Viola Sororia – aka the Common Wild Violet

First Congregational Church of Evanston

United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Church
Founded 1869

Sunday, May 15th 2022 | 10 o’clock in the morning

Fifth Sunday in Easter
 ORDER OF WORSHIP
Responses in italics may be spoken out loud.
Please stand as you are able at places marked by an asterisk (*).

Prelude Preludium and Fuga Jan Zach

Introit O Praise the Gracious Power Carol Doran

Words of Welcome Al Cubbage

*Call to Worship
Jesus reminded the disciples
Love one another as I have loved you.
Jesus taught and witnessed to God’s love
Love one another as I have loved you.
Jesus calls us to love each other with tenderness, compassion, and
037-let all 038-to bless.mus, Page 1
hope.
Let us love one another as Christ loved us. AMEN.
CREATION AND PROVIDENCE

37 Let37All Things
*Opening Hymn Now
Let all Things Living
Now Living
#3 œœ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
G D G Am D

& 4œ œ œ œ œ
1 Let all things now liv - ing a song of thanks - giv - ing
2 By law God en - forc - es, the stars in their cours - es,

#
œ œ œ œ œ œ
G C G D G

& œ œ œ œ œ ˙
œ
to God our Cre - a - tor tri - um - phant - ly raise;
the sun in its or - bit o - be - dient - ly shine;

# œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
G D G Am D

& œ œ œ œ
who fash - ioned and made us, pro - tect - ed and stayed us,
the hills and the moun - tains, the riv - ers and foun - tains,

#
œœœœ œ
G C G D G

& œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
œ
by guid - ing us on to the end of our days.
the depths of the o - cean pro - claim God di - vine.

# œ
& œœ œ œœ œ œ œœ # œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œœ
Harmony G E Am D

œ œ œ
 # œ œ œ
& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ
who fash - ioned and made us, pro - tect - ed and stayed us,
the hills and the moun - tains, the riv - ers and foun - tains,

#
œœœœ œ
G C G D G

& œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
œ
by guid - ing us on to the end of our days.
the depths of the o - cean pro - claim God di - vine.

# œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œœ
Harmony G E Am D

& œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ
God’s ban - ners are o’er us; pure light goes be - fore us,

œ œ œ
?# œ œ œ œ œœ œœ # œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ
We too should be voic - ing our love and re - joic - ing;

n œœ œ œ
# œ #œ ˙
œ œ œ œœ œ œœ
G Em D A7 D

& œœ œ œ
œ œœ œœ œ œ ˙
a pil - lar of fire shin - ing forth in the night:

? # œœ œœ œ œœ œœ # œ œœ œœ
with glad ad - o - ra - tion, a song let us raise,

œ œ œ œ ˙˙
œ
Written for an easy-to-sing folk melody familiar in England as well as Wales, this 20th-century North
*Gathering Prayer
American text bears many resemblances to both Psalm 148 and the traditional canticle Benedicite, omnia opera
Domini (Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*Prayer of Confession
TEXT: Katherine K. Davis, 1939, alt.
MUSIC: Welsh folk melody; harm. Gerald H. Knight, 20th cent.
ASH GROVE
6.6.11.6.6.11.D
Eternal God, it’s so easy to get lost in the noise and busyness of life.
Text © 1939, 1966 E. C. Schirmer Music Company
Music Harm. © Royal School of Church Music
Forgive the times we lose focus and forget the praise we owe you,
offering it to the world instead. You alone are worthy of our praise.
You alone are worthy of our adoration. You alone are worthy of our
love. Creator who makes all things new, renew our hearts and
strengthen our resolve, that we may graciously receive what you have
in store for us today.

*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 Al Cubbage

First Scripture John 13:31-35 Al Cubbage

Anthem Offertory John Ness Beck

With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
Shall I come before Him with yearling calves?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give Him my first born for my transgressions,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O man; he has shown you what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice
and to love kindness and to walk humbly,
walk humbly with your God?

