News @ Fourth Church: September 21, 2019

September 21, 2019

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

LGBTQIA+ Brunch this Sunday, September 22
Also this Sunday, September 22, PCUSA mission coworker Cesar Carhuachin’s presentation on “God’s Mission in Colombia”
A Jail Ministry information session on Sunday, September 22
Women at Fourth with Shannon Kershner this coming Thursday, September 26
A 2020 Cuba music mission trip information session on Sunday, October 6
A Contemplative Retreat at St. Benedict’s Abbey in Wisconsin the weekend of October 11–13 (deadline to register September 25)

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).

Sunday, September 22: Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

8:00 a.m. Communion

Rocky Supinger preaching

9:30 a.m.

Shannon J. Kershner preaching

11:00 a.m.

Shannon J. Kershner preaching

4:00 p.m. Jazz Communion

Shannon J. Kershner preaching

Next Sunday, September 29, we will begin a six-week sermon series, “Remembering Our Past, Inspiring Our Future.” Each week at all of our services we will explore defining moments in the story of Fourth Presbyterian Church, moments that to this day influence our ongoing commitment to participate in God’s redemptive work and that shape the church we are continuing to become.

Also next Sunday, we will hold a Congregational Meeting in the Sanctuary following the 11:00 a.m. service. Last night the Session of Fourth Church called this meeting for the purpose of electing an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee. That committee will be charged with identifying and recommending to the congregation a candidate for the newly defined position of Associate Pastor for Evangelism and Community Engagement. At the meeting the congregation will also elect a member of the congregation to fill an unexpired term on the Officer Nominating Committee.

More about worship, including bulletins

If you have not yet taken time to complete the brief survey from the Racial Equity Council, please do so today.

The results of this survey, which closes on September 29, will be important in helping the council develop recommendations for our moving toward becoming a fully multicultural, antiracist church.

The Racial Equity Council also invites you to a celebration this Sunday, September 22 following the 11:00 a.m. service. At 12:30 p.m. Sunday we will dedicate the stunning new painting The Ascension by Gerald Griffin (whose exhibit in the Loggia we hope you saw earlier this year!).

Commissioned by the Racial Equity Council, The Ascension, based on Acts and Revelation, will hang permanently in the Gignilliat Commons as we give public witness that people of all races are made in the image of God and celebrated in God’s multicultural, multiracial Beloved Community.

This past Sunday we officially welcomed to Fourth Church Michael Mirza and Andrea Denney, who both joined our staff in late summer.

Michael is our new Director of Worship, with responsibilities for maintaining, enhancing, and deepening the worship life of our congregation.

Andrea is our new Director of Operational Ministry, leading the teams that oversee our building, facilities, and security; IT; human resources; food services; and event planning.

As you see Michael and Andrea around the church, please introduce yourselves and welcome them to the Fourth Church community!

A week from today is our annual Blessing of the Animals service!

All creatures great and small are invited to join us in the Michigan Avenue courtyard on Saturday, September 28 at 10:00 a.m. for a service of song and story as we give thanks to God for the creatures that bless our lives.

All pets are welcome! (Please have them on leash or in a carrier; in the case of rain, we’ll move indoors to Buchanan Chapel.)

If you’d rather not bring your pets, please bring photographs of them and join us as we celebrate the wonders of God’s creation and our relationships with its amazing creatures.

We are also in need of ushers for this brief Saturday-morning service. If you can help, please contact Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry.

Photos from our recent tree trimming?

Pictures of the many autumnal blooms around the church?

The Sanctuary in Monday’s fog?

Check them out online!

Calling all singers!

We’re looking for people who would like to join us in singing music from 1969, as our autumn Choral Society concert will feature the sounds of 50 years ago.

That concert will be November 15; rehearsals begin this coming Thursday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel.

Come sing along!

Were you with us for the first session our new pastor-led weekly Bible study and are eager for the second installment?

Or did you miss this last Sunday but are planning to attend this week? (Each class is self-contained, so you can easily attend as your schedule allows!)

Or are you reading along with us from home?

Either way—whether you’ll be with us this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. or not, we invite you to read this week’s text for discussion: Genesis 17.

(Want to catch up with our reading from last week? We launched this year with a Bible by exploring Genesis 1.)

Three days each week our Fourth Church Meals Ministry program serves bag lunches to guests in our community who are experiencing hunger. In each of those lunches our volunteers include snack items, from granola bars to chips, pretzels, fruit cups, or applesauce.

We could use your help replenishing our snack supply! Donations (labeled “Meals Ministry”) can be dropped off during Coffee Hour this Sunday or next or at the reception desk on weekdays and Saturday.

Information about snacks needed

We are grateful to all who have made gifts in support of our mission and ministry this year. Thank you! These contributions—shown in the monthly report below—along with your continued support will enable us to make a difference in the lives of many as we continue to be a light in the city!

Did you know that in order to fill the open positions of Elder, Deacon, Trustee, and Chicago Lights Board members, the Nominating Committee needs Fourth Church members to submit names of around 200 candidates?

To meet that goal, we need approximately 150 more submissions in the next 10 days.

The Nominating Committee is eager to hear from anyone who has a person—including themselves—to recommend.

So please take a moment today to send in your recommendations using this simple online form!

Please join us in also welcoming the newest members of the Fourth Church family—those who were received into Fourth Church membership last Sunday:

Jill Bartholomew

Julie Knudsen

Kelly Lernihan

Katherine Nicholls Kotoch

Madie Szaller

David Vester

Laura Vester

We could use your help with a variety of service opportunities this autumn!

Blessing of the Animals ushers for the 10:00 a.m. service on Saturday, September 28
Ushers for the 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday worship services
Greeters for the 4:00 p.m. Jazz at Four Sunday services
100 new tutors by September 30 for our Chicago Lights Tutoring program, mentoring students one night a week at the church (learn more or sign up for orientation)