First Congregational Church of Evanston stands on Hinman Avenue in Evanston, Illinois, just east of Raymond Park and within walking distance of the Dempster Purple Line station. The congregation occupies this stretch of the city's near north side, and today it is known across the North Shore as one of the area's most progressive and justice-rooted Christian communities - a United Church of Christ congregation that pairs traditional liturgy with public witness for immigrants, LGBTQ+ neighbors, and people experiencing homelessness.

A Progressive, Justice-Rooted Faith

The congregation's three organizing words - action, compassion, and justice - frame every part of its life together. Members describe themselves as "a people who engage with the mysteries of our faith, people who desire a closer connection with our God and a more just world." The community embraces differences of age, ability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and national origin, and the church is officially designated Open and Affirming by the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ.

In its anti-racism commitments, First Congregational proclaims that Black Lives Matter and pledges active work to dismantle individual, systemic, and institutional racism. In 2023 the church made an historic payment to the Evanston Community Reparations Fund, and Pastor Jason has become a frequent public speaker on the role faith communities can play in the struggle against racism. The congregation is also an immigrant-welcoming community that opposes xenophobia and works to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. The church is a member of the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches, a collaboration of more than 100 Chicago-area churches and ministries that welcome and affirm people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Sunday Worship at 10 AM

Worship happens every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary at 1445 Hinman Avenue. The service brings "progressive liturgy to a traditional worship style," weaving scripture, hymns, prayer, a children's message, choral music, and a sermon into roughly an hour. Dress is casual, and seating is comfortable, including a designated area for families with young children near the entrance of the sanctuary. The building is ADA compliant, and the church offers large print bulletins and hearing assistance devices. Following worship, the community gathers in the fellowship space for coffee and conversation.

Services are livestreamed on YouTube at 10 AM, and prior services can be watched on the church's YouTube page. Ample street parking is available on the streets surrounding the building.

Theologically, the congregation belongs to the United Church of Christ, a progressive, mainline Protestant denomination with roots in the Congregational and Reformed traditions. The UCC describes itself as a church of "firsts" - the first historically white Christian body to ordain an African American, the first to ordain a woman, the first to ordain an openly gay man, and the first to affirm the right of same-gender couples to marry.

Music and the Skinner Organ

Music has long been a hallmark of worship at First Congregational. The Chancel Choir, a semi-professional ensemble of dedicated volunteer and professional singers, sings from September through mid-June. Its professional quartet includes soprano Cara Collins, alto Christina Adams, tenor Michael Brauer, and bass Joseph Roberts. The choir rehearses Sunday mornings before worship and sings during the service. Membership is open to any interested singer who contacts the music director.

The sanctuary is home to a 1927 Ernest M. Skinner pipe organ - Opus 616 - that remains in original condition. With three manuals, 32 ranks, seven ranks of Reeds, three Celestes, and a Mixture IV, the instrument anchors Easter and Christmas services alongside the chamber choir and chamber orchestra. The Robinson Recital Series, named in memory of Ruth and Dudley Robinson, sponsors recitals and concerts showcasing the musical talent of FCCE members.

The Music First Concert Series

Music First is a free concert series dedicated to supporting local musicians, promoting public arts, and building community through live music in Evanston. Past programs have featured a contemporary jazz duo, a bluegrass band exploring the modern queer and urban experience, a vocal and instrumental duo playing jazz favorites, an ensemble evening of classical and Great American Songbook pieces, and a piano and synthesizer recital with a newly composed string quartet. All concerts are free, family-friendly, and open to the public, with a light reception following each performance.

Children, Youth, and Family Life

Children are a celebrated part of the church's life together. Babies, toddlers, and children of all ages are welcome to remain with their families throughout the service. A rocking chair area near the entrance of the sanctuary, along with books, crayons, and coloring sheets, accommodates families with little ones. On many Sundays, Minister of Community Life Eda Uca invites children forward for a special message tailored to them, using illustrations, picture books, and conversation to connect Scripture and faith to kids' real lives.

Children ages 5 through 12 begin the service with their parents and are then dismissed to Sunday School in the Church House at 1417 Hinman Avenue, half a block south of the sanctuary. Volunteer teachers bring them back during fellowship time following worship. A nursery staffed by Nursery Supervisor Kelly Tran is available for infants and young children ages 0 to 4, with a warm, safe play space and a changing table.

Older youth gather for youth groups, and the church offers church retreats and other formation opportunities throughout the year. Bible studies, book discussions, and spiritual practices round out the congregation's formation offerings.

