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
|
|
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—
- Youth Family Trivia Night on Friday, July 31
- Sacred Pause meditation on Saturday and Tuesday mornings
- Youth Worship Discussion on Sundays following online worship
- Vacation Bible School on Monday, August 3 to Friday, August 7
- Men’s Online Bible Study on Tuesday mornings
- Final Junior High Gathering of the summer on Tuesday evening
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.
|
|
Sunday, August 2
11:00 a.m. worship online
Organ prelude beginning shortly after 10:45 a.m.
Nanette Sawyer preaching
This Sunday is also a Communion Sunday. As we do on the first Sunday of even-numbered months, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper, although virtually.
We invite you to have some bread and juice on hand for worship this weekend so that we might together take part, from our own homes, in this shared meal.
This celebration of Communion during our online worship is a way, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has noted, that we can continue to emphasize the unity of the body, the church, in an extraordinary time when we are not able to worship together in person for an extended period.
If our 11:00 worship time does not fit your schedule, the service will be
available for viewing throughout the week.
|
|
Tomorrow is Friday, which means the Farmstand will again be open for your weekly produce shopping.
You can stop by the Chicago Lights Urban Farm
(444 W. Chicago Ave.) between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Fridays to stock up on fresh produce while supporting the community and the Farm, a program of Chicago Lights, our nonprofit community outreach arm.
Guests are required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing while at the Farm.
|
|
As we look ahead to the autumn, the Session and Board of Trustees of Fourth Church on Sunday approved a plan for our life together for the foreseeable future.
The plan takes effect September 1 and includes continuing to have online-only worship, with the service at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays.
The church campus will remain closed except for limited activities, and programming and fellowship opportunities will be offered online.
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.
You can also learn more at an
online Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, August 23 at 12:15 p.m. (at
www.bit.ly/fpcprograms), when staff and lay leaders will talk about these decisions and our plans for fall programming.
There will be time for questions and comments as well as opportunity to hear more about the ways in which we will be continuing to serve those in need and to build connections with one another during this pandemic.
|
|
Last week we launched a series of videos on “What We’re Doing” in 2020—kicking it off with a look into what we’re up to in Youth Ministry.
If you missed it, you can watch it here. And keep your eye on your inbox for the next feature in this series!
|
|
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 June 30, 2020.
|
|
The Nominating Committee would appreciate your help identifying candidates for the positions of Elder, Deacon, Trustee, and Nominating Committee and Chicago Lights Board members that will be open in 2021.
Please take a moment in the coming days to think of Fourth Church members who have demonstrated gifts for leadership and a commitment to the life and ministry of this congregation.
|
|
Wydetta Carter is known to many of us not only as a member of the Fourth Church congregation and staff but as a fabulous singer. If you’ve not heard Wydetta perform before, be sure not to miss her online concert with Mark Burnell this Friday noon.
Next up on the
concert schedule will be pianist Stu Mindeman on August 7 and an annual audience favorite: cabaret duo Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael on August 14.
Our online concerts are streamed each Friday at 12:10 p.m. at
www.bit.ly/fpcprograms, where they are also available to enjoy throughout the week.
|
|
Are you looking for healthy ways to cope with the stresses and anxiety, anger and frustration, grief and uncertainty that so many of us are experiencing?
The staff of our
Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being is available to offer suggestions and support through phone appointments or teletherapy, whether for just a few sessions or on an ongoing basis.
To set up a time to talk or for more information about how the Center can be a resource for you, call the Center at 312.787.2729, ext. 2260.
Our Stephen Ministers are also available to be God’s listening presence during this season when many of us are struggling to sort things out.
If you would like to be in phone contact with one of our Stephen Ministers, who are trained in providing emotional and spiritual care, please leave a confidential message at 312.573.3365.
Additionally, 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.
|
|
Death
We give thanks to God for the gift of life eternal.
John H. (Jack) Fassnacht
Died July 24, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
