This Sunday , March 25, Palm/Passion Sunday worship services will be held at 8:00 (with Communion), 9:30, and 11:30 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. (with Communion). Lucy Forster-Smith will preach at 8:00 and Shannon Kershner will preach at 9:30, 11:30, and 4:00.

Please note that the third service of the morning will begin at 11:30 a.m.

 

One of Fourth Church's most beloved traditions will also take place during 9:30 and 11:30 worship this Sunday: the Palm/Passion Sunday processional of children entering the Sanctuary waving palms.

Children will gather in their Sunday School classrooms prior to each service; parents with infants and toddlers will meet in the Loggia at 9:25 and 11:25 a.m. They will all then process into the Sanctuary to begin our entrance into Holy Week.

 

As we begin our Holy Week journey this Palm/Passion Sunday, we hope you will join us in singing "hosanna, loud hosannas"!

 

Time:

     Sunday, March 25  

     8:00, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m.
     4:00 p.m.

 

Place:

     Sanctuary

 

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Our journey to Easter Sunday continues on Maundy Thursday, March 29 with worship services at 12:10 and 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Both services will include Communion. Judith Watt will preach at the 12:10 p.m. service, and Shannon Kershner will preside at 7:30 p.m.

Maundy Thursday receives its name from the Latin mandatum novum do vobis, "A new commandment I give you." This new commandment, given by Jesus on the night he washed the disciples' feet, was "to love one another just as I have loved you." It is his example of--and our call to--love and service that we remember on Maundy Thursday.

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"). The service 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.

 

Time:

     Thursday, March 29  

     12:10 and 7:30 p.m.

 

Place:

     Sanctuary

 

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Good Friday worship opportunities on March 30 include a noonday service at 12:10 p.m., with Rocky Supinger preaching, and an evening choral service at 7:30 p.m., both in the Sanctuary. The Good Friday Choral Service will feature Domenico Scarlatti's Stabat Mater, as sung by the Morning Choir.

 

A Good Friday program specially designed for children will take place at 5:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel. Children and their families will have the opportunity to attend a short worship service and then explore a variety of stations with activities, crafts, and readings loosely modeled after the Stations of the Cross.

A Good Friday Walk in the Cabrini-Green neighborhood with fellow members of the Near North Ministry Alliance will also take place on Good Friday, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., beginning at Seward Park (375 W. Elm).

Time:

     Friday, March 30  

     12:10 p.m. Good Friday Service
     3:00 p.m. Good Friday Walk 

     5:30 p.m. Children's Program

     7:30 p.m. Choral Service

 

Place:

     Sanctuary (except for 5:30 p.m.)

     Seward Park (375 W. Elm) for the walk
     Buchanan Chapel for Children's Program 

 

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We will begin by kindling a fire in the Michigan Avenue courtyard and processing by candlelight into the darkened Sanctuary. As Easter draws near and the light of the Sanctuary increases, we will hear readings from scripture that cover the entire story of salvation, from creation through redemption, and join together in sacred song. The evening will culminate in a reaffirmation of our baptismal vows and the celebration of the Lord's Supper.

Your heart, mind, and body will be engaged by this experiential celebration of the new life we are given in Christ. Please join us! 

 

Time:

     Saturday, March 31  

     8:00 p.m.

 

Place:

     Beginning in the Michigan Avenue courtyard

 

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The Easter sunrise service on Oak Street Beach begins at 6:30 a.m., with Abbi Heimach-Snipes preaching.

There will be three morning worship services in the Sanctuary at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m., at which Shannon Kershner will be preaching.

The jazz service with Communion will be held at 4:00 p.m., with Nanette Sawyer preaching.

 

Please note that the last worship service of the morning begins at 11:30 a.m. on Easter in order to accommodate the number of worshipers throughout the morning. Also please keep in mind that Sanctuary seating for all morning services fills quickly and early, and there may be possible delays in entering and exiting the parking garages as a result of increased traffic volume. 

On Easter Sunday, nursery care for children under the age of five will be available on the first floor of the Gratz Center between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and children five years of age through fifth grade are invited to participate in our 9:30 a.m. Easter children's program on the fourth floor of the Gratz Center, which will be followed by an Easter egg hunt on the fifth floor.

For those who are unable to be with us on Easter Sunday or who want to share the service with those who are out of town, we will be live streaming the 11:30 a.m. Easter service at www.bit.ly/FPCworship (and also accessible at www.fourthchurch.org), where it will be viewable in the days afterwards as well. 

 

Time:

     Sunday, April 1  

     6:30 a.m.
     8:00, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m.
     4:00 p.m.

 

Place:

     Oak Street Beach for Sunrise Service

     Sanctuary (except for 6:30 a.m.)
     Gratz Center, fourth floor, for Children's Program 

  

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A new adult education class, "Religion within the Bounds of Mere Reason," begins this Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. Using Immanuel Kant's 1793 work Religion within the Limits of Reason Alone, Clare Pearson will lead participants in exploring one of the most powerful attempts of the Enlightenment to come to grips with the role of organized religion in society--particularly the authority of religion and the dangers of abuse and fanaticism.

Dealing specifically with Christianity, Kant delves into questions of original sin and radical evil, grace, faith, free will, miracles, and revelation, arguing for a radical reinterpretation of core theological doctrines and a similarly radical restructuring of the institution of the church.

We will spend five sessions reading and discussing his interpretations, critiques, and suggestions.

Time:

     Sundays, March 25, April 8-29
     9:30 a.m.

Place:  

     Room 5D

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9:30 and 11:30 a.m.

4:00 p.m.

Worship bulletins

"News and Opportunities"

We give thanks to God for the gift of new life.

Payton Elizabeth Griffiths
     Child of Clark and Kimberly Griffiths

 

Robert R. Williams

March 10, 2018 

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 21 at 3:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

 

Current Volunteer Needs  

Lay liturgists to read scripture during worship on a Sunday; there will be a brief training session this Sunday, March 25 in the Sanctuary following 11:30 a.m. worship; no experience needed; for details, contact Shawn Fiedler

Easter Brunch volunteers to set up, serve, and host the congregational brunch on Sunday, April 1 (11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)

Blue bow helpers to tie bows outside the church on Thursday morning, April 5--following the 9:00 a.m. Blue Bows prayer service and press conference in the Sanctuary--as part of our Child Abuse Prevention Awareness efforts in April; to volunteer, contact Anne Ellis

Shower Ministry greeters (men) for rotating Tuesday schedule (1:15-4:00 p.m.)

 

Greeters for Jazz at Four

 

Current Donation Needs

Used bicycles, bicycle parts, helmets, and jerseys to contribute to the Bike Drive on Saturday, April 14 (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) at the church; bicycles will be repaired by Working Bikes and sent to those in need

Men's clothing (all sizes) for guests of the Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center

Large paper grocery bags for use in the Social Service Center Food Pantry (four grocery bags are needed for every guest who visits the Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center Food Pantry)

Individually packaged snack items (5,000 a month) for distribution as part of the Meals Ministry Bag Lunches; particularly needed are fruit snacks, especially fruit cups or applesauce cups