First Chronicles Summer 2024

Summer 2024
FIRST CHRONICLES
The Newsletter of the First Congregational Church of Evanston UCC
A New Thing • The inaugural Interfaith Family Pride Festival

“What has been will be again, what has been done will brought together 15 Evanston faith communities who
be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” planned and pulled off a vibrant, fun, family-friendly
—Ecclesiastes 1:9 festival that filled Raymond Park with rainbows, drag
queens, music, and fun. (Be sure to check out the
“See, I am about to do a new thing, now it springs forth,
photos on page 3.) More than 500 people of all ages
do you not perceive it?” —Isaiah 43:19
attended the festival, which featured music and per-
Here are some of the new things happening at First formances by the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, Drag
Congregational Church of Evanston: Bubbie Merriam Levkowitz, Artemis Singers, FCCE’s
• Work has been completed on a new kitchen and own Lucy Coulter, and award-winning drag musician
ADA-accessible bathroom in the church sanctuary. Flamy Grant. Thank you to all of the FCCE volun-
The kitchen is named “Corene’s Kitchen” to honor teers who showed up to make the day a success!
Corene McCollum, the FCCE member who shared • Lastly, the church has welcomed three new members
a transformational bequest with the church in 2022. to our congregation, fine people who were attracted to
The kitchen and bathroom are beautiful and practical. the joy and hope that are present in our church.
The kitchen aids our refreshments program, and the The Spirit of the Living God is blowing through
bathroom allows our guests to use the facilities with- Evanston, inspiring the people of First Congregational
out navigating stairs. What a blessing! to take risks, try new things, and put our best foot
• In the Community Center (formerly known as the forward. Cynics may sneer and say it’s just the same
Church House), construction on new accessible bath- old church, but I believe God is at work among us.
rooms, refreshed office spaces, and a new conference I have faith that these new initiatives will bear fruit
room is finished. The Community Center’s church wing and that the church will experience new growth in
will support our staff and allow our boards to conduct the months and years to come.
hybrid meetings using the best technology available. Pastor Jason
New improvements
to the sanctuary
building: Corene’s
Kitchen (left) and the
new ADA-accessible
bathroom (right)
1
Spring at First Congregational Church comed first-time visitors, out-of-town guests, and old
Spring was popping at First Congregational Church friends alike to celebrate Easter together.
of Evanston. We welcomed new members, celebrated The Memorial
Easter in our signature style, and filled our sanctuary Garden was filled
with music at our inaugural Music First concert. with shouts of glee
as children hunted
Holy Week and Easter for eggs following
Holy Week and Easter are always rich and meaning- Easter worship.
ful seasons at First Congregational Church. This year Thanks to the
was no different. During Holy Week, we paraded volunteers who
around Raymond Park on Palm Sunday and wor- donated candy and
shipped with Good News Community UCC and prizes and stuffed
Sherman UMC on Maundy Thursday and Good the eggs, and to
Friday. Easter Sunday morning was marked with teens and college
music and a celebratory worship service for all ages. students who hid
the eggs for the
youngsters to find!
FCCE welcomes
new members
First Congrega
tional Church of
Evanston UCC
is growing! The
community
rejoiced to wel-
come William
First Congregational joined Simmons, Niki
with other area churches for Moe, and Briant Mills-Rose as new members of the
the annual Palm Sunday congregation during worship on March 24, 2024.
procession around Raymond
Park. It was a joyful parade “Spring is Popping!” launches Music First series
with friends old and new, FCCE Music Director Matthew Hogan and clarinet-
and a special visit from Iris ist Jennifer Petkus presented a diverse program of
the donkey! crowd-pleasers at “Spring is Popping!” The first
installment in First Congregational’s signature concert
series, Music First, the performance featured Hogan
on bassoon, piano, and organ and Petkus on clarinet.
FCCE member Sheran Fiedler provided additional
piano accompaniment. Be sure to watch the weekly
First on Friday email for information about upcoming
Music First concerts. Thank you to Anne Trompeter
and Paul Janicki for organizational and marketing
work on this event!
Anne Trompeter
FCCE celebrated Resurrection Sunday in grand style,

