time on a beautiful summer day.

Whatever the reasons, persons

of all ages enjoy Worship in the

Park, which begins June 13.

Thanks to Louise and Mark Buis-

seret, Jan Conner, David and

Judy D’Arcy, Annie and Grace

Johnson, the McGuire family,

Elaine Moy Johnson, Jonathan

and Chris Nieuwsma, and Gayle

Webber for their input.

Louise Buisseret is a fan of

Worship in the Park. ―I love

being able to dress casual

and ride a bike over. The

church sanctuary is beautiful,

but nothing can beat a sunny

summer morning in the park,‖

she reports.

For the 12th year, First Church

offers an outdoor summer

worship option. Worship in

the Park is a casual, come-as-

you-are service on Sundays at

9:00 a.m. in Lunt Park, on the

corner of Church Street and

Sheridan Road in Evanston.

Worshippers bring their own

blankets or beach chairs for

this 40-minute service.

Many cite the informality and

family-friendly nature of Wor-

ship in the Park as a selling

point. ―You can wear shorts‖

says one member. ―Your kids

can roam around to other fami-

lies’ blankets, and everyone is

fine with that,‖ says another.

One five-year-old says she likes

eating cookies and climbing

trees after worship.

A number of persons point to

how the natural beauty of the

setting enhances their worship

experience. Others cite the ear-

lier start as a way to maximize

Worshipping in Shorts

J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 1 0

Faith at First

I N S I D E T H I S E D I T I O N

Long range planning begins

Program year comes to a close

Ghana team departs June 20

Material for the August issue is

due July 23. Please send info to

Editor@faithatfirst.com.

Worship in the Park begins on Sunday, June 13 and runs through September 5. In case

of rain, worship is held in Great Hall. If the weather is questionable, call the church

office for the location. The 10:30 a.m. worship service in the sanctuary continues all

summer. We will resume with one worship service on Rally Day, September 12, 2010.

Photo by S. Smith Photography, copyright 2008.

We are coming to the end of our

program year; we have cele-

brated confirmation and have

sent our Senior Pastor on re-

newal lave for 12 weeks. I would

like to encourage everyone to

intentionally seek time for Sab-

bath during these summer

months.

Sabbath is a tradition of biblical

faith that we too often overlook

in our earnest efforts to be who-

ever we think we are expected to

be—productive citizens, perfect

parents, exemplary professors or

students, pillars of the church.

The challenge of the Sabbath is

to remove ourselves from the

work that we think defines us

and to rest instead in the knowl-

edge that we are not what we do.

We are creatures of God who

live, grow and learn through

God’s grace. God’s command-

ment to rest is a gift to us, a re-

minder that the world can turn

without us. It is a gift that we

must learn to accept, and sum-

mer is the time to begin.

In summer, the pace around First

Church slows a bit, we move out

to the park to worship, and we

Page 2 F A I T H A T F I R S T

enjoy creation at camp and in

our summer travels. Vacations

scatter us in new directions

where we can gain new perspec-

tives on ourselves and how we

spend our time.

The staff is in and out of the of-

fice more, and we will honor

summer office hours to give the

staff a little more time to find

rest and to enjoy summer.

I encourage you to seek Sabbath

time during these summer

months and to rest in God’s

grace and love.

Peace.

—Jane Cheema

Pastor of Youth and

Family Ministry

The Dean’s List Jane Contemplates Faith and Life

Can you imagine 29 ukuleles playing in

unison? Guests at our Senior Luncheon on

April 29 were treated to ukulele music,

singing, and dancing performed by the Na

Kupuna Ukulele Club of Chicago (with

dancing by some of our members) cele-

brating the spirit of Aloha. Thanks to our

seniors who attended and to Ann Covode

and the Congregational Care Committee

for coordinating the event.

At the May 2 Charge Conference,

a committee was established to

develop a long range plan for

First Church. Committee Chair

Rob Magee explains the process:

"Over the coming months, the

committee will gather informa-

tion on everything that is cur-

rently happening at the Church

and on the needs and opportuni-

ties that we might address. We

will develop a tentative plan of

priorities for the next five years,

bring that to the congregation for

further refinement, and then for

ultimate adoption."

The previous long range plan

was established in January 2005

and has served as a

guide for staff assign-

ments and budgeting

since that time.

The new committee

began their work in

May. Committee

members include Dex-

ter Bailey, Donald E.

Baker, Ethelyn Bond,

Matt Dunaway, Joe

Haughney, Mary Hen-

derson, Linda Mac-

Cracken, Rob

Magee, Amy Mosser,

Heath Port, and a

youth representative.

