First Congregational Church of Wilmette

Congregational Life

Whether your interest is small groups, Bible study, the arts or service to the community or world, First Congregational Church offers a wide variety of programs and opportunities to grow and serve. Workshops, guest speakers and seminars along with retreats for men, women and families are scheduled each year to enhance congregational life. All are welcome.

Ministry of Parish Life
Hosting after-church luncheons, offering rides to church, taking food to those in need and planning our annual summer and winter retreats are just a few of the activities made possible by our Ministry of Parish Life. This ministry tends to the needs of our members and provides social activities for the congregation.

Worship and the Arts
Worship at First Congregational Church is a multi-sensory experience. Throughout the seasons we incorporate dance, drama, sanctuary art and banners, decorations, symbols and special music to enrich our worship services.

Music
Our music programs are open to new voices and/or ringers:

Chancel Choir rehearses Wednesday nights, 7:30pm September thru May
Handbell Choir rehearses Thursday nights, 7:30pm September thru May

Drama and Dance
Our drama ministry presents the annual “Drama of Holy Week” readings on Palm Sunday. Rehearsal will take place Saturday April 4, 9:30am

Our dance ministry for girls in grade school, junior and senior high performs periodically throughout the year.

Readers and Worship Leaders
Each Sunday, a member of the congregation leads a personal reflection on a spiritual matter which has mattered in their life. If you would like to lead a call to reflection, or serve as a reader or worship assistant, contact Pastor Stephanie Perdew.

Spiritual Growth
Spiritual Direction
Spiritual direction is a process of introspection and self-reflection to encourage spiritual growth. This ministry is offered by Diane Stephens on Mondays and Thursdays in the pastor’s office. Persons receiving spiritual direction generally come once a month for a 60- to 75-minute one-on-one session with Diane. A discounted fee is available to members of First Congregational Church. For more information on spiritual direction, or to set an appointment, contact Diane at DWSwriter@aol.com.

FCCW Yoga Studio
Taught by our own FCCW member Trish Nealon.

Sunday morning Session
Classes meet every-other-Sunday 8:45am beginning October 12, 2008
Thursday evening Session
Classes meet Thursday evenings 7:00-8:30pm, beginning October 16, 2008

Just for Women:
Mary Suppers
In the gospel of Luke we read that Mary sat and spoke with Jesus while her sister Martha was distracted with much serving. There is a little Mary and Martha in each of us-we all need a chance to sit, relax and converse together. Mary Suppers include a simple meal, followed by a conversation.

Mary Suppers meet in Pilgrim Hall at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings:
December 9: Advent Service at the church
January 27: at the home of Ann Molyneaux
February 24: at the home of Kathryn Bauer
April 7: Bethany Tuesday Holy Week Service at the church

Sacred Circle Women’s Bible Study
We gather to read the scripture readings for the coming Sunday from the cycle of readings called the Revised Common Lectionary. Through prayer, meditation, and conversation, we allow the scriptures to speak to our own experiences. Begins Tuesday January 13, 2009, 9am and continues weekly on Tuesday mornings.

First Congregational/Congregation Sukkat Shalom Women’s Program:
TuB’Shvat Seder February 9th, 2009 7:00pm
This is a Jewish holiday which marks the planting of the seeds in the spring (in February, it is already spring in Israel). Anticipate spring and give thanks for the bounty and blessing of God’s creation at this ritual meal with sisters from Congregation Sukkat Shalom. Program led by Rabbi Ari Poster Moffic of CSS and Pastor Stephanie Perdew of FCCW.

Women’s Retreat
The women of First Congregational Church gather once a year, usually off site in the late winter or spring, for a two-day get-away to renew body, mind and soul. The 2009 retreat is scheduled for Friday, February 20 through Sunday, February 22. Our theme, location, registration information and more details will follow.

Just for Men:
The Men’s Group
The Men’s Group, led by David Hogue, will meet on Mondays at Hackney’s Restaurant on Lake Avenue in Glenview, 7:00 p.m.

2008-2009 dates are:
Nov. 17
(No December meeting)
Jan. 26
Feb. 23
March 16
April 20
May 18

Men’s Ski Retreat
takes place January 15-18, 2009 at the home of Keith Ross in Heber City, Utah. Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts are nearby. For information, contact Keith Ross at dkeithr1979@aol.com.

Men’s Basketball
Tentative date to begin is Sunday, January 11, 2009, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 7:00pm till 9:00pm, for Men, Youth, and Guests of FCCW. St. John’s is located at 1235 Wilmette Avenue

Fellowship
Communion Lunches
On Communion Sundays we gather in the Dining Room following worship to continue the feast with a luncheon.

Hanging of the Greens Weekend: December 5-7, 2009
Decorating the Church
Friday evening December 5 we gather for pizza dinner and decorate the church: raising the Sanctuary, Pilgrim Hall and Dining Room trees, hanging wreaths and garland, stringing lights, and preparing for Christmas. Children’s crafts keep the young ones busy as the adults do the decorating.

