Week-at-a-Glance and Ministry Announcements
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 the 2021 Missions Conference. See the footer of this page to subscribe to weekly updates from Fourth Church.
WEEK-AT-A GLANCE
Wednesday, April 21
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 22
1:00 p.m. | Grief Share, Online
6:45 p.m. | Spanish Bible Study, Online
Sunday, April 25
8:00, 9:30, & 11:00 a.m. | Sunday Morning Services, Sanctuary, Upper Room, & Lower Lot
6:00 p.m. | Sunday Evening Baccalaureate Service, Upper Room
Tuesday, April 27
10:30 a.m. | Preschool Story Time, Outdoor Tent
7:00 p.m. | Teaching on Tuesdays, 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.
MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Adult Education
Pastor’s Class, Nehemiah and Esther or 1 & 2 Peter and Jude | Through May 9. See the Adult Sunday School webpage for more information. Newcomers are welcome at any time.
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. See the Adult Sunday School webpage for more information.
Teaching on Tuesdays | Through June 8, 7:00-7:45 p.m., “Great Questions Christians Ask.” 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 sent each Tuesday. In order to permit everyone to attend the online Missions Fair, the May 4 class is canceled. Class will resume May 11 and run an additional week (last class June 8). Note that Teaching on Tuesdays 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, 6:00 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 | Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Girls will meet at the Malkus’ house, and boys will meet in the Upper Lot. Pick up is at the church. Facial coverings/masks are required.
Contact: Paige Malkus, pmalkus@4thpres.org
Congregational Care
Grief Share | Thursdays, 1:00-3:00 p.m., online, now-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
Deacons’ Offering
On behalf of the congregation, the Deacons of Fourth Church offer prayer and assistance for those in difficult circumstances. To support this scripturally mandated ministry, a Deacons’ Offering is scheduled to be collected at all morning services April 25. Give online to the Deacon Fund any time by clicking on the GIVE button at the top right of any page on Fourth’s website. If using a smartphone, click on the menu at top right to locate the GIVE button. Then, click the “Select Gift Fund” drop down list and choose the fund marked “Deacons.”
Missions & Outreach
2021 Missions Conference | Friday, April 30–Wednesday, May 5. Registration is now available. View the Missions Conference Event Schedule.
Outreach/Missions Newsletter | Please sign up to receive our biweekly email with information about opportunities to serve our community through our ministry partners.
24/7 Prayer | May 9–May 16 Sign up for 30- or 60-minute time slots and join others for a week of continuous intercession. Coordinate with your family and friends to pray together at a specified time in your home, over the phone, in a Zoom meeting, or in person during limited hours. Register at tinyurl.com/4thpres24-7.
Contact: Charlotte FitzGerald, cfitzgerald@4thpres.org
SERVE Opportunities
Clark Inn Fellowship Dinners | Serve a Sunday “Fellowship Dinner”, one Sunday a 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 May 2 and June 13.
Drivers Needed | Help is needed to deliver food to individual’s homes after our monthly food drives.
YoungLives Meal Opportunity | Tuesday, May 18, 5:00 p.m. Provide dinner, bottled drinks, and dessert for 20 teens and leaders for a 6:00 p.m. meeting. Food can be dropped off at a home in Bethesda by 5:00 p.m. Contact: SERVE@4thpres.org
YoungLives Family Opportunity | August 1-4, 2021, Sandy Cove, North East, MD. Spend a week caring for the children of teen moms while they attend YoungLives Summer Camp (a division of Young Life). 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.
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
Special Blessings
Sign Up: Monthly Eblast
Sunday School | Discoverers & Seekers, 10:45 a.m., and Explorers, 11:00 a.m., via Zoom; lesson 19.
Leadership Meeting | Sundays, 12:15–12:45 p.m., via Zoom
Needed: volunteers, buddies, and mentors to serve and minister to our students.
Contact: Audrey Muteru, amuteru@4thpres.org
Women’s Ministry
Women’s Zoom Bible Study | Week of April 11 through the week of June 6, based on Loving Jesus More, by Philip Ryken. If you would like to join this study or if you need to change to another time slot, please contact Jean. Groups are meeting Monday and Thursday evenings and Wednesday and Thursdays during the day.
Women’s Outdoor Hike | Saturday, May 22 | Join women from Fourth as we enjoy the outdoors on our traditional spring hike. More information to follow.
Women’s Zoom Book Clubs | Tuesdays, June 22-July 27, 7:00 p.m., online. Mark your calendars! More information to follow.
Women’s Ministry Spring Program | Women of Fourth tell about the faithfulness of God in what has been a challenging year. For an hour, listen to a symphony of praise to our faithful God. Available now at 4thpres.org/women.
Contact: Jean Bronson, jbronson@4thpres.org
Youth Ministry
Sign Up: Weekly Youth Newsletter
Youth Sunday School | Join us for online teaching about “What Do I Owe to Christ and Others?” Video links are sent Sunday mornings by email and are posted on the website.
Youth Bible Studies | Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Bible studies meet outdoors; see newsletter for specific locations and please dress accordingly.
Contact: Stefan Wiltz, swiltz@4thpres.org