February 2, 2025

YOU BELONG HERE!

We are grateful for your presence today. Inspired by the radical hospitality of Jesus Christ, we welcome everyone—without exception—into the life of this congregation. No matter where you may be in your faith journey, no matter what questions or burdens you may bring to this place, we take seriously that God loves everyone, so you belong here.

Every Sunday we read the old biblical stories and sing hymns (some of which our grandparents sang), while also engaging the world we live in this minute through liturgy, prayers, and sermons. By connecting the story of our lives to the story of Christ’s life, we discover hope and even joy, and are inspired to reflect the light of Christ to the city.

LET US KNOW YOU’RE WORSHIPING WITH US

Please let us know you are here by filling out an information form.

UPCOMING SUNDAY OPPORTUNITIES

“Resilience, Respect, and Resistance”
The Sunday morning class taught by members of the pastoral staff—“Resilience, Respect, and Resistance: Being the Church in Uncertain Times”—continues today with a session led by Associate Pastor Joe Morrow. For details, see the registration page.

Reading ahead: James
Jeff Doane and John Clum invite you to read the novel James by Percival Everett over the next weeks and then join them on Sunday morning, February 16 for a discussion of this reimagining of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as told from the perspective of Huck’s friend, the formerly enslaved Jim.

BIBLE STUDY

Men’s Bible Study
Men’s Bible Study meets weekly on Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. via Zoom. For details, email Simon.

TwentiesThirties on Amos and justice
Young adults meet via Zoom for a time of scripture study and community building on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Women’s Horizons Bible Study
Women’s Horizons Bible Study, which is offered via Zoom on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 12:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., will next meet Wednesday, February 12. This year’s theme is “Let Justice Roll Down: God’s Call to Care for Neighbors and All Creation.” For details, email Simon.

“Bible Top Ten” podcast
Matt Helms and Rocky Supinger invite you to tune in to their “Bible Top Ten” podcast (also on multiple podcast platforms) as they explore the Bible through a rotating series of top ten lists.

Worship podcast and sermon text
During the week the Sunday morning service and sermon is available via podcast on multiple podcast platforms and at fourthchurch.org/podcasts; you can also receive the text of the previous Sunday morning’s sermon by email by subscribing.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

Noonday Concert

This week’s free Friday Noonday Concert, which takes place in the Sanctuary at 12:10 p.m. and is also livestreamed, features pianist Cacie Miller.

For a full schedule of Noonday concerts at Fourth Church, see our Concerts page.

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

Next Sunday, February 9 is the Souper Bowl of Caring, when our youth will be in Coffee Hour to collect your donations of cans of soup, nonperishable food items, or monetary contributions to support Fourth Church Meals Ministry and the Chicago Lights Social Service Center Food Pantry. You can also make a Souper Bowl of Caring gift online.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Benevolent Guild
Benevolent Guild meets Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. in Room 5B to create sewn and crafted items for those in need. Sewing experience is not necessary. For details, email Simon Crow.

FOURTH CHURCH IN FLORIDA
If you live in or travel to Florida in February, please join us for an opportunity to connect with one another! Tom Are will be hosting gatherings in Naples on Wednesday, February 12 at 2:00 p.m. and in Miami on Thursday, February 13 at 10:00 a.m.

RSVP here or with Shawn Fiedler so we can keep you informed about details.

JOINING THE FOURTH CHURCH FAMILY

If you are interested in becoming a member of Fourth Church, please join us for a one-session Inquirers’ Class in person via Zoom on Wednesday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. (register here) or contact Matt Helms, Associate Pastor for Children, Family, and Welcoming Ministries.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION

The Annual Meeting of the Congregation, at which we will elect new officers, will be held in person and via Zoom at 12:15 p.m. next Sunday, February 9.

The Zoom link will be posted on our website in advance of the meeting. The recommended slate of officers, to be presented by the Nominating Committee for election, will also be posted on our website later this week.

CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER

Prayer requests and pastoral care
If you would like to talk to a pastor or notify pastoral staff of personal concerns, illnesses, hospitalizations, or deaths, please email Gloria Fleming. If the situation requires immediate attention, please call the church at 312.787.4570 to be connected to the Minister on Call.

Also email Gloria if you would like to submit a prayer request to our Deacon and Morning Prayer Ministries.

RESOURCES FOR YOUR PERSONAL REFLECTION

We invite you to use our daily devotions for your personal reflection.

Weekly “Rhythm and Word” videos—released on Wednesday evenings—are also available via email. Sign up here or subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.bit.ly/fpcvideos.

STAY CONNECTED

You can find details about additional ways to connect with one another and this congregation, whether in person or online, on our website: www.fourthchurch.org, where you will also discover various resources and opportunities.

To see all that is going on at Fourth Church, we encourage you to bookmark our online church calendar, which is accessible from our website’s home page and at fourthchurch.org/calendar

What’s the best place to hear about everything that’s happening at Fourth Church?

Right here in the “You Are Invited!” pages of our weekly worship bulletin and in our weekly email newsletter, “News at Fourth Church.”

In them you will find information about upcoming events and how to get involved. In “News at Fourth Church” you will also discover snapshots and reflections of what has been happening in our life together and in the wider community.

Want to learn more? Check out our news archive.

PASTORAL CARE AND A LISTENING PRESENCE

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

Also email Gloria if you would like to talk to a pastor or notify pastoral staff of personal concerns, illnesses, hospitalizations, or deaths; if the situation requires immediate attention, please call the church at 312.787.4570 to be connected to the Minister on Call.

For those facing life’s challenges, Stephen Ministers provide a listening presence. To talk with a Stephen Minister, please leave a confidential message at 312.573.3365.

To explore options for counseling, call our Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being at 312.787.2729, ext. 2260 or visit reploglecenter.org

PRAYER, MEDITATION, AND SERMONS

You can read online Prayers of the People lifted up during previous Sunday morning services.

Each Wednesday we gather at 9:30 a.m. for Morning Prayer via Zoom. For Zoom details, email Nancy Benson-Nicol.

If you would like to walk the labyrinth, Buchanan Chapel is open for that purpose between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. on most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

You are also invited to a Sacred Pause time of meditation offered virtually by our Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being on Tuesdays (7:45 a.m.) and Saturdays (8:30 a.m.) on their Facebook page.

During the week the Sunday morning service and sermon is available via podcast on multiple platforms and at fourthchurch.org/podcasts

You can also receive the previous Sunday morning’s sermon text by email by subscribing at www.bit.ly/fpcsermons.

JOINING US ONLINE

Each Sunday our worshiping body is a wonderful mix of those online, on the phone, and in the pews. We livestream our 9:30 a.m. service on our YouTube channel, where it can be viewed any time after the services begin.

Links to make an online offering gift, view or print the worship bulletin, and more can be found in the descriptive text below the video as well as on our website.

Those without Internet access are invited to listen via phone by calling 888.916.9166 at 10:00 a.m.

JOINING US IN PERSON

If you like to join us for in-person worship, we gather on Sundays at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m.

Sunday parking is available at 900 N. Michigan (access from Rush or Walton) at the rate of $10 for 6 hours (and $20 for up to 12 hours) and at the Hancock garage (875 N. Michigan, enter from Delaware or Chestnut) at the rate of $10 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Validation tickets for the garages must be picked up from ushers.

Three fully accessible entrances, without steps, lead to the Sanctuary: on Michigan Avenue (through the glass Loggia doors between the courtyard and the main Sanctuary doors); at 126 E. Chestnut; and at 115 E. Delaware, and open for worship a half hour prior to each service.

Children are always welcome in worship. 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 the morning services nursery care is available on the fourth floor of the Gratz Center for infants through two-year-olds.

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