CONTENTS
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An Easter Sunday Tradition
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Join Fourth Church members and friends for the annual Easter brunch at 12:30 p.m. this Sunday. The menu for the meal will include ham, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, waffles, Danishes, and fresh fruit.
There's still plenty of room at the table, so stop by the reception desk this week to get your ticket and reserve your spot. If there's space, a limited number of tickets may also be available at the door this Sunday.
All are invited for this special time of fellowship and celebration!
Time:
Sunday, April 5, 12:30 p.m.
Place:
Borwell Dining Room
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Children on the Journey to Easter
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Good Friday and Easter Sunday Opportunities
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Children led us into Holy Week with their processional of palms last Sunday. Now they have two experiences specially designed for them as they continue the journey to Easter.
On Good Friday, April 3, children and their families will have opportunity to attend a brief service at 5:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel. They will then be invited to explore at their own pace a variety of stations set up around the chapel. These stations will be loosely modeled after the Stations of the Cross and will have a variety of activities, crafts, readings, and media present, appropriate for various ages, so that families can engage in self-guided reflection together.
An Easter Experience for children five years of age through fifth grade will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Easter morning, April 5. Children will travel from room to room on the fourth floor of the Gratz Center, interacting with figures from the Gospel accounts of the resurrection and making special Easter crafts. After this journey through the Easter story is complete, children will be invited to go on an Easter egg hunt throughout the fifth floor of the Gratz Center.
Children can be dropped off on the fourth floor of the Gratz Center as early as 8:30 a.m. on Easter. There will be a variety of crafts and a movie playing to keep children entertained before the Easter Experience begins. Parents are welcome to attend with their children, if they like, or to return outside to join the line for worship in the Sanctuary.
Parents are asked to please use the Chestnut or Delaware doors to the Gratz Center both for dropping off children and then to exit for joining the line for worship in the Sanctuary. (The Loggia will only be used as an exit from the Sanctuary this Sunday, not as an entrance to worship.)
Nursery care will be available on Easter morning during all three morning services. It will be staffed beginning at 7:30 a.m. There will not be any children's programming (other than the Nursery for infants and toddlers) during the 11:30 service.
Good Friday Experience
Time:
Friday, April 3, 5:30 p.m.
Place:
Buchanan Chapel
Easter Sunday Experience
Time:
Sunday, April 5, 9:30 a.m.
Place:
Fourth Floor of the Gratz Center
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Maundy Thursday 12:10 and 7:30 p.m. Services
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Holy Week continues on this 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.
Time:
Thursday, April 2, 12:10 and 7:30 p.m.
Place:
Sanctuary
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The Most Solemn Day
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Good Friday Services at 12:10 and 7:30 p.m.
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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.
At 5:30 p.m. (see above), a Good Friday service specially designed for children will take place in Buchanan Chapel.
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.
Good Friday Services
Time:
Friday, April 3, 12:10 and 7:30 p.m.
Place:
Sanctuary
Good Friday Prayer Walk
Time:
Friday, April 3, 3:00 p.m.
Place:
North side of Seward Park
(southwest corner of Division and Orleans)
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Holy Saturday Service at 8:00 p.m.
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Again this year we will gather for a deeply moving Easter Vigil this 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. We hope to see you there!
Time:
Saturday, April 4, 8:00 p.m.
Place:
Beginning in the Michigan Avenue courtyard
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Easter Alleluias
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Services at 6:30, 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
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Join us in singing the festive songs of Easter this Sunday as we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord! Our Easter worship opportunities include a sunrise service at Oak Street Beach, three Easter morning services in the Sanctuary, and afternoon Easter jazz worship service with Communion in the Sanctuary.
The Easter sunrise service on Oak Street Beach will be held at 6:30 a.m., with Hardy Kim preaching. There will be three morning worship services--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--the 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. services in particular--fills quickly and early. Additionally there may be possible delays in entering and exiting the parking garages as a result of increased traffic volume.
Entrance to the Sanctuary for morning services on Easter will be through the Michigan Avenue doors (and not, this week, through the Loggia or the Gratz Center entrances, except for those who need to make use of the handicap accessibility there).
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 five years of age through fifth grade are invited to participate in our 9:30 a.m. Easter children's service and egg hunt on the fourth and fifth floors of the Gratz Center (see above).
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A Live Stream of the 11:30 a.m. Service
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Are you unable to join us for worship this Easter? Would you like to share with out-of-town friends and family our Easter celebration? We will be live-streaming our 11:30 a.m. Easter service online at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/easter-2015, which can be accessed Sunday morning at www.fourthchurch.org.
Those who will be with us but who would like to experience the festive worship again will also be able to view the video there later in the day and throughout the coming weeks.
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Fish Banks Add to Our Sharing
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A "One Great Hour of Sharing" Offering
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This past Palm Sunday during morning worship, our children processed down the aisle with not only palm branches but fish banks as well. These small cardboard banks were distributed to children and their families last month, and any money collected in them throughout the Lenten season was then brought forward on Palm Sunday as an offering for One Great Hour of Sharing.
