April 18, 2019
Heading for calendar section
What’s coming up on the church calendar? Among other things—

  • Knitting and Crocheting on Tuesday, April 23—a time for fellowship and dropping off completed items, which are then donated to children and families in shelters, hospitals, and nursing homes
  • The Women at Fourth Jewelry Swap along with Fourth Church-themed bingo on Thursday, April 25—an occasion to bring gently used accessories and “swap” them for $2 each, with proceeds going to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
  • The first spring Choral Society rehearsal on Thursday, April 25—an opportunity for all interested singers to join in learning John Rutter’s Gloria for a May 17 concert with Tower Brass

The calendar, which is also accessible from the home page of our website, makes it easy to add these and other events to your calendar as well!

Our Holy Week journey continues this Maundy Thursday with worship services at 12:10 and 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Both services will include Communion.

During noonday worship, those who are interested will have opportunity to come forward to have their feet or hands washed. This is a gesture of humility and courage as we receive the hospitality and service of another. It is also a way to enter into Jesus’ commandment that we love one another as he has loved us.

The evening service will follow the ancient Office of Tenebrae (from the Latin for “shadows”). This service—one of the most meaningful of the year for many—portrays the progression from light to darkness in the passion of Jesus, beginning with his abandonment on Thursday and concluding with his crucifixion. The service ends with the Sanctuary in complete darkness.

Maundy Thursday, April 18
12:10 p.m. Communion Service
With opportunity for hand- or foot-washing
Victoria G. Curtiss preaching

7:30 p.m. Tenebrae Communion Service
With the extinguishing of candles until the service ends in complete darkness
On Good Friday, this most solemn day of the church year, we gather for two worship opportunities: a noonday service at 12:10 p.m., with Lucy Forster-Smith preaching, and an evening choral service at 7:30 p.m., both in the Sanctuary.

This year the choral service will feature Bob Chilcott’s stirring St. John Passion and will conclude with the tolling of the bells thirty-three times, once for each year of Jesus’ life on earth, followed by our departure in silence.

Earlier in the day we also join fellow members of the Near North Ministry Alliance for the annual Good Friday walk in the Cabrini-Green neighborhood. This 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. pilgrimage begins at Division and Orleans.

Good Friday, April 19
12:10 p.m. Noonday Service
Lucy Forster-Smith preaching

3:00 p.m. Good Friday Walk
Meet at Division and Orleans

7:30 p.m. Choral Service
Featuring Bob Chilcott’s St. John Passion
As sung by the Morning Choir
While it is easy for children to get excited about the celebrations of Palm Sunday and Easter, Good Friday can be challenging to understand. Thus our annual Good Friday Children’s Program seeks to engage with children in an age-appropriate manner about what Good Friday means and why it is so important in the context of the wider Easter message.

We will begin with a short Children’s Chapel at the front of Buchanan Chapel, after which families are welcome to explore at their own pace a variety of stations set up in the space.

We will have a mixture of new crafts and old classics (including hot cross buns!) to introduce the theme and concepts of Good Friday, as together we explore the meaning of this solemn day.

Good Friday, April 19
5:30–6:30 p.m.
in Buchanan Chapel
An ancient tradition of the church, this Saturday evening’s Easter vigil invites us into the story of salvation as we mark the conclusion of Lent and the dawning of Easter.

This experiential celebration of the new life we are given in Christ fully engages our hearts, minds, and bodies. We begin by kindling a fire in the Michigan Avenue courtyard and process by candlelight into the darkened Sanctuary.

As Easter draws near and the light of the Sanctuary increases, we hear readings from scripture that cover the entire story of salvation, from creation through redemption, and join together in sacred song.

The evening culminates in a reaffirmation of our baptismal vows and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

Holy Saturday, April 20
8:00 p.m.
beginning in the Michigan Avenue courtyard
We hope you will join us this Sunday, as we gather in festive Easter celebration of the resurrection of the Lord!

Easter Sunrise Service
6:30 a.m. at Oak Street Beach
Judith L. Watt preaching

We’ll celebrate the dawning of a new day and of new life when we gather for the annual Easter Sunrise Service at Oak Street Beach.

Members of Tower Brass will be on hand to accompany our singing, and we’ll celebrate Communion as we worship together at sunrise on the lakeshore.


Easter Morning Worship
8:00, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Shannon J. Kershner preaching

As on every Sunday, children are invited to worship with their parents at any of the services. Nursery care for children under the age of five will also be available on the first floor of the Gratz Center between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Please keep in mind that Sanctuary seating for all morning services fills quickly and early, and there may be possible delays in entering and exiting the parking garages as a result of increased traffic volume.

Also, please note that the last worship service of the morning begins at 11:30 a.m. on Easter in order to accommodate the number of worshipers throughout the morning.


Children’s Easter Program
9:30 a.m. on Gratz Floor 4

We invite those children who are looking for an alternative Easter experience to join us at 9:30 a.m. Sunday for a fun Easter program in the Gratz Center. Our time together will include crafts, story time with biblical characters, and an egg hunt!

Because lines for 9:30 a.m. worship form early, parents are welcome to drop children off for the children’s program as early as 8:30 a.m., go outside to join the line for the 9:30 service, and then pick up their children when the 9:30 service concludes.


Live Stream of the 11:30 a.m. Easter Service
Also accessible at www.fourthchurch.org

Are you unable to join us for worship this Easter? Would you like to share with out-of-town friends and family our Easter celebration?

We will be live streaming the 11:30 a.m. Easter service at www.bit.ly/FPCworship (also accessible at www.fourthchurch.org).

Those who will be with us but who would like to experience the festive worship again will also be able to view the video there later in the day and throughout the coming weeks.


Easter Jazz Service
4:00 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Joseph L. Morrow preaching

A favorite Easter service of many, our Easter Jazz Service brings together joy-filled music led by our jazz ensemble, scripture, prayer, and Communion, as our worship echoes with “Christ is risen!”

You are invited to Easter brunch!

This Sunday come join Fourth Church families and individuals, members and friends, for this time of celebration and fellowship following the 11:30 a.m. Easter service.

Our brunch menu on Easter will include sliced ham, crisp bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, fresh fruit, waffles and syrup, Danish, orange juice, coffee, tea, and milk.

Space is limited and tickets are required; reservations can be made by calling the Fourth Church receptionist at 312.787.4570

Sunday, April 21
12:30 p.m.
in Borwell Dining Room
Fourth Presbyterian Church | 312.787.4570 | www.fourthchurch.org