Sermon Scripture Acts 11:1-18 Rev. Jason

W. Coulter

Sermon “You Can’t Hinder God” Rev. Jason W. Coulter

 ? # œœ œœ œœ ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
œ
˙
˙

O LoveO Love
ThatThatWilt Not Go Me Go 833
Let
#4
& 4 œ œ . œj œ œœ # œœ œœ ˙˙ . œ œœ œœ .. œœj
*Hymn 833 Will Not Let Me

œ J
1 O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my
2 O Light that fol - lowest all my way, I yield my
3 O Joy that seek - est me through pain, I can - not

œ œœ œ . œj
? # 44 œ œœ .. œœ œœ œœ ˙
4 O Cross that lift - est up my head, I dare not

œœ œœ ˙. J
œ J
# j
& œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ . œ œ œ . œ œ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ . œ œœ
œ œ. œ #œ œ
wea - ry soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that
flick - ering torch to thee; my heart re - stores its bor - rowed ray, that
close my heart to thee; I trace the rain - bow through the rain, and

œ œœ œœ œœ ˙ .
ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life’s glo - ry dead, and

?# ˙. œœ œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œ œ ˙˙ . œœ
J œ œ .
# j j
& # œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ . œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ . ˙ œ ˙ .
. J
in thine o - cean depths its flow may rich - er, full - er be.
in thy sun - shine’s blaze its day may bright - er, fair - er be.
feel the prom - ise is not vain that morn shall tear - less be.

œ œ œœ .. œœ œœ œ ˙ ˙ ˙.
from the ground there blos - soms red life that shall end - less be.

? # œ. œ œ œœ œ ˙ ˙
œ . œJ œ œ œ J ˙.
This intense hymn of commitment to God (addressed as Love, Light, and Joy) closes with an invocation of
the ultimate testimony to those attributes (the Cross). The composer, a Scotsman, named this specially-
composed tune for the 11th-century patroness of Scotland.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Invitation to Offering
TEXT: George Matheson, 1881, alt. – Let All Things Now Living Dennis Janzer
ST. MARGARET
MUSIC: Albert Lister Peace, 1884, alt. 8.8.8.8.6

6/10/13
*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
Holy God, you have given us so much. Through your love and abundance,
our cup overflows. From the bounty of your blessings, we offer these gifts
back to you. Use these offerings for your glory, as we work to bring your
kingdom here on earth. 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
318-in christ there.mus, Page 1
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. THE CHURCH

In Christ There
*Closing Hymn 318 Is No
In Christ ThereEast or West
Is No East or West 318
b œ œ œ œ
& b b 44 œœ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œœ
œ œœ
1 In Christ there is no east or west, in
2 In Christ shall true hearts ev - ery - where their
3 Join hands, dis - ci - ples of the faith, what -

? b b 44 œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ œœ œœ
4 In Christ now meet both east and west; in

b œ œ

b bb œœ œœ œ œœ
& œœ œ œ œœ ˙˙ .. œœ œœ œ
him no south or north, but one great fel - low -
high com - mu - nion find; his ser - vice is the
e’er your race may be. All chil - dren of the
him meet south and north. All Christ - ly souls are
 1 In Christ there is no east or west, in
2 In Christ shall true hearts ev - ery - where their
3 Join hands, dis - ci - ples of the faith, what -

? b b 44 œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ œœ œœ
4 In Christ now meet both east and west; in

b œ œ

b œ
& b b œœ œ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ .. œœ œœ œœ œ œœ
him no south or north, but one great fel - low -
high com - mu - nion find; his ser - vice is the
e’er your race may be. All chil - dren of the

? b œœ œœ œœ œ ˙. œ
œ b œ œœ
œ œ
him meet south and north. All Christ - ly souls are

bb œ ˙. œ œ œ
œ

b
&b b œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
œ
ship of love through - out the whole wide earth.
gold - en cord close - bind - ing hu - man - kind.
liv - ing God are sure - ly kin to me.

