The Season of Advent

This Sunday—which is the first of four Sundays before Christmas—marks the beginning of Advent, the first season on the liturgical calendar and thus the beginning of a new church year.

Advent is observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas as well as the return of Jesus at the second coming.

The season takes it name from the Latin word meaning “coming,” and its liturgical color is purple, to remind us that this is a season of humility and reconciliation.

First Sunday of Advent, November 27

10:00 a.m. worship in person and online

Nancy Benson-Nicol preaching

The worship bulletin is available to download and print

In person and streamed from the Sanctuary on our YouTube channel: www.bit.ly/fpcvideos

Audio available by phone (toll free) by calling 888.916.9166

Nursery care is available on Sundays at 9:45 a.m. on the fourth floor of the Gratz Center.

4:00 p.m. Jazz at Four worship in person

with Communion

in Buchanan Chapel

Nancy Benson-Nicol preaching

The worship bulletin will be available online Friday afternoon

On Thanksgiving Day we will not be gathering in person for worship. Instead we will be sharing a Thanksgiving-themed “Rhythm and Word” video on our YouTube channel (www.bit.ly/fpcvideos) on Thursday morning, November 24.

When you or those with whom you may be gathering are looking for fifteen minutes of spiritual reflection during which to pause to give thanks on Thanksgiving Day, we invite you to view the music-and-word worship experience released that day.

The season of Advent invites us to set aside time for daily personal prayer and reflection, creating space to prepare our hearts and lives to receive the gift that comes to us in the stable and embracing what it means to travel through life guided by the Light that darkness cannot overcome.

Our daily Advent devotions—which are written by Fourth Church members and staff—offer a resource for this meditative journey. 

To receive them daily by email beginning this Sunday, sign up online at www.bit.ly/fpcdevotions.

If you already receive our daily devotions, you need not sign up to receive the Advent devotions; they will automatically be sent to you.

The Fourth Church Racial Equity Council invites you to join them for a complimentary special screening of the movie Till on Saturday, December 3 at 1:30 p.m. at Cinema Chatham Theater (210 W. 87th St.).

A discussion led by the Reverend Dr. Waltrina Middleton, Executive Director of the Community Renewal Society, will follow the movie.

Complimentary roundtrip bus transportation will be provided from Fourth Church, departing at 12:30 p.m.

Seating is limited, and thus reservations for both the movie and bus transportation are required. Register at www.bit.ly/tilldec3

In this season of gratitude and giving, we invite you to join us in making preparations to share Christmas joy with others.

As part of those efforts, Women at Fourth is again coordinating our annual Christmas Wishes project to provide gifts for Chicago Lights Tutoring students. To support this project we are collecting gift cards to Best Buy, Starbuck’s, McDonald’s, Uber, Target, and Amazon (giving a total of $25 worth of cards to each student).

Gift cards can be dropped off at the church reception desk to the attention of Simon Crow by Monday, December 5. (Please designate the amount on the cards. Also please note that the church offices are closed Thursday through Saturday, November 24–26 for the Thanksgiving holiday)

Monetary contributions can also be made to support the purchase of a book for each student. Gifts can be made online at www.fourthchurch org/give-online or by writing a check payable to Fourth Presbyterian Church with “Christmas Wishes” designated in the memo line.

Remember loved ones and recognize those who are special in your life by making contributions in their name toward the purchase of Christmas flowers, wreaths, and garlands. These will decorate the Sanctuary and Buchanan Chapel this coming Advent and Christmas season. A list of those remembered will be printed in the Christmas bulletin.

Contributions can be made online and must be received by Sunday, December 11 in order for names to be included in the bulletin.

For more information, contact Gloria Vicente.

The sounds of music will fill Fourth Church in the month ahead. If you are looking for a musical treat to add to your holiday celebrations, you can find a variety of in-person opportunities on our concert calendar!

Candlelight Carols with the St. Charles Singers

Saturday, December 3

7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Tickets are available from www.stcharlessingers.com

Bach Marathon: Brandenburg Concertos 1–6

presented by the Chicago Civic Orchestra

Monday, December 5

7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Tickets are required but free from www.cso.org

CSO Presents: A Chanticleer Christmas

Tuesday and Wednesday, December 6 and 7

7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Tickets available at www.cso.org

“Holidays a cappella” with Chicago a cappella

Friday, December 9

8:00 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel

Tickets are available from www.chicagoacappella.org

A Festival of Advent Lessons and Music

Sunday, December 11

6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

The choirs of Fourth Church sing seasonal favorites during this evening worship service, which is followed by a cookie reception

Christmas with Tower Brass

Saturday, December 17

5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

A family-friendly Christmas concert including seasonal favorites from classics to jazz and a carol sing-along

No tickets required; suggested donation of $20 at the door

Christmas Cantata: Gloria by John Rutter

performed by the Morning Choir and Tower Brass

Sunday, December 18

10:00 a.m. worship service in the Sanctuary

Also livestreamed on our YouTube channel

Sounds Good! Choirs Winter Concert

Tuesday, December 20

2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

A program by the Chicago area’s largest and fastest-growing choral organization for older adults

A complete concert schedule, including free Friday Noonday Concerts