Each week, a pastor or occasionally a lay member shares thoughts for reflection and prayer. These topics might be seasonal, they might reflect current events, or they might just reveal the writer’s inner thoughts. We hope these Evotionals spur your own spiritual journey. Feel free to contact any member of the pastoral staff for further discussion.
We Remember
By Alicia Reese
Every year on September 11, I relive my memories of that day in 2001 as I’m sure many others do. I pray for the families and friends who lost someone they love and care about. I pray that God continues to comfort them, that they are able to find some peace. I ask God for guidance, courage, strength, and love for our nation and our world. It is a reminder that the most destructive and dividing forces between human beings are hate, intolerance, and fear. Read the entire Evotional.
Better Than a DeLorean
By John Edgerton
God is God and we are not. The end is already written. But far from making our choices meaningless, knowing the end of our story allows us to live knowing that our lives are truly precious. On the last day God will raise you up from the dust, and call you by name, and you will see that not only is your name written in the book of life, but that God has inscribed you on the very palms of Her hands. That is how your story will end. Read the entire Evotional.
Yes, and …
By Deborah Kapp
Jesus was a “yes, and” kind of guy, and he calls us to be the same. He calls us to open ourselves to the inbreaking of the Kingdom of Heaven, however it comes and whatever it looks like. He invites us to welcome that and to give ourselves to it. He says, “Yes, and” to the ministry we offer him. May we respond in kind. Read the entire Evotional.
Blessings for Ordinary Moments
By Lydia Mulkey
It takes intention to make our everyday lives feel holy. It takes practice to put our values at the center of each and every email, grocery store checkout encounter, and traffic jam. Soon we will practice this together. On Sunday we will bless backpacks. The next week, we will bless pets. Together, we will make our lives a little bit holier. Read the entire Evotional.
New Beginnings in the Fall
By Deborah Kapp
The biggest spurt of new life for which I’m readying myself is our new beginning as a congregation. John Edgerton and his family are on their way to Oak Park, and he’ll begin his work at First United on September 3. I’m very excited for him and for the congregation, and I can hardly wait to see the fruit that this church’s ministry will bear as he works in our midst. Read the entire Evotional.
Holding Prayers in Tension
By Alicia Reees
Change is a funny thing depending on your perspective. It can be exciting, like the fact that we will be welcoming a new lead pastor, or that we will be trying new things in the different youth ministry programs. But change can also be difficult to accept or, even worse, disheartening to feel we do not have the power to affect it, like the injustices of the world we live in. Read the entire Evotional.
The People of Central Africa
By Deborah Kapp
Church leaders in these countries ask that we pray for an end to systems and realities that oppress many in their midst, including poverty, hunger, economic exploitation, corruption, political instability and inadequate health care. They invite us to pray for those who work for healing, reconciliation, and human flourishing. Read the entire Evotional.
I Wanted There to be One More
By Lydia Mulkey
Transitioning from fun vacation days back to work, from sacred years in a beloved home to a new one, from a good season of life with a beloved pastor to a new pastor can all leave us saying, “I wanted there to be one more.” In those moments, may we offer ourselves some really good parenting, and remember to be grateful for the fun we’ve had. Read the entire Evotional.
It’s a Team Effort
By Deborah Kapp
I assume that the building will be clean and uncluttered when a program is scheduled. I take it for granted that the bulletin will be printed and available when worship begins. I depend upon a working computer and a well-functioning sound system. … The work I do would be impossible to accomplish without the hard work of others who lay the foundation for all that I do and all that we enjoy as a church. Read the entire Evotional.
Let My People Go!
By Alicia Reese
This week we are to celebrate 243 years of this nation, but how can we do that while there are camps that have been created and designed to strip people of their rights and freedoms, rob them of their dignity, and tear families apart? These, these are our neighbors, immigrants, whom we are called to love as our own. They are our family, they are our people. We must let them go! Read the entire Evotional.
