- Men’s Breakfast this Saturday, April 13—to which all are invited—with a program by Kathye Boyle on the new book of collected prayers by John Boyle
- TwentiesThirties brunch on Sunday, April 14—a time for informal fellowship over a shared meal
- Meditation on Tuesday evening, April 16—twenty-five minutes of silent meditation focusing on our spring theme of renewal
- Yoga on Wednesday evening, April 17—with an emphasis on ways to reduce stress and anxiety
The calendar, which is easily accessible from the home page of our website, includes opportunity to register online for any event for which registration is involved (along with an option to make online payment of any registration fees).
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We’re having an open house this Saturday!
There will be opportunity to take a guided tour of the Sanctuary; hear the Andrew Pipe Organ, as played by our own Thom Gouwens; and enjoy coffee and refreshments. Deacons will also be available for those who would appreciate a time of prayer.
Why not invite your neighbors, friends, and family to stop by. We would be delighted to welcome them for a visit!
Saturday, April 13
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Sanctuary
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One of Fourth Church’s most beloved traditions will take place this Sunday during the 9:30 and 11:00 services: the processional of children entering the Sanctuary waving palms.
(Children will gather in their Sunday School classrooms prior to the 9:30 and 11:00 services; their teachers will then lead them down to the Sanctuary for the processional. Parents with infants and toddlers who would like to process are invited to meet in the Loggia at 9:25 and 10:55 a.m.)
As we begin our Holy Week journey on this holy day, we hope you will be with us to join in waving palms and singing “hosanna, loud hosannas”!
8:00 a.m. Communion
Lucy Forster-Smith preaching
9:30 a.m.
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
11:00 a.m.
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
4:00 p.m. Jazz Communion
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
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In addition to waving palms during this weekend’s processional, our Sunday School youth will be carrying baskets of fish banks to present as their contribution to our One Great Hour of Sharing Offering.
Throughout Lent, the children have been filling these banks with their gifts. You too have opportunity to join them in touching the lives of those in need, responding to injustice, providing shelter, and feeding the hungry, both here in our city and around the world.
Presbyterian Hunger Program, which takes action to alleviate hunger, care for creation, and address the systemic causes of poverty so all may be fed
Self-Development of People, which partners with communities responding to their experiences of oppression, poverty, and injustice and educates Presbyterians about the impact of these issues
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, which works alongside communities as they recover and find hope after the devastation of natural or human-caused disasters and provides support for refugees
Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center, which annually supports 1,800 individuals who are experiencing homelessness or who are in transition, helping them gain greater stability through case management, a food pantry, clothing assistance, referrals to other agencies, and outreach
Chicago Lights Tutoring, which encourages 400 students living in under-resourced neighborhoods to graduate from high school and pursue higher education and meaningful careers
Fourth Church Meals Ministry, which distributes bag lunches each week, Tuesday through Thursday, and serves a hot supper on both Sunday and Monday nights, providing more than 36,000 meals per year for guests who are homeless
Fourth Church Shower Ministry, which welcomes guests without access to bathing facilities to use the showers at Fourth Church, with nearly 1,000 showers taken per year
To make a “One Great Hour of Sharing” gift, you can use the envelopes in the pew racks, write “Lenten Offering” on the memo line of a check made payable to Fourth Presbyterian Church, or
make a gift online.
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Our Holy Week journey continues on 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
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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
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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 again 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
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An ancient tradition of the church, 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
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We hope you will join us on Easter Sunday, April 21 as we gather in festive celebration of the resurrection of the Lord!
Easter Sunrise Service
6:30 a.m. at Oak Street Beach
Judith L. Watt preaching
Easter Morning Worship
8:00, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
Children’s Easter Program
9:30 a.m. on Gratz Floor 4
For children five years of age through fifth grade; children are also invited to worship with their parents at any of the Easter services
Live Stream of the 11:30 a.m. Easter Service
(The video will be viewable in the days afterwards as well.)
Easter Jazz Service
4:00 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Joseph L. Morrow preaching
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You are invited to Easter brunch!
Come join Fourth Church families and individuals, members and friends, for this time of celebration and fellowship on Sunday, April 21 following the 11:30 a.m. Easter service.
Our brunch menu that day 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, so why not
reserve your place at the table now!
Sunday, April 21
12:30 p.m.
in Borwell Dining Room
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- Easter hosts to serve cider to worshipers waiting in line on Easter morning (from 8:00 to 9:10 a.m., prior to the 9:30 a.m. service, or 10:00 to 11:10 a.m., prior to the 11:30 a.m. service)
- Individuals to take down the blue bows from the trees outside the Manse on Tuesday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m. (at the conclusion of National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month)
- Greeters for the Sunday afternoon Jazz at Four worship service
You can sign up or learn more by contacting
Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry
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Fourth Presbyterian Church | 312.787.4570 | www.fourthchurch.org
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