Lyre –Golden State Park in San Francisco, photograph by Kitty Taylor (2008)

First Congregational Church of

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

Sunday, May 5th 2024 | 10 o’clock in the morning

Sixth Sunday of Eastertide
 ORDER OF WORSHIP
Responses in italics may be spoken out loud.
Please rise, in body or in spirit, places marked by an asterisk (*).
Prelude Cantilena on “A New Commandment” David Blackwell
Introit O Come and Sing Unto the Lord Irish Folk Song
harm. Noel Rawsthorne
Words of Welcome Paul Janicki
*Call to Worship
Sing to the Lord a new song, a song of hope and rejoicing!
Praise God for their wonderful acts of mercy and 611-joyful joyful we.mus, Page 1
kindness!
611-joyful joyful we.mus, Page 1
God has remembered God’s faithful ones. 611-joyful joyful we.mus, Page 1
God has poured
ADORATIONblessing upon blessing upon us!
611 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Praise the Lord, all the earth, shout your praise!
ADORATION
ADORATION Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
611 # 2 œJoyful,
Rejoice, for God is truly with us.
Joyful, œJoyful,
œWeœ Adore j
& 22 œ œJoyful,
611# œ œ œ œœ œœ ..
œ œ j ˙˙
We
œ
Adore
œ œ
Thee
œ œ œ œ
& # 2 œœœ œœœ œœ œœœ œœœ œœ œ œœœ œœ œœœ œœœ œ œ .
œœ œ œ .. œœ j ˙˙
Opening Hymn Thee #611

& 21 Joy œ - ful, joy - ful, we a -œ dore

œ œ œ œ œ œ thee,
œ œœ ofœœ
God œœ - ry,œœ Lord
glo œœ . ofœœ love!
˙˙
2 All thy works with
1 Joy - ful, joy - ful, we a joy sur - round
dore thee, God and
thee; earth of heaven
glo - re ry,- flect
Lord thyof rays;
love!

œ œ œ . œ ˙
œ joinœœ theœœœ hapœ œ œ œ œ œ
3 Mor - tals, join the hap - py cho - rus which the morn - ing stars be
of- gan.

? #3 2Morœ - tals,
All -thy
12 Joy ful,works
joy - with joy sur
ful, we a - round
dore thee;
thee, earth
God and of heaven
glo - rery,- Lord
flect thy rays;
love!

œ œ.. œ ˙
? # 222 œ œ œœœ œœ œœ œœœ œœœ œœœ œœ œœœ œœœ œœ œœœ . œJœœ ˙˙˙
Mor -thy
23 All tals,works
join with
the hap
joy - py
sur - cho
round - rus
thee;which
earth the
and morn
heaven - ing
re -stars
flect be
thy - gan.
rays;
- py cho - rus which the morn - ing stars be - gan.

? # œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ
2 œ œ œ œœ œ . JœJ ˙
# œ œ œ œ œ œ œ j
& # œ œ œœ nœ nœ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ .. œJ j ˙
& # œœœ œœ œ n œ n œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœœ œœ .. œJj ˙
& Hearts
œ œun - fold œan -ngels
œ nsingœ œa - round œœ oœœ- pening
œœ oftoœœ the
œ sunœœ .. aœJ- praise. ˙
œ thee,
like flowers be - fore thee, bove.
stars and cen - ter un - bro - ken

œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ.
Hearts un - fold like flowers be - fore thee, o - pening to the sun a - bove.

? # œœ œœ œœ œœœ œœ ˙˙
Love and
di - vine is reign
sing - ing o’er us, join -- ing
ter all in
un -heav - en’s praise.
plan.

œœ
stars
Hearts an - gels
un - fold like flowers a - -round
be fore thee,
thee, cen
o - pening of
to the bro
sun - ken
a - bove.

œ œ œ œœ.. Jœœ ˙˙
Love and
di - vine is reign
sing - ing o’er thee,
us, join
cen -- ing
ter all in -heav
bro -- en’s plan.

? # œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
stars an - gels a - round of un ken praise.

œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ. Jœœ ˙˙
Love di - vine is reign - ing o’er us, join - ing all in heav - en’s plan.

