- Two information gatherings this Sunday about a new Men’s Faith Discussion Group beginning in January
- A Books by Women conversation about Lucy Forster-Smith’s book Crossing Thresholds this Tuesday, December 11
- “Cookies, Cocoa, and Caroling” Family Night on Friday, December 21
- Our annual Christmas Dinner on Tuesday, December 25 following worship
- A candlelit New Year’s Eve Taizé service in Buchanan Chapel on Monday evening, December 31.
The calendar, which is easily accessible from the home page of our website, includes opportunity to
register online
for any event for which registration is involved (along with an option to make online payment of any registration fees).
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Second Sunday of Advent, December 9
8:00 a.m. Communion
Lucy Forster-Smith
9:30 a.m.
Shannon J. Kershner
11:00 a.m. Baptisms
Shannon J. Kershner
4:00 p.m. Jazz Communion
Nanette Sawyer
Looking Ahead: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
We hope you will join us in celebrating the birth of Emmanuel, God-with-us, this Christmas! On Monday, December 24, we will gather for
four candlelight Christmas Eve services:
4:00 p.m. Children’s Pageant
6:00 p.m. Family Service
8:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols
10:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols
On Tuesday, December 25 we will come together for
Christmas Day
worship at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
For many the celebration of Christmas is made difficult by feelings of loneliness, grief, alienation, and sadness, whether personal or regarding world events. Our “
Longest Night” service
—on Tuesday, December 18 at 6:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
—
recognizes and makes space for these feelings and challenges.
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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.
A list of those remembered will be printed in the Christmas bulletin. (Contributions must be received
by this Sunday, December 9 in order for names to be included in the bulletin.)
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Plan to be with us for one of our beloved Advent traditions at Fourth Church, the Festival of Advent Lessons and Music,
this Sunday, December 9 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 holiday reception hosted by Women at Fourth and featuring homemade cookies and hot cocoa will follow the service.
Sunday, December 9 at 6:30 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
Reception to follow in Anderson Hall
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Christmas with Tower Brass
Wednesday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
Suggested donation of
$20 at the door
Bella Voce:
A Ceremony of Carols
by Benjamin Britten
Friday, December 14
7:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Chicago
a cappella:
Holidays
a cappella
Friday, December 14
8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Christmas Cantata
A Ceremony of Carols
by Benjamin Britten
Sunday, December 23
During 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship in the Sanctuary
Presented by the Morning Choir
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In a much-anticipated move, our weekly Jazz at Four service is now taking place in Buchanan Chapel. Sharing jazz worship in this space allows us to gather in ways that strengthen our feeling of community and imaginatively employ visual and musical arts. (The angel above is part of a new set of Advent banners created for our jazz worship in Buchanan Chapel.)
The move also provides opportunity to deepen forms of prayer and to demonstrate the power of the Communion table to help us experience God's powerful welcome.
If you have never been to Jazz at Four, why not make it one of the ways you observe this Advent season: come join us in Buchanan Chapel on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.!
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This season we invite you to join us in sharing Christmas joy with those in need.
Decorated and filled Holiday Bags
for guests of Sunday and Monday Night Suppers are to be
returned this Sunday, December 9
to the Meals Ministry cart during Coffee Hour.
“Christmas Wishes,”
which collects gifts for Chicago Lights Tutoring students who might not otherwise receive them,
concludes in the week ahead.
Details about supporting this gift project are available at Coffee Hour and from
Anne Ellis
.
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
.
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Fourth Church youth are headed to Wisconsin the weekend of January 18 for their annual
ski trip. All sixth- through twelfth-graders are invited to join in the fun;
register online here.
Looking ahead to warmer months, our online sign-ups are also open now for the
2019 summer youth trips, including a junior high trip to
Detroit; a senior high trip to
New Jersey; and
Presbyterian Youth Triennium. Details as well as online registration links are posted
online.
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- Sunday Night Supper volunteers to greet and serve guests on Sundays, December 23 and 30 from 3:45 to 6:15 p.m. (sign up here)
- Volunteers to unload food trucks at the church on second and fourth Mondays from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.; must be able to lift 50 pounds
- Ushers for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services (December 24: 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, and 10:00 p.m.; December 25: 11:00 a.m.)
- Candle-sleevers on Thursday, December 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to prepare for Christmas Eve candlelight services
Sign up by contacting
Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry
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Births
We give thanks to God for the gift of new life.
Kieran Laurel and Harper Leona Everage
Children of Justin Everage and Carolyn Andrew
and great-grandchildren of John and Sue Buchanan
Deaths
We give thanks to God for the gift of life eternal.
The
Reverend John Cairns
died Wednesday, December 5 in Sarasota, Florida. John served as Dean of the Academy for Faith and Life at Fourth Church from March 1999 until his retirement in October 2005. He was instrumental in creating the Academy, our adult education program; piloted our participation in the Pastoral Residency program in 2000 and mentored the residents who were with us during the program’s first five years; and also served as Acting Executive Associate.
The memorial service for
Clyde O. Bowles Jr.,
whose death was previously announced, will be next Saturday, December 15 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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