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eNews
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
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| Greetings! | |
 I noticed that the two prior E-News Openers have focused on death, which makes sense given All Saints Sunday and also the coming of dark, winter days. Death is also much on my mind these days as I am aware of my own aging and that of one of our beloved cats, YoYo, who will not likely live to see another autumn. I feel heavy these days--loaded down with work, with sadness for nearing loss of this member of our family, and not all that excited about another birthday on the horizon.
However, as I write this reflection, it is unseasonably warm and sunny. Here at Loyola, students are sweating in stuffy classrooms and wearing shorts outside! I can still walk comfortably without thick coats, gloves, etc. And I am having a blast teaching. Also, I have taken some focused time to kick up my heels with my immediate and extended family to rejoice in birthdays and a Confirmation.
Thus, I feel simultaneously pulled in opposite directions: toward a somber mood contemplating mortality and toward rich celebrations of life--beautiful weather, vibrant autumn colors, fun times with family, and the exuberant, unabashed "joy in a body" that is our son, Benjamin. It is hard for me many days to live gracefully in this tension--to live "in between." Yet that seems what we are called to do as people of faith. If you too are living "in between," I wish you peace and ever-increasing trust that God is with you, with us, and that God has all our backs.
I am trying to lean on the side of celebration, and yes, thanksgiving. I want to drink deeply of this life. I don't want to be so distracted by the work, anxieties, or fear of the unknown that I miss out on the life and wonder right in front of me, around me, and within me.
In that spirit, I offer up one of my favorite poems by Mary Oliver, "When Death Comes" (below or scroll down)
~ Aana Marie Vigen
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UPCOMING SUNDAY - Christ the King
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 Jeremiah's promise of the execution of "justice and righteousness in the land" finds ironic fulfillment in the execution of Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. It appears so utterly contradictory that the king should be crucified with the criminal. This victory appears for all the world as ignominious defeat. Yet through the gate of death our Lord opens the door to paradise. Schedule this Sunday:- 8:30 a.m. - Simple Eucharist
- 9:00 a.m. - New Member Orientation
- 9:15 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal
- 9:30 a.m. - Adult Forum and Sunday School
- 10:30 a.m. - Festival Eucharist - Guest Preacher, Pr. Denver Bitner
- 11:45 a.m. - New Member Orientation
Special Sunday Forum!Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
Pastor Denver Bitner
9:30 a.m. (St. Mark's Room - upstairs)
Did you know LSSI brings Head Start to homeless children? Do you know LSSI has a program helping formally incarnated woman find housing, employment and reconnections to their families? We serve 22,000 kids across the state in a variety of amazing ways. Our services range from affordable housing for senior citizens to residential treatment facilities for people overcoming addictions to foster care. Come and meet Lutheran Social Services of Illinois' President and CEO, Pr. Denver Bitner and learn more about your statewide social ministry! Lessons for Next Sunday
Prayer of the Day
O God, our true life, to serve you is freedom,
and to know you is unending joy.
We worship you, we glorify you,
we give thanks to you for your great glory.
Abide with us, reign in us,
and make this world
into a fit habitation for your divine majesty,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
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GENEROSITY APPEAL 2011
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If you have not yet made your 2011 commitment you can use this online form. We would like to receive all 2011 commitments in the next week. Thanks to all who made commitments last Sunday; this will help the Finance Committee and Congregation Council in developing the 2011 budget.
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| CELEBRATIONS | BIRTHDAYS:
Thomas Braham 11/19
Karen Andersen-Moran 11/20
Heather Kissling 11/21
Chris Hanna 11/23
Paige Mankowski 11/23
Joanne Roeder 11/24
BAPTISMS:
Jonathon Widener 11/23
ANNIVERSARIES:
Carl & Ann Kreiter 11/23/2002 |
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NEW AND NOTEWORTHY
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Attendance Last Sunday 8:30 - 24; 10:30 - 178 Financial Update Through October 31, 2010 Receipts/offerings through October: $258,562 Expenses through October: $269,856 Difference: ($11,294) loss Difference through October 2009: ($18,581) loss Tonight - Wednesday, November 17 7:00 p.m. - Contemplative Eucharist with Service of Healing Passavant Hall: Take a LookPreparations for painting/refurbishing are occurring as we write this! A Work Day was held last Saturday; thank you to all of those who helped out! Check out some pictures of the progress below. If you'd like to CONTRIBUTE to this project, mark "carpet" on your check to Holy Trinity or donate on our website.     Thanksgiving Eve Service and Pie Reception7:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve, November 25.
