Parable of the Talents by A.N.

Mironov

First Congregational Church of

Evanston
United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Church
Founded 1869

Sunday, November 19th, 2023 | 10 o’clock in the morning

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

Prelude Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng arr. Michael Burkhardt

Introit Give Thanks to the Lord G.F. Handel

arr. Patrick M. Liebergen

Words of Welcome Beth Babbit Borst

*Call to Worship
From the eagles’ aerie, to the fishes’ deep –
from the color drenched leaves, to the rain drenched street
with our lips, with our hearts, with our hands, with our feet –
We sing out, “ALLELUIA!”
We laugh out, “HOSANNA!”
We shout out, “THANK YOU, LOVING GOD!”
For all that was.
For all that is.
For all that will be.
Alleluia. Hosanna! THANK YOU, LOVING GOD!
For all that we were.
For all that we are.
For all that we could be!
Alleluia. Hosanna! THANK YOU, LOVING GOD!
So, together we sing…
Let it be.
Together we say…
May it always be so.
Together we shout…
AMEN!
 THANKSGIVING

645 Sing
SingPraise
Praise to God Who Reigns
Above Above
## 3 œ œ ˙ œ . œj œ œ
*Opening Hymn to God Who Reigns #645
˙
& 2 ˙ œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙ œ œ ˙ #˙ œ œ ˙˙
˙
1 Sing praise to God who reigns a - bove, the God of all
2 What God’s al - might - y power has made God’s gra - cious mer -
3 The Lord is nev - er far a - way, but, through all grief

? # # 32 ˙˙ œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙ œ œ ˙œ œ œ œœ œœ œ ˙œ œ
4 Thus all my toil - some way a - long I sing a - loud

˙ œ œ nœ ˙
## ˙ œ
& œ˙ œ ˙œ œ ˙ ˙ œœ œœ ˙˙ ˙ œ œœ ˙˙
˙
cre - a - tion, the God of power, the God of love,
cy keep - eth; by morn - ing glow or eve - ning shade
dis - tress - ing, an ev - er - pres - ent help and stay,

j
? # # œœ œœ œ . œ ˙˙ ˙˙
thy prais - es, that all may hear the grate - ful song

œ œœ ˙˙ ˙ œ œ ˙
˙ œ œ œ œ nœ
˙
# j ˙
& # # œ˙ . œ œœ œœ ˙˙ œ˙ œ ˙œ œ ˙ ˙
the God of our sal - va - tion. With
God’s watch - ful eye ne’er sleep - eth. With -
our peace and joy and bless - ing, as

? # # œ˙ œ œœ œœ œ ˙œ œ œœ œœ œ. œj ˙˙ ˙
my voice un - wea - ried rais - es. Be

˙ ˙
# ˙
& # œœ # œœ ˙ ˙
œ œ
œ œ ˙˙ ˙
œ œœ ˙˙ ˙˙
˙ ˙
heal - ing balm my soul is filled, and ev - ery faith - less
in the king - dom of God’s might, lo! all is just and
with a moth - er’s ten - der hand God gent - ly leads the

˙ ˙œ n œ œœ œ ˙ ˙
645-sing 646-sing.mus,
and bod - y,Page 2

? # # œœ # œœ ˙ œ # œœ
joy - ful in the Lord, my heart; both soul

˙ œ œ ˙THANKSGIVING
œ œ
˙ ˙
#
& # œœ # œœ ˙˙ ˙œ œ œœ ˙ œ˙ œ ˙œ œ ˙
The regal divine imagery here will not be new to most singers, but some may not expect the third stanza’s

nœ œ ˙
image of God as mother. Yet it is part of God’s self-description in Isaiah 66:13. This Bohemian Brethren tune
resembles both Genevan psalm tunes and French folk songs.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Johann Jacob Schütz, 1675; trans. Frances Elizabeth Cox, 1864, alt. MIT FREUDEN ZART
MUSIC: Bohemian Brethren’s Kirchengesang, 1566; harm. Maurice F. Bell, 1906, alt. 8.7.8.7.8.8.7
mur - mur stilled:
all is right:
to God all praise and glo - ry!
cho - sen band:

