Feelings of grief, loss, loneliness, sadness, and anxiety can become more pronounced during the holidays. The "Longest Night" service--also known as the "Blue Christmas" service--on Thursday, December 18 provides a Christmas worship opportunity for those who may find it difficult to share in the traditional celebrations on December 24 and 25.

This service will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel.

Those dealing with the emotional challenges of the season are also invited to contact the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being at Fourth Church at 312.787.8425.

Time:

     Thursday, December 18, 6:30 p.m.

Place:

     Buchanan Chapel

Applications for two mission trips that offer opportunity to strengthen relationships with partner churches--one in Cuba, one in Haiti--are due this coming Monday, December 15.

Taking place March 20-28, 2015, a trip to Havana, Cuba, will give participants a chance to share in worship and learn about the resiliency of First Presbyterian Church, which has been a sister congregation of Fourth Church for more than fourteen years. This intergenerational trip will also include possible visits to the Ernest Hemingway Museum, an art museum, and a cigar factory.

This summer from June 20-26, a group will continue the work of Fourth Church youth who went on a mission trip to Les Cayes, Haiti, during the summer of 2014. Hosted by Praying Pelican Missions, this intergenerational trip offers opportunity to participate in an ongoing partnership with New Jerusalem Church and work alongside Haitian residents on community construction projects.

Application information for both trips is available online here.

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If you haven't done so already, please consider honoring or remembering those on your Christmas list with "Light Up a Life" gifts--which also help neighbors whose needs are great this holiday season.

Again this year, four candlelight services will be held at Fourth Church on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24. We hope you will join us as we anticipate the birth of Christ!

4:00 p.m. Children's Pageant in the Sanctuary

6:00 p.m. Family Service in the Sanctuary

8:30 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols in the Sanctuary

11:00 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols in the Sanctuary

John Vest will preach at the 6:00 p.m. service, and Shannon Kershner will preach during 8:30 and 11:00 p.m. worship.

Christmas Eve child care for infants and toddlers will be provided in the Nursery, which is located on the first floor of the Gratz Center, from 3:30 to 7:15 p.m. (Child care is not available during the 8:30 or 11:00 p.m. services). Please note that there is no reserved seating at any of the Christmas Eve services, including the Children's Pageant.

Reduced rate parking (with validation) will be available at the 900 North Michigan garage but not the Hancock garage. See below for details.

Join Fourth Church on Thursday, December 25 during worship at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary as we celebrate the birth of Jesus! Minister for Children and Families Matt Helms will lead this service of Christmas readings and hymns.

A traditional Christmas dinner will be held at 12:15 p.m. in Anderson Hall following the Christmas Day service. Tickets (required) for the dinner are available at the church reception desk. Seating is limited, so be sure to get your tickets now!

Reduced rate parking (with validation) will be available at the 900 North Michigan garage but not the Hancock garage. See below for details.

For those entering the 900 garage before 5:00 p.m. on December 24, discounted parking will cost $16, which is the holiday rate.

A $16 orange parking voucher for that discount will need to be purchased at Fourth Church on Christmas Eve--cash or check only--and will be available before and after the Children's Pageant that day. Those entering the garage after 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve will be able to park for the usual $8 evening rate with a green voucher available at the church.

Parking on Christmas Day in the 900 garage will cost $16. The voucher for discounted parking on Christmas Day must be purchased, with cash or check, at the church on Christmas morning.

There will be no discounted parking at the Hancock garage on either day.

Again this year families are invited to participate in La Posada Family Night, a unique tradition from Latin America, held next Friday, December 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the Gratz Center.

Together families will journey throughout the church, knocking on doors in the Gratz Center as they look for "room at the inn" just like Mary and Joseph did more than 2,000 years ago. After visiting several "inns," families will arrive at the final door to Borwell Dining Room, where we'll enjoy a shared dinner.

After dinner, all are invited into Anderson Hall to play games, break piñatas, and sing Christmas carols.

Time:

     Friday, December 19, 5:30 p.m.

Place:

     Gratz Center

Thank you to all who shopped at the Fair Trade Bazaar this past weekend and supported artisans from more than thirty countries! Hundreds of visitors made their way through Anderson Hall and Borwell Dining Room, perusing handcrafted merchandise from such vendors as Ten Thousand Villages, Africa Circle of Hope, Alternative Gifts International, and more.

Shopping at the bazaar helps make it possible for these artisans to earn a fair wage for their labors and provide food, shelter, education and health care for their families.

Sermons

from previous weeks are posted online at www.fourthchurch.org/sermons 

Sunday, December 14, 2014
Festival of Advent Lessons and Music
6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Followed by a cookies-and-cocoa reception  

in Anderson Hall

Friday, December 19, 2014
Ann Marie Boyle, vocalist
Stephen White, pianist
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel

Friday, December 19, 2014
Lakeside Singers: "Holiday Road"
8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Tickets available online
and at the door (subject to availability)

Saturday, December 20, 2014
Christmas with Tower Brass
5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
$20 suggested donation will be received at the door

Sunday, December 21, 2014
Christmas Cantata
During 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship in the Sanctuary
Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols
sung by the Morning Choir
with harpist Kara Bershad