Sunday Worship
Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 15 8:00 a.m.
CommunionPreaching:
Victoria G. Curtiss, Associate Pastor"Are You the One?" Scripture texts:
Psalm 146:5-10 Isaiah 35:1-10 Matthew 11:2-11 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
New Members (11:00)
Preaching:
Calum I. MacLeod, Executive Associate
Pastor
"Dual Citizenship" Scripture texts:
Psalm 146:5-10 Isaiah 35:1-10 Matthew 11:2-11
4:00 p.m.
Jazz Service
with Communion
Preaching:
Adam H. Fronczek,
Associate Pastor
"Ugly Times and
Beautiful Things"
Scripture text:
Isaiah 35:1-10 
Communion will
be celebrated
during 8:00 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m.
worship services
this Sunday.
New members
will be received
during 11:00 a.m.
worship.
To learn more about worship at Fourth Church this Sunday, read a copy of
the worship bulletins, which will be available online Friday afternoon at www.fourthchurch.org/ worship/this-week.html. The publication "News and Opportunities," distributed on Sundays with the worship bulletin and containing information about upcoming Fourth Church events, will be available online Friday afternoon at news/2013 /121513no.pdf
Births in Our Church Family Aria Marie Koshy, daughter of Matthew and Anoopa Koshy We give thanks to God for the gift of new life. Deaths in Our Church Family The Reverend Dr. David W. Robertson, September 25, 2013 Fourth Church Associate Pastor from 1971 to 1976 We give thanks to God for the gift of eternal life. Weddings in Our
Church Family Lauren Elizabeth Migliore and Marion Christopher Adams, December 7, 2013 We give thanks to God for the gift of new life together. |
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Last Day for Christmas Flower Contributions
Today is the last day to make contributions toward Christmas flowers and garlands--which decorate the Sanctuary and Gratz Center--while at the same time memorializing or honoring loved ones this holiday season.
Names of those remembered through the Christmas flowers donation will be printed in the Christmas worship bulletin. Contributions can be made online or by contacting Wydetta Carter.
Contributions must be received by the end of the day today, Friday, December 13 for names to appear in the Christmas bulletin.
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Due Sunday: Mission Trip Applications
Celebrate Christian harmony through music in Guatemala or worship and deepen relationships with Fourth Church's sister congregation at First Presbyterian Church of Havana in Cuba: applications for both of these mission trips are due this Sunday.
From February 21 to March 1, 2014, trip participants will join members of the choir of Fourth Church in traveling to villages in Guatemala. Hosted by Centro Evang�lico Estudios Pastorales en Centro Am�rica (CEDEPCA), a seminary in Antigua, participants will learn about the culture, history, economics, challenges, and strengths of the Guatemalan people while offering the gift of music at several concerts and worship services in various indigenous churches around Antigua. Adults and high-school-age youth are invited to apply. More information about the trip is available online.
A women's mission trip to Havana, Cuba, which will take place March 21-29, 2014, will offer opportunity for Fourth Church women to strengthen relationships with the women of our sister congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Havana. Participants will become familiar with the historical, political, economic, and cultural context for Christian witness in Cuba and will share in a midweek worship service of Latin American hymns and songs. Women who are members and staff of the church (a requirement of the travel visa) and who are college-age and older are invited to apply. More information about the trip is available online.
Applications for the Guatemala and Cuba mission trips are due this Sunday, December 15.
Information about other mission opportunities, including a trip to Mexico and opportunity to serve in Chicago, is also available online.
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Gift Bags for Social Service Center
Filled and decorated gifts bags for Sunday Night Supper guests are due this Sunday!
For those who picked up a bag, don't forget to decorate and fill it with the items listed on an attached sheet (travel-size toiletries and a few other small items) and then turn it in to the reception desk by this Sunday, December 15.
The bags will then be distributed to the guests of EDSSC programs beginning this Sunday and continuing throughout the Christmas holiday.
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Christmas Eve Worship
Again this year, four candlelight services will be held at Fourth Church on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24.
