Sunday, November 19

9:30 a.m. worship in person and online

Tom Are Jr. preaching

Worship bulletin

11:00 a.m. worship in person only

Tom Are Jr. preaching

Worship bulletin

2:00 p.m. worship in person and online

The Gathering: Communion at 2:00

Lucy Forster-Smith preaching

Worship bulletin

Limited Street Closures on Sunday

This Sunday morning, a helicopter will be lifting mechanical equipment onto the rooftop of one of our neighboring buildings, 57 E. Delaware.

The actual lift will likely take place between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m., and for the sake of safety and equipment staging, the following streets will be closed prior to that time and for a period afterwards:

Delaware, from State to Ernst Ct. (the alley behind the church)

Wabash, from Chestnut to Delaware 

Rush, from Chestnut to Walton

Walton Street will remain open, as will Michigan Avenue. Thus those planning to enter the 900 parking garage prior to the 9:30 service will want to enter from Walton rather than from Delaware or Rush.

Sing in the season with us this evening!

At 5:00 p.m. this Saturday we will gather on the Sanctuary steps to carol prior to the 5:30 p.m. Tree-Lighting Parade, part of the annual Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.

Plan to come spread holiday cheer to those gathered for the Michigan Avenue festivities!

Saturday, November 18

5:00 p.m.

on the Sanctuary steps

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

We will again this year join with our neighbors for an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.

Holy Name Cathedral will host the service this coming Tuesday, November 21 at 6:30 p.m., and musicians from Fourth Church will provide musical leadership.

Tuesday, November 21

6:30 p.m. (note the time change)

at Holy Name Cathedral (State and Superior)

Thanksgiving Day “Rhythm and Word”

On Thanksgiving Day we will not be gathering in person for worship. Instead we will be sharing a Thanksgiving Day “Rhythm and Word” video on our YouTube channel on Thursday morning, November 23.

When you or those with whom you may be gathering are looking for ten minutes of spiritual reflection during which to pause to give thanks that day, we invite you to view the music-and-word worship experience released that morning.

To receive the video that day by email, subscribe at www.bit.ly/rhythmandwordemail

Christmas Wishes for Tutoring Students

Women at Fourth is again coordinating our annual Christmas Wishes project to provide gifts for Chicago Lights Tutoring students.

This year we are collecting gift cards to Target, Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks, and McDonald’s, along with books. If dropping off gift cards at the church, please do so by Wednesday, December 6, marking them to the attention of Simon Crow and designating the amount on the card(s). (We are giving $25 worth of gift cards to each student.)

For a list of books, please contact Simon.

Monetary contributions for book purchases can also be made to Fourth Church, noting “Christmas Wishes” in the designation of an online gift or on the memo line of a check made payable to Fourth Presbyterian Church.

Meals Ministry Gift Bags

Our annual Meals Ministry Holiday Gift Bag Drive is also underway!

This year our goal is to prepare bags for 475 Sunday Night and Monday Night Supper guests, which is an increase of 175 over last year and includes the addition of 75 gift bags for children.

A list of items needed is available online. Items can be shipped to or dropped off at the church by Monday, December 4.

We are also in need of 475 McDonald’s gift cards in the amount of $10 each. (Please keep the cards to $10 so each guest receives the same amount.)

Cards can be dropped off at the church reception desk or mailed to the church (126 E. Chestnut, Chicago, IL 60611.2014).

Please mark all deliveries, mail, or drop-offs “Attention: Meals Ministry” as we receive a lot of items in this season and want to ensure these particular ones quickly find their way to the gift bags. 

Remember loved ones and recognize those who are special in your life by making contributions in their name toward the purchase of Christmas flowers to decorate Fourth Church during the Advent and Christmas seasons. A list of those remembered will be printed in the Christmas bulletin.

While there is no set amount, a suggested donation of $50 per dedication allows us to purchase flowers, wreaths, and garlands to adorn the Sanctuary and the Gratz Center.

Contributions can be made online and must be received by Sunday, December 10 in order for names to be included in the bulletin.

For more information, contact Gloria Vicente.

A Zoom Gathering with Tom Are

If you are among those who regularly connect with us online and thus have not yet had opportunity to meet our new Interim Pastor, the Reverend Tom Are Jr., we have a Zoom event planned for you!

Please plan to join us and Tom via Zoom (www.bit.ly/meetandgreet1128) on Tuesday, November 28 at 6:00 p.m. (Central) for an informal hour with Tom, a time when he will introduce himself to us and we will introduce ourselves to him.

Tuesday, November 28

6:00 p.m. (Central)

via Zoom

Women at Fourth November Gathering

Women at Fourth will be coming together in person this Sunday, November 19 at 11:00 a.m. for a program on “Nurturing Responsibility in Children: Strategies and Considerations” led by Dr. Margaret (Peg) Griffiths.

