Surplus and Reserves

It is with sadness that in the past weeks we learned that Holy Trinity member Claire Evans has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Claire attended the retreat on Transitions last December, yet had no idea that her life would take such an unexpected turn in subsequent weeks. This week she is moving to Michigan to be closer to her twin sister who will be the significant caregiver during the next months of hospice care.

When I visited Claire on Sunday, she mentioned that she has not fully intellectually or emotionally processed the impact of the terminal diagnosis she now lives with. Rather, amid the pain and the many medical procedures of the past weeks, she simply lives from moment to moment, sensing that she rests deeply in God's presence.

I was moved by her words and her strong faith. I told her, that in a way, she has a store of spiritual reserves from her many years of participation in worship, meditation, bible study and service. Indeed, she senses a surplus of God's grace and healing grace.

Perhaps that is one of the reasons that we attend to our spiritual lives through liturgy, community, and other spiritual practices. We don't know when we or someone we love will be faced with an unexpected illness, job loss, faith crisis, or dark night of the soul. When tragedy strikes, these reserves are there to remind us to take a breath, remember our baptism, and God's never-ending care and compassion.

In the final months of 2011, leaders at Holy Trinity were worried about a growing deficit, yet thanks to your faithfulness and generosity, we ended the year with a surplus of $6,526. Subsequently, congregation council leaders are exploring ways to pay off our remaining Expansive Faith capital campaign debt while maintaining a reserve for emergencies and capital expenses, also mindful of the recently designated Endowment Fund. You will hear some first thoughts on this at our Annual Meeting this coming Sunday. 

Perhaps amid the anxieties facing our nation and our personal lives, these stark winter days can also remind us of the surplus in our lives: the abundance of material blessings many of us enjoy while so many in our world face poverty. The surplus of talents, financial resources, and creative energy at Holy Trinity propels us to embrace with even greater joy the baptismal calling and mission we share.

Lutherans treasure God's gift of grace. Maybe surplus is one way of describing it. There is always more: more than we deserve, more than we expect, more than we can ever take in. May Claire's deep faith inspire and encourage us to attend to our spiritual lives, and to treasure the abundance of blessing in each and every passing day.

Pr. Craig M. Mueller 

NEXT SUNDAY    

In Deuteronomy God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, who will speak for God; in Psalm 111 God shows the people the power of God's works. For the church these are ways of pointing to the unique authority people sensed in Jesus' actions and words. We encounter that authority in God's word, around which we gather, the word that trumps any lesser spirit that would claim power over us, freeing us to follow Jesus.

• 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
• 11:45 a.m. - Annual Meeting and Potluck

Sunday Forum - Today's Readings

9:30 a.m. - Passavant Hall
A discussion of this Sunday's scripture readings, led by seminarian Ben Adams.

Weekly readings 

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

Take a break from the busy city life, and join us for this simple, contemplative eucharist.
Tonight we commemorate the festival of the Conversion of Saint Paul, which is today.   

Welcome New Members!

On Sunday we welcomed the following new members to our community of faith: Holly & James Dunkel, Ross & Paulina Heilbrunn, David & Katherine Mertens, and Cynthia Ziemer. Read their profiles and see thier pictures here, and be sure to greet them next time you see them!

Update on Claire Evans

Claire will be moving to Michigan this coming week and will receive hospice care at her twin sister Sue's home. Please send cards and greetings to this address:

Claire Evans
c/0 Sue C Wheeler
1915 Old Oakland Avenue
Lansing, MI 48915

Please keep her in your prayers.

The Back Pews

We are very grateful for the very high attendance at the 10:30 a.m. service during the past five months. You may have wondered why the back pews are roped off. Simple reason: to offer hospitality for latecomers, many of whom are guests. It can be intimidating to enter a new church and not know the protocol, and it is clear that our first-time guests often prefer to sit in the back pews and chairs. A reminder to members and those who have been attending a long time: please move forward (always a challenge for Lutherans, we know) and help us to use our space well. Studies show that when guests attend and the church is over 80% full, they feel less comfortable and at ease. Many times the 10:30 a.m. service has two or three dozen attending who are guests. As our Visions principles remind us: Act with courage .... be radically inclusive ... cultivate empowering relationships .... which includes the many guests at Holy Trinity each Sunday!  

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. Please note, if you would like to subscribe, please email Josh in the office and let him know.