6/4/13 œ
# # œ œœ ˙œ N œ œœ œœ œ œœ ˙œ œ œœ œœ œ . œj ˙˙
take your part:

?
˙
*Prayer of Confession
We confess, O Lord, that we are prone to forget the purpose behind what you
do for us. We forget that you judge us by what we do with your gifts. Forgive
us for when we have buried the talents and failed to work with all the things
you give us. Gracious God - forgive us. Touch us and make us whole. 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 Judges 4: 1-7 Beth Babbit Borst

Children’s Message

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements

Anthem Canticle of Thanksgiving Mark Schweizer

God is our refuge and strength, in strife our constant aid; therefore, although
the earth be removed, we will not be afraid: our God, who is the Lord of hosts,
is still upon our side; and everwill abide. Though mountains fall to seas, and
oceans leap with foam; and roar in anger, yet we still find in His grace our
home. Our God, who is the Lord of hosts, is still upon our side; and every need
provide. Now tahnk we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who
wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices; who from our
mothers’ arms has blessed us in our way with countless gifts of love, and still
is ours today. Come, and behold what works have by the Lord been made;
come, see what wonders now proclaimed in majesty arrayed. Our God, who is
the Lord of hosts, our guardian and our guide; will ever more abide (Psalm
46: Scottish Psalter, alt. / Martin Rinkkart)
 ? b b œœ œ œœ œœ œ œ œœ œ ˙˙ ..
ho - ly joy; God’s won - drous works pro - fess.

œ œœ œ œ
bb œ
5 If you have felt your courage fail 6 So praise the One whose love is great,
before a violent sea whose kindness is well-known.
and cried to God, who stilled the storm, Consider well the healing hand
Sermon Scripture
and made the wildMatthew
wind flee,25: 14-30 and help you have been shown,
then in the congregation praise and tell the world what God has done.
the One who heard your plea. Praise God and God alone!
Sermon “ARE the kids alright?” Rev. Liz Jones
In I’llthe
Be Lord I’ll Be #654
Ever(sung
Thankful 654
j
*Hymn In the Lord Ever Thankful three times)
& b 43 œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ œœ
œ œ œ

œœ œ œœ .. œ œ
? b 43 œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ
In the Lord I’ll be ev - er thank - ful; in the Lord I will re -

œœ œ œ œ
œ œ œ . œJ œ œ
j
& b ˙˙ j
œJ # œœ n œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ œœ
3

œ œ œ.

œ œ œ œœ .. œœ œ œ
joice! Look to God; do not be a - fraid. Lift up your

? b ˙˙ œ œ œœ .. œœ
J œ œ œ J œ œ
j
& b œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ
3

œœ œ œœ œ œœ œœ ˙˙
œ
œ œ .
? b œœ œœ œœ œ œ œœ . œ œ œ œ
voic - es; the Lord is near. Lift up your voic - es; the Lord is near.

œœ œœ œ œ ˙˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
J
This refrain from the ecumenical monastic community at Taizé, France, is meant for repeated singing. A
Invitation to Offering Let Allphrases,
wonderful quilt of psalm-like Things Now
it would Living
be appropriate Katherine
at any time but K. Davis
the concluding emphasis on
the nearness of the Lord makes it especially fitting for use in Advent.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator
TEXT: Taizé Community, 1986
MUSIC: Jacques Berthier, 1986
IN THE LORD I’LL BE EVER THANKFUL
Irregular
triumphantly raise, who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, who
Text and Music © 1991 Les Presses de Taizé (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.)

guideth us on to the end of our days. His banners are o’er us, His light goes
before us, a pillar of fire shining forth in the night, til shadows have vanished
and darkness is banished, as forward we travel from light into light! His law
6/6/13
He enforces, the stars in their courses, the sun in his orbit, obediently shine.
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and the fountains, the deeps of the
ocean proclaim Him Divine. We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing,
with glad adoration a song let us raise, til all things now living unite in
thanksgiving to God in the highest, hosanna and praise! Amen.
(John Crowley)
*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
God of abundance, sometimes we have to learn how to have faith in the in-
between. When there doesn’t seem to be enough, show us how your people
take care of each other. When we fear to share what we have, show us the
grace of receiving an unexpected gift. When we hang on tight for later, just in
case, show us that you are in this very moment. In these ways, teach us to
give, to share, to offer ourselves for your kingdom work. In Jesus’ name,
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 644-give
debtors. And
thanks leadPage
o.mus, us not
1 into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. THANKSGIVING