Sunday, November 19

11:00 a.m.

Room 5G

Register online

Cornerstones: Christmas Carol Sing-Along

Cornerstones, a group of couples and singles over fifty that gather for dinner and a program, will enjoy some Christmas cheer at their December event. John Sherer will provide the music and piano accompaniment as we all lend our voices for an evening of merry music!

Friday, December 1

5:30 p.m.

Borwell Dining Room

Advance registration required for planning purposes.

A Holiday Deep Listening Dinner

Come get to know others at Fourth Church by sharing dinner and conversation on Saturday evening, December 2 when we gather in Anderson hall for a Holiday Deep Listening Dinner.

Saturday, December 2

5:00 p.m.

Anderson Hall

Advance registration for the dinner is required for planning purposes.

Curious to learn more about Deep Listening Dinners? Contact Simon Crow.

At Fourth Church, pledges to our annual Stewardship campaign account for almost one third of our annual budget. Thus member pledging — knowing how much to expect in the coming year — enables leadership and staff to imagine what is possible for the year ahead and plan for what we can accomplish together as a church.

Pledging also demonstrates our commitment that God is at work through us, as Tom Are reminded us on his first Sunday at Fourth Church. It is an expression of our commitment to the ministry of Fourth Church that we might share the transforming love of God with all people.

For all those households who have already pledged to Fourth Church and Chicago Lights, for 2024, thank you!

Every gift matters in making it possible for us to do together the work that God has called us to do.

If you have not yet made your pledge for next year, there is still time to submit your pledge for 2024 and help us reach our goals!

Spiritual Gifts

The Volunteer Ministry Council and the Spiritual Formation Council invite you to an in-person workshop on “You and Your Spiritual Gifts” on Saturday morning, December 2 at 10:00 a.m.

For details about this opportunity to discover your unique spiritual gifts, to learn about spiritual gifts, and to help you connect with the programs and ministries in the church specifically related to your God-given gifts, contact Robert Crouch. 

Saturday, December 2

10:00 a.m.

Room 5G

Register here

“How (Not) to Build a School in Haiti:

Conversation with Filmmakers”

On December 3, Kat Evans will lead us in a dialogue with filmmakers Dinesh Sabu and Jack Newell on their documentary How (Not) to Build a School in Haiti. We will discuss the film, ask questions of the filmmakers, and ponder what lessons Fourth Church and other mission-oriented communities can glean from the story of the documentary.

Attendees will be invited to view the film online (for free) before the class.

Sunday, December 3

11:00 a.m.

Borwell Dining Room and via Zoom

Register here for the link to the film as well as the Zoom link

Plus mark your calendars for two more Sunday morning classes planned for later in December!

“Conserving Historic Murals by Frederic Clay Bartlett: A Primer in Art Conservation” on Sunday, December 10

“Art and Faith of the Crèche: The Collection of James and Emilia Govan” on Sunday, December 17

It was an honor last Friday to have opportunity to celebrate Morgan Simmons — our Organist and Choirmaster for twenty-seven years prior to his 1996 retirement — in a special Fourth Church Choral Society concert presenting his works.

On Sunday we marked the one-year anniversary of our relationship with Paul, Flora, Leila, and Nolan, a refugee family originally from the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

Leila and Nolan even eagerly volunteered to help with Coffee Hour.

The family continues to welcome our prayers, encouragement, and support as they navigate new beginnings in the US. If you are interested in becoming a mentor to a new refugee family, please email our refugee team.

In addition to their monthly board meetings this week, our officers made time to continue our welcoming Tom and Carol Are to Fourth Church.

While children are always welcome in worship, on the second Sunday of each month we have the special treat of Sunday School youth taking a role in worship leadership as well, including serving as beadle during the procession and singing the Introit.

Thank you to the Facilities staff, who this week have been busy outside decorating for the season — including setting our electric sheep out to graze so they can play their part in tonight’s Tree-Lighting Parade!

Prayer

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.

Conversation and Presence

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.

To join a Grief Group facilitated by our Replogle Center, email Sharon Crawford-Tucker.

Children in Worship

Children are always welcome in worship! If you need to step out to comfort your child, the Hospitality Suite, on the second floor of the Gratz Center, is a quiet space for families where worship is livestreamed.

During the morning services nursery care is available on the fourth floor of the Gratz Center for infants through two-year-olds.

Livestreamed Services

Livestreamed worship services (9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) 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.

These livestreams are available to view anytime after the service begins if you would prefer to connect online at a later time. For tips on how to watch — from the beginning — a service already in progress, see www.fourthchurch.org/watch-from-the-beginning

Audio-only by phone for the 9:30 service is available (toll free) by calling 888.916.9166 just prior to 9:30.