July 2017


Dear Parents of Fourth Church Youth,

I'm writing on July 5, mere days after both our Detroit and Cuba mission trips ended. Both of these trips were unqualified successes. Our students met people who are appreciably different from them, in places that were not familiar, while doing strenuous physical and mental work. I believe they experienced the accompaniment of God and the embrace of the church, too.
 

These trips are an increasingly important part of Fourth Church's youth ministry. The impact of a mission trip or a retreat on the lives of the youth and adults who participate literally cannot be measured. I feel it is important to state that these trips can't happen without the investment of parents, both in terms of finances as well as time. Thank you for supporting this community of young people in its outreach to the world. 
 
The other thing our students have been doing this summer is leading worship, and that too has been terrific. If your junior high or high school student hasn't had a chance to sign up to be a liturgist (scripture reader) or beadle (Bible carrier) during a 9:30 a.m. service in July or August, click here and look at the slots that are still available . There are a bunch. They can also sign up to be ushers at either 9:30 or 11:00 a.m. by clicking here .
 
We've been tweaking the 2017-18 events calendar since I first shared it with you in June. We added a new weekend retreat in February called "Our Whole Lives" that will focus on sexuality and relationships. We also added several Sunday morning 11:00 a.m. gatherings for parents. Look at the calendar here . Another minor change or two may emerge in July, but by August the calendar will be locked down. Official-like.
 
Also, official-like are the two registrations that are now live on our website. First, Confirmation. If you have a youth who will be an eighth-grader next fall or who is in high school and wishes to explore a profession of faith and active church membership, then you can register them for Confirmation . . . now. Just click here  (there's also a link there to sign up for the Fall Confirmation retreat).  
 
Second, registration for our inaugural Christmas break college mission trip is up here . Space is limited to ten on this one, and the deadline is Thursday, August 31, so if you know a young person who will be in college come next fall, get them signed up.
 
One last thing. After a yearlong experiment with moving Confirmation to 10:00 a.m. on Sundays and inviting eighth-graders to stay for Junior High Sunday School at 11:00 a.m., I am persuaded that spreading our Sunday morning youth programs over these two hours works less well for volunteers and parents than when they were all at 11:00 a.m. So, come September, the Sunday morning youth schedule will be   
  • Youth Choir at 10:00 a.m.
  • All-youth bagel fellowship at 10:30 a.m.
  • Confirmation and Junior and Senior High Sunday School at 11:00 a.m.

(Note: the Youth Choir will still sing the Introit in 9:30 a.m. worship--this year on the first Sunday of each month, beginning in October. On these Sundays, choir participants will need to arrive at church by 9:00 a.m.).

 
May the remainder of the summer fill your families with joy and delight.

Yours,

Rocky
 

Fourth Presbyterian Church
126 E. Chestnut St., Chicago, IL 60611