Long Range Planning Process Launched

Page 3 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 1 0

On May 14, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

awarded Dean Francis an honorary Doctor of Divinity

degree for his leadership and service to the First

Church congregation and the seminary. Photo by Bill

Burlingham.

Two years passes quickly, and we are already saying goodbye to Nancy Lynn, our

seminary intern since Fall 2008. Upon her graduation from Garrett-Evangelical

Theological Seminary, Nancy received a number of awards, including the Myrtle Say-

lor Speer Award for ―expanding the vision of women in ministry and theological

scholarship‖; the Hoyt L. Hickman Award for outstanding liturgical scholarship and

practice; the Ernest T. Campbell Preaching Award; and the Quentin Nolte Prize for

promise in ministry. In addition, Nancy was selected by her classmates to preach at

the senior graduation chapel service.

In June Nancy and her daughter Emily are moving to Ann Arbor, MI, where she has

been appointed the Associate Pastor of the First United Methodist Church there.

Many thanks to Nancy for all her contributions to the life of this faith community,

and best wishes to Nancy and Emily as they make a new home in Ann Arbor.

During her two-year internship at First Church, Nancy assisted with worship, taught

confirmation and adult classes, coordinated Children’s Chapel, provided pastoral

care, and participated on various administrative committees. She also helped with

baptisms , and enjoyed being a parent (rather than a pastor) for her daughter Emily’s baptism at our Easter

Vigil. Photo by Clark Federer.

Nancy Lynn Sent Forth with Honors

Page 4 F A I T H A T F I R S T

On June 6, the final Sunday of

our program year, we celebrate

the gifts of our musicians and

our children as they lead wor-

ship.

The adult handbell ensemble will

play arrangements of two ethnic

hymns, ―Cantad el Senor‖ and

―Siyahama‖, both of which the

congregation will sing during wor-

ship. Our children’s choir will

sing an anthem by former organ-

ist-music director Austin Love-

lace, and the Chancel Choir will

offer ―Benedictus Es, Domine‖, a

piece of praise and acclamation

by early 20th century composer

and church musician Everett

Titcomb.

Student instrumentalists and

perhaps a saxophone

ensemble will also par-

ticipate in music that

day.

Also in the June 6 wor-

ship service, our children

will lead the processional

carrying a banner they

have created in Chil-

dren’s Chapel, our wor-

ship education program

for ages four through

fourth grade. Older chil-

dren will server as lec-

tionary readers that day.

Our summer worship

schedule begins June

13.

Musicians, Children Lead Worship on June 6

Photos by Clark Federer

S U M M E R W O R S H I P

June 13—September 5

9:00 a.m. Worship in the Park

at Lunt Park (Church St.

and Sheridan Road)

10:30 a.m. Sanctuary Worship

fellowship time on the lawn

Ahoy, me Hearties! Come and join me mates and crew!

Pirates are the theme of this

summer’s Vacation Bible

School, held at First Church on

July 12–14, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Children entering kindergarten

through fourth grade are in-

vited to participate in this Veg-

gie Tales program of bible sto-

ries, music, games, and crafts.

The $15 cost includes dinner

each night. Registration forms

are available in the church of-

fice. For additional details,

please contact Beckie Corneli-

son, camp director, at beckie@faithatfirst.com .

Summer Means Camp(s) for First Church

Page 5 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 1 0

Thanks to 2009-2010 Children’s Ministry Volunteers

Our Children’s Ministry at First Church is strong and growing because

of the dedication of many volunteers who teach and assist our children

in Sunday school each week. Thank you!

Toddlers and Twos: Cheryl First Bornstein, Allison Greer, Ann & Will

Borders, Rebecca Kaegi. Lisa Huff. Kari Kemerer, Liz Blackwell, Angeli-

que Ketzback, Mark & Louise Buisseret. Jeanne-Marie & Tom Daly,

Mike Flesher

3 and 4 year olds: Jim & Stephanie Casey, Kate Edwards, Pete Clem-

son, Laura Pryzby, Leslie Treece, Matt & Lynelle Diener, Tina & Paul

Kalil, Kari & Dave Van de Walle

Kindergarten and 1st grade: Lisa Huff & Robert Sahadevan, Elaine &

Matt Moy Johnson, Christina Zentner, Renee Poole Brownlee,

Kathy Ryan & Rocky Clancy, Pat Haughney, Jen Eberle, Karen Young

2nd and 3rd grade: Liz Blackwell, Judith Campbell, Sungju Bark, Jessica

Clarke, Lori Colbert, Ann Wehmeyer, Mari Leonard & Rich Hobson,

Matt & Kirsten Dunaway

4th, 5th, and 6th grade: Jennifer Christensen, Beckie Cornelison, Dave

Vance, Evelyn Alford, Pam Peters, Lisa Burkhart , Becky Kass, Jim

Champlin, Abbey Ogunbola

C H I L D R E N ’ S P R O G R A M

C O O R D I N A T O R P A S S E S

T H E B A T O N

At the beginning o f June, Pam

Kendall, First Church Children’s Pro-

gram Coordinator, will pass the ba-

ton to Beckie Cornelison, who will

serve as interim coordinator for our

children’s ministry area. For three

years as a staff member and two

volunteer years before that as chair

of Children’s Council, Pam solidified

our children’s ministry area and

brought a mission focus to it.