with a brass quintet, soaring choral anthems, favorite
hymns, and a sermon full of hope. The church wel-
2
Interfaith Family Pride Festival a Success Artemis Singers, award-winning drag musician Flamy
On June 2, the inaugural Interfaith Family Pride Grant, and our congregation’s own Lucy Coulter. The
Festival filled Raymond Park with music, circus per- Actors Gymnasium brought circus arts to the festival
formers, joy, and rainbows! First Congregational grounds, giving kids of all ages the chance to try out
Church of Evanston joined with 14 other faith com- everything from juggling to tightrope walking. First
munities to organize a wonderful kickoff to Pride Congregational’s sanctuary served as the backdrop for
month. The family-friendly festival celebrated the the festival, which attracted 500 attendees. We can’t
diversity of Evanston’s LGBTQ community and fea- wait to see you next year for the Second Annual IFPF!
tured music from the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, Mark your calendars for the first Saturday in June.
Mary Kay Devine Anne Trompeter
Mary Kay Devine
Mary Kay Devine
Mahdia Lynn
Clockwise from upper left: Pastor Jason and FCCE members Thekla Metz and Candy Heaphy staffing the information booth; Lucy
Coulter’s festival performance; a young attendee trying the tightrope, coached by an Actors Gymnasium artist; headliner Flamy Grant
performing on the main stage; a “family photo” of FCCE volunteers and attendees; Jeff Roseberry enjoying free C & W ice cream
3
Summer at First Congregational Church!
Mark your calendars for summer fun! Join us as
we celebrate the season with art, nature, play, and
fellowship. Be sure to check out the weekly First
on Friday email newsletter for all the details, or
call the church office at (847) 864-8332 for more
information.
Online Resources and Opportunities

• FCCE’s “Take Action” page at
firstchurchevanston.org/takeaction The Altered Hat
• Our secure “Donate” page: click the “donate” Members of the FCCE community of all ages have
button at the top right of any page on our website, been hard at work on their hats for the Altered Hat
firstchurchevanston.org, or use the GivePlus app Fashion Show! Be sure to check out the hats in the
on your smartphone art gallery and make plans to attend the official open-
• Online worship at firstchurchevanston.org/worship, ing tea party and fashion show on June 23 after the
facebook.com/firstcongregationalchurchofevanston, service. The hats will be displayed in the gallery space
or YouTube (search “First Congregational Church throughout the summer. Thank you to Rhonda Storm
of Evanston” and the Community Life Board for organizing and
supporting these workshops and the opening event.
Happy April–August Birthdays!

Anne Bauer Pamela Daniels Brock Janicki Joseph Page Tom Snider
Joel Bauer Richard Davis Jillian Jarrett Jonas Petersen Eliza Sprague
Justin Bauer Kingsley Day Chris Krei Sylvia Petersen Sam Sprague
Ashley Benirschke Laima Day Jansen Krei Elizabeth Phillips Rhonda Storm
Andrei Bradean Gregory DeStefano Betsy Lane Janet Raciti Danny Todd
Barbara Bright Phyllis Donnan Adrian Lawrence Fawn Ring John Todd
Laurie Brown Connor Doyle Roger Lehman James Robertson Sarah Todd
Beth Chill Donald Durkes Alice Lutton Jeffrey Roseberry Bill Tripp
Mallen Clifton Lucy Fredrickson David Mansen Emma Schmahl Larissa Tripp
Mark Clifton Anne Gauthier Kaden McMillan Don Sheber Matthew Tripp
Travis Clifton Rosa Geracaris Phoebe Metz Avery Shikanai Cole Tucker
Sadie Clutter Laura Hamm David Ogbolumani Molly Shikanai Alexandra Vasquez
David Colton Alexander Hardesty Isabella Ogbolumani Nolan Shikanai Laura Wilson
Charlotte Cubbage Eleanor Hardesty Lacey Ogbolumani Lindsey Siemens Kylie Yost
Scott Omundson

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First Chronicles Summer 2024

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Summer 2024

A New Thing • The inaugural Interfaith Family Pride Festival

FCCE celebrated Resurrection Sunday in grand style,

Online Resources and Opportunities

Happy April–August Birthdays!

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