CONTENTS
|
"A Time to Break Silence"
|
|
An Interfaith Gathering Tuesday Evening
|
This Tuesday, April 4 marks the fiftieth anniversary of an inspirational speech Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave at the Riverside Church in New York City, a speech calling for an end to the war of the day, the Vietnam War, and addressing the importance of speaking up.
The day also marks the anniversary of Dr. King's assassination the following year on that same date: April 4.
In the 1967 speech "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence," Dr. King said, "Some of us who have already begun to break the silence of the night have found that the calling to speak is often a vocation of agony, but we must speak . . . for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us."
To mark these anniversaries and reflect on what these words mean for us today, we will be joining with interfaith partners this Tuesday evening to host a gathering in Buchanan Chapel. Interfaith leaders will read excerpts from the speech and talk about its relevance for today.
This is the sermon that gives us the famous phrase about "the fierce urgency of now" and other words of inspiration. Dr. King called for a worldwide fellowship based on the idea shared by many religions that God is love.
In our fellowship on Tuesday evening the speakers will include
- Rabbi Samuel N. Gordon (Congregation Sukkat Shalom, Wilmette)
- The Reverend Shannon Kershner (Pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church)
- Dr. Myron McCoy (Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple)
- Dr. Zaher Sahloul (American Relief Coalition for Syria)
- The Reverend Janette Wilson (Senior Advisor, Rainbow PUSH)
The event will also include music from our own Lucy Smith and Amr Fahmy, who play weekly at our Jazz at Four service, as well as Cantor David Berger from the KAM Isaiah Israel synagogue in Hyde Park. Please consider joining us for what promises to be a moving and memorable event Time: Tuesday, April 4
Place:
|
|
Remembering Those Affected by Child Abuse
|
This Sunday, please take a moment to tie a blue bow to the twine in the Commons. Those bows will then be added to the trees outside the Manse later in the week, on Tuesday, April 4.
Volunteers are also needed to tie additional blue bows to those Manse trees on Tuesday, April 4 as we mark Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month. (If you can help out Tuesday, please let Anne Ellis know.)
Our observances that Tuesday will begin with a 9:00 a.m. interfaith prayer service in the Sanctuary to remember all those affected by child abuse. A press conference will follow as will tying of blue bows outside the Manse, as we make our annual public witness, in the name of all those affected, to the need to address the issues related to child abuse--and to help prevent it.
Time:
Sunday, April 2: tying bows in the Commons
Tuesday, April 4
9:00 a.m. prayer service and press conference
Followed by bow tying outdoors
Place:
Commons: April 2 Sunday bow tying
Sanctuary: April 4 interfaith service, press conference
Outside the Manse: April 4 bow tying
|
Nanette Sawyer on the Spiritual Side of Hospitality
|
How can hospitality deepen a personal and collective spirituality in the world of church? In our greater world?
That will be the topic of our exploration over the next three weeks as Nanette Sawyer uses the book she wrote--Hospitality: The Sacred Art--to lead us in spiritual practices and introduce us to the deeper spiritual side of hospitality.
Specifically, we'll look at--
- Week 1: Hospitality to God--how we can deepen in spiritual practices that make us brave and loving
- Week 2: Hospitality to Neighbors--how we can get outside our comfort zones and be changed by hospitality
- Week 3: Hospitality to Enemies--how we can change ourselves and the world through nonretaliation and "soulforce"
Time:
Sundays, April 2, 9, and 23 (3 weeks)
11:00 a.m.
Place:
Room 5F
Back to top
|
|
Exploring the Roots of Our Worship and Architecture
|
If you were to travel back in time, you would likely find yourself in familiar territory in a church, for our order of worship and even our architecture is shaped by early Christianity.
Much of what we say and do in worship has been handed down to us from our early Christian brothers and sisters, as we'll be reminded in this exploration of the intersection of prayer, belief, and praxis in the development of early Christian liturgy.
Carol Korak, an adjunct professor of historical theology and church history at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, will lead us in discussing four different themes in early Christian worship:
- Week 1: Symbolism in the Procession of the Faithful and Church Architecture
- Week 2: The Eucharistic Liturgy
- Week 3: Prayer and Belief--God as Trinity
- Week 4: Origins of Christian Baptism
Come join us in taking a closer look at the roots of our worship.
Time:
Sundays, April 2, 9, 23, and 30 (4 weeks)
9:30 a.m.
Place:
Room 5F
Back to top
|
Chatting with Stephen Ministers
|
Coffee Hour Chats at 10:30 and 12:00
|
Do you have questions about what Stephen Ministry is? What is involved in being a Stephen Minister? Who might benefit from a relationship with a Stephen Minister?
The Fourth Church Stephen Ministers invite you to stop by Borwell Dining Room this Sunday for an informal conversation with them about this ministry of care.
Grab some coffee and head over to Borwell Dining Room during 10:30 and 12:00 Coffee Hour for this weekly
fifteen to twenty minutes of conversation with one another following the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. Come join us!
Time:
Sunday, April 2
10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Place:
Borwell Dining Room
|
The Newest Members of Our Faith Community
|
Please join us in welcoming those who were received into membership in March:
Phillip Daniels
John Enright
Sara Enright
Julia Foster
Joanne Gaines
Ken Gaines
Molly Glantz
Marina Nicollier
Audrey Onyschak
Marisa Perry Collier
Ashley Pettit
Gail Zandstra
Back to top
|
Worship This Week
|
8:00 a.m.
Communion
Matt Helms,
Associate Pastor
9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Baptisms
Shannon J. Kershner,
Pastor
4:00 p.m.
Jazz Communion
Nanette Sawyer,
Minister for Congregational Life
|
Concerts at Fourth Church
All concerts are free unless ticket information is noted.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 Chicago Ensemble
7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Tickets available through Chicago Ensemble
Friday, April 7, 2017
Diana Schmück, pianist
Bonnie Campbell, clarinetist
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Cosponsored by the Musicians Club of Women
Friday, April 14, 2017
No Noonday concert on Good Friday
Friday, April 21, 2017
Menghua Lin, pianist
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
A complete concert schedule is available online.
Back to top
|
Volunteer at Fourth Church
|
|
There are several ways to get involved in the mission and ministry of Fourth Church. See below for details!
Current Volunteer Needs
Volunteers are needed to pass out cider to waiting worshipers prior to the 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Easter Sunday services on April 16
.
Hosts and servers are needed on Easter Sunday, April 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to help with the congregational Easter Brunch.
Easter Sunday Night Supper volunteers are needed to cook (2:00 to 6:00 p.m.) and serve (3:30 to 6:00 p.m.) the Fourth Church Meals Ministry supper for our guests who are hungry and homeless. Those interested in helping out on Easter Sunday, April 16 should email
Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry.
Tutors are needed one evening a week from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the church to work with students of the Chicago Lights Tutoring program. A one-session orientation will be held Tuesday, April 4 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 4F. RSVP
online or with
Fernie Tiflis.
The Fourth Church Shower Ministry is in need of travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, and soap. Disposable razors and shaving cream also needed. Donations labeled "Shower Ministry" can be dropped off at the church reception desk.
To sign up for volunteer opportunities or to learn more about them, stop by Coffee Hour on Sunday morning or email Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry.
A complete list of volunteer needs is available
online.
|
 |
|
