eNews October 19, 2011

October 19, 2011

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Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Greetings!

Buschmann Joe and I attended our first service at Holy Trinity almost three years ago. Technically, our daughter Emilia also began attending then as well, even though she had only been gestating 7 weeks at the time. That's right, we are part of the baby boom, which, within a short time, changed the face of the Holy Trinity community. When Joe and I moved to Lakeview 5 years ago, we were the prototypical residents of the neighborhood--in our 20s, living in a drafty, greystone apartment, attended by our only child, a 55lb Doberman named Lucy. Some would have appropriately termed us "Yuppies," although I always preferred "young professionals." We loved the city, the urban ideals, and the sense of community that only people who have lived in a neighborhood such as our own can understand. When we decided to expand our family beyond the dog, one factor missing from the world in which we wanted to raise our child, was a church home. We recognized the importance of introducing our child to faith and religion, but were unwilling to become members of any church where being white, Republican, and straight were prerequisites for receiving communion on Sunday mornings. Upon our first visit to Holy Trinity, we immediately recognized the perfect mix of tradition, respect, reflection AND open-mindedness that we hadn't realized existed in churches. I won't lie; the presence of other young families didn't hurt either.

Fast-forward three years. Most days, when I peer into the backyard to check on our money tree, it's evident that the leaves have been attacked by a parasite. The likely grub is of the genus, Toddler, and the species, emilia, but the expenses of our newly purchased home have also taken out a few branches. Prior to becoming parents, we generously donated our time and extra resources to various charities. We once dropped over $1200 in three months on an ailing foster dog and never batted an eye. Those of you familiar with childcare expenses know that $1200 is less than, and in some cases, far less than what daycare or a nanny costs per month.

I often feel guilty that we cannot financially contribute more to the church, especially considering how much we gain being members of Holy Trinity. One thing Holy Trinity has taught me though, is that stewardship is about more than how much we put in the offering plate. Raising our daughter to understand God's love for her, and in turn, teaching her to love and respect all people, counts. Donating small food and clothing items to local pantries and shelters, counts. Giving as much money as we can and constantly challenging ourselves to do more, counts. Who knows, maybe the cold Chicago winter will be gentle on our money tree, but more importantly, maybe Emilia is paying attention.

~ Mary Buschmann

Connect, Strengten

OCTOBER 30 is Generosity Sunday, the day we will make commitments for 2012. Use this month to reflect on signs of grace, commitments, and priorities in your life.

UPCOMING SUNDAY

October 23 - Lectionary 30

Jesus' summary of the law in today's gospel echoes our first reading from Leviticus. We are called not only to love God with heart, soul, and mind, but also to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is out of such deep care that Paul shares the gospel with the Thessalonian community. In the confession of sins, we acknowledge that we have not loved God, neighbor, and self; yet we gather to hear the word of forgiveness and to be strengthened by word and meal to be signs of God's love and mercy in the world.

October 23 Schedule:

8:30 a.m. - Eucharist (about 45 minutes)
9:15 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal
9:30 a.m. - Sunday School and Sunday Forum (below)
10:30 a.m. - Sung Eucharist w/Baptism
11:45 a.m. - Fair Trade Sales

Sunday Forum - October 2-30

Worship Matters: Centripetal Worship: The Evangelical Heart of Lutheran Worship. - Pr. Craig Mueller
Please read chapter four.

Fair Trade Sales

Members will be selling fair trade goods such as coffee and chocolate at the back of the church between services and following the 10:30 service. Stop by and support a great ministry!

Weekly readings

Prayer of the Day
O Lord God, you are the holy lawgiver, you are the salvation of your people. By your Spirit renew us in your covenant of love, and train us to care tenderly for all our neighbors, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

In This Issue

Quick Links

Next Week's Scriptures

ELCA Website

Purpose & Principles

Purpose Statement
Open to the Mystery...
Connect, Strengthen, and Serve with Joy!

