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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—

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.

Shannon J. Kershner preaching

The worship bulletin will be available to download and print in advance

Livestreamed from the Sanctuary at www.bit.ly/FPCworship

If our 11:00 worship time does not fit your schedule, the service will be available for viewing throughout the week.

You can also subscribe to our worship and sermon podcasts available via iTunes and Spotify and sign up to receive the weekly sermon by email.

September is the last month to submit names of Fourth Church members you think are good candidates for the offices of Elder, Deacon, or Trustee or for Nominating Committee or Chicago Lights Board member.

The Nominating Committee will begin reviewing those names at the end of this month, as they work to prepare a recommended slate of leaders to begin terms in 2021.

In the coming days please take a moment to think of Fourth Church members who have demonstrated gifts for leadership and a commitment to the life and ministry of this congregation.

Then add their names—self-nominations are welcome—to the Leadership Candidate Form online at www.bit.ly/nominating2020.

On behalf of the Nominating Committee, thank you for your help!

This coming Tuesday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m. the Books by Women book group will have an online discussion of Becoming by Michelle Obama. Newcomers are always welcome to these monthly conversations about books by women; for Zoom details, email Anne Ellis.

A virtual cocktail hour will be hosted by our LGBTQIA+ Widen Our Welcome group on Tuesday, September 8 at 6:30 p.m. If you’d like to connect with this group, please be in touch with Anne Ellis for the Zoom details for this gathering

Benevolent Guild meets on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom information. For details, email Anne Ellis.

John Sherer and others who traveled to Cuba as part of our music mission trip in early March invite you to join them on Thursday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. for a virtual Cuba Music Mission Trip Travelogue. John and others will share via Zoom some of the photos, videos, and stories of their Cuba experiences. For Zoom details, email John Sherer.

If you are interested in becoming a part of one of the new small groups that will be beginning in the fall, please email Anne Ellis.

Another fellowship opportunity is our weekly online Coffee Hour, which follows worship on Sunday mornings, beginning after the postlude (around 12:00 p.m.).

The Zoom details follow, including a phone dial-in option as well. We look forward to chatting with you in online Coffee Hour this Sunday!

Following the postlude

Also accessible at www.bit.ly/fpcfellowship

(the link is also posted on our website: www.fourthchurch.org)

Meeting ID: 963 5583 1751

Passcode: 631276

Phone: Call 1 (312) 626-6799

and enter Meeting ID 963 5583 1751#

Looking ahead, our Coffee Hour on Sunday, September 13 will be a virtual version of our annual “Get Connected” Sunday time of fellowship, with opportunity to meet via Zoom various groups from around the church.

Are you or someone you know interested in becoming members of Fourth Church?

If so, we invite you to join us for the next online Inquirers’ Class on Sunday, September 20 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom.

You can register here for that one-session class.

For additional information about Fourth Church membership, please contact Joe Morrow.

Our Friday Noonday Concerts kick off the fall season this week with a performance cosponsored by Musicians Club of Women and featuring oboist Jennet Ingle and pianist Mariah Boucher.

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.