Moses – John August Swanson (1983)

First Congregational Church of

Evanston
United Church of Christ

An Open and Affirming Church

Founded 1869

Sunday, September 17th 2023 | 10 o’clock in the morning

Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
 ORDER OF WORSHIP
Responses in italics may be spoken out loud.
Please rise, in body or in spirit, at places marked by an asterisk (*).

Prelude We Pray Now to the Holy Spirit Dietrich Buxtehude

Introit Come Sing, O Church, in Joy! arr. Joel Raney

Words of Welcome Aspasia Apostolakis

*Call to Worship
Bless the Holy One with our whole selves. Praise the Maker of our being!
Remember the mighty deeds and the good works of our God.
The Sovereign One endows us with many gifts and equips us to do good work.
Remember the mighty deeds and the good works of our God.
Holy Love entered the world without condemnation307-god
but withofgrace and forgiveness,
grace.mus, Page 1
mercy and compassion, redemption and restoration.
Hallelujah! We give thanks for the mighty deeds and the good works of our God!
THE CHURCH

307
*Opening Hymn God of Grace and God of Glory #307
God of Grace and God of Glory
#4 j
& 4 œ œœ œ . œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ
œ
1 God of grace and God of glo - ry, on thy peo - ple
2 Lo! the hosts of e - vil round us scorn thy Christ, as -
Cure thy chil - dren’s war - ring mad - ness; bend our pride to

j œ
3

œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ
4 Save us from weak res - ig - na - tion to the e - vils

? # 44 œ œœ œ . œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
# œ j œ
& œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ
œ ˙ œœ œ œ . œ œ œ œ œ œ
pour thy power; crown thine an - cient chur - ch’s sto - ry; bring its
sail his ways! From the fears that long have bound us free our
thy con - trol; shame our wan - ton, self - ish glad - ness, rich in

œj œ
œ œ
we de - plore. Let the gift of thy sal - va - tion be our

? # œœ œœ ˙ œ œœ œ .
œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ
˙ œ œ œ œ
# œ œ jœ jœ
& œ œ œ œœ . œ
œœ ˙˙ œœ .. œœ œ œœ œœ . œ œ œ œœ
bud to glo - rious flower. Grant us wis - dom, grant us cour - age,
hearts to faith and praise. Grant us wis - dom, grant us cour - age,
things and poor in soul. Grant us wis - dom, grant us cour - age,
 ? # œœ œœ ˙ œ œ œ.
œ œ œ
œ
œ œ
œœ œœ œ œœ
˙ œ œ œ
# œ œ j jœ
& œ œ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ œ œ .
œœ .. œ œ œ œ . œ œ œ
œ œ œœ
œ
bud to glo - rious flower. Grant us wis - dom, grant us cour - age,
hearts to faith and praise. Grant us wis - dom, grant us cour - age,
things and poor in soul. Grant us wis - dom, grant us cour - age,

œ œ . œ œ œ œ œœ .. œ œœ œ œœ
? # œ œœ œœ œœ ˙
glo - ry ev - er - more. Grant us wis - dom, grant us cour - age,

œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ
˙ J J
# œ . œj œ œ w œ . j œ
& œ. œ œ œ œœ œ w œ . œ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ ˙˙
œ
for the fac - ing of this hour, for the fac - ing of this hour.
for the liv - ing of these days, for the liv - ing of these days.
lest we miss thy king-dom’s goal, lest we miss thy king -dom’s goal.

œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œ œ w œ ˙ œœ .. œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙˙
serv - ing thee whom we a - dore, serv - ing thee whom we a - dore.

?# J œ œ wœ œ J œ œ œ
This stirring hymn used at the opening of Riverside Church in New York in 1930 was penned by its widely-
known and influential pastor, and it has gained a firm place in English-language hymnals around the world.
*Call to Confession -- Prayer of Confession
The Welsh tune name honors the Rhondda Valley in Glamorganshire.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
God ofTEXT:
grace, weFosdick,
Harry Emerson need 1930,your
alt. strength in our weakness. We confess CWM RHONDDA that we
can be judgmental and hyper-critical of our neighbors, family, and friends. We
MUSIC: John Hughes, 1907 8.7.8.7.8.7.7

project our own shortcomings on others in order to deflect attention from our
mistakes. We withhold mercy and place conditions on the forgiveness we
extend4/10/13
to others. Even still, we struggle to forgive ourselves. You have shown
us the better way. Help us to follow your path–receiving and extending
forgiveness in a world in need of an infusion of grace for transformation. In
your mercy, O God, hear our prayer, and let us forgive as you forgive. 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 Exodus 14: 19-31 Aspasia Apostolakis

