The Big Blue Marble – Photograph taken by the crew of Apollo 17 – December 7 1972

First Congregational Church of Evanston

United Church of Christ

An Open and Affirming Church

Founded 1869

Sunday, April 24, 2022 | 10 o’clock in the

morning
Earth Day Sunday
 ORDER OF WORSHIP

Prelude O Filii et Filiae Jean-Francois Dandrieu

Introit “O Sons and Daughters Let us Sing” French Melody

Words of Welcome Robert Krause

*Call to Worship
O Divine Voice,
You sing and the universe comes into being;
O Divine Breath,
You breathe and all things spring to life;
O Divine Flesh,
You are born among us, and dwell with us as Emmanuel;
O Divine Spirit,
You bring energy to all your people;
O Divine Life,
You are the heartbeat of all that is.
Creator God, In all things, you live and move and express your Divine
artistry;
We join with creation in the eternal song of worship and wonder.
Amen

*Hymn #20 All Things Bright and Beautiful

*Gathering Prayer

*Prayer of Confession
O God, our beautiful blue and green home is an awesome, awesome gift.
Yet we trade clean air for the power of convenience, clean water for easy
waste disposal, and wilderness for elbowroom. We marvel more at our
inventions than over your creations. Share your wisdom and teach us how
to be good stewards of your great gift. Guide us in living sustainably, being
satisfied that “enough” is indeed enough. Send your spirit over the waters
again; stir us to action, justice, and wise choices. We pray we can be a part
of restoring your creation to glory and peace. Amen.

*Words of Grace and Mercy

From generation to generation, God’s love overcomes human
sinfulness. God is committed to fresh starts and new creations. This is
good news!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

*Prayer Response
(Hymn 327, stanza 3)
 Eternal are thy mercies, Lord; eternal truth attends thy word:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore, 
till suns shall rise and set no more.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!  Alleluia! Alleluia!

Children’s Message Sarah Petersen

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements Robert Krause

First Scripture John 20:19-31 Robert Krause

Anthem “Forth He Came at Easter” David H. Williams

"Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,
Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been;
Love is come again, Like wheat that springeth green,
In the grave they laid him, Love whom men had slain,
Thinking that never he would wake again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen;
Love is come again, Like wheat that springeth green.
Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain,
Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen;
Love is come again, Like wheat that springeth green."

Sermon Scripture Psalm 109:1-10,15-19

Sermon “Preaching to a Different Choir”Rev. Jason W. Coulter

*Hymn 250 In the Bulb There Is a Flower

Invitation to Offering – “Offertory on LLANFAIR” Elizabeth Krause

*Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise Christ, all people here below;
praise Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, Triune whom we adore. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication
Every part of nature is connected. Every gift we receive comes from you.
Every moment of time is pregnant with new creation. We return this offering
to you in wonder and gratitude. Amen.
Prayers of the People – Pastoral Prayer – Silent Prayer – Prayer of Our
Savior

Prayer of Our Savior

Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy
kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for
ever and ever. Amen.

*Closing Hymn 24 God Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens

*Benediction and Blessing

Choral Response “Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands”J.S. Bach

Postlude “O Filii et Filae” Marsha Melody

 Welcome to First Congregational Church of
Evanston (UCC)!

We are glad you chose to be with us on this Sunday

morning! And we want you to know that no matter
who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you
are welcome here!
Please sign the Attendance Pads in the pews. We invite our visitors to
include your name, address and email so that we might acknowledge your
visit with a card. All are welcome to join us after services in the narthex or
outside for refreshments and conversation.

