Fifth Sunday in Lent, March 26

10:00 a.m. worship in person and online

Shannon J. Kershner preaching

Worship bulletin available Friday afternoon

In person and streamed from the Sanctuary on our YouTube channel: www.bit.ly/fpcvideos

Audio available by phone (toll free) by calling 888.916.9166

Livestreamed worship services and concerts are accessible by going to www.bit.ly/fpcvideos, subscribing to our YouTube channel, or clicking on the photo with a “Play” arrow on the home page of the Fourth Church website.

4:00 p.m. Jazz at Four worship in person

with Communion

in Buchanan Chapel

Nancy Benson-Nicol preaching

Worship bulletin available Friday afternoon

Sermon Series

This Sunday we continue the sermon series “I believe...” — an opportunity for us to take a closer look at the Apostles’ Creed. This week we will focus on “I believe ... in Jesus Christ ... conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary.”

Digital Pew Pads

We so appreciate seeing who is worshiping with us, whether online or in person! Thank you for filling out the worshiper information form each Sunday you are with us.

Those worshiping with us online will find a link to the online form—a digital pew pad, as it were—included in the descriptive text below the video. It’s easy to just point your smartphone camera at the QR code on the screen to open the “digital pew pad,” or you can temporarily exit full screen and find the link in the description below the video before returning to full screen.

In the Sanctuary this happens by passing the pew pads down the row.

Lenten Candles

Each Sunday during Lent we are extinguishing a candle at the front of the Sanctuary. Just as we lit candles on the Advent wreath to symbolize the light coming into the world through the birth of Christ, so now our extinguishing of candles points to the Lenten progression from light to the shadows of Good Friday and the crucifixion.

One of Fourth Church’s most beloved traditions takes place during morning worship next Sunday, April 2: the Palm/Passion Sunday processional of children entering the Sanctuary waving palms.

On this first day of Holy Week — the most important week on the Christian calendar — we celebrate with palms and loud hosannas Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. But the tone quickly changes, as shouts of “Hosanna!” give way to the cries of “Crucify him!” and we remember where this journey leads: to the cross of Good Friday.

Palm/Passion Sunday | April 2

10:00 a.m. worship with palm processional

in the Sanctuary and livestreamed

4:00 p.m. Jazz Service with Communion

in Buchanan Chapel with Communion

Our Palm Sunday celebration will lead us into Jesus’ Passion and Holy Week. We hope you will join us as we pause to observe those solemn days.

Maundy Thursday | April 6

12:10 p.m. worship with Communion

with optional footwashing as well

in person only

7:30 p.m. Tenebrae with Communion

in person and livestreamed

The evening service follows the ancient Office of Tenebrae (from the Latin for “shadows”). The service portrays the progression from light to darkness in the passion of Jesus, beginning with his abandonment on Thursday and concluding with his crucifixion. The service ends with the Sanctuary in complete darkness.

Good Friday | April 7

12:10 p.m. worship

in person only

5:30 p.m. program for children and families

in person only | in Buchanan Chapel

7:30 p.m. Choral Service

in person and livestreamed

The evening service concludes with the bells tolling thirty-three times — once for each year of Jesus’ life on earth — and the extinguishing of the flickering Christ candle.

Easter Vigil | April 8

7:00 p.m.

in person only

An ancient tradition of the church, the Saturday evening Easter vigil invites us into the story of salvation as we mark the conclusion of Lent and the dawning of Easter.

Together we hear readings from scripture that cover the story of salvation, from creation through redemption, and join together in sacred song.

Each Easter Sunday we gather for a festive celebration of the resurrection of the Lord.

Easter Sunday | April 9

6:30 a.m. | Easter Sunrise Service

at Oak Street Beach with Communion

in person only

9:00 a.m. | Easter Service

in the Sanctuary and livestreamed

9:00 a.m. | Easter Experience for Children

in the Gratz Center

Children up through fifth grade enjoy a time of Bible story and crafts

11:00 a.m. | Easter Service

in the Sanctuary | in person only

4:00 p.m. | Easter Jazz Service

in Buchanan Chapel with Communion

in person only

In addition to our in-person services, Easter worship will be available on YouTube any time after 8:45 a.m., when the livestreamed prelude for the 9:00 service begins.

LGBTQIA+ Widen Our Welcome

LGBTQIA+ Widen Our Welcome (WOW) invites you to gather with them on Sunday, April 2 to share pizza and hear stories about our connections to Fourth Church and each other.

Sunday, April 2

11:00 a.m.

Borwell Dining Room

Registration requested

Cornerstones

Cornerstones invites those fifty and over to gather with them for dinner and program on Friday evening, April 14. Aquatic ecologist Timothy Hollein will talk about working with his students to clean up waterways that are contaminated with plastics in the Chicago area and around the country.

Friday, April 14

5:30 p.m.

Anderson Hall

Registration required

For those who are sixty or over, the Center for Life and Learning (CLL) has a wide variety of offerings planned for the spring!

In addition to twelve weeks of weekly classes, there will be special topic opportunities ranging from walking tours to improv to a study of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis — and more!

Registration is now open for the Spring Session (which begins after Easter, on Tuesday, April 11, and runs through Thursday, June 29).

For more information, explore the CLL on our website or call the CLL office (312.981.3389 or 312.981.3391).

Coffee Hour Hosts

We are looking for individuals to be a welcoming presence to new and familiar faces at Coffee Hour.

If you are interested in being a Hospitality Coordinator, Cookie Table Host, or Cookie Server, please sign up on VOMO, our Volunteer Ministry platform.

Choir Librarian

The Music Department is in need of a volunteer choir librarian to serve one to two hours a week in the Music Office refiling music for anthems. For more information, contact Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry. 

Michigan Avenue Forum Committee

The Michigan Avenue Forum Committee is looking for individuals to join them in planning events featuring important religious and secular thinkers discussing current civic, ethical, and religious issues. 

To learn more about this volunteer opportunity or to express interest in participating, please contact Lucy Forster-Smith.

Meals Ministry Volunteers

Fourth Church Meals Ministry is in need of volunteers to assist in preparing and serving meals for our neighbors who are hungry and food insecure.

To learn more or explore the various Meals Ministry volunteer needs, see VOMO (www.bit.ly/fpcvolunteers).

We have an invitation for anyone who enjoys singing!

The Fourth Church Choral Society will present a concert of coronation music written by Handel, Parry, and Vaughan Williams with singers from St. James Cathedral (65 E. Huron) on Sunday evening, May 21.

If you would like to join them, mark Thursday, April 13 on your calendar, when the first rehearsal will begin at 7:00 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel.

For more information about singing with the Choral Society, contact John Sherer.