Looking for ways in this new year 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—

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).

The worship bulletin will be available to download and print on Friday

In person and streamed from the Sanctuary at www.bit.ly/FPCworship

in Buchanan Chapel

The worship bulletin will be available to download and print on Friday

As we as a community respond to the current COVID-19 surge, beginning this Sunday, all seating for worship will be socially distanced.

We continue to require that everyone on the Fourth Church campus wear a mask, fully covering the nose and mouth, at all times. Anyone not wearing a mask fully covering their nose and mouth will be asked to leave, as we know that some people make the decision to worship with us in person—or participate in adult education classes—based on the knowledge that everyone will be fully masked. This is but one of the ways we continue to live out our commitment to value the health and safety of all.

As another part of that commitment, we will not be inviting in-person worshipers to greet one another in Anderson Hall or the Commons following the 10:00 a.m. service. Instead we encourage you in the coming week to make a point of reaching out and connecting with someone—be it someone from Fourth Church or someone you think might be lonely or isolated—via text, a phone call, or a written note.

This Sunday we remember the baptism of our Lord, as we do each year on the first Sunday after January 6, the day of Epiphany. In the season of Epiphany that follows we continue to focus on the revelation of the divinity of Jesus—that divinity that was proclaimed at Jesus’ baptism when the voice of the Lord said, “You are my Son the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Our hymns and anthems this Sunday will invite us to recall our own baptism, in which God has claimed and named us as God’s own. In grateful thanksgiving we begin this new year and season renewing our commitment to live out our call as beloved children of God.

Also this Sunday we will begin a new sermon series, “Things Jesus Never Said,” with the sermon “Things Jesus Never Said: ‘You Get What You Deserve,’” based on Matthew 20:1–16.

This Sunday the Adult Education Committee launches a four-week class, “The 1619 Project,” discussing the acclaimed New York Times series on slavery’s continuing legacy of injustice and inequality.

In the weeks ahead our guest speakers will lead us through conversation about the history of slavery; cultural and religious practices brought to America from Africa; the history of the Great Migration in Chicago; the 1919 race riot and its origins; and present-day socioeconomic struggles in America’s and Chicago’s Black community.

We hope you will plan to join us and our speakers—

Attendees are encouraged to read the 1619 Project essays, available at pulitzercenter.org/1619

11:15 a.m.

in person in Buchanan Chapel and online via Zoom

Register at www.bit.ly/1619class

This Sunday, January 9 will be David Handley’s last Sunday with us as Interim Minister for Caring Ministries. During worship we will take time to thank Dave for all he has done in his ministry among us and wish him Godspeed in his next ventures.

We will also be thanking Carol Allerton, who is retiring from her role as Administrative Assistant for Caring Ministries later this month. We are deeply grateful to Carol for her twenty-five years of service on staff and wish her Godspeed in her next ventures as well.

Although we had hoped to have opportunity for people to greet Dave and Carol in person following the morning service, for the health and safety of all we will not be having fellowship time after worship. Instead we encourage you to express your gratitude and well wishes by emailing Dave and emailing Carol.

While the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee continues to search for an Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation, Jeff Doane will take on staff leadership responsibilities for Stephen Ministry and the Board of Deacons. Many will recognize Jeff as our part-time Parish Associate for Older Adults. Our clergy staff will continue to work with spiritual formation and provide pastoral care to those in need in our congregation.

On Sunday, February 13 we will conclude our sesquicentennial year with a festive service of worship at 10:00 a.m. John Buchanan, Pastor Emeritus, will preach that morning.

We hope that current and former members and staff will come together in worship that day—whether online or in person—as we celebrate this congregation’s legacy and look toward our future.

We also encourage you to visit the web page www.fourthchurch.org/150 to read historical accounts and view videos of pastors who formerly served at Fourth Church as they share memories of their time with our congregation. These collections continue to grow, so do check back periodically!

Fourth Church Meals Ministry needs help serving Bag Lunch and Sunday Night Supper. Bag lunches and hot drinks are served in Anderson Hall on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with limited seating to allow for social distancing. Sunday Night Supper is also serving its meal both indoors and as a to-go option. You can sign up to help by using VOMO (www.bit.ly/fpcvolunteers), our Volunteer Ministry platform.

The Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center needs help sorting, sizing, and organizing donated clothes for distribution to participants. If you are interested in volunteering on Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. please contact Lynn Milligan.

The Social Service Center is also in need of individuals to donate men’s pants, sweaters, coats, gloves, scarves, and backpacks. They are accepting new and gently used donations that are clean and free from any rips, stains, or tears. Donations can be dropped off at the church reception desk Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. If you have clothes to donate but are unable to do so during that time, please reach out to Lynn Milligan to coordinate a drop off time.

As Chicago Lights—the nonprofit community outreach arm of Fourth Church—prepares for the March 4 Gala of Hope, they are in need of individuals to donate unique items and services for the Gala’s silent auction. If you have something you would like to offer, please email Laura Woods.

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, or leave a confidential message for a Stephen Minister at 312.573.3365.

If you who would like to pray with someone following the 10:00 a.m. service, Deacons are available as prayer partners in Stone Chapel (through the door to the right of the pulpit).

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.

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.

Died December 31, 2021, at the age of 101

Wearing masks is required of everyone on the Fourth Church campus. Masks must fully cover the nose and mouth at all times. Since everyone is masked throughout the service, the congregation is invited to sing.

We are 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 practice social distancing if they are not vaccinated against COVID-19.

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.

Our Sunday services are available for viewing following the conclusion of worship and throughout the week at www.bit.ly/fpcvideos.

Worship and sermon podcasts are available via iTunes and Spotify, and you can sign up to receive the text of the weekly sermon by email.

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