Jesus of the Bayou – Lauren Wright Pittman

First Congregational Church of

Evanston
United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Church
Founded 1869
Sunday, July 30th 2023 | 10 o’clock in the morning
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
 ORDER OF WORSHIP
Responses in italics may be spoken out loud.
Please stand, if you wish, at places marked by an asterisk (*).

Prelude Jesus, Priceless Treasure arr. Jonathan Reuss

Words of Welcome Beth Babbit Borst

*Call to Worship
O Creator of the Cosmos, who knows what the kin-dom of God is like, but also
remembers what it was like before.
Before creation and kin-doms, before mustard seeds and fine pearls, before
yeast and bakers to make bread.
So, you know what it is like to long for them, to imagine them into being,
And it is from this longing for your kin-dom and for you that we enter our
worship. 004-holy god we.mus, Page 1
Yes, come, let us praise and pray to our God of promise.
Let us rejoice in the Good News together—how nothing can separate us from
the presence
THE TRIUNEof God. Amen.
GOD

4
*Opening Hymn HolyHolyGod, We
God, We Praise
Praise Your#4Name
Your Name

& b 43 ˙˙ œœ œ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙ . ˙˙ œœ œœ œœ œœ
˙.
1 Ho - ly God, we praise your name; Lord of all, we
2 Hark! The glad ce - les - tial hymn an - gel choirs a -
3 All a - pos - tles join the strain as your sa - cred

˙˙ œœ œ̇ œœ
4 Ho - ly Fa - ther, Ho - ly Son, Ho - ly Spir - it:

? 3 ˙˙ œœ œœ œ œ
œ œ œ̇ œ œœ ˙. œ
b4 ˙.
& b œ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ Œ ˙
˙ œœ œ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙ .
˙.
bow be - fore you. All on earth your scep - ter claim;
bove are rais - ing; cher - u - bim and ser - a - phim,
name they hal - low; proph - ets swell the glad re - frain,

˙ œ œ œ
three we name you, while in es - sence on - ly one;

˙˙
œœ œœ œ œ
?b ˙ œ œ Œ œ œ œ̇ œ œœ ˙ .
˙.
& b ˙˙ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ Œ ˙˙ œœ œ˙ œ œœ
 œœ œœ œ œ ˙
?b ˙ œ œ œ œ̇ œ œœ ˙ .
œ Œ ˙
˙.
& b ˙˙ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ Œ ˙˙ œœ œ˙ œ œœ
all in heaven a - bove a - dore you. In - fi - nite your
in un - ceas - ing cho - rus prais - ing, fill the heavens with
and the bless - ed mar - tyrs fol - low, and from morn to

˙ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ
un - di - vid - ed God we claim you, and a - dor - ing,

? b ˙ œ œ̇ œ œ ˙ œ œ Œ ˙ œ ˙ œ
œœ ˙˙ .. ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ
& b ˙˙ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œœ ˙.
vast do - main, ev - er - last - ing is your reign.
sweet ac - cord: “Ho - ly, ho - ly, ho - ly Lord!”
set of sun, through the church the song goes on.

œ œ œ
? b œ̇ œ œœ ˙˙ .. ˙ œ ˙ ˙˙ ..
bend the knee while we own the mys - ter - y.

œœ
˙ œ ˙ œ œ œ
Based on an 18th-century German metrical version of a celebrated 5th-century Latin hymn, Te Deum
laudamus, this abbreviated 19th-century English paraphrase is sung by both Protestants and Roman
*Call to Confession -- Prayer
Catholics. It is set here to the tuneof Confession
composed and named for the German version.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
We call upon
TEXT: Attr. our
Ignaz Franz, ancestor,
c. 1774; trans. ClarenceSolomon, who
Alphonsus Walworth, knew to ask
1858, alt. GodGOTT,
GROSSER forWIR
the wisdom
LOBEN DICH to
MUSIC: Allgemeines Katholisches Gesangbuch, c. 1774; harm. Johann Gottfried Schicht, 1819 7.8.7.8.7.7
discern between what is in the spirit of God, and what is not. Like Solomon,
we admit that we don’t always know how to make our way through life—in its
nuances, violence, chaos, and unexpected burdens. We also admit that in our
struggles, we’ve made the wrong choice, hurt others, and clung to our shame.
Forgive us, O God of Wisdom, and teach us your ways of repair. 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!

