June 2020
First Chronicles
The Newsletter of the First Congregational Church of Evanston UCC
One More Thing…
Every day it’s one more thing: thousands diagnosed with
the coronavirus; millions applying for unemployment;
natural disasters; the president trying to exert power he
does not have; the pastor retiring; the kids languishing
without their friends; the adults languishing without
their friends; one more black man tragically killed.
Every day it’s one more thing: elders befriended by
a neighbor offering help; children awakening to the
power of the imagination; signs on hospital lawns
encouraging medical staff; childhood friends reconnect-
ing; and First Congregational Church of Evanston
trying something new!
We are doing something new by planning my send-
off and a welcome for a yet-to-be-named interim pastor,
all while maintaining physical distance. It is not what
we imagined, so it is all the more touching for me to see
the creative ways we are planning to connect with each
other in June. I especially look forward to meeting with
you individually by phone or Zoom this month.
The reason these efforts will be particularly mean-
ingful for us is that after July 1, we are covenanted not
to be in touch with each other until at least a year after
a new permament minister is in place. This may sound
jarring, especially for those of you who have not previ-
ously experienced the retirement of a pastor. This prac-
tice is part and parcel of the ethical guidelines for con-
gregational ministry, because the new pastor needs an
opportunity to bond with the congregation, knowing
that the departing pastor will not be interfering. (A
boundary-training session offered the example of a
couple, one of whom still has lunch every week with
an ex-partner. That scenario likely weakens the couple’s
unity, raises questions, and causes discomfort.) Likewise,
the former pastor cannot pick and choose members with
whom to stay in touch, since that would be hurtful to
those not chosen. It is also healthy for the departing
pastor to be released from the responsibilities of holding
the various blessings and burdens of a church family and
to be ready to embrace the next chapter that God holds.
When I worked as a chaplain, I practiced giving
the patients into God’s hands. I knew I would never
know the end of their stories, but I did know that our
encounter at the hospital made a difference. To be
honest, I am out of practice handing over the people
I care about into God’s hands. Of course I know you
are in God’s loving hands, and have been all along! Still,
I want to hold on, like Mary wanted to hold onto Jesus
when she saw him in the garden. My heart wants to
hold on, but my spirit knows that after July 1, where
you are going, I cannot go. You have an amazing future
ahead in your ministry, in which the movement of Holy
Spirit will thrive. That Spirit will take you to places that
I could not; the Spirit will invite a different kind of
ministry to evolve in your midst, where you will engage
your enthusiasm, hope, and power. God empowers you
to do all things, without limitation.
Our years together were like no other, so we raise
our joyful thanks to the One in whom we live and move
and have our being.
One more thing: You will always be in my prayers.
Blessings,
Rev. Ann
When Will Church Reopen?
We are all anxious to be together! In
this unique situation, we are anxious
in the sense that we have eager
anticipation of reconnecting, sing-
ing, learning, and praying next to
each other. We are also anxious in
the sense that we have anxiety about
the COVID-19 virus spreading,
especially among the vulnerable members of our church
family. The Church Council shares the following:
After Governor Pritzker and local officials permit houses
of worship to reopen, the Church Council will convene
and decide when the church will resume in-person worship
together. The council will also work out the details of
what that will look like, including the necessary safety
and public health precautions we will follow.
We are upheld and sustained by God’s grace and
forever connected by Holy Spirit. Please continue to
reach out to one another—checking in, sending notes,
and sharing God’s love in action, compassion, and
justice.
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Celebrating Rev. Ann’s Ministry
To quote lyrics from the famous musical Hamilton—
And if we get this right
We’re gonna teach ’em how to say
Good-bye
You and I—
The time is approaching for our church community
to join together and prepare how to say goodbye to
Rev. Ann. She has inspired us, supported us, sung with
us, celebrated with us, prayed with us, laughed with us,
and cried with us. Now we need to celebrate all these
aspects of Rev. Ann in our community and send her
off to the next adventure in her life as well as the next
chapter in the First Congregational Church story.
Video and scrapbook. We are creating a video and
scrapbook for Rev. Ann. Please send a 20-second video
to Miko at miko@firstchurchevanston.org. Your video
could be a funny skit, a message to Rev. Ann, or a musi-
cal creation. Send your favorite First Congregational
pictures to Sarah at spetersen@firstchurchevanston.org
to be included in a scrapbook. The deadline to submit
your materials is Friday, June 5.
Special service. Please mark your calendars for
Sunday, June 28, for a special worship service and
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send-off celebrating Rev. Ann’s ministry at First
Congregational Church. The service will be online,
followed by a virtual coffee hour on Zoom to connect
us together online.
Car parade. The Sunday celebration on June 28 will
continue with a car parade past the First Congregational
Church sanctuary at 3:00 p.m. Rev. Ann will greet all
from the front steps. Signs, honking, and general hoopla
will be encouraged as we all drive past the church and
send off Rev. Ann with our love and blessings—all from
a safe distance.
Farewell gift. For those able and interested, addi­
tional details will be forthcoming for making a financial
contribution to a send-off gift for Rev. Ann. A collec-
tion of meaningful gifts are being considered to share
with her to commemorate all that she has brought to
this community.
We hope you will join us for this important day
to learn to say good-bye—and celebrate Rev. Ann!
Interim Pastor Search
The Board of Deacons, led by Bob Krause, is in the
process of interviewing finalists for the interim pastor
position, which will begin July 1. Look for updates soon!
When in Our Music God Is Glorified

