Cornerstones at Fourth is a community of individuals 50+ years of age. Our goal is to provide opportunities to meet new friends and old for fellowship, dinner, and thought-provoking programs. We feature speakers on topics ranging from Arts and Culture to Current Events and including Science and Technology, Religion, Social Justice Issues, and Community Affairs.

Schedule and Location

We meet on the first Fridays of eight months of the year: February, March, May, June, and September-December. The events begin at 5:00 with time for fellowship; we offer dinner at 5:30, and our speakers begin at 6:00. Our meetings are held at the Gratz Center in either the Borwell Dining Room or Anderson Hall.

All Are Welcome

Cornerstones events are open to Fourth Church members and non-members. Although our target audience is individuals 50+years of age, we welcome adults of all age groups to our events.

Two-Tiered Registration

The charge for our events is $30 for dinner and speaker and $10 for Speaker Only. The fee covers meals and speaker expenses. Links to registration appear in the Sunday Bulletin, the periodic Cornerstones announcements, as well as in the weekly News@Fourth newsletter.

For more information about Cornerstones, please contact Katie Patterson.

Cornerstone Events - Fall 2026

Friday, September 4
The Musicians Club of Women—A Vibrant Classical Music Society in Chicago Speaker: Dr. Emily Hoyler O’Hare, PhD, Associate Professor, Adjunct, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and MCW Historian, will provide a fascinating look at the history and mission of this dedicated nonprofit community of performers and music lovers that since 1875 has supported emerging and established women musicians through scholarships and performance opportunities.
Register here

Friday, October 2
Budget Busters, Immigration, and Elections: A New Look at Federalism from Illinois Speaker: David Greising, President & CEO, Better Government Association, will tackle the thorny issue of state versus federal rights, arguably as consequential today as it was during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement.

Friday, November 6
Towns Along the Q—The Impact of Trains and Transit on the Evolution of Communities Speaker: David Wilson, BBA, Kent State University & Masters in Urban Planning, University of Illinois at Chicago, will discuss the topic of his most recent book, Towns Along the Q; how public transit influenced the development of communities along the Metra BNSF train line.

Friday, December 4
A Merry Christmas Sing-A-Long. Join Andrew Herbruck, Fourth Church’s Organist and Director of Music, for a festive launch of the Holiday Season with Christmas Carols, dinner, and good cheer!

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