The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering supports Fourth Church Meals Ministry--from the weekday bag lunch program to Sunday and Monday Night Suppers for those in need--Chicago Lights Tutoring and Elam Davies Social Service Center as well as the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and the Presbyterian Self-Development of People Program.
It's not too late to add your gift to the children's baskets of fish this Holy Week! "One Great Hour of Sharing" gifts can be made online today or by using the envelopes in the pew racks or writing "Lenten Offering" on the memo line of a check made payable to Fourth Presbyterian Church.
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Welcoming Parish Associate Jeff Doane
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Join us as we warmly welcome Jeff Doaneto our pastoral staff to serve part-time as our new Parish Associate for Older Adults!
A longtime friend of Fourth Church, Jeff was Pastor of Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church for twenty-seven years prior to his retirement. Prior to that, he served the Synod of Lincoln Trails and Second Presbyterian Church in Oak Park, Southminster Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, and First Presbyterian Church of Chicago.
Parish Associate positions in the Presbyterian Church (USA) are at the invitation of the Pastor and are a covenant relationship between a congregation and their presbytery. In his role as Parish Associate, Jeff will work directly with Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care, Judy Watt, focusing on providing connection and pastoral care to our older adult members. We also look forward to having Jeff participate as an occasional worship leader.
This month Jeff is also teaching a Center for Life and Learning class on Marilynne Robinson's Lila, and beginning Sunday, April 12, he will be leading an Academy for Faith and Life class, "Nature and Grace in Poetry and Prose," at 9:30 a.m. in Room 5D. To sign up for the Academy class, simply register online or contact Ryan Loeckel.
Welcome, Jeff!
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A New Monthly Women's Bible Study
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Following the Horizons Guide through Scripture
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Interested in taking part in a Bible study that has been field tested by women's groups all over the country? Come take part in a monthly women's Bible study, offered through Presbyterian Women, based on the guide from Horizons magazine. The group will begin meeting next Wednesday, April 8 at 12:00 noon in Room 4J in the Gratz Center.
For more information and to sign up (required), contact Anne Ellis at 312.573.3369.
Time:
Wednesday, April 8, 12:00 noon
Place:
Room 4J
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A Celebration of Mosaic Art
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We are honored to display the work of Italian mosaic artist Verdiano Marzi through a collaboration with the Chicago Mosaic School-the only classic mosaic school in the country. Mr. Marzi's exhibit, "Dall'Sogno all'Opus Veritas," will be on display in the Loggia through Tuesday, June 30.
Last Sunday after 11:00 a.m. worship, Mr. Marzi gave a presentation and hosted a gallery walkthrough of his exhibit, "Dall'Sogno all'Opus Veritas," which is his first solo exhibition in the United States. Next Friday, April 10, we will host an artist reception for Mr. Marzi. Please plan to join us at 6:00 p.m. that evening in the Loggia for an opportunity to hear the artist talk about these amazingly intricate works.
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.
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Congregational Meeting on April 12
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Electing an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee
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All members are encouraged to attend a congregational meeting that has been called by the Session of Fourth Church for next Sunday, April 12 in the Sanctuary following the 11:00 worship service.
At the meeting, the congregation will elect an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee to identify and recommend to the congregation a candidate for Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry.
June 7 will be John Vest's final Sunday with us in that role, before he assumes his new position as Visiting Assistant Professor of Evangelism at Union Presbyterian Seminary. Back to top
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Worship This Week
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Maundy Thursday
April 2, 2015
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12:10 p.m. with Communion
John W. Vest, Associate Pastor, preaching "An Invitation to the Table"Scripture texts: Luke 22:14-19 John 13:3-17 7:30 p.m. Communion Tenebrae Service
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12:10 p.m.
Shannon J. Kershner, Pastor, preaching "We Were There: The Centurion"Scripture texts: Mark 15:25-41 5:30 p.m. Good Friday Children's Experience
in Buchanan Chapel7:30 p.m. Choral Service
featuring Stabat Mater by Frank Ferko
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Easter Vigil
April 4, 2015
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8:00 p.m. with Communion
John W. Vest, Associate Pastor, preaching "Choose Your Own Adventure"
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Easter Sunday
April 5, 2015
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6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service at Oak Street Beach
Hardy H. Kim, Associate Pastor, preaching "Holy Terror"Scripture text: Mark 16:1-8 8:00, 9:30, and 11:30 a.m.
Shannon J. Kershner, Pastor, preaching "We Were There: The Women at the Tomb"Scripture texts: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 Isaiah 25:6-9 Mark 16:1-8 4:00 p.m. Jazz Service with Communion
Hardy H. Kim, Associate Pastor, preaching "Holy Terror"Scripture texts: Psalm 114 Mark 16:1-8
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Passages
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Birth
We give thanks to God for the gift of new life.
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Michelle Rose Royer, daughter of Randy and Fiona Royer
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Concerts at Fourth Church
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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.
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Volunteer at Fourth Church
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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.
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