Sunday, November 12

9:30 a.m. worship in person and online

Tom Are Jr. preaching

Worship bulletin

11:00 a.m. worship in person only

Tom Are Jr. preaching

Worship bulletin

2:00 p.m. worship in person and online

The Gathering: Communion at 2:00

Rocky Supinger preaching

Worship bulletin

Children in Worship

Children are always welcome in worship! If you need to step out to comfort your child, the Hospitality Suite, on the second floor of the Gratz Center, is a quiet space for families where worship is livestreamed.

On the second Sunday of the month — which means this Sunday! — Sunday School children in the 9:30 a.m. class are invited to come to worship with their parents. At the time of the Gloria Patri, the children will meet up with their teachers and head to their classrooms.

During the morning services nursery care is available on the fourth floor of the Gratz Center for infants through two-year-olds.

Livestreamed Services

Livestreamed worship services (9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) are accessible by going to www.bit.ly/fpcvideos, subscribing to our YouTube channel, or clicking on the photo with a “Play” arrow on the home page of the Fourth Church website.

These livestreams are available to view anytime after the service begins if you would prefer to connect online at a later time. For tips on how to watch — from the beginning — a service already in progress, see www.fourthchurch.org/watch-from-the-beginning

Audio-only by phone for the 9:30 service is available (toll free) by calling 888.916.9166 just prior to 9:30.

An online Long-Range Planning town hall will be held via Zoom this Sunday, November 12.

The information presented will be different from that shared at the October sessions and will focus on the congregational survey results. If you were not able to be with us for the in-person November presentation and discussion last Sunday, we hope you will join us online this Sunday!

Sunday, November 12

10:45 a.m.

via Zoom at www.bit.ly/longrange1112

Meeting ID: 885 6812 9236

Passcode: 778108

For details or more information, email the task force.

Partnering with Refugees

Please stop by Coffee Hour this Sunday morning to meet our refugee family: Paul, Flora, Leila, and Nolan, originally from the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

Celebrating their one-year anniversary in Chicago, the family continues to welcome our prayers, encouragement, and support as they navigate new beginnings in the US.

Interested in learning more about Refugee One, with whom we have cosponsored this family, or becoming a mentor to a new refugee family? Email our refugee team.

Addressing Issues of Homelessness

This past week we learned that the city will be using the Selina Hotel next door to the church to provide shelter during the winter months for those experiencing homelessness.

While the city is still working out the details, we look forward to identifying ways in which we might strategically partner to help provide services that may be needed by our new neighbors as part of this important initiative.

As we learn more, watch for ways in which you can be involved.

Meals Ministry Gift Bags

Our annual Meals Ministry Holiday Gift Bag Drive is underway!

This year our goal is to prepare bags for 475 Sunday Night and Monday Night Supper guests, which is an increase of 175 over last year and includes the addition of 75 gift bags for children.

A list of items needed is available online. Items can be shipped to or dropped off at the church by Monday, December 4.

We are also in need of 475 McDonald’s gift cards in the amount of $10 each. (Please keep the cards to $10 so each guest receives the same amount.)

Cards can be dropped off at the church reception desk or mailed to the church (126 E. Chestnut, Chicago, IL 60611.2014).

Please mark all deliveries, mail, or drop-offs “Attention: Meals Ministry” as we receive a lot of items in this season and want to ensure these particular ones quickly find their way to the gift bags. 

Organ Anniversary Concert

Each November a Friday evening organ concert marks the anniversary of our 2015 Andrew Pipe Organ dedication.

This year we are delighted to have Isabelle Demers, a native of Québec and a doctoral graduate of the Juilliard School, in concert on November 17. Associate Professor of Organ at McGill University, Dr. Demers, who is in high demand to present programs to her organist colleagues, has performed extensively worldwide.

We look forward to hearing her at Fourth Church next Friday.

Friday, November 17

7:30 p.m.

in the Sanctuary and livestreamed

Come prepare the way to step out of the busyness of life and learn how a pilgrimage can deepen your faith.

The Spiritual Formation Council invites you to take part in their fall workshop, “Pilgrimage,” next Saturday morning.

Come join us on a spiritual journey and discover God’s voice in your life.

Find the sacred within while building community.

Saturday, November 18

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

Buchanan Chapel

and via Zoom (www.bit.ly/pilgrimage1123) 

Sing in the season with us next Saturday, November 18!

At 5:00 p.m. that day we will gather on the Sanctuary steps to carol prior to the 5:30 p.m. Tree-Lighting Parade, part of the annual Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.

Plan to come spread holiday cheer to those gathered for the Michigan Avenue festivities!

Saturday, November 18

5:00 p.m.

on the Sanctuary steps

A Zoom Gathering with Tom Are

If you are among those who regularly connect with us online and thus have not yet had opportunity to meet our new Interim Pastor, the Reverend Tom Are Jr., we have a a Zoom event planned for you!

Please plan to join us and Tom via Zoom (www.bit.ly/meetandgreet1128) on Tuesday, November 28 at 6:00 p.m. (Central) for an informal hour with Tom, a time when he will introduce himself to us and we will introduce ourselves to him.

