What’s coming up on the church
calendar? Quite a variety of things, including—
- “Jehovah’s Favorite Choir: The Biblical Story in the Songs and Shows of the Grateful Dead,” a two-week class led by Andy McGaan and beginning this Sunday morning, December 8
- The continuation of “The Foundations of Faith” Bible study led by the pastors on Sunday mornings, with video of past sessions available online
- Books by Women discussing The Chilbury Ladies Choir on Tuesday, December 10
- Horizons Women’s Bible Study on Wednesday, December 11
- “Cookies, Cocoa, and Caroling” Family Night on Friday, December 20
- Candlelit New Year’s Eve Taizé on Tuesday, December 31 in Buchanan Chapel
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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Second Sunday of Advent: December 8
8:00 a.m. Communion
Matt Helms 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
6:30 p.m.
Festival of Advent Lessons and Music
Children in Worship
During the 9:30 and 11:00 services, the Sunday School students will help lead us in worship, as they frequently do on the second Sunday of the month through their participation in the roles of beadle and lay liturgist.
Also, for the first part of those two services, all children who otherwise take part in Sunday School will instead stay with their parents as they attend worship. The children will then depart for their classrooms, with their teachers, before the sermon begins.
Advent Reflection Stations
Throughout Advent you will see tables, topped with a tree and ribbons, in the Narthex, Commons, and Allison Library. We invite you to take a moment to stop by a table this Sunday. There you will find a question that serves as a prompt for the week, something to help guide our contemplation and reflection this Advent season.
We encourage you to write on one of the ribbons your response to the question and then tie or drape your ribbon on one of the branches of the trees. These ribbons will be used to line the manger at the Children’s Pageant on Christmas Eve.
If you want to begin thinking ahead, the prompt for December 8–14 will be
“What prayers are you planting to take root in the world?”
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It’s time again for our annual Fair Trade Bazaar!
This festive event opens this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and will be in operation on Sunday as well until 2:00 p.m.
Let us help you with your holiday shopping as you browse the handcrafted merchandise. Anderson Hall and Borwell Dining Room will be full of items ranging from folk art to ceramics, textiles, baskets, jewelry, and more. A variety of vendors, including Ten Thousand Villages, will be on hand.
Groups in more than thirty countries benefit from the proceeds of this bazaar, making it possible for them to earn a fair wage for their labors and provide food, shelter, education, and health care for their families.
Come shop for a difference!
In Anderson Hall and Borwell Dining Room on—
Saturday, December 7
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 8
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
And why not invite your friends and neighbors to join you this Saturday, December 7 between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., when we’ll also be hosting our
Advent Open House in the Sanctuary, complete with live music and, in the Narthex, refreshments.
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This Sunday is the last day to make gifts toward the purchase of Christmas flowers and garlands to decorate the Sanctuary and Buchanan Chapel.
Gifts can be made in memory of loved ones and in recognition of those who are special in your life. A list of those remembered will then be printed in the Christmas bulletin.
Contributions must be received by Sunday, December 8 in order for names to be included in that bulletin. Why not make your gift today!
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This Sunday evening plan to be with us for one of our beloved Advent traditions at Fourth Church, the Festival of Advent Lessons and Music.
Pastors and members of Fourth Church will read the scripture lessons of Advent, and Fourth Church’s Children’s, Youth, Chancel, Morning, and Handbell Choirs will present music of the season. Together we’ll sing Advent hymns and anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ.
A reception hosted by Women at Fourth and featuring homemade cookies and hot cocoa will follow the service.
Sunday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
Reception to follow in Anderson Hall
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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
Sun., Dec. 8:
#Peace
Mon., Dec. 9:
#Wait
Tues., Dec. 10:
#Promise
Wed., Dec. 11:
#Child
Thurs., Dec. 12:
#Comfort
Fri., Dec. 13:
#Prepare
Sat., Dec. 14:
#Angel
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Have you seen the
photos of our electric sheep being readied for the season and the
video of them being turned on as the Lighting Festival parade goes by?
Did you catch
Rudolph and Santa making their way past the Sanctuary?
