NEXT TWO SUNDAYS 

July 3 - Lectionary 14
The mystery of God's ways is sometimes hidden from the wise and intelligent. Jesus associates with the lowly and outcast. Like Paul, we struggle with our own selfish desires and seek God's mercy and forgiveness. We gather to be refreshed by Christ's invitation: "Come to me, all you that are weary." Gathered around word, water, and meal, we find rest for our souls.

• 9:30 a.m. - Eucharist
• Music: Cantor - Travis Paul 
• 10:30 a.m. - Coffee Fellowship in Garden (Weather Permitting)

God's word is like the rain that waters the earth and brings forth vegetation. It is also like the sower who scatters seed indiscriminately. Our lives are like seeds sown in the earth. Even from what appears to be little, dormant, or dead, God promises a harvest. At the Lord's table we are fed with the bread of life, that we may bear fruit in the world.

• 9:30 a.m. - Eucharist
• Music: Cantors - Natalie Ford and Heather DeSouza
• 10:30 a.m. - Coffee Fellowship in Garden (Weather Permitting)

Weekly readings 

June 19, 9:30 - 104
June 26, 9:30 - 147 

Take a break from the busy city life, and join us for this simple, contemplative eucharist.

Learn more about how the federal budget affects the international community, and how your voice can be heard as a person of faith, from the ELCA website. Note the tabs on the left that deal with specific countries and issues.

Would you be interested in watching a film together and then discussing some of its spiritual themes? A new Film and Spirituality group will meet every other month, and a kick-off event is planned for Sunday, July 10, 6:00 p.m. upstairs in Passavant Hall. Please bring a salad, fruit, or healthy snacks to share. We will watch the provocative film Lars the Real Girl, in which a delusional man has relationship with a life-sized doll and becomes an opportunity for those who know him to become a community of care and support. Even if you've seen the movie, it's one to see again! Following a brief discussion led by Pastor Mueller we will also discuss format and schedule for future events. If you are unable to attend this event, but interested in the group, let Pastor Mueller know and we'll get some of your ideas.

Mom's Night Out for a Little BS 

Got kids? Join us for Bible Study and discussion the 2nd Friday of each month. Mark your calenders now for July 8th and RSVP to Becki Fiegel if you plan to attend. She will provide you with the address, directions and additional information, if needed.

PAWS is assisting at the Fleet Feet Women's 5k and 10k on Sunday, July 17th on behalf of Team PAWS. Everyone is welcome to help, including children who are accompanied by parents, and both men and women are welcome as well. PAWS is looking for about 40 volunteers to be at Montrose Harbor at 5:30 a.m. on the 17th to either 1) set up a water station and pass out water to the runners while cheering them on; or 2) work the gear check. The latest the morning will go is noon, although people tend to get dismissed earlier than that. To sign up, head to Holy Trinity's volunteer site. For more information, speak to Beth Morris or email her.

August 22-26 @ Lakeview Lutheran Church, 9 a.m. - noon
- For children age 4-12
- Held at Lakeview Lutheran Church (835 Addison)
- Pre-register by August 12
- $15 per child
- Register on-line now.

Pastor Mueller will lead a retreat for LGBT folks / supporters on Saturday, August 27, at Holy Wisdom Monastery north of Madison, WI. The retreat is from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and there is a guest house available for those who would like to stay overnight or stay for a longer time. "We often turn inward to reflect on our lives; and a number of spiritual paths and practices assist us on the journey. We who are LGBT often bring unique stories, challenges or struggles related to family, religion or society, and though there has been much movement in the past decade, we are in different places in being able to be "out" about our identity. Whether LGBT or supportive, come and reflect, share stories, and learn ways to be brought in to a deeper spiritual life even as we seek to be more out and fully ourselves in our everyday lives and relationships." For more information about the retreat or to learn more about this fascinating ecumenical community, go to this link.  

Meditation Group at Holy Trinity

Mondays at 7:00 p.m. You are welcome as a beginner or as an experienced meditator trained in a specific method. This is a drop-in group and you can attend as you are able. For more information, and to RSVP for each session, click here  

"Team Trinity"

Please consider joining Team Trinity today! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Check out Volunteer website 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!

 

New Members: View pictures/bios of recent new members: May here, February here.

Next Baptism Dates: August 21, October 23, December 4. More info.

Next New Member Orientation Date: Sept 25, Nov 20.  More info.

