Looking for ways to connect with the Fourth Church community and one another? On the church calendar you will find many opportunities to do so. Included among them are

• Music by the Fountain weekly noonday concert series on Fridays (in person only)
• Peace Walk with Saint Sabina on Friday evening, July 12
• Church picnic following worship on Sunday, July 14
• Men’s Bible Study via Zoom on Tuesday mornings
• Morning Prayer via Zoom on Wednesday mornings
• Blood drive on Saturday, July 20
• Knitting and Crocheting in person on Sunday, July 21
• LGBTQIA+ Widen Our Welcome brunch in person on Sunday, July 21
• Deep Listening Dinner in person on Friday, August 2

For information about whom to contact for an event’s Zoom details or the link to register for an event, simply click on the down “arrow” to the right of the event name in the calendar (which is easily accessible from the “Calendar” at the top of the menu on our website).

For highlights about additional opportunities, keep reading!

Sunday, July 14

10:00 a.m. worship in person and online

Tom Are Jr. preaching

Worship bulletin

2:00 p.m. worship in person and online

The Gathering: Communion at 2:00

Tom Are Jr. preaching

Worship bulletin

This Sunday’s Sermon 

Two people went into the temple pray. Most people of faith believe prayer is important, but not many feel that they are particularly adept at prayer. It’s a good thing that we don’t have to be particularly good at prayer for God to listen to us. Just don’t forget that God is actually listening.

You’re invited to a picnic this Sunday!

We had such fun at our church picnic last summer that this year we are having two: this Sunday, July 14 and again on August 18 in the Michigan Avenue Courtyard.

Come join us for food, fellowship, and fun!

We could also use extra hands to help set up, serve, and clean up on Sunday. Sign up online or, if you have questions, contact Simon Crow. Why not invite your friends to help alongside you too!

Sundays, July 14 and August 18

following morning worship

Michigan Avenue courtyard

Dear Fourth Church Family,

Last Sunday, July 7 a group stood on Michigan Avenue to publicly and loudly “rebuke” our practice of faith at Fourth Presbyterian Church. Several times they were asked to leave, but, of course, they refused. These protesters held Bibles and a sign saying “Evolution is a lie.” They said awful things about LGBTQIA+ persons, Muslims, and Hindus.

For those of you who encountered them, or who had your own worship experience interrupted, we are sorry for the impact their hateful words may have had, and we trust in God’s healing power in the face of threats and harassment.

These individuals targeted Fourth Church because of our commitment to the full welcome and inclusion of all God’s children in the life of the church.

Though it is upsetting to hear our church maligned for our convictions (especially by those calling themselves Christians), the presence of opposition should also be seen as a sign of fidelity to the call of the gospel of Jesus.

Indeed, the ministry of Jesus was one of hospitality and table sharing (Matthew 9:10–13), even — or perhaps especially — with those slandered as “sinners” by popular religion. Our life together aims to witness to the good news that God’s grace is for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, geography, or theological conviction. That good news has never been received as good by everyone, not even among Jesus’ followers, and so we should expect resistance to it.

Sunday’s protesters were not interested in conversation. Attempts to engage them substantively were met with shouting and denunciation. However, if they believe by spewing hateful words they can impact our resolve, they are mistaken. If they believe that their words of condemnation are stronger than God’s word of love and acceptance, they are mistaken.

On a practical matter, should they return, we urge you not to engage with them, except to greet them kindly and bless them (Matthew 5:44), for they too are beloved children of God.

While we cannot control their behavior, we will continue to do the good that is ours to do even in the face of opposition, as we live toward the day when the reign of Christ has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility that divides us from one another (Ephesians 2:14).  

May it be so.  

Yours in faith, 

Fourth Church Pastors

Our School Supply Drive organized by Women at Fourth Connect is underway, collecting school supplies for students of the Chicago Lights Urban Farm, Summer Day, and Tutoring.

On our website you can find a list of needed supplies. You can also make an online donation to help with our purchase of the items.

For more information about the drive, contact Simon Crow.

The rhythms of summer invite us to open ourselves to times of rest and renewal.

Each Wednesday in July Amy Pagliarella, Parish Associate for Caring Ministries, is encouraging us to think about sabbath and what it might mean for each of us.

If you have not already set aside a few moments for these brief weekly “Rhythm and Word” videos with Amy, you can begin by watching the first one here:

To receive by email the remaining videos in this July series on sabbath, subscribe to our “Rhythm and Word” news at bit.ly/rhythmandwordemail; you can also subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Our Noonday concerts have moved outside to the Michigan Avenue courtyard for the July and August performances!

The Music by the Fountain concert series continues on July 12 with a performance by jazz and blues guitarist Andy Brown, followed on July 19 by Abigail Riccards presenting piano and vocal jazz.

A full concert listing is available at fourthchurch.org/concerts

We invite you to join our World Mission and Social Justice Council in participating in the Friday night Peace Walks hosted by Saint Sabina Church in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood as a way to prevent violence and build community.

We will be walking this Friday, July 12 and again on Fridays August 2 and August 16. To learn more or sign up to walk, email Nancy Davis.

