eNews October 26, 2011

October 26, 2011

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Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Greetings!

A couple of years ago, Rev. Wayne Miller, the Bishop of our Metropolitan Chicago Synod, worshiped with us at Holy Trinity and held a brief Q and A after the service. He discussed that Holy Trinity is thriving and growing while many congregations are seeing their memberships decline, so other churches may like to know what we're doing. A congregation member, Steve Ransone, stood up and boldly said, "it's not what we're doing - it's who we are."

I have thought about that moment often, and that statement resonates with me years later. I think that what the congregation member wanted to convey to the Bishop when he said, "it's who we are," is that the community we share at Holy Trinity is so special that it can't be summed-up by a listing of our fellowship activities. Or, the call to gather here is so strong that it can't be explained by describing our outreach methods. Basically, by saying, 'it's who we are," he told the Bishop that our congregation is unique because of the gift of each person's individual strengths and our common goals, and it can't be replicated.

The members of this year's generosity appeal team reminded me of all the amazing individual talents in our congregation. Our group included several members who are parents, as well as a pastor, a doctor, a lawyer, and two members whose careers are dedicated to non-profit organizations. I was impressed by the dedication of this group to make time in their hectic lives to serve on this committee. But, as I got to know the group, I learned that this activity was just the tip of the iceberg of church commitments for many of them - a few serve on the church council, and others volunteer at church in various ways. This experience led me to consider more ways I can help in the work of the church. As generosity month concludes on Sunday, I encourage you to consider which of your strengths you can draw on to keep contributing to the meaning of "who we are."

In peace,

John Flowers

Connect, Strengten

NEXT SUNDAY, 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.

Download and print off the 2012 Generosity Form here and bring it with you this Sunday, October 30 to present as part of the liturgy.

--OR--

Fill out your form online now!

UPCOMING SUNDAY

October 30 - Lectionary 31 (Reformation)
Generosity Sunday

Micah declares God's condemnation of those who abhor justice. Jesus warns against hypocrisy. Paul urges the Thessalonians to lead a life worthy of God. Called to be humble servants, we gather for worship, seeking justice and welcoming all people to share the banquet of life.

October 30 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

Sunday Forum - October 2-30

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

Generosity Sunday

Bring your 2012 Generosity Form to present as part of the liturgy

Weekly readings

Prayer of the Day
O God, generous and supreme, your loving Son lived among us, instructing us in the ways of humility and justice. Continue to ease our burdens, and lead us to serve alongside of him, 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:
Daniel Boin 10/26
Oliver Sevig 10/27
Annika Sevig 10/27
Olivia Wilson 10/27
Mike Schnell 10/29
Reid Peterson 10/30
Kerry Fleming 10/31
Taffi Schurz-Mitchell 11/01
Lisa Snyder 11/02
Jessica Ittner 11/03
Randy Johnson 11/03

BAPTISMS:
Martha Kanthak 10/27
Paul Sherry 10/30
Mike Thompson 10/31
Jenny Wells 10/31
Austin Johnson 11/2
Forrest Stewart 11/2
Jane Twetten 11/2

ANNIVERSARIES:
Paul & Jess Reineck 10/31

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 Simon and Jude, Apostles.

In Need of Volunteers!

This Thursday, October 27 at 11:00 a.m., we need volunteers to help stamp and address hundreds of brochures for our February worship conference, Sects and the City. Please email Josh in the office if you are able to help!

CPR Class on Saturday, October 29

There is still room for people to attend the CPR class on Saturday, October 29 at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $20 and can be paid at the door. Contact Kathryn Vigen if you are interested.

Bring Photographs for All Saints Day

On November 6 members and friends are invited to bring photographs of deceased loved ones for our All Saints / Day of the Dead remembrance. Please take your picture(s)-as well as a name card from the ushers-with you as you sit down. During the liturgy there will be an opportunity to take your photos to one of several tables and light a candle.

Sunday Forum - Walking the Labyrinth

November 6, 9:30 a.m. - Passavant Hall
The labyrinth is an ancient tradition used across varied spiritual disciplines. It is one of the oldest contemplative and transformational tools known to humankind, used for centuries for prayer, ritual, spiritual and personal growth. Learn about the history of the labyrinth, its use as a spiritual pathway and its connection to experiencing one's own center. Holy Trinity will have a labyrinth to walk as part of our Advent journey. Leader: Karol Weigelt.

Mom's Night Out - Nov. 11

Join us for Mom's Night Out. Not only do we learn and grow in faith, we also have a lot of fun with new friends. Please join us on the 2nd Friday of the month, November 11 from 7:30-9:00 p.m., at the home of Alison Strickler. If you can make it, please RSVP to Alison (alison@alisonarts.com) and she will send you her address and directions.
If you can't make it this week, please mark your calendar for the second Friday of each month and join us in the future.

