Joy and sadness often come in pairs. Midway through Sunday's liturgy we welcomed ten adults and three children as new members, and at the end of the service we bid farewell to Ryan and Emily Moore as they are moving to Dallas for new jobs. Last Thursday we heard the sad news about the death of Claire Evans, and later this week we will joyfully celebrate the marriage of Elizabeth Milnikel and John Kregor.

Even last Saturday's worship conference held two realities in contrast. Many young adults today are not joining religious congregations, and many congregations feel a kind of desperation, knowing that their survival depends on an infusion of youthful vitality. Being in Lakeview, Holy Trinity doesn't face that concern, yet we join with others in wondering about the role of faith communities in today's social and cultural context. There are reasons to be worried; there are reasons to be hopeful. Those who attended on Saturday had much to share, and much to learn; more questions than answers, however.

Praise and lament seem to come in pairs as well. In the weeks following Epiphany we have basked in the light, and next Sunday-the Transfiguration of Our Lord-we will bury the "alleluia" for the season of Lent. This liturgical occasion is concurrent with the time of carnival feasting and reveling, leading to Mardi Gras on February 21. And with almost shocking contrast, Ash Wednesday follows the next day, February 22, in which we corporately lament our sin even as we are forced to face our mortality.

I often feel that our tears mean multiple things simultaneously. Even at moments of deep sadness, loss and gratitude seem intermingled. Sometimes it's hard to know what touches us so deeply, yet such times are holy and connect us to the people, places, and memories that we treasure more than words can say. Our communal gatherings at church are one of the few places where joy and sadness can live side by side, knowing that they are both in the heart of God. As we sang in last Sunday's psalm: Weeping spends the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Pr. Craig M. Mueller

NEXT SUNDAY    

February 18 - Transfiguration of Our Lord

• 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/Burial of the Alleluia
• 11:45 a.m. - Anti-Racism Forum (St. Mark's)
• Noon - Staff Meeting 

Sunday Forum - Paul and Community

9:30 a.m. - Passavant Hall
Join us for the second installment of 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. Led by Seminarian Chris Brown (the study will be his project for his Ministry in Context participation at Holy Trinity). 

Antiracism Discussion Opportunity

11:45 to 12:30 in St. Mark's Room. Final session. Please join us, even if you haven't been able to attend previous sessions. 

Weekly readings 

President
Meggen Saka

Vice-President
Kelley Bender

Secretary
Megan Whitaker

Treasurer
Steve Hopwood

Outreach
Kristi Harreld, Sarah Hanson

Social Ministry
Ken Duckmann

Finance
Don Marsh

Property
Ed Beach, Leon Stevens

Spiritual Life
Megan Eichhorn

Worship
Johanna Olson

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

Take a break from the busy city life, and join us for this simple, contemplative eucharist. Tonight will include special readings and prayers in remembrance of Claire Evans. 

Memorial Service for Claire Evans

Thursday, February 23, 7:00 p.m.

The Contemplative Eucharist tonight (6:00 p.m) will also include special readings and prayers in remembrance of Claire.

Cards can be sent to Claire's twin sister, Sue Wheeler at:
1915 Old Oakland Ave.
Lansing, MI 48915

Claire designated these organizations for memorials:
1) Christian Peacemaker Teams, P.O. Box 6508, Chicago, Il 60680
2) Bread for the World, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, Il 60694
3) ELCA's World Hunger Relief, 50 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001

Welcome our New Members

On Sunday, we welcomed the following new members into our community: Adam and Amber Damerow, Laura Guengerich, Sofia Hindaileh, Kate Holmquist, Fred and Sam Cadena, Mary Larkin, Leif Melvin, Jennifer Plaskota, and Tom, Laura, Parker and Demi Spalla. To see their pictures and read their bios, follow this link. Please welcome them when you get a chance!

Love in a Ziplock©

Last year the Sunday School children loved the service project we called Love in a Glovebox, and many of them are still talking about the bags they gave away. This year we'll do the same project, but with a different name, Love in a Ziploc.

The children are collecting items to put in bags that will be given to the homeless. The bags will be blessed at worship and given back to you, to keep in your car or carry in your backpack or briefcase. When you come across someone who looks like he or she could use a lift, hand them a gift bag of necessities.