Fridays

July 12

August 2 and 16

7:00 p.m.

Auburn Gresham neighborhood

For details, email Nancy

In partnership with Alderman Reilly’s 42nd Ward office, our Center for Life and Learning is cosponsoring a blood drive next Saturday, July 20. Our participation as donors is one of the ways we can live out our commitment to care for our neighbors and community.

The generosity of donating blood saves lives beyond those with emergency or one-time needs. Many of the approximately 100,000 Americans with the painful inherited blood disorder sickle cell disease, for instance, rely on frequent blood transfusions as part of their treatment, sometimes every three to four weeks. Every donation truly makes a difference!

Walk-ins will be welcome, although advance appointments are appreciated.

Saturday, July 20

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Borwell Dining Room

Schedule an appointment online or by calling 800-7TO-GIVE (800-786-4483)

Our next Deep Listening Dinner, a time to get to know one another through conversation over a shared meal, will take place on Friday evening, August 2 in Anderson Hall.

By participating in dinners with people of diverse identities and perspectives we discover and better understand our differences while also honoring our shared humanity. Come further strengthen the fabric of our community as we get to know each other more deeply!

Friday, August 2

6:00 p.m.

Anderson Hall

Registration required

Thank you to the Men’s Choir, which sang in worship during the first half of the summer! The Women’s Choir rehearsed this week and will provide music leadership through the remainder of July and August.

Last week, eleven of our senior high youth traveled to Youngstown, New York, for their 2024 summer mission trip — an opportunity to engage in meaningful work, challenging reflection, worship, and the building of personal connections.

Here the youth pose with some new friends at the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a national organization that supplies beds for children and families in need. Together they made thirty-two beds for children who would otherwise be sleeping on the floor.

Fourth Church youth spent time with young students from a charter school for those who speak English as a new language. 

They also volunteered with local youth at the Erie County, New York, animal shelter.

Another project included making no-sew curtains for migrant families.

The youth also made sandwiches for St. Luke's Mission of Mercy, which feeds hundreds of people every day in Buffalo.

The trip included a visit (protected from the spray) to nearby Niagara Falls, as well.

As the group headed back to Chicago, their gracious hosts from the First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown bid them adieu.

If you make a pledge to Fourth Church, you helped to make this trip possible: trips like this one are the biggest part of the Youth Ministry budget, with half the expected costs covered by Fourth Church and the other half covered by trip participants.

For your investment in youth ministry, thank you!

The memorial service for Sue Buchanan, whose July 2 death was previously announced, will be held on Saturday, August 3 at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The service will also be livestreamed.

Conversation and Presence

If you would like to talk to a pastor, please call the church (312.787.4570) and your request will be forwarded to someone on the pastoral staff.

If you would like to alert pastoral staff to emerging pastoral care needs, illnesses, hospitalizations, or deaths, please email Gloria Fleming, Assistant for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation; however, if the situation is an emergency or requires immediate attention, please call the church at 312.787.4570 to be connected to the Minister on Call.

For one-to-one spiritual and emotional support through life challenges, we encourage you to consider being paired with a Stephen Minister. To learn more about this resource, contact Nancy Benson-Nicol, Associate Pastor for Caring Ministries and Spiritual Formation, or leave a confidential message for a Stephen Minister at 312.573.3365.

To set up a time to talk or for more information about how the staff of the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being can be a resource for you, call the Center at 312.787.2729, ext. 2260.

Grief Groups facilitated by the Replogle Center meet for four weeks via Zoom. To learn more or register for a group, contact the group facilitator, Sharon Crawford-Tucker.

Prayer

If you would like to submit a prayer request to our Morning Prayer or Deacon Prayer Ministries, please email Gloria Fleming or Nancy Benson-Nicol.

If you would like to offer individual prayers of praise or concern with a Deacon, you are invited to do so on Sunday mornings in Stone Chapel (through the Sanctuary door to the right of the pulpit) following the 10:00 a.m. service.

If you would like to join in praying for others — members of Fourth Church and those in need — we invite you to gather with us for Wednesday Morning Prayer weekly at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom. On the first Wednesday of the month (August 7) we also gather at 10:00 a.m. for in-person Morning Prayer in Buchanan Chapel. For Zoom details, email Nancy Benson-Nicol.

Children in Worship

Children are always welcome in worship at Fourth Church! If you need to step out to comfort your child, the Hospitality Suite, on the second floor of the Gratz Center, is a quiet space for families where worship is livestreamed.

During Sunday morning services nursery care is available on the fourth floor of the Gratz Center for infants through two-year-olds.

Livestreamed Services

Livestreamed worship services (10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) are accessible by going to www.bit.ly/fpcvideos, subscribing to our YouTube channel, or clicking on the photo with a “Play” arrow on the home page of the Fourth Church website.

These livestreams are available to view anytime after the service begins if you would prefer to connect online at a later time. For tips on how to watch — from the beginning — a service already in progress, see www.fourthchurch.org/watch-from-the-beginning

Audio-only by phone is available (toll free) by calling 888.916.9166 just prior to the start of the service 10:00 service.