Hidden Treasure
By Deborah Kapp
What if Jesus is not the treasure, but, rather, the one looking for it? What if you and I, and our divine redemption, are the treasure that he seeks? What if this is a reminder that the real beauty of our relationship with God is not that we have to work so hard to find divine treasure and purchase it, but rather that we are the ones sought out, found, and purchased by God in Christ? Read the entire Evotional.
Lulu’s Question
By Deborah Kapp
God would not have given us brains if she didn’t want us to use them. God wouldn’t have given us imaginations if he preferred us simply to adopt somebody else’s ideas. God wouldn’t have given us the capacity to change our minds if she wanted us to find one intellectual or spiritual position and then hold onto it for dear life, come what may. Read the entire Evotional.
Take Care of Your Heart
By Lydia Mulkey
In order to live as God’s people, we must prepare our hearts before we get out into the world. This is a place where we would do well to learn from our more conservative kindred in Christ who begin their days with individual prayer and Bible study. While I cannot recommend their particular prayers or their interpretations of scripture, I can recommend setting an intention for how you want to live in the world. Prayer and scripture done in love are great ways to begin. Read the entire Evotional.
Communication
By Dennis Cobb (on the right, with his husband, Dale Jackson)
In this technological age of instant communication, crafting a thoughtful and intentional message has never been more important. What message do you send with the words you choose, the way you live your life, the stories you tell? Is it God’s message of love and acceptance, of care and support? Read the entire Evotional.
Prepare a Table
By Lydia Mulkey
Oppression can be overt or covert. Overt forms can look like genocide, segregation, or other obvious violence. It’s easy to name an enemy when you can see their weapons. But there are folks who are not comfortable calling anything oppression until it is overt. That is an easy way to minimize or deny the actual harm done. Read the entire Evotional.
Be Still
By Lydia Mulkey
So wherever you are, no matter how much of a human doing you’ve been so far today, no matter how busy you are, no matter how important … just stop. Stop for a moment and rest, stop and play, stop and be. Read the entire Evotional.
Our Theological Heritage
By Deborah Kapp
Our theological heritage is not all bad, but nonetheless people have sometimes used our traditions to justify cruelty and violence. Anti-Semitism and other “isms” in our world are clever at latching onto Christian themes and symbols in ways that further the evil and hatred these “isms” represent. They are skilled in hiding under a veneer of righteousness that masks the vitriol that simmers underneath. Read the entire Evotional.
Feed My Sheep
By Alicia Reese
This past Sunday was youth Sunday. The scripture was John 21:1-19 in which Jesus has been resurrected, appears to the disciples on the beach, helps them catch a bunch of fish, feeds them breakfast, and confronts Peter about denying him three times before Jesus was crucified. I can hardly call the interaction between Jesus and Peter a confrontation. There is no hint of anger, resentment, or even disappointment on Jesus’s part. Read the entire Evotional.
An Apology
By Deborah Kapp
On Palm Sunday I led the prayers of the people, and as I was reading the joys, I came across one that was illegible – in the moment. It was a child’s writing, and I inferred from the writing that the child is someone quite young and is still mastering the art of printing. Read the entire Evotional.
Holy Hell Week
By Alicia Reese
We have spent the last six weeks on a Lenten journey, preparing or, dare I say, conditioning ourselves for Easter. However, when this week arrives, we tend to want to rush too quickly to the empty tomb on Sunday morning. We are so ready to roll that stone away and sing “Alleluia” again that we forget to dwell on or grieve the death of Jesus. … Don’t lose focus. Stay vigilant. And I’ll see you at the empty tomb. Read the entire Evotional.
Three-Minute Retreats
By Deborah Kapp
I am a person who loves the intensity of work and daily life. I relish being busy. I like to be challenged. I enjoy working on a problem or a task. Sometimes I fill my days or weeks with a bit too much, and I find myself rushing from one thing to another, with little time to spare. … I likely need more than three minutes, but it’s a place to start. Read the entire Evotional.
A Generous Spirit
By Steve Pederson
One of the most startling images in the story, even more surprising than her use of expensive perfume, is that Mary dries Jesus’ feet with her hair. This is a shocking gesture, especially in a culture where women do not fully expose their hair in front of any man except their husbands. And it is also a very vulnerable act, an intimate act. Read the entire Evotional.
