Fourth Church Updates

Here are a calendar of events for the coming week plus the latest announcements from the ministries of Fourth. Also, don’t miss today’s update highlighting our Holy Week services and our new procedures for parking and entering the church building on Sundays. See the footer of this page to subscribe to weekly updates from Fourth Church.

WEEK-AT-A GLANCE

Wednesday, March 31
6:00 a.m. | Reservations open for Sunday services
5:30 p.m. | Congregational Prayer, Online
7:00 p.m. | English Classes for Speakers of Other Languages, Online

Thursday, April 1
7:30 p.m. | Maundy Thursday Service*, Sanctuary

Friday, April 2
5:00 p.m. | Good Friday Service*, Sanctuary
7:30 p.m. | Good Friday Service*, Sanctuary

Sunday, April 4
6:30, 8:00, 9:30, & 11:00 a.m. | Easter Sunday Morning Services*, Lower Lot, Sanctuary, & Upper Room
6:00 p.m. | Easter Sunday Evening Service*, Sanctuary

Monday, April 5
Church offices closed in observance of Easter Monday

Tuesday, April 6
6:45 p.m. | Deacons’ Meeting, Online

Ongoing activities: Adult Sunday School, College Students and Young Adults, Children’s Sunday School, Youth Sunday School, Special Blessings Sunday School, Women’s Bible Studies, and Community Groups.

*Due to COVID-19 restrictions, reservations are required for all worship services. Questions? Contact Rebecca Sparks-Korossy, rkorossy@4thpres.org.

MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Adult Education

Pastor’s Class, Nehemiah and Esther or 1 & 2 Peter and Jude | No Pastor’s Classes will be held on Easter Sunday. Recorded lectures resume Sunday, April 11. Access previous lectures for both classes at 4thpres.org/classes.

New Testament Overview | Sundays, 4:00 p.m., with Robin King and Kent Talbert. Weekly small group Zoom Bible study based on home study questions prepared in advance. 

Teaching on Tuesdays | “Great Questions Christians Ask,” April 13—June 1, 7:00-7:45 p.m. Sessions examine the pages of Holy Scripture to address some of the great questions believers have concerning the Christian faith. Learn more. Look for the link to the Zoom gathering in the Teaching on Tuesdays reminder email that will be sent April 13. Please note this series is not being recorded, and no registration is required.

Contact: Kathy Lofberg, klofberg@4thpres.org

Alpha Ministry

Do you have a friend you could bring to the next Alpha course? Alpha is a practical introduction to the Christian faith organized and run by a small team of Fourth members. Two classes begin in May: Wednesdays, May 5–June 23, 7:00 p.m., at a home near the Medical Center Metro station, and Thursdays, May 6–June 24, 7:00 p.m., at a home near Fourth Church. Classes will be held outdoors observing COVID-19 safety protocols. Learn more.

Contact: alpha@4thpres.org

Children’s Ministry

Children’s Sunday School | Online lessons are available and sent via email weekly. 

Children’s Church | Sundays, during the 9:30 a.m. service. Children age 2.5 through 3rd grade will be dismissed before the sermon and will be accompanied by their teachers to their classrooms and then escorted back to their parents during the closing hymn. Children must be checked in at the Welcome Table before worship to receive a temperature check and a name tag. All children must wear masks in the classroom.

Preschool Story Time | Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. Join us at the Tent by the Upper Parking Lot for a Bible story, craft, and games. Facial coverings/masks are required.

4th/5th grade Bible Study will not meet tonight. It will resume next week, April 7.

Contact: Paige Malkus, pmalkus@4thpres.org

Congregational Care

Grief Share | Thursdays, 1:00–3:00 p.m., online, through May 20. A small support group for anyone who has lost a loved one, at any stage in the grieving process, that explores relevant topics using a Christian curriculum. Participation is welcome any time. Register in advance at griefshare.org.

Contact: Charlotte FitzGerald, cfitzgerald@4thpres.org

Drive-Through Collection & Food Drive

Saturday, April 10, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Contribute food, diapers, clothing (coats, socks, underwear, shoes, and boots), and household items. Donated items go to Fourth’s ministry partners and neighbors in the DMV. Check the updated donation lists.

Contact: Charlotte FitzGerald, cfitzgerald@4thpres.org

Fourth Fellows

Fourth Fellows is whole-life discipleship done by the whole church, so that young adults will be equipped to embrace the church and engage God’s world. As church members, we house, mentor, teach, love, and help fellows connect through our professional networks, so that they can use this 9-month program to start well and lay a foundation for the rest of their Christian lives. Our second class arrives this August and the greatest need right now is for host families.

Contact: Jennifer Redd, jredd@4thpres.org

Giving Envelopes

Did you know? 

• • Online giving on Fourth’s website is easy and secure. Go to 4thpres.org/give.
  • If you give by check, your check has everything we need to record your gift for tax purposes.
  • An envelope with your name and address is needed for tax credit only when you are giving cash.
  • Giving envelopes are mailed every three months to those who request them. We are happy to send them if you want them.

If you no longer need or want giving envelopes, please email to be removed from the envelope mailing list.

Contact: Ruth Williams, rwilliams@4thpres.org

Missions & Outreach 

2021 Missions Conference “Prayer for the Healing of the Nations” | Friday, April 30–Wednesday, May 5. We present our global partners and their ministries around the world in a virtual and in-person hybrid format due to the pandemic. Registration is available through the Whova app. Whova registration instructions are located on the Missions page. View the Missions Conference Event Schedule.

This year we will support Philemon Project’s Grow Center in Lebanon, part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church World Outreach. To donate online, go to 4thpres.org/give. Click on “Select Gift Fund” drop-down list and then on “Mission Special Offering 2021”.

Contact: Charlotte FitzGerald, cfitzgerald@4thpres.org

SERVE Opportunity

Serve a Sunday “Fellowship Dinner”, the second Sunday of each month, for 24 women and children at Clark Inn (Samaritan Inns’ Women with Children Program). Provide a main course, side dish, dessert, or beverage and deliver to a Bethesda home. Next opportunities are on April 11 and May 2.

YoungLives Family Service Opportunity | August 1-4, Sandy Cove, North East, MD, YoungLives Summer Camp (division of Young Life). Spend a week caring for the children of teen moms while they attend summer camp activities. A 1.5-hour training session is required. Adults are welcome and teens, 15-18, with a parent/legal guardian. Cost: $300/volunteer plus transportation. For more information, see our webpage. 

Contact: Charlotte FitzGerald,  cfitzgerald@4thpres.org

Spanish Bible Study

Thursdays, through May 27, 6:45-8:00 p.m., online. A low-key, nonthreatening introduction for those interested in exploring the Bible.

Contact: Charlotte FitzGerald, cfitzgerald@4thpres.org to register