Week-at-a-Glance and Ministry Announcements
In this post you’ll find the calendar of events for the coming week plus the latest announcements from the ministries of Fourth. Also, don’t miss today’s Midweek Update email. See the footer of this page to subscribe to weekly updates from Fourth Church.
WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE
Wednesday, September 8
5:30 p.m. | Congregational Prayer, Online
6:00 p.m. | English Class Placement Tests, Upper Portico
7:00 p.m. | Deacon’s Meeting, Upper Room
Thursday, September 9
1:00 p.m. | Grief Share Support Group, Room 132
Friday, September 10
7:30 p.m. | Special Blessings Moms’ Support Group, Online
Saturday, September 11
10:00 a.m. | Yarns for Hope, Room 102
10:00 a.m. | Drive-Through Collection and Food Drive, Upper Portico
7:00 p.m. | Special Blessings Dads’ Support Group, Online
Sunday, September 12
8:00, 9:30, & 11:00 a.m. | Sunday Morning Services, Sanctuary
8:30 a.m. | Congregational Prayer, The Commons
5:00 p.m. | SERVE Day at Clark Inn, Offsite
5:00 p.m. | Sunday Youth Event, Main Campus
6:00 p.m. | Evening Worship, Sanctuary
Monday, September 13
7:15 p.m. | Women’s Martha Circle, Bethesda/Potomac, Online
8:00 p.m. | Men’s Study – Proverbs, Online
Tuesday, September 14
7:00 p.m. | Divorce Care Support Group, Emmaus House Sunroom
Ongoing activities: Adult Sunday School, College Students, Children’s Sunday School, Youth Sunday School, Special Blessings Sunday School, Women’s Bible Studies, Young Adults, and Community Groups.
MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Adult Education
Fall Sunday School Classes begin this week, September 12-December 12. Learn more; registration is open.
9:30 a.m.
- Pastor’s Class, Mark 1-9: A Biography of Jesus, Upper Room
- Confessing Christ—Second Helvetic Confession, Room 130
- New Members Class, Room 131
11:00 a.m.
- Pastor’s Class, Ecclesiastes: Living in the Light of Eternity, Upper Room
- GENtoREV—Bible Overview (Old Testament), Room 131
- Young Adult/Young Married, Chapel
New Members Class | Begins Sunday, September 12-October 24, Room 131, 9:30 a.m. Registration is open. Email Ralph Miller, newmembers@4thpres.org, or visit the Membership webpage for more information.
Online Pastor’s Class | Book of Ephesians, week of September 26—week of December 5. A recorded lecture will be posted each week on the Adult Sunday School webpage. A limited number of online group meetings will be offered. Online registration will open later this month.
Wednesday Night Adult Class | “Beyond the Grave”, September 15-November 10, 6:45-7:30 p.m., via Zoom. This series, taught by Rob Norris, examines Biblical teaching on the hope of eternal life. Look for the Zoom link in the Midweek Updates sent every Wednesday morning. No registration is required. If you are not receiving the Midweek Updates, email Genna Repich, or call the Church Office. For more information on adult classes, email Kathy Lofberg.
Alpha Course
Bring a friend to Alpha | The Alpha course is a place to explore the Christian faith with others. Invite a friend to a home in Bethesda, Thursdays, 6:00 p.m., September 23–November 11.
Contact: alpha@4thpres.org
Children’s Ministry
Starting this Sunday, we will have Nursery and Sunday School during the 9:30 a.m. service and Nursery and Cherub and Children’s Church during the 11:00 a.m. service. Parents, please check in your children at the computers at the Children’s Welcome Center on the first floor or the computers outside the Children’s Library.
Nursery | Sundays during the 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services, infants-2 years old.
Sunday School | Classes resume during the 9:30 a.m. service for age 2 through 5th grade. An email will be sent to parents with a list of classrooms.
Cherub Church | Sundays, 11:00 a.m. service, age 2 to Prekindergarten. Children start out in their classrooms and are escorted by their teachers to Cherub Church where they sing songs, learn Catechism, and hear a lesson based on the sermon that is adapted to their level. They are escorted back to their classrooms for crafts and activities. Parents please pick up your children in their classrooms after the service.
Children’s Church | Sundays, 11:00 a.m. service, Kindergarten to 3rd grade. Children will be dismissed before the sermon and accompanied by their teachers to their classrooms. Parents please pick up your children from their classrooms immediately after the service.
Contact: Paige Malkus, pmalkus@4thpres.org
Community Groups
Join a Community Group | Find a group that meets in your neighborhood or at a time that fits your schedule. Contact the group host to learn the meeting address and next meeting date; meeting times and frequency vary. See the webpage at 4thpres.org/groups.
Contact: Tommy Myrick, tmyrick@4thpres.org
Congregational Care
Divorce Care Support Group | Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m., through December 7, Emmaus House. Register at divorcecare.org. For more information contact Nate Robbins.
Grief Share Support Group | Thursdays, 1:00-3:00 p.m., September 9-December 9, Room 132. Register at griefshare.org. Contact Nate Robbins for more information.
Yarns for Hope | September 11, 10:00 a.m., Room 102. Come use your knitting and crocheting skills to create beautiful, useful items for several church-related ministries and enjoy fun and fellowship while we’re working. For information contact yarnsforhope@4thpres.org.