?# œ œ œ œ œœ
œ œ œ œ. J
#
& # œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œœ œ œ œ
& # œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œœ ##œœœ œœ œ ##œœœ œ
& Meltœœ the
œœ cloudsœof
œ - est, œœ œœandœœ sad
œœ - ness;
œ œœ œdark
œœ the œœ ofœ œœ œ-#aing
vale and moun-tain, flower- y mead -#ow,œ œ œ
sin drive doubt - way.
Field and for flash sea,
Melt the clouds of sin and sad - ness; drive the dark of doubt a - way.

œ œ œ œœœ œ œ œœœ œ œœ
Ev - er sing - ing, march we on - ward, vic - tors in the midst of strife.

œ œ œ œœ
Field the
andclouds
for - est,
of vale and moun -tain,drive - y mead
dark - ow, flash
doubt- ing sea,

? #Evœœ - œ
Melt sin and sad - ness; flowerthe of a - way.

erœ sing
œ -ing,œ march
œ we œ onœ -ward,
œ vicœ - œtors# œin œ
œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ# œœ œœ
Ev - er sing - ing, march we on - ward, vic - tors in -the midst of strife.

œœ œ œ
Field and for - est, vale and moun-tain, flower- y mead ow, flash - ing sea,

?# œ œ œœ œ œ œœœ
the midst of strife.

?# œ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ# œ
# œ œ œj
&# œ œ œ œœ n œœ n œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ œœ œœ œœ .. œ j ˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ J
 ? # œ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ# œœ œœ œœ œ œ œœ
œ

# œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
& œ œ œ œ n œ n œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ .. œj ˙
J
Giv - er of im - mor - tal glad - ness, fill us with the light of day.
chant - ing bird and flow - ing foun - tain, call us to re - joice in thee.

œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ . œœ ˙˙
? # œ œ œ œœ œœ
Joy - ful mu - sic leads us sun-ward in the tri - umph song of life.

œ. J
œ

*Prayer of Confession
This well-known melody was created to provide a choral setting for J. C. F. von Schiller’s poem, “An die
Freude” (To Joy), as the final movement of the composer’s Ninth Symphony. The author, a prominent
Jesus, our Presbyterian
siblingpastor andandfriend, we
author, wrote confess
the words that
with this tune we do not always love one
in mind.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
another. TEXT:
Our divisions
Henry van Dyke, 1907, alt.and disagreements so often prevent usHYMN from TO JOYknowing
MUSIC: Ludwig van Beethoven, 1824; adapt. Edward Hodges, 1842, alt. 8.7.8.7.D
the joy of meaningful relationships. Even as we seek to follow your example,
we forget that we are chosen and appointed by you to bring hope to a weary
world. Help us renew our focus and live by your will…that we may follow you
with joy in our hearts. Amen.
5/23/13
*Words of Grace and Mercy
From generation to generation, God’s love overcomes human sinfulness. God is
committed to fresh starts and new creations. This is good news!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
*Prayer Response
(Hymn 327, stanza 3)
Eternal are thy mercies, Lord; eternal truth attends thy word:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
till suns shall rise and set no more.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
First Scripture Acts 10: 44-48 Paul Janicki
*Greeting of Peace
Announcements
Anthem I Give to You a New Commandment Peter Nardone

I give to you a new commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved
you. Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est. Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exsultemus et in ipso jucundemur. Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum. Et ex
corde diligamus nos sincero. (Where charity is true, God is there. The love of
Christ has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice and be glad in him. Let us fear
and love the living God. And from a sincere heart let us love one another.)
Amen. (John 13:34-35 and Liber Usualis)
 ? # # œ n œœ œ œ ˙˙ ˙
˙
˙ œ œ
œ œœ œ ˙ ˙˙
œ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙
Sermon Scripture Psalm 98
Sermon “Music toI Our
ComeEars” with Joy
Rev. Jason W. Coulter515
Capo 3: ( D ) (G) (A) (D) ( Bm )
b
6 j j Dm œ
*Hymn I Come Bwith Joy #515

& b 8 œj œ j
œ œ œj œ
j œ œ œ J
F C F

œ œ œ
1 I come with joy, a child of God, for - giv - en, loved, and
2 I come with Chris - tians far and near to find, as all are
3 As Christ breaks bread and bids us share, each proud di - vi - sion
4 The Spir - it of the ris - en Christ, un - seen, but ev - er
5 To - geth - er met, to - geth - er bound by all that God has