First Scripture Genesis 29: 15-28 Beth Babbit Borst

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements

Special Music Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated

Frances R. Havergal / Mark Hayes
Aspasia Apostolakis-Miller, Soprano
042-your faithfulness o.mus, Page 1

Sermon Scripture Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52

CREATION AND PROVIDENCE
Sermon “Celebrating the Margin”
Your Faithfulness, O Lord, Is Sure
Rev. Mark Tao
42
b
Your Faithfulness, O(Psalm
Lord, Is145)

& b 44 œœ
*Hymn Sure #42
œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ
1 Your faith - ful - ness, O Lord, is sure in
2 The eyes of all are fixed on you; by
3 Lord, you are just in all your ways, and

? b b 44 œœ œ œ œœ
4 My mouth shall speak your praise, O Lord; my

œ œ œœ œ œ œ œœ œœ
œ œ
b œœ œœ œ œœ
&b œ œœ œ œœ œœ n œœ œœ œ œ œ
œ
all your words, your gra - cious deeds; you gen - tly lift all
you their wants are all sup - plied; your o - pen hand is
kind in ev - ery - thing you do; for - ev - er near you

œœ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ
soul shall bless your ho - ly name; let all things liv - ing

? bb œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ
b œ œ œœ œ
&b œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œ
œ
œœ œœ œœ
bur - dened souls and well pro - vide for all our needs.
boun - ti - ful and ev - ery soul is sat - is - fied.
stand to hear and help all those who call on you.

œ œœ œ
? b b œœ œ œœ œ œœ œ œ œœ œ œœ
join the song of praise, from age to age the same.

œ œ œ œ œ
Invitation to Offering Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song arr. John Carter

*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
Gracious God, this offering is what we have to give you this day. Be it time,
talent or treasure, we lift these gifts to you. It is through you that all things are
made new, and we ask that you renew our spirit, inspiring us to share our
gifts with the least of these. Amen.

Prayers of the People - Pastoral Prayer - Silent Prayer

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.
733-we all And lead usPage
are-312.mus, not1into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and theDISCIPLESHIP
glory, forAND
ever and ever. Amen.
MISSION

733 We All Are One in Mission

#4 jœ
*Closing Hymn We All Are One in Mission
œ
#733

& 4 œœ œœ œ œ
œ œœ œ˙ . œ œ œ œœ œ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
œ
1 We all are one in mis - sion; we all are one in call,
2 We all are called for ser - vice to wit - ness in God’s name.

œ
? # 44 œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ˙ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙.
3 Now let us be u - nit - ed and let our song be heard.

œœ œœ œœ
˙.
# j
& œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ˙ . œ œœ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
our var - ied gifts u - nit - ed by Christ, the Lord of all.
Our min - is - tries are dif - ferent; our pur - pose is the same:

? # œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙ .
Now let us be a ves - sel for God’s re - deem - ing word.

œ ˙ œ œ œœ
œ ˙.
# œ œ œ œ œ ˙
& œ œœ œ œ œ ˙ œœ N œœ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ ˙˙ .
.
 ? # œœ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ ˙ œœ œ œœ
œ
œœ œœ œœ ˙ .
˙.
# œ œ œ œ œ ˙
& œ œœ œ œ œ ˙ œœ N œœ œ œ œ œ ˙.
œ œ œ œ ˙.
A sin - gle, great com - mis - sion com - pels us from a - bove
to touch the lives of oth - ers by God’s sur - pris - ing grace,

œ œ œ
We all are one in mis - sion; we all are one in call,

? # œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ ˙ # œ œ N œœ œ œœ œ œœ
œ ˙˙ ..

# œ œ œ j
& œ œ œ œ œœ œ˙ . œ œœ œ œœ œ œ œœ ˙˙ ..
œ œ œ œ œ
to plan and work to - geth - er that all may know Christ’s love.
so ev - ery folk and na - tion may feel God’s warm em - brace.

œ
our var - ied gifts u - nit - ed by Christ, the Lord of all.

? # œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ˙ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙.
œ œ ˙.
A Lutheran pastor wrote this text in response to a bishop’s letter that said, “Our mission is to touch the lives
of others with Christ’s love.” This theme is made stronger by recognizing that shared purposes do not require
*Benediction and Blessing
the denial of diversity but are enriched by it.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Rusty Edwards, 1985, alt. ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGELEIN
MUSIC: Memmingen ms., 17th cent.; harm. George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1904 7.6.7.6.D
Postlude Toccata
Text © 1986 Hope Publishing Company Robert W. Thygerson

Worship Credits and Sources:

The cover art is the work of Lauren Wright Pittman, shared with permission by the artist for the Vanderbilt Divinity Library project, Art in the
6/6/13
Christian Tradition.

Lauren is an artist, graphic designer, and theologian. She studied Media Design at Middle Tennessee State University, worked as a wetlands advocate
in Southern Louisiana, and attended Columbia Theological Seminary to piece together her passions for artistic expression, design, and Creation Care.

