All Saints’ Sunday, November 5

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

with Communion

Morning Choir singing A New England Requiem

(no sermon)

Worship bulletin

11:00 a.m. worship in person only

with Communion

Morning Choir singing A New England Requiem

(no sermon)

Worship bulletin

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

The Gathering: Communion at 2:00

Rocky Supinger preaching

Worship bulletin

A New England Requiem

This Sunday as we listen for the word of God, we will hear not a sermon but instead the voices of the Morning Choir singing A New England Requiem by Scott Perkins.

This requiem pairs texts by four New England poets — Emily Dickinson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Lydia Huntley Sigourney, and Nathaniel Hawthorne — with the traditional requiem texts. In this combination, the composer notes, “the ancient Latin and Greek texts of the Requiem Mass are focused on rest and peace for the departed; the English-language poems are intended to bring comfort to the living.”

Celebrating Communion

This Sunday we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper at all three services. Those worshiping with us online are invited to have bread and juice on hand as we share in this meal from wherever we are.

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.

On All Saints’ Sunday, we give thanks for all the saints of the church, in particular those whose baptism is new and those whose baptism is now complete.

We remember those who were baptized at Fourth Church in the past year and renew our promise to nurture them in the Christian life.

Emmett Allerton

Naomi Casacio

Nya Celestino

Caroline Dannecker

Charlotte Dohrmann

Colette Drake

Clark Flood

Simon Helms

Bradley Horn

Mason Knudsen

Moname Lucey

Vivian Martin

William Martin

Easton Maurer

Everly Maurer

Charles Meneau

Georgina Porter

Henry Proegler

Serena Reimer

Christopher Reynolds

Valentina Rimmke

Cassidy Rosso

Violet Rubin

Jack Sabine

Henry Sage

Luca Schmid

Gregory Schmidt

Walter Schmidt

Aaron Schulz

Gabby Singleton

Gabriel Toner

Taylor Traynor

Annabelle Underwood

Ollie Vostry

Shea Weddige

Campbell Wickman

George Wickman

Parker Wittington

Boulden Wood

We also remember those whose baptism is now complete, giving thanks for the faithful who have gone before us and honoring departed loved ones.

As part of that observance, the names of the following Fourth Church members, who entered the Church Triumphant in the past year, will be read during worship.

Patricia Autrey

Dean Banick

Nan Birmingham

Monica Brown

Brian Erler

Wyonne Forde

Pamela Greanias

Michael Hale

Jane Heenan

Joseph Heiney

Marsha Heizer

Douglas Holler

James Ethan Jacobs

Lawrence C. Jencks

Tracy Koogler

Jacob Lofgren

Edward Mills 

Robert W. Montgomery

Janet Mori

James Nelson

Richard Strubel

Jeanne Sullivan

Daylight Saving Time ends this Sunday, November 5.

So before going to bed Saturday night, be sure to set your clocks back an hour as we “fall back” and get an extra hour of sleep before Sunday worship.

Two Long-Range Planning town halls have been scheduled for November to provide an in-depth look at the long-range planning work.

The information presented will be different from that shared at the October sessions and will focus on the congregational survey results. 

Sunday, November 5

12:30 p.m.

in Borwell Dining Room (in person only)

Sunday, November 12

10:45 a.m.

via Zoom

The Zoom link will be posted on the church website in advance of the town hall.

If you missed the October sessions, a recording of the October 15 town hall as well as a link to the October presentation slides can be found on the church website.

For details or more information, email the task force.

Concert Honoring Morgan Simmons

This autumn’s Fourth Church Choral Society concert will present the works of Morgan Simmons, former Fourth Church Organist and Choirmaster.

We hope you will be with us this coming Friday for this special evening of honoring Morgan and celebrating his musical gifts and contributions to Fourth Church and beyond!

Friday, November 10

7:30 p.m.

in the Sanctuary and livestreamed

Organ Anniversary Concert

Each November a Friday evening organ concert marks the anniversary of our 2015 Andrew Pipe Organ dedication.

This year we are delighted to have Isabelle Demers, a native of Québec and a doctoral graduate of the Juilliard School, in concert on November 17. Associate Professor of Organ at McGill University, Dr. Demers, who is in high demand to present programs to her organist colleagues, has performed extensively worldwide. We look forward to hearing her at Fourth Church.

Friday, November 17

7:30 p.m.

in the Sanctuary and livestreamed

Always Being Reformed

Next Sunday, November 12, Jeff Doane will lead us in comparing selections from Reformation-era Confessions with portions of A Brief Statement of Faith.

A two-week Adult Education class, “Reformed and Always Being Reformed” will be held on Sunday, November 12 and 19 at 11:00 a.m. in Borwell Dining Room (in person only). Register here

Cognitive Wellness

“What Is Cognitive Wellness and Why Does It Matter?” will be the topic of a Center for Life and Learning Zoom program this Tuesday, November 7 at 9:30 a.m. Kat Kline, therapist and director of Outreach for the Cognitive Wellness Center, will be our presenter.

For Zoom details, register here.

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.  

The Spiritual Formation Council invites you to take part in their fall workshop: “Pilgrimage.”

Come join them on a spiritual journey and discover God’s voice in your life.

Learn how a pilgrimage can deepen your faith and prepare the way to step out of the busyness of life.

Find the sacred within while building community.

Saturday, November 18

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

Buchanan Chapel

and via Zoom (www.bit.ly/pilgrimage1123) 

What a joy it was this past Sunday to welcome the Reverend Tom Are Jr. as our Interim Pastor and hear him preach!

The festive day included a special reception during Coffee Hour — with cake, of course! — and introductions of Tom and his wife, Carol.

Along with opportunity to greet worshipers, including Pastor Emeritus John Buchanan.

If you missed Tom’s sermon on Sunday, we encourage you to watch or read it online.

Adding to the festivities of Sunday was our annual Reformation Sunday bagpipe recessional.

Keeping things lively and seasonal, John Sherer’s Halloween-themed Friday Noonday Concert had a costumed greeter inviting passersby to come in and enjoy the music.

Lots of costumed friends could be found at Fourth Church on Tuesday, when the Day School students went trick-or-treating on campus.

Later they found their way to the Michigan Avenue courtyard —

— which had been transformed into a pumpkin patch.

Women at Fourth also got into the Halloween spirit with their spooktacular trivia night and time of fellowship.

To see more photos of life at Fourth Church, visit our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Volunteering with Fourth Church offers opportunity to both live out your faith and make connections with others. Some of the ways to do so are listed below.

To learn about additional opportunities, please contact Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry. He would be delighted to help you find ways to match your interests and gifts with our volunteer needs!

Attorneys

Our Legal Affairs Committee is developing a directory of attorney volunteers who could consult with Fourth Church from time to time on legal matters.

If you would consider offering your time and legal talents to Fourth Church and would be willing to be included in the directory, please email Allison MacDonna with your interest, noting any particular legal subject matter expertise you may have.

Tutors

There is a waitlist of Chicago Lights Tutoring students in need of tutors on weekday evenings (ninety minutes a week) — in person (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and online (Mondays).

For details or to sign up, please visit the Chicago Lights website: www.chicagolights.org.

Medical Professionals and Students

Meals Ministry is in need of doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and medical students to assist with our medical services program for guests attending Sunday Night Supper.

To learn more or sign up, visit our VOMO volunteer platform or contact Mike Usiak.

Last Sunday we brought forward our 2024 pledges to the mission and ministry of Fourth Church and Chicago Lights. In doing so, we celebrated all we are able to do together through our pledged commitment to Fourth Church and Chicago Lights — a commitment that is our generous response to God’s blessings in our lives.

If you have not already done so, you can still make your 2024 stewardship pledge online!

Sing in the season with us on Saturday, November 18!

At 5:00 p.m. that day 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

A Season of Giving Thanks

In this month of harvest and thanksgiving, we invite you to join Lucy Forster-Smith for our November “Rhythm and Word” series, as she leads us in exploring the theme of thanksgiving, this week through the poetry of a psalm.

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 that 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.

(You can receive these videos by email by subscribing at www.bit.ly/rhythmandwordemail)

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

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

Holy Name Cathedral will host the service on Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m., and musicians from Fourth Church will provide musical leadership.

Tuesday, November 21

7:00 p.m.

at Holy Name Cathedral (730 N. Wabash)

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.