We’re Getting Ready for a New Program Year!
We’re getting set to kick off an exciting new program year at Fourth Church, one in which we hope you will take part!
One of the best ways to keep up to date with all that will be going on is through this weekly email newsletter.
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Now for a snapshot of a few of the things on our calendar...
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As we prepare to begin a new program year, we encourage you to make use of the online Fourth Church calendar:
www.fourthchurch.org/calendar, which is easily accessible from the home page of our website.
From there you can see what is happening when and in what room, as well as click to
add to your own calendar those events in which you’re interested.
When
registration is involved (including payment of any registration fees), you can
take care of all that online as well, directly from a link in the calendar!
What might you find on the calendar for these first weeks of September? Among other things—
- A presentation by John Buchanan—discussing some of the themes that animate his blog and other writings—this Friday evening, September 6 (registration for the Cornerstones dinner beforehand is closed, and all dinner seats are filled, but the presentation is open to all)
- Discover Fourth Open House in the Sanctuary this Saturday, September 7
- Handbell Choir rehearsals beginning on Sunday, September 8
- Books by Women conversation about Pachinko by Min Jin Lee on Tuesday, September 10
- Horizons Women’s Bible Study on Wednesday, September 11
- Choral Society rehearsals starting on Thursday, September 26
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Sunday, September 8: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
8:00 a.m. Communion
Lucy Forster-Smith preaching
9:30 a.m. Baptisms
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
11:00 a.m. Baptisms
Shannon J. Kershner preaching
4:00 p.m. Jazz Communion
Joseph L. Morrow preaching
This Sunday we welcome back to the Choir Loft the Chancel Choir and the Morning Choir, who kick off a new season of rehearsals this evening. We are grateful to the Men’s and Women’s Choirs for their music leadership over the summer. Thank you!
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Are you looking to meet new people at Fourth Church? Build a community? Grow in faith? Engage in learning and conversation? Share your gifts with others?
Join us this Sunday, September 8, when we will kick off our autumn programming with a festive
“Get Connected” Coffee Hour.
Come learn about the many things happening at Fourth Church this season and the ways in which you might match your interests, gifts, and talents with the opportunities and activities we are planning.
We will also be inviting you to update and expand your self-profile information on the church database by completing a
“Connect with Your Church”
form at any of the Coffee Hours.
If you are otherwise busy during Coffee Hour, or you won’t be able to be with us, you can also update your information online via
Fourth Connect (which is accessible in the menu on the left side of the Fourth Church website) or print out a
paper form (using the provided link) to fill in and return to the church reception desk.
The Chicago Lights Urban Farm
will also have
fresh produce available during this week’s Coffee Hour, with all proceeds benefiting the educational and career development work of the Farm.
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The Academy for Faith and Life adult education program begins a new season of classes this Sunday with two thought-provoking and engaging opportunities.
In the first, Stuart Barnes Jamieson will lead us in exploring biblical mandates on stewarding our spiritual and material gifts.
“The Economics of Discipleship: From Scarcity to Sufficiency,” which will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 5E, will help us reinforce the importance that discipleship plays in our attitudes toward our resources. In doing so, we will also consider new pathways to a more joyful life.
In the second, Holly Hamilton will guide us in learning new ways to make meditation a consistent part of our daily life in order to deepen our personal faith.
“Christian Meditation: Creating Space for Connection,” which will meet at 11:00 a.m in Room 5E, offers a gentle, Christlike approach to the daunting task of finding the time as well as the method to enjoy the presence of God.
Come join us in exploring the intersections of our faith and life!
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Sunday School classes start up again at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. this Sunday, September 8 on the fourth floor of the Gratz Center.
From 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. there will also be opportunity for parents to learn more about the Children and Family Ministry Program by stopping by the fourth-floor lobby area to enjoy donuts and coffee, gather information, and meet other parents during this
family fellowship time.
Cherub, Children’s, and Youth Choir rehearsals also kick off this Sunday, with Cherub Choir (age 3–grade 1) at 9:00 a.m., Youth Choir (grades 6–12) at 10:00 a.m., and Children’s Choir (grades 2–5) at 10:30 a.m., all in Room 4F.
