D E C E M B E R You Took Them In Message Taken to Heart. grant parents in Bethlehem long ago.

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1 D E C E M B E R You Took Them In Message Taken to Heart Once again the children of First Church will tell the story of the Christ Child s birth. Nearly 50 children ages three through 12 will participate in the annual Christmas pageant during worship on December 13. The Christmas pageant, a First Church tradition for nearly 95 years, seems particularly apt this year. You Took Them In, as this year s pageant is titled, tells the story of innkeepers who struggle to house a weary family that has travelled a great distance. Lara Korneychuk directs the pageant, which uses traditional carols and more recent Christmas music. Children play the roles of angels, shepherds, stars, innkeepers, kings, Mary, and Joseph as they learn about the baby born to immi- I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E Jane reflects on Advent waiting. Social Justice Committee hosts film screening. Alternative Christmas giving programs offer gifts of hope. Proposed material for the January issue is due Dec. 11. Please send info to Editor@faithatfirst.com. grant parents in Bethlehem long ago. As our children prepare for the Christmas pageant, the Mission and Outreach Committee has made a commitment on behalf of First Church to co-sponsor a refugee family. The project is in the planning stages at tis point, but the Mission and Outreach Committee is working with Refugee One, an independent non-profit agency that serves persons fleeing persecution in their home countries. Refugee One works specifically with persons who come to the U.S. through the State Department The annual Christmas Pageant on Dec. 13 tells the and are sent to Chicago. story of a family seeking shelter. Above: A scene According to the organization s website, Refugee One from the 2014 pageant. Photo by Frank Montagna. has resettled about 16,000 refugees in Chicagoland since pendent and self-supporting as quickly as possible. Responsibilities for each of the As we make room in our hearts sponsor parties are clearly defined, and the goal for both the for the Christ Child this Christmas, soon we will prepare to church and Refugee One is to make room in our lives for another family seeking help the family become inderefuge.

2 F A I T H A T F I R S T Page 2 The Dean s Dear Friends: Waiting is not something that comes easily to me. I don t like to wait in line or wait for the traffic light to turn green so I can continue to move along my way. But the waiting we do in the sea- son of Advent is something I love! Advent is a season of waiting, a season of preparation, a season of nearly, but not yet. I think we need Advent to slow down and reconsider God coming to be present in our world. Our Advent theme this year, Longing for Light, speaks to me of a positive way of waiting. To long for the light of Christ is to faithfully and patiently wait with hope. Waiting is essential to the spiritual life. But waiting as a disciple of Jesus is not an empty kind of waiting. It is waiting with a promise in our hearts that makes already present what we are waiting for. One of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen, writes that Advent waiting is active and not passive. By active Nouwen means having confidence that what is going to happen is going to change and transform something. I believe that the active waiting we do as a church community in Advent helps us to more clearly share the Light of Christ with others. As you wait this Advent season, consider some of the ways you might wait patiently in our community; by checking out a class or fellowship group, by giving a gift through our Star Tree or Alternative Christmas program, by making sack lunches or serving at our Soup Kitchen. Join us as we wait and long for the Light of Christ. Grace and Peace, Jane Cheema Pastor of Youth and Family Ministry During her renewal leave, Pastor Jane worked with a spiritual director, using photography as a spiritual practice. Here is one of her favorite shots.

3 D E C E M B E R Page 3 Film Screening a Witness to LGBTQ Justice On Friday, Dec. 4, at 7:00 p.m. the Social Justice Committee will host an initial screening of An Act of Love, a documentary that tells the story of Frank Schaefer, the United Methodist pastor who officiated at his son s same sex wedding, was tried by the Church, and subsequently was defrocked. Pastor Dean Francis will facilitate discussion following the film. The film premiered at the California Mill Valley Film Festival in October, where it won several awards along with the films Room, Suffragette, Spotlight, and Truth. LGBTQ community in the life of the United Methodist Church. We are honored to be included in this important witness. The Dec. 4 screening will be in the church dining room. Admission is free. (Note: Image above is from the film website) As our denomination moves toward General Conference in May 2016, the Reconciling Ministries Network hopes churches across the country will show An Act of Love as a way of sharing the story of the movement for LGBTQ inclusion. We are a Reconciling Congregation. First Church is a vibrant, accepting congregation that welcomes all who seek God, inclusive of age, race, education, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and special needs. Kathy Cheney-Egan, who cochairs the Social Justice Committee, explains that First Church is one of five major United Methodist Churches across the country asked to participate in this initial screening. It is a clear witness of our community of faith's commitment to LGBTQ justice and full inclusion of the C H R I S T M A S E V E W O R S H I P 4:00 p.m. Family Service in the Sanctuary followed by birthday cake for Jesus in Great Hall. 7:00 p.m. Candlelight Worship with music by the Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, and Gospel Choir. Music begins at 6:30 p.m. 1O:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Worship with music by the Chamber Choir. (Please note time change.) Music begins at 9:30 p.m.

4 F A I T H A T F I R S T Page 4 Youth Musicians Help Lead Worship in Advent First Praise!, First Church s newest ensemble, debuts this month when members lead worship on December 6. The youth will lead the gathering song and offer an anthem. Since September director Ace Gangoso has met weekly with this group of youth, a handful of 7 th -11 th graders. At first, reports Gangoso, it was very experimental as the youth got acquainted with each other and each other s musical interests and talents. I had to see what they brought to the table, explained Gangoso. He learned that most of the young people played one or more instruments, so the focus is on instrumental playing and on working as a group. Gangoso is trying to encourage the group to play without a conductor. I m trying to get myself out of the picture, actually. One hallmark of First Church youth programs is the emphasis on community, and First Praise! continues that focus. I don t want this to be just another musical group, explains Gangoso. We start and end each rehearsal with an opening and closing song, and check in with each other at the beginning. I want to make a comfortable space and to offer the opportunity to share if there is a need. First Praise! is still a very new group, and Gangoso hopes the visibility on Dec. 6 will generate additional interest. Shepherds in last year s Christmas Pageant found the star so bright they had to wear sunglasses pageant photo by Frank Montagna.