Please bring canned goods/food items or cash donations for the Lakeview Pantry.
If you are able to help as usher, please let Josh know in the office. We also need about three more pies for the reception after the service. Email Josh if you can bring one, and what kind. Holiday Fair Trade Bazaar It's time to start saving your pennies for the Fair Trade Holiday Bazaar! Sale will be after each service on 11/28 and 12/12, and in between services on 12/5. This year we will be offering hand-selected goods from SERRV through the Lutheran World Relief Handcraft Project - Divine Chocolate advent calendars, toys for kids, cards, serving pieces, jewelry, ornaments and more! By buying Fair Trade you are supporting a more equitable distribution of the world's resources, promoting global economic stability and world peace. So give your loved one a beautiful hand-made item AND the gift they've always wanted: a bit of Peace on Earth.
Interested in helping out?
We are in need of a few people to help sell goods on any or all of the above dates. Contact Anita Engh if you are willing.
New Member Orientation this Coming Sunday
The next session is Sunday, November 21. We will meet from 9:00 - 10:20 a.m., followed by the 10:30 a.m. worship service. We continue upstairs in Passavant Hall over a light lunch, concluding before 1:00 p.m. Sign-up by email.
Lakeview Interfaith Thanksgiving WorshipOn Thursday, Nov. 18 at 7:00 p.m., join members of the community in an interfaith worship service at Lake View Presbyterian Church (716 W. Addison). A freewill offering of canned goods and money will be received to benefit the Lakeview Pantry. A reception will follow courtesy of Lake View Citizens Council. Parking and childcare available. Save The Date: Advent Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 12 @ 4:00 p.m.
Music by our own Holy Trinity Choir and Holy Trinity Strings
It's not too soon to invite a friend, neighbor or colleague to this service of music, hymns, readings and reflection on a late Sunday afternoon in Advent.
Since many Holy Trinity members are away for Christmas, this is a special Advent gathering of our community.
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| food4thought | 
food4thought
Select Sundays, 11:45 (following the 10:30 a.m. service)
Meet some of the great people of Holy Trinity
Enjoy a healthy, delicious meal
Engage a stimulating topic
The meals prepared for food4thought support local farmers, educate volunteers from the congregation in healthful cooking, and help us care for creation through organic and sustainable food systems. Ways You Can Help With the Meals:
- Help with the cooking and learn some new recipes/techniques with our chef, Matthew Peterson. Attend the 8:30 am service, and help prepare the meal from 9:15 - 11:45 a.m. (Four volunteers needed each date).
- Bake and bring bread (3 - 4 loaves to serve about 40).
- Bake and bring dessert (3 persons)
- Help clean-up from 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. (4 persons)
Sign-up for one of the above.
TOPIC FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5
Leap of Faith: A Journey from Marketing and Meetings to the Mountains of Montana
What is it like to drop everything for a chance to follow a life dream? This spring Sarah Hanson decided to leave her marketing communications position to pursue her long-time passion for photography. Recently back from a five-month intensive training course in Missoula, Montana, she will share photos, stories and lessons learned from taking a leap of faith in the quest for a new career. |
| LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON |
November 14, 2010
Luke 21:5-19
Pr. Craig M. Mueller
WARNING LABELS
I have a proposal. At the birth of a baby parents should receive a warning label along with the other materials they take home from the hospital or read online. The label could say something like: "Exposure to life in this world may bring tragedy, heartache, or devastating loss." It would be honest, though perhaps too sobering for an otherwise happy time.
The FDA has proposed some pretty graphic warning labels for cigarette packages: dead bodies, gaunt cancer patients, and a mom blowing smoke at her child. One report wondered if such "terrifying" pictures would actually change habits. Some say we should have warning labels on sugar-laden soda and unhealthy fast food. Maybe you feel tempted to put a warning label on someone who is clearly doing too much sunbathing without adequate skin protection. Or someone texting while driving! Dangerous things, all of them.