œœ œ œ œ œœ œ ˙˙ ..
one in him through - out the whole wide earth.

? bb œ œœ œœ œ
b œ œ œ

*Benediction and Blessing

Choral Response “Savior, Again to thy Dear Name we Raise” Edw J.

Hopkins

Postlude “Postlude in E”Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck

This text formed a very small part of an elaborate Christian missionary pageant in the early 20th century,
yet it has endured while the grander aspects of that production have faded away. It is set to a simple 19th-
century tune that does not get in the way of its message.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Worship Credits and Sources:
TEXT: John Oxenham, 1908, alt.
MUSIC: Alexander Robert Reinagle, 1836
ST. PETER
CM
(alternate tune: MC KEE, 317)

Call to Worship, Confession and Offertory Prayers by Mark Sorenson,

published in the Abingdon Worship Annual. Wild Violet image from
urbanforestry.org
4/10/13
Welcome to First Congregational Church of Evanston, UCC

We are so glad you chose to be with us today!

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s
journey, you are welcome here.

Visitors: Please sign the attendance pad in your

pew with your name, address, and email so we may send a note to say
hello. Visit our website to learn more, follow us on Facebook or Instagram,
and sign up for our weekly e-newsletter to keep informed of life at FCCE.

Babies and Toddlers: Little ones 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. Visit our rocking chair area to find
books & coloring pages for use during the service, or drop off infants to 3
year-olds in our staffed and colorful nursery on the lower level.

Children: After the Children's Message, preK-elementary students are

invited to walk with the teachers to our multi-age Sunday School classroom
in the Church House, 1/2 block down Hinman Ave. We aim to make
Sunday School a place where children can deepen their relationship with
God and one another, speak openly from their hearts, and have fun with
crafts and games! Caregivers are always welcome to sit in. At the end of
Sunday School, teachers bring the children back to the sanctuary to join
their families for fellowship time.

Everyone: All are welcome to join us after service in the entryway or

outside for refreshments and conversation. There are opportunities to
learn, to serve, to grow, to care and be cared for here. You are important to
us. God is still speaking!

Use this QR Code to check out events and ongoing

programming at FCCE.
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bible Study on First Corinthians

The Wednesday evening Bible Study will be reconvening on Wednesday,

May 18 at 7:30 pm via Zoom for a study of First Corinthians. Look for the
materials and Zoom links in the e-newsletter or contact the church office for
more info.

Book Group
The FCCE Book Group is considering a number of books for our next read
and should have a title to announce next week. We plan on meeting on a
monthly basis beginning in June. More details to come…

FCCE Covid Protocols

Masks are now optional in the sanctuary and church house, with the
exception of the back 4 rows in the sanctuary during worship. In those
rows, masks are required to provide safe space for those preferring to sit
near others also wearing masks. As always, we encourage you to wear a
mask to protect yourself and others.

Thank you to today's Sunday School teachers, Sarah Petersen and Robert
Benirschke

Today’s refreshments are provided by the Worship, Music and Arts

Committee
SAVE THE DATE: Celebration Sunday, June 12th
Join us to honor our graduates, teachers, choir, and all our life journeys
together on Celebration Sunday! We'll recognize important milestones
throughout the 10am worship, then continue the celebration after the
service with lunch and fellowship time on the street. Our family-friendly
festivities will include good food, community art-projects, crafts, games and
ways to reconnect with one another across the lifespan.

If you or someone you love is graduating or going through a milestone

transition, please email Sarah Petersen
<spetersen@firstchurchevanston.org> by May 30th with their photo, name,
and milestone (ex. graduation from preschool, kindergarten, elementary
school, middle school, high school, college, graduate school, retirement,
etc.). We want to celebrate with you wherever you are on life's journey!
 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 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!