Give Thanks,
Thanks, OO Christian
People People 644
#4 œ jœ
*Closing Hymn Give Christian #644
& 4 œœ œœ œ œ
œ œœ œ˙ . œ œ œ œœ œ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
œ
1 Give thanks, O Chris - tian peo - ple, for work - ers of our day
2 Give thanks, O Chris - tian peo - ple, for lead - ers of our years
3 Give thanks, O Chris - tian peo - ple, for all who love the Lord,

œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙ .
Give thanks, O Chris - tian peo - ple, for life in fel - low - ship

œœ
4

?# 4 œ ˙ œ œ
4 ˙.
# œ j
& œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ˙ . œ œœ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
who heed the call to ser - vice and make it their life’s way
who live to share with oth - ers our joy when Christ ap - pears,
who live each day be - liev - ing in God’s e - ter - nal Word:

œ œ
? # œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ˙ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œœ œœ ˙ .
with all who trust our Sav - ior their serv - ing to e - quip:

œœ
œ œ ˙.
# œ
& œ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ ˙˙ œœ n œœ œ œ œ œ ˙ .
œ œ œ œ ˙.
to go to feed the hun - gry, to tend to those in need,
 œ
? # œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ˙ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙ .
with all who trust our Sav - ior their serv - ing to e - quip:

œœ œœ
˙.
# œ
& œ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ ˙ œ n œ
˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
œ œ œ œ ˙.
to go to feed the hun - gry, to tend to those in need,
to teach the ones who seek light, to guide the fal - tering feet,
to share Christ’s love in liv - ing, to wit - ness with each deed,

œ œ œ
? # œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ ˙ # œ œ n œœ œ
to ease an - oth - er’s bur - dens, to cope in joy and stress,

œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
# œ œ œ jœ
œ
& œ œ œ œ œœ œ˙ . œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ ..
œ
to work for e - qual jus - tice, till all God’s folk are freed.
to lead the fol - lowers for - ward our liv - ing Lord to meet.
to use the tal - ents giv - en to plant the gos - pel seed.

œ œœœ œœ œœ ˙ .
to mag - ni - fy God’s mes - sage and Christ’s great love con - fess.

? # œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ
œ œ ˙.
This text was written by a Presbyterian director of Christian education in Washington, DC, to honor the
ministry of a colleague who was leaving the area. It is an effective reminder that God’s people serve in many
*Benediction and Blessing
vocations and ministries. The tune adapts a secular German song.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Mary Jackson Cathey, 1984 ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGELEIN
MUSIC: Memmingen ms., 17th cent.; harm. George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1904 7.6.7.6.D
Choral Response Go, My Children, with My Blessing
Text © 1986 Fresh Winds of the Spirit by Lavon Bayler (admin. The Pilgrim Press)
Welsh Melody
Jaroslav J. Vajda

Postlude Choral Improvisation on “Now Thanks We All”

6/6/13 Sigfrid Karg-Elert

Worship Credits and Sources:

Call to worship by Richard Bott, on Gifts in Open Hands (giftsinopenhands.wordpress.com) and used with permission. Confession
adapted from the Rev. Richard J. Fairchild, www.spirit-net.ca. Used with permission. Prayer of dedication is by Alissa Bender, Hamilton
Mennonite Church. Used with permission.

Music Permissions can be found in the Large Print Bulletin

Sunday Morning Service Roles:

Deacons: Lay Reader
- Dona Nunn - Beth Babbit Borst
- Eda Uca
- Chris Krei
Livestream/Tech Support: Sunday School
- Gary Hardesty - Linda Krei
- Julie Captain - Ashley King
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
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 | Joseph Roberts, bass

Please join us immediately following today’s service for fellowship & 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!