Vineyards by Vincent Van Gogh (1890)

First Congregational Church of

Evanston
United Church of Christ

An Open and Affirming Church

Founded 1869

Sunday, October 8th, 2023 | 10 o’clock in the morning

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

Prelude Spirit of the Living God Robert W. Thygerson

Introit Blessed Jesus, at Your Word Roger Summers

Words of Welcome Sheran Fiedler

*Call to Worship
We come from the East, the West, the South, and the North into this sacred space
to worship the living God who walks with us.
O, God, we worship you for who you are, for loving and granting us your
grace.
We lift our hands in praise to you and open our hearts to worship you in the fullness
394-christ is made-350.mus, Page 1
of who we are.
Let us worship the Lord our God with joyful and thankful hearts. Amen!
GATHERING

*Opening Hymn
ChristChrist the Sure Foundation 394
is Made the Sure Foundation #394
Is Made
#6G œ ˙ . j
˙ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ œœ
C D G

& 4 œ
1 Christ is made the sure foun - da - tion, Christ the head and
2 To this tem - ple, where we call you, come, O Lord of
3 Here be - stow on all your ser - vants what they seek from
4 Laud and hon - or to the Fa - ther, laud and hon - or

#
œ œ ˙
D A D D7 G

& œ ˙ ˙. ˙ ˙ œ ˙ œ
cor - ner - stone, cho - sen of the Lord and pre - cious,
hosts, and stay; come, with all your lov - ing - kind - ness;
you to gain; what they gain from you, for - ev - er
to the Son, laud and hon - or to the Spir - it,

# Am˙ œ œ. œ œ
B7 Em E A

& J œ œ ˙ ˙. #˙ œ ˙ œ
bind - ing all the church in one; ho - ly Zi - on’s
hear your peo - ple as we pray, and your full - est
with the bless - ed to re - tain; and here - af - ter
ev - er three and ev - er one: one in might and

#
œ ˙.
D G C D G D sus D G

& ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙
 bind - ing all the church in one; ho - ly Zi - on’s
hear your peo - ple as we pray, and your full - est
with the bless - ed to re - tain; and here - af - ter
ev - er three and ev - er one: one in might and

#
œ ˙.
D G C D G D sus D G

& ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ ˙
help for - ev - er, and our con - fi - dence a - lone.
ben - e - dic - tion shed with - in these walls to - day.
in your glo - ry ev - er - more with you to reign.
one in glo - ry while un - end - ing a - ges run!

Guitar chords do not correspond with keyboard harmony.

*Prayer of Confession
Lord Jesus, we bow before you to confess that we are sinners and need
forgiveness. We have failed you and your people many times and have
neglected to do your will and love our neighbor as ourselves. We seek your
wisdom and ask that your Holy Spirit create a pure heart that moves us to do
what is right. We ask that your love overflow in us so we can live out our faith
as a new creation to serve you and your people. Help us to strive towards a
more just and kinder world for all. Lord Jesus, have mercy on us. Amen!
Although this ancient text has often been used at church dedications, the first stanza clearly refers to the
*Words of Grace and Mercy
people of God and the second to the place where they meet. The stately and soaring tune is aptly named for
the edifice where the composer served as organist and is buried.
From generation to generation, God’s love overcomes human WESTMINSTER sinfulness.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Latin, 7th cent.; trans. John Mason Neale, 1851, alt. ABBEY
God is
committed
MUSIC:toHenryfresh starts
Purcell, c. and
1680; adapt. new 1843
Ernest Hawkins, creations. This is good(alternatenews! 8.7.8.7.8.7
tune: REGENT SQUARE)
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

*Prayer Response
(Hymn 327, stanza 3)
4/10/13
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 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Sheran Fiedler

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements

Anthem Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit arr. William L. Sawson