New Visitors Meet & Greet | New visitors come meet members and pastors and learn more about membership and the ministries of Fourth, Sunday, October 3, 12:15 p.m., The Commons. RSVP by September 19 at 4thpres.org/event/free-new-visitors-meet-greet/. An RSVP is helpful and appreciated, but not required. Email Nate Robbins for more information.
Media Center
Volunteer at the Checkout Desk | The Media Center is open Sundays, 9:00-11:00 a.m., and Mondays-Thursdays, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Please consider assisting with checkouts Sunday mornings.
Contact: Jennifer Horst, jhorst@4thpres.org
Men’s Ministry
Men’s Online Proverbs Study | Mondays, September 13-December 20, 8:00 p.m., led by Steve Liston and Richard Morris, via Zoom. An informal study of Proverbs, chapter by chapter for men of all ages. Contact menproverbs@4thpres.org for the Zoom link and more information.
Men’s Retreat | March 11-13, 2022, Sandy Cove Retreat Center, North East, MD. Registration will open in January 2022.
Contact: Dr. Robert Norris, rnorris@4thpres.org
Missions & Outreach
Join Our English Classes | Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m., September 15-December 8. Non-native English speakers are invited to join our online English classes. Placement tests will be administered in person tonight, Wednesday, September 8, 6:00-8:00 p.m., in the Upper Portico. Register online at 4thpres.org/ministries/englishclasses/. Contact: englishclasses@4thpres.org.
Rockville Women’s Center (RWC) | Join RWC for the Steadfast Embrace Life Gala to hear stories of some of the lives saved and transformed this year, September 23 or 24, 7:00 p.m., Derwood Bible Church, Derwood, MD. A virtual option will also be available. RSVP at rwcdonors.com/2021-embrace-life-gala/.
Romanian Christian Enterprises (RCE) | Join RCE for their Annual Event, Saturday, October 2, 6:00 p.m., Upper Room. Register at www.rcenterprises.org/october-event-invite.
Contact: Janie Randell, missions@4thpres.org
Music Ministry
Music Groups Restart in September | Registration is open for the following groups.
Choral
Celebration Choir (grades 1-2; director, Anna Tope; begins September 16)
Covenant Choir (grades 3-8; director, Ted Bickish; begins September 16)
High School Choir (grades 9-12; director, Wyeth Duncan; begins September 16)
Sanctuary Choir (adults; director, Ted Bickish; begins September 9)
Instrumental
Fourth Strings (age 6 and up; director, Briannah Steele; begins September 23)
Fourth Orchestra (high school and adults; director, Mary Clark)
Bells of the Trinity Handbell Choir (grades 3-6; director, Mary Clark; begins September 19)
Ring Forth! Handbell Choir (grades 6-12; director, Mary Clark; begins September 19)
Contact: Erin Jones, ejones@4thpres.org
SERVE Opportunities
Drive-Through Collection & Food Drive | Saturday, September 11, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Contributions of large pots and pans, food, diapers, clothing (socks, underwear, shoes, and boots), and household items are appreciated. Additionally, for September only, we are collecting individual packages of snacks (nuts, trail mix, fruit leather, granola bars, pretzels, chips, crackers, cookies) for Cornerstone Christian School, a partner of Fourth Presbyterian Church. Please place all donations in brown paper bags with handles if possible. Donated items go to Fourth’s ministry partners and neighbors in the DMV.
Contact for clothing and household items: Pamela Roylance, proylance@4thpres.org
Contact for food items: Janie Randell, SERVE@4thpres.org
Fellowship Dinner | Provide a portion of a dinner 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 opportunity is September 12.
Contact: Janie Randell, SERVE@4thpres.org
Special Blessings
Moms’ Support Group | Friday, September 10, 7:30-9:00 p.m., via Zoom. We will be discussing Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families – The Five Love Languages for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities. Email sbmoms@4thpres.org for more information.
Dads’ Support Group | Saturday, September 11, 7:00-9:00 p.m., via Zoom. We will be discussing Sharing Love Abundantly in Special Needs Families – The Five Love Languages for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities. Email sbdads@4thpres.org for more information.
Women’s Ministry
Bible Studies and Circles | Visit the Women’s Ministry webpage for a full list of resumed activities.
Women’s Cancer Support Group | Sunday, September 19, Room 132, following 11:00 a.m. worship service. Please join us for an abbreviated meeting with time to meditate on a Psalm, share updates, and pray together.
Contact: Jean Bronson, jbronson@4thpres.org
Young Adults
Bay Day | Saturday, September 11, 1:30-6:30 p.m. We are kicking off the fall with a day of fun together in West River, MD, near the Chesapeake Bay. Come enjoy an afternoon of watersports, volleyball, and fellowship and connect with friends old and new. There is no cost for this event. For more information and location please email Dave.
Silent Retreat | October 1, 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Spend a day in prayer and contemplation – “alone together” – in a beautiful and peaceful setting on the Eastern Shore. There is no cost. Online registration is required. The deadline is September 24. Email Dave for more information.
Contact: David Frerichs, dfrerichs@4thpres.org