top
CONTENTS
Cuba Travelers Prepare to Depart
A Pancake Breakfast Thank-You!
Human Rights in Israel
Hosting an Ecumenical Prayer Service
A "Snacks for Sacks" Drive
Tickets for a Musical Encore
A Mission Trip to First Presbyterian Church in Havana

Cuba mission trip participants leave this Sunday to spend a week with the First Presbyterian Church of Havana, a sister congregation of Fourth Church. Together they will celebrate the new diplomatic relationship between our two countries.

While in Cuba, these eighteen travelers will learn about the historical, political, economic, and cultural context for Christian witness in that country. They will also have opportunity to share in a worship service with and explore the various ministries of First Church. Shannon Kershner will preach at First Presbyterian Church next Sunday, May 17.

Please keep these members of Fourth Church and the members of the First Presbyterian Church of Havana in your thoughts and prayers as together they participate in the worldwide mission and ministry of the church of Jesus Christ.

 

Spring Has Sprung at the Urban Farm

Stock your pantry with fresh produce from the Chicago Lights Urban Farm! The Farmstand will be open on Saturdays, starting this Saturday, May 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Urban Farm (444 W. Chicago Ave.). Available produce may include lettuce, spicy greens, kale, onions, peas, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and more.

 

Don't have the space or time to garden? Then subscribe to an Urban Farm CSA! Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA), also known as "subscription farming," provides members with a share, or subscription, of fresh, locally grown produce each week. The Urban Farm CSA "Salad Shares" allow members to have direct access to high-quality, fresh, organic produce grown on-site. In return, those shares help support the Farm and its many community-oriented programs.

 

More information about CSA Salad Shares through the Urban Farm, which will be available starting Saturday, June 6, is online here or by contacting Ben Jaffe (312.252.3597).

 

Time:

     Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Place:

     Chicago Lights Urban Farm Farmstand

     (444 W. Chicago Ave.) 

 

threeLast Weekend for PDA Hygiene Kits

This Sunday, May 10, is the last day Presbyterian Women will be collecting materials and funds for hygiene kits for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), which cares for communities affected by crises and catastrophic events. One way PDA does this is by working with Church World Service (CWS), a cooperative ministry of thirty-seven Christian-based communions, to provide hygiene kits to areas affected by disaster.

 

Each kit is estimated to cost about $10 to put together, plus another $2 for shipping and handling fees for distribution with CWS.

 

A list of materials needed for each kit is available online--why not add the items to this weekend's shopping list!


fourA Jazz Treat on Mother's Day

This Sunday's Jazz at Four Communion service will include an extra musical treat: Lucy Smith sharing musical reflections from her project Autumn in Augusta: Songs My Mama Would Like. It will be, as John Vest has described it, an opportunity to let the music do the preaching.

 

Bring a friend and come join us for a special service of worship Sunday afternoon!

 

Time:  

     Sunday, May 10, 4:00 p.m.  

 

Place:  

     Sanctuary   

   

Back to top 

fiveA Pancake Breakfast Thank-You!

Thank you to everyone who supported the annual congregational Pancake Breakfast, helping the Senior Highs and Chicago Lights Tutoring students raise nearly $4,000 for their July 11-19 "Justice Journey" trip. If you haven't already, be sure to check out our photos of this fun event that kept John Vest busy making a record-setting 115 omelets!

 

If you missed the pancakes, you'll have another opportunity to support this trip: the Senior Highs and Tutoring students will be holding their annual bake sale on Sunday, June 21 during morning Coffee Hours. Mark your calendar for this delicious opportunity to further the mission and ministry of our youth!

 

Back to top  

sixHuman Rights in Israel
A Presentation by Rabbi Ascherman

President of Rabbis for Human Rights (Israel), Rabbi Arik Ascherman will give a presentation sponsored by the Academy for Faith and Life and the Interfaith Resource Committee next Sunday, May 17 at 9:30 a.m. in the Page Smith Room.

Founded in 1988, Rabbis for Human Rights, which represents more than 100 Israeli rabbis and rabbinical students from different streams of Judaism, seeks to give expression to the traditional Jewish responsibility for the safety and welfare of the stranger, the different and the weak, the convert, the widow and the orphan. Come learn about their work
in advocating for human rights and social justice.

 

Time:

     Sunday, May 17, 9:30 a.m.

 

Place:

     Page Smith Room

 

Next Sunday, May 17 in Buchanan Chapel

Join Fourth Presbyterian Church and Ecumenism Metro Chicago (EMC) for an afternoon of prayers for Christian Unity offered by members of the EMC's twenty faith communities. There will be a reception at 2:00 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel, followed by a worship service at which John Armstrong, president of ACT 3 Network ministry and adjunct professor at Wheaton College, will preach.

 

For more information or to register, visit www.archchicago.org  


Time:

     Sunday, May 17, 2:00 p.m.  


Place:

     Buchanan Chapel  

 

eightA "Snacks for Sacks" Drive
Donate through May

During the month of May, Meals Ministry is hosting a "Snacks for Sacks" drive to supplement their supply of snack items and portable drinks that are needed for the bag lunch program and other Meals Ministry programs, which currently require approximately 600 snack items and 200-300 drinks on a weekly basis.

 

Specific items needed include individually packaged snack items, portable drinks, and resealable plastic bags. Donated items can be dropped off at the Mission Table during Coffee Hour on Sunday mornings.

 

nineTickets for a Musical Encore
Support the Center for Life and Learning

Plan to join us on Saturday, June 20, for Encore, a fun-filled event and musical program!

 

Tom Clear, the popular Music History instructor with the Center for Life and Learning, is putting together an enjoyable evening of music to be presented in Buchanan Chapel. of Soprano Desir�e Hassler and violinist Zhanna Bullock will join pianist Tom for a selection of pieces from such favorites as Carmen and My Fair Lady.

Come enjoy a cocktail reception in the Gratz Center Commons before the performance, mingle with friends, and enjoy a fun evening out--all while supporting the CLL at this their second annual benefit!

 

You can purchase your tickets online here; all reservations will be held at the door.

 

Time:

     Saturday, June 20, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

 

Place:

     Gratz Center Commons and Buchanan Chapel

 

worshipWorship This Week
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2015

8:00 a.m. with Communion
Judith L. Watt, Associate Pastor, preaching
Scripture texts:
   Psalm 98
   Acts 10:44-48
   John 15:9-17

   

9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Baptisms
Shannon J. Kershner, Pastor, preaching
Scripture texts:

   Psalm 98   

   John 15:9-17     

 

4:00 p.m. Jazz Service with Communion
John W. Vest, Associate Pastor, preaching
     "Songs of Our Mothers"
Scripture text:
   Luke 1:39-55
 
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/2015/051015no.pdf

Sermons

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

 

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

Cooks to prepare and serve breakfast at Lincoln Park Community Shelter on the second Tuesday of each month, on a rotating schedule, 6:30 to 8:00 a.m.   

 

Aspiring gardeners to work at the Urban Farm (444 W. Chicago Ave.) on Saturdays, 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.

A tour for new volunteers is held each Saturday at 12:00 noon.

 

Bicyclists to deliver Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) bags in the community, Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon    

 

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