NICHOLAS BARTOS
During the Celebration Sunday service on June 14,
we will thank members of our Chancel Choir for
their dedicated work and beautiful music during the
2019–20 program year. Members this season (italics
indicate section leader/soloist) included sopranos
Aspasia Apostolakis,
Sheran Fiedler, Candy
Heaphy, Fawn Ring,
Jean Sacking, Cindy
Senneke, and Anne
Trompeter; altos
Laurie Brown, Hannah
Busch, Jackie Hanks, Thank You, Teachers!
Linda Hanks, Kathy Though our program year ended differently than it
Logan, Lyn Page, began, we still have much love and appreciation for
Janet Raciti, Cheryl our nursery manager and Sunday School teachers
Sefton, and Rhonda Storm; tenors Laura Hamm, Wayne who shepherded our young people on their learning
MacPherson, Charles Moore, and Kevin Siembor; and journeys this year. Many thanks to Linnea Garcia,
basses Gary Hardesty, Joseph Roberts, Jeff Roseberry, Nancy Anderson, Ashley Benirschke, Robert Benirschke,
and Hal Sprague. “It is as though the whole creation Merrylinn Grusch, Laura Hamm, Thekla Metz, Sarah
cried: Alleluia!” Petersen, Rachel Schmahl, and Larissa Tripp for guiding,
nurturing, creating, and learning with our young people
at First Congregational Church.

Summertime: Volunteer Your Gifts during Worship

Singers, instru-
mentalists, or
poetry readers
of all ages are
invited to pre­
sent a special
piece during the
Sunday service
this summer.
Please email
David Lornson at dlornson@firstchurchevanston.org
Happy Graduation! if this opportunity interests you.
Congratulations to all those reaching milestones and
graduating this spring! Online Contact Form
Preschool: Matei Bradean If you would like to share your joys and concerns with
Elementary School: Daisy Bagley, Tesina Mato our pastor, or to let us know if you would like to join
Middle School: Eleanor Hardesty our church or receive our weekly e-news, please use the
High School: Megan Bezaitis, Elena Daniels contact form at firstchurchevanston.org/contact-us. You
College: Dominic Daniels, Miranda Metz can also tell a friend to reach out using the form.
If you are graduating but don’t see your name on
this list, email your name and photo to spetersen@ Church Directory
firstchurchevanston.org by June 7 to be included in our Many thanks to Miko Fentanes and Sheran Fiedler
graduate honor roll for Celebration Sunday, June 14. for working to make our directory up to date. If you
have new contact information, please send it to miko
@firstchurchevanston.org.
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 Immediate Request for Pictures and Videos
We are getting quite adept at bringing information to
our community through social media and our website!
In preparation for future worship, Ann’s farewell,
marketing, and community building, please send
photos or brief videos of the following to spetersen
@firstchurchevanston.org. Thank you!
• You passing the peace (to family, trees, yourself,
the camera, etc.)
• You and/or family watching worship online
• Rev. Ann over the last nine years
• Your artwork during shelter-in-place
• Signs of hope in your midst

Online Resources and Opportunities

• First Congregational Church of Evanston’s “Take
Action” page: firstchurchevanston.org/takeaction
• Our secure “Donate” page: click the “donate”
button at the top right of any page on our website,
firstchurchevanston.org, or use the GivePlus app
on your smartphone
Grocery Workers Are Heroes Too! • Online worship on our website, Facebook, and
It’s now a given that people who keep our food lines YouTube:
going are heroes too! They are forgotten, dedicated - firstchurchevanston.org/worship
workers at all times. The pioneers worried about the - facebook.com/firstcongregationalchurchofevanston
weather and the crops; now we have an enemy virus. - Search “First Congregational Church of Evanston”
Susie Gaskill, a member First Congregational on YouTube
Church for many years, has worked in food service at
the Marriott and Jewel-Osco for over 20 years. She cur-
rently works at the Jewel in Cary, Illinois. In so doing,
she and her fellow workers risk their lives every working Happy Birthday
day. Now they have gloves and masks, but they are still to everyone
at high risk from the virus, not to mention the touchy, cele­brating a
frightened customers. “One lady came up to me, com- birthday in June!
plaining that the meat shelves were bare,” said Susie.
“I tried to explain, but she just got angrier. But there
haven’t been many like her.” There have always been Anne Bauer David Mansen
difficult customers, but now shoppers are facing a Laurie Brown Joseph Page
deadly disease or lack of food, and they may take it Mallen Clifton Elizabeth Phillips
out on anyone who happens to be nearby. Charlotte Cubbage Jeffrey Roseberry
Susie is consistent in her calm, positive demeanor at Laura Hamm Jean Sacking
work, always wishing people well and sharing her care Eleanor Hardesty Lindsey Siemens
with everyone in her path. Without doubt her presence Chris Krei Eliza Sprague
multiplies the goodwill at Jewel and in the wider com- Betsy Lane Cole Tucker
munity. The story of the miracle of loaves and fishes is Roger Lehman Kathy Vissman
our guide about sharing. It seems likely that Susie heard
this beloved story in church.
Thank you, Susie! —Laura Wilson