Advent and Christmas at
Fourth Presbyterian Church

Advent Worship | Holiday Concerts and Events | Christmas Worship
Memorial Gifts for Christmas Flowers | Sharing Christmas Joy

Advent Worship Opportunities

• Sunday Advent Worship
Sundays, December 2, 9, 16, and 23
8:00, 9:30, 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

• Festival of Advent Lessons and Music
Sunday, December 16
6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
A cookies-and-hot-cocoa reception hosted in Anderson Hall by Women@Fourth Connect will follow.

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Holiday Events and Concerts

• “The Music and Meaning of Advent”
Wednesday, November 28
5:30–7:30 p.m. in the Gratz Center

• Advent Wreath Workshop for Children and Families
Sunday, December 2
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Parish House Dining Room

• Fair Trade Bazaar
Saturday, December 1
Sunday, December 2
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• “Center Yourself for the Holidays”
A time for guided personal reflection
Saturday, December 1
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Third Floor Conference Room (Parish House) and Buchanan Chapel

• “A Chanticleer Christmas”
Tuesday, December 4
Wednesday, December 5
7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

• “Watch and Wait”: An Advent Contemplative Retreat
Friday, December 7, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
through Saturday, December 8, ending at 4:30 p.m.
At The Well retreat center in La Grange Park

• “Navidad en Mexico” Chicago a cappella Concert
Friday, December 7
8:00 p.m.

• “Christmas and Consumerism: Advice for Parents”
Sunday, December 9
9:30–10:30 a.m. in Room 5A of the Gratz Center

• Lakeside Singers Holiday Concert
Friday, December 14
8:00 p.m.

• Festival of Advent Lessons and Music
Sunday, December 16
6:30 p.m.
Cookies-and-hot-cocoa reception hosted in Anderson Hall by Women@Fourth Connect follows

• La Posada Family Night
Friday, December 21
5:30 p.m. in Anderson Hall

• Christmas with Tower Brass
Saturday, December 22
5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

• Christmas Cantata
Sunday, December 23
During 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship in the Sanctuary

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Christmas Worship

• Blue Christmas Service
For those for whom the Christmas celebration is made difficult by loss or sadness
Thursday, December 20
6:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel

• Christmas Cantata
Sunday, December 23
During 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship in the Sanctuary

• Four Candlelight Services on Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24
4:00 p.m.
Children’s Pageant
6:00 p.m.
Family Service with Joyce Shin preaching
8:30 p.m.
Service of Lessons and Carols with Calum I. MacLeod preaching
11:00 p.m.
Service of Lessons and Carols with Calum I. MacLeod preaching

Reduced rate parking (with validation) will be available at the 900 North Michigan garage but not the Hancock garage.

• Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 25
11:00 a.m.
with Judith L. Watt preaching
A traditional Christmas dinner in Anderson Hall will be served at 12:15 p.m.

Reduced rate parking (with validation) will be available at the 900 North Michigan garage but not the Hancock garage.

• New Year’s Eve Taizé Service
Monday, December 31
7:30 p.m. in Buchanan Chapel

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Memorial Gifts for Christmas Flowers

Each year, contributions are made for the purchase of Christmas flowers and garlands, to decorate the Sanctuary, Anderson Hall, and the Gratz Center. A list of those remembered will be printed in the Christmas bulletin. The deadline to make a contribution this Christmas has passed, but there will be opportunity to remember and honor loved ones with Sanctuary and Gratz Center flowers again for Easter. Details will be available in March.

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Sharing Christmas Joy

In response to God's gift to us, we too seek to give to others in this season, to share the love that came down at Christmas.

Thus Fourth Church offers a variety of ways from which you might choose to share that Christmas joy.


• Christmas Wishes
The “Christmas Wishes” project collects gifts for more than 700 Chicago children who might not otherwise receive presents this Christmas. Gifts are needed, as are volunteers to help with collecting and sorting the gifts, wrapping them, and distributing them.

Gift lists are available during Coffee Hour and from Anne Ellis at 312.573.3369, who is also collecting names of volunteers to help with collecting, wrapping, and distributing. More information is available here.


• Light Up a Life Gifts
Give gifts that give twice! Gifts to this year-end giving campaign make a difference in the lives of those touched by Fourth Church and Chicago Lights while also serving as a meaningful gift and way to honor special people in your life.
Details are available on the “Light Up a Life” page, in the church literature racks, or by contacting Katy Frey Bever at 312.981.3380.


• Christmas Gift Bags for Social Service Center Guests
Decorated and filled gift bags to be given to guests at the Sunday Night Supper Christmas meal on December 30 are to be returned to the reception desk by Sunday, December 9. (Bags and a list of contents with which to fill
them are available during at reception.) More information is available here.


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