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CONTENTS
New Year's Eve Taizé Service
Make a Difference with Year-End Giving
dayNew Year's Eve Taizé Service 
Reflecting on 2017, Looking to 2018
Opportunity to reflect on the year past and look ahead to the year to come will take place during the New Year's Eve Taizé service this Sunday, December 31 at 7:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel.
 
Held in a candlelit setting, this ecumenical service cohosted by Holy Name Cathedral offers a time of contemplative prayer, meditative singing, and silent reflection at the close of the year.  
 
Time:
     Sunday, December 31
     7:30 p.m.
 
Place:
     Buchanan Chapel

Getting 2018 off to a Good Start!
Our online giving page makes it easy to fulfill 2017 Annual Appeal pledges. 
 
We depend on the fulfillment of pledges in order to end the year with a balanced budget.  
 
That pledge fulfillment and any additional gifts made before year end also ensure that we head into 2018 in a strong position financially, which in turn gives our staff and lay leaders confidence in planning 2018 budgets for the life-changing mission, ministry, and outreach programs on which so many depend and to which so many are committed.   
 
Pledge fulfillment and additional gifts can also be made through the Sunday offering or by mailing a check to the attention of Resource Development at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611.2014.
 
You can also make Light Up a Life gifts online here, to thank those who hosted Christmas or were a special part of your life in 2017.
 
Please note that for those wanting to make gifts or year-end contributions by credit card, charges must be made to the card by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 31 in order for those gifts to be listed on 2017 giving statements.
 
For those wanting to make a year-end gift or pledge fulfillment by check and have the gift listed on 2017 giving statements, please be sure the envelope is postmarked before December 31.

Thank you for all you make possible through Fourth Church and Chicago Lights!
   
eclipseCalling All Chili Chefs!
Sign up by January 1
We are in need of some more chili cooks to provide chili for our January 7 Chili Cook-off. Share your favorite chili with us and enter the running for the competition to win this year's Golden Ladle for Best Fourth Church Chili.

Sign-ups are requested by January 1 and can be done online.
 
All are invited to enjoy this chili lunch after worship on Sunday, January 7, sampling as many chili recipes as you like (there will be a to-go option for those who can't stay) for $15 per person. Sides, condiments, and drinks will be provided, and all proceeds will support the 2018 Fourth Church Youth mission trips. 
 
Those who are interested in serving as a leader on one of those youth trips are encouraged to learn more about the trips and apply online. 
clocksLaunching a New Prison Ministry
Two Information Sessions Planned
Fourth Church will be launching a new prison ministry in 2018.

Come learn more at one of two identical information sessions: Sunday, January 7 at 12:20 p.m. and (repeated) Sunday, January 14 at 12:20 p.m., both in Room 4E.
sermonObserving Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend
A Variety of Opportunities
The Fourth Church Racial Equity Council invites you to take part in one or more of the following opportunities offered in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. weekend:

A labyrinth walk on Saturday, January 13, between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., in Buchanan Chapel as a time to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and also reflect on racial equity and nonviolence.

A presentation by Dr. Daniel Davis, professor of African American studies and history at Kennedy-King College, on "Honoring the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.: What We Can Do" on Sunday, January 14 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 5G.

A performance of Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah on Sunday, January 14 at 3:00 p.m. at Auditorium Theatre. (Use code RECFPC for our group discount on reservations at www.bit.ly/2kfFyfA.)

A "Faith in Action" assembly with the Community Renewal Society on Monday, January 15 at Old St. Patrick's Church. (Register online.)
 
gift"January Series" Begins Wednesday
"Fifteen Days of Free Liberal Arts Education" 
Again this year Fourth Church will be a host site for the live video feed of Calvin College's January Series.

This opportunity to experience what has been described as "fifteen days of free liberal arts education" takes place January 3-23 at 11:30 a.m. each weekday (except Monday, January 15) in the Page Smith Room.
 
A complete schedule of speakers and their topics is available online .

We hope you'll join us for one--or more--of these enriching conversations! 
 
Time:
     Weekdays, January 3-23
     11:30 a.m.
 
Place:
     Page Smith Room

dinnerWelcome, New Members!
The Newest Members of Our Faith Community 
Please join us in welcoming those who were received into Fourth Church membership this month.
 
Marcia Cubitt
Daniel Enger
Lindsey Meyers Enger
Helen Hua Huang
Kathleen Virginia Page
Jody Thaxton
Steve Thaxton
    
worship Worship This Week
First Sunday after Christmas 
Sunday, December 31
 
8:00 a.m.
Communion
Matt Helms,
Associate Pastor  
 
9:30 and 11:00 a.m. 
Matt Helms,   
Associate Pastor  
 
No Jazz at Four this Sunday; the afternoon service resumes January 7.  
 
7:30 p.m. | New Year's Eve Taizé
in Buchanan Chapel 
 
  
Worship bulletin
for this coming Sunday is available online at www.fourthchurch.org/worship/this-week.html 
 
"News and Opportunities"
is the weekly printed newsletter distributed with the Sunday bulletin and is available online Friday afternoon at www.fourthchurch.org/news/2017/123117no.pdf 
 
Sermons
from previous weeks are posted online at www.fourthchurch.org/sermons  
 
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Concerts and Musical Events at Fourth Church
All concerts are free unless ticket information is noted.
 
Friday, January 5
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Madeline Wood, flute
Kyle Dzapo, flute
Megan Clewell, piano
 
Friday, January 12
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Robert Chen, violin

Friday, January 19
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
David Pedraza, viola  
 
Friday, January 26
12:10 p.m. in the Sanctuary
John W. W. Sherer, organ

Tuesday, January 30
7:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Chicago Ensemble
   Music by Mozart, Martinu, Dvořâk
   Tickets available at www.thechicagoensemble.org or the door
 
A complete Fourth Church concert schedule is available online. 
 
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volunteer Volunteer and Donation Needs
There are several ways to get involved in the mission and ministry of Fourth Church. See below for just some of the details!

Current Volunteer Needs
 
Hosts on January weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the Calvin College January Series shown in the Page Smith Room
 
Fifty new tutors to work with students of Chicago Lights Tutoring one evening a week at the church
 
Greeters for the Jazz at Four 4:00 p.m. Sunday service 
 
Leaders for 2018 youth mission trips; details and a sign-up form are online at www.bit.ly/youthtrips2018 
 

Current Donation Needs
Individually packaged snack items (5,000 per month) for Fourth Church Meals Ministry bag lunches and Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center emergency snack packs
 
Men's clothing (all sizes) for guests of the Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center
 
Large paper grocery bags for use in the Social Service Center Food Pantry (four grocery bags are needed for every guest who visits the Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center Food Pantry) 


Unless otherwise noted, to sign up for volunteer opportunities or to learn more about them--as well as additional volunteer opportunities--stop by Coffee Hour on Sunday morning or email Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry.
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Fourth Presbyterian Church
126 E. Chestnut
Chicago, IL 60611.2014
312.787.4570
www.fourthchurch.org
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