CONTENTS
|
Participate in This Worldwide Environmental Event
|
Tomorrow from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., Fourth Church will be turning off its non-essential lighting in support of Earth Hour, a lights-off event that started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 and has since grown to engage more than 162 countries and territories worldwide.
Our participation is part of the work of the Care of Creation Committee at Fourth Church, which is committed to raising awareness and taking actions to help Fourth Church conserve resources and care for our environment.
Want to know more about Care of Creation or ways in which you can care for our planet? Contact Vicky Curtiss, Associate Pastor for Mission, at 312.981.3598.
|
Tie a Blue Bow This Sunday
|
National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month
|
Join us this Sunday in tying a blue bow in the Commons to help us prepare to recognize April as National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.
Then this coming Wednesday, April 1, we'll wrap the twine to which you tied those blue bows around the trees along Michigan Avenue, creating a visually stunning and thought-provoking reminder for all who pass by.
Prior to the 10:00 a.m. blue-bow tying on April 1, a Blue Bows Interfaith Prayer Service will be held at 9:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. All are invited to take part in this opportunity to remember and hold in prayer all those affected by child abuse.
The service will be followed by a press conference, and afterwards volunteers will tie blue bows on our Michigan Avenue trees.
To volunteer to help tie bows on Wednesday morning and afternoon, please contact Anne Ellis.
|
This Sunday after 11:00 a.m. worship, master mosaic artist Verdiano Marzi will be giving a presentation on his first solo exhibition in the United States, "Dall Sogno all' Opus Veritas," in Borwell Dining Room. The exhibition, which is on display in the Loggia, is presented through a collaboration with Fourth Church and the Chicago Mosaic School--the only classic mosaic school the country. Mr. Marzi will conclude his presentation with a gallery walkthrough.
Mr. Marzi became a master mosaicist after studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in his hometown of Ravenna, Italy, the cradle of Byzantine mosaics in the fourth and fifth century. He also studied with mosaicist Riccardo Licata at Aecole des Beaux-Arts de Paris. Besides creating mosaics and showing them at his own exhibitions and with other artists, Mr. Marzi also teaches, in particular at the Louvre, and carries out restoration work.Save the date! An artist reception for Mr. Marzi will be held on Friday, April 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the Loggia
"Dall Sogno all' Opus Veritas" will be on display--in its first US exhibition--in the Loggia through Tuesday, June 30.
Time Sunday, March 29 after 11:00 a.m. worship
Place Borwell Dining Room
|
Waving Palms at 9:30 and 11:00
|
One of Fourth Church's most beloved traditions will take place during 9:30 and 11:00 worship this Sunday: the Palm Sunday processional of children entering the Sanctuary waving palms. Children will gather in their Sunday School classrooms prior to each service; parents with infants and toddlers will meet in the Loggia at 9:25 and 10:55 a.m. They will all then process into the Sanctuary to begin our entrance into Holy Week.
(More information about Palm Sunday logistics for parents and children is available in the latest Children and Families email.)
As we begin our Holy Week journey this Palm Sunday, we hope you'll join us!
Back to top
|
As Well As Communion at 12:10 p.m.
|
Our journey to Easter Sunday continues on Maundy Thursday, April 2 with worship services at 12:10 and 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Both services will include Communion. John Vest will preach at the 12:10 p.m. service.
The evening service will follow the ancient Office of Tenebrae (from the Latin for "shadows"). The service portrays the progression from light to darkness in the passion of Jesus, beginning with his abandonment on Thursday and concluding with his crucifixion. The service ends with the Sanctuary in complete darkness.
Back to top
|
Choral Worship on Good Friday
|
And Shannon Kershner preaching at 12:10 p.m.
|
Good Friday worship opportunities on April 3 include a noonday service at 12:10 p.m., with Shannon Kershner preaching, and an evening choral service at 7:30 p.m., both in the Sanctuary. The Good Friday Choral Service will feature the work Stabat Mater by Frank Ferko.
A Good Friday experience specially designed for children will take place at 5:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel. Children and their families will have the opportunity to attend a short worship service and then explore a variety of stations with activities, crafts, and readings loosely modeled after the Stations of the Cross.
Also on Good Friday, the Near North Ministry Alliance (NNMA) is again holding a Good Friday Prayer Walk, beginning at 3:00 p.m. on the north side of Seward Park (southwest corner of Division and Orleans). All are invited to join Fourth Church and the other partner churches of the NNMA for this time of reflection.
|
The deeply moving Easter Vigil will be held on Saturday, April 4 at 8:00 p.m. This special service, an ancient tradition of the church, invites us into the story of salvation as we mark the conclusion of Lent and the dawning of Easter.
We will begin by kindling a fire in the Michigan Avenue courtyard and processing by candlelight into the darkened Sanctuary. As Easter draws near and the light of the Sanctuary increases, we will hear readings from scripture that cover the entire story of salvation, from creation through redemption, and join together in sacred song. The evening will culminate in a reaffirmation of our baptismal vows and the celebration of the Lord's Supper.
Your heart, mind, and body will be engaged by this experiential celebration of the new life we are given in Christ. Please join us!
