What’s coming up on the church
calendar? Quite a variety of things, including—
- TwentiesThirties Christmas Party on Thursday evening, December 19
- Sunday School at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. this Sunday, December 22, but not on Sundays, December 29 or January 5
- The continuation this Sunday of “The Foundations of Faith” Bible study led by the pastors on Sunday mornings, with video of past sessions available online
- Christmas Pageant rehearsal this Sunday, December 22
- “Widening Our Welcome” LGBTQIA Brunch on Sunday, December 22
Not sure of the date for an event? Use the
calendar “Search” function (the magnifying-glass icon to the left of "Today")!
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Fourth Sunday of Advent: December 22
8:00 a.m. Communion
Rocky Supinger preaching
9:30 a.m.
Christmas Cantata:
A Winter’s Night
by Cecilia McDowall
11:00 a.m.
Christmas Cantata:
A Winter’s Night
by Cecilia McDowall
4:00 p.m. Jazz Communion
Joe Morrow preaching
Advent Reflection Stations
“Where is Christ for you?” is the prompt you will find at the Advent reflection stations this weekend.
Take a moment to stop by one of the tables, topped with a tree and ribbons, in the Narthex, Commons, and Allison Library and write on a ribbon your response to the question. These ribbons will be used to line the manger at the Children’s Pageant on Christmas Eve.
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Families are invited to join us this Friday night as we celebrate the start of Christmas break with cookies, cocoa, and carols!
Our December “Cookies, Cocoa, and Caroling” Family Night will include a variety of crafts, including several ornaments that the children will be able to make for friends and family, as well as a shared dinner starting around 6:00 p.m.
After dinner, we’ll decorate Christmas cookies for dessert before heading over to Anderson Hall for a few games and Christmas carols.
Friday, December 20
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Borwell Dining Room
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John Sherer, organ
Friday, December 20 at 12:10 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
Christmas with Tower Brass
Saturday, December 21 at 5:00 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
Freewill offering received at the door
The Second Fire, vocal quartet
Friday, December 27 at 12:10 pm
in the Sanctuary
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We hope you will join us in celebrating the birth of Emmanuel, God-with-us, this Christmas! On Tuesday, December 24, we will gather for
four candlelight Christmas Eve services:
4:00 p.m. Children’s Pageant
6:00 p.m. Family Service
8:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols
10:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols
The 8:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols service will be
live streamed at
ww.bit.ly/FPCworship and on the Fourth Church website, where the video will also be available for viewing afterwards. (Beginning Sunday, December 29, we will also be
weekly live streaming the 11:00 a.m. worship service.)
On Christmas Eve,
nursery care will be available from 3:00 to 7:15 p.m.
Discounted parking on Christmas Eve is available only at the 900 N. Michigan garage and only for those entering the garage at 3:00 p.m. or later. Those who enter the garage after 3:00 p.m. will be able to park for $6 with a validation ticket that can be picked up for free that day at the church.
For those worshiping at 6:00, 8:00, or 10:00 p.m., all entry to the Sanctuary will be from Michigan Avenue entrances. Worshipers arriving before the Sanctuary has been emptied following the previous service will be invited to join the queue in the Loggia (accessible through the glass doors on Michigan Avenue). After that queue has entered the emptied Sanctuary, access will be allowed via the Michigan Avenue Sanctuary doors.
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Our festive celebration continues on Wednesday, December 25 when we come together for Christmas morning worship:
11:00 a.m. Christmas Day Worship
Joe Morrow and Rocky Supinger preaching
On Christmas Day,
nursery care will not be available. Children are always welcome to worship with their families!
Discounted parking on Christmas Day is available only at the 900 N. Michigan garage for $8 with a validation ticket that can be picked up for free that day at the church.
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You are invited to Christmas dinner!
Come join old friends or make new ones, all while enjoying a traditional Christmas dinner after worship on Christmas Day.
Seating is limited, so if you haven't already, be sure to reserve your spot now
online or, after Friday, at the reception desk.
Wednesday, December 25
12:15 p.m.
in Anderson Hall
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This season we invite you to join us in sharing Christmas joy with those in need.
Gifts to the “Light Up a Life” offering support congregational programs, mission, and community outreach—including Chicago Lights programs—as well as denominational efforts.
In this season when needs for many are great, “Light Up a Life” gifts make it possible for us to provide meals for those who are hungry, a shower and clean clothing for those living on the street, a warm place to escape the winter cold, a listening ear for those searching for a supportive community, and so much more.
“Light Up a Life” gifts can be made
online or through Venmo (@Fourth-Church). Gifts can also be made using the special envelopes available in the pew racks.
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At the turning of the year—on Tuesday evening, December 31—we will come together with neighbors for our annual New Year’s Eve service in the style of Taizé.
This quiet 7:30 p.m. service in Buchanan Chapel offers moving music, space for prayer, and meditative pause for reflecting on the year past and looking ahead to the year to come.
For those who would like an additional meditation opportunity beforehand, a labyrinth will be available in Anderson Hall between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. For those who have not walked a labyrinth previously, labyrinth hosts will be on hand to offer guidance.
New Year’s Eve
Tuesday, December 31
Labyrinth Walk
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
in Anderson Hall
Taizé Service
7:30 p.m.
in Buchanan Chapel
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Have you seen the images people have posted as part of our Advent Photo-a-Day challenge? Search social media for
#adventfpc2019 to check them out.
And if you haven’t joined in already, it’s not too late to participate in this opportunity for reflection on the season and engagement with the world around us.
The words for the coming week are
Thurs., Dec. 19:
#Mercy
Fri., Dec. 20:
#Justice
Sat., Dec. 21:
#Awake
Sun., Dec. 22:
#Love
Mon., Dec. 23:
#Emmanuel
Tues., Dec. 24:
#Star
Wed., Dec. 25:
#Rejoice
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In order to conclude 2019 with a balanced budget, we are counting on gifts pledged for 2019 to be fulfilled by year end and welcome additional generosity where it is possible!
(We also know that circumstances change and it is not always possible to fulfill a pledge; if you anticipate being unable to fulfill yours, we simply ask that you please let
Andrea Miller know so we might plan accordingly.)
As we look toward year end, for gifts to be reflected on your 2019 giving statement, those gifts must be
- placed in the offering plate during worship this month, or
- received online by midnight on December 31, or
- have been postmarked in 2019 (mail to Resource Development, Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut, Chicago, IL 60611.2014)
For information about making gifts through stock transfers or required distributions from one’s IRA or prepaying one’s 2020 Annual Appeal pledge, please contact
Katy Frey Bever.
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We are in need of individuals to—
- Help with the Book Nook during Coffee Hour following 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services
- Create and manage spreadsheets for a church program one day a week; schedule is flexible
To learn more about these or other volunteer opportunities with Fourth Church and Chicago Lights or to sign up, please contact
Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry.
If you have signed up as a volunteer in the past, you will have received an email invitation to
register with VOMO, our new volunteer management software.
We are excited about this platform that will allow you to easily sign up and manage your volunteer engagements here at the church. If you have received an invitation as someone who has previously volunteered but have not yet registered with our VOMO account, please do so at your earliest convenience.
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Birth
We give thanks to God for the gift of new life.
Simon Parker Helms
Child of Matt and Alison Helms
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Fourth Presbyterian Church | 312.787.4570 | www.fourthchurch.org
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