To Our Beloved Fourth Church Family and Friends,

We cherish the trust you have placed in us to accompany you throughout various life stages and experiences. Ephesians 3:16–17 gives voice to our ongoing prayers for you “that, according to the riches of glory, God may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through God's Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.”

Over the past months and, increasingly, over the past few weeks, many in our church family have shared how the political conversations these days leave us feeling battered, confused, and anxious. We, as your pastoral staff, are committed to meeting you where you are and to offer spiritual support, as we endeavor to do in any circumstance of fear, grief, or distress.

The Fourth Church pastoral staff continue to hold space in our schedules for individual appointments:

• Tom Are: tare@fourchurch.org; 312.573.3361
• Nancy Benson-Nicol: nbenson-nicol@fourthchurch.org; 312.573.3360
• Matt Helms: mhelms@fourthchurch.org; 312.573.3362
• Joe Morrow: jmorrow@fourthchurch.org; 312.981.3385
• Amy Pagliarella: apagliarella@fourthchurch.org; 312.252.3587
• Nanette Sawyer: nsawyer@fourthchurch.org; 312.274.3835
• Rocky Supinger: rsupinger@fourthchurch.org; 312.981.4037

Now and throughout the Advent season, opportunities for connection in community for meditation, prayer, spiritual practices, and story-sharing to foster hope and resilience will also be provided by the pastoral staff and in partnership with boards and programs of care.

Sources of caring and support also include —

Stephen Ministry

Grounded in Jesus’ command to love one another, Stephen Ministry provides care to members of Fourth Church and to members of the broader community. Through ongoing one-to-one relationships for as much as one hour per week, Stephen Ministers provide love and care to those who are experiencing challenging times.

Stephen Ministry is confidential. The identity of those receiving care and what happens in each caring relationship is private. To request a Stephen Minister, call 312.573.3365.

The Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being

At the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being, therapy or counseling involves a variety of approaches to lead you to increased self-awareness, healing emotional wounds and trauma, improved self-care, better coping strategies, and access to your gifts.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Center at 312.787.8425.

We know we have work to do as we find additional ways to love and support each other and our diverse and vulnerable neighbors. For now, we simply offer each other care. As beloved children of God, we belong to each other, even and especially in times of distress. Together, may we lean into the promised day of God.

Yours in Christ,

Tom, Nancy, Matt, Joe, Amy, Nanette, Rocky