Ego and Vulnerability
By Alicia Reese
On the first Sunday of Lent, I gave a short sermon that ended up being more about vulnerability than temptation and I came across this saying, “It’s either love and vulnerability OR expectations and ego. When someone chooses vulnerability and lets go of ego, it can literally change the world.” As it happens, this Lenten journey for me has been through a wilderness of vulnerability; I have had to leave my ego behind and it has been changing my world. Read the entire Evotional.
Expectations
By Laurie Jolicoeur (pictured with her friend, Barbara Ballinger)
When there was a gap between my expectations and what actually happened, I suffered. I learned how my expectations could even become a barrier in a relationship. Suffering, I sought a way of being in my mind that would serve me better. Read the entire Evotional.
The Lord’s Prayer
By Deborah Kapp
[When I think about] the words [to The Lord’s Prayer]: wow. The Kingdom. God’s will. Daily bread. Forgiveness. Temptation. Deliverance from evil. There’s a lot there. Every time we utter this prayer, we ask God for some amazing things. Sometimes I am amazed at the radical demands I make as I pray these words. Read the entire Evotional.
Take Nothing With You
By Charlie Morris
I ask myself – why is it so important to forgive? The answer is simple. We forgive not to free the person who sinned against us, but to free ourselves. Forgiveness that’s withheld often turns into anger which does diminish our own spirituality. … Our Lenten theme – Take Nothing with You – is one way we can all engage ourselves more fully in the faith journey. Read the entire Evotional.
A Prayer for Chicago
By Deborah Kapp
Chicago is a rich and complicated city. Look one direction and we see signs of global capitalism and a thriving financial community. Look another direction and we see communities marred with de-industrialization, population flight, disrepair, and violence. Look yet another direction and we see vibrant immigrant communities filled with hope and possibility. Read the entire Evotional.
Living Peacefully
By Deborah Kapp
Peaceful people strive to live honorably, says the psalmist. As the Common English Bible puts it, they “farm faithfulness.” Like a garden that thrives when it is tenderly watered, weeded, fertilized, pruned, and rearranged, so our integrity thrives as we dependably nurture whatever life God has given into our care. Honorable living is a habit that leads to peace. Read the entire Evotional.
Diversity in Spirituality
By Lydia Mulkey
In the diversity of all of Christianity, and in the diversity of this beautiful place we call First United, we are bound to express our spirituality in different ways, and that is great. It truly does take all kinds to make up the kin-dom of God. But, I wonder… have you tried your neighbor’s favorite way to know God lately? If you are a person of action, what would happen in you tried to meet God in poetry on occasion? If you are a person who knows God through word, what if you allowed yourself to have an emotional experience of God…? Read the entire Evotional.
The Beloved Community
By Alicia Reese
First United is a church with lots of values, wonderful values and commitments. We are striving to achieve The Beloved Community and that can feel daunting, overwhelming, and messy at times. But just remember, we share the same values and we need people to be committed to different things. This is where our different gifts come into play and where we can each be a part of making a difference to making The Beloved Community a reality. Read the entire Evotional.
By God’s Grace
By Deborah Kapp, from a sermon by Rowan Williams when he was installed as the Archbishop of Canterbury in early 2003:
“We need to be confident that we are created: that we exist because God has freely called us into life so that God’s joy may be shared. In this confidence, we know that our human task is to answer that call in every moment, shaping our lives as a response to God’s voice.” Read the entire Evotional.
Mental Illness: You are Not Alone
By Alicia Reese
We talked about the different categories of mental health disorders, looked at some of the startling statistics, discussed the language we use to talk about these disorders, learned some of the brain chemistry involved, and used children’s books as a jumping off point to have discussions about the stigmatization around mental health disorders. But more than anything, what I hope the youth took away from our time on the retreat was that each one of them is wonderful, unique, and loved no matter what … Read the entire Evotional.
