Devotions

The Wednesday Produce Market and Dinner returns July 10, and runs through September 4, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. We distribute produce from the Loaves and Fishes Garden free to the community, as well as provide a simple, free dinner. It’s a time of fun and fellowship and a way to connect with our neighbors. If you’re a gardener with produce to spare, we’d love your donations! We’re also always looking for volunteers. For more information about the Wednesday Produce Market or to volunteer to serve at the market, contact Kim Hogan at [email protected].

Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The Beatles concert at Chicago’s International Amphitheatre on September 5, 1964! First Pres musicians and special guests will be performing your favorite Beatles songs LIVE, outdoors in the west parking lot. BYO chairs, cushions, or other comfortable seating. As always, First Pres Concerts are FREE and open to the public, so invite your friends & neighbors, too!

Save the Date! Sunday, September 8, at 11:30am. As summer wanes and crisp fall air arrives, join us for our church’s Fall Kick-Off! We’ll be saying farewell to sunshine and sandals with a celebration for all ages. Enjoy delicious food, refreshing drinks, and plenty of opportunities for fellowship and fun. It’s a perfect way to reconnect with your church family and welcome the new season together!

Wednesday, September 11 at 12:00pm – Sanctuary

Join us on Wednesday, September 11, at 12:00 PM in the Sanctuary for a heartfelt service of remembrance as we honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost during the 9/11 attacks in New York, Washington, DC, and on Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA. Together, we will reflect, remember, and pay tribute to the courage and resilience of those who were affected on that tragic day. This is a time for our community to come together in solidarity and remembrance. We hope you’ll join us in this meaningful observance.

Wednesday, September 11, 6:00pm – 10:00pm

All are welcome to join First Pres members and friends at Family Night, beginning on Wednesday,
September 11. Family Night begins with dinner, served buffet style, from 6:00-7:00 pm in Fellowship Hall. Dinner offers an excellent chance to connect with old friends and make new ones, all while enjoying great company and delicious food. After dinner, we offer programming for the whole family from 7:00-8:00 pm.

• Children’s Choir (Grades K-5) rehearses from 6:30 – 7:00pm in the Sanctuary.
• Adults are encouraged to attend the adult education offering of the evening. Adult ed offerings range from book discussions to current event discussions to storytelling and beyond.
• Middle schoolers (6th-8th grade) meet for youth group.
• K-5th graders participate in Kids Connect.
• High schoolers (9th-12th grade) are invited to volunteer with Kids Connect or attend the adult ed offerings.
• Nursery care will be offered, if needed, based on attendance.

We hope you will give Family Night a try this year! Please contact Rebekah Anderson if you have any questions or anticipate needing nursery care.

Wednesday, September 25, 9:30am / Parlor

Presbyterian Women will sponsor a program with Kim Jockl and Melody Smith whose parents Bill and Corrine Borchers were killed when American Airlines flight 191 crashed into an open field just north of Touhy Avenue in Elk Grove Township on May 25, 1979.

After decades of grieving, soul searching, recollecting and connecting with the families of others who were killed in the crash, the siblings have put their personal story of survival and dealing with such a sudden loss into a book titled Safe Landing. It’s a combination of pictorial essay and a series of personal accounts of how the family has coped for the last 45 years with the sudden loss of their parents.

Books will be available for purchase at the program. For questions please contact JoAnn Thompson

OCTOBER 2, 12:10 PM
Brian Schoettler, organist

We are thrilled to welcome the immensely talented Brian, who will be kicking off our Wednesdays @ Noon recital series this year. Brian is the esteemed Minister of Music & Organist at First United Methodist Church in Evanston, Illinois, and also serves as the chair of the Organ Department at the Music Institute of Chicago. With a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance and Literature from the prestigious Eastman School of Music, Brian brings a wealth of expertise and passion to every performance. Join us for an unforgettable musical experience as Brian shares his remarkable artistry with our community. Don’t miss this wonderful start to our recital series!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 4:00 PM
Adam Hendrickson, conductor; Christopher Urban, organ

You’re invited to a special musical event on Sunday, October 13 at 4:00 PM. Join us for an enchanting afternoon as conductor Adam Hendrickson and organist Christopher Urban present a captivating program of music for organ and orchestra. The highlight of the performance will be Camille Saint-Saëns’ majestic Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78, famously known as the “Organ Symphony.” Don’t miss this opportunity to experience a masterpiece in a breathtaking setting!

Sunday, October 20, 11:45am

We warmly invite you to our next New Members Class on Sunday, October 20 at 11:45 AM in the Boardroom. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our church, connect with others, and explore what it means to be a part of our community. Whether you’re new to the area or have been attending for a while, we’d love to have you join us. For more details or to sign up, please reach out to Rev. Laura Sherwood. We look forward to welcoming you!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 7:00 PM

Join us for a heartfelt community-wide All Saints’ Day service, where the power of music will bring us together. The Concert Series proudly presents Rutter’s Requiem, performed by a combined choir featuring singers from First Pres and neighboring Arlington Heights choirs, accompanied by talented soloists and a full orchestra. This moving tribute promises to be a beautiful and uplifting experience for all who attend.