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CONTENTS
Dedicating Our Pipe Organ!
During the 11:00 a.m. Worship Service
On Wednesday, November 11, our brand new 1,200-pound organ console was carefully hoisted up over the chancel and into the choir loft. With it in place and the first of the 8,343 pipes in the chamber tuned, the pipe organ is ready to begin leading us in worship!
 
So please join us this Sunday, November 22 to hear the new instrument for the first time. At all three morning services, Shannon Kershner and John Sherer will offer "A Shared Sermon between Organ and Voice," and at the 11:00 a.m. service we will dedicate the Edith G. and Edward J. Andrew Pipe Organ to the glory of God.
  
Enjoy the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Join us tomorrow as we usher in the holiday season with caroling on the Sanctuary steps!
 
Starting at 5:00 p.m. Fourth Church choirs will lead us in singing carols as a part of the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. We will sing on the church steps on Michigan Avenue outside of the Sanctuary for about an hour while enjoying the parade and other holiday festivities.
 
All are invited--and encouraged to bring family and friends!
 
Time:
   Saturday, November 21, 5:00 p.m.
 
Place:
     Sanctuary steps on Michigan Avenue
 
threeText to Give Thanks!
Thanksgiving Gift-Giving Opportunity
In this season of gratitude, we invite you to join us in "Texting to Give Thanks!"
 
To participate, simply text @fourthchurch and a dollar amount to 52041.
 
Or make a gift online to the Fourth Church mission and ministry fund.
 
This is a wonderful opportunity to extend the reach of your gift, as it will be matched 2 to 1 (up to a total of $25,000 for all new and unpledged gifts made by text or online by November 30).
 
When giving thanks this season, why not consider this easy way to give added expression to your gratitude by giving back!
 
fourCommunity Thanksgiving Service
Tuesday at Holy Name Cathedral
We will once again have opportunity to worship with our neighbors this Thanksgiving season as we gather on Tuesday, November 24 to express our gratitude through word and song.
 
The annual Community Thanksgiving Worship service, which will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Holy Name Cathedral (735 N. State, at Superior), is cohosted by the faith communities of Holy Name, Chicago Sinai Congregation, and Fourth Church and will include music by Fourth Church musicians.
 
Time:
    Tuesday, November 24, 7:00 p.m.
 
Place:
     Holy Name Cathedral (735 N. State)
 
fiveThanksgiving Day at Fourth Church
Give Thanks through Worship and Dinner
Opportunities to give thanks through worship continue this week with a Thursday service at Fourth Church at 11:00 a.m. followed by a traditional dinner on Thanksgiving Day!
 
This annual Thanksgiving worship service will be held in the Sanctuary, with Vicky Curtiss preaching.   

Following the service, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, which offers opportunity to renew old acquaintances and make new friends in the spirit of giving thanks, will be served at 12:15 p.m. in Anderson Hall. Tickets are required for this traditional dinner and are available at the reception desk or by contacting Larry Nicholson.
 
Parking for the Thanksgiving Day worship service and dinner is available at a discounted rate at the 900 parking garage. Please note, however, that the discounted rate will not be the Sunday morning rate but will be the $17 holiday rate set by the garage. The $17 vouchers can be purchased with cash or check at the church reception desk on Thanksgiving morning. There will then be no additional fee when validating your ticket at the garage upon exit.
 
sixFilling Christmas Bags
Collecting Donations for Our Guests
To brighten Christmas for guests of the Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center and Fourth Church Meals Ministry's Sunday Night Supper, we are collecting toiletries and other small items for gift bags.
 
Instructions and a list of needed items are available at Coffee Hour following morning worship services on Sundays and in the literature racks. Donations, which will be collected through Sunday, December 6, can be dropped off at the reception desk.
 
They will then be sorted and put into special holiday bags, which will be distributed to the guests of Social Service Center and Meals Ministry programs throughout the Christmas holiday.
 
sevenAn Advent Contemplative Retreat
Reflect and Prepare for the Birth of Christ
A time of reflection at the annual Advent Contemplative Retreat offers a unique way to prepare, in the busy Advent season, for the birth of Christ.
 
This year's retreat will be held on Friday and Saturday, December 11 and 12 at The Well in La Grange Park.

Led by Associate Pastor Vicky Curtiss, the retreat will engage participants in a variety of spiritual practices, including meditation and worship, to open their hearts and minds to reflect on the gift of God's love.
 
Registration forms--available online here--are due Sunday, December 6.
  
Time:
     Friday, December 11, 7:00 p.m.
     through Saturday, December 12, 4:30 p.m.
 
Place:
     The Well (1515 W. Ogden Ave., La Grange Park)
 
eightWelcome, New Members!
Please join us in welcoming those who were received into Fourth Church membership this month:
 
Marion Eifler
Jeanne Griffin
Kristen Hudson
Kristina Kittilsen
Sean Mackey
Kathy Pietrzak
Allison Scher
Steven Weller
 
worshipWorship This Week
Sunday, November 22, 2015
8:00 a.m. with Communion
Shannon J. Kershner, Pastor, preaching
   "A Shared Sermon between Organ and Voice"
Scripture texts:
   Colossians 3:12-17
   Psalm 98  

9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Shannon J. Kershner, Pastor, preaching
   "A Shared Sermon between Organ and Voice"
Scripture texts:
   Psalm 98 

4:00 p.m. Jazz Service with Communion
Hardy H. Kim, Associate Pastor, preaching
   "What Is Truth?"
Scripture texts:
   Psalm 90 
   John 18:33-40
 
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/2015/112215no.pdf

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

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passagesPassages
Death   
We give thanks to God for the gift of eternal life.
 
Suzana Velisavljevic Wray, 2007
 
musicConcerts at Fourth Church
Concerts at Fourth Church
Friday Noonday concerts are free.

Sunday, November 22, 2015
Bella Voce Choir with the Callipygian Players
   featuring Handel's Messiah
7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Tickets available through Bella Voce | 877.755.6277

Friday, November 27, 2015
Embellish Handbell Ensemble
12:10 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Tuesday, December 1, 2015
A Chanticleer Christmas
7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Tickets available through Chicago Symphony Orchestra 

Wednesday, December 2, 2015
A Chanticleer Christmas
7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Tickets available through Chicago Symphony Orchestra
 

Thursday, December 3, 2015
Civic Orchestra of Chicago
   presents Bach's Brandenburg Concertos
7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

A complete concert schedule is available online. 
 
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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
 
Energetic workers to help with Fair Trade Bazaar takedown; Sunday, December 6

Tutors
for Chicago Lights Tutoring
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.

Members to assist leading Junior High Youth on Sundays at 11:00 a.m.

Members to assist a child
with special needs during 9:30 a.m. Sunday School

Ushers
for the 11:00 a.m. services

Drummers to perform with the Fourth Church Drumming Circle.
The Drumming Circle is open to anyone who enjoys playing percussion instruments; participants of all ages are welcome. During the 2015-2016 season, the group will play in 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship on the first Sunday of each month, October-May, and rehearse before each gathering.

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