What’s coming up on the church
calendar? Among other things—
- A playful “Leap into Learning” Fourth Church Day School benefit this Saturday morning, February 29 for young children and their accompanying adults
- Matt Helms providing an overview of the New Testament during the “Foundation of Faith” Bible study this Sunday morning, March 1
- TED Talks for Parents this Sunday morning, March 1, with conversation about “The Unforeseen Consequences of a Fast-Paced World” and “Stay in the Moment”
- Men’s Bible Study on Tuesday morning, March 3 in the Loop
- SoulCollage and Poetry on Saturday afternoon, March 7
- “Living Your Best Life: A Support Group for Young Women” beginning Monday, March 16
These are just some of the many opportunities you will find on our
calendar, which is easily accessible from the home page of our website.
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First Sunday in Lent, March 1
This week we launch our
Lenten sermon series
on “
Questions Jesus Asked.” We begin with a “Question of Longing,” specifically “Who are you looking for?” (John 18:1–11).
8:00 a.m. Communion
Victoria G. Curtiss preaching
9:30 a.m.
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
11:00 a.m.
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
4:00 p.m. Jazz Communion
Lucy Forster-Smith preaching
On Sundays, our worship and fellowship time offer regular opportunity for us to greet one another, often with a handshake. During this season of particular attention to how we can
help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like flu and coronavirus, we want to affirm that you should always feel comfortable declining to shake hands at the Passing of the Peace or when welcoming one another. We also encourage you to avail yourself of the hand sanitizer and soap and water available throughout the campus. If you do feel unwell or your health suggests minimizing exposure to germs, please know that you can always worship with us via our
11:00 livestream option.
In the coming week, our staff will be looking closely at what additional actions might be warranted so that we can ensure our campus and community continues to be a safe and healthy place for all. And we continue to hold in prayer all those around the globe who have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
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On Wednesday we began our Lenten journey
(
as you can see here
) and entered into a season of prayer and reflection.
As together we take up the gifts of faith—worship, study, prayer, and service—in preparation for Holy Week and Christ’s journey to the cross, we invite you to consider these resources for your own reflection along the way.
Lenten Devotions on Hymn Texts
The text of Lenten hymns new and old guides our daily Lenten reflections this year.
If you are looking for a resource for prayer and personal meditation in this season, we invite you to draw on our Lenten devotions, which are available in a variety of ways:
In print (in the church literature racks)
A Sunday Class:
“
From St. Paul to C. S. Lewis
”
The Apostle Paul, St. Augustine, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, C. S. Lewis . . . how does their experience of conversion pave a way for us to see the ongoing work of God in our lives across our personal and communal faith journeys?
Sundays, March 1–22
11:00 a.m.
in Room 5G
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Throughout Lent we will be receiving the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, which supports Fourth Church Meals Ministry and Shower Ministry; Chicago Lights Tutoring and Social Service Center; and the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Hunger, and Self-Development of People Programs.
Gifts to this offering can be made by
- giving online
- using the envelopes in the pew racks, or
- writing “Lenten Offering” on the memo line of a check made payable to Fourth Presbyterian Church
Sunday School children will also be filling fish banks this season and then presenting them as part of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering on Palm/Passion Sunday.
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A week from today—on Friday, March 6—is the Gala of Hope!
We hope you will come on out and enjoy a fun and festive evening in support of Chicago Lights—the community outreach arm of Fourth Church—and the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being!
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At our November Michigan Avenue Forum, Cardinal Blase Cupich, Rabbi Wendi Geffen, and Eboo Patel shared with us ways in which a “holy envy” of others’ religious lives and experiences can bring us a deeper appreciation of our own faith.
Following up on that conversation, Lucy Forster-Smith is leading us in a Sunday morning exploration of Barbara Brown Taylor’s book
Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others
, which engages in the unexpected discoveries of faith traditions outside Christianity.
The class meets Sundays, March 1 and 8 at
9:30 a.m. in Room 5E.
We also have a special opportunity to take part in the faith traditions of our neighbors on Tuesday, March 31: we are honored that Chicago Sinai Congregation has again invited us to take part in their annual
Interfaith Seder.