In September we will formally recog-

nize and thank Pam for her service.

First Church offers three summer

camp experiences.

Creation Camp this June 14-18

is for children entering third

through eighth grade. Campers

enjoy five days and four nights at

Wesley Woods Camp on Lake

Geneva.

Vacation Bible School (details at

right) is three evenings in July for

kindergarteners through fourth

graders.

CIA Camp (Children in Action)

August 9-12 is a hands-on mis-

sion experience for kids entering

third through sixth grades.

F A I T H A T F I R S T Page 6

Mission Team Seeks Prayer Partners for Ghana Trip

On June 20, 18 First Church

youth and adults leave for a ten-

day Volunteers in Mission trip to

Ghana. In Ghana, the volunteers

will continue work on a Method-

ist Youth Center in Aburi, working

side by side with Ghanaians to

construct a dor-

mitory at the

Youth Center

site.

The congrega-

tion is invited to

participate in

the experience

by serving as

prayer partners

for the team

members.

Prayer partners

typically develop

special relation-

ships and sup-

port the mission team members

through prayer or special medita-

tions.

Interested persons can request

to be assigned to a specific team

member or to get to know a new

person. Please contact Joanna

Gwinn at (847) 869-4541 or

jgwinn@northwestern.edu if you

would like to participate.

The 2010 Ghana mission team

includes college students Tina

Cheema, Dylan Powell, Alex

Rhea, Emily Roth, and Amanda

Schultze; and adults Ethelyn

Bond, Ruth Gerald, Don Gwinn,

Pam Kendall, Eleanor Nicholson,

Bonny Roth, Beth and Terry

Ruppe, Rob and Stacy Schultze,

and Jack Turner. The trip is led

by Jane Cheema and Joanna

Gwinn.

Above: On April 30 over 80 people enjoyed a dinner of tra-

ditional Ghanaian food (groundnut stew, jol lof rice, ground

cornmeal, fried plantains, and tropical fruit) and heard

Bishop Charles Konadu describe traditional family life in

Ghana and the Church’s challenges helping Ghanaian fami-

lies cope with change. Jim Young (above left) talks with

Bishop Konadu (center) and Felix (right), a Northwestern

grad student from the Mo-Dega area in Ghana. Below: A

main street in Aburi. Aburi photo by Galen Frysinger.

Page 7 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 1 0

F A C E S A T F I R S T

2nd and 3rd Graders Explore Their Church Home

This spring our 2nd and 3rd graders gathered for a scavenger hunt, exploring the stained glass windows and wood carvings

and discovering many nooks and crannies in the church building. Judith Campbell, who thought of the idea and carried it out

along with Liz Blackwell and Paula Scholl, envisioned it as a way for the kids to build their relationships while becoming more

aware of the architectural components and worship history of First Church. ―I want them to feel like this is their church, too,‖

says Judith, ―and not just their parents.‖ Photos by Judith Campbell.

S T R A W B E R R Y

S H O R T C A K E S E R V E D

O N T H E L A W N

On Sunday, June 20, worship-

pers at the 10:30 a.m. service

will be treated to strawberry

shortcake during fellowship hour.

Our summer fellowship time is

held on the Hinman Ave. lawn

after the 10:30 a.m. service in

the sanctuary.

C H A P E L P O T L U C K

C E L E B R A T E S P R O -

G R A M Y E A R E N D

Families are invited to an infor-

mal Children’s Chapel potluck

and open house on June 6 after

worship. Bring a snack or light

P A N C A K E S I N T H E

P A R K S E T F O R J U N E

2 7

Membership Growth and Devel-

opment invites all to stay after

Worship in the Park on June 27

for a pancake breakfast with all

the fixings. This will be our

fourth Pancakes in the Park

breakfast.

5 1 6 C H U R C H S T R E E T

E V A N S T O N , I L 6 0 2 0 1

( 8 4 7 ) 8 6 4 - 6 1 8 1

W W W . F A I T H A T F I R S T . C O M

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

dish to share and come cele-

brate the end of the program

year.

The ever-popular Pancakes in the

Park is scheduled for June 27.

Photos by Frank Montagna.