Time
Saturday, April 4 at 8:00 p.m.
Place
Beginning in the Michigan Avenue courtyard
|
A Look Ahead to Easter
|
Celebrate the resurrection of the Lord with a variety of Easter worship opportunities: a sunrise service at Oak Street Beach, three Easter morning services in the Sanctuary, and afternoon Easter jazz worship with Communion in the Sanctuary.
The Easter sunrise service on Oak Street Beach begins at 6:30 a.m., with Hardy Kim preaching. There will be three morning worship services in the Sanctuary at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m., at which Shannon Kershner will be preaching. The jazz service with Communion will be held at 4:00 p.m., with Hardy Kim preaching.
Please note that the last worship service of the morning begins at 11:30 a.m. on Easter in order to accommodate the number of worshipers on Easter morning. Also please keep in mind that Sanctuary seating for all morning services fills quickly and early, and there may be possible delays in entering and exiting the parking garages as a result of increased traffic volume.
We also hope you'll join us for Easter Brunch at 12:30 p.m. in Borwell Dining Room that day. A limited number of tickets are available at the reception desk. On Easter Sunday, nursery care for children under the age of four will be available on the first floor of the Gratz Center between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and children four years of age through fifth grade are invited to participate in our 9:30 a.m. Easter Children's experience on the fourth floor of the Gratz Center, which will be followed by an Easter egg hunt on the fifth floor.
|
"Black Lives Matter" Service
|
A Call to Action and a Worship Service
|
On Sunday, April 12 at 2:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel, Fourth Church will host "Black Lives Matter," a call to action and worship service that will provide opportunity to discuss issues of racism. This interfaith service is being planned along with our neighbors, Chicago Sinai Congregation, St. James Episcopal Church, St. Chrysostom Episcopal Church, and LaSalle Street Church.
Later that week the Mission Committee will hold an orientation on "Restorative Justice: What Is It and How Can We Be Peacebuilders?" on Thursday, April 16 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 4E in the Gratz Center. For more information, contact Vicky Curtiss.
|
Chicago's River Bridges
|
An Invitation from Fourth Dimension
|
Interested in learning more about Chicago's many bridges? Join us on Friday, April 10 at 6:00 p.m. for "Chicago's River Bridges," a special event hosted by Fourth Dimension, a fellowship group of individuals fifty and over.
Patrick McBriarty, author of Chicago River Bridges, will provide a multimedia presentation on Chicago's bridges and the innovation, design, and major contributions by Chicagoans to moveable bridge technology. All are welcome to learn about how the Windy City has long been a center for drawbridge development, making Chicago the "drawbridge capital of the world" and the greatest working drawbridge museum of any city on earth.
To register, contact Anne Ellis (312.573.3369) by next Wednesday, April 8.
Time
Friday, April 10 at 6:00 p.m.
Place
Page Smith Room
Back to top
|
Thank You to NEXT and PYM Volunteers!
|
Last week Fourth Church hosted close to 1,000 people who traveled to Chicago to attend two national conferences hosted by this congregation.
Monday through Wednesday, March 16-18, we welcomed the NEXT Church national gathering (you can check out online the fun photos from the event), and Thursday through Saturday, March 17-21, we hosted nearly 300 people who participated in the Progressive Youth Ministry (PYM) Conference "Fresh Voices, Radical Ideas."
It was the generous gift of time and gracious hospitality of Fourth Church volunteers that made it possible to welcome these back-to-back conferences to Fourth Church. To all who were on hand to make the week run so smoothly, thank you!
Back to top
|
Worship This Week
|
Palm Sunday March 29, 2015
|
Passages
|
Death
We give thanks to God for the gift of eternal life.
|
Louise J. Stiers, January 25, 2015
|
Concerts at Fourth Church
|
The Noonday concerts listed here are free.
Friday, April 3, 2015 Good Friday, No Noonday Concert
Good Friday Choral Service
Stabat Mater by Frank Ferko 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Friday, April 10, 2015
Jennifer Woodrum, clarinetist
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Cosponsored by the Musicians Club of Women
Friday, April 17, 2015
Joseph Kingma, pianist
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Friday, April 17, 2015
Camerata Chicago Orchestra
Conducted by Drostan Hall Rising Star Series: Emily Frederick, piano 7:00 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel Tickets available through Camerata Chicago cameratachicago.org | 630.221.5555
Friday, April 24, 2015
John W. W. Sherer, organist (Organist and Director of Music at Fourth Church) 12:10 p.m. in the Sanctuary Friday, April 24, 2015 Lakeside Singers Concert 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary Tickets available through Lakeside Singers
www.lakesidesingers.com
A complete concert schedule is available online.
Back to top
|
Volunteer at Fourth Church
|
There are several ways to get involved in the mission and ministry of Fourth Church. See below for details!
Current Volunteer Needs
To sign up for any of these volunteer opportunities or to learn more about them, stop by Coffee Hour on Sunday morning or contact Larry Nicholson, Director of Volunteer Ministry.
A complete list of volunteer needs is available online.
|
|
|