News @ Fourth Church: March 11, 2023

March 11, 2023

Looking for ways to connect with the Fourth Church community and one another? On the church calendar you will find many opportunities to do so. Included among them are—

“The Ancestors in Genesis” class with Tom Dozeman, in person on Sunday mornings
Men’s Bible Study via Zoom on Tuesday mornings
Books by Women discussing in person Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout on Tuesday, March 14
Benevolent Guild in person on Wednesday morning, March 15
Friday Noonday Concert featuring our Organ Scholar Michael Rees on Friday, March 17, in person and livestreamed
Inquirers’ Class, for those interested in church membership, in person next Sunday morning, March 19
Knitting and Crocheting in person next Sunday morning, March 19 and via Zoom on Tuesday afternoon, March 28
Women’s Bible Study via Zoom at noon and in the evening on Wednesday, March 22
Women at Fourth Book Swap in person on Thursday evening, March 23 (registration required)
Cornerstones gathering in person on Friday evening, April 14 for dinner and a program on cleaning waterways that are contaminated with plastics in the Chicago area and around the country (registration required)

For information about whom to contact for an event’s Zoom details or the link to register for an event, simply click on the down “arrow” to the right of the event name in the calendar (which is easily accessible from the “Calendar” at the top of the menu on our website).

For highlights about additional opportunities, keep reading!

Third Sunday in Lent, March 12

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

Shannon J. Kershner preaching

Worship bulletin

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

Sermon Series

This Sunday we continue the sermon series “I believe...” — an opportunity for us to take a closer look at the Apostles’ Creed, which we use as one of our Affirmations of Faith. This week we will focus on “I believe in God, ... Maker of heaven and earth.”

Digital Pew Pads

On Sundays we ask all those who are worshiping with us to please fill out an information form so we might know you are with us in worship and to ensure we have current contact information. In the Sanctuary this happens by passing the pew pads down the row.

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. (For those who are viewing full screen, you will need to briefly exit full-screen view to see the description and link.)

Thank you for taking the time each Sunday to let us know you are worshiping with us!

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.

Exchange of Peace

Also during Lent our worship includes the Exchange of Peace. In the Reformed tradition this follows the Declaration of Pardon and is a response to God’s forgiveness. This exchange of signs and words of unity and of Christ’s peace is an ancient greeting of siblings in Christ, and through it we witness to God’s reconciling love.

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 12.

Be sure to set your clocks ahead an hour as we “spring forward.” We don't want to begin worship without you!

You can remember loved ones and recognize those who are special in your life by making a contribution toward the purchase of flowers to decorate the Sanctuary and Buchanan Chapel for our Easter services.

A list of those remembered will be printed in the Easter Sunday bulletin. For names to be included in the bulletin, contributions must be received by Sunday, March 26.

Contribute to Easter flowers

Later this month, on Friday, March 24, a quiet candlelit Lenten Taizé service will be held in Buchanan Chapel.

We hope you will mark your calendars and join us for this contemplative time of meditative song, silent reflection, and prayer for peace, reconciliation, and unity.

Friday, March 24

7:00 p.m.

in Buchanan Chapel (in person only)

The forty-day season of Lent invites us to thoughtfully take up the gifts of faith: worship, study, prayer, and service.

We encourage you to explore the variety of resources available to you for your Lenten journey.

Lenten Rhythm and Word

Our Lenten “Rhythm and Word” video series explores the biblical psalms as a resource for penitential reflection in preparation for the mystery of Easter.

Led by Rocky Supinger, these brief worship experiences (approximately ten minutes each) weave together scripture, prayer, and music. They are released on our YouTube channel on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.

To view the one from this past Wednesday, click on the graphic above. To receive the videos by email, sign up online at www.bit.ly/rhythmandwordemail

Lenten Devotions

Offered as a resource for personal meditation and prayer, our daily Lenten devotions are written by Fourth Church members and staff.

If you would like to receive them in your inbox each day during Lent, simply sign up at www.bit.ly/fpcdevotions or email devotions@fourthchurch.org.

The Chicago Lights Social Service Center is currently in need of the following items for their guests.

Brown paper grocery bags

Heavy plastic bags

Large shopping bags

Backpacks

Suitcases

Duffel bags

Blankets

Sleeping bags

Athletic shoes (men’s and women’s sizes 6–12)

Men’s sweatpants (sizes S, M, L)

Men’s pants or jeans (sizes 30–38)

Items can be dropped off at the church reception desk (enter at 126 E. Chestnut) between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and Sundays.

Coffee Hour Hosts

Do you enjoy expressing your faith through hospitality? Are you interested in being a welcoming presence to new and familiar faces at Coffee Hour?

We are looking for people to sign up on VOMO (our Volunteer Ministry platform) to be a Hospitality Coordinator, Cookie Table Host, or Cookie Server. The time commitment is minimal, and the experience is rewarding!

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).

Michigan Avenue Forum Committee

If you enjoy unique events that feature important religious and secular thinkers discussing current civic, ethical, and religious issues, the Michigan Avenue Forum Committee is looking for additional individuals to help develop and deliver these events that promote civic engagement within the church and the Chicagoland community.

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

Nancy Benson-Nicol and Lucy Forster-Smith will be leading a Ghost Ranch Pilgrimage of Faith and Learning this May 15–19 in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

Mornings will be spent in conversation with a speaker; there will be hiking and exploration of the area in the afternoon; and evenings will offer time together as a group with guided conversations and worship.

If you are interested in joining them for the trip, please complete the simple “Expression of Interest” form at www.bit.ly/ghostranchinterest23.

For additional details, email Nancy Benson-Nicol or Lucy Forster-Smith.

Are you interested in joining the Fourth Church Choir trip to India in February 2024?

This seventeen-day trip will include visits to Old and New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Mumbai.

Travel details for this tour, which is open to singers and non-singers alike, are included in the trip brochure and are also available by contacting Emily Cox. Applications are due April 1, 2023.

If you would like to submit a prayer request to our Morning Prayer or Deacon Prayer Ministries, please email caringministries@fourthchurch.org

If you would like to join in praying for others—members of Fourth Church and those in need—we invite you to gather with us for Wednesday Morning Prayer at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom or at 10:00 a.m. in person. For Zoom details, email Nancy Benson-Nicol.

If you would like to talk to a pastor, please call the church (312.787.4570) and your request will be forwarded to someone on the pastoral staff.

If you would like to alert pastoral staff to emerging pastoral care needs, please email caringministries@fourthchurch.org; however if the situation is an emergency or requires immediate attention, please call the church at 312.787.4570 to be connected to the Minister on Call.

For one-to-one spiritual and emotional support through life challenges, we encourage you to consider being paired with a Stephen Minister. To learn more about this resource, contact Nancy Benson-Nicol, Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation, or leave a confidential message for a Stephen Minister at 312.573.3365.

To set up a time to talk or for more information about how the staff of the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being can be a resource for you, call the Center at 312.787.2729, ext. 2260.

If you know someone who would like to receive email updates from us but currently is not, please encourage them to add their email address to our distribution list by signing up at www.bit.ly/newsfromfpc

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Fourth Presbyterian Church | 312.787.4570 | www.fourthchurch.org