First Congregational Church of Evanston, UCC

03/25/2026

03/11/2026

Highlands REIT is a Chicago-based real estate company that wants to lease a Colorado private prison to ICE. They want to profit from the pain of people abducted from our communities and locked away in detention centers, like the one in Broadview, IL.

Highlands REIT also owns Sherman Plaza in downtown Evanston, where Target and Northwestern Medicine are located.

On Friday, March 20 at 12:00 pm, ICE detention survivors, immigrant justice activists, representatives from Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders (EICL), and elected officials will gather in front of Sherman Plaza (1600 Sherman Ave) to denounce Highlands REIT's collaboration with ICE abductions.

Say NO to private prisons. Say NO to ICE abductions. Tell Highlands REIT: Stop profiting from others' pain!

02/17/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended "Love Songs by Black Artists," a Music First concert featuring tenor Henry Pleas, accompanied by pianist Phoebe Wu! Music First is a ministry of First Congregational Church of Evanston dedicated to supporting local musicians, promoting public arts, and building community through free concerts in Evanston. If you missed the concert, you can read all about it in this terrific article by Heidi Randhava for the Evanston RoundTable. See you at our next Music First concert in May!

Phoebe Wu, at piano, and tenor Henry Pleas perform on Sunday at First Congregational Church of Evanston. The beauty and light in the historic sanctuary of

01/26/2026

This Valentine's weekend, join us for a moving musical celebration of Black love, poetry, and song. This one-hour program features the exquisite texts of Black American poets—such as James Weldon Johnson and Paul Laurence Dunbar—set to music by Black American composers including H.T. Burleigh, Margaret Bonds, Florence Price, and H. Leslie Adams.

The performance will be brought to life by acclaimed tenor Henry Pleas and celebrated pianist Kent R. Brooks—two dynamic and deeply accomplished artists whose work spans opera, gospel, jazz, and the concert stage. Together, they invite us on a journey through music that uplifts, inspires, and honors the creative legacies of Black Americans across generations.

This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome!

01/10/2026

Join our neighbors and raise your voice!

Our faith calls us to the streets to demand that not another one of God's beloved children be murdered or stolen.

01/08/2026

The 2026 MLK Interfaith Community Worship Service will take place on Sunday, 1/18 . Guest Speaker Rev. Damien Durr will share reflections on this year’s theme, “More than Ever, We Need Each Other.” Music will be led by Second Baptist Church. We will also hear a special report from Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors & the Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Evanston (RSAE). The service will be hosted by First Congregational Church of Evanston at 1445 Hinman Avenue. This event is free and open to the public.

First Congregational Church of Evanston is a progressive LGBTQ affirming UCC church in Evanston, IL. Join us Sundays at 10am. All are welcome!

12/18/2025

Join us for a sublime Christmas Eve service at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, December 24 at First Congregational Church of Evanston. Experience the story of Christ’s birth through scripture, candlelight, and music led by our chamber choir and chamber orchestra. All are welcome!

12/09/2025

Ho ho ho! Last Sunday, we had a very special visitor at First Congregational Church—Santa Claus himself! Our Cookies with Santa event was full of joy and holiday cheer. Kids had a blast making ornaments, munching on delicious cookies, and getting their pictures taken with the big guy in red. Check out the full recap and some heartwarming snapshots in Evanston Now. Thanks to everyone who made the day so merry and bright!

U.C.C. congregation holds "Cookies with Santa" event.