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February 2017

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Fourth Church Links

 
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goodnewsHere's the Good News!
 
 
Friends, the rest of this newsletter falls in the "short, but sweet" category, but I do have a couple of important things I wanted to share with you--one church-related, one personal. I'll start with the church-related news:
 
For at least the last decade, and likely far longer than that, our Sunday School program has had an extremely limited involvement in worship in the Sanctuary, worshiping instead through our weekly Children's Chapel time. This decision was made very intentionally and faithfully, with an interest in making sure that our lessons and songs were age-appropriate and to provide space for kids to be able to ask questions and learn about what it means to worship--all things I believe that Children's Chapel successfully and beautifully accomplishes.
 
Despite the many benefits of Children's Chapel, though, there has been one unfortunate drawback: outside of Palm Sunday and Christmas Eve, our children don't have additional opportunities to experience worship in the Sanctuary and to feel a sense of their connection to our wider church family, and that's something that we'd like to change.
 
Last year, the Worship, Music, and the Arts Committee, the Children and Family Ministry Committee, and Shannon and I put our heads together about ways that we could provide an opportunity for our children to experience worship with the wider congregation (and for the congregation to experience the presence of the children!) all while still preserving the important formative role that Children's Chapel plays.
 
We ended up deciding that once a month, all children ages three and up will be with their parents for the first half of worship, being dismissed right before the sermon to go up to their Sunday School classrooms. All other Sundays will follow the same rhythms and routines that we do now.
 
This will be a culture shift for us as a congregation, but we think it is vital for helping to shape a new generation of God's disciples--teaching them what it means to worship and drawing them closer into our community. I'll get into the finer details and logistics of how this will work later in this newsletter, but please know that we will be inviting all children ages three and up to be with their families for the first half of worship on Sunday, February 12 (nursery-aged children may still be dropped off in the Nursery). So rather than dropping your children off at Sunday School on February 12, they will sit with you for the first half of the service before being called forward and dismissed to their classrooms.
 
Thank you in advance for helping us implement this important change! Please do reach out with feedback if you still have questions or concerns after you read--in the "Children in Worship" section below--the fuller explanation of how this works.
 
Finally, I have some exciting personal news to share: my wife, Alison, and I are expecting our first child this August! We are both absolutely thrilled that we're going to be parents, and we can't wait for all of the joys, challenges, and surprises that our baby-to-be will bring. I feel very blessed to have met so many incredible parents in this role over these past four years, so thank you for all of the ways you've helped us feel ready--or as ready as we can be!--for this next phase of our lives.
 
Grace and peace,
 


Matt Helms signature  


Associate Pastor for Children and Family Ministry 
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Family Lock-In  
 
Friday, February 3
Starting at 6:00 p.m.
Anderson Hall
   
Right around the corner is our first ever Family Lock-In: a sleepover here at the church for families of all ages!
 
We'll start the evening with a tasty dinner, some get-to-know-you games, scavenger hunts throughout the church, and a whole lot more! When it's time for bed, you and your family will be paired up with another family or two in a "cabin" (one of the classrooms on the fourth or fifth floor) and you'll each have cots to sleep on (although you can bring something nicer if you want!).
 
Please know that you'll be able to purchase overnight parking passes for the 900 garage for $17; all other food, including dinner and breakfast the next morning, will be provided.
 
We hope that you'll join us for this exciting experiment, as we think it's going to be a blast!


RSVP to
Matt Helms or Briana Belding-Peck if you're planning on coming, as it will help us out greatly in planning for food and accommodations!
 
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childrenChildren in Worship



Sunday, February 12
During the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services
Sanctuary
 
As stated earlier in this newsletter, we will be inviting children to attend worship with their parents for the first half of 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship on Sunday, February 12. (See the "Good News" section above for a fuller explanation.) Our hope is that doing this will not be overly disruptive to your family's schedule, so we want to be as clear as we can about the logistics of that morning.
 
  • All children who would normally attend Sunday School on the fourth floor (ages 3 through fifth grade) should instead go with you to worship that morning. They will sit with you for the first part of the 9:30 or 11:00 a.m. service, until it is time for the sermon. Nursery-aged children (ages 2 and younger) are welcome in the Nursery as usual.
  • Before the sermon begins, all Sunday School children will be invited to come forward to the front of the Sanctuary for a short liturgical piece before heading off to their regular classrooms. Our teachers will meet them at the front of the Sanctuary and help make sure all the children get to their classrooms after they exit worship. You can remain in your pew for the rest of the service.
  • After worship, you will pick up your children from their fourth floor classroom just like you would on any other Sunday.
 
If your child attends Cherub Choir, plan to meet them after choir rehearsal and walk down to worship with them (rather than dropping them off at their Sunday School classroom).
 
For any questions or clarifications, please contact Matt Helms.
           
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Cookies-and-Cocoa Family Night

 
Friday, February 17
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Borwell Dining Room
 
Even though it's cold outside, we'll be staying warm at our February Family Night with cookies, hot cocoa, and board games! Join us for a relaxed evening filled with comfort food, including a variety of types of hot chocolate and a chance to decorate (and eat!) cookies.
 
In addition to sampling cookies and cocoa, we hope that you'll also consider bringing one of your family's favorite board games to play with other families. We're planning to set up lots of games around the room for everyone to try out!
 
For more info, please contact Matt Helms or Briana Belding-Peck.



As a reminder, parking at the 900 N. Michigan garage will be $8 with a validation from the church if you park after 5:00 p.m.
             
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Mindful Parenting
 
Sunday, February 26
9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
The Loft (Fourth Floor, near Room 4A)


We hope that you'll join us on Sunday, February 26 for Mindful Parenting, a monthly class focused on mindful, creative, and effective parenting. It meets from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Loft on the fourth floor.(It's located just past Room 4A.)
 
These sessions are led by Sue Schemper, a spiritual director and an educator who has worked for more than thirty-five years with children, parents, and teachers. Participants will explore a variety of topics, from discipline techniques that develop responsibility to creating a family culture that supports each member in becoming who God intends them to be. The format of each session is thought provoking and interactive, and we hope that you'll be able to attend!   
 
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Save the Date



  • Fourth Grade Bibles--March 26
  • Spring Family Camp--May 19-21
  • 4th-7th-Grade Mission Trip--June 25-July 1
  • Vacation Bible School--August 7-11

     
Contact information

 


Fourth Presbyterian Church | 126 E. Chestnut St. | Chicago | IL | 60611