News @ Fourth Church: November 26, 2019

November 26, 2019

What’s coming up on the church calendar? Quite a variety of things, including—

TED Talks for Parents on Sunday, December 1
The Cornerstones Christmas Sing-Along and dinner for people 50 and over on Friday evening, December 6 (registration required by December 3)
“Jehovah’s Favorite Choir: The Biblical Story in the Songs and Shows of the Grateful Dead,” a two-week class led by Andy McGaan and beginning Sunday morning, December 8
And so much more—as you will see below!

The calendar, which is easily accessible from the home page of our website, also includes direct links to any online registrations (along with an option to make online payment of any registration fees).

In this season of gratitude, we invite you to celebrate Thanksgiving with Fourth Church.

Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Tuesday, November 26

7:00 p.m.

in the Fourth Church Sanctuary

Cohosted by Chicago Sinai Congregation; Fourth Church; Holy Name Cathedral; Inner-City Muslim Action Network; Islamic Society of Midwest; Lake Shore 1st Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; LaSalle Street Church; and St. Chrysostom’s Episcopal Church.

Thanksgiving Day Worship

Thursday, November 28

11:00 a.m.

in the Sanctuary

Vicky Curtiss and Kent Organ preaching

Thanksgiving Day Dinner

Thursday, November 28

12:15 p.m.

in Anderson Hall

Prepaid tickets are required: Purchase online through Tuesday, November 26 or, after

November 26, at the reception desk

Day-after-Thanksgiving Concert

Friday, November 29

12:10 p.m.

in the Sanctuary

John Sherer, organ

More about celebrating Thanksgiving with Fourth Church

First Sunday of Advent: December 1

8:00 a.m. Communion

Lucy Forster-Smith preaching

9:30 a.m. Communion

Lucy Forster-Smith preaching

11:00 a.m. Communion

Lucy Forster-Smith preaching

4:00 p.m. Jazz Communion

Joe Morrow preaching

The Season of Advent

This Sunday—four Sundays before Christmas—marks the beginning of Advent, the first season on the liturgical calendar and thus the beginning of a new church year.

Advent is observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas as well as the return of Jesus at the second coming.

The season takes it name from the Latin word meaning “coming,” and its liturgical color is purple, to remind us that this is a season of humility and reconciliation.

Advent Reflection Stations

Throughout Advent you will see tables, topped with a tree and ribbons, in the Narthex, Commons, and Allison Library. We invite you to take a moment to stop by a table this Sunday. There you will find a question that serves as a prompt for the week, something to help guide our contemplation and reflection this Advent season.

We encourage you to write on one of the ribbons your response to the question and then tie or drape your ribbon on one of the branches of the trees. These ribbons will be used to line the manger at the Children’s Pageant on Christmas Eve.

If you want to begin thinking ahead, the prompt for December 1–7 will be “Where do you see hope breaking out lately?”

More about worship, including bulletins

As the weeks ahead become increasingly busy, the season of Advent invites us to set aside time for daily personal prayer and reflection and to create space to prepare our hearts and lives to receive the gift that comes to us in the stable.

Our daily Advent devotions—which begin this Sunday, December 1—offer a resource for this meditative journey. To receive them daily by email, sign up online.

Devotions also will be posted daily on Facebook, on Twitter (@FourthChicago), and on our devotions web page. They are also available in a printed booklet in the literature racks at the church.

This Advent we invite you to join us in reflecting on a word of the season for each day.

Then take and post to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter a photo that captures or conveys what that word means to you in the context of Advent, as we watch and wait and as we prepare our hearts to welcome Emmanuel, God with us.

Tag the photo @fourthchurch on Instagram and Facebook and @fourthchicago on Twitter.

And add the hashtags #adventfpc2019 and #[whatever the theme of the day is].

Words for the coming week are

Sun., Dec. 1: #Hope

Mon., Dec. 2: #Prophecy

Tues., Dec. 3: #Watch

Wed., Dec. 4: #Longing

Thurs., Dec. 5: #Sign

Fri., Dec. 6: #Faithful

Sat., Dec. 7: #Journey

We look forward to embarking on this Advent exploration with you!

For a complete list, see www.fourthchurch.org/advent-photo

A favorite family tradition takes place this Sunday, December 1: our annual Family Advent Wreath Workshop!

Families are encouraged to stop by the Parish House Dining Room after the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday School hours to construct an Advent wreath for their family. We will have live greens and wreath forms as well as opportunity to learn more about the meaning of each of the purple and pink candles we light throughout the Advent season.

Sunday, December 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Parish House Dining Room

Remember loved ones and recognize those who are special in your life with contributions toward the purchase of Christmas flowers and garlands to decorate the Sanctuary and Buchanan Chapel this year.

A list of those remembered will be printed in the Christmas bulletin. Contributions must be received by Sunday, December 8 in order for names to be included in that bulletin.

