If you know someone who would like to receive updates from us but currently is not, please encourage them to add their email address to our distribution list by signing up at
www.bit.ly/newsfromfpc
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Third Sunday of Easter, April 26
11:00 a.m. online
Lucy Forster-Smith preaching
If the 11:00 time does not fit your schedule, the service will be available for viewing throughout the week.
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We are grateful to all who have made gifts in support of our mission and ministry this year. Thank you! This monthly generosity report summarizes those contributions to Fourth Church as of March 31, 2020.
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Our offering and continued pledge fulfillment in this season supports the ongoing work of our being church, as we continue to serve those in need and to pay our staff, whether they are able to work remotely or not.
Gifts and pledge fulfillments can be
made online
at the Fourth Church website or via Venmo (@Fourth-Church). Checks made payable to Fourth Presbyterian Church can also be sent via mail to Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St., Chicago, IL 60611.2014.
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Each spring, blue bows have been our reminder—and our public witness—that April is National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.
Although the annual Blue Bows Interfaith Prayer Service—and the press conference and the bow tying that typically follow—were not able to be held this year, we remain deeply concerned about the tragedies of child abuse and, in these days, the painful situations that many find themselves in as they are confined at home with those who abuse them.
We hold in our prayers all those affected by domestic violence and lift up the efforts of those working to address and prevent this violence.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence issues, there is a toll-free Illinois State hotline available 24 hours a day to receive confidential calls about domestic violence: 1.877.TO.END.DV (1.877.863.6338, voice) or 1.877.863.6339 (TTY).
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April is also National Volunteer Recognition Month, and this Sunday during our online worship service we look forward to celebrating the generous gifts of time and talent that make our mission and ministry possible.
It is simply impossible to imagine Fourth Church without the loving support and work of the nearly 2,000 volunteers who in 2019 filled some 3,000 volunteer positions.
We are deeply grateful to all who provide the key ingredients of warmth, friendship, fellowship, and caring that demonstrate the hospitality we strive to deliver as a light in the city. Thank you!
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Have you seen the
“Thank you, Essential Workers!” banner installed this week over our Sanctuary entrance?
Or the
flowers blooming outside the church?
For these and ongoing glimpses into what we’re up to, be sure to follow us on
Instagram and
Facebook!
As you engage with us via these platforms, please know that
you are what makes our social media social! Your liking, commenting, sharing, and inviting is what connects us with others, expanding our reach and increasing 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 hospitality and care, even while apart!
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In this season when many of us are struggling to sort things out, Stephen Ministers are available to be God’s listening presence.
Trained in providing emotional and spiritual care, Stephen Ministers are here to help during this difficult time.
If you would like to be in phone contact with a Stephen Minister, please leave a confidential message at 312.573.3365.
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Our pastors, Deacons, Stephen Ministers, and other volunteers are available to connect with you by phone and email. As a connectional community committed to living out our care for one another and remaining together while apart, we very much want to hear from you!
Please let us know—
- if you have a prayer request. Dave Handley, our Interim Minister for Pastoral Care, is receiving these as part of our Morning Prayer and Deacon Prayer Ministries.
- if you would like to join us via Zoom for Morning Prayers on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m., to pray for those in need, please contact Carol Allerton for the Zoom information.
- if you are a medical professional, please let our Pastoral Care Office know who you are so we can reach out and care for you as well in what we know are are difficult days for you.
- if you are—or someone you know is—in self-quarantine or feeling isolated, lonely, anxious, or sick, please contact our Pastoral Care Office so that we can reach out to you.
- if you would like to talk to a pastor, please call the church (312.787.4570), and your request will be forwarded to someone on the pastoral staff.
- If you would like to talk with a therapist in the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being, you can schedule a teletherapy appointment by calling the Center at 312.787.2729, ext 2260.
- if you can help sew face masks for health care workers and other providers of essential services, please contact Nanette Sawyer.
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In this time of social distancing and our closed campus, we remain firmly committed to caring for the most vulnerable among us.
The
Chicago Lights Social Service Center is continuing to offer “curbside” emergency services on Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Wednesdays through Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. These services include essential emergency clothing, hygiene items, and pre-assembled bags of food for those who have scheduled Food Pantry appointments
How can you help? While we cannot receive individual donations of canned goods, clothing, or hygiene items direct from households, you can order and have shipped to the church the items on our
emergency distribution list.
In particular need right now are the hygiene items:
- Toothpaste (travel-size)
- Toothbrushes
- Deodorant (travel-size)
- Shampoo (travel-size)
- Bars of soap or bodywash (travel-size)
- Razors
Fourth Church Meals Ministry is also continuing to serve those in our community who are hungry. Staff and volunteers are outside in the Cloister handing out “to go” lunches on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and “to go” meals for Sunday Night Supper. They are also handing out “to go” meals for Monday Night Supper at Catholic Charities. This enables us to distribute meals while also limiting lines and in-person gatherings.
How can you help? You will find online
lists of items we particularly need as we continue to feed our neighbors. These can be ordered and shipped directly to the church. You will also find, along with the list, information about making a financial gift to support this ministry for those in need.
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We are grateful to our Organist and Director of Music, John Sherer, and his family for livestreaming the past weeks’ Friday Noonday concerts from their living room.
As we continue to host online concerts weekly, we hope you will mark Fridays at 12:10 p.m. in your calendar and plan to join us at
www.bit.ly/fpcprograms
(where you can also click on “Videos” to view the previous online performances).
Fridays
12:10 p.m.
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Death
We give thanks to God for the gift of life eternal.
Miriam Swanson
Died April 14, 2020
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