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. Included among them are

• Friday Noonday Concert, in person and livestreamed, featuring organist James Roman and soprano Grace Roman this Friday, April 12
• Memorial service for Sandra Holben this Friday afternoon, April 12, in person 
• Art Exhibition Opening in person this Friday evening, April 12
• “Troublesome Texts and Gender: Interpretive Strategies across the Abrahamic Faiths,” a new Adult Education class beginning this Sunday morning, April 14 and meeting in person and via Zoom
• “Sermon Discussion and Fellowship” in person on Sundays
• Men’s Bible Study via Zoom on Tuesday mornings
• Benevolent Guild in person on Wednesday mornings
• Horizons Women’s Bible Study via Zoom at noon and in the evening on Wednesday, April 24
• Women at Fourth in person on Thursday evening, April 25 to view and discuss the short film There Are No Words
• Choral Society rehearsals, beginning Thursday evening, April 25
• “Specialist in Aging Ministries” series in person beginning Friday noon, April 26
• Breakthrough Hunger Walk on Saturday morning, April 27
• Knitting and Crocheting via Zoom on Tuesday afternoon, April 30
• Inquirers’ Class, for those seeking to become members of Fourth Church, in person on Sunday, May 12 

For information about whom to contact for an event’s Zoom details or the link to register for an event, simply click on the down “arrow” to the right of the event name in the calendar (which is easily accessible from the “Calendar” at the top of the menu on our website).

For highlights about additional opportunities, keep reading!

Third Sunday of Easter, April 14

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

with Baptisms and Confirmation

Tom Are Jr. preaching

Worship bulletin

11:00 a.m. worship in person

with Baptism

Tom Are Jr. preaching

Worship bulletin

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

The Gathering: Communion at 2:00

Nancy Benson-Nicol preaching

Worship bulletin

Confirmation

During our 9:30 service the 2024 class of eighth-grade confirmands will be recognized and welcomed into the wider life of the congregation. Please keep these youth in prayer as they continue with us on their faith journey.

Sunday School Children in Worship

Children are always welcome in worship at Fourth Church. On the second Sunday of the month — which means this Sunday! — there is a special opportunity for them to join us: 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.

This Sunday we begin a three-week course on “Troublesome Texts and Gender: Interpretive Strategies across the Abrahamic Faiths,” taught by Susan Ross, Professor Emerita, Department of Theology, Loyola University of Chicago.

Together we will look at how certain troublesome texts in scripture on matters of gender and gender roles have been interpreted differently (now and over time) within our Christian tradition and across the Abrahamic faiths.

Dr. Ross, who has taught numerous courses, including “Feminist Theology” and “Women in Religion,” at Loyola, will draw upon her experience discussing gender issues with her students from different faith backgrounds. She will also offer new perspectives on recent scholarship on some of the more troublesome texts relating to gender.

Sundays, April 14–28 

11:00 a.m.

Borwell Dining Room and via Zoom

For Zoom details, register here

Last Sunday we gathered for the first of our table group discussions of the Sunday sermon and lectionary texts.

“Sermon Discussion and Fellowship” — which is led by Matt Helms, Associate Pastor for Children, Family, and Welcoming Ministries — is also an opportunity to get to know one another.

Join us following the 11:00 service as we grow our faith, build fellowship, and deepen our understanding of the text and sermon topic by listening to what others have heard.

So that we can ensure we have enough refreshments, we kindly request that you register in advance for whichever sessions you plan to attend.

Sundays, April 14, 21, and 28

12:15 p.m.

Borwell Dining Room (in person only)

Please register here

On Thursday, Chicago Lights Social Service Center artists displayed their art (above) in an “Art Hour Showcase.”

This Friday evening, we will have another opportunity to enjoy even more art, as we host an opening reception for the newest Loggia Gallery exhibit: “Gathered Together,” featuring the works of Alexandra Antoine and curated by Monica J. Brown.

Come to the Loggia at 5:30 p.m. to hear Ms. Antoine talk about her work — on display until mid-May — which honors the people and land of Léogâne, Haiti: as the artist explains, it “reflects on memories of communal experiences with my loved ones, the oral histories shared within these spaces, the native language of my people. and its use in sustaining my connection to land and spirit.”

Friday, April 12

5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

in the Loggia and Borwell Dining Room

Fourth Church Caring Ministries and the Center for Life and Learning invite you to participate in “Specialists in Aging Ministry.” 

This pilot program, which is open to all, is especially for those who

• Care for older adults, including family members  
• Anticipate a need to support aging friends or relatives  
• Serve in caring ministries (e.g., Deacons, Stephen Ministers)  
• Are older adults looking to support friends and colleagues  

This three-session program is offered by the Center for Gerontology at Concordia University Chicago and is led by Fourth Church member Beth Truett, who earned a graduate certificate in gerontology. Rooted in Christian theology and accepted gerontological principles, the program examines complex factors that impact growing older in the twenty-first century. 

Fridays, April 26–May 10

12:00–3:00 p.m.

at Fourth Church

(in person only)

To learn more or to register (required), contact Amy Pagliarella or Annette Mileski.

