Cross on a Maronite Church Gate – Damascus, Syria

First Congregational Church of

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

Sunday, February 4th 2024 | 10 o’clock in the morning

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

Prelude Lead Kindly Light arr. Robert Manookin

Introit Arise, Your Light is Come!

William Walter / Ruth Duck

Words of Welcome Sheran Fiedler

*Call to Worship
Praise the Holy One! Be in awe of God!
Happy are those who delight in the Holy One’s 305-come
presence!sing o.mus, Page 1
305-come
Fear no evil. Keep your heart firm. Be secure in God! sing o.mus, Page 1
Happy are those who delight in the Holy One’s protection!
Arise for
THEwhat is right. Be pursuers of justice.
CHURCH

305
THE CHURCH
Happy are those who delight in the Holy One’s power! Amen.
Come Sing,Sing, O O Church,
Church, in in Joy!
Joy!
305 Come
4
& 4 œ œœ œ œœ œœ ˙˙˙... œœœ œœœ œœ œ œœ ˙ .
*Opening Hymn Come Sing, O Church, In Joy! #305

&4 œ œ œ œœ œœœ œœ ˙˙˙.. .

œ œœ œ œ œœ ˙ .
1 Come sing, O church, in joy! Come join, O church, in song!
12 Come sing, have
Long years O church,
come andin joy!
gone, Come
and join, O church,
still God reigns in
su - song!
preme,
23 Long
Let years have come
cour - age be our and gone,
friend; and
let still God reigns su -
wis - dom be our guide, preme,

œœ œœ œœ œœœ ˙˙˙˙.... œœœœ œœœœ œœœ œœœ œœœ ˙˙. .

34 Let
Come cour
sing,- age be our
O church, in friend;
joy! let
Come wis
join,- dom be our
O church, in guide,
song!

? 44
œœœœ
4 Come sing, O church, in joy! Come join, O church, in song!

? œ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ ˙.
4 ˙.

&œ œœ œ œœœ œœœœ ##œœœœ œœœ œœœ ˙˙˙ . ˙˙ ˙˙. .

&
œœ œ œ œœ œ œ ˙. œœ ˙˙. .
For Christ the Lord has led us through the a - ges long!
For
em - Christ
power -the
ing Lord
us has to led
catch us
the through
vi - the a - ges
sion, dream the long!
dream!
em
as - power
we - ing
in us to
mis - sion catch
mag - the ni - vify - sion,
the dream
Cru - the
ci - dream!
fied!

œœ œœ œœ œœ
as we in mis - sion mag - ni - fy the Crua - ges - fied!
- ci

œœœœ ##œœœ
For Christ the Lord has tri - umphed o’er the long!

? œœ œœœ œœœœ ˙˙˙˙ ##˙˙˙˙ ˙˙˙. ..

For Christ the Lord has tri - umphed o’er the a - ges long!

? œ œ œœ
œœ œœ œ œ ˙.

& œ ˙ ˙ ˙..
˙ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙˙
œ ˙˙˙. ..
& œ ˙˙ ˙˙ ˙. œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ ˙ ˙œ̇ œœ .
 œ œ œ œ ˙.

& œ ˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ .. œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙.
œ ˙ œ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ .
œ œ
? œœ ˙ ˙˙ ˙˙ .. œœ œœ œœ œ œ œœ # œœ œ œœ ˙ ˙
In bold ac - cord, come cel - e - brate the jour - ney now and praise the Lord!

˙.
˙ ˙.

*Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, it’s tempting to give up and give in, to hide from the injustices
of the world, to protect ourselves and our own, to turn off the evening news
full of bad news. Forgive our sins of escape, of ignoring, of turning our backs
on those in need. Forgive our sins of apathy when you call us to action. Renew
us, Holy God, by your grace. Strengthen us to follow Christ’s call. Amen.

