Welcoming Our New Pastor & His Family

A transition team will be planning ways to facilitate Ray and his wife Judith’s engagement with our family of faith and the wider local community. While Ray will be joining us at the beginning of December, Judith and their youngest child, Joel, will not move to Evanston until the end of the academic year.

Many opportunities will be provided for members of the congregation to get to know the Hyltons at church-wide events and on a more personal level. We are mindful of the many activities already on the church calendar for December and January that will require Ray’s time and immediate attention, and are therefore holding off on adding much more during this time.

The team is focusing on meeting some of the Hyltons’ practical needs as they move their household and family to Evanston. Specific requests for help from the congregation will be posted from time to time, but anyone who would like to offer suggestions, expertise or assistance related to the transition should contact Elizabeth Brown (847-864-5057) or Jennifer Joseph (847-920-1480) who are coordinating the transition team.

Other members of the team are: Al Borg, Sonia & Peter Bodi, Ron Ehresman, Melody Henrie, Barbara & Larry Holm, Florence Hurter, Laurie & Tom Kaeser, Elizabeth Lezark, Olga Ricketts-Peart, Gene Thiele and Caryl Weinberg.

We encourage each member of the congregation to be praying for the Hyltons and for First Pres during this transition time.

Ways You Can Help

Donate Frequent Flyer miles! Let's help the Hylton family stay connected during their 7-month separation (Ray will be pastoring here, while Judith and Joel finish obligations in Pittsburgh until June). If you can donate airline tickets to help them travel during these months, please contact Laura Urban at 847-864-5986. United, American, or Southwest are ideal (nonstops), but we'll consider all options.

Meals for Pastor Ray: Many people have expressed an interest in preparing a meal for Pastor Ray while he’s away from the rest of his family, and he would welcome this support. If you’d like to prepare a meal, please contact Kaci Smith for further details (or call her at 847-853-9952 if you don’t have access to the internet).

Meet & Greet Sessions: We are in the preliminary stages of planning social gatherings that will provide the opportunity for members of the congregation to get to know Ray and Judith Hylton. Judith’s time in Evanston will be limited while she completes her master’s degree before moving here in the spring, but we’ll be working with her to include her in as many events as her schedule will allow. If you are part of a group (for example, a Bible study or small group) with an interest in hosting a session with Pastor Ray, or if you would like to host a gathering of about 20-25 people, please contact Elizabeth Brown (or 847-864-5057) or Jennifer Joseph (or 847-920-1480).