Jesus' words in today's gospel sound like a pretty dismal warning. Is this what our parents signed on to when they baptized us, or when we chose to follow Christ? Don't be terrified, but there's going to be wars, earthquakes and plagues. You will be persecuted. You will be betrayed by loved ones, and some of you will be put to death. And you will be hated because of your faith. And by the way: when these things take place, the end is near.
Read the entire sermon here.
Listen to the sermon here.
Listen to the entire service here.
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FURTHER UPCOMING EVENTS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND NEWS
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Advent Bread-baking RetreatSaturday, December 4,10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. During the December rush, spend some time with others in quiet reflection and breadbaking, marking the wonderful season of Advent.
Read more here (scroll down on the 2nd Wed. page)
PAWS Chicago Opportunity Each December, PAWS has an adopt-a-thon, and in anticipation of the large numbers of cats and dogs adopted, PAWS taps its foster network for people to care for dogs and cats before the adopt-a-thon. Fostering would be for a finite period of time (probably 2-4 weeks), and there is no obligation to do more, although people are obviously welcome to continue fostering if they wish. You can request dogs or cats of specific sizes, can already have pets or not have pets, and/or request pets that are child friendly, even for different age groups (eg, a dog great with kids 10+ but not preschoolers, cats who love to be around babies, etc.). If the pet has any medical conditions PAWS covers the cost of treatment.
If people are interested, they would need to attend a foster orientation and fill out an online application. However, PAWS said if we get 12 or more adults from Holy Trinity who are interested, then they will set up a special session for us. If we have fewer than 12, then Beth Morris can work with congregants to get them into the foster network. With questions, contact Beth.
"Team Trinity"Please consider joining Team Trinity today! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Help at the Lakeview Pantry on Nov. 18, or serve food at the Lakeview Shelter on Nov. 20. It is Holy Trinity's goal to register as many members on-line to assist in helping with our ministry projects within the community. For the rest of October, we are in need of volunteers for Lakeview Food Pantry. Simply log-in now and sign-up online to volunteer today: http://holytrinity.volunteerhub.com. Let's serve those in need together! Budrus Documentary ShowingThe film is showing in Chicago Nov. 19-28 at Facets Cinematheque, 1517 W. Fullerton. Budrus is an award-winning documentary about a Palestinian community organizer, Ayed Morrar, who unites local Fatah and Hamas members along with Israeli supporters in an unarmed movement to save his village of Budrus from destruction by Israel's Separation Barrier. The film shows the director's abiding concern for the process of reconciliation; as Israelis and Palestinians stand together in front of Israeli soldiers and bulldozers, the possibility of living together peacefully becomes vividly imaginable. See more here and here. Lutheran Night at Ten Thousand Villages Will Benefit ELCJHL MinistriesThursday, Dec. 2, 7-9 p.m., you can find Christmas presents for family and friends and contribute to a gift to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. St. Paul Lutheran Church, Evanston, is organizing the Dec. 2 event and inviting all Lutheran sister congregations to join in. In this after-hours time, the store at 719 Main Street in Evanston will be open just for Lutheran shoppers and their friends. Ten Thousand Villages will return 15 percent of the proceeds of all purchases for this contribution to the work of the ELCJHL. Read more about the source of the handicrafts for sale here. Dates to Remember:- Wednesday, November 24 - Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist (7:00 p.m.)
- Saturday, December 4 - Advent Bread-baking Retreat (10:00 a.m.)
- Sunday, December 5 - Food4thought - Leap of Faith (11:45 a.m.)
- Sunday, December 12 - Lessons and Carols for Advent (4:00 p.m.)
- Saturday, January 22 - VOICES Retreat
New Members: View pictures/bios of new members from January here, May here, and October here. Next Baptism Dates: Jan. 9, Feb. 27, Apr. 23, 2011. More info.Next New Member Orientation Dates: Nov. 21; Jan. 30, May 1, 2011. More info.Office Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Wed., 1:00-8:00 p.m.; and Sun., 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
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CALENDAR
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WEDNEDAY, NOVEMBER 17
10:00 a.m. Revelation Bible Study - Rossing Ch. 5
7:00 p.m. Contemplative Eucharist with Service of Healing
7:30 p.m. AA (St. Mark's Room)
7:30 p.m. SAA (Passavant Hall)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18
6:00 p.m. Park Community Church Worship
6:00 p.m. HTLC at Lakeview Pantry
7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21
8:30 a.m. Simple Eucharist
9:00 a.m. New Member Orientation
9:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal
9:30 a.m. Adult Forum, Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Festival Eucharist
11:45 a.m. New Member Orientation (cont...)
