact Sarah Petersen at spetersen@firstchurchevanston.org
or look for the sheet in the church entryway to sign up!
Congratulations to Our Graduates
Congratulations to Maggie Krause, Emma Lehman,
Caroline McFadden, Phoebe Metz, Harrison Parkes,
and Avery Shikanai on college graduation!
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Celebration Sunday, June 11
Sunday, June 11, is the last day of Sunday School until
fall. Join us in worship for a celebration of our graduates,
teachers, and Chancel Choir. There will be cake!
March in the Pride Parade on June 25
Join friends from First Congrega-
tional Church as we march again this
year with the Chicago Coalition of
Welcoming Churches in the Chicago
Pride Parade! Parade step-off is at
noon. A group will head down early
on the el, and a group leaving after worship by taxi will
meet the first group there. The meet-up spot will be
announced later in Junestay tuned!
Finding Balance: All-Church Retreat, June 30July 2
Save the date for a weekend away on the shores of Lake
Michigan with your church family at Tower Hill Camp
& Retreat Center in Sawyer, Michigan. This years theme
is Finding Balance. The weekend will be rich with
inward- and outward-focused activities, including beach
time, discussions, group games, one-on-one connection,
forest meditations, art making, lakeview sunsets, singing
and more! All generations are invited and encouraged to
attend. Come explore what finding balance means for
your life and our community.
Retreat leaders needed. If you would like to be in on
the planning, or are simply interested in leading an art
activity or discussion during our time together in the
woods and by the lake, please contact Rev. Ann or Sarah
Petersen soon.
Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating a
birthday in June! Birthdays are acknowledged
at the Wednesday Fellowship Dinners (the
first Wednesday of each month).
Anne Bauer Roger Lehman
Martha Beckwith David Mansen
Laurie Brown Joseph Page
Hayley Chill Elizabeth Phillips
Mallen Clifton Jeffrey Roseberry
Charlotte Cubbage Lindsey Siemens
Eleanor Hardesty Heather Soto
Jane Koestring Eliza Sprague
Chris Krei Patty Sprague
Betsy Lane Cole Tucker
John Lane Katherine Vissman
The Cookie King confections with
In Childrens Messages and during Sunday School, were all of us, hes also
often talking about how we each have unique gifts that sharing them
help spread Love in the world. Discovering what we with homebound
enjoy to do, what were good at doing, and what fills a members through
need in the world helps us recognize that we each have Rev. Ann, and with
a special role to play in Gods family. Our First Church guests at the Friday
family overflows with talented people who make our life lunch program
together so sweet. One of our youngest congregants has where Ryan and his
begun to show us how truly sweet his gift and giving is. mother sometimes
Ryan Tripp, the self-proclaimed Cookie King, is volunteer with
four years old and has already narrowed in on one of his Betty Phillips. Ryan
many talentseating and baking treats! His mother, and Larissa are
Larissa Tripp, writes, Ryan has always been a sweets currently working
lover and will never say no to a cookie or sweet treat. His on Cookie King
love of baking (and eating) started about a year ago when stickers with Ryans
he got old enough to help me bake Christmas cookies. photo to put on his baked goods so that the recipients
He has been hooked since then. Friday afternoons I in- of his treats will feel all the Love that went into making
tentionally leave open on our schedule, and almost every them.
Friday, he asks me to bake. I think he enjoys the mixing Its not only Ryan who has something important to
best and seeing all the separate ingredients form some- share with the world. In this story alone we see how
thing that tastes so good. He also enjoys working the Larissa shares her gift of mothering and guiding her chil-
stand mixer. He turns it on, connects the mixer part, and dren to learn her way of generosity, Rev. Ann shares her
slides the lever over to mix the ingredients. His other pastoral care while visiting homebound members, and
favorite part is cracking the eggs; he is proud of himself at Friday lunch Betty Phillips reaches out to our neigh-
because he can now do it all on his own! bors without homes. Just like in Ryans favorite part of
What makes Ryans gift extra sweet is what he and baking, each of us adds our special ingredient to create
his mother have decided to do with their baked goods something wonderful together and help share Gods
share them. If youve been to coffee hour lately, you may sweetest Love.
have seen the Cookie King sign with Ryans photo on it Pass It On,
next to some tasty treats. Not only is Ryan sharing his Sarah Petersen, Director of Learning and Outreach

Congratulations to our conrmation

class graduates on their new member-
ship at First Congregational Church
of Evanston (from left: Jansen Krei,
Nathan Sefton, Zoe Snider, Kitty Colton,
Owen DeStefano, Gabe Fredrickson,
and Anya Sefton with Rev. Ann)
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