5 D E C E M B E R Page 5 Adult Education during Advent Our theme for Advent is Longing for Light. During this season of waiting we will take a break from our usual Sunday morning pattern and engage in more reflective practices. Prayer 101: Beginning Again November 29, December 6 & 13, 9:15 a.m. in the conference room. What is prayer? How shall I pray? How does God answer prayer? These and similar questions will shape this conversation for those who want to pray but don t know where to start, and for those who hope to re-start a prayer practice. Facilitated by Bonny Roth, Pastor of Pastoral Care. Praying with Mary, Zechariah, and John November 29, December 6 & 13, 9:15 a.m. in Glenna Hall. Judith Ruhana, First Church member and retired E.T.H.S. teacher, leads this Advent prayer group around the theme Messengers of Hope. Drawing on the lectionary readings and music, participants with pray and reflect with Mary on Nov. 29 (What has God sent us to do? How do we bring God to others?); with Zechariah on Dec. 6 (What is our garment of sorrow? How has God comforted us? How are we a comfort to others?); and with John on Dec. 13 (In what unlikely places do we find God? How do we welcome the godly in our lives?). Please participate as your schedule permits. Who is this Jesus of Nazareth? November 29, December 6 & 13, 9:15 a.m. in basement Room K. Dennis Damon Moore, a former college professor and new First Church member, leads participants in a close reading of The Gospel According to Mark, which includes a number of memorable passages related to Jesus ministry and portrays a man who understands more and imagines better than others, who foresees the good and bad that will befall him, who sympathizes with those hungry for rest and reassurance, and who is a bit exasperated with yet hopeful for his disciples. No advance registration needed. Please bring a Bible. Small Groups beginning or resuming in January (details and registration at Parable Study Meets Wednesdays, 10-11:30 a.m., Jan. 6-Feb. 3 and March 30-April 27 (with a break during Lent). Led by Margaret Ann Crain and Sharon Rader. Sunday Supper & Study Meets Sundays, 4:30-6:15 p.m., Jan. 3-Feb. 14. Led by Blaine Rader.

6 F A I T H A T F I R S T Page 6 Give the Gift of Hope this Christmas T H E S T A R T R E E Beginning Nov 29, twinkling lights will herald the arrival of the Star Tree in Fountain Foyer. An annual tradition, the Star Tree offers First Church members and friends the opportunity to share the joy of the season by buying a gift of toys or clothes for a local child. Paper stars, decorated by the J.U.M.P. youth group, each contain the name and age of a child, along with several of the child's own gift ideas from personal "wish lists." Stars may be selected on Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, and returned to the church no later than Dec. 13, wrapped and ready to be distributed to the children later that week. The Star Tree is a collaborative effort between First Church and Evanston-based Y.O.U. (Youth and Opportunity United). Y.O.U. offers after-school programs that serve 450 youth in the Evanston and Niles Townships. These programs work to develop local schools into com- munity hubs to connect families with resources and each other. Please consider participating in this annual tradition, and make the holidays a bit merrier for these children. A L T E R N A T I V E C H R I S T M A S G I V I N G Again this year the Missions and Outreach Committee will sponsor an Alternative Christmas Giving opportunity each Sunday during Advent. Make a donation to Heifer International, Curt s Café, UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief), or the Total Child Preschool and Childcare Center in the church building and receive an card to let someone special know that a gift has been made in his or her honor. Stop by the Alternative Christmas Giving table in Great Hall after worship on Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13 or 20, and see what good your Christmas giving can do this year. Thanks to Jackie and Phil Crihfield, Patty Baker, Bill and Nancy Brown, Mari Leonard, and Ladonna Taylor for beautifying our building for Advent and Christmas.

7 DECEMBER 2015 Page 7 FACES AT FIRST Another Month of Ministry Here are a few highlights of our faith community last month as we continue to grow in our relationship with God and live our faith in the world. Photos by Judith Campbell and Frank Montagna.

8 N E W S A N D N O T E S F R O M A R O U N D F I R S T C H U R C H A D V E N T F E S T I V A L Join us after worship on Dec. 6 for our annual Advent Festival. Enjoy lunch catered by Tomate Fresh Kitchen, create an Advent wreath, and make a variety of holiday crafts. Cost is $5 per person/$20 max per family. Please RSVP by Dec. 2 online at S P R E A D S O M E C H E E R Come to the potluck on Dec. 16 at 6:00 p.m., and then join us for Christmas caroling. At 7:00 p.m. that evening we will head out to visit homebound members of our congregation and others who could use some Christmas cheer. If you can sing and/or ring a jingle bell, please come along! No reservation needed. A L L - C H U R C H B R E A K- F A S T All are welcome to the Dec. 20 All-Breakfast served in the dining room beginning at 9:00 a.m. Please RSVP to the invite or contact the church office so we know how many are coming. Thanks to our Men s Breakfast Group for cooking! The annual Christmas Pageant is Dec. 13. during 10:30 a.m. worship C H U R C H S T R E E T E V A N S T O N, I L ( ) W W W. F A I T H A T F I R S T. C O M