The Seder will be held at 6:00 p.m. on March 31 at Chicago Sinai (15 W. Delaware). While the registration deadline is Tuesday, March 17, space is limited and always fills quickly. So if you are interested in attending, be sure to
sign up soon!
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At Fourth Church we believe in living out our commitment to mission by sharing in the hopes and struggles of our brothers and sisters both in this city and around the world, working together for a world of compassion, peace, and justice.
As an expression of that commitment, thirty-three travelers from Fourth Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church of Chicago will be spending this coming week on a
music mission trip to Cuba led by John Sherer and Vicky Curtiss.
While there our traveling mission choir will have opportunity to share the gift of music in four concerts as well as in worship with their hosts, the Reverend Liudmila Hernández and her congregation, the First Presbyterian Church of Havana, with whom Fourth Church has had a partner relationship for over nineteen years.
Please keep these travelers and the members of First Church Havana in your prayers in the days ahead as we continue to strengthen our relationship and live into our shared faith together.
If you would like to join us on a mission trip, we have an opportunity coming up this summer: a
peacemaking insight trip to Colombia
the week of August 1–8.
Applications are due May 1 for this trip that will help inform our own peacemaking efforts as we learn from community leaders in Colombia.
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Next Sunday, March 8 please join us in welcoming Dr. Stephen Ray Jr.
as our guest preacher at the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services.
Dr. Ray is President of both Chicago Theological Seminary and the Society for the Study of Black Religion. Having written and lectured broadly in the areas of Systematic Theology, African American religion, human rights, and the intersection of religion and politics, his current work focuses on reinvigorating the public square as a place for all and reclaiming a vital expression of progressive religion in that project.
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Please also join us in welcoming back to the Fourth Church staff David Handley, who served this congregation as Associate Pastor from 1973 to 1981 before going on to serve as Pastor and Head of Staff at the First Presbyterian Church of Evanston.
In his retirement, David has been serving in a variety of interim pastor roles, and we are delighted that in that capacity he will be with us for the next year as our Interim Minister for Pastoral Care.
He is assuming the responsibilities held by Judy Watt prior to her retirement while our Personnel Committee reviews that Associate Pastor position description and then recommends the election of an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee for that role.
As you see David around the church, please introduce yourself and extend a warm Fourth Church welcome!
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Make sure to mark Monday, March 9 on your calendar: that is the day we will welcome back the
Morehouse College Glee Club for a 7:30 p.m. concert in the Sanctuary.
We are honored to again host this musical group whose distinguished 109-year history includes among its many highlights singing at the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., performing for United States presidents, and taking part in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. You won’t want to miss this moving performance!
Friday, March 6 at 12:10 p.m
Katie Calcamuggio, Mezzo-Soprano
in Buchanan Chapel
Monday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Morehouse College Glee Club
in the Sanctuary
Suggested $20 freewill donation at the door
Friday, March 13 at 12:10 p.m
Steven Betancourt, Organ
in the Sanctuary
Friday, March 20 at 12:10 p.m
Jenny Shin, Flute
in Buchanan Chapel
Friday, March 27 at 12:10 p.m
John Sherer, Organ
in the Sanctuary
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Are you looking for ways in which to serve?
You can find volunteer opportunities—and sign up for them—on VOMO (
www.bit.ly/fpcvolunteers), our
volunteer management software.
Among our current volunteer needs:
adult leaders for our summer youth trips as well as
greeters for our Sunday afternoon Jazz at Four services and
grocery shoppers for our Meals Ministry program.
To learn more, to express interest, or for assistance with VOMO, please contact
Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry.
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Birth
We give thanks to God for the gift of new life.
Felix Adams DiGennaro
Child of Gabriel DiGennaro and Gretchen Adams
Deaths
We give thanks to God for the gift of life eternal.
Scott Shelton
Died January 15, 2020
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 25 at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
Dr. Carl Gardner Leigh
Died February 17, 2020
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
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Fourth Presbyterian Church | 312.787.4570 | www.fourthchurch.org
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