( Asus ) ( Am ) (G)
#
(F m ) (D)
Bb

& b œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ j
Csus Cm Am F

J J œ J œ œ
free, the life of Je - sus to re - call, in
fed, the new com - mu - ni - ty of love in
ends. The love that made us, makes us one, and
near, is in such friend - ship bet - ter known, a -
done, we’ll go with joy, to give the world the

( Em )
#
( D /F ) (G) (A) ( Am7 ) ( D)
Bb
jF/A œ
&b œ œ œ œ œ . œ œj œ j œ œ œ œ. œ
Gm C Cm7 F

œ
love laid down for me, in love laid down for me.
Christ’s com - mu - nion bread, in Christ’s com - mu - nion bread.
strang - ers now are friends, and strang - ers now are friends.
live a - mong us here, a - live a - mong us here.
love that makes us one, the love that makes us one.
Invitation to chords
Guitar Offering Verso
do not correspond inkeyboard
with E minorharmony. Domenico Zipoli
This text affirms that Christian unity is not achievement but gift, one renewed each time we gather for the
*DoxologyLord’s Supper. Each of us enters as an “I” and leaves as part of “we.” The unadorned language of this text is
Praise_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
God, from
well matched whom
to the all note
simple shape blessings
tune that setsflow;
it here.

PraiseTEXT:
Christ,
Brian Wren,all
1968;people
rev. 1993 here below;
MUSIC: American folk melody; arr. Austin C. Lovelace, 1977
DOVE OF PEACE
8.6.8.6.6
PraiseTextHoly Spirit
© 1971, rev. evermore;
1995 Hope Publishing Company
Music Arr. © 1977 Hope Publishing Company
One God, Triune whom we adore. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
Loving God, we remember that one of Christ’s most important commandments
is loving
6/22/13one another. With these gifts, help us show this love in our words
and actions, caring for the vulnerable and offering hope in times of despair.
Amen.
 Service of Holy Communion
At First Congregational Church of Evanston, all people are welcome at Christ’s table.
At the pastor’s call, you are invited to come forward to receive the elements of the
Lord’s Supper. Today we are serving communion by intinction. You will receive a piece
of bread from the pastor and are invited to dip it in the grape juice in the communion
cup. We also have gluten-free bread and small communion kits for those who prefer
them. Regardless of how you receive this meal, know that God blesses your presence
at Christ’s table!

Invitation
Praise
Let us pray: From the first day to the last, O God, you are generous and kind, filling the
world with mercy’s bread, pouring the cup of mercy’s joy.
You give us gifts too many to count: our hearts overflow when we remember
you. Even in death, life abounds.
And so we praise you, singing your glory with every creature you made
Holy, holy holy, God of love and majesty.
The whole world speaks of your glory.
O God most high
Remembrance
And now, O God, with grateful hearts, we remember Jesus. When all seems lost, when
we are stuck in shame, when nothing we try resurrects our fading hope, he comes to
us; he brings the morning’s light.
He tells us where to cast our nets. The catch is abundant; our nets are full. He
knows we are always hungry; he feeds us hope.
On the lakeshore he lights the breakfast fire, grills fish for us, and bread. In the mist of
morning, guilt is gone, shame fades away. We eat together, speaking only of love.
It is always this way with Jesus— food and pardon, mercy and life.
Even on that night when we betrayed him, he gave us bread and wine and told us to
remember him and all his mercies whenever we gather to eat.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Sharing the Feast
Giving Thanks
Gracious and giving God, we give you thanks for all the ways you feed and
nurture us. We give thanks for your Son Jesus, who gave of himself that we
might know the way to you. Now that we have feasted at his table, send us out
into the world to nourish others and show them the pathways of your love.
Amen.
Prayers of the People - Pastoral Prayer - Silent Prayer
Prayer of Our Savior
Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 054-make
Give usa this day ourPage
joyful-467.mus, daily
1 bread.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine GOD’S
is theCOVENANT
kingdom, WITHand the power,
ISRAEL
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Make a Joyful Noise to God! 54
#4
*Closing Hymn Make a Joyful Noise to 66)
(Psalm God! #54

& 4 œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œœ ˙˙ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙
œ
1 Make a joy - ful noise to God! All cre - a - tion sings your praise!
2 Come and see what God has done, great the bless - ings to the just:

? # 44 œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ
3 Bless the Lord, our ref - uge sure; let our songs of praise be heard!

