A Mask-Welcoming Community
Masks are welcome but not required for everyone on the Fourth Church campus.
As a mask-welcoming campus, we affirm that mask wearing continues to be an effective preventative measure for individuals. Thus we not only encourage the wearing of masks by anyone who wants or needs to wear one, but we are also committed to ensuring no one will feel out of place should they choose to wear a mask while at the church.
Since some populations are more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others, some programs on the Fourth Church campus may choose to require masks. That is a decision that is made on a program-by-program basis. We also continue to require masks be worn in the socially distanced seating section in the Sanctuary.
Additionally, we are continuing our practice of not checking vaccination status, but anyone coming on site certifies by doing so that (a) they do not currently have COVID-19; (b) they are not experiencing COVID symptoms; (c) they have no reason to quarantine; and (d) they will wear a mask and practice social distancing if they are not vaccinated against COVID-19.
|
|
Looking for ways to connect with the Fourth Church community and one another? On the church calendar you will find many opportunities to do so online (or, where noted, in person). Included among them are—
-
Sacred Pause time of meditation on Saturday and Tuesday mornings
-
Men’s Bible Study on Tuesday mornings
-
Books by Women discussing A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende on Tuesday evening, April 12
-
Morning Prayer via Zoom and in person on Wednesday mornings
-
Opportunity to walk the labyrinth in Buchanan Chapel on Wednesday and Thursday mornings
-
Benevolent Guild on Wednesday morning
-
Horizons Bible Study for women on Wednesday, April 13 at noon and in the evening
-
Women at Fourth with a program by Debbie Frisch on HelloBaby on Thursday, April 21
-
Interfaith Iftar Dinner on Saturday, April 23
-
Knitting and Crocheting on Tuesday, April 26
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 (which is easily accessible from the “Calendar” button in the upper left corner of our website).
For highlights about some additional opportunities, keep reading!
|
|
Palm/Passion Sunday, April 10
10:00 a.m. worship in person and online
9:45 a.m. prelude
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
4:00 p.m. Jazz at Four worship in person
with Communion
in Buchanan Chapel
Matt Helms preaching
A Sunday morning palm processional will usher us into our Palm Sunday singing of loud hosannas. Our focus will then turn to the Passion story that leads us into Holy Week.
To join in the spirit of this day that is both festive and somber, we encourage those who will be worshiping with us online to download and print a palm ( www.bit.ly/palmcolor) to have on hand as we together sing “all glory, laud, and honor.”
This Sunday we will continue to have a socially distanced seating section at the front of the Sanctuary on the pulpit side. That section will be reserved for those required to or choosing to practice social distancing, and everyone sitting in that section will be required to wear a mask. The remainder of the Sanctuary will be open seating.
We know that some worshipers may be uncomfortable being near those who are singing while unmasked. We invite those who are concerned about this to either worship with us, masked, in the socially distanced seating section or join us in worshiping online at 10:00 a.m.
|
|
Our Palm Sunday celebration will lead us into Jesus’ Passion and Holy Week. We hope you will join us as we pause to observe those solemn days.
Maundy Thursday | April 14
12:10 p.m. worship with Communion
In person only
7:30 p.m. Tenebrae with Communion
In person and livestreamed
The evening service follows 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.
Good Friday | April 15
12:10 p.m. worship
In person only
5:30 p.m. program for children and families
In person only | in Buchanan Chapel
7:30 p.m. Choral Service
“The Seven Last Words of Christ” by Théodore Dubois
In person and livestreamed
|
|
Easter Sunday | April 17
6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service
with Communion
at Oak Street Beach
9:00 a.m. Easter Service
In person only
11:00 a.m. Easter Service
In person and livestreamed
4:00 p.m. Easter Jazz at Four
with Communion
in Buchanan Chapel
In person only
Entrance for the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services will be via the glass Loggia doors on Michigan Avenue, next to the courtyard. Seating will begin a half hour prior to each of those two services.
There will be no socially distanced seating at any of the Easter services. We invite those who prefer to practice social distancing to join us in worship outdoors for the sunrise service or online for the 11:00 a.m. service.
An Easter program for children will be held in the Gratz Center at 9:00 a.m. on Easter; nursery care will not be available.
|
|
Several ministry areas at Fourth Church are in need of additional volunteers. Might you be able to help?
Youth Ministry is in need of chaperones for their youth mission trips this summer—trips for Junior Highs to St. Louis (June 26–July 1) and for Senior Highs to Memphis (July 9–15). If you are interested in accompanying the youth, please fill out the form at www.bit.ly/youthtripleaders22
Fourth Church Meals Ministry is in need of volunteers to help with a variety of projects—opportunities that can be done at home, behind the scenes at church, or by interacting with our guests. You can learn more—and sign up—via our Volunteer Ministry platform, VOMO: www.bit.ly/fpcvolunteers)
Fourth Church Jail Ministry is in need of volunteers to join them in visiting the Cook County Jail. An online information session will be offered on Sunday, April 24 for those who would like to learn more about what is involved. Additional details are also available by emailing Maggie Shreve at jailministry@fourthchurch.org
Sunday, April 24
12:30 p.m. via Zoom
|
|
If you would like to pray with a Deacon on Sundays, the Deacons invite you to come to Stone Chapel (through the door next to the Sanctuary pulpit) following Sunday morning worship.
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.
If you would like to alert pastoral staff to emerging pastoral care needs, please email caringministries@fourthchurch.org; however if the situation is an emergency or requires immediate attention, please call the church at 312.787.4570 to be connected to the Minister on Call.
For one-to-one spiritual and emotional support through life challenges, we encourage you to consider being paired with a Stephen Minister. To learn more about this resource, contact Jeff Doane, Parish Associate for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation, or leave a confidential message for a Stephen Minister at 312.573.3365.
To set up a time to talk or for more information about how the staff of the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being can be a resource for you, call the Center at 312.787.2729, ext. 2260.
|
|
Death
We give thanks to God for the gift of life eternal.
Jane Nerison
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, May 11 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
|
|
Worshiping with Us Online
Our Sunday morning worship service is livestreamed at 10:00 a.m. (Central) via our YouTube channel (www.bit.ly/fpcvideos)
The service is also available online any time afterwards on YouTube.
For those who do not have Internet access, we also make our livestreamed worship services available to listen to via the phone. If you know of someone for whom this audio opportunity would be welcome, please encourage them to call 888.916.9166 (toll-free) at the time of the service.
Throughout the Week
Our Sunday services are available for viewing following the conclusion of worship and throughout the week at www.bit.ly/fpcvideos.
|
|
If you know someone who would like to receive email 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
