News @ Fourth Church: March 8, 2019

March 8, 2019

What’s coming up on the church calendar? Among other things—

Benevolent Guild on Wednesday, March 13
A candlelit Lenten Taizé service on Friday, March 22
Knitting and Crocheting on Tuesday, March 26
Confirmation retreat the weekend of March 29
“Relationships 101” on Saturday, March 30

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).

Sunday, March 10: First Sunday in Lent

8:00 a.m. Communion

Lucy Forster-Smith preaching

9:30 a.m. Baptisms and Children in Worship

Shannon J. Kershner preaching

11:00 a.m. Baptisms and Children in Worship

Shannon J. Kershner preaching

4:00 p.m. Jazz Communion

Joseph L. Morrow preaching

More about worship, including bulletins

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 10.

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

Are you interested in traveling to Prague, Luther sites in Germany (including Wittenberg and Eisenach), Dresden, the Terezin Memorial, and Geneva with Lucy Forster-Smith and Judy Watt?

If so, please plan to join them for a Reformation trip information session this coming Thursday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m.

If you are interested in the October 2–13 trip but are unable to be with us for the information session, please let Allison Santos know.

More about this trip

The Interfaith Coalition Against Racism—of which Fourth Church is a member congregation—invites you to a public forum with mayoral candidates Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle this Sunday, March 10 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. If you are interested in carpooling to the forum, which will be held at Trinity United Church of Christ (400 W. 95th Street), please contact Vicky Curtiss.

We are honored that our neighbor, Chicago Sinai Congregation, has again this year invited us to take part in their annual Interfaith Seder. The Seder will take place on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m. at Chicago Sinai (15 W. Delaware). While the registration deadline is Tuesday, March 19, space is limited and always fills quickly. So if you are interested in attending, be sure to sign up soon!

“ Discovering Faith at Fourth Church,” a new Inquirers’ Class Series, is an opportunity to explore the foundations of Christian faith in the Reformed tradition and be introduced to life at Fourth Church in an informal and interactive setting.

Each week of this three-week series allows for relationship building and focused conversation on essential aspects of our faith and community. We will discuss our individual faith and life journeys. We will dive into theological conversation about confession and grace. We will learn about Fourth Church’s mission and our unique callings within this congregation.

This course is open to visitors, those seeking church membership, and current members who want to refresh their understanding of our faith and their calling. If you are interested in taking part in this series, please register online.

Sundays, March 24–April 7

from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m.

in Room 4F

A deeply meaningful part of our Ash Wednesday observance at Fourth Church is offering “Ashes on the Way,” an opportunity to make the imposition of ashes available to those walking by the Sanctuary who might not otherwise—for various reasons—have opportunity to encounter church on Ash Wednesday.

Our pastors and lay leaders stood on Michigan Avenue on Wednesday, offering ashes and prayers, and as member David Handley reflects below, this public ministry touched many.

“A workman in a large white van, ladder on top, pulled up on Michigan Avenue, got out, and asked for the ashes. He had tears as I made the sign of the cross on his forehead. He made eye contact, said ‘Thank you!’ and then got back into his van and drove off. Another leader offering ashes told me about a Chicago police officer who pulled up, asked for the ashes, expressed his gratitude, and pulled away to protect the city.

“A middle-aged woman came up to me. As I asked her if she would like ashes on her forehead for Ash Wednesday, she was already crying. ‘My son died two weeks ago,’ she said. ‘This is a very hard day for me.’ We had a prayer together to honor her son, and she went away weeping.

“A sixty-something-year-old couple approached. One of them from Germany, the other from Spain, now living together in Austria. They were so eager for the ashes and the blessing of remembering they are ‘mortal’ yet Christ is with them to connect them to God forever.

…

“It is impossible to intuit what each person receiving ashes was thinking, but for many, I couldn’t help but feel they had not been active in their faith for a long time, and their facial expressions, often with tears in their eyes, conveyed to me a ‘connection’ with God and their faith they had not experienced in a long time—a homesickness of the soul.”

Read the complete text of David Handley’s reflection.

For this month’s Family Night, we’re delighted to welcome back one of Chicago’s best children’s magicians: the Great Scott!

The evening will begin with dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. in Borwell Dining Room, and then parents and children will head over to Anderson Hall at 6:30 p.m. for an hour of magic. The show promises to bring laughter and fun for kids and adults alike, so come see what the Great Scott has up his sleeve!

Friday, March 15

from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

in Borwell Dining Room

Read more about this magical Family Night.

Have you see the throwback photos from the day, five years ago this week , when you, the congregation, called Shannon Kershner to be our next pastor ?

Or the Ash Wednesday images marking the beginning of our Lenten journey?

Or the youngest in our community enjoying Day School celebrations, Family Night festivities, and Sunday School activities ?

You can view them all on Instagram

And if you’re looking for favorite quotes from recent sermons, devotions, and prayers, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter .

Men ’ s Breakfast meets this Saturday, March 9 at 8:00 a.m. in Room 4E for a program by Sue Gaspar from Openlands.

Books by Women will be discussing Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi this Tuesday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the Bumpus Room.

The monthly Women ’ s Horizons Bible Study meets this Wednesday, March 13 at 12:00 p.m. in Room 5H.

Men are invited to join a group from Fourth Church that will be participating in Lumunos’s annual Chicago Area Men’s Retreat next weekend, March 15–17. Register online.

The next LGBTQIA Brunch will be Sunday, March 24 at 12:15 p.m. (meet near the church reception desk to walk to a nearby restaurant). Those joining us for brunch are encouraged to invite friends to share in this time of fellowship.

Cornerstones, a group of those fifty and over, next meets on Friday, April 5 at 6:00 p.m. in Borwell Dining Room for a program on literacy in Chicago. The registration deadline for this dinner event is Wednesday, April 3.

Leaders for summer youth trips to Detroit, New Jersey, and the Presbyterian Youth Triennium; sign up online by next Friday, March 15
100 ushers to welcome and assist worshipers during Holy Week and Easter
50 tutors, one night a week at the church through May, to work one-to-one with Chicago Lights Tutoring students who do not have a tutor; those who are interested are invited to attend a one-session volunteer orientation
Individuals to assist a woman who is blind with errands (once every two weeks) and to assist with summer walks
Individuals to clean, fold, and prepare liturgical linens and garments that support our weekly Communion services and morning worship (once a month)