Pastor Sevig

Ch-ch-ch-changes...no more confusing Pastors Miller and Mueller...no more people thinking that Craig and Michelle are a clergy couple. Now the paperwork is complete and Pastor Michelle L. Miller is now Michelle L.M. Sevig. Even though it may take a while to get used to the name Pastor Sevig, for both the people of HTLC and Michelle who thinks of Julie's dad each time it is referenced, she and her family are excited for the change. Now the whole family has the same name. Thanks be to God for the new Illinois law that allows for same sex unions, and for a legal and easy name change.

With this change, Pastor Sevig has a new email address as well! Please update your contacts with her new address: msevig@htchicago.org. Mail sent to her old address will be forwarded to the new.

Sunday Forum: Paul and Community

Feb. 12 & 19 - 9:30 a.m. - Led by Seminarian Chris Brown
Join us for a two week Bible Study that will explore the "community" that the Apostle Paul envisioned when he was establishing churches across the Roman Empire. This Bible Study will look at several of the letters Paul wrote and highlight some of the key words Paul used in the Greek, which we have lost in our own translation today. Together we will discuss what implications this has for our contemporary society as well as the community at Holy Trinity, and how this informs our ministry.

Sects and the City
Feb. 11 Worship Conference

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, free for Holy Trinity Members and Pilgrimage Project participants. The conference website includes much more information and online registration. Lunch and refreshment are provided. The conference is funded by a grant Holy Trinity received from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. 

Attendance Last Sunday 

8:30 - 18; 10:30 - 154   

PAWS Chicago Adult Volunteer Night

You are invited to PAWS Adult Volunteer Night on Wednesday, January 25, from 6-8 p.m. at the Adoption Center at 1997 N. Clybourn. You will be socializing the dogs and cats, but anyone who wants to help but stay away from animals can do administrative work instead. No orientation or training necessary - just sign up online. For information or questions, email Beth Morris.

Donations of newspaper are no longer needed, as PAWS has reached its limit. Dog and cat food, litter and other donations are still accepted and can be dropped in the box in the narthex.

Antiracism Discussion Opportunity

You are invited to join other HT members in week 4 of a 6-week study of racism and white privilege on Feb. 5. We're using a workbook called "The White Elephant" to explore this subject. We'll meet from 11:45 to 12:30 in St. Mark's Room. While each lesson will build on the one before, you can come for one, two, or all sessions. Please see Karen Andersen Moran, Ken Duckmann or Barbara Wahler for more information.

Baptism Seminar--It's for Life!

Thursday, February 2, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
This seminar is offered for expectant parents, parents with newborns, those planning a baptism in the coming months, parents or others who would like a refresher on the meaning and theology of baptism. All parents planning to have a newborn baptized are asked to attend this seminar at some point before or after the birth of their firstborn child.

Baptism isn't a one-time event--it's for life! Topics of the seminar will include baptismal theology, the role of parents and sponsors, and scheduling a baptism. For more information talk to Pastor Michelle Sevig or e-mail her.

"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.

Next Baptism Dates: February 12. More info.

Next New Member Orientation Date: 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. 

January 22, 2012
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Mark 1:14-20
Pr. Craig M. Mueller

FOLLOWERS

Who do you follow? Whose Facebook posts? Whose tweets? Whose blogs? Whose opinion pieces? And who follows you?

At the suggestion of a Holy Trinity member, I am now on Twitter. I like the brevity of the tweets. Often there are links to relevant articles that enrich my understanding of religion, spirituality, sociology, politics. Who knows? They could appear in a sermon someday.

I am following 15 tweeters-is that what they are called? And three people are following me, so to speak. Not that I've tweeted anything yet. One of my followers is the person who said I should sign up. I don't even recognize the other two.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25

    6:00 p.m.  PAWS Adult Volunteer Night

    6:00 p.m.  Contemplative Eucharist

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26

    10:00 a.m.  Weekly Bible Study (chapter 15) 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 

    5:00 p.m.  Common Solutions

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29

    8:30 a.m.  Eucharist

    9:15 a.m.  Choir Rehearsal

    9:30 a.m.  Sunday Forum (Passavant Hall) and Sunday School

    10:30 a.m.  Sung Eucharist

    11:45 a.m.  Annual Meeting & Potluck 

MONDAY, JANUARY 30  

    7:00 p.m.  Meditation Group  

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1

    6:00 p.m.  Contemplative Eucharist

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

Full Calendar of Events 

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Wednesday, January 25 - Conversion of Paul  

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

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

Your prayers and well wishes for Holy Trinity member, Claire Evans, have been much appreciated during her recent illness. She had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and will be entering hospice care this week. Please continue to pray for her and all those who are ill and in need of healing.

25 reasons Twitter is Spiritual 

by Frederic Brussat
Click here to check it out!