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www.bit.ly/newsfromfpc
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While we are not gathering in person this summer, there are many opportunities to connect online with the Fourth Church community and one another.
You will find these online opportunities posted on the
church calendar, which is easily accessible from the “Calendar” button of our website (in the upper left corner). Included among them are—
- TED Talks for Parents on Sunday mornings, June 21 and June 28
- An online organ concert this Sunday afternoon, June 21
- Men’s Online Bible Study on Tuesday mornings
- Benevolent Guild on Wednesday mornings
- Horizons Women’s Bible Study this Wednesday noon, June 24
- Children and Family Trivia Night this Thursday evening, June 25
For information about whom to contact for an event’s Zoom details, simply click on the down “arrow” to the right of the event name in the
calendar.
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Sunday, June 21
11:00 a.m. worship online
Organ prelude beginning shortly after 10:45 a.m.
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
On this Juneteenth weekend, which annually celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States, we will sing as our closing hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson. Written in 1900 and first performed as part of an observance of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, it has become known as the Black national anthem.
This Sunday is also Baccalaureate Sunday at Fourth Church, when we recognize members and Chicago Lights Tutoring students who are graduating this year from eighth grade, high school, college, or graduate and professional programs. Immediately before the Benediction our Youth Ministry and Chicago Lights staff and leaders will be sharing a brief video celebrating these graduates.
If our 11:00 worship time does not fit your schedule, the service will be
available for viewing throughout the week.
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Thank you to all who have completed our livestream worship survey!
If you have worshiped with us online this spring and have not yet completed
this brief survey about our livestream services, please do take a moment to do so.
In these summer months, when we will have online-only services, we know our worship will be different than it is when we can worship together in the same space. Your completing the survey will help us make that “different” the best experience possible!
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Virtual Small Groups
Would you like to connect with five to seven other people via Zoom for a time of fellowship, relationship building, and spiritual formation this July?
These
virtual small groups will meet for four weeks, beginning the week of July 6, and will gather via Zoom on weekday late afternoons or mid-mornings, depending on the interest of the participants. Discussion topics may include book studies or open conversation regarding spiritual journeys and faith life.
Similar small group opportunities will also be offered in August.
If you are interested in being part of a group or would like to learn more about this opportunity to connect with others, please email
Anne Ellis to let her know of your interest.
Men’s Small Discussion Group
Also beginning in July will be a new online Men’s Small Discussion Group led by David Handley, Interim Minister for Pastoral Care. This group of six to eight men will meet for three months to take turns sharing their “spiritual autobiography.”
These reflections on faith and personal life, shared in a confidential context, will be accompanied by opportunity for the other participants to talk about themes and experiences they have experienced that are similar. There will also be time spent reading the Gospel according to Mark and guidance on how we might hear the scripture being read in a way that intersects with our lives.
To express interest in taking part in this new group, please contact
David Handley.
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Are you or someone you know interested in learning more about becoming a member of Fourth Church?
Our next New Member Sunday will be Sunday, July 5, and in advance of that we will be holding an online Inquirers’ Class
(required for membership) this Sunday, June 21.
This class offers opportunity to discover more about Fourth Church history, mission, and congregational life; learn about the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Reformed theology; and get to know current members and other class participants.
If you are interested in attending the
Sunday, June 21 online class from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., please
sign up here, and we will send you the Zoom details.
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News from Chicago Lights, our nonprofit community outreach arm, includes the eagerly awaited announcement that the outdoor Farmstand will be open for the season beginning next Friday, June 26!
Produce from the Farm
You can purchase fresh produce while also supporting the community when you shop at the Farmstand at the
Chicago Lights Urban Farm. The Farmstand will be open on Fridays beginning June 26 between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. Guests are required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing while at the Farm (444 W. Chicago Ave.).
Summer Dance Classes Online
The
Chicago Lights Dance Academy is taking its four-week youth Summer Dance Intensive online this summer. Beginning June 29, this summer’s robust virtual curriculum will feature two live Zoom classes each weekday morning and will cover the styles of ballet, jazz, musical theater, tap, and hip hop. Prerecorded dance lessons and independent study will also be included. More advanced choreography will be offered in the afternoons for seasoned students.
Information, including registration details for this youth program, can be found online.
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We have lots of fun online opportunities planned for our children and families this summer, including Trivia Night coming up this Thursday!
Trivia Family Night
For ages 6 to 11 (and parents!)
Thursday, June 25 from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.
via Zoom
Summer Sunday School
For ages 3 to 11
Sundays in June and July from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.
via Zoom
Wednesday Story and Craft Time
For ages 2 to 6
Wednesdays from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.
via Zoom
Wednesday Kids’ Group
For ages 7 to 11
Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
via Zoom
TED Talks on How We Schedule Our Lives
For Parents
Sundays, June 21 and 28
from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m.
via Zoom
And watch for news about other children and family online activities taking place later this summer, including a pizza-making family night via Zoom and online VBS!
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With our summer youth travels canceled this year, we are excited to be offering an online service-learning experience through our Urban Youth Mission program! Registration for the Senior High option is still open.
Senior High UYM Cohort
For rising ninth- through twelfth-graders
Monday, July 20–Wednesday, July 22
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
via Zoom
In this three-morning series, youth will have opportunity to learn about food justice and the impact of COVID-19.
Register here by June 30.
Weekly Youth Opportunities
Our weekly youth gatherings via Zoom also continue.
- Worship Discussion on Sundays at 12:00 p.m.
- Junior High Gathering on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
- Senior High Gathering on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
- Theology Reading Group on Thursdays, June 25 and July 2 and 9 at 3:00 p.m.
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If you missed this week’s online Friday Noonday Concert featuring mezzo-soprano Laura Kubelka, who has been a member of the Morning Choir since 1999, you can watch and listen to it
online. (The
June 19 concert program is also available to download and print.)
Next on our online concert calendar is a livestreamed organ recital by John Sherer this
Sunday, June 21 at 1:30 p.m. as part of the annual Make Music Chicago event. John will also be playing our Andrew Pipe Organ for our online concert next
Friday, June 26 at 12:10 p.m.
These online concerts will be streamed at
www.bit.ly/fpcprograms, where they are also available to enjoy throughout the week.
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As we enter summer in this season of pandemic, the Session of Fourth Church has approved a plan for our life together as a church in the summer of 2020.
Included in that plan is the decision to have livestream-only worship throughout the summer months.
Also during that same time period—June through August—the Fourth Church campus will remain closed, and programming will take place online, from Center for Life and Learning exercise classes to VBS to Summer Day to Bible studies and more.
The meeting of essential needs by Fourth Church Meals Ministry and Chicago Lights Social Service Center will continue to be offered outdoors, as it has been since mid-March.
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Birth
We give thanks to God for the gift of new life.
Lila Ann Perkins
Child of Brad and Sara Perkins
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