Joseph Roberts, soloist

Ev'ry time I feel the spirit, moving in my heart, I will pray; yes, ev'ry time I feel
the spirit, moving in my heart, I will pray. Upon the mountain, my Lord spoke,
 out of His mouth came fire and smoke; looked all around me, it looked so fine,
till I asked my Lord if all was mine. Jordan river is chilly and cold, it chills the
body, but not the soul; there ain't but one train upon this track, it runs to
heaven and right back.
629-jesus the very.mus, Page 1
Sermon Scripture Matthew 21: 33-46
Sermon “Cornerstone of Freedom” Rev. Tim Stevens
ADORATION

*Hymn Jesus,
Jesus, the
the Very VeryofThought
Thought Thee #629of Thee 629
#3 ˙
& 4 œœ œ
œ
œœ ˙˙ œ
œ œ œœ ˙˙ ..
œ
1 Je - sus, the ver - y thought of thee
2 Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
3 O hope of ev - ery con - trite heart,
4 But what to those who find? Ah, this

œ ˙
? # 43 œœ œœ ˙ œœ ˙˙ ..
5 Je - sus, our on - ly joy be thou,

œ
œ ˙ œ ˙

# œ œ
& œ ˙ œ ˙˙ . œ ˙
œ œ ˙ #œ . œ œ œ ˙ # œœ
with sweet - ness fills my breast. But sweet - er far thy
nor can the mind re - call a sweet - er sound than
O joy of all the meek, to those who fall, how
nor tongue nor pen can show. The love of Je - sus,

? # œœ œœ œœ ˙ œ
as thou our prize wilt be. Je - sus, be thou our

˙ œœ ˙˙ .. œœ œ #œ
œ œ ˙ œ

#
& ˙˙ œœ œœ ˙ œ ˙.
# œœ ˙. œ œ œ œ ˙.
face to see, and in thy pres - ence rest.
thy blest name, O Sav - ior of us all.
kind thou art! How good to those who seek!
what it is none but his loved ones know.

? # ˙˙ œœ ˙˙ . œ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙.
glo - ry now, and through e - ter - ni - ty.

œœ
˙.
Invitation to Offering The Heavens Declare Richard Shephard

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His
handiwork. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
always acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
(Psalm 19: 1, 4)

*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
Lord Jesus, we give thanks for each gift given. Bless them and multiply them
so that others will be blessed, and your love will be shared worldwide. 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. And lead us not into
353-my hope is.mus, Page 1
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
CHRIST’S RETURN AND JUDGMENT

My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less 353

*Closing Hymn My Hope is Built on Nothing Less #353

3
& b 4 œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
1 My hope is built on noth - ing less than Je - sus’ blood and
2 When dark - ness seems to hide his face, I rest on his un -
3 His oath, his cov - e - nant, his blood sup - port me in the

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
? b 43 œœ œœ œœ œœ
4 When he shall come with trum - pet sound, O may I then in

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

&b œ œ
œ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
righ - teous - ness; I dare not trust the sweet - est frame, but
chang - ing grace; in ev - ery high and storm - y gale, my
 œœ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ
? b 43 œœ œœ œœ œœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

&b œ œ
œ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
righ - teous - ness; I dare not trust the sweet - est frame, but
chang - ing grace; in ev - ery high and storm - y gale, my
whelm - ing flood; when all a- round my soul gives way, he

? œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ
him be found, dressed in his righ - teous - ness a - lone, fault -

b œ œ œ œ

œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
Refrain

& b œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
whol - ly lean on Je - sus’ name.
an - chor holds with - in the veil.
On Christ, the sol - id Rock, I stand; all
then is all my hope and stay.

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
less to stand be - fore the throne.
œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ
?b œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

& b œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ
œ œ

? b œœ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
oth - er ground is sink - ing sand; all oth - er ground is sink - ing sand.