Put on your walking shoes and join our youth and our World Mission and Social Justice Council on Saturday, April 27 when we will walk for hunger with Breakthrough, one of our community partners.

We’ll be joining them that morning (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) in walking in East Garfield Park to raise funds for the battle against food insecurity. Thanks to generous sponsors, every registered walker will earn $27 for Breakthrough’s efforts to provide much-needed food for the community. 

Register here for Breakthrough’s 2024 Hunger Walk, and indicate Fourth Presbyterian Church in the box marked “Church.”

Or to learn more, stop by the World Mission and Social Justice table during Coffee Hour this Sunday or email the WMSJ Council.

Deaths

We give thanks to God for the gift of life eternal.

Gayle Matson

Died March 22, 2024

Michael McMurry

Died March 29, 2024

The memorial service for Sandra Holben, whose death was previously announced, will be held this Friday, April 12 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you will have seen our photo of the Fourth Church steeple and cross with Monday’s solar eclipse.

On Tuesday we partnered with DePaul University’s Center for Religion, Culture, and Community in cosponsoring a conversation with Jim Wallis about his new book, The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy.

Presbytery of Chicago Executive Presbyter Craig Howard joined Mr. Wallis for the discussion about this recently released work, which was published on April 2.

We began our current season of Eastertide with the dawning of Easter Sunday at Oak Street Beach. Our Sunrise Service included the celebration of Communion, and members of Tower Brass accompanied us before they headed to the Sanctuary for our services there.

In the Gratz Center, children gathered to hear the Easter story, explore the empty tomb, and make crafts.

Whether accompanied by organ and Tower Brass or our Gathering ensemble, “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” began our joyous Easter worship in both the morning and afternoon services.

Our celebration continued through the afternoon as our Meals Ministry staff and volunteers served a festive Easter dinner for our Sunday Night Supper guests.

Calling all who enjoy singing!

Come lend your voice to the Fourth Church Choral Society, which begins its spring rehearsals on Thursday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. This will be in preparation for singing during the morning worship services on Pentecost: Sunday, May 19.

This spring will be the last time John Sherer directs the Choral Society before he moves to Rochester, New York, in June. So we’re hoping for a big Choral Society turnout, from former choir members to those who just enjoy joining in song.

Thursdays, April 25–May 16

Rehearsals: 7:00–8:00 p.m.

Buchanan Chapel

Sunday, May 19

Singing in 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship

For their April gathering, Women at Fourth will present a short-film screening of James Coney's There Are No Words, starring Fourth Church’s Jessica Wang and Connie Chang. 

The film, which delves into the impact of sexual assault, draws inspiration from Chanel Miller’s courageous victim impact statement and features a diverse cast of actresses. After viewing There Are No Words, we will hear from the Director and Executive Producer, James Coney, and Fourth Church Elder Jessica Wang on their creative process and the making of this film.

Thursday, April 25

5:30 p.m.

Borwell Dining Room

Register here

A Civil Rights Trail Pilgrimage to New Orleans, Jackson, Montgomery, and Birmingham is on our calendar for October 18–27.

Cosponsored by Fourth Church and the Community Presbyterian Church of Clarendon Hills, this curated journey will take travelers to locations central to our nation’s civil rights movement. 

The ten-day pilgrimage to the South — Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi — promises to deliver a deeper understanding of and insights into the historic movers and movements of the historic and ongoing civil rights struggles as travelers learn personal stories, visit museums and historical sites, and experience cultural immersion. 

Learn more, and download a trip brochure, on our website.

To join the pilgrimage, apply online.

Conversation and Presence

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.

Grief Groups facilitated by the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being meet for four weeks via Zoom, with the next one beginning Wednesday, May 15. To learn more or register for a group, contact the group facilitator, Sharon Crawford-Tucker.

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, illnesses, hospitalizations, or deaths, please email Gloria Fleming, Assistant for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation; 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.

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.

Prayer

If you would like to submit a prayer request to our Morning Prayer or Deacon Prayer Ministries, please email Gloria Fleming or Nancy Benson-Nicol.

If you would like to offer individual prayers of praise or concern with a Deacon, you are invited to do so on Sunday mornings in Stone Chapel (through the Sanctuary door to the right of the pulpit) following the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services.

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 weekly at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. On the first Wednesday of the month (May 1) we also gather at 10:00 a.m. for in-person Morning Prayer in Buchanan Chapel. For Zoom details, email Nancy Benson-Nicol.

Children in Worship

Children are always welcome in worship at Fourth Church! 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.

During Sunday 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 is available (toll free) by calling 888.916.9166 just prior to the start of the service 9:30 service.

There’s a lot going on at Fourth Church!

There is the formation of the Pastor Nominating Committee as well as the Long-Range Planning work, all in addition to worship services, classes, trips, concerts, gatherings, and more.

We want to make sure you feel connected to all of these initiatives and have all the latest information about them.

So we ask that you please take 1 minute to reply to a simple survey to let us know how you want to access the latest news and information from Fourth Church in the days ahead!