CONTENTS
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Last Day for Flower Contributions
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Memorialize or Honor Loved Ones
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It's not too late to memorialize or honor loved ones through a donation towards Fourth Church Christmas flowers and garlands! This Sunday is the last day to make a contribution--giving thanks for those people who are important in our life--and have their names appear in the Christmas worship bulletin.
Contributions, which will help decorate the Sanctuary and Gratz Center this Advent and Christmas season, can be made online or by completing the Christmas flowers form available in the literature racks.
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Advent Music with Carl Grapentine
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This Sunday in Borwell Dining Room
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We're excited to welcome WFMT's Carl Grapentine back to Fourth Church for an exploration of the music of the Advent and Christmas seasons!
This special one-session Academy for Faith and Life class will be held this Sunday at 12:15 p.m. in Borwell Dining Room.
Carl Grapentine, who led us in an exploration of Lenten music this past spring, first joined WFMT, Chicago's classical fine arts station, in 1986 after thirteen years as the morning host of the classical music station in Detroit. He also presents preconcert lectures for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Music of the Baroque, and several other groups. An accomplished conductor and singer, Carl has twenty-five years of experience as a church music director. Currently he sings in the choir of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest.
Time:
Sunday, December 11
12:15 p.m.
Place:
Borwell Dining Room
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Sunday's Festival of Advent Lessons and Music
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Cookies-and-Cocoa Reception to Follow
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Join us this Sunday for one of our beloved traditions at Fourth Church: the Festival of Advent Lessons and Music, held at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Members of Fourth Church will read the scripture lessons of Advent, and Fourth Church's Children's, Youth, Chancel, and Morning Choirs will perform anthems of the season. Together we'll sing Advent hymns and anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ.
A reception hosted by Women at Fourth and featuring homemade cookies and hot cocoa will follow the service.
Please note that there is no discounted parking after 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.
Time:
Sunday, December 11
6:30 p.m.
Place:
Sanctuary
Reception to follow in Anderson Hall
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New Stephen Ministers--individuals who extend the pastoral care of our clergy staff by providing weekly Christian support for those who are facing one or more of life's many challenges--will be commissioned this Sunday during the 11:00 a.m. worship service.
Each Stephen Minister has completed fifty hours of intensive training and committed to two years of service.
Newly commissioned Stephen Ministers will be
Joy Anderson, Robert Crouch, Jon Galloway, Julie Montgomery, Robert Montgomery, Constance Mussa, Lindsey Novak, and Josie Phelps.
They will join eleven other Stephen Ministers in serving this congregation.
Stephen Ministry leaders are Paula Addington, Jeannine Forrest, Ellen Schaller, Barbara Timberlake, and Roger Wilson as well as Judy Watt, Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care.
If you or someone you know would benefit from a relationship with a Stephen Minister, please leave a message on the confidential Stephen Ministry voicemail: 312.573.3365.
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For Those Feeling Grief This Season
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Feelings of grief, loss, loneliness, sadness, and anxiety can become more pronounced during the holidays. The "Longest Night" service on Wednesday, December 21 provides a Christmas worship opportunity for those who may find it difficult to share in the traditional celebrations on December 24 and 25.
This service will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel.
Time:
Wednesday, December 21
6:30 p.m.
Place:
Buchanan Chapel
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| Needed: Warm Winter Clothes |
Clean Out Your Closets for the Social Service Center
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With the weather growing colder and the Chicago winds blowing at higher speeds, why not take a moment in this season of giving to help your neighbors in need with a clothing donation?
The Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center houses a Share Shop clothing closet for its guests and is in need of donations of sturdy winter clothing, including hand and toe warmers, to fill its shelves. The Social Service Center is also running low on--and in some cases is out of!--gloves, hats, coats, pants, and boots for men.
We would be grateful if you could peruse your closet--and invite your friends to check theirs--for any underused, gently used winter gear you might donate to help those in need weather this season.
Donations can be dropped off at the church reception desk.
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Searching for "Room at the Inn"
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Again this year families are invited to participate in La Posada Family Night, a unique tradition from Latin America, held next Friday, December 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the Gratz Center.
Together families will journey throughout the church, knocking on doors in the Gratz Center as they look for "room at the inn" just like Mary and Joseph did more than 2,000 years ago. After visiting several "inns," families will arrive at the final door to Borwell Dining Room, where they'll enjoy a shared dinner.
