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CONTENTS
Year-End Gifts
Our online giving page makes it easy to fulfill 2015 Annual Appeal pledges--and to make Light Up a Life gifts to thank those who hosted Christmas or were a special part of your life in 2015.

This can also be done through the Sunday offering or by mailing a check to the attention of Resource Development at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611.2014.
 
Please note that for those wanting to make gifts or year-end contributions by credit card, charges must be made to the card by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, December 31 in order for those gifts to be listed on 2015 giving statements.
 
For those wanting to make a year-end gift or pledge fulfillment by check and have the gift listed on 2015 giving statements, please be sure the envelope is postmarked December 31.
  
A Year-End Time of Reflection and Prayer
Come reflect on the year past and look ahead to the year to come during the New Year's Eve Taizé service tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel.
 
Held in a candlelit setting, this service offers time of contemplative prayer, meditative singing, and silent reflection at the close of the year.
 
Opportunity to walk the labyrinth in Anderson Hall between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. will precede the service. This meditative walk takes approximately twenty minutes.
 
three"What Is Justice?"
Adult Education Class Begins This Sunday
We look forward to welcoming Robert Cathey and students of McCormick Theological Seminary this Sunday, January 3 as they join us for a new Academy for Faith and Life class at 12:15 p.m. in Borwell Dining Room.
 
Led by Dr. Cathey, participants in this five-week course will address the question "What is justice?" in the context of the contemporary world. Participants will draw on the works of theological and philosophical texts and thinkers to explore this topic and the idea of "divine justice" or the "commonwealth of God" that subverts our idea of justice.
 
To register or for more information, contact Mark Eldred, Worship Coordinator and Interim Director of Adult Education.
 
Time:
     Sundays, January 3-31, 12:15 p.m.
 
Place:
     Borwell Dining Room
 
four"The Cries Will Be Heard"
A Michigan Avenue Forum Presentation
Next month join us for the return of the Fourth Church Michigan Avenue Forum, offered through the Academy for Faith and Life.
 
This series on mass incarceration in the United States will kick off with a presentation by Iva Carruthers, professor emeritus and former chairperson of the sociology department at Northeastern Illinois University, on Monday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel. Dr. Carruthers and WBEZ's Natalie Moore will discuss the church's place in the greater conversation about our nation's prison systems and how we, as a people of faith, can find God in this complex issue.
 
Time:
     Monday, January 18, 7:00 p.m.
 
Place:
     Buchanan Chapel
 
five"January Series" Begins January 6
"Harvesting Hope and Cultivating Minds: Stories from the South Bronx." "Health and the Changing World." "The Road to Character." "Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism."
 
All these and more are topics that will be discussed by fifteen speakers as part of the January Series at Calvin College. Opportunity to experience the "fifteen days of free liberal arts education" will be offered through a live video feed presented at Fourth Church January 6-26 at 11:30 a.m. each weekday in the Page Smith Room.
 
A complete schedule of speakers--which includes Eboo Patel, Ron Suskind,
David Brooks, and Mitri Raheb--is available online here.

We hope you'll join us for one--or more--of these enriching conversations! 
 
Time:
     Weekdays, January 6-26, 11:30 a.m.
 
Place:
     Page Smith Room
      
six"The Lure of the Relic"
A Fourth Dimension and Cornerstones Event
Learn about Middle Eastern holy sites on Friday, January 8 at 6:00 p.m. in the Page Smith Room.

Jointly hosted by Fourth Dimension and Cornerstones, "The Lure of the Relic: Collecting the Holy Land" will be led by archaeologist Morag Kersal, who will share her experience of working on sites in Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. Dr. Kersal, an expert on the movement of Holy Land antiquities and the looting of archaeological sites, will discuss the implications of the destruction of Holy Land artifacts.

All are invited. To register (required), contact Anne Ellis (312.573.3369) by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6.

Time:
     Friday, January 8, 6:00 p.m.

Place:
     Page Smith Room
 
sevenTutor . . . and Change a Child's Life
Volunteer with the Chicago Lights Tutoring Program
Does one of your New Year's resolutions involve giving back to the community? Why not make a difference in the lives of children from Chicago's under-resourced neighborhoods by joining Chicago Lights Tutoring this year!
 
Volunteers are needed to be tutors and mentors to the 400 first- through twelfth-grade students who participate in the program.
 
New volunteers are asked to attend an orientation session at 6:00 p.m. in Room 4J on Wednesday, January 6. RSVP online here.
 
eightA Winter Women's Retreat
RSVP for "Claiming Our Faith Stories"
Why do stories matter?
What are your life stories?
What Bible stories inform your personal journey?
How does relating to Bible stories make a difference in your life?
 
Women of all ages are invited to explore these questions at "Claiming Our Faith Stories," a retreat for women, on Saturday, January 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Fourth Church. This retreat, led by Layton Williams, Vicky Curtiss, Janice Lewis, Amanda Love, and Risa McDonell, will offer participants opportunities to weave connections between their personal lives, others, and the biblical story.
 
Participants will gather as a large group and in small groups. Many different modalities will be offered, including storytelling, journaling, discussion groups, a personal labyrinth journey, and much more.
 
Space is limited to the first 100 women who make a reservation. The fee is $15, which includes a light breakfast. For more information or to register, please contact Anne Ellis (312.573.3369).
 
nineGala of Hope: March 4!
Benefit for Chicago Lights and the Replogle Center
Save the date: the Chicago Lights Gala of Hope will be held on Friday, March 4 at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel (221 N. Columbus Dr.).
 
We hope you'll join us for this fun-filled evening benefiting the six outreach programs of Chicago Lights and the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being!
 
To see pictures from last year's event, visit the Chicago Lights page on Facebook.
 
worshipWorship This Week
Second Sunday after Christmas
January 3, 2016
8:00 a.m. with Communion
Victoria G. Curtiss, Associate Pastor, preaching
   "Illuminating God"
Scripture texts:
   Psalm 147:12-20
   Jeremiah 31:7-14
   John 1:1-18

9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Hardy H. Kim, Associate Pastor, preaching
   "Making Way for Light"
Scripture texts:
   Psalm 147:12-20
   John 1:1-18

4:00 p.m. Jazz Service with Communion
Layton Williams, Pastoral Resident, preaching
Scripture texts:
   Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
   Matthew 2:1-12
 
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/2016/010316no.pdf

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

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passagePassages
Death
We give thanks to God for the gift of eternal life.

Roger K. Scholes, December 16, 2015
A service will be held in Iowa.
 
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musicConcerts at Fourth Church
Concerts at Fourth Church 
Friday Noonday concerts are free.

Friday, January 1, 2016
No concert on New Year's Day
 
Friday, January 8, 2016
Grant Street String Quartet
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Cosponsored by the Musicians Club of Women

Friday, January 15, 2016
Karl Rzasa, bassoonist
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel

Friday, January 22, 2016
Ryan Loeckel, violinist/violist
12:10 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
 
Sunday School teachers beginning January 10

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 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 through May and rehearse before each performance.

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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Fourth Presbyterian Church
126 E. Chestnut
Chicago, IL 60611.2014
312.787.4570
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