FPCE Mad Libs 2

The original Mad Libs cover from 1958.

First Pres, you have lived through a huge amount of transition in the last 2 ½ years, with the Revs. Hylton’s and Golbek’s leaving and other friends walking in and out of the sanctuary doors. Thanks to good leadership, caring small groups, active deacons, friends, and family you have grown strong as a united community of faith through it all. Way to care for one another!

Pastor Derek and Sonia will arrive in town next week, and he will begin as your pastor on Monday, January 5, 2026. Yes, FPCE will have much to celebrate at the next Agape meal– the Chili Cook-off on Feb 1. The long-awaited day is nearly here!

Do you remember the party game Mad-Libs?  Here’s a church version to fill-out today:

Now (pronoun) might be tempted to start asking, “When will it all get back to (adjective)?” Or “When can I go back to the way I prefer to (verb) at the 10:30 a.m. service?” Or you might think, “When the pastor arrives, he will certainly solve the problem of (noun) and (verb). He will fix the church (adverb) and (verb). Then FPCE will (verb). (Positive exclamation)!”

Without realizing it, you may begin acting as if First Pres’ health and vitality depends upon (proper name) or (noun) outside my own effort–that magical “it” factor. Or perhaps it depends all on the new pastor. I wonder if, in that same line of thinking, some of you are taking a “wait and see” viewpoint toward First Pres, waiting to decide how involved to be in the future or how much to pledge? (# between $1,000-$10,000).

The Pastor Nominating Committee, by the input of the Holy Spirit, has done a fantastic job of finding the Rev. Zeyl, and we thank them. But neither Derek Zeyl, nor Ray Hylton, nor David Handley, nor I, are the church.

You are. You, who have deep roots here. You, who are new to this town. You are each God’s people, called to this community of faith in this particular time, to care for this particular community around us, launching out from this corner of Chicago and Lake throughout Evanston, Ill., and the surrounding area. You are those who choose to give generously, to teach the faith to the next generation. You are those who lead in healthy ways, to impact others in Jesus’ name.

What is God calling you to be and do in this new season of First Pres? It is not about when or how you prefer to worship together, whether in-person or online on Sunday mornings.

God will never ask us about all that at the end of days. God will ask us how we followed his Son Jesus and cared for all God’s children. I love to hear many of you holding these better conversations with one another, asking, “What’s next? Where should we start? And “Hey, Pastor, try to (verb)!”

On the journey with you from afar,

Pastor Tassie