Friday Lunch, the Overnight Shelter, and the Community Center

First Congregational is a founding member of Interfaith Action of Evanston and, through that partnership, hosts unhoused neighbors during the winter months as part of the Evanston Overnight Shelter. Every Friday the Community Center at 1417 Hinman Avenue opens its doors to serve lunch to anyone who is hungry and seeking human connection. The church also delivers meals to the residents of the Margarita Inn through Connections for the Homeless and participates in an annual diaper drive for families in need. The congregation collects diapers, food, and personal items for those in need and gives generously of its time and treasure to serve those on the margins.

The Community Center is also home to Family Promise, an organization that helps families experiencing homelessness, and to Mudlark Youth Theater, which produces shows and programs for young actors. The middle school program of Chiaravalle Montessori School uses the church's education wing.

LGBTQ+ Welcome and the Interfaith Family Pride Festival

LGBTQ+ inclusion is woven through every part of the church's life, not limited to Pride Month. Queer members serve on staff, the Church Council, the choir, and as deacons; they preach, serve communion, teach, and lead. Worship honors queer voices and experiences, including annual services for Trans Day of Visibility and Advent and Lenten reflections shaped by queer saints, scholars, and theologians. The church joyfully celebrates weddings, baptisms, and family milestones of LGBTQ+ families, and the children's ministry and intergenerational programs are unreservedly affirming.

The congregation launched Evanston's only Interfaith Family Pride Festival - a free, family-friendly celebration held each June at Raymond Park, just west of the sanctuary. The festival draws hundreds of neighbors each year and includes diverse LGBTQ+ performers from around Chicago, booths, popcorn, cotton candy, and ice cream. Beyond the Pride Festival, members march in the Pride Parade, organize against gun violence, and advocate for reparations for Black Americans and for fair and just immigration policies while providing material support for new arrivals.

Seasons of the Church Year

The congregation's calendar is shaped by the rhythms of the Christian year. The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service brings the chamber choir and chamber orchestra together to tell the story of Christ's birth through scripture, candlelight, and music. Ash Wednesday launches Lent with singing, reflection, and the imposition of ashes in the chapel. Palm Sunday begins with a festive donkey parade and live band that processes through Raymond Park, with worshippers waving palms gathered at the corner of Lake Street and Chicago Avenue. Easter Sunday worship is followed by a Community Easter Egg Hunt for the children of the congregation.

When the weather warms, the community steps outside the sanctuary. Annual Beachside Worship takes place at the fire ring at Lighthouse Beach on Sheridan Road, with a warm, interactive, all-ages service against the backdrop of Lake Michigan. In mid-summer the congregation gathers in the triangle park behind the sanctuary for outdoor worship. The annual MLK Interfaith Community Worship Service, hosted at the sanctuary in mid-January, gathers Evanston's interfaith community for prayer, music, and a special report from the Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Evanston.

Leadership

The Rev. Jason W. Coulter, a native of West Bend, Wisconsin, and lifelong UCC member, serves as Senior Minister. Before entering ministry, Pastor Jason worked for thirteen years in the labor movement, helping workers across the country organize unions in their workplaces. He previously served as pastor of Ravenswood United Church of Christ from 2008 to 2022. He holds a bachelor's degree from Macalester College, a master's from Cornell University, and a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary. He lives in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago with his wife, Mary Kay Devine, and their four children.

Eda Uca is Minister of Community Life, bringing experience in Christian education and faith formation, nurturing community life, and connecting with the greater Evanston community. She previously lived and worked in Christian intentional communities and founded a third wave feminist people's seminary. She trained at Yale Divinity School and is currently a doctoral candidate in Religious Studies at Northwestern University. She is a second-generation Turkish/Arab American who grew up in New York and lives in south Evanston.

Matthew Hogan is Music Director, a Chicago native and bassoonist with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He is on the faculty at Northeastern Illinois University and VanderCook College of Music and holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Indiana University.

Kelly Tran serves as Nursery Supervisor, providing care for infants and young children ages 0 to 4 on Sunday mornings. She is an experienced early childhood educator, a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, and works in the Chicago Public Schools.

Finding the Church

First Congregational's sanctuary sits at 1445 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois, 60201, just east of Raymond Park between Grove and Lake streets. The Community Center and church office are at 1417 Hinman Avenue, a half-block south. Both locations are within walking distance of the Dempster Purple Line station, with ample street parking around the building. Giving is available online.