Mental Illness: A Personal Perspective
By Kelly Pollock
What I learned instead was that my mental illness is a key part of my personality. That while it makes me anxious and self-critical, it also makes me conscientious and organized. That while it causes me to be hyper-focused on my failures, it is also one of the keys to my success. That realization has led me to advocate for the destigmatization of mental illness. Read the entire Evotional.
A Hymn of Thanks Giving
By Sallie Smylie
One of my favorite hymns is Now Thank We All Our God . I love the simple melody and the beautiful harmony. And I love the words. We thank our “bounteous” God who “wondrous things” has done. And we pray with “ever joyful hearts” that God will be near us our whole life long. Read the entire Evotional.
A New Melody
By Deborah Kapp
From a reflection by theologian Howard Thurman:
“Teach me, my Father, that I might learn with the abandonment and enthusiasm of Jesus, the fresh new accent, the untried melody, to meet the need of the untried tomorrow. Thus, may I rejoice with each new day and delight my spirit in each fresh unfolding. I will sing, this day, a new song unto Thee, O God.” Read the entire Evotional.
Go, Tell it on the Mountain!
By Deborah Kapp
Empathy, compassion, trustworthiness, integrity, love, and the actions that embody them carry our faith into the world. As disciples who share Christ’s love in a multitude of ways, we often preach the gospel without words. I believe it gladdens God’s heart when we do. Read the entire Evotional.
Joy to the World
By Lydia Mulkey
Adding our voices to the congregation is not something we do only for our own good. It is a gift we offer to God and to the community. Whether we are singing out of tune or with trained voices, we are doing our part to create something greater. Read the entire Evotional.
Silent Night, Holy Night
By Deborah Kapp
The lyrics of this carol are simple. With brief but vivid images the words draw our attention to the child, the light of the star and the song of the angels, and the mystery of God’s presence made flesh in the baby Jesus. Apart from the opening words evoking a silent night, however, there is little in the lyrics that indicates silence. The quietness of this carol comes instead, I think, from its gentle melody and peaceful tempo. Read the entire Evotional.
Hope and “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
By Alicia Reese
When I was in the Holy Land, the hope that I felt was not at the religious sites I visited, but rather it was in the people I interacted with. It was in witnessing and experiencing how the religious and historical significance of that place informed the lives of the people who live there; how even in the face of violence and hatred and oppression they remained strong in their resolve, they remained hopeful. Read the entire Evotional.
Living Our Faith
By Deborah Kapp
People recently have asked for information about how they can be involved in sharing their faith and resources with folks who need our help. Here are two ministries with online links to how our denominations offer opportunities to give aid to others. Read the entire Evotional.
First United’s Constitution: A Congregational Covenant
By Don and Priscilla Sibley
We choose every year to declare our commitment to the work of this church by making a pledge. Every year, we make a prayerful decision to contribute what we can; most years we are able to increase our pledge. Usually it is a stretch, but it is one that we make willingly because we believe that is how God is leading us. Read the entire Evotional.
Why Do I Support First United?
By Bob Larson
I have more questions than answers about faith as it pertains to my life. However, I admire the causes the First United community is involved in and supports. Over the years, I have gotten involved in a few of the ministries. I still have a lot of questions, but I do know for a fact that this church does a lot of good in the community and I want to be part of that and help contribute to those causes. That is why I am a member of First United and support its ministries; they deserve it. Read the entire Evotional.
Vote!
By Deborah Kapp
One of the things I love most about the theological tradition of which our congregation is a part is its recognition that all of life is an arena in which we can and do practice our faith. We are Christians not just when we’re at church, but also at home, at work, in our leisure time, and in other activities of life. Being engaged in local, regional, and national politics is one of those arenas. Read the entire Evotional.
Praying for Peace
By Deborah Kapp, from a prayer by Elizabeth Tapia
so we may learn to choose the path of righteousness and harmlessness,
and climb the mountain of truth and the ridge of forgiveness.
into instruments of peace and reconciliation,
to bless all creatures with a smile and loving kindness,
to dance the dance of life boldly through the night,
from the depths of my heart, Gracious Spirit,
I dance for you!