Guiding Principles
--Act with courage
--Be radically inclusive
--Cultivate empowering relationships
--Delight in God's beauty
--Engage with intention

CELEBRATIONS

BIRTHDAYS:
Catrina Hays 10/19
Audris Wong 10/20
Edward Wilson 10/21
David Biggs 10/22
Ann Kreiter 10/22
Greg Zinkl 10/22
Daniel Boin 10/26
Oliver Sevig 10/27
Annika Sevig 10/27
Olivia Wilson 10/27

BAPTISMS:
Madeline Temple 10/19
Connor Egan 10/20
Adam Boin 10/23
Steve Fanale 10/25
Martha Kanthak 10/27

ANNIVERSARIES:
Kim & Curtis Duffy 10/23
Jessica Sime 10/24

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

Contemplative Eucharist - Tonight, 6:00 P.M.

Take a break from the busy city life, and join us for this simple, contemplative eucharist.
We will observe the festival of St. Luke, Evangelist and Physician.

Crop Walk 2011

Nine people, six of them children, represented TEAM TRINITY in the Chicago CROP Hunger Walk on October 16th. Together we walked to raise money and awareness for hunger related causes, both locally and globally. Thanks to all the people who generously donated last week. So far we've raised $1,156.00, and it's not too late to add your donation toward TEAM TRINITY'S total. Go to the team's website and donate now. The kids were amazing! All 6 eagerly joined in and participated fully, without complaint.

Book Group

The book group will be meeting Monday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Becky Sims, 1702 W. Barry, 773-388-3590. The book we will be discussing is The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. We hope you can join us, whether you have read the book or not!

Look What's Next for the Holy Trinity Christkindl Market:

Be sure to mark your calendar Sunday, Dec. 4, from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m., for the Christkindl Market, Holy Trinity's holiday bazaar and fundraiser. As we're ramping up plans for this fun-filled event, there are many great ways you can help make this fundraiser a success and we need your help!

Silent Auction: Please consider donating to the silent auction:
- Your time (i.e. host a dinner party or pet-sit for a weekend)
- Your talents (i.e. teach violin lessons or give a cooking demonstration)
- Your treasures (i.e. athletic tickets or a weekend at your cottage)

All donations will support Holy Tirnity's local benevolence.

Kid's Corner: Sign up to play games and lead kids in a fun, holiday craft
Event Support: Help the crew set up the event on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., or tear down on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Art, Craft and Bake Sale: We're still accepting reservations for artists, crafters or bakers who want to sell their goods at the event. To reserve your space, please fill out this form. A limited number of spaces are available for those who are not Holy Trinity members, so spread the word!

Contact the event committee if you can be a part of any of these activities. Email Sarah Hanson. Thanks!

RefugeeOne Winter Clothing Drive

Holy Trinity will be holding a winter clothing drive on behalf of RefugeeOne, one of our ministry partners, during the month of October. Please bring only Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Coats, and Boots by Sunday, October 30. They can be used, as long as they are clean and in good condition. Clothes should be dropped in the bin at the back of the church. Donations will help refugees in need as the winter months approach.

Worship Conference Announced

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church will host a one-day worship conference on February 11, 2012. Sects and the City: Gen X | Y and Mainline Protestant Worship will explore this question: "While many mainline Protestant congregations are aging, what are young adults finding meaningful in the worship services of urban congregations with a high percentage of Generation X and Y?" The conference moderator will be Benjamin Stewart, a professor of liturgy at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. There will also be responses from three young adult leaders with connections to Gen X | Y as well as informal reflections by several dozen young adults from neighboring congregations. Costs: single $20; $30 at the door; $50 for three or more from one congregation. The conference website includes much more information and online registration. THANKS to our parish administrator, Josh for his great work on the website: take a look!

MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS!

