- Knitting and Crocheting on Tuesday afternoon, July 23
- LGBTQIA Brunch on Sunday, July 28
- Men’s Bible Study on Tuesday, August 6
- Grief Support Group beginning Monday, August 12 (preregistration required)
- Cornerstones dinner and program by John M. Buchanan on Friday, September 6 (space is limited; preregistration required)
The calendar, which is easily accessible from the home page of our website, includes direct links to any online registrations (along with an option to make online payment of any registration fees).
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Sunday, July 21: Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 a.m. Communion
Matt Helms preaching
9:30 a.m.
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
11:00 a.m. Reception of New Members
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
4:00 p.m. Jazz Communion
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
Looking ahead to Outdoor Jazz Worship
If you missed our wonderful outdoor Jazz at Four Communion service earlier this month, we hope you will mark Sundays, August 4 and September 1 on your calendar: come join us as we again take our 4:00 service outside to the Michigan Avenue courtyard!
During each of those services our jazz quartet will be featuring music from one of two African American jazz greats:
August 4: Abbey Lincoln
September 1: John Coltrane
We hope you will join us by the fountain on these two Sunday afternoons for a time of worship, the music of the Fourth Church Jazz Quartet, and fellowship with one another, all while surrounded by the beauty of summer!
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It’s less than a month now until our
children and Vacation Bible School leaders
journey back to ancient Athens with the Apostle Paul, so if you haven’t yet
registered
to join in the fun, be sure to do so soon!
The week of August 5–9
will find the Gratz Center abuzz with Vacation Bible Schoolers learning about Paul’s travels throughout Greece and the Roman Empire, while also making crafts, playing games in the courtyard, and sharing in all the other excitement that VBS always brings.
VBS also requires lots of
adult and youth volunteers to help welcome and guide our students through this week of lively exploration of Bible stories. Middle school volunteers help with our preschool groups; high school volunteers lead our grade school groups through their daily schedule; and adult volunteers help lead our preschool classroom.
If you
’re interested in learning more about joining our VBS adventure as a volunteer, please contact
Matt Helms
.
Vacation Bible School
Monday, August 5 through Friday, August 9
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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To all who made a gift to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance...
...as part of this past Sunday’s offering to aid immigrant families at the border, thank you!
Your contributions, which totaled more than $10,000, will help PDA-affiliated organizations provide shelter when immigrant families are released and will make transportation and medical care available as well.
If you did not have opportunity to make a gift but would still like to do so, you can contribute
online.
To those who donated snacks for the May/June snack drive...
...Fourth Church Meals Ministry is deeply grateful for your contributions!
Thanks to your generosity, we received 5,117 individually packaged items and $170, all of which will help our Bag Lunch program get through the summer months.
Bag Lunches are served each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday throughout the year, so snack donations are appreciated anytime!
To those who have volunteered with our youth programs this summer...
...whether by helping with Chicago Lights Summer Day or by accompanying one of our youth trips—be it to Detroit, New Jersey, or Presbyterian Youth Triennium—thank you!
The generous offering of your summer time makes these opportunities possible for our youth, and your gift of presence is a profound investment in them and their futures.
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Thank you as well to those who have already donated to our annual School Supply Drive!
We are still in need of additional backpacks, school supplies, and donations so at the beginning of August we can give filled backpacks to each of the students in Chicago Lights Summer Day.
This gift to the students celebrates their six weeks with us during Summer Day and also ensures that they can continue their learning in the fall well equipped with materials for beginning a new school year.
You can find a
list of needed supplies as well as volunteer opportunities posted
online. They are also available during Sunday morning Coffee Hour.
Donations can be dropped off at Coffee Hour as well or, on weekdays, at the reception desk.
Women who have time to help prepare backpacks and school supplies are invited to the
Women at Fourth ice cream social this coming Thursday, July 25 at 5:30 p.m., when those gathered will also help ready the backpacks and supplies for distribution.
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Please join us in welcoming to Fourth Church the youth from the First United Methodist Church of Park Ridge, Illinois.
Beginning Sunday afternoon they will be with us for a week of our Urban Youth Mission (UYM) program, a time for service and learning about urban mission and ministry.
During their time with us, these youth will have opportunity to explore diverse city neighborhoods while performing valuable hands-on service and reflecting on God, faith, and the Christian call to justice. We look forward to partnering with them in mission!
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In February we will also have opportunity to travel in mission as we journey to Havana, Cuba.
You are invited to share the gift of music and be inspired by the faith of our Cuban Christian sisters and brothers the week of February 17–24.
Led by John Sherer and Vicky Curtiss, members of Fourth Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church of Chicago will spend that week with our host congregation, the First Presbyterian Church of Havana, deepening relationships and sharing the joy of music and faith.
We have been in partnership with First Presbyterian Havana for nearly twenty years, and we were delighted that earlier this summer their pastor, Liudmila Hernández, traveled to be with us, to lead worship, preach at Jazz at Four, and share perspectives and reflections on the current atmosphere in Cuba.
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Do you know someone with gifts for leadership and ministry?
Consider recommending them
—or yourself!
—for an officer position with Fourth Church or Chicago Lights.
Recommendations for the offices of Elder, Deacon, Trustee, and Chicago Lights Board can be made
online. Paper forms are also available at the church in the pew racks and literature racks.
The Officer Nominating Committee would greatly appreciate your assistance in helping them gather names this summer so they can begin their review of recommendations this fall.
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Over the summer, a Strategic Directions task force is meeting to help discern priorities for the next three to five years of our life together as a congregation.
In order to do that, they need to hear from you!
In particular, they would value your input on the following:
- What areas of our mission or ministry would you like to see Fourth Church prioritize?
- Into which of those areas would you would want to invest energy and emphasis?
- Are there areas of our mission or ministry together that you would like to see reimagined?
In early August the task force will be hosting two Strategic Directions conversations in order to provide opportunity to hear your thoughts.
Strategic Directions Conversations
Sunday, August 4 at 12:15 p.m.
in the Bumpus Room
Sunday, August 11 at 9:45 a.m.
in Borwell Dining Room
Are you unable to be with us for one of those conversations?
If you can’t be with us on either of those dates, please take a moment to email to
priorities@fourthchurch.org your thoughts about your hopes and vision for our congregational priorities and areas of commitment.
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Might one of the following opportunities match your time, talent, interests, or schedule? We could use your help!
- Docents to give church tours on a rotating basis, Sundays following the 11:00 a.m. worship service; training provided
- Cooks and servers for Meals Ministry Sunday Night Supper at the church
Unless otherwise noted, sign up or learn more by contacting
Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry.
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An annual favorite, the After School Matters Vocal Ensemble, returns to Fourth Church today to perform our free Noonday Concert.
The choir is made up of Chicago-area high-school teens who participate in the programs of After School Matters, a nonprofit organization that offers high-quality opportunities outside of school that enable youth to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college, and beyond.
Come support these youth and enjoy a wonderful concert!
Friday, July 19 at 12:10 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
After School Matters
Friday, July 26 at 12:10 p.m.
outdoors in the Courtyard
Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael
Friday, August 2 at 12:10 p.m.
outdoors in the Courtyard
Arlene Doyle
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Births
We give thanks to God for the gift of new life.
Vivienne Tian Ting Wilson
Child of Cornell Wilson and Samantha Woo
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Fourth Presbyterian Church | 312.787.4570 | www.fourthchurch.org
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