Light shines in the darkness for the upright, the psalmist sings. Isaiah declares that when we loose the bonds of injustice and share our bread with the hungry, the light breaks forth like the dawn. In another passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, the light of the world, calls his followers to let the light of their good works shine before others. Through baptism we are sent into the world to shine with the light of Christ.

Schedule this Sunday:

• 8:30 a.m. - Simple Eucharist
• 9:15 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal
• 9:30 a.m. - Adult Forum and Sunday School
• 10:30 a.m. - Sung Eucharist
• Music: Choir
• 11:45 a.m. - Annual Congregation Meeting
   

Souper Bowl:

Benefiting The Lakeview Pantry

On the day that 140 million Americans will tune in to the Super Bowl football, join young people around the country as they demonstrate God's love by loving their neighbors through the Souper Bowl of Caring. Drop $1, 10, 100 in the soup pot as you leave worship. Checks can be written to Holy Trinity; you can also give at our website.

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.
Download the Annual Report at our website. 

Sunday Forum

Light of the World
9:30 a.m. (St. Mark's Room - upstairs) - Josh Judd-Herzfeldt
As Lutherans, we tend to get nervous when we talk about "works." In today's lesson, Jesus tells us to "Let our light shine before others," and we should! Come discuss how we deal with the doing of "works" in light of God's grace.

Lessons for Next Sunday

Prayer of the Day
Lord God,
with endless mercy you receive the prayers
of all who call upon you.
By your Spirit show us the things we ought to do,
and give us the grace and power to do them,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Attendance Last Sunday
8:30 - 21; 10:30 - 131

Blizzard Cancellations
There will be no Contemplative Eucharist on Wednesday evening or Revelation Bible Study on Thursday morning due to the blizzard.

New Weekday Bible Study

Beginning Thursday, February 10 the Thursday Bible Study will begin a brief unit on the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on texts read in worship this month. All are welcome.

Second Wednesday Event - February 9

Drawing as a Way to Self-discovery
Richard Bough

Wednesday, February 9, 7:30 p.m. (following the Contemplative Eucharist)
Drawing is a way to visually record not only what one sees externally but also what one experiences internally. We will have the opportunity to learn about and experiment with some drawing techniques and then share with others our response in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. Everyone is welcome, and no previous drawing experience is required. All drawing materials provided.

Holy Trinity Chosen for Yale Congregations Project

Holy Trinity is one of seven congregations of various denominations nationwide chosen for the Congregations Project of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. Pastor Craig Mueller, David Brackley, and Beth Mankowski will join leadership teams from the other congregations June 22 - 30 to learn, create, share our story, and make connections in a weeklong summer seminar with renowned faculty--including Holy Trinity member Ben Stewart--at Yale in New Haven. The Congregations Project is a new ecumenical initiative dedicated to renewing worship, music, and the arts for the life of the world.  Later, these teams will serve as resources to other leaders and faith communities in their own region.

As part of the application process each congregation developed a project built on their prior strengths which deepen and extend ministry in and beyond the congregation. Below is the "abstract" for Holy Trinity's proposed project.

Sects and the City: Renewing Worship in an Urban, Millennial Context

After years of people deserting the city for the suburbs, the past several decades have brought an influx of young adults into Chicago to live, work, study, play, and even to pray. Though membership in mainline sects has continued to decline each year, some urban parishes are growing and thriving, as they invite residents of their neighborhood, and Chicago's wider Northside, to join them for worship and ministry that reflect the energy, vibrancy, and diversity of the city.

 

Holy Trinity will host a worship conference in winter 2012 for pastors, musicians, lay leaders, seminarians and other interested persons using an innovative, vibrant, and experiential style that reflects our neighborhood. A worship service, followed by conversation will be held in three sites. All three parishes are known for their growth, innovative approaches to urban ministry, and intentional outreach to the so-called Millennial generation; yet the congregations reflect diverse styles of pastoral leadership, liturgy, preaching, and music. Rather than using the traditional format of lectures and break-out groups, an innovative schedule will be designed in which each section will begin with the liturgy, music, and preaching of three growing urban congregations, followed by facilitated reflection and discussion in large and small groups. The three clergy members will be joined by responders from seminaries or denominational judicatories in the area.

 

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.

"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!

THANK YOU LETTERS
 We received letters from the Night Ministry thanking us for a gift of $300.00 to the Crib, the new homeless youth shelter at Lakeview Lutheran Church. And we received a letter from PASWS thanking us for the donation of pet food, cat litter and newspapers.

 

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: 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. 

Those ill or in special need: Liam Anderson; 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:
 

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of All Saint, Fox Lake IL
   
• Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rev. Dr Suneel B. Bhanu
   
• East-Central Synod of Wisconsin, Bishop James A. Justman
   

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).