2025 Bay Weekend
November 15-16, 2025
Welcomes
The Reverend Nanette Sawyer
Associate Pastor at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago
and author of
Hospitality - The Sacred Art: Discovering the Hidden
Spiritual Power of Invitation and Welcome
November 15-16, 2025
Welcomes
The Reverend Nanette Sawyer
Associate Pastor at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago
and author of
Hospitality - The Sacred Art: Discovering the Hidden
Spiritual Power of Invitation and Welcome
The Rev. Nanette Sawyer is an Associate Pastor at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, with responsibility for relational small group ministries, interfaith relations, and racial equity concerns. Nanette Sawyer began serving at Fourth Church in December 2015 as Minister for Congregational Life. In December 2017 she was called by the congregation to fill the role of Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Small Group Ministry. She is the author of Hospitality, The Sacred Art.
Prior to her call at Fourth, she served at St. James Presbyterian Church and Grace Commons, both in Chicago. She was founding pastor of Wicker Park Grace, which grew out of her 2002 call by the Presbytery of Chicago to begin an experiment in new ways of doing church. That effort began with spirituality discussions and book groups in coffee shops and teahouses and eventually grew into a “church without walls” in 2005 with seed money from the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Nanette holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, feminist studies, and creative writing from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. She received her Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on comparative world religions. Then a Masters of Divinity at McCormick Theological Seminary.
A past Moderator of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Work Group of the Presbytery of Chicago, she continues to coordinate the Presbytery's interfaith dialogue with the Jewish Federation of Chicago and the interfaith dialogue with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC).
She was a keynote speaker at Union Presbyterian Seminary’s Carl Howie Center for Science, Art, and Theology 2017 program. From 2008 to 2012, she represented the PC(USA) on the Interfaith Relations Commission, National Council of Churches.
RSVP in the West Narthex on Sundays or by clicking here.
Prior to her call at Fourth, she served at St. James Presbyterian Church and Grace Commons, both in Chicago. She was founding pastor of Wicker Park Grace, which grew out of her 2002 call by the Presbytery of Chicago to begin an experiment in new ways of doing church. That effort began with spirituality discussions and book groups in coffee shops and teahouses and eventually grew into a “church without walls” in 2005 with seed money from the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Nanette holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, feminist studies, and creative writing from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. She received her Masters of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on comparative world religions. Then a Masters of Divinity at McCormick Theological Seminary.
A past Moderator of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Work Group of the Presbytery of Chicago, she continues to coordinate the Presbytery's interfaith dialogue with the Jewish Federation of Chicago and the interfaith dialogue with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC).
She was a keynote speaker at Union Presbyterian Seminary’s Carl Howie Center for Science, Art, and Theology 2017 program. From 2008 to 2012, she represented the PC(USA) on the Interfaith Relations Commission, National Council of Churches.
RSVP in the West Narthex on Sundays or by clicking here.
Saturday, November 15
Welcome Reception 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Members are invited to a welcome reception at the home of Drs. Todd and Judy Knox hosted by the Adult Education Committee.
Click Here to RSVP for the Welcome Reception and All Church Lunch.
Sunday, November 16
One Service of Worship at 10:00 a.m.
Reverend Sawyer will preach "Testify to Love" based on Isaiah 65:17-25
"New heavens and a new earth, “Build houses and live in them.”
And Luke 21:5-19
"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified...This will give you an opportunity to testify.”
Education Forum 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in Parish Hall
Presentation and All Church lunch
“Soul Force”: A Love to Counter Evil
In this class we will consider the persistence and power of God’s love, God’s truth, and how we can be rooted and grounded in that love. As Christians we have been given the difficult commandment by Jesus to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44). This love is an embodied, experiential love given to us by the grace of God. This love requires us to protect the most vulnerable and to live with dignity and self-respect ourselves. We will explore how we can claim and utilize our personal power without turning ourselves into enemies, especially in difficult and dangerous times.
Welcome Reception 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Members are invited to a welcome reception at the home of Drs. Todd and Judy Knox hosted by the Adult Education Committee.
Click Here to RSVP for the Welcome Reception and All Church Lunch.
Sunday, November 16
One Service of Worship at 10:00 a.m.
Reverend Sawyer will preach "Testify to Love" based on Isaiah 65:17-25
"New heavens and a new earth, “Build houses and live in them.”
And Luke 21:5-19
"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified...This will give you an opportunity to testify.”
Education Forum 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in Parish Hall
Presentation and All Church lunch
“Soul Force”: A Love to Counter Evil
In this class we will consider the persistence and power of God’s love, God’s truth, and how we can be rooted and grounded in that love. As Christians we have been given the difficult commandment by Jesus to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-44). This love is an embodied, experiential love given to us by the grace of God. This love requires us to protect the most vulnerable and to live with dignity and self-respect ourselves. We will explore how we can claim and utilize our personal power without turning ourselves into enemies, especially in difficult and dangerous times.
The Bay Weekend was established in 1974 by the family of Frances and Ed Bay with the formation of the Frances M. Bay Lay Education Fund. This fund has provided the Westminster congregation and community with educational weekends for over 40 years. We are grateful to the Bay Family whose generosity and legacy have nourished our faith for more than four decades, and for the Westminster Endowment Fund which has also contributed to these endeavors. Click Here for a link to Bay Weekend History.