4:00 p.m. Children's Pageant in the Sanctuary
6:00 p.m. Family Service in the Sanctuary
8:30 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols in the Sanctuary
11:00 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols in the Sanctuary
Adam Fronczek will preach at the 6:00 p.m. service, and Calum MacLeod will preach during 8:30 and 11:00 p.m. worship.
Christmas Eve child care for infants and toddlers will be provided in the Nursery, which is located on the first floor of the Gratz Center, from 3:30 to 7:15 p.m. (Child care is not available during the 8:30 or 11:00 p.m. services). Please note that there is no reserved seating at any of the Christmas Eve services, including the Children's Pageant.
Reduced rate parking (with validation) will be available at the 900 North Michigan garage but not the Hancock garage. See below for details.
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Christmas Day at Fourth Church
Join Fourth Church on Wednesday, December 25 for worship at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Associate Pastor Hardy Kim will lead this service of Christmas readings and hymns.
A traditional Christmas dinner will be held at 12:15 p.m. in Anderson Hall following the Christmas Day service. Tickets (required) for the dinner are available at the church reception desk. Seating is limited, so be sure to get your tickets now!
Reduced rate parking (with validation) will be available at the 900 North Michigan garage but not the Hancock garage. See below for details.
Time and place
Wednesday, December 25
Christmas Day Worship
11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Christmas Dinner
12:15 p.m. in Anderson Hall
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Have You Made Gifts That Light Up a Life?
Consider honoring or remembering those on your Christmas list with "Light Up a Life" gifts--which also help neighbors whose needs are great this holiday season. Gifts provide important year-end support for the outreach programs of Fourth Church and Chicago Lights and are easy to make online. Help "light up a life" this Christmas with gifts that make a difference in the lives of those we serve!
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La Posada for Families
Families are once again invited to celebrate Christmas with La Posada, a tradition from Latin America, on Friday, December 20 at 5:30 p.m.
La Posada is a journey that families will take throughout the church, knocking on doors "looking for room at the inn" just like Mary and Joseph did more than 2,000 years ago. Families will visit several "inns" before heading to the final door to Borwell Dining Room, where we'll gather for our annual Children and Families Christmas party.
We hope you'll join us for this beloved Fourth Church tradition!
Time and place
Friday, December 20
5:30-8:00 p.m. in the Gratz Center
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 Parking on Christmas Eve and Day
Those entering the 900 North Michigan garage before 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, December 24 will need to pay $16 to park this year due to a change in management at the garage.
A $16 orange parking voucher will need to be purchased at Fourth Church on Christmas Eve and will be available before and after the Children's Pageant that day. The $16 is the parking fee charged by the garage, and the orange voucher will be used at the garage machines that process payment. (There will be no additional payment, other than the orange voucher, to park.)
Those entering the garage after 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve will be able to park for the usual $8 evening rate with a free green voucher that can be picked up at the church.
Parking on Christmas Day in the 900 garage will also cost $16 and will require purchase of an orange parking voucher, which will be available at the church on Christmas Day.
There will be no discounted parking at the Hancock garage on either day.
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Senior Highs Ski Trip
Youth in grades nine through twelve are invited to a weekend of skiing, snowboarding, and tubing this January at Sky High Camping Resort in Portage, Wisconsin. Skiing and other activities will be at Cascade Mountain.
The deadline to register is this Sunday, December 15. Details about the trip, including a packing checklist and forms to complete, are available online.
For more information, contact Daniel Holladay.
Time and place
Friday-Sunday, January 3-5, 2014
Sky High Camping Resort, Portage, Wisconsin
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Music at Fourth Church Free Friday Noonday concerts continue next Friday, December 20 with tenor Stephen Edwards at 12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel. Friday, December 20, 2013 12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Stephen Edwards, tenor
Friday, December 20, 2013 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Lakeside Singers Holiday Concert
Tickets available at www.lakesidesingers.com
Saturday, December 21, 2013 5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Christmas with Tower Brass
Suggested donation of $10 Sunday, December 22, 2013 During the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services Gloria by Vivaldi By the Morning Choir and a Chicago Chamber Orchestra string quartet Friday, December 27, 2013 12:10 p.m. in the Sanctuary
John W. W. Sherer, organist
(Organist and Director of Music at Fourth Church) A complete concert schedule is available online. back to top
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