If you know someone who would like to receive updates from us but currently is not, please encourage them to add their email address to our distribution list by signing up at www.bit.ly/newsfromfpc
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On the church calendar are many opportunities to connect online with the Fourth Church community and one another. Included among them are—
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“On Restoring God’s Beloved Community: Looking for Guidance in Scripture,” a class led by Carol Allen on Sunday mornings
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Men’s Bible Study on Tuesday mornings
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Morning Prayer on Wednesday mornings
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Benevolent Guild on Wednesday mornings
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Friday Noonday Concerts, on February 5 featuring flutist Nicaulis Alliey
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Inquirers’ Class on Sunday, February 14 for those interested in becoming members of Fourth Church
For information about whom to contact for an event’s Zoom details, simply click on the down “arrow” to the right of the event name in the calendar (which is easily accessible from the “Calendar” button in the upper left corner of our website). |
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Worship This Week:
Sunday, January 31
11:00 a.m. worship online
Organ prelude beginning shortly after 10:45 a.m.
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
Connecting to Our Online Worship Services
Our online worship services are available live at 11:00 a.m. (Central) via
For those who do not have Internet access, we also make our worship services available to listen to via the phone. If you know of someone for whom this audio opportunity would be welcome, please encourage them to call 888.916.9166 (toll-free) at the time of the service.
Throughout the Week
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Path of Discipleship:
A Lenten Series
Tuesdays, February 23–March 30
6:00–7:30 p.m. via Zoom
Space is limited, so please register by Monday, February 15.
Throughout the year the Fourth Church Spiritual Formation Council offers practices and experiences for people of faith to help us deepen our relationships with God, neighbor, and self.
This Lent, the council invites you to join them online for their annual “Path of Discipleship” series, a six-week Lenten opportunity to share in fellowship, discernment, and worship in preparation for the Easter celebration.
This year the Zoom series will be grounded in the book Entering the Passion of Jesus by Amy Jill-Levine (which is available online in ebook, audio, and printed formats). Our Tuesday evening studies will be led by the pastoral staff and will include small-group discussions led by members of the Spiritual Formation Council and Adult Education Committee.
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Looking for suggestions of books to read on a wintry weekend?
Our First Tuesday Book Club and Books by Women groups have recommendations for you—as well as invitations to join them in conversation.
First Tuesday Book Club
Tuesday, February 2
7:00 p.m. via Zoom
For Zoom details, register at www.bit.ly/firsttuesdaybooks
This book group hosted by the Adult Education Committee, with conversation led by Jim Garner, examines the ethical and social issues facing Christians today.
February book: Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes De Mez
Jesus and John Wayne is a sweeping account of the last seventy-five years of white evangelicalism, showing how American evangelicals have worked for decades to replace the Jesus of the Gospels with an idol of rugged masculinity and Christian nationalism.
Books by Women
Tuesday, February 9
6:00 p.m. via Zoom
All women are invited to join in monthly Books by Women discussions whenever their schedules allow and the books are of interest.
February book: Madame Fourcade’s Secret War by Lynne Olson
Madame Fourcade’s Secret War is the story of, as its subtitle puts it, “the daring young woman who led France’s largest spy network against Hitler.”
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Two new Bible studies begin in the coming week:
“End Times: A New Look”
Foundations of Faith: An Hour a Week with the Bible
Led by Lucy Forster-Smith
Sundays, January 31–February 14
12:30 p.m. via Zoom
Join Lucy Forster-Smith beginning this Sunday for an online exploration of apocalyptic thinking as seen through the lens of Jesus’ teaching, Paul’s writings, and the Book of Revelation.
TwentiesThirties Bible Study
Wednesdays, beginning February 3
7:30 p.m. via Zoom
Young adults are invited to an online time of conversation as well as opportunity to dive into highlights and reflections of the week’s biblical readings.
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Included in our upcoming opportunities to connect online with others in the Fourth Church community is an evening Cornerstones program by artist Gerald Griffin, who painted the dramatic and moving “The Ascension” that hangs in our Commons.
Cornerstones
Friday, February 5
5:30 p.m. via Zoom
Those who are fifty and over are invited to join in a monthly Cornerstones time of fellowship followed by a program. For our next gathering, on February 5, we are honored to have Gerald Griffin joining us to talk about his work, the concepts that drive his creativity, and his view of the unique role Black artists play in this city and in our national conversations about race.
Virtual Coffee Hour
Each Sunday after worship you are invited to share in a time of conversation with one another, when we gather for virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom.
Following the postlude
Meeting ID: 963 5583 1751
Passcode: 631276
Phone: Call 1 312.626.6799
and enter Meeting ID 963 5583 1751#
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You can help our Fourth Church youth score a victory in next weekend’s Souper Bowl of Caring!
Check out their video message about this national grassroots, faith-based campaign against hunger—
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—and then join their effort by making a gift online at www.bit.ly/fpcsouperbowl21. The proceeds will support the work of Fourth Church Meals Ministry and the food pantry of the Chicago Lights Social Service Center. |
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On the second Sunday of February in 1871—150 years ago!—the congregation of Fourth Church was founded.
This year we will kick off a celebration of our 150th anniversary during the 11:00 a.m. online service on Sunday, February 14. We hope you will join us online for that festive worship opportunity—as well as stay tuned in the weeks ahead for details about additional ways in which we will observe this special anniversary year.
Then, following worship on February 14, we will also gather online for our Annual Meeting.
As part of that virtual meeting, the congregation will elect new officers. There will also be remarks reflecting on the previous year and looking ahead to the year to come.
All members are encouraged to attend the annual meeting in order to take part in this important activity in the life of Fourth Church!
Sunday, February 14
11:00 a.m.
150th Anniversary Worship Service
12:00 p.m.
Annual Meeting
To listen to the meeting, dial 888.916.9166
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Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one ministry of care and supportive listening for those who are experiencing life’s challenges.
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Chicago Lights Gala of Hope at Home
Friday, March 5
7:00 p.m. online
The Gala of Hope, which will be virtual this year, annually benefits the life-changing youth development and social service programs of Chicago Lights—the community outreach arm of Fourth Church—and the community support efforts of our Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being.
This year’s online event, which is free to attend, will be hosted by Ron Magers, include music by the Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra, and raise funds for Chicago Lights and the Replogle Center. We hope you will join us!
For details about becoming an event sponsor, contact Laura Woods. |
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