œœ ˙
œ ˙
# œ œ
& œœ œœ œ œœ œœ ˙
œ œ ˙ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙˙
Great your won-ders here dis - played, un - ex-celled through-out our days.
walked the cho - sen through the sea, brought their en - e - mies to dust.

? # œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ˙ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙
By whose jus - tice, we are tried; by whose grace, our guilt de - ferred.

œ ˙
# œ œ . j
& œ œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ ˙
˙ œ œœ œœ œ œ. œ ˙
J
Glo - rious is your sa - cred name, a - ges old, yet still the same.
Let us lift a thank - ful voice for God’s mer - cies, and re - joice!

œ
? # œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œœ
When our life’s sure end shall come, bring us to your heaven - ly home.

˙ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙
œ ˙
*Benediction and Blessing
Choral Response Lord, Make Us More HolyRoger Summers
Postlude Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Singarr. John Leavitt

This paraphrase of Psalm 66 maintains a corporate tone more suitable for congregational singing than does
the original psalm, which moves to a personal narrative in its latter part. The reference to “all creation” is
Worship Credits and Sources:
Photograph by Kitty Taylor. This photograph, taken in Golden Gate Park, represents the perfect blend
of creation, capturing an element of nature which is musical in form. This particular branch has grown
in the shape of a lyre and its pink hues set against an intensely blue sky convey the essence of
Spring and the Psalm. In this work, it is as if God has created God’s own visible and natural depiction
of Psalm 98.

Call to Worship and Prayers from Ministry Matters and UCC Worship Ways

Music Permissions Cantilena: A New Commandment. Music: Anonymous. Setting: David Blackwell. © 2015,
Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All
rights reserved. O Come and Sing unto the Lord (Psalm 95). Music: A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Poems,
1749; Words: The New Metrical Version of the Psalms, 1909, alt. Public Domain. Irish. Music: A Collection of
Hymns and Sacred Poems by S. Powell, Dublin (1749). © 1991, Kevin Mayhew Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Hymn to Joy.
Music: Ludwig van Beethoven. Setting: Hal. H. Hopson. © 2016, Hope Publishing Company. All rights
reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Joyful, Joyful, We
Adore Thee. Music: Ludwig van Beethoven, 1824; adapt. Edward Hodges, 1842, alt.; Words: Henry van Dyke,
1907, alt. Public Domain. 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. I give to you a new commandment. Music: Peter Nardone. Words: John 13: 34-35 and Liber Usualis.
© 2010, St. James Music Press. Used with permission. License #23508. I Come with Joy. Music: American
folk melody; arr. Austin C. Lovelace. © 1977, Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Words: Brian
Wren. © 1971, rev. 1995, Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with
permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Verso in E Minor. Music: Domenico Zipoli.
Public Domain. Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow. Music: Genevan Psalter, 1551; Words:
Thomas Ken, 1695, 1709. Public Domain. Make a Joyful Noise to God! (Psalm 66). Music: Conrad
Kocher, 1838; abr. William Henry Monk, 1861; harm. The English Hymnal, 1906. Words: Michael Morgan,
1995, alt. © 2010, Michael Morgan (admin. Congregational Ministries Publishing, Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.)). All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All
rights reserved. Lord, Make Us More Holy. Music: Roger Summers; Words: Spiritual. © 2005, The Lorenz
Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under
ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Gelobt sei Gott: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing.
Music: Melchior Vulpius; Setting: John Leavitt. © 1991, Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Podcast with
permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved.

Sunday Morning Service Roles:

Deacons: Lay Reader
- Dona Nunn - Paul Janicki
- Eda Uca
- Jansen Krei
Livestream/Tech Support: Sunday School
- Gary Hardesty - Ashley Benirschke
- Julie Captain - Linda Krei
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
 This Afternoon: Music First!
Join us here in the Sanctuary this afternoon for the inaugural Music First Concert,
Spring is Popping! Plan to join us at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary for an engaging
afternoon of music featuring Music Director Matthew Hogan on bassoon and organ
and Jennifer Petkus on clarinet.

Our biweekly Zoom Bible study is back!

The next meeting will be May 1 at 7:30 p.m. contact Pastor Jason or email Mahdia for a Zoom link.

Pastor Jason is leading us through a study of Acts, the New Testament book that traces the birth and
development of the early church. Contact Pastor Jason for more information!

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

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.
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, Moderator | Chris Krei, Vice-Moderator

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!