So be it.
Read the entire Evotional.
A Commitment to First United’s Mission and Ministry
By Nell and John Lurain
“We have always felt comfortable worshipping, contributing to the Church’s mission, and serving the Oak Park community at First United. Through four senior pastor changes, four interim pastors, innumerable associate pastors, as well as other changes, we have remained committed to First United’s ministry and mission.” Read the entire Evotional.
A Place Where All Are Included
By Steve Pederson
“I have no time for any form of exclusion in the church. I believe anyone is welcome to the Communion table and any person who claims faith in Christ should be welcomed into the full life and ministry of the church. And that is us. That is First United.” Read the entire Evotional.
Slowing Down
By Deborah Kapp
“Slowing down, pondering the meaning of what people are saying or doing, and taking pauses are processes that make space in my life for something other than my own agenda.” Read the entire Evotional.
Overwhelmed? You Are Beloved
By Alicia Reese
“If, like me, you have been feeling overwhelmed, please know that you are not alone. Whether it is the change of the seasons, the transitions in your life, or the state of our world, you are beloved. You never have to walk this journey alone.” Read the entire Evotional.
An Anniversary Hymn
By Deborah Kapp
“This congregation knows, better than most other churches, that the heart of a church is not its building. The heart of a church is the work it does, the faithfulness it exhibits, and the gospel it proclaims. Nonetheless, space matters and we have the privilege of doing much of our ministry in a splendid building that has a rich history of worship, song, and service.” Read the entire Evotional.
Reading Together
By Lydia Mulkey
“When I pray the words of the Psalmist, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,” I am praying with the Psalmist and I am praying with every person who has ever prayed those words.” Read the entire Evotional.
Song of Hope (Canto de Esperanza)
By Claudette Zobel
“Every time we sing one of those hymns … I fantasize that the Hulk got hold of the tape and somewhere there’s a chapter of Hell’s Angels that gathers in their clubhouse after a day’s ride to enjoy a few cold beers and sing along to ‘May the God of justice speed us on our way, bringing light and hope to every land and race.’ For me, that hymn is memorable and a reminder that my stereotypes need careful examination.” Read the entire Evotional.
Amazing Grace
By Kevin Crowell
“The power of belief, the Grace of God, the surety of God’s goodness, and the promise of eternity all wrapped up neatly in a single song, with three chords, and five notes! That’s one amazing hymn.” Read the entire Evotional.
Be Thou My Vision
By Kathleen Pederson
“For over 1,800 years, brothers and sisters have cherished and sung [‘Be Thou My Vision’] that so beautifully describes humankind’s universal desire and need to be grounded, to be centered on God’s vision of how she wants us to think, and love, and challenge, and debate, and give, and work, and share, and defend, and live.” Read the entire Evotional.
We Gather Together
By Al Pickard
“A hymn which has become memorable for me is ‘We Gather Together,’ undoubtedly known to many people as a Thanksgiving hymn, maybe the Thanksgiving hymn. What’s probably less known, although the language of the hymn implies it, is that, like others, it’s music born of armed conflict.” Read the entire Evotional.
Under Construction: Delays and Surprises
By Sarah Lineberry
“This is actually the second time I’ve given a reflection at church about how much I hate waiting. Unfortunately, life doesn’t really seem to care about how much I enjoy having a plan. While I certainly don’t enjoy uncertainty, I like to think I’ve grown some in my ability to trust the journey.” Read the entire Evotional.
Under Construction: Tools
By Walter Miller
“Taking stock of our First United tool box, I notice that we use our tools to bind ourselves together in fellowship with each other; to create small and large moments that connect us with each other and connect us with the almighty.” Read the entire Evotional.
Beyond Knowledge
By Lydia Mulkey
“The dictionary defines awe as ‘a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.’ To grasp that which is beyond knowledge as our scripture describes, is to experience awe.” Read the entire Evotional.
