top
CONTENTS
An Artist Reception Friday Evening
"Black Lives Matter" Interfaith Service
Have You Seen the Palm Sunday Photos?
Drive-In Family Movie Night
Nature and Grace, Poetry and Prose
Pilgrimage as Spiritual Practice
Restorative Justice
Communion for the Homebound
Screen Time and Our Brains
Calling All Singers
Travel to Guatemala This Summer
A Bible Study for Men
Meet Verdiano Marzi

This Friday between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. in the Loggia, all are invited to an artist reception for Italian mosaic artist Verdiano Marzi.

 

There will be refreshments and music as well as opportunity to meet Mr. Marzi, whose first-ever US solo exhibition is on display here through collaboration with the Chicago Mosaic School. His exhibit, "Dal Sogno all'Opus Veritas," will be on display in the Loggia through Friday, July 3.

Please plan to join us Friday evening for an opportunity to hear the artist talk about these amazingly intricate and stunningly beautiful works.

 

Time:  

     Friday, April 10, 6:00-9:00 p.m. 

 

Place:  

     Loggia and Anderson Hall 

 

twoIt's Confirmation Sunday!
This Sunday, the 2015 class of confirmands will be confirmed and welcomed into membership during 11:00 a.m. worship. Each month on baptismal Sundays, we renew our pledge to support the children and youth of the church; attending the confirmation service is one way to be present with and support them. We hope you will join us for this service and ask that you keep these youth in prayer as they continue with us on their faith journey.

Electing an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee

All members are encouraged to attend the congregational meeting that has been called by the Session of Fourth Church for this Sunday, April 12 in the Sanctuary following the 11:00 worship service.

At the meeting, the congregation will elect an Associate Pastor Nominating Committee that will be charged with identifying and recommending 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, and we hope you will plan to be with us that day as we celebrate and thank John and Anna for their ministry among us.

 

Time:   

     Sunday, April 12, 12:15 p.m. 

 

Place:   

     Sanctuary 

 
four1"Black Lives Matter" Interfaith Service
A Worship Service and Call to Action

Join us this Sunday, April 12 at 2:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel for "Black Lives Matter," a worship service that will provide opportunity to address issues of racism. This interfaith service--and call to action--is being planned in collaboration with our neighbors Chicago Sinai Congregation, St. James Cathedral, St. Chrysostom Episcopal Church, and LaSalle Street Church. All are invited!

 

Time:

     Sunday, April 12, 2:30 p.m.

 

Place:

     Buchanan Chapel 

   

Back to top 

From children waving palms to a donkey visiting the choir loft--you can see this and more in our Palm Sunday photo album

 

So you don't miss future pictures of congregational life at Fourth Church--including the upcoming Easter album--be sure to "Like" Fourth Church on Facebook, or, if you don't have a Facebook account (it's free and easy to sign up), check our page often (which is also free and easy to do!).

 

Back to top  

sixDrive-In Family Movie Night
Crafting Cars for Friday Film Fun

Feeling nostalgic for outdoor drive-in movies on warm evenings? Stop by our Drive-In Family Movie Night next Friday, April 17!

 

Families may come by for dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. in Borwell Dining Room, followed by a time to decorate cardboard boxes to use as personal cars for a "drive-in" movie. Boxes, construction paper, and classroom supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring anything else you may want or need to make your ultimate vehicle. Once your cars are completed, you will "drive over" to watch a fun, family-friendly flick!


We hope you can join us!

 

Time:

     Friday, April 17, 5:30 p.m. 


Place:
     Borwell Dining Room

 

A Class with Parish Associate Jeff Doane

Our new Parish Associate Jeff Doane, who is teaching a Center for Life and Learning class on Marilynne Robinson's Lila, will be offering another adult education opportunity through the Academy for Faith and Life beginning this Sunday, April 12 at 9:30 a.m.

 

"Nature and Grace in Poetry and Prose" will explore the idea that people of faith are not only confronted by daunting ecological statistics, but we are lured by the opportunity to "put the grace of God behind the eyes with which we look at the world and into the hands with which we touch the world" (Joseph Sittler).

 

Join us as we explore Joseph Sittler's Evocations of Grace: Writings on Ecology, Theology, and Ethics and poet and professor John Felstiner's Can Poetry Save the Earth? A Field Guide to Nature Poems.


Time:

     Sundays, April 12-26, 9:30 a.m.

   

Place:

     Room 5D

 

eightPilgrimage as Spiritual Practice
An Educational Opportunity with a Labyrinth Walk

Also beginning this Sunday, April 12, Vicky Curtiss, Associate Pastor for Mission, along with Fourth Church members Marilee Hopkins, Kathi Bates, and John Dallas, will demonstrate the significance of pilgrimage as spiritual practice.

 

The "Pilgrimage as Spiritual Practice" Academy class begins at 11:00 a.m. and offers opportunity to learn about the theology and tradition of pilgrimage as a way to renew commitment to God, to pray and reflect, to journey to a holy place, and to be receptive to God's transforming presence. The class will hear from Fourth Church members about their recent pilgrimage experiences and conclude with walking the labyrinth as a form of pilgrimage.  

 

Time: 
     Sundays, April 12-May 3, 11:00 a.m.