*Words of Grace and Mercy

From generation
This text was tothegeneration,
winner in a hymnGod’s love
competition overcomes
sponsored human
by the Presbyterian sinfulness.
Church God is
(U.S.A.) Bicentennial
Committee for the 1988–1989 observance, which had the theme “Celebrate the Journey.” The late 18th-century
committedtune to(first
fresh usedstarts and
with Psalm 148) new creations.
is appropriately This is good news!
celebratory.
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Brian Dill, 1988 DARWALL’S 148TH
MUSIC: John Darwall, 1770 6.6.6.6.8.8
Text © 1989 Brian Dill
*Prayer Response
(Hymn 327, stanza 3)
Eternal are thy mercies, Lord; eternal truth attends thy word:
Alleluia!
4/10/13 Alleluia!
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
till suns shall rise and set no more.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

First Scripture Psalm 84 Sheran Fiedler

Children’s Message Rev. Liz Jones

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements

Anthem Let There Be Light! Gilbert M. Martin

Thou, whose almighty Word chaos and darkness heard, and took their flight:
hear us, we humbly pray, and where the gospel's day sheds not it's glorious
ray, let there be light! Thou who didst come to bring, on thy redeeming wing,
healing and sight, health to the sick in mind, sight to the inly blind: O now, to
 all mankind, let there be light! Spirit of truth and love, lifegiving, holy dove,
speed forth thy flight; move o'er the water's face bearing the lamp of grace;
and in earth's darkest place, let there be light! Holy and blessed three, glorious
Trinity, grace, love, and might! Boundless as ocean's536-rise o church-716.mus,
tide rolling in fullest Page 1
536-rise o church-716.mus, Page 1
pride, through the world far and wide, let there be536-rise
light! o church-716.mus, Page 1
(J. Marriott)
LORD’S SUPPER 536-rise o church-716.mus, Page 1
LORD’S SUPPER

536
536
Sermon Scripture
LORD’S Rise,
SUPPER O Church,
John
Rise, O Church,
4: 1-15 like Christ Arisen
# like Christ Arisen
536 # # 4 Rise,
LORD’S SUPPER
Well”# like
# O Church, ˙
Christ
œ Christ
Arisen
˙ Arisen
D G Bm F m Em7 A Bm

536& # 44 Rise, œ œ # œ like

Sermon “Digging a Deeper Rev. Jason W. Coulter
˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙. œ
D G Bm F m Em7 A Bm

. O Church, #
& # 4Rise, O Church,œLike Christ œArisen #536
& # ## 4441 Rise,
˙ . œO church, œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙. œ
D G Bm F m Em7 A Bm

œ œ œ œ œ
*Hymn
˙ . trans œ a - ˙ ˙en, ˙.
D G Bm F m Em7 A Bm

& 4122 Rise,˙ . œ œ œ œ ˙. œ

like Christ a - ris - en, from this
Rise, O - formed,
church, like choose
and Christ to ris - - low
fol from
af - this
ter
Rise,
Rise, trans
13 Rise, O formed,
re - church, and
ber choose
mem - like well
Christ to
the fol --- ture
a - fu
ris low
en, Godaf
from - has ter
this
Rise,
1234Rise,
Rise, O re --church,
Ser - trans
vice mem
be -like
formed, ber Christ
our
and well avo
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choose the
to - - fu ---- tion;
ca
fol
ris ture
low
en, God
cour
fromaf has
-- this
ageter

##
4 Ser - vice
Rise, trans
23 ARise, be
re --formed,
mem -andour sure
ber choose
well Bto vo
the - ca --- low
fu
fol tion;
ture cour
God
af - - age
has
ter

# œ œ œ œœ
D Em A m G maj7

&# œ œ œ œ w œ
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34ARise, re - Dmem be - ber
our Emsure
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vo - ca - -Gture
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& ## œ œ œ œ w œ œ œ
œ through
4 Ser - vice be our sure vo - ca - tion; cour - age

# ˙ . such love enœ -

A D Em A Bm G maj7

& # Christ,
œ œ œ œ whole;
w ˙ . œ œ œ love œ areœen -
A D Em A Bm G maj7

& meal œ œus wound œto ed,œ w may œ œour lov

œwe through œ - ing
meal of love and grace; may we

˙bro. - ent
though
of wound
love - ed,
and grace; bro
may - ken,
we through our
shared, such lives
called though
Christ, re - whole;
ceive; pres by God’s
meal of love - and grace; ken, shared, such lives
love are
en -
be
called our dai
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& # #Em7˙ A˙ D˙ . ˙. œ
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called our
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& # #Em7 A˙ D˙ . œ BBm7m7 w ˙. œ