A Blueprint – a plan, model, or template
By Joanne Despotes
“I really believe that when I allow myself to be open to God, God finds a way to tell me what to do. No burning bush, voices, or special dreams! When I have been most in need of direction, I believe that God has helped me to find my way through the people in my life.” Read the entire Evotional.
The Old Rugged Cross
By Kenneth Honderich
“If our Presbyterian hymnal contained one more page, it would include this hymn, as it was the last to be excluded by the editors of the 1990 revision. It was my mother’s favorite and I played it for her nearly every time I went home. I played it at her funeral.” Read the entire Evotional.
Be Still
By Deborah Kapp
“With this evotional, I invite you to silence and reflection. … And may the peace of God surround you.” Read the entire Evotional.
Upstream & Downstream Solutions – Update from the Youth Mission Trip
By Alicia Reese
“We need to continue our downstream efforts: tutoring, food pantries, PADS, building and rebuilding things, and more. … But what is important is that we remember to continually ask why are these efforts necessary? ” Read the entire Evotional.
Estamos Partidos En Dos | “We are Broken in Two”
by Lydia Mulkey
“I will never forget the day I spent with border patrol agents. I listened with my stomach churning as a border patrol officer told me about a child crossing the border and how they had “seized it.” It. Dehumanization of Latinx people is and has been a core piece of the training for these officers.” Read the entire Evotional.
On Being a Church School Teacher
by John Borrero
“These beautiful early conversations are seeds. Before your adult faith was a tree, it was a sapling that grew from a gentle stem and emerged from the ground out of one of those seeds. Today, this is where those seeds are watered and nurtured. As such, our classroom is a garden, a play space, and a holy place, all in one.” Read the entire Evotional.
On Prayer and Being Anxious
by Alicia Reese
“…I love how we do joys and concerns within our prayers of the people every Sunday. Even if there is a day I am struggling to name what I have to be thankful for, someone in the congregation always reminds me of something.” Read the entire Evotional.
A Memorial Day Prayer
by Deborah Kapp
“Let us … remember loved ones and strangers who have served in the armed forces …, or who are active military personnel. May God bless them with peace.” Read the entire Evotional.
Blessed are the Peacemakers
by Deborah Kapp
“Blessed are the peacemakers,” said Jesus, and “blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Read the entire Evotional.
More Than Meets the Eye
By Lydia Mulkey
“Pentecost reminds us that there is more to God than meets the eye, and that God is often hiding in plain sight among us.” Read the entire Evotional.
On a Lifetime Quest
By Alicia Reese
“We do not give an exam to measure how much knowledge each student attained by being in Quest, so what was the point? Is our goal simply to expand our membership numbers? … Our goal in Quest is not to ensure that each student has the ‘right answers.’ We leaders don’t even have all the answers!” Read the entire Evotional.
Faith and Social Media
By Deborah Kapp
“We are challenged to examine our social media practices in light of our faith values. Are we befriending others on social media in the way Christ befriended us? How might our social media engagements be an opportunity to share with others the love that God showers on us?” Read the entire Evotional.
“It’s the End of the World as We Know It, and I Feel Fine” (R.E.M.)
By Lydia Mulkey
“Lately, it seems the newspaper has read a little bit like a dystopian novel and the 6 o’clock news has looked like an apocalyptic movie. Through it all, I am trying to cling to this: the book of Revelation, and all the apocalyptic literature in our Bible, is intended to offer us hope! Evil does not get the final word… love does. Wherever there is apocalypse, there is hope.” Read the entire Evotional.
Prayers for Those Who Need to be Remembered
By Deborah Kapp
“Those who need to forget the God they do not believe in and meet the God who believes in them … Those whose pain or potential we should not forget to share with God today … Lord, we believe that you hear our prayer and will be faithful to your promise to answer us.” Read the entire Evotional.
Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr.
By Alicia Reese
“Not all of us have the depth of faith that Dr. King did, and that is OK. But if he and the resurrection have taught us anything, it is the importance of hope. Having doubts is natural and disappointment is a reality, but we can never lose hope that the tomb will remain empty and that love has the power to end hate.” Read the entire Evotional.