Bring any of these items no later than February 19th to the office or place in the designated box in the back of the church:

• Gloves, mittens, hats or headbands
• Boxes of raisins
• Granola or protein bars
• Cough drops
• Lip balm
• Travel size tissues
• toothpaste/toothbrush combos
• Small bottles of lotion and sanitizer
• Gifts cards ($5 each) for grocery stores of fast food.

food4thought - February 26 - Stories: Faith and Work 

Mark your calendar for the Feb. 26 Food4thought. Hear from three Holy Trinity members about how their faith informs/shapes their fascinating careers. Food4thought meets after the 10:30 a.m. worship service in Passavant Hall and this "quarter" features not only a simple Lenten soup lunch, but faith stories from three faithful members: Chris Bender; Scott Johnson; Rebecca Pallmeyer. Scott and Rebecca are lifelong Lutherans, and Chris was baptized in 2000, within a day of his marriage to council member Kelley Bender. 

Chris is Pediatric Chief Resident at Rush University Medical Center

Scott is a Chicago Public Schools High School Junior ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Teacher at Nicholas Senn High School. He also serves as the School's Athletic Director.

Rebecca is a United States District Court judge, who conducts trials in federal civil and criminal cases that arise in the Northern District of Illinois.

Music Series at Holy Trinity:
Mark Valenti, Pianist

Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
Holding a Master's degree from Northwestern, Mark Valenti is a talented pianist and says this about his program: "My program displays an eclectic group of classical piano pieces chosen for a diverse audience. The music I will perform serves as an excellent overview of the evolution of piano styles from the lyrical, passionate Romanticism of Chopin through the colorful, atmospheric Impressionism of Debussy to the dissonant, angst-ridden Modernism of Barber." Come for a memorable time with a local Chicago pianist. A free will donation is requested.
A flier can be found here.

Operating & Capital Reserve Initiative

A special congregational meeting will be held a couple months from now. During this special congregational meeting, members will be voting on amendments to the constitution and the allocation of money between the Mission Endowment Fund, Expansive Faith capital campaign loan, and a proposed Operating, Capital, and Opportunity Reserve. To prepare for this vote we will be holding a forum immediately following the 10:30 service on Sunday, March 4th. A light lunch will be served, and the forum will include time for questions, discussion, and a presentation of our Congregation Council's recommended plan of action regarding paying off the capital campaign loan and starting an Operating, Capital, and Opportunity Reserve. Use the following links to access resources for the upcoming forum and special congregational meeting:

--Amendments to the Constitution
--Reserve Initiative FAQs 

Ash Wednesday

February 22, 2012
7:30 p.m. - The Liturgy of Ash Wednesday and Imposition of Ashes

LENTEN BOOKS

Two books are available to Holy Trinity members this Lent at no cost, thanks to the Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.
--40 Days and 40 Nights is a series of daily meditations on biblical images for the Lenten season.
--A Watered Garden: Christian Worship and Earth's Ecology is by Holy Trinity member Ben Stewart.


Books are available at the back of the church.  
For February 26, read chapter 1 of A Watered Garden.  

LENTEN DISCUSSION

Join us on Lenten Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in Passavant Hall to discuss the book A Watered Garden: Christian Worship and Earth's Ecology. The author is Ben Stewart, Holy Trinity member and professor of worship at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. We are delighted to announce that Ben will be present to share in the conversation. The book makes connections between worship and care for creation. Using ancient images, contemporary science, medieval mystics, and cosmic symbols, A Watered Garden calls us to care for the ground on which God has planted us--local communities and global home. Read chapter 1 for the February 26 session. 

YOUNG ADULT BIBLE STUDY

We are excited to announce a Lenten bible study for young adults that will be led by Holy Trinity member, Kyle Severson. The first session will be Thursday, March 1, 7:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity. Future meetings will usually be on Thursday evenings or Sundays after the 10:30 a.m. service. Books and a sign-up sheet are at the back of the church. The study book is written by Barbara Rossing, a professor at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and is engaging, accessible and colorful!

LENT MINI-RETREAT: JOURNEYS

Saturday, March 3, 9:30 a.m. - noon. This retreat builds on the interest and participation in the Advent "transitions" retreat. Come for a few quiet hours as we reflect on Lenten "journeys." After an opening time of worship and conversation there will be an hour of silence in which participants can walk the labyrinth, journal, reflect, meditate, draw, walk or simply relax and unplug from our otherwise fast-paced lives. The morning will conclude with further conversation and a brief eucharist.

Attendance Last Sunday 

8:30 - 22; 10:30 - 130   

Financial Update through January 31, 2012

Book Group Meeting

The February book group meeting will be Tuesday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Julius Meinl, 3601 N. Southport. We'll be discussing the hilarious book Bossypants by Tina Fey. For those who like to read ahead, we'll be discussing In The Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson in March. Please join us whether you've read the book or not!

Call for Sacred Space pictures

As the seasons change, it's time to change the exhibition in our Sacred Space Gallery (in the hall behind the sanctuary). As children have been such a visible sign of our growing congregation, it would be fun to see their bright, shining faces lighting up the Gallery. Please contact Barbara Wahler about bringing in your framed pictures of your Holy Trinity children for all to see!