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
This hymn develops the imagery of Jesus’ remark (Matthew 7:24–27/Luke 6:47–49) that those who believe in
him and act on that belief are like someone who builds a house on a rock. The text is set to a tune created for
*Benediction and Blessing
it by a prolific 19th-century American composer and editor.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Edward Mote, c. 1834, alt. SOLID ROCK
MUSIC: William Batchelder Bradbury, 1863, alt. LM with refrain
Choral Response Threefold Amen Traditional

Postlude Jesus Shall Reign arr. James Mansfield

4/10/13
Worship Credits and Sources:
Call to Worship and Prayers by the Rev. Pérsida Rivera-Méndez, retired UCC pastor.

Music Permissions Spirit of the Living Lord. Setting: Robert W. Thygerson. © 2005, Lorenz Publishing Co., a
division of the Lorenz Corporation. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-
735926. All rights reserved. Blessed Jesus, at Your Word. Music: Roger Summers; Words: Tobias Clausnitzer,
1663, translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1858, alt. © 2005, The Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of
The Lorenz Corporation. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All
rights reserved. Westminster Abbey. Music: Henry Purcell. Setting: Noel Rawsthorne. © 1991, Kevin Mayhew
Ltd. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights
reserved. Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation. Music: Henry Purcell, c. 1680; adapt. Ernest Hawkins, 1843;
Words: Latin, 7th cent.; trans. John Mason Neale, 1851, 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. Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit. Music: Traditional Spiritual. Setting: William
L. Dawson. © 1946, Ren. 1973, Neil A Kjos Music Company. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission
under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee. Music: John Bacchus
Dykes, 1866, alt.; Words: Latin hymn, 12th cent.; trans. Edward Caswall, 1849, alt. Public Domain. The
Heavens Declare. Music: Richard Shephard. Words: Psalm 19: 1,14. © 2010, St. James Music Press. Used with
permission. License #23508. Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow. Music: Genevan Psalter, 1551;
Words: Thomas Ken, 1695, 1709. Public Domain. My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less. Music: William
Batchelder Bradbury, 1863, alt.; Words: Edward Mote, c. 1834, alt. Public Domain. Threefold Amen. Music:
Traditional. Public Domain. Jesus Shall Reign. Music: John Hatton. Setting: James Mansfield. © 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
- Mark Daniels - Sheran Fiedler

Livestream/Tech Support: Sunday School

- Gary Hardesty - There is no Sunday School
this week
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
 It’s Time for FCCE’s Annual Diaper
Drive!
The 2023 FCCE Diaper Drive is now underway!

Please bring your donations of diapers, pull-ups and wipes to the

boxes in the Narthex on Sunday mornings, from October 1st through
November 5th. Our recipient groups are Childcare Network and Learning Bridge, two organizations in
Evanston with many clients who will appreciate your generosity.

Sizes requested by Learning Bridge are diapers in sizes 4, 5, and 6 and pull-ups in sizes 5 and 6.
They would also really like packages of wipes for parents to use! Childcare Network also requests
diapers in sizes 4,5 and 6, pull-ups in any size ranges and packages of wipes.

Thank you in advance for your contributions to the children and families of our recipient groups!

Remembering Corene McCollum

Friday, October 13th | 10am
Next Friday, October 13 at 10:00 am, Pastor Jason and Rev.
Ann Rosewall will lead a service of interment for the ashes of
Corene McCollum. Her niece, Marilyn Slattery, will be present
to represent the family. All are invited to attend the gathering in
the Memorial Garden of the church to pay respects and to mark
the occasion.

First Congregational Church of Evanston will be forever grateful, and forever changed, because of the
kindness and generosity of this remarkable woman.

Stewardship Campaign Kicks Off Next

Week!
Now is the season that we kick off FCCE’s annual
Stewardship Campaign. We are “Rooted in Love” and
grounded in generosity. Join us next Sunday to take a glance
at this year’s program and learn how we can participate as
caretakers and stewards of Christ’s Church.
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
Rev. 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 | Robert Heitzinger, bass
Please join us immediately following today’s service for fellowship and
refreshments, along with the Artifacts and Memorabilia Sale in the Narthex

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!