Contribute to Christmas flowers

In this season of gratitude and giving, we invite you to join us in sharing Christmas joy with those in need.

The annual “ Christmas Wishes” gift project, sponsored by Women at Fourth, collects gifts for Chicago Lights Tutoring students who might not otherwise receive one. Wish lists are available at Coffee Hour and from Anne Ellis.

Holiday Bags are being collected for guests of Sunday and Monday Night Suppers. A list of needed items as well as bags to decorate are available at the Meals Ministry cart during Coffee Hour. Filled bags are needed by Sunday, December 8.

Gifts to the “ Light Up a Life” offering support congregational programs, mission, and community outreach—including Chicago Lights programs—as well as denominational efforts.

In this season when needs for many are great, “Light Up a Life” gifts make it possible for us to provide meals for those who are hungry, a shower and clean clothing for those living on the street, a warm place to escape the winter cold, a listening ear for those searching for a supportive community, and so much more.

“Light Up a Life” gifts can be made using the envelopes in the pew racks or online.

Or to make a gift to Fourth Church using Venmo and your phone, scan this QR code or open the app. Tap the Pay button and search for Fourth Church ( @Fourth-Church). Enter a gift amount, write a quick note, and tap Pay!

Let us help you with your holiday shopping!

On Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8 we are again hosting a Fair Trade Gift Bazaar.

This annual bazaar features handcrafted merchandise, ranging from folk art to ceramics, textiles, baskets, jewelry, and more. A variety of vendors, including Ten Thousand Villages, will be on hand.

Groups in more than thirty countries benefit from the proceeds of this bazaar, making it possible for them to earn a fair wage for their labors and provide food, shelter, education, and health care for their families. Come shop for a difference!

In Anderson Hall and Borwell Dining Room on—

Saturday, December 7

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 8

9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

And why not invite your friends and neighbors to join you on Saturday, December 7 between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., when we’ll also be hosting our Advent Open House in the Sanctuary, complete with live music and, in the Narthex, refreshments.

Plan to be with us for one of our beloved Advent traditions at Fourth Church, the Festival of Advent Lessons and Music, on Sunday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Pastors and members of Fourth Church will read the scripture lessons of Advent, and Fourth Church's Children’s, Youth, Chancel, Morning, and Handbell Choirs will present music of the season. Together we’ll sing Advent hymns and anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ.

A reception hosted by Women at Fourth and featuring homemade cookies and hot cocoa will follow the service. Volunteers are needed to bake cookies, to set up, to serve cocoa, and to clean up. Contact Anne Ellis if you can help!

Sunday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m.

in the Sanctuary

Reception to follow in Anderson Hall

Christmas with Chanticleer

Tuesday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m.

in the Sanctuary

Tickets available at www.cso.org

St. Charles Singers: Candlelight Carols

Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m.

in the Sanctuary

Tickets available from www.stcharlessingers.com

Festival of Advent Lessons and Music

Sunday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m.

in the Sanctuary

Chicago a cappella : Holidays a cappella

Friday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m.

in Buchanan Chapel

Tickets available at www.chicagoacappella.org

Christmas with Tower Brass

Saturday, December 21 at 5:00 p.m.

in the Sanctuary

Freewill offering received at the door

Christmas Cantata: A Winter’s Night by Cecilia McDowall

Sunday, December 22 at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

in the Sanctuary

A complete concert schedule, including free Friday Noonday Concerts

Criminal Justice Reform: Policing and Prosecution

The Interfaith Coalition Against Racism (ICAR), of which Fourth Church is a member, invites you to public issues forum on Thursday evening, December 5.

Panelists Toni Preckwinkle (Cook County Board President), Kim Foxx (Cook County State’s Attorney), Paula Wolff (Chicago Police Board), and Michelle Day (Nehemiah Trinity Rising) will discuss criminal justice reform in a forum moderated by Cheryl Corley (NPR correspondent, National Desk).

Thursday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m.

(doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

in Buchanan Chapel

Trips to Guatemala and Colombia

It’s not to early to begin planning your summer trips with Fourth Church!

Tom and Sue Schemper will be leading a trip to the villages of Guatemala the week of July 5–12. Mission teams will work in small groups with the staff of Common Hope, which serves Guatemalans through programs in education, health care, and housing. Applications are due no later than January 15, but it is helpful for Common Hope planning to have an idea by December 4 how many of us will be working with them that week.

In a peacemaking insight trip to Colombia the week of August 1–8 we will have opportunity to inform our own peacemaking efforts by learning from community leaders in Colombia. The Iglesia Presbyteriana de Colombia (IPC) was the first Protestant church in Colombia and the first Presbyterian mission in Latin America. They, along with the PC(USA), have been an active part of supporting the peace process in Colombia. Applications are due May 1.