Children’s Message Rev. Jason Coulter

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements

Anthem There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy Maurice Bevan

There's a wideness in God's mercy like the wideness of the sea; there's
a kindness in his justice which is more than liberty. There is no place
where earth's sorrows are more felt than up in heaven; there is no
place where earth's failings have such kindly judgement given. For
the love of God is broader than the measure of man's mind; and the
heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind. But we make his love
too narrow by false limits of our own; and we magnify his strictness
with a zeal he will not own. There is plentiful redemption in the blood
that has been shed; there is joy for all the members in the sorrows of
the Head. There is grace enough for thousands of new worlds as great
as this; there is room for fresh creations in that upper home of bliss. If
our love were but more simple, we should take him at his word; and
our lives would be all gladness in the joy of Christ our Lord.
(F.W. Faber)

Sermon Scripture Matthew 18: 25-35 729-lord i want.mus, Page 1

Sermon “Settling Up” Rev. Liz Jones

DISCIPLESHIP AND MISSION

*Hymn
729 Lord, I Want to Be a Christian #729
Lord, I Want to Be a Christian
## 4
& 4 œ œ œ . œj œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙˙ œœ œœ œ˙ œ
Ó ! Ó œ œ
1 Lord, I want to be a Chris - tian in my heart, in my heart;
2 Lord, I want to be more lov - ing in my heart, in my heart;
3 Lord, I want to be more ho - ly in my heart, in my heart;

? # # 44 Ó œœ œœ ˙˙ œœ œ œ˙ œ
4 Lord, I want to be like Je - sus in my heart, in my heart;

! Ó œ
## jœ
& œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ w˙ ˙ ˙˙
Lord, I want to be a Chris - tian in my heart.
 ? # # 44 Ó ! Ó œœ œœ ˙ œœ œ œ̇
œ
## j
& œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ w˙ ˙ ˙˙
Lord, I want to be a Chris - tian in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more lov - ing in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more ho - ly in my heart.

œ .. œ œ œ
Lord, I want to be like Je - sus in my heart.

? # # œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙w ˙ ˙˙
J œ œ œ œ
U
## œ œ ˙˙ œ œœ
& œ œ ww ww ˙˙
œ
In my heart, in my heart,

œ œ ˙˙ œ œ ˙
In my heart, in my heart,

? ## Ó Ó œ œ Ó Ó œ œ ˙
u
## jœ
& œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ ww ˙˙
Lord, I want to be a Chris - tian in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more lov - ing in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more ho - ly in my heart.

œ .. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Lord, I want to be like Je - sus in my heart.

? # # œœ œœ œ œ œ œ ww ˙˙
J œ œ œ œ
Through its recurring phrase, “in my heart,” this poignant African American spiritual expresses the desire
that our professed faith will not be superficial or hypocritical but will permeate the very center of our being,
Invitation_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
to Offering Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
so that we may truly be the people God calls us to be. J. Wayne Kerr
TEXT and MUSIC: African American spiritual I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN
Irregular
*Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise6/6/13
Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, Triune whom we adore. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication
Merciful God, receive our humble offerings as a testimony to your provision
and a demonstration of our love. May they be magnified and multiplied for the
benefit of our community and all creation.
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. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine435-theres
is the kingdom, and the
a wideness.mus, power,
Page 1
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
FORGIVENESS
*Closing Hymn There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy #435
435 There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
#4
& 4 œœ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ
œ œ œ
1 There’s a wide - ness in God’s mer - cy, like the wide - ness

œ œ œ
œœ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œœ
2 For the love of God is broad - er than the mea - sures

?# 4 œ
4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
#
& œ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
œ œ
of the sea. There’s a kind - ness in God’s jus - tice,

œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ
œ œœ œœ œ
of the mind. And the heart of the E - ter - nal

?# œ œ œ œ
œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ
# œ œ œ
& œ œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ œ n œœ œ œœ œœ œœ # œœ
œ
which is more than lib - er - ty. There is no place where earth’s

? # œ œœ œ œœ œœœ œ ˙ œ nœ œœ œœ œ œœ
is most won - der - ful - ly kind. If our love were but more

œ œ œœœ œ ˙ œ œ œ
#
& œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œ œ
#œ œ œ
sor - rows are more felt than up in heaven. There is no place

œ
?# œ
œ œ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ
faith - ful, we would glad - ly trust God’s Word, and our lives re -

œ œœ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
#
& œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙
 ?# œ œœ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
#
& œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙
where earth’s fail - ings have such kind - ly judg - ment given.

œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ ˙
? # œœ œ œ œ œ
flect thanks - giv - ing for the good - ness of our Lord.

œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
These stanzas, excerpted from quite a few more, offer a reminder that the model for our dealings with others
should be God’s generosity rather than limited human tolerance. The text is effectively set to a broad and
*Benediction and Blessing
sturdy Dutch folk melody, probably from the 17th century.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Frederick William Faber, 1854, alt. IN BABILONE
MUSIC: Dutch melody; arr. Julius Röntgen, c. 1906 8.7.8.7.D
Choral Response Lord, Make Us More Holy African-American Spiritual

Postlude Voluntary Douglas E. Wagner

4/10/13

Worship Credits and Sources:

Call to Worship and Prayers from the Rev. Cheryl Lindsey of the UCC Worship Ways

JOHN AUGUST SWANSON makes his home in Los Angeles, California, where he was born in 1938. He paints in
oil, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media, and is an independent printmaker of limited edition serigraphs, lithographs
and etchings.
His art reflects the strong heritage of storytelling he inherited from his Mexican mother and Swedish father. John
Swanson’s narrative is direct and easily understood. He addresses himself to human values, cultural roots, and his
quest for self-discovery through visual images. These include Bible stories and social celebrations such as attending
the circus, the concert, and the opera. He also tells of everyday existence, of city and country walks, of visits to the
library, the train station or the schoolroom. All his parables optimistically embrace life and one’s spiritual
transformation.

Music Permissions Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist (We Pray Now to the Holy Spirit). Music: Dietrich
Buxtehude. Public Domain. Darwall's 148th. Music: John Darwall. Setting: Joel Raney. © 2016, Hope Publishing
Company. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights
reserved. Come Sing, O Church, in Joy! Music: John Darwall, 1770; Words: Brian Dill, 1988. © 1988, Brian Dill.
All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights
reserved. Cwm Rhondda. Music: John Hughes. Setting: Hal H. Hopson. © 2016, Hope Publishing Company. All
rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. God of Grace and
God of Glory. Music: John Hughes, 1907; Words: Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1930, 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. There's a Wideness in God's Mercy. Music: Maurice Bevan; Words:
F.W. Faber. © 1999, Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. Reprinted and podcast with permission under
ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Lord, I Want to Be a Christian. Words and Music: African
American Spiritual. Public Domain. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee. Music: Ludwig van Beethoven. Setting: J.
Wayne Kerr. © 2012, Augsburg Fortress. 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. There's a Wideness in God's Mercy. Music: Dutch melody; arr. Julius
Röntgen, c. 1906; Words: Frederick William Faber, 1854, alt. Public Domain. Lord, Make Us More Holy. Words
and Music: African-American Spiritual. Public Domain. Voluntary. Music: Douglas E. Wagner. © 1984, Hope
Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights
reserved.
Sunday Morning Service Roles:
Deacons: Lay Reader
- Nick Tucker - Aspasia Apostolakis
- Candy Heaphy
- Doug Irwin
Livestream/Tech Support: Sunday School
- Gary Hardesty - Rhonda Storm
- Julie Captain - Eda Uca
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

The church historians have been organizing our archives and have uncovered extra
communion plates, church cookbooks, historical paintings and many old and unique items
that can be yours as a keepsake. All funds raised go to support the church and its mission.
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 4. The space at the back of the
Sanctuary available for our families. Children K-6 are invited to Sunday School in the
First Congregational Community Center after the Children’s Message.

Visitors: We are delighted that you are joining us for worship. Please sign the
Welcome Book at the back of the sanctuary. 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 fellowship space for refreshments and
conversation.

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 4 year-olds with our
Nursery
Supervisor.

Children: Young people are invited to come forward for the Children’s Message during
worship. Afterwards, children in grades K-6th are welcome to walk with our teacher
team to our Sunday School classroom at the Community Center, 1/2 block down
Hinman Ave. At the end of the service, leaders bring children back to the sanctuary to
join their families for fellowship time. Adult visitors are welcome to accompany their
children to Sunday School. Connect with Rev. Liz Jones if you have any questions.

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
Liz Jones, Minister of Communications & Community Life | liz@firstchurchevanston.org
Dave Canfield, Student Pastor | dave@firstchurchevanston.org
Jordan Griffin, Justice Fellow | jordan@firstchurchevanston.org
Kelly Tran, Nursery Supervisor
Julie Captain and Sarah Pressly, Co-Moderators

Chancel Choir Quartet

Cara Collins, soprano | Christina Adams, alto
Michael Brauer, tenor | Joseph Roberts, bass
Please join us immediately following today’s service for fellowship and
refreshments thanks to our Deacons.

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!