Or glimpse our
Advent decorations being hung?
Or see photos of
our pipe organ, or
children leading worship?
As you engage with us on Instagram and other social media platforms, please know that
you are what makes our social media social! Your sharing, liking, commenting, and inviting is what expands our reach and increases our visibility. That in turn is how we together spread the word about what is going on at Fourth Church and Chicago Lights, build community, and extend a warm welcome!
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In this season of gratitude and giving, we invite you to join us in sharing Christmas joy with those in need.
Decorated and filled Holiday Bags for guests of Sunday and Monday Night Suppers are
needed by this Sunday, December 8. They can be dropped off at the Meals Ministry cart during Coffee Hour.
The annual “
Christmas Wishes” gift project, sponsored by Women at Fourth, collects gifts for Chicago Lights Tutoring students who might not otherwise receive one. Wish lists are available at Coffee Hour and from
Anne Ellis.
Gifts will be distributed December 9–12.
Gifts to the “
Light Up a Life” offering provide support to 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.
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“Light Up a Life” gifts can be made using the envelopes in the pew racks or
online.
Or to make a gift to Fourth Church using Venmo and your phone, scan this QR code or open the app. Tap the Pay button and search for Fourth Church (
@Fourth-Church). Enter a gift amount, write a quick note, and tap Pay!
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Our LGBTQIA “Widening Our Welcome” group invites you to send in your favorite family photo along with a brief caption (sixty words or less).
All photos submitted by Sunday, December 15 will be featured in a slide show during Coffee Hour on Sunday, January 12.
Additionally, from among the submissions, fifty photos showcasing the wide diversity of our Fourth Church families will also be selected, framed, and displayed in the Loggia Gallery from January 6 through February 26.
Please note:
Submission of photos constitutes permission and release by all family members shown in the photo for the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago to use the images in digital display during Coffee Hour on January 12, 2020; in physical gallery display in the Fourth Church Loggia from January 6 through February 26, 2020; and in any promotion of those exhibits.
We look forward to celebrating together the diversity of our Fourth Church families!
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Judy Watt, Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care, will be retiring on Sunday, December 15. We hope you will join us that day for a
reception in Anderson Hall, as we gather to thank Judy for her ministry among us and wish her Godspeed in her retirement.
That reception will follow immediately after the 12:00 p.m.
congregational meeting that Session has called for Sunday, December 15 and which will take place in the Sanctuary. At that meeting we will act to dissolve the pastoral relationship with Judy and also offer expressions of gratitude for her ministry.
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St. Charles Singers: Candlelight Carols
Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
Festival of Advent Lessons and Music
Sunday, December 8 at 6:30 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
Chicago
a cappella
: Holidays
a cappella
Friday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m.
in Buchanan Chapel
Christmas with Tower Brass
Saturday, December 21 at 5:00 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
Freewill offering received at the door
Christmas Cantata:
A Winter’s Night
by Cecilia McDowall
Sunday, December 22
at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
during worship in the Sanctuary
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The season of Advent invites us to set aside time for daily personal prayer and reflection and to create space to prepare our hearts and lives to receive the gift that comes to us in the stable.
Devotions are also posted daily on
Facebook, on
Twitter (@FourthChicago), and on our
devotions web page. They are available in a printed booklet in the literature racks at the church.
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For many the celebration of Christmas is made difficult by feelings of loneliness, grief, alienation, and sadness, whether personal or collective.
The “Longest Night” service, which will be hosted by our Stephen Ministers on Tuesday evening, December 17, recognizes and makes space for these feelings and challenges.
Tuesday, December 17
6:30 p.m.
in Buchanan Chapel
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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
www.bit.ly/FPCworship (and will also be accessible from the Fourth Church website).
On Wednesday, December 25 we will also come together for
Christmas Day worship at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
You are invited to join us afterwards for a traditional
Christmas dinner at 12:15 p.m. in Anderson Hall. Reservations
(required) can be made
online.
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We are in need of individuals to—
- Help with the Book Nook during Coffee Hour following the 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.
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Fourth Presbyterian Church | 312.787.4570 | www.fourthchurch.org
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