Thoughts from the artist, "Jesus is portrayed in the bayous of Southern Louisiana, expressing the sacrifice that is necessary to protect this fragile
environment. Christ is showing his wounds, calling the viewer to meditate on ways in which we have not cared for the Earth, and have harmed the
lands which were gifted to us to protect."
To purchase works from the artist, visit http://www.lewpstudio.com

The Call to Worship and Prayers were written by Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry of the UCC Worship Ways.

Music Permissions Gud skal alting mage: Jesus, Priceless Treasure. Music: Ludvig M. Lindeman. Setting: Jonathan Reuss. © 2002, Augsburg
Fortress. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Holy God, We Praise Your Name.
Music: Allgemeines Katholisches Gesangbuch, c. 1774; harm. Johann Gottfried Schicht, 1819; Words: Attr. Ignaz Franz, c. 1774; trans. Clarence
Alphonsus Walworth, 1858, alt. Public Domain. From All That Dwell Below the Skies. Music: Geistliche Kirchengesang, 1623, alt.; harm. Ralph
Vaughan Williams, 1906; Words: Stanzas 1, 3, Issac Watts, 1719. Public Domain. Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated. Words: Frances R.
Havergal; Music: Mark Hayes. © 2000, Alfred Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926.
All rights reserved. Your Faithfulness, O Lord, Is Sure. Music: Musikalisches Handbuch, 1690; harm. William Henry Havergal, 1847, alt.; Words:
Joy F. Patterson, 1989. © 1990, Joy F. Patterson. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All
rights reserved. Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song. Music: Peter Cutts. Setting: John Carter. © 1965 and this Arr. © 1995, Hope Publishing
Company. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Praise God From Whom All
Blessings Flow. Music: Genevan Psalter, 1551; Words: Thomas Ken, 1695, 1709. Public Domain. We All Are One in Mission. Music: Memmingen
ms., 17th cent.; harm. George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1904; Words: Rusty Edwards, 1985, alt. © 1986, Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Toccata. Music: Robert W. Thygerson. © 1982,
Lorenz Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved.
Sunday Morning Service Roles
Deacons: Lay Reader
- Dona Nunn - Beth Babbit Borst
- Chris Krei
- Eda Uca
Livestream/Tech Support: Summer Spirit
- Gary Hardesty - Kelly Tran
- Julie Captain - Lucy Coulter
Want to volunteer and get more involved in Sunday services? See the sign-up sheet in
the back of the sanctuary or contact Mahdia at mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org

Meet Guest Minister Rev. Mark Tao

Mark is an ordained minister serving as the Director of
Conference Orientation for the Southeast Conference of
the Evangelical Covenant Church. In his role, Mark
mainly provides coaching and consulting to Conference
church plants. Mark is also pursuing a MTS in Theology
& Ethics at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary,
where his research interests include vulnerability,
decolonial and disability studies. Mark is married to
Valeri, and has been enjoying lots of beach time this
summer with his two young kids Toby and Eva, along with
many cups of iced coffee!

Sign Up to Support Local Families

First Congregational hosts the Family Promise
program in the First Congregational Community
Center. Family Promise provides support and
housing for families facing homelessness. Right
now there are three families enrolled in the program with nine children and they are
seeking meals to feed those hungry mouths.

Please visit the Family Promise link to learn about the families and sign up to provide a
meal for them next week. You can find the online sign-up form in our weekly email
newsletter or contact Mahdia in the Church Office at mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org
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!

Childcare is provided in the downstairs nursery for infants and

children to age 5. The space at the back of the Sanctuary
available for our families. Children K-6 are invited to join Summer Spirit in the park
across from the Sanctuary.

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.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to fully engage
in our community. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about
accessibility, call the Church Office at 847-864-8332 or send an email to
mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org.

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 you are welcome to drop off infants to 3 year-olds with
our Nursery Supervisor.

Use this QR Code to check out events and ongoing programming at

FCCE.
 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/

Church Staff
Rev. Jason W. Coulter, Senior Minister jason@firstchurchevanston.org | ext.21
Matthew Hogan, Music Director matthew@firstchurchevanston.org | ext. 23
Mahdia Lynn, Church Administrator mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org | ext. 22
Lucy Coulter, Summer Intern for Communications & Community Life
Kelly Tran, Nursery Supervisor
Chris Krei, Member at Large
Julie Captain and Sarah Pressly, Co-Moderators

Thank you to Worship, Music and Arts Committee for bringing today’s post-
service refreshments.

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!