Program and Dinner
Saturday evening December 6 our youth lead us in the Hanging of the Greens presentation, using illuminated life-size puppets to tell the stories of Advent. Following the program we enjoy a festive meal presented by our Parish Life Ministry.

Make your own Wreath & Alternative Gift Fair
Sunday December 7 following worship, buy your fresh greenery and wire frame and make your own fresh wreath. Shop for stocking-stuffers at our SERRV gift sale.

Winter Basketball
Beginning in January, First Congregational men and boys are invited to play basketball. We meet Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1235 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette.

Winter Retreat
Retreat for the whole church family, Friday, January 23-Sunday, January 25, 2009 at the Cove of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The First Congregational Church of Wilmette prepares each year for the All Congregation Winter Retreat. Our 14th Annual Winter Retreat is a fun weekend for everyone and a great opportunity to find how much fun the winter can be, indoors and outdoors, by sharing a weekend with family and your faith community.

Summer Retreat
Summer Retreat for the whole church family, Monday, June 29 - Monday, July 6, 2009. At Tower Hill UCC Camp, Sawyer, Michigan. First Congregational Church of Wilmette invites you to come to the Summer Retreat for a few days of summer fun and relaxation. It’s a magnificent opportunity to relax with family and members of your faith community.

Summer Softball Wilmette Park District League
Begins late May 2009
Games on Friday nights between 7:00-9:00pm

Opportunities to serve
Service, caring and sharing matter. Join with other members of First Congregational Church, and with members of our community, in considering these opportunities to serve:

Knitting Ministry
Knitters in the Knitting Ministry create baby blankets to present to the children of First Congregational Church at the time of their baptism. Prayer shawls are made and given to church members, and friends beyond the church, in times of illness, crisis or need.

Whether you’re an experienced knitter, or a beginner, all are invited to participate. The Knitting Ministry also invites those who are interested in learning to knit or crochet. A prayer shawl, for example, requires only a beginning skill level as a knitter!
The Knitting Ministry meets periodically for a knitting night when members can work on projects together and new knitters can learn from experienced knitters. In addition, members are needed to work on baby blankets and shawls on their own. Coordinators of the ministry - Gretchen Alexander and Liz Ferrari - are available to answer questions about patterns and projects.
To link to the prayer shawl pattern and download it, please visit www.shawlministry.com.

Good Deed Foundation Cell Phone Collection
Recycle your cell phone on Rally Day, September 7. Bring your old cell phones and chargers to the collection box at church. More than 130 million cell phones are retired every year in the U.S., and fewer than 26 million get recycled. Every cell phone recycled at www.GoodDeedFoundation.org earns funds to help create lasting solutions for women and families in poverty and climate change.

North Shore Food Pantry
First Congregational Church collects food for the North Shore Food Pantry on the first Sunday of the month - Communion Sunday. Needed items include pasta, rice, beans, hamburger helper, macaroni and cheese, coffee, tea, pop-top cans of fruit and meat, cereal and infant cereal.

Hilda’s Place Shelter
You can volunteer to serve a meal at Hilda’s Place Shelter in Evanston on certain Tuesdays of each month. For more information, contact Tom Hirsh.

San Lucas United Church of Christ We partner with San Lucas Church in Chicago’s Humboldt Park Neighborhood by helping serve the underserved of the community.

- Toiletries. Bring your hotel-size soap, shampoo and toothpaste to the donation basket
in Pilgrim Hall.
- Health Kits. Children in Kids’ Club will assemble toiletry kits for the homeless.
- Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless, Tuesday, November 25. Donate a turkey or
   dry goods, such as beans, rice, box potatoes, canned corn or cranberry sauce. Help
   serve the meal at San Lucas. Contact Gretchen Alexander for more information
- Christmas Gifts. Each year we collect Christmas gifts for children ages preschool-12th
grade. Bring a wrapped gift, marked with the age and gender of the designated
recipient, to our Hanging of the Greens Celebration on December 6. Appropriate
gifts include hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, flannel PJ pants (large sizes), art supplies,
backpacks, children’s books.

Alternative Christmas Bazaar
On Sunday, December 7, you can buy distinct stocking stuffers and last-minute gifts - and do good! Purchasing indigenous handicrafts from Serrv International supports employment and training for artisans and farmers in 36 countries around the world. Our Alternative Christmas Bazaar will be held after worship.

2009 Edisto Island Outreach Opportunities
Since 1986 our congregation has had a ministry of presence on Edisto, a sea island off the coast of South Carolina, including funding for the Edisto Island Outreach Center, funding for annual scholarships through the center, home repair projects and a summer day camp for island children. We’re sponsoring two outreach projects in 2009:

- Spring Break Work Trip for Adults
   March 21-28, 2009
   Participate in home repair such as roofing, siding, painting
- Summer Mission Trip for Senior High Youth
   July 24-August 2, 2009
   Our Senior High youth offer a day camp for island children at the local school