Knit and Pray, Crochet and Bless

During the last year I have asked my sister, who is active in a Shawl Ministry, for two shawls: a blanket for a preemie who weighed 1 pound 6 ounces and one for our own Claire Evans. It felt like a powerful and faith-filled gift to give someone. These shawls are hand-knit or crocheted by members of a faith community, then blessed and given away in faith and hope.

Patrice Macken and Barbara Wahler are interested in starting this type of ministry here at Holy Trinity. If you have an interest, let's meet and discuss it. It is open to all ages and skill levels, men and women, who want to pray and knit, bless and crochet. Contact Patrice or Barbara for more information.

To learn more about this important ministry go to WWW.SHAWLMINISTRY.COM.
Shawls ... made for centuries: universal and embracing,symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify.

StarDreamers' Land of YesYouCan!

In Celebration of Black History Month StarDreamers Theatre Company [HT member Barbara Wahler is a co-founder] invites you to a spectacular adventure for young and old!

Larger-than-life mythical characters compete in a struggle for the very future of humankind. Evil minions use stolen mystical powers to de-throne a king by instilling fear and nightmarish visions in the children of his usually peaceful and empowered nation. The king must find a way to help the people to believe in themselves ... but how? See Will Crutcher's book come to life in this fun & inspiring theatrical production for all ages!

Date: Sunday, February 26, 2012
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Unity in Chicago, 1925 W. Thome Ave.
Suggested Donation: Adults, $10 / Kids under 16, free
Tickets available at the door or by calling 773.973.0007.
StarDreamers Theatre Company's mission is to encourage children to reach for their dreams thru inspiring, uplifting entertainment.

"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: April 22. 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. 

February 12, 2012
Mark 1:40-45
Seminarian Ben Adams

"Dead man walking! Dead Man Walking!" Death row inmates executed prior to the 1960s, heard this as they were escorted to their death. These cruel, severe, and unsympathetic words echoed through the halls of prisons, overstating the obvious and denying the last moments of life and peace to the convict. The inevitability of the prisoners end, as he or she walked towards their execution was made only more final by requiring an officer to shout those three callous words. "Dead man walking!"

I can't even fathom what that moment must feel like. What thoughts are going through a person's mind when they are so close to their own death? Not to mention having an escorting prison guard shout that fateful phrase.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15

    6:00 p.m.  Contemplative Eucharist

    7:30 p.m.  12-Step Groups (St. Mark's Room & Passavant Hall) 

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16

    10:00 a.m.  Weekly Bible Study (chapter 18) 

    6:00 p.m.  HTLC at Lakeview Pantry

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

    11:00 a.m.  Practice Building Group

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

    3:30 p.m.  Milnikel/Kregor Wedding

    7:00 p.m.  HTLC at The Crib Shelter

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12

    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.  Anti-Racism Conversation (St. Mark's)

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20

    7:00 p.m.  Meditation Group  

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22

    7:30 p.m.  Ash Wednesday Service

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

Full Calendar of Events   

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK
Saturday, February 18 - Martin Luther, renewer of the church, died 1546
Though he began his adult church life as a simple Augustinian monk, Luther challenged the abuses he saw in the church, and his work eventually led to the Protestant Reformation. Luther's accomplishments included liturgical reform, translation of the Bible, and creation of the Small and Large Catechisms.  

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

Holly and James Dunkel gave birth to their son, George Osborn Dunkel on Tuesday, Febraury 7, 2012 

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

Mindful Eating as Food for Thought

New York Times, February 7, 2012 - by Jeff Gordinier

TRY this: place a forkful of food in your mouth. It doesn't matter what the food is, but make it something you love - let's say it's that first nibble from three hot, fragrant, perfectly cooked ravioli.

Now comes the hard part. Put the fork down. This could be a lot more challenging than you imagine, because that first bite was very good and another immediately beckons. You're hungry....

Continue this way throughout the course of a meal, and you'll experience the third-eye-opening pleasures and frustrations of a practice known as mindful eating.

The concept has roots in Buddhist teachings. Just as there are forms of meditation that involve sitting, breathing, standing and walking, many Buddhist teachers encourage their students to meditate with food, expanding consciousness by paying close attention to the sensation and purpose of each morsel. In one common exercise, a student is given three raisins, or a tangerine, to spend 10 or 20 minutes gazing at, musing on, holding and patiently masticating.

Continue reading the article: here.

• Living Lutheran: A Daily Blend of Stories, Culture and Community - <link>
• Spirituality and Practice: Resources for Spiritual Journeys - <link>
• Big Questions Online - <link>
• Religion dispatches - <link>
• Sightings (The Martin Marty Center) - <link>