 

Office Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Wed., 12:00-7:00 p.m.; and Sun., 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. 

June 19, 2011
The Holy Trinity
Pr. Michelle L. Miller

What Is God's Name?, by Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, is one of my favorite children's books. With simple and concrete examples and beautiful illustrations it affirms our need to call God by many names: Source of Life-Shepherd-Maker of Peace-Healer-Mother-Father-Friend.

We call God by many names because we recognize the limits of our human language and that no one name for God can capture the fullness of God. Sasso reassures us at the end of her story that all of the individual voices ultimately merge together to call God One. In dialogue with our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers, we can affirm our belief in monotheism: that God is one. But, within Christianity, we have an additional belief that God is three-in-one.  

June 26, 2011
Lectionary 13
Pr. Michael Schnell

Some of you know that Rita and I are in the midst of moving. We are now "in" our new place. I found the dining room table yesterday. So maybe it was simple exhaustion that caused this, but when I began preparing this sermon by reading the gospel text, I did not get excited. It only consists of three sentences. It has no story. Besides, it sounded like my mother.

I found it helpful to establish the context of the text, to identify how the text fits into the larger picture of which the text is a part. When I did that, I discovered that the church in its list of lessons for this liturgical year has devoted 3 Sundays in a row for hearing portions of the10th chapter of Matthew. This is the third Sunday we heard a section of that chapter. This means that the church believes this 10th chapter of Matthew is important.

So what is that chapter about? It is Matthew's account of Jesus sending the 12 disciples out on a mission during the first 3rd of Jesus' ministry. Unlike Luke, Matthew does not identify the mission's goal. He does not tell where the disciples went nor does he tell what their experience was like. This is intentional. This text is not history. Matthew wants you and me to hear Jesus speaking directly to us. It is our mission Jesus describes in this 10th chapter of Matthew. It is what our life is to be like.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29

    6:00 p.m.  Contemplative Eucharist

    7:05 p.m.  Cubs Home Game       7:30 p.m.  AA & SAA (St. Mark's Room & Passavant Hall) 

THURSDAY, JUNE 30

    10:00 a.m.  Weekly Bible Study

    1:20 p.m.  Cubs Home Game

SUNDAY, JULY 3 - Cubs Home Game

    9:30 a.m.  Summer Eucharist     10:30 a.m.  Fellowship in Garden (Weather Permitting) 

MONDAY, JULY 4
    Church Office Closed 

    7:00 p.m.  Meditation Group

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6

    6:00 p.m.  Contemplative Eucharist
    7:30 p.m.  AA & SAA (St. Mark's Room & Passavant Hall) 

THURSDAY, JULY 7

    10:00 a.m.  Weekly Bible Study 
SUNDAY, JULY 10
    9:30 a.m.  Summer Eucharist     10:30 a.m.  Fellowship in Garden (Weather Permitting)
MONDAY, JULY 11 

     7:00 p.m.  Meditation Group
 

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

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

From the Bender Family:
It is with great joy that we announce the birth of our second son, Aidan Lee Bender! He arrived at 10:52 a.m. on Thursday, June 23rd and measured in at 7 pounds 15 ounces and 21 inches long. We arrived back home on the 26th, and mommy and Aidan have both been doing very well, and big brother Gavin has already started introducing Aidan to everyone we meet. We're a little low on sleep and Kelley is still recovering physically, but overall we couldn't be more excited about the new addition to our family.

Have a wonderful day!

Love,
Chris, Kelley and Gavin

Keith Dorwick and John Kelley were legally married on June 3, 2011 at their vacation home in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. They expect however to continue to also celebrate their original union on Columbus Day, 1987, in a neo-pagan group ceremony conducted in front of the IRS Building in Washington, DC, as part of a protest against US policies which still, sadly, persist.

Elvina Moen is now at the Grove at Lincoln Park (2732 Hampden Ct), Rm 313. The best number to reach her on is her cell phone. The Grove's number is 773-248-6000. She is looking quite good good!

Please send news about awards, new positions, life passages and other important events in your lives for this section of our e-news.

Check It Out!

Whether fasting or feasting, whether in formal liturgy or around the family table, the practices of eating and drinking have for millennia been seen as religiously significant and even a means of participating in God's own being. Today, phenomena of anorexia and bulimia, weight control and obesity, and world hunger call us to revisit this rich source of religious reflection. 

-- read more about the book and spiritual reflections