Place: 
     Room 5E

 

nineRestorative Justice
A Mission Committee Orientation

The Mission Committee is looking to train people to become Peace Builders, individuals who would help facilitate dialogue--using the principles of restorative justice--between offenders and those offended. Restorative justice brings healing into the community as well as to the lives of offenders and those they have offended. Looking beyond a merely punitive view of justice and discipline, restorative justice focuses on the needs of everyone involved, emphasizing direct accountability, reparation, prevention, dialogue, and, in some cases, renewed relationship.

 

Come to the orientation and learn more.   


Time:

     Thursday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.

 

Place:

     Room 4E

 

tenCharlotte Bernelli on "Exit Berlin"

The Fourth Church Interfaith Relations Committee is partnering with the American Jewish Committee to host an evening with Charlotte Bonelli, author of Exit Berlin: How One Woman Saved Her Family from Nazi Germany. Ms. Bonelli, Director of the American Jewish Committee archives, will be with us this Thursday evening, April 16, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 4G.

 

RSVP to Anne Ellis ([email protected] / 312.573.3369).

 

Time:

    Thursday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m.

 

Place:

    Room 4G

   

Back to top
elevenCommunion for the Homebound

This spring Fourth Church Deacons will be taking Communion to members who are homebound, in a hospital or other care facility, or in other circumstances that prevent them from attending services of worship.

 

If you know of Fourth Church members who would like to receive Communion, please contact Carol Allerton at 312.640.5448 by this coming Wednesday, April 15. Those individuals will then be called to ask about setting up a time for the Deacons to visit.

   

Back to top
twelveScreen Time and Our Brains
A Seminar Offered by the Replogle Center

It almost goes without saying that we as a nation are spending more and more time in front of screens. But what is this doing to our brains? Come explore the topic at a workshop offered by the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being next Saturday, April 18.

 

The seminar will be led by Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee, a psychologist who has spent a great deal of her professional life addressing the effects of technology on our interpersonal relationships and our neurological functioning. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased here. Child care can be provided with a week of advance notice.

 

For more information, please contact Tom Schemper.

 

Time:

     Saturday, April 18, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. 

 

Place:

     Buchanan Chapel

 

Back to top
thirteenCalling All Singers
Opportunity to Sing with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra

Interested in singing with the Fourth Church Choral Society as they join with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra to present Haydn's Missa Brevis in B-flat?

All singers are welcome to join us for rehearsals on Thursdays, starting this week, April 16, through May 14 at 7:00 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel. The performance will be on Thursday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel.
For more information about the Choral Society, contact John Sherer (312.787.4570).

   

Back to top
fourteenTravel to Guatemala This Summer
Apply by This Saturday

This Saturday is the last day to register for the Guatemala mission trip taking place July 12-19!

Participants will join Tom Schemper, Director of the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being, and Spiritual Director Sue Schemper to work on projects through our host, Common Hope. Common Hope--which serves Guatemalans through programs in education, health care, and housing--will provide staff for language translation along with the trip leaders.

 

The trip offers opportunity to visit families in a local community and help construct a simple home or sort supplies in a warehouse, all while learning about the culture, history, economics, challenges, and gifts of Guatemalan people.

 

Applications are available online.

   

Back to top
fifteenA Bible Study for Men
Begins This Tuesday, April 14

A new biweekly Men's Bible Study focusing on lectionary readings from the pulpit will hold its first meeting this Tuesday, April 14 at 7:30 a.m. in the Loop. Subsequent meetings are scheduled for April 28 and May 12 and 28.

To RSVP (required), contact Anne Ellis at 312.573.3369 by this Monday, April 13.

   

Back to top
worshipWorship This Week
Second Sunday of Easter
April 12, 2015

8:00 a.m. with Communion
Victoria G. Curtiss, Associate Pastor, preaching
     "Being Easter People"
Scripture texts:
   Psalm 133
   1 John 1:1-7
   Acts 4:32-35

   

9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Baptisms
Confirmation (11:00)
John W. Vest, Associate Pastor, preaching
     "It's Not Conformation (Why We Do Youth Ministry)"
Scripture texts:

   Deuteronomy 6:4-9

   Matthew 19:13-15 

 

4:00 p.m. Jazz Service with Communion
Hardy H. Kim, Associate Pastor, preaching
Scripture texts:
   Psalm 133
   John 20:19-31
 
Worship bulletins
for this coming Sunday are available online Friday afternoon at www.fourthchurch.org/worship/this-week.html.
 
"News and Opportunities"
is the weekly printed newsletter distributed with the Sunday bulletin and is available online Friday afternoon at www.fourthchurch.org/news/2015/041215no.pdf

Sermons

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

 

Back to top
passagesPassages
Death
We give thanks to God for the gift of eternal life.

Laura Campbell Rhind, March 27, 2015

A private service has been held. 

musicConcerts at Fourth Church
The Noonday concerts listed here are free.
 

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

Friday, May 1, 2015
Lyrebird Ensemble
   Ellen Huntington, flutist
   Lillian Lau, harpist
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Cosponsored by the Musicians Club of Women

 

A complete concert schedule is available online. 

 

Back to top
volunteerVolunteer 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

Tutors for the Chicago Lights Tutoring program 

Tutors are needed one evening a week--Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday--from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. New volunteers are asked to attend an orientation session. A schedule is available here.

Book Nook attendants to staff the Book Nook at Coffee Hour after the 11:00 a.m. service 
 

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