NEXT SUNDAY: Sixth Sunday of Easter 

Jesus does not leave his followers orphaned. Through the Holy Spirit Jesus comes to abide with his disciples of every generation. As Pentecost draws near, we are reminded that the risen Christ dwells in us as the Spirit of truth. We receive this Spirit in baptism and pray that in our gathering around the Lord's table the Spirit will transform us to be the body of the risen Christ in the world.

• 9:30 a.m. - Eucharist
• Music: Sean Diller - Cantor, Viola

This week's lessons 

Almighty and ever-living God,
you hold together all things in heaven and on earth.
In your great mercy receive the prayers of all your children,
and give to all the world the Spirit of your truth and peace,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

8:30 - 30; 10:30 - 148

ELCA Disaster Response: Tornado in Joplin, MO  

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

An outbreak of tornadoes tore across the Midwest this weekend, leaving a path of destruction from Texas to Minnesota. 

Especially hard-hit is Joplin, Mo., where a powerful tornado leveled parts of the community, killing at least 89 people. Residents say the city is completely unrecognizable.

The building that housed an ELCA congregation has been destroyed, according to its pastor. Please keep the Rev. Bill Pape and the people of Peace Lutheran Church in Joplin in your prayers.

This outbreak is one of several destructive storms this spring. Communities throughout the Midwest and South have also faced widespread damage due to floods and severe storms.

ELCA Disaster Response is already assessing the situation in Joplin and other areas affected by severe storms and flooding. Your gifts are needed to help provide help provide for immediate and long-term needs of those affected by these disasters.  

All of your gifts-100 percent-designated for "U.S. Severe Storms" will be used for emergency and long-term assistance following these storms. Please give generously at the ELCA website or the Holy Trinity website and continue to pray for those whose lives have been uprooted by this disaster. 

Sincerely,   

The Rev. Daniel Rift
Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal    

Taize is an ecumenical community in France. Using simple, short and repeated melodies we let go of our minds and prayerfully enter the mystery of God's presence. Take a break from the busy city life, and join us for this simple, contemplative eucharist amid the Easter candle and flowers.

Thank you to all those who helped put on the increcibly successful Yahtzee Night fundraiser last Friday, especially those who purchased tickets or donated for the wine toss! Thrivent will be matching part of the proceeds, so we are well on our way to raising our 2011 goal in support of Holy Trinity's local beneficiaries. THE FINAL AMOUNT RAISED WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON.  Thanks to these council members for their hard work on this event:
Kelley Bender
Megan Whitaker
Meggen Saka
Karen Andersen-Moran
Ed Beach
Kristi Harreld
Pete Hillman
Drew Knobloch
Lisa McDaniel
Sarah Hanson

Thank you also to these businesses who generously donated money and prizes:
Target - $50
Costco - $25
Jewel - $15
Uncommon Ground - $40
Yak-Zies - discounted food at 50% of the cost

Summer 2011: Every Week at Holy Trinity
Sunday Eucharist, 9:30 a.m.
Monday Meditation Group, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday Contemplative Eucharist, 6:00 pm (new time, beginning June 1)
Thursday Bible Study, 9:30 a.m. 

Starting June 1, the e-news will be changing to a bi-weekly format. Look for double issues every two weeks!

SUMMER SCHEDULE

Last Sunday's Sermon

The Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 22, 2011
Pr. Michelle L. Miller

Surprise! We're still here. I couldn't help but look around this morning and try to figure out who's missing. Of course, if anyone is missing from church this morning, it isn't because of the rapture. They've likely chosen to sleep in, or had other plans for this beautiful Sunday morning.

No matter where I turned this past week, it seemed people were talking about the rapture, which Harold Camping predicted would happen yesterday at about 6 p.m., local time. Nearly every friend on Facebook referenced the prediction. I overheard a conversation between co-workers at Office Max talking about the end of the world. The morning "news" programs and even NPR had stories about this radio preacher and his 20,000 or so followers who gave up everything - homes, finances, even family relationships - because they believed that the end of the world was near and they would be "taken up to heaven," while the rest of us are left behind. Mostly, I'm surprised by how much attention this man's rapture prediction received!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25

    7:00 p.m.  Contemplative Eucharist in the Style of Taize

    7:30 p.m.  AA & SAA (St. Mark's Room & Passavant Hall) 

THURSDAY, MAY 26  

SUNDAY, MAY 29 - Cubs Home Game

    9:30 a.m.  Summer Eucharist 

    1:20 p.m.  Cubs Home Game 

    7:00 p.m.  Meditation Group

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Friday, May 27 - John Calvin, renewer of the church, died 1564
Gifted both as a systematic theologian and as an interpreter of scriptures, Calvin embraced the Reformation, and as a preacher in Geneva, Switzerland, brought a theocratic government to it. He is regarded as the father of the Reformed churches.

Sunday, May 29 - Jiri Tranovsky, hymnwriter, died 1637
Tranovsky is considered to be the father of Slovak hymnody as well as an important reformer of the Slavic church. He translated the Augsburg Confession (the basis of Lutheran teachings) and published a collection of Slovak hymns.

Tuesday, May 31 - Visit of Mary to Elizabeth
This festival marks the occasion when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth who was herself pregnant with John. Elizabeth pronounced Mary "blessed among women," and Mary responded with the song called the Magnificat. 

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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