January 26, 2011                                                                                  

Holy Trinity Lutheran  Church   





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In July 2000 our two young adult children accompanied Ryan and me to celebrate the Millennium with Palestinian Lutherans in the Holy Land. First we had visited Ryan's relatives in Lebanon, so getting there required a flight from Beirut and a long ride from Amman to Jerusalem, and a slow border crossing in 140 degree heat. By the time we checked into our hotel in Bethlehem, our son had a high fever and low blood pressure: dehydration and heat exhaustion! Within minutes our Palestinian hosts had a doctor treat him at our hotel.

For ten days these Arab Lutherans shared such hospitality in other ways as well: through stories, sacred sites, worship, music, and food. On January 31, I conclude four-and-a-half years of coordinating the ELCA's Peace Not Walls, a campaign peacewallsfor peace with justice for Israelis and Palestinians. Part of my work has been a form of hospitality the ELCA calls "accompaniment": enabling American Lutherans to walk alongside the people of the Holy Land in a spirit of mutual respect and care and to receive the gifts and insights of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

We can all accompany Palestinian Christians and Muslims and Israeli Jews, by educating ourselves about the history of the conflict, the current conditions, and the steps needed for lasting peace. See more here, and explore especially the human stories and images on the new Major Issues pages.

We can also advocate for peace and security for both peoples. Finally, we can participate in accompaniment by visiting the Holy Land and by offering financial support for the many ministries of the church there.

The ELCJHL schools help both Christian and Muslim children learn to know and respect ethnic and religious others. The Mount of Olive Housing Project plans to build much-needed apartments inside Jerusalem, where there is a critical housing shortage for Palestinians. And the ELCJHL's new libraries project provides an easy way to donate books to the schools via this Amazon store.

Like Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire, we all depend on the kindness of strangers. Working with our Lutheran partners in the Holy Land has demonstrated to me how important it is to recognize the strangers in our lives with whom we can both show and receive kindness.

~Carol LaHurd

UPCOMING SUNDAY
Epiphany 4Who are the blessed ones of God? For Micah, they are those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. For Paul, they are the ones who find wisdom in the weakness of the cross. For Jesus, they are the poor, mourners, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers. In baptism we find our blessed identity and calling in this countercultural way of living and serving.

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. - Sung Eucharist
    • Music: Cantor - Kirsten Leslie; Violins: Heather and Jonathan DeSouza
  • 11:45 a.m. - New Member Orientation (Cont..)
Sunday Forum

This Sunday: Reflecting on the Scriptures of the Day
9:30 a.m. (St. Mark's Room - upstairs) - Seminarian Cuttino Alexander

Lessons for Next Sunday

Prayer of the Day
Holy God, you confound the world's wisdom
in giving your kingdom to the lowly and the pure in heart.
Give us such a hunger and thirst for justice,
and perseverance in striving for peace,
that in our words and deeds
the world may see the life of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
In This Issue
New And Noteworthy
Last Sunday's Sermon
Upcoming Events, Opportunities, and News
Calendar
Article Headline
Quick Links
VolunteerHub
CELEBRATIONS
BIRTHDAYS:
Sherrie Bonarigo  1/27
Sarah Coddington  1/28
Neill Noel  2/1
Dylan Stahl  2/2
Meggen Saka  2/4
Brendan Stevens  2/4

BAPTISMS:
Rachel Chapman  1/27
Kelly Wittich  1/28
Dorothy Klefstad  1/29
Ann Sanders  1/29
Tim Peterson  1/30
Becki Fiegel  1/31
Megan Whitaker  2/1
Meggen Saka  2/4


ANNIVERSARIES:
Scott Hendrickson  2/2

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY
Attendance Last Sunday
8:30 - 33; 10:30 - 103

Tonight, Jan. 26 - Taize Service, 7 p.m.

If youtaize like the use of the piano and instruments in worship, if you like a quiet, contemplative service, if you appreciate candles and incense, if your spirit seeks some spiritual nourishment, we hope you will come to the Contemplative Eucharist in the Style of Taize. The liturgy includes some simple repeated chants, and a generous period of silence. We appreciate Andrew Fredel coordinating these monthly services.

Daytimers in January

Daytimers will meet for lunch and conversation tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 27th, at 11:30 a.m. here at church. Please bring whatever you'd like--hotdish, salad, rolls, dessert. Drinks will be provided. Anyone free during the day is welcome to join us.

Support The Lutheran Magazine

Each January we seek special donations to cover the costs of providing The Lutheran magazine to Holy Trinity members. A gift of $10 would pay for one subscription but larger gifts are welcome as well! We are proud of our own Julie Sevig
who is a writer/editor on the staff. Write a check to Holy Trinity or donate now online.

Annual Meeting of the Congregation

Sunday, February 6, following the 10:30 a.m. service
Potluck: bring a main dish, salad, or dessert to share
. The meeting will include: 2010 reports, election of congregation council members, and a report from the VOICES initiative.

Souper Bowl: Benefiting The Lakeview Pantry

Souper BowlOn Sunday February 6th, 140 million Americans will tune in to the Super Bowl football game. There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a warm meal. Please join young people around the country as they demonstrate God's love by loving their neighbors through the Souper Bowl of Caring. It's a simple, yet significant act of caring for others. Drop $1, 10, 100 in the soup pot as you leave worship on February 6th. Checks can be written to Holy Trinity; you can also give at our website.

LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON

January 20, 2011
The Third Sunday after Epiphany
Matthew 4:12-23
Pr. Craig M. Mueller

FINDING OUR VOICE

I remember a phone call we got in the church office this past week. Josh answered it. And though it wasn't on speaker phone, I could make out the voice in my office, a good distance away. I knew who it was before he told me! Our voice is an important way people recognize us, and a primary way we express ourselves.

But we can also use the word metaphorically. When we say we're trying to "find our voice," we don't mean that we're getting over laryngitis. Rather, we're seeking clarity about our findvoicepurpose, our calling, our mission. The poet David Whyte writes: "Our voice, then, is a powerful arbiter of our inner life, our power relationships with others, and a touchstone of faith in the life we wish to lead."

Sometimes we are intentional about discovering our calling, our vocation. At any age we may still be trying to decide what we want to do when we grow up. At other times we seek a change in our career, our routine, our lives. We may meet with a career counselor or take an inventory to help us more clearly identify our passions and gifts.

Read the rest of the sermon here  

FURTHER UPCOMING EVENTS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND NEWS
New Member Orientation

Maybe you've attended Holy Trinity a few times or many. Maybe you are looking for a church home. Maybe you have mixed feelings about church and whether it is for you. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome at Holy Trinity! Here is a special invitation to learn more about Holy Trinity, what makes Lutheranism unique, meet some other folks, and find out more about our mission and ministry. Orientation sessions are held four times a year. The next session is Sunday, January 30. 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 tomorrow, Thursday, at office@htchicago.org or on the yellow slip in the pew rack.

"Team Trinity"

Please consider joining Team Trinity today!  VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Check the 'Team Trinity' site for upcoming opportunites.  It is Holy Trinity's goal to register as many members on-line to assist in helping with our ministry projects within the community.  Simply log-in now and sign-up online to volunteer today: http://holytrinity.volunteerhub.com.  Let's serve those in need together!

VolunteerHub

Dates to Remember: 
  • Sunday, February 6, Annual Congregation Meeting
     
New Members: View pictures/bios of new members from 2010: January here, May here, October here, and December here.
Next Baptism Dates: Feb. 27, Apr. 23, 2011. More info.
Next New Member Orientation Dates: 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. 
CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26
    7:00 p.m.  Contemplative Eucharist - Taize
    7:30 p.m.  AA & SAA (St. Mark's Room & Passavant Hall)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 27
    10:00 a.m.  Revelation Bible Study - Rossing, Ch 9
SATURDAY, JANUARY 29
    5:00 p.m.  Common Solutions
SUNDAY, JANUARY 30
    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.  Sung Eucharist
    11:45 a.m.  New Member Orientation (Cont.)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2
    7:00 p.m.  Contemplative Eucharist
    7:30 p.m.  AA & SAA (St. Mark's Room & Passavant Hall)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3
    10:00 a.m.  Revelation Bible Study - Rossing, Ch 9

 

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Wednesday, January 26 - Timothy, Titus, and Silas, missionaries
These three early Christian men were missionary companions of the apostle Paul. Timothy became bishop of Ephesus, Titus bishop of Crete, and Silas was imprisoned with Paul at Philippi until they were delivered by an earthquake.

Thursday, January 27 - Lydia, Dorcas, and Phoebe, witnesses to the faith
Women as well as men were important Christian leaders from the beginning, as demonstrated by these coworkers of the apostle Paul. Lydia, a seller of purple goods, lent her home for a church; Dorcas was known for charitable works; and Phoebe was a deacon in the church at Cenchrae.

Friday, January 28 - Thomas Aquinas, teacher, died 1274
One of the most brilliant and creative theologians in the church's history, Aquinas worked to bring together scripture and the philosophy of Aristotle. A member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), Aquinas was also a hymnwriter.

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2010 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26481.

 
 
AMONG OUR COMMUNITY
Please send news about awards, new positions, life passages and other important events in your lives for this section of our e-news.
 
IN OUR PRAYERS
Those ill or in special need: Victims of the shooting in Tuscon, Arizona and their families; our political leaders and our country; Bob & Carol Stoher; Sam Zangri; Paul Geist III; Christine, friend of Susan Twetten; Mary Cannon; Sam Patitucci; Patti Ann Smith; James Emery; Brent Vicknair; Sam Horcher; Colin and Veronica Fiegel; Sam and Ang Zangri; Mark Sauer; Barbara Wahler's friend, Jim Haring; Bill Glawe, Garrett Glawe's grandfather; The Levine family; Alan Stang, Jeff Stang's father; Paul Weber; Scott Johnson's mother, Virginia Johnson; Chris Stelter's grandmother; Rick Boyum's mother; Victor Jimenez; 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:
 
  • Esperanza De Santa Maria, Chicago IL
     
  • The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus; Rev. Dr. Wakseyoum Idosa Negeri
     
  • Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, Bishop Duane C. Pederson
     
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).
 
CheckitOutCHECK IT OUT!
Oscar-Nominated Movie Featured in Last Sunday's Sermon:
The King's Speechkingsspeech

 
Read a view from the Spirituality and Practice website.
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
 
Josh Judd-Herzfeldt and Craig M. Mueller
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church