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!

FURTHER UPCOMING EVENTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND NEWS

Worship Attendance Last Sunday

8:30 - 42; 10:30 - 176

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.

"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.

"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: December 4, January 8, February 12. More info.

Next New Member Orientation Date: November 20, January 22, April 15. 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 23

October 23, 2011
Lectionary 30a
Pr. Michelle L. Miller

When was the last time you felt holy (h-o-l-y)? Probably never. Happy? Yes. Excited? Yes. Deeply moved? Yes. But Holy? In our culture, we imagine that only certain people are holy. They live in faraway places and are fundamentally different from us. Maybe they even bear the title "His Holiness," as the Pope or Dali Lama do. But we don't typically think of our own lives, our own experiences, or our very selves as holy

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines holy as, "exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness." There is a clue to the meaning of holiness for our lives in the wording of Leviticus 19:2. Listen again with this emphasis: "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." Did you catch that? Holiness is something that we are to aspire to-but on the other hand, holiness is something that God is. God is holy. We are to become holy.

Continue reading this sermon here

Listen to past sermons here
Listen to entire services here

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

6:00 p.m. Contemplative Eucharist

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27

10:00 a.m. Weekly Bible Study - John 5

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

9:30 a.m. CPR Class (Passavant Hall)

5:00 p.m. Common Solutions

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30 **GENEROSITY SUNDAY**

8:30 a.m. Eucharist

9:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal

9:30 a.m. Sunday School and Sunday Forum - Chapter 5

10:30 a.m. Sung Eucharist

11:45 a.m. Fair Trade Sales

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31

7:00 p.m. Meditation Group

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2

6:00 p.m. Contemplative Eucharist

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

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Wednesday, October 26 - Philipp Nicolai, died 1608; Johann Heermann, died 1647; Paul Gerhardt, died 1676; hymnwriters
These great hymnwriters all worked in seventeenth-century Germany in times of war and plague. Nicolai, a pastor, lost 1,300 parishioners to plague, 170 in one week. He wrote "O Morning Star, how fair and bright" and "Wake, awake, for night is flying." Heermann's hymns, including "Ah, holy Jesus," often express the emotions of faith. Gerhardt, perhaps the greatest Lutheran hymnwriter, was a pastor in Berlin.

Friday, October 28 - Simon and Jude, Apostles
We know little about these apostles. Simon is listed as "the zealot" or Cananean in New Testament lists. Jude, also called Thaddeus, asked Jesus at the last supper why he had revealed himself to the disciples but not to the world.

Monday, October 31 - Reformation Day
By the end of the seventeenth century, many Lutheran churches celebrated a festival commemorating Martin Luther's posting of the Ninety-five Theses, a summary of abuses in the church of his time. At the heart of the reform movement was the gospel, the good news that it is by grace through faith that we are justified and set free.

Tuesday, November 1 - All Saints Day
The custom of commemorating all of the saints of the church on a single day goes back at least to the third century. All Saints Day celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who make up the body of Christ. On this day or the following Sunday, many congregations will remember the faithful who have died during the past year.

AMONG OUR COMMUNITY

This past Sunday, we welcomed the following children as members in baptism:
» Dylan and Kendell Lindley, children of Tom and Julie Lindley, sponsored by Jim and Chris Lindley.
» Rilla Elaine De Souza, daughter of Jonathan and Heather De Souza, sponsored by Erin Vandeven and Nick Soble.
» Olivia Leach, daughter of Denise and Michael Leach, sponsored by Tiffany Hester and Andrea Leach-Pilrain.

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;
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;
Mark Boettcher;

Kathy Lund;
Susan Pare;
Sam Zangri;
Paul Geist III;
Christine, friend of Susan Twetten;
Mary Cannon;
Sam Patitucci;
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

Halloween: Exploring the Dark

Halloween is celebrated on October 31 in the Western world with such activities as carving pumpkins and dressing up in scary costumes. Children go "trick or treating" house-to-house in their neighborhoods collecting sweets in exchange for not doing any mischief. The observance of this day, though not all its popular culture practices, originated with the Celts' festival of Samhaim that marked the end of the harvest. The name comes from "All Hallow Even," the night before "All Hallow's Day," also known as All Saints Day.

In Seeking Enlightenment . . . Hat by Hat, Nevada Barr, a mystery writer, reframes the importance of Halloween. It's not just a time of costumes and candy, it's a time for children to explore the dark. Her meditation makes good reading to name this day.