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œ
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& # # ˙vivihal ˙ whose
˙to. œre - lease œ œ ourœ praise.w ˙ . -- leleœ --
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&
we are, and whose, Al
- lowed
- sion we are, and to con - sole. Al
nur- -lowed
hal ture, Spirto - it - ed
re - lease and tothen let us
con -praise.
sole. live. Al - le -
Al - le --
vi
na - - sion
tion whose
from we
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nur - ture, Spir - it - ed then let us live. Al le- -

## ˙ ˙
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vi sion whose to were - lease and whose,
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- sole. Al
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˙. œ ˙ ˙ ˙. œ œ
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& ## . œ Emœ œ A7 œ œ
˙ . œ A˙ A7˙ B˙
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& # # GG˙lu - ˙ia,

nurG - ture, Spir it - A7 ed let live. A7 Al

w
A m

˙. œ A7ofœ ourœ
na - tion from this day and un - to death. Al - le -

Emal. - le -A˙
& # # ˙˙lulu --˙˙ia,ia, ˙al - œle - lulu --A7˙ia: œ Em œ w
Em m D

˙alal. -- œlele --˙lulu -- ˙ia: ˙. œthe pres

œ œ and
œ past, œ
w
BGod,
m D

& lulu -- ia,ia, œ

the won - der days.

Christ, our pres - œ

œ we
Christ, our - ent, goal.
ia: God, won - der of our days.
ia: Spir - it, grace by whom live.
al - le - lu - ia: ent, past, andgoal.
lulu - - ia,
ia, alal -- le le -- lu
lu -- ia:
ia. God,
Rise, the won - der
O church, a of - ing
liv our
days.
faith.
lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia: Spir - it, grace by whom we live.
lu -- ia,
lu ia, alal -- lele--lu lu -- ia:
ia: Christ,
God, the our won
pres- -der
ent, past,
of and days.
our goal.
lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia. Rise, O church, a liv - ing faith.
Guitar lu -- ia,
lu ia, alalcorrespond
-- lele--lu lu with
-- ia:
ia:keyboard
Spir harmony.
Christ, -our
it, pres
grace- ent,
by whom
past, andwe goal.
live.
Invitation to chords
Offering
lu -- ia,
lu
do not Come,
ia, alal -- lele--lu Thou
lu -- ia: Fount
ia. Spir of
Rise, - it,Every
O grace Blessing
church, bya whomliv - we
ing live.
faith.
Guitar chords
lu - ia, do notalcorrespond
- le - lu with Rise, Trad.
- ia.keyboard American
harmony.
O church, a / liv
arr.- Cindy Blevins
ing faith.
Guitar chords do not correspond with keyboard harmony.
Guitar chords do not correspond with keyboard harmony.
*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
O God, maker and provider, you have blessed us with many gifts. Use us, and
what we have gathered, to feed the world through your love; through the one
who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Prayers of the People - Pastoral Prayer - Silent Prayer
Prayer of Our Savior
Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy 320-the
name. church
Thy of.mus,
kingdomPage 1
come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give uschurch
320-the this day our Page
of.mus, daily1bread.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into
THE CHURCH
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
320 The Church of Christ in Every Age
THE CHURCH
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
320 # # # 3TheThe
Church
Church ofof Christ
œ
inAge
Every
œ œ œ
#320 Age
&# # # 34 œœ œ˙ œ œœ ˙ œœ œ œœ œœ ˙˙ œ ˙ œœ # œ
*Closing Hymn Christ in Every

& 4 œœ œ˙ œ œœ ˙ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙ œœ œ˙ œ œœ # œ
1 The church of Christ in ev - ery age, be - set by
2 A - cross oftheChrist
world, ina - evcross the age,
street, bethe-
1 The church - ery setvic - bytims
3 Then let theworld,
ser - vant churchthea street,
- rise, thea
2 A - cross the a - cross viccar- -timsing
4 For
3 Then letChrist thea - ser
lone, whosechurch
- vant blood awas shed, acan
- rise, carcure- ingthe

˙ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙ œ œ œœ o œœ- œ
5 We Christ a - lone, whose blood was shed, canin
have no mis - sion but to serve full theo -

? # # # 43 œ ˙
4 For cure

œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ
˙˙ œœ
5 We have no mis - sion but to serve in full