Welcome Children and Families!
We are so glad you are here today! Children enrich our community and add
vibrancy to our congregation. Please don't fret about coos or cries during
the service. All ages are welcome here. Review these special COVID
guidelines to help keep you and all little ones safe at FCCE:
 Babies, toddlers and children are always welcome to stay with
their families during worship.
 Children older than 2 must wear a mask inside and outside for youth
programming.
 Children should stay with their families during Children's Message
(rather than coming to the front). After the Children's
Message, children ages 5-12 are invited to walk with our teacher team to
our socially distanced Sunday School classroom in the Church House,
½ block down Hinman Ave. Teachers will walk children back to the
sanctuary to meet their families following the service.
 Families with children aged 3 and under can reserve a spot in the indoor
nursery by emailing spetersen@firstchurchevanston.org before 9 am, or
check with the nursery for availability Sunday morning. Due to COVID-
19 protocols, only 2 infants/toddlers are allowed in the nursery at a time.
Our Nursery Supervisor is vaccinated and wears a mask. Additional little
ones are welcome to stay in the sanctuary with their families, make use
of our books and coloring supplies in the rocking chair area at the
entrance to the sanctuary, or head with their adult downstairs to
fellowship hall where speakers play the audio from the service.
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
As masking requirements are being relaxed in communities across the
country, FCCE's Regathering Committee continues to meet and review
recommendations from the City of Evanston, the CDC, as well as to center
the needs of our most vulnerable to best keep us all safe and included in
response to COVID. Starting next Sunday, May 1, 2022, masks will be
optional in the sanctuary and church house, with the exception of the
back 4 rows in the sanctuary during worship when masks will be
required for those preferring to sit near others also wearing
masks. We also will continue to require masks during worship and
Sunday School today to give time for everyone to be informed of our
new policy.

As we celebrate Earth Day today, we are participating in Faith Climate

Action Week, April 22nd-May 1st. Faith Climate Action Week is ten days
in April during Earth Month when Interfaith Power & Light congregations
focus on how we can all take action to protect our climate. The 2022 theme
is "Sacred Trust: Our Children's Right to a Livable Future." Learn more,
discover ways to take climate action, and find events happening near you
by visiting faithclimateactionweek.org.
This year's virtual Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) "Fierce Urgency: Civil
& Human Rights" will also be held this week April 25-27, 2022.

"EAD is an annual gathering of Christian advocates and activists. We

worship, delve deeply into the pressing issues of the day, and lift our voices
by speaking truth to power on Capitol Hill. Join the UCC at this year's EAD
April 25-27, 2022 and lift your voice to restore, protect and expand voting
rights in the U.S. We’ll be joined by other people of faith to stand in
solidarity with communities of color and realize the human rights of ALL
people."

Check our church Facebook page for info on how to receive a code for
FREE online registration or register here: bit.ly/2022EAD. Learn more at:
advocacydays.org.
 WELCOME to First Congregational Church of Evanston

Mission Statement
We express God’s love in action, compassion, and justice.

Open and Affirming Statement

As an inclusive congregation, we welcome all faith experiences and family types; we are
an open and affirming community of faith who welcome and celebrate differences of
age, ability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and national origin.

Immigrant Welcoming Statement

We commit to take actions consistent with the values and resources of our community
to oppose xenophobia and to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation and
the hardships such deportation will cause them and their families.

First Congregational Church of Evanston, UCC

Sanctuary: 1445 Hinman Avenue (at Grove Street)
Mailing address:  1417 Hinman Avenue,  Evanston, IL 60201
Phone:  847-864-8332 | Email:  info@firstchurchevanston.org
Website:  www.firstchurchevanston.org
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/firstcongregationalchurchofevanston/
Instagram: @fcce.ucc

Church Staff
Rev. Jason W. Coulter, Senior Minister jason@firstchurchevanston.org | ext.21
Sarah B. Petersen, Director of Learning & Outreach
spetersen@firstchurchevanston.org |ext. 24
Mahdia Lynn-Greene, Church Administrator mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org | ext. 22
Kelly Tran, Nursery Supervisor
Julie Captain and Sarah Pressly, Co-Moderators

Interim Organist and Music Director

Robert Woodworth

Chancel Choir Quartet

Cindy Senneke, soprano | Hannah Busch, alto
Michael Brauer, tenor | Joseph Roberts, baritone

To make a donation to First Congregational Church you may do

so during the offering, or you may make an electronic donation
through the church website by using this QR Code. Thank you
for your generosity!