Getting in Shape for the Journey

I often encourage clients to find a way to establish some healthy practices. First on my list are breathing, muscle relaxation, and maybe some gentle movement. I suggest that in doing these exercises regularly, the muscle memory gets set, so when anxiety or stress comes, these practices are more accessible. So what's with Lenten practices? Why does resistance seem to bubble up about a season that brings such promise into our lives? Maybe it's those accompanying Christian 'sacrifices' - the traditions of meatless meals and fasting and extra prayers and giving to the poor. They can feel like burdens that God requires of us rather than an opportunity to step more fully into our own spiritual journey.

Several years ago I was part of a spiritual direction group. We met quarterly for an overnight retreat and engaged in a common ritual of prayer, reflection, and sharing our spirituality. One part that I appreciated was how we partied in the evening, but then came together in the morning for breakfast that was shared in silence. So as we would 'break' our 'fast,' we also added another spiritual practice into our lives. I really learned something through this simple change-about myself, my food, and my partners in that journey. So this year for my own Lenten practice, I have extended the space each morning before I 'break' my 'fast' of the night. I wait to add nourishment to my body, using that time - precious time - to focus my attention on the emptiness, the anticipation, the hunger that I am aware of. I can only hope and pray that God will make something out of my fast...it's not really up to me. All I can do is exercise that faith muscle and try to be in good shape for the journey.

~ Carol Schickel, LCPC

NEXT SUNDAY    

March 4 - Second Sunday in Lent 

March 4 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
• 11:45 a.m. - Congregation Meeting: Financial Forum

Sunday Forum - Special Lenten Study: Watering God's Garden: Christian Worship and Earth's Ecology

9:30 a.m. - Passavant Hall Read chapter 2 for March 4

Operating & Capital Reserve Initiative

On April 22, Holy Trinity members will be voting on amendments to the constitution as well as the allocation of church money to several funds, including paying off our Expansive Faith capital campaign loan. To prepare for this vote we will be holding a forum in Passavant Hall immediately following the 10:30 service this Sunday, March 4th. The focus of this forum is for anyone to ask questions, express concerns and/or learn more about these issues as we prepare to vote. A light lunch will be provided.

Here are some resources:

--Amendments to the Constitution
--Reserve Initiative FAQs 

Weekly readings 

Prayer of the Day
O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life. Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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
John Flowers, Leon Stevens

Spiritual Life
Megan Eichhorn

Worship
Johanna Olson

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.

Contemplative Eucharist - Tonight, 6:00 p.m.

Make this quiet, contemