Reformation Sunday, October 29

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

Tom Are Jr. preaching

Worship bulletin

Observing Reformation Sunday

Reformation Sunday is a day when we recall the rich heritage of the Protestant tradition.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) grew out of the Reformation of the sixteenth century under leaders such as John Calvin and John Knox. The last Sunday in October has been chosen as Reformation Sunday because it was on October 31, 1517, that Martin Luther posted his ninety-five theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, the watershed event sparking the Reformation.

Thus on this Sunday we remember and give thanks for Reformation leaders and all others who have kept the faith.

As part of our observance, we will also have a bagpipe recessional, reminding us of the Scottish roots of the Presbyterian church.

Looking Ahead

Next Sunday, November 5 is All Saints’ Sunday, a day when we lift up those whose baptism is new and those whose baptism is now complete.

As part of our remembrance of the faithful who have gone before us and our honoring of departed loved ones, the names of all Fourth Church members who have entered the Church Triumphant in the past year will be read during worship.

During the morning services that day we will celebrate Communion, and in place of the sermon the Morning Choir will offer A New England Requiem by Scott Perkins, which will be sung throughout the service.

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.

This Sunday is Commitment Sunday!

During worship we will lift up our pledges to the 2024 stewardship campaign for Fourth Church and Chicago Lights.

Following the morning sermon we will bring forward our pledges and dedicate them to the work of God’s kingdom, as we each answer the invitation to join in God’s re-creating and reconciling work in this world through our financial support.

If you have not already made your pledge for 2024 indicating your support for and investment in the work of Fourth Church and Chicago Lights, we encourage you to take a moment to do so by filling out the form online at www.bit.ly/fpcpledging or, on Sunday, by using the pledge cards found in the pew racks.

If you have already submitted your pledge, in the pew racks there will be blue “I pledged” cards to bring forward.

We hope you will be with us to celebrate all we are able to do together through our generous response to God’s blessings in our lives.

A highlight of this Sunday will be welcoming the Reverend Tom Are Jr. as our Interim Pastor!

Tom will be preaching at all three services this Sunday, and we will enjoy a special Coffee Hour reception after each.

We are grateful to Tom for being with us in this season of shared ministry and look forward to welcoming him and Carol to Fourth Church!

This Thursday evening, November 2, we will hold our 2024 Michigan Avenue Forum, an annual offering that seeks to promote civic formation with public discussions of current issues shaping the community’s ethical landscape.

This year’s program, “Understanding Antisemitism,” will feature a panel discussion exploring the history of antisemitism, including the Christian church’s role in its promotion and perpetuation; the recent rise in violent episodes and hate crimes; and concrete strategies for non-Jewish houses of worship to dismantle antisemitism and pursue reconciliation and healing.

Making up the panel are

• Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Scholar in Residence at National Council of Jewish Women 
• Becca Lubow, community organizer at Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
• The Reverend Nanette Sawyer, Associate Pastor at Fourth Church

In a conversation moderated by Hope Daniels of the Michigan Avenue Forum Committee, the panel will discuss how antisemitism works, how it is connected to white supremacy, and the church’s role in upholding it. 

We hope you will join us for this important conversation!

Thursday, November 2

6:30 p.m.

in the Sanctuary and livestreamed

“Stop the Shooting”

This Sunday, the “Stop the Shooting” class — which offers an in-depth look at organizations and approaches for gun violence reduction and advocacy — will feature Arne Duncan talking about the work of Chicago CRED (“Create Real Economic Destiny”).

A former US Secretary of Education and a former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Mr. Duncan founded Chicago CRED in 2016. It operates on the belief that the surest way to stop gun violence is by engaging directly with those most at risk of shooting — or being shot — and giving them a reason to put down their guns.

The following Sunday Pastor Brenda Mitchell will spotlight advocacy and activism.

Sundays, October 29 and November 5

11:00 a.m.

in Borwell Dining Room and via Zoom

Register here for Zoom details 

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 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

Thank you to all who took part in one of the October Long-Range Planning town halls.

If you missed the 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.

Two additional 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 closer to the event date.

For details or more information, email the task force.

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) 

Facilities staff took advantage of this week’s good weather to begin hanging lights around the cloister arches in preparation for the Magnificent Mile Lighting Festival and Tree-Lighting Parade on Saturday, November 18.

The annual Pumpkin Family Night is always a big hit, complete with seasonal games — including “Guess the Number of Candy Corn Pieces in the Jar” —

— and decorating pumpkins.

While children were having pumpkin fun downstairs, upstairs junior high youth, getting ready for their overnight at the church, enjoyed dinner and get-to-know-you activities with Elders who had just finished a Session meeting.

We have three urgent volunteer needs. Might you be able to help?

Communion Servers

Communion Servers are needed for our Sunday, November 5 celebration of the Lord’s Supper during morning worship.

If you are interested in serving, please email Katie Patterson.

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.

We hold in prayer our siblings in Israel and Palestine and all impacted by the violence in the region.

For those seeking a way to put those prayers into action, gifts to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, providing humanitarian assistance in the region through partners on the ground, can be given at www.bit.ly/pdagifts.

Marriage

We give thanks to God for the gift of life together.

Merritt Kathryn McClayton and Sean Gerard Rahilly

Married October 21, 2023

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.