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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Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 17
Dedication Commemoration Sunday
11:00 a.m. online
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
If our 11:00 worship time does not fit your schedule, the service will be available for viewing throughout the week.
For families looking to create their own Sunday School time this weekend, we invite you to read and talk about Pentecost, which we will celebrate as a congregation on May 31. To help explore this story of the birthday of the church (Acts 2:1–13), you will find a
family discussion guide online along with related
craft and activity suggestions.
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For the first time ever, this week our Friday Noonday Concert will feature a harmonium performance!
Sometimes called a pump organ (because the musician must pump it with their feet), the harmonium will be played by our organist John Sherer. Be sure to tune in to watch and listen at
www.bit.ly/fpcprograms.
We stream a Noonday Concert online at 12:10 p.m. each Friday and then make it available for viewing throughout the week at
www.bit.ly/fpcprograms. On that same page you can also click on “Videos” to enjoy previous online performances, including pianist Mio Nakamura’s wonderful May 8 program of works by Chopin, Beethoven, and Liszt.
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This Sunday we observe Dedication Commemoration Sunday at Fourth Church, declared by Pastor John Timothy Stone in 1914 to be observed on the third Sunday of each May.
It was on May 10 of that year that the Fourth Church congregation first worshiped in the Michigan Avenue Sanctuary. Not only did a series of dedicatory services follow, but later that month the new Sanctuary and Parish House buildings were host to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, including the assembly’s communion service attended by more than 1,800 worshipers.
Immediately prior to this Sunday’s 11:00 a.m. livestream of worship, we will be sharing as part of the stream—at
www.bit.ly/FPCworship—
historical images of our various church homes from our 149-year history, as we give thanks for all who have made possible our place in the city from which to do ministry.
The generations that have gone before us left a vibrant legacy, not only in the bricks and mortar of the Sanctuary and Parish House buildings but also in the financial foundation from which we carry forth our ministry. It was the $25,000 that remained after the completion of the 1914 building project that began the Fourth Church endowment fund.
Just as we carry on the work of the church today, so too we are committed to passing on the legacy of that ministry for future generations. If you are creating or revising your will or are considering a
legacy gift to Fourth Presbyterian Church or Chicago Lights, we invite you to be in touch with
Stuart Barnes Jamieson, our Major and Planned Giving Officer, for information about our
Legacy Society.
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Have you seen the
tulips in front of the Sanctuary?
Or listened to last week’s
offertory by two of our graduating seniors?
Or enjoyed the wonderful video performance of
“Be Thou My Vision” by our Jazz at Four Quartet?
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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Have you missed our Sunday morning Academy for Faith and Life classes? If so, you won’t want to miss a new class being offered via Zoom later this month!
Join us as Jeff Doane leads a discussion of Jon Meacham’s
The Soul of America: The Battle of Our Better Angels beginning Sunday, May 31.
As this tumultuous election year leads us to wonder how we might respond as faithful citizens,
The Soul of America invites us into a consideration of the historical perspective. In these three Sunday sessions we will look together at selected chapters from Jon Meacham’s book in our quest for insights into a hopeful, rather than fearful, approach to the topic.
Participants are encouraged to read the book prior to the class.
For the Zoom link and course syllabus, simply
register online. We look forward to “seeing” you May 31!
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In previous years during Ramadan, Fourth Church has cohosted, with our Muslim neighbors and friends, an Iftar dinner in Anderson Hall.
This year we are joining with the Niagara Foundation and St. Raymond Catholic Church of Mt. Prospect to cohost a virtual Iftar dinner on Monday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m. Nanette Sawyer will be among the presenters that evening.
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Next Sunday, May 24, Vicky Curtiss will preach during our worship service on what will be her final Sunday leading worship as our Associate Pastor for Mission. As she announced earlier this spring, she will be retiring on June 1.
While we are not able to gather at this time to celebrate her ministry among us, we hope you will take a moment to
email Vicky your messages of gratitude and wish her Godspeed in her retirement!
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Whether it is for just one phone conversation or more, our Stephen Ministers are 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 have all been trained in providing emotional and spiritual care, please leave a confidential message at 312.573.3365.
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Each Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m., Fourth Church staff gathers via Zoom for
Morning Prayer. If you would like to join in this weekly time of prayer for those in need, please contact
Carol Allerton for the Zoom information.
if you have
a prayer request that you would like included in Morning Prayer or as part of our Deacon Prayer Ministries, we encourage you to send those requests to
Dave Handley, our Interim Minister for Pastoral Care.
We also invite you to join us for a time of virtual
Sacred Pause on Tuesday mornings (7:45 a.m.) and Saturday mornings (8:30 a.m.). You can connect with us online for these times of silent meditation—hosted by Tom Schemper, Director of the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being—on the
Replogle Center Facebook page.
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Please let us know—
- If you are a medical professional or other essential worker, please let our Pastoral Care Office know who you are so we can reach out and care for you 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.
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!
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.
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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.
Fourth Church Meals Ministry is 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.
The
Chicago Lights Social Service Center is also 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)
- Shampoo (travel-size)
- Razors
How else can you help in these days? If you are interested in sewing face masks for health care workers and other providers of essential services, please contact
Nanette Sawyer.
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