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This Week at First Pres!
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Welcome to First Presbyterian Church of Evanston
Greetings!
Bad days are no fun. Judith Viorst's award-winning children's book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, resonates with all of us. Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair. His best friend deserts him. After school, the dentist discovers a cavity, the elevator door closes on his foot and at the shoe store he has to buy plain white shoes (while both brothers get shoes with stripes!). Later, he gets lima beans for dinner and there's kissing on TV!
We're sympathetic and can easily identify with this story because everyone has bad days.
This Sunday I begin a new series of messages from I John. The series is called, Encouraging God's people.
In John's epistle, God's people were weighed down by pressures from insincere teachers, pressures from personal failures and pressures from the surrounding pagan culture.
Unrelenting pressures are debilitating. They cause most people to have bad days; they cause life to unravel. Pressures even cause churches to implode.
Like a loving father or grandfather, John writes five short chapters (105 verses to be exact) to encourage God's people to remember Christ (under pressure people forget); to remember what Christ has done in them and to remember to love and care for one another.
If you are having a bad day, a no good very bad day; a bad season in life, then join us this Sunday and over all the coming Sundays of this series. Invite a family member or a friend who needs a good shot of encouragement.
I hope to see you!
In Christ,
Pastor Ray
p.s. This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. What role does the Holy Spirit play in encouraging the downcast?
p.s.#2 We will have an artist in residence during worship on Sunday. Come and see how art powerfully brings truth to life.
The Nominating Ministry Team would like you to help us identify members of our congregation who are called by Christ, gifted in the Holy Spirit and willing to serve as either a Deacon, Trustee or Elder. Nomination forms are available in the literature racks, tables in the back of the Sanctuary, the front desk, the church website, and attached.
Please drop off your submission at the church office.
One of the hardest things to say is: "help me."
If you are struggling through a difficult time, call Stephen Leader, Marge Stromberg, 773 275-9449, for information about having a Stephen Minister. It's free and confidential.
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1. Sunday's special offering will benefit our Souper Saturday ministry, as they celebrate thirty years of serving guests of our community. Please read more ...
2. Our Sunday Healing Service, with Communion, is this Sunday, May 19, 5pm. Come for prayer and anointing with oil for healing of the body, mind, spirit, or relationships. Healing Services are in the Walker Chapel with teaching, worship and prayer.
3. On Thursday, May 30, 6:30 pm, we are co-hosting "Instruments for Peace" Gala Jazz Concert, held at Grace Lutheran Church (7300 Division St., River Forest). The concert benefits our sister church in Bethlehem, and will begin at 6:30 pm with a wine & cheese reception and the concert to follow. Tickets are available at:
http://instrumentsforpeace.eventbrite.com.
We will be providing transportation on the FPCE bus, first come-first served-sign up at the front desk for the bus, or contact Ashley Shaul, ashaul@firstpresevanston.org.
4. Women's Daytime Retreat "Growing in Faith" will be held Saturday, June 1, 9:30 am-2pm at the Sunset Ridge Club, Northfield. Holly Hudnut Halliday will lead our day- what better way to start summer? Call Doris Winchester at 847-338-3680, by May 26,
to reserve your spot. Checks should be payable to FPCE for $25 (includes lunch) and write Women's Retreat on the memo line.
5. Youth Sunday will be June 2, with only one Worship Service at 10:00 a.m. Come enjoy this service, starring our middle & high school students! Immediately following in Roy Hall, all are invited to a brunch, where we'll be celebrating high school seniors and our wonderful volunteers.
CLICK HERE for a copy of the May 19, 2013 BULLETIN. The Parish Nurse Book Club will meet Tuesday, May 21 at 1:30 pm in the Parlor. This month's discussion will be on Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson. For future dates and selections, please visit the Parish Nurse page on our website.
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We welcome Rev. Charles Miyamoto as our new Director ofThe Counseling Center (TCC), Dr. Gregory Lewis, Clinical Director, and Julie Ruchniewicz, returning Parish Nurse. The Counseling Center will bere-opening soon - watch for dates and information soon! TCC will be touching people's lives, in the name of Christ, in our church and community.
This summer, we will continue to offer two Worship Services at 9 & 11:15 a.m., through the end of July (in August, we will have one Worship Service, at 10 a.m.). On June 2, Youth Sunday, we will also have one 10 a.m. Worship.
The First Presbyterian Prayer Team invites you to the "Walking with God" Retreat, Saturday, June 8, from 9:00am - 12:30pm. Come learn, explore and practice how you can "get back to the Garden, walking with God in the cool of the day." Register (or questions) by emailing Kathleen Lin at hernberf@yahoo.com or calling 773-465-8323, by June 3. A $10 fee will cover the cost of the book.
Attention parents: Church Camp (June 16-21) in Mukwonago, WI, for grades 2-6. Register by June 1st online or pick up a brochure at the front desk. Vacation Bible School (July 22-26) at First Presbyterian for age 3-6th grade. Pick up an information sheet at the front desk and register online.
Tickets are still available for the Women of Faith conference in Milwaukee, Sept. 27 & 28.The Women's Ministry has bought a block of tickets for this event. If you would like to join us please contact Susan Hood susan_hood@comcast.net. This life-changing event includes chart-topping music artists and world-class authors and Bible teachers. Visit www.womenoffaith.com for more info.
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Anyone who can crochet and would like to make sleeping mats for the homeless out of plastic bags are needed. Contact Patty Bastian at RWBastian@aol.com. Plastic (not paper) grocery bags for making mats are also needed.
Register now for the 10th Annual Endurance Ride, benefitting our mission partner, Emmaus Ministries.
The 12 hour bike-a-thon takes place June 1 in Plano, IL.
To register as an individual, a team, or as a volunteer, visit www.enduranceride.org.
Vacation Bible School is coming and needs your help!
Join as a volunteer at SonWest Roundup, July 22-26th from 9-11:30 AM. Contact April Hedman at aprilhedman@yahoo.com or 847-425-5138.
Thank you for helping to nourish a child's relationship with Jesus by giving to the camp scholarship fund. Last week in fellowship time we raised enough to send 5 children to camp! We are still seeking scholarships for the cost of at least 12 more children. Summer camp costs $325 per child; a gift in any amount is appreciated. Contact Kristin Mueller (kmueller@firstpresevanston.org ) or place a check in the offering plate with "Children's Church Camp Fund" on your memo line.
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In Cases of after hour emergencies - please call our Emergency Answering Service at 866-259-7088.
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Our Mission
Sharing Christ.
Making Disciples,
Serving God's
World,
by the Power
of the Holy Spirit.
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