FURTHER UPCOMING EVENTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND NEWS

Worship Attendance Last Sunday

8:30 - 25; 10:30 - 130

Two Bach Cantatas

Sunday, October 23, 4:00 p.m. Church of Saint Luke, 1500 W. Belmont
BWV 39, Brich dem Hungrigen vein Brot, Break your bread with the Hungry
So many of Bach's cantatas deal with subjects that have to do with one's spirituality; here is one, in contrast, that forthrightly takes on the perennial problem of hunger. Yes, it existed in Bach's Leipzig as well, even though the city was comparatively rather enlightened about taking care of its citizens. Hearing this substantive work as a piece of history is one thing; hearing it in the context of actual hunger is another.

Cantata 39, containing one of the most large-scale choruses Bach ever wrote, is presented free of charge. Suggested admission is a food staple, such as canned meat, canned fruit, canned vegetables, or peanut butter; then, after hearing from representatives of the Lakeview Pantry, there will be a free-will offering to help alleviate hunger in the Lakeview neighborhood. Other music concerning hunger will complement the cantata, including a sing along with the chorus and orchestra. Come to be fed with delectable music and to assist Lakeview Food Pantry feed our hungry neighbors. (Pr. Mueller is in the choir)

Sunday, November 6, 4:00 p.m. Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1500 W. Elmdale
Choral Evening Prayer
Cantata No. 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying)
The performance will be a fundraiser for CARE FOR REAL, an organizaton that helps the Edgewater community by providing food, clothing and counseling services to those in need.

"Remembering Abraham" celebration Nov. 1 to feature Jewish, Muslim and Christian reflections

St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Evanston will host an interfaith celebration, "Remembering Abraham," on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m. Invited speakers Rabbi Brant Rosen (Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston), Muhammad Saiduzzaman (President, Dar-us- Sunnah Masjid & Community), and the Rev. Betty Landis (St. Paul's) will reflect on Abraham's near-sacrifice of his son in their three traditions, the Muslim Eid Al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifices) on Nov. 7, and the Christian All Saints' Day on Nov. 1. Members of all faith communities in the Chicago area are encouraged to attend and share social time with Muslim, Jewish and Christian neighbors. The church is at 1004 Greenwood St., Evanston.

Advent Mini-Retreat: Transitions

Saturday, December 3, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The season of Advent is about endings and beginnings. Often we find ourselves in times of transition, whether it involves jobs, careers, relationships, family, location, living situation, or retirement. This retreat will provide a time for reflection and conversation around themes of change; waiting and preparation; endings and beginnings; spiritual resources for times of upheaval. To prepare, participants may read one of four recommended books. Information found here. Leader: Pr. Craig M. Mueller.

Antiracism at HT?

We talk a lot about diversity at Holy Trinity. Claire Evans and Barbara Wahler are interested in exploring how our diversity can grow into an identity as an antiracist church. If you are interested in being a part of a Holy Trinity Antiracism Team or would like to discuss what this means, please contact either Barbara (Ribitmsw2004@yahoo.com) or Claire (clairee@cpt.org. We'll decide on a meeting once we have generated some interest.

Learn more about the Antiracism Movement. The three manifestations of racism -individual, institutional, and cultural - affect both communities of color and white communities. With the goal of dismantling racism in our synod, the MCS Antiracism Team sponsors a 2-1/2 day Analysis of Systemic Racism workshop October 20-22, 2011. The training will take place at the Cardinal Meyer Center, 3525 S Lake Park Ave, Chicago. To register in advance and for more information, please go to the Another Pebble website. The cost is only $35 for ELCA members ($105 for others). If you have questions, you can contact HT members Eric Bjorlin, Ken Duckmann, or Barbara Wahler who are members of the MCS Antiracism Team.

"Team Trinity" Volunteer Opportunities

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

--The Crib

The Night Ministry has reopened their youth/young adult homeless shelter, The Crib. Holy Trinity will be preparing and serving a meal once per month. On the third Saturday of each month, volunteers will meet at Holy Trinity at 7 p.m. to prepare the meal, then will head to The Crib to serve the meal. For more information, speak with or email Ken Duckmann.