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Youth groups and Confirmation start up again this Sunday as well, with
Junior High at 9:30 a.m. in the Bumpus Room,
Senior High at 11:00 a.m. in the Bumpus Room, and eighth-grade
Confirmation at 11:00 a.m. in Room 4G.
Our weekly
all-youth fellowship time also returns this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in Allison Hall and Library.
Youth Choir (grades 6–12) begins this Sunday as well at 10:00 a.m. in Room 4F.
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This coming Monday, September 9 is the first day of the new program year for the Center for Life and Learning (CLL).
A host of
exercise opportunities, classes (from French to painting to music to history to current events), and
day trips are all in store for adults sixty and more when the CLL kicks off its 2019–2020 schedule.
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As you’re out grocery shopping in the days ahead, please consider adding to your cart some extra snacks for the guests of our Meals Ministry Bag Lunch program.
We are kicking off a monthlong drive to collect individually packaged snack items to fill the lunch sacks distributed to guests each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday noon in Anderson Hall.
Particularly needed are single servings of granola bars, chips, pretzels, fruit cups, and applesauce.
Donations (labeled “Meals Ministry”) can be dropped off during Coffee Hour any Sunday this month or at the reception desk on weekdays and Saturday.
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“Foundation of Faith: A Year with the Bible” is an engaging new weekly Bible study that will begin on Sunday, September 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Taught by our Associate Pastors, it is designed for everyone with an interest in the Bible—whether you’re a biblical scholar or are unfamiliar with the text.
Another Bible study experience will also begin that week, on Friday, September 20 at 7:00 a.m.: a
Friday Men’s Faith Discussion Group.
Made up of seven to ten men, the Friday discussion group will share their spiritual autobiography with one another while also studying the Gospel of Mark and listening for the way that scripture intersects with our lives.
(Peregistration with
Anne Ellis
for the men’s group is required.)
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If you submitted an electronic recommendation over the summer for someone—including perhaps yourself—to serve as an Elder, Deacon, Trustee, or member of the Chicago Lights Board, we ask you to please take a moment to
resubmit it.
(We experienced some challenges with our officer nominations email box in July and August and want to make sure we did not miss any of your online or emailed suggestions for officer candidates!)
And if you have not yet sent the Nominating Committee your recommendations, we ask that you take some a moment now to do so, either
online or by using the cards in the pew racks and print racks.
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Have you been looking for a way to give back to the community? Why not make a difference in the lives of children from neighborhoods with limited resources: join Chicago Lights Tutoring this year!
We need
100 new tutors to help us ensure we have a mentor for each of the 400 first- through twelfth-grade students who participate in the program. Tutoring pairs meet at the church one evening a week from late September through May.
A one-session orientation for those who would like to volunteer with Tutoring is being held this evening, Thursday, September 5 at 6:00 p.m. and will be offered again next Tuesday and Thursday, September 10 and 12 at the same time.
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Might one of the following opportunities fit into your autumn schedule? We could use your help!
- Volunteers to help us host the Chicago Presbytery Assembly on Tuesday, September 17 between 12:00 and 8:00 p.m.
- Ushers for the 11:00 a.m. worship service
- Greeters for the 4:00 p.m. Jazz at Four service
Unless otherwise noted, sign up or learn more by contacting
Robert Crouch, Director of Volunteer Ministry.
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Our free Friday Noonday Concerts move back indoors this Friday with a performance cosponsored by the Musicians Club of Women. Also on our calendar for this month: two organ concerts on our Andrew Pipe Organ.
Friday, September 6 at 12:10 p.m.
in Buchanan Chapel
Blue Violet Duo
Kate Carter, violin, and Louise Chan, piano
Friday, September 13 at 12:10 p.m.
Elisa Bickers, organ
in the Sanctuary
Friday, September 20 at 12:10 p.m.
in Buchanan Chapel
Andrew O’Brien, piano
Friday, September 27 at 12:10 p.m.
in the Sanctuary
John Sherer, organ
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Fourth Presbyterian Church | 312.787.4570 | www.fourthchurch.org
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