? # # # 3 œœ ˙˙ œœ œ œ œ œ
4 œ ˙ œ ˙ ˙
###
&# # # œ˙ œ œœ œ˙ œ # œœ ˙ œ œœ œ œœ œ ˙˙ œœ
& œ˙ œ œœ œ˙ œ # œœ ˙ œ œœ œ œœ œ ˙˙ œœ
change but Spir - it - led, must claim and test its
of
change in - Spir
but jus -- ittice- led,
cry mustfor shel
claim - andter and
test for
its
ofchurch in
that- jus
longs
- ticeto crybe fora part - - terner
shel in
and Christ’s
for
fe - that
church ver longs
in our blood,
to be aand teach- ner
part us inhowChrist’s
to

œ œ œ œ œ ˙˙ œ œ̇ œ œ ˙ ˙
febe -- dience into our Lord: to care usfor all, with -

? # # # œœœ œœ
ver our blood, and teach how to

œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙
be - dience to our Lord: to care for all, with -

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

###
& ˙ œœ ˙˙ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙
˙
her - i - tage and keep on ris - ing from the dead.
bread to eat, and nev - er live be - fore they die.
sac - ri - fice, and clothed in Christ’s hu - man - i - ty.
share our bread and feed the starv - ing mul - ti - tude.

? # # # ˙˙ œœ ˙ œœ ˙œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙
out re - serve, and spread Christ’s lib - er - at - ing word.

œ œ œ ˙

*Benediction and Blessing

Choral Response Amen Leon Roberts

In this challenging text by a British Methodist minister, the odd-numbered stanzas develop the image of
“the servant church,” while the second surveys the many needs and the fourth describes the true source of
strength for the task.
Postlude_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise. arr. Matt Limbaugh
TEXT: Fred Pratt Green, 1969 WAREHAM
MUSIC: William Knapp, 1738 LM
Text © 1971 Hope Publishing Company

4/10/13
Worship Credits and Sources:
Call to Worship and Prayers by Rev. Teri McDowell Ott of the Presbyterian Outlook

Music Permissions Arise, Your Light Is Come! Music: William H. Walter, 1894; Words: Ruth Duck, 1974. ©
1992, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE
#A-735926. All rights reserved. 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. 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.
Let There Be Light! Music: Gilbert M. Martin; Words: J. Marriott. © 1985, E.C. Schirmer Music Company. All
rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights
reserved. Rise, O Church, like Christ Arisen. Music: Timothy J. Strand. © 1997, Augsburg Fortress. All rights
reserved. Words: Susan Palo Cherwien. © 1997, Susan Palo Cherwien (admin. Augsburg Fortress). Reprinted
and 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. The Church of Christ in Every Age. Music: William Knapp, 1738; Words: Fred Pratt Green, 1969. ©
1971, Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE
LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Amen. Music: Leon Roberts, 1981; arr. Hanan Yaqub, 1998; Words:
Traditional liturgical text. © 1981, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with
permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise. Music:
Welsh Melody. Setting: Matt Limbaugh. © 2013, Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Podcast with
permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved.
Sunday Morning Service Roles:
Deacons: Lay Reader
- Dona Nunn Sheran Fiedler
- Jansen Krei
- Chris Krei

Livestream/Tech Support: Sunday School

- Gary Hardesty - Robert Benirschke
- 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

Support Hilda’s Place in 2024

Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to provide a warm meal for our neighbors
residing at Connections for the Homeless at Margarita Inn. We are looking for
volunteers for these remaining Saturdays in 2024:

June 1 | July 6 | August 3 | November 2 | December 7

If you're interested in helping but worried it's a big effort, one idea is to partner with
another family from FCCE or your own circle of friends. Another idea is to support a
local restaurant and have them deliver meals on your assigned date (a double win for
the community!). We've got a list of trusted businesses to make this an easy option.

Sign up online via the weekly email or contact Julie Captain with any questions. Thank
you for helping to care for our community and neighbors.

Support our Winter Clothing & Magazine Drive

Please donate your News Magazines, new men's black socks size Large
and EX Large, Gloves/Mittens Ex Large and Knit Hats- preferably
Black. Please bring them to the Sunday Service, (box in Coffee Hour area)
or contact Mahdia to drop off in Church Office
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!