--The Night Ministry Outreach Van

Holy Trinity will be assembling and distributing 'meals in a bag' with the Night Ministry in Rogers Park on a quarterly basis. Stay tuned for more information and how to help out.

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

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

Next New Member Orientation Date: November 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.

Sermon - October 16

October 16, 2011
Lectionary 29a
Isaiah 45:1-7; Matthew 22:15-22
Pr. Craig M. Mueller

AMERICAN IDOLS

They wouldn't have one in their pockets: a coin with the image of Caesar on it. God-fearing Jews know that is idolatry. There is only one true God. Some didn't even think you should touch the coins. Thankfully, coins are minted without Caesar's image on it. For everyday use.

What are the Pharisees doing with one of these coins? Trying to trick Jesus, it seems. It's a no-win situation. Whatever Jesus says--he's trapped. Jews owe taxes to the pagan, gentile, Roman occupation forces. If Jesus says to pay the tax, he endorses idolatry. After all Caesar is godlike: blasphemy! If Jesus tells them to ignore the tax, the Romans will be all over him!

Continue reading this sermon here

Listen to past sermons here
Listen to entire services here

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19

6:00 p.m. Contemplative Eucharist

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20

10:00 a.m. Weekly Bible Study - John 4

6:00 p.m. HTLC at Lakeview Pantry

7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23

8:30 a.m. Eucharist

9:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal

9:30 a.m. Sunday School and Sunday Forum - Chapter 4

10:30 a.m. Sung Eucharist

11:45 a.m. Fair Trade Sales

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24

7:00 p.m. Meditation Group

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

6:00 p.m. Contemplative Eucharist

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

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Sunday, October 23 - James of Jerusalem, martyr, died around 62
One of three early-church leaders named James, this man is identified in the New Testament and by a historian of the time as a brother of Jesus. Scholars are uncertain whether this means a blood brother. He was a leader of the church in Jerusalem.

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:

Barbara Wahler;
Yoshi Saka;
Mary Lynn Brooke;
Norma Brooke;
Kay Scott;
Phyllis Zangri;
Myleen Dunleavy;
Merri Pierce;
Mary Stoner;
Carol Stoner;
Norm Andersen;
Yanan Haring;
Maureen Zarrella;
Marji Shannon's sister;

Paul Weber;
Lisa Bouzek;
Scott Johnson's mother, Virginia Johnson;
Chris Stelter's grandmother;
those struggling with infertility;
Mark Avery and Amy Rouce;
Caroline Judd-Herzfeldt;

Kathy Lund;
Susan Pare;
Sam Zangri;
Paul Geist III;
Christine, friend of Susan Twetten;
Mary Cannon;
Sam Patitucci;
Patti Ann Smith;
Brent Vicknair;
Mark Sauer;
Alan Stang, Jeff Stang's father;
Teah Barthalomew;
Victor Jimenez;
Vivian Carter;

Serving in the Military: Benjamin Brackley, back in the states after having served in Afganistan.

Ministries Supported by Holy Trinity: ELCA World Hunger Appeal; RefugeeOne; Lakeview Action Coalition; Lakeview Pantry; The Crib; 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).

Check It Out

Entitlement or Why Time Seems to Slow Down

According to a recent paper in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin by Edward O'Brien, Phyllis Anastasio, and Brad Bushman, one's sense of entitlement has a big impact on the perception of time. Most people grow impatient while standing in a long line; when asked why they were upset, most would respond that they felt entitled to better service. Art Markman, the author of this article, points to another perspective: "If you were sitting in a waiting room at the White House for having a chance to meet the President, you might consider yourself lucky to be there. In that case, a 10-minte wait might not feel so long." Of course in this situation, seeing yourself as special (an essential ingredient of entitlement) is given full play.

Read more.

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