WEDNEDAY, NOVEMBER 24
7:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve Worship (Nave)
7:30 p.m. AA (St. Mark's Room)
7:30 p.m. SAA (Passavant Hall)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25
Church Office Closed - Thanksgiving Day
COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK
Wednesday, November 17 - Elizabeth of Hungary, renewer of society, died 1231
Born in Hungary, Elizabeth was betrothed to the son of the Landgrave of Thuringia, and at age four was taken to be raised with him at the Wartburg Castle. Ten years later they were married. She was very generous to the poor, and after her husband's death she lived in cruel hardship until her own death at age twenty-four.
Tuesday, November 23 - Clement, Bishop of Rome, died around 100
Clement was the third bishop of Rome. He is best remembered for a letter he wrote to the congregation in Corinth, still struggling with the same problems that led to Paul's letters to them. As did Paul, he focused on the need for love among Christians.
Tuesday, November 23 - Miguel Agustín Pro, martyr, died 1927
Pro grew up in a time when the Mexican revolutionaries accused the church of siding with the wealthy. He became a Jesuit priest, and worked on behalf of the poor and homeless. Falsely accused of throwing a bomb at a government official, he was executed, but not before crying out "Long live Christ the King!"
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2010 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26481.
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| IN OUR PRAYERS |
Those ill or in special need: Those grieving the death of Alice Peppler; Christine, friend of Susan Twetten; Mary Cannon; Sam Patitucci; Samuel Zangri; Patti Ann Smith; James Emery; Brent Vicknair; Sam Horcher; Leon Steven's father, John Stevens; Colin and Veronica Fiegel; Sam and Ang Zangri; Mark Sauer; Barbara Wahler's friend, Jim Haring; Jen Hopwood's friend Gabrielle; Bill Glawe, Garrett Glawe's grandfather; The Levine family; Alan Stang, Jeff Stang's father; Paul Weber; Kate; Scott Johnson's mother, Virginia Johnson; Chris Stelter's grandmother; Rick Boyum's mother; Victor Jimenez; Jonathan Chell's friend, John; Vivian Carter; Marji Shannon's sister; Ken Duckmann's nephew, Anthony Drago.
Those in leadership: President Barack Obama and members of congress; Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson and Metropolitan Chicago Synod Bishop Wayne Miller; the pastors, staff and congregation council at Holy Trinity.
Serving in the Military: Benjamin Brackley, in Afghanistan.
Metropolitan Chicago Synod Prayer Rotation:
- Christ Lutheran Church, Melrose Park, IL
- Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, Bishop Dr. Stanislav Pietak
- Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod, Bishop evin S. Kanouse
Ministries Supported by Holy Trinity: ELCA World Hunger Appeal; RefugeeOne; Lakeview Action Coalition; Lakeview Pantry; Lakeview Shelter; Lutherans Concerned; The Night Ministry; Christian Peacemaker Teams; Arise Chicago; Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches; The Lutheran Volunteer Corps; Anti-Racism Team of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod; Holy Family Lutheran Ministries; Lutheran Youth on the Northside (LYONS).
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 CHECK IT OUT!
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"When Death Comes" by Mary Oliver
When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse
to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;
when death comes
like the measles-pox;
when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,
I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?
And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,
and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,
and each name a comfortable music in the mouth
tending as all music does, toward silence,
and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.
When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
When it is over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.
I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.
printed in new and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver (Beacon Press).
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AMONG OUR COMMUNITY
| Connor Egan, Molly Moran, and Grant Peterson celebrated with us their first communion on Sunday.
Please send news about awards, new positions, life passages and other important events in your lives for this section of our e-news.
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HOLY TRINITY E-NEWS is the weekly electronic newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago. To unsubscribe click on "safeUnsubscribe" below. E-newsletter submissions and prayer requests should be sent to office@htchicago.org by Monday at 4:00 p.m.
Website: www.holytrinitychicago.org
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Josh Judd-Herzfeldt and Craig M. Mueller
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
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