After dinner, all are invited into Anderson Hall to play games, break piñatas, and sing Christmas carols.
Time:
Friday, December 16
5:30 p.m.
Place:
Gratz Center
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Next Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
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Fourth Church's brass ensemble will continue its celebrated concert tradition, "Christmas with Tower Brass," next Saturday, December 17 at 5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. All are invited to attend this fun and festive performance of traditional Christmas carols!
A suggested donation of $20 will be received at the door.
Time:
Saturday, December 17
5:00 p.m.
Place:
Sanctuary
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| Christmas Eve Worship |
Again this year, four candlelight services will be held at Fourth Church on Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24. We hope you will join us as we celebrate the birth of Christ!
4:00 p.m. Children's Pageant in the Sanctuary
6:00 p.m. Family Service in the Sanctuary
8:30 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols in the Sanctuary
11:00 p.m. Service of Lessons and Carols in the Sanctuary
Shannon Kershner will preach during 6:00, 8:30, and 11:00 p.m. worship.
Christmas Eve child care for infants and toddlers will be provided in the Nursery, which is located on the first floor of the Gratz Center, from 3:00 to 7:15 p.m. (Child care is not available during the 8:30 or 11:00 p.m. services). Please note that there is no reserved seating at any of the Christmas Eve services, including the Children's Pageant.
For those entering the 900 garage before 5:00 p.m. on December 24, discounted parking will cost $17, which is the holiday rate. The $17 parking voucher for that discount will need to be purchased at Fourth Church on Christmas Eve--cash or check only--and will be available before and after the Children's Pageant that day. Those entering the garage after 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve will be able to park for the usual $8 evening rate with an evening voucher available at the church. There will be no discounted parking at the Hancock garage on Christmas Eve.
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Worship and a Traditional Dinner
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Join Fourth Church on Sunday, December 25 as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!
That Sunday there will be just one worship service--at 11:00 a.m. Shannon Kershner will lead this service of Christmas readings and hymns.
A traditional Christmas dinner will be held at 12:15 p.m. in Anderson Hall following the Christmas Day service. Reservations (required) for the dinner are available online at www.bit.ly/cdin1216. Seating is limited, so be sure to make your reservations now!
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| Have You Made Gifts That Light Up a Life? |
Honor or Remember Loved Ones
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If you haven't done so already, please consider honoring or remembering those on your Christmas list with "Light Up a Life" gifts--which also help neighbors whose needs are great this holiday season.
Gifts provide important year-end support for the programs of Fourth Church and Chicago Lights and are easy to make online at www.bit.ly/FPCgifts.
Help "light up a life" this Christmas with gifts that make a difference in the lives of those we serve!
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Worship This Week
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Third Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2016
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8:00 a.m. with Communion
Victoria G. Curtiss, Associate Pastor, preaching
"Is This the One?"
Scripture texts:
Luke 1:46-55
9:30 and 11:00 a.m.,
Baptisms (9:30), Stephen Ministers (11:00)
Shannon J. Kershner, Pastor, preaching
Scripture texts:
4:00 p.m. Jazz Service with Communion
Abbi Heimach-Snipes, Pastoral Resident, preaching
Scripture text:
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/2016/121116no.pdf
Sermons
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Passages
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Birth
We give thanks to God for the gift new life.
Easton James Fergus, child of Alexander and Rachel Fergus
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Death
We give thanks to God for the gift of eternal life.
Nancy Burns Wilson, November 27, 2016
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m. in Buchanan Chapel.
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Concerts at Fourth Church
Friday Noonday concerts are free.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Chicago a cappella presents
Holidays a cappella: Tales and Legends
8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Tickets available online
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Festival of Advent Lessons and Music
Worship Service
6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Reception to follow in Anderson Hall
Friday, December 16, 2016
Robert Chen, violinist
Mio Nakamura, pianist
12:10 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Christmas with Tower Brass
5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary
A $20 donation will be received at the door.
A complete concert schedule is available online.
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Volunteer at Fourth Church
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There are several ways to get involved in the mission and ministry of Fourth Church. See below for details!
Current Volunteer Needs
To sign up for any of these volunteer opportunities or to learn more about them, stop by Coffee Hour on Sunday morning or email [email protected].
A complete list of volunteer needs is available
online.
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