Widen Our Welcome Pizza and Games

LGBTQIA+ Widen Our Welcome (WOW) will gather for pizza and games this Sunday, November 12 at 12:00 p.m. in the Manse off of Parish House.

If you are looking for directions, stop at the church reception desk and come join us for a time of fellowship!

Women at Fourth November Gathering

Women at Fourth will be coming together in person next Sunday, November 19 at 11:00 a.m. in Room 5G for a program on “Nurturing Responsibility in Children: Strategies and Considerations” led by Dr. Margaret (Peg) Griffiths.

Register online.

A Holiday Deep Listening Dinner

Come get to know others at Fourth Church by sharing dinner and conversation on Saturday evening, December 2 when we gather in Anderson hall for a Holiday Deep Listening.

Advance registration for the dinner is required for planning purposes.

Curious to learn more about Deep Listening Dinners? Contact Simon Crow.

Our three-week Sunday Morning class “Stop the Shooting,” which featured guest speakers from Live Free Illinois, Chicago CRED (shown above), and Moms Demand Action, concluded last week. This week we begin a new class—

Always Being Reformed

This Sunday, November 12, Jeff Doane will lead us in comparing selections from Reformation-era Confessions with portions of A Brief Statement of Faith.

A two-week Adult Education class, “Reformed and Always Being Reformed” will be held on Sunday, November 12 and 19 at 11:00 a.m. in Borwell Dining Room (in person only). Register here

Spiritual Gifts

The Volunteer Ministry Council and the Spiritual Formation Council invite you to an in-person workshop on “You and Your Spiritual Gifts” on Saturday morning, December 2 at 10:00 a.m.

For details about this opportunity to discover your unique spiritual gifts, to learn about spiritual gifts, and to help you connect with the programs and ministries in the church specifically related to your God-given gifts, contact Robert Crouch.  

Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

We will again this year join with our neighbors for an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.

Holy Name Cathedral will host the service on Tuesday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m., and musicians from Fourth Church will provide musical leadership.

Tuesday, November 21

7:00 p.m.

at Holy Name Cathedral (730 N. Wabash)

Thanksgiving Day “Rhythm and Word”

On Thanksgiving Day we will not be gathering in person for worship. Instead we will be sharing a Thanksgiving Day “Rhythm and Word” video on our YouTube channel that Thursday morning, November 23.

When you or those with whom you may be gathering are looking for ten minutes of spiritual reflection during which to pause to give thanks that day, we invite you to view the music-and-word worship experience released that morning.

To receive the video that day by email, subscribe at www.bit.ly/rhythmandwordemail

The Thanksgiving Day video will be part of our November “Rhythm and Word” series, in which Lucy Forster-Smith is leading us in exploring the theme of thanksgiving, this week through the poetry of the prophet Isaiah. You can view the latest video in the series by clicking on the play button above.

Remember loved ones and recognize those who are special in your life by making contributions in their name toward the purchase of Christmas flowers, wreaths, and garlands. These will decorate the Sanctuary this coming Advent and Christmas season. A list of those remembered will be printed in the Christmas bulletin.

While there is no set amount, a suggested donation of $50 per dedication allows us to purchase flowers, wreaths, and garlands to adorn the Sanctuary and the Gratz Center during the Christmas season.

Contributions can be made online and must be received by Sunday, December 10 in order for names to be included in the bulletin.

For more information, contact Gloria Vicente.

Last week our 2023 Michigan Avenue Forum engaged us in an exploration of antisemitism and the church’s role in it.

If you missed this important conversation among panelists Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Becca Lubow, and the Reverend Nanette Sawyer and moderated by Hope Daniels, we encourage you to watch the video.

On the first Sunday of each month, Sunday School families gather for brunch on the fourth floor after the 9:30 a.m. classes.

While the parents enjoy a time of fellowship, the children particularly appreciate the donuts!

On November 5, All Saints’ Sunday, we remembered all the saints of the church, especially those whose baptism is new and those whose baptism is now complete. As part of our remembrance of the faithful who have gone before us and our honoring departed loved ones, the names of Fourth Church members who entered the Church Triumphant in the past year were read during worship.

We also marked the day with the Morning Choir singing A New England Requiem by

Scott Perkins.

The staff welcomed Tom Are this past Tuesday, when he joined the biweekly staff meeting of Fourth Church and Chicago Lights and we embarked on a season of shared ministry!

Prayer

If you would like to submit a prayer request to our Morning Prayer or Deacon Prayer Ministries, please email caringministries@fourthchurch.org

If you would like to join in praying for others—members of Fourth Church and those in need—we invite you to gather with us for Wednesday Morning Prayer at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom or at 10:00 a.m. in person. For Zoom details, email Nancy Benson-Nicol.

Conversation and Presence

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 Nancy Benson-Nicol, Associate Pastor 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.

To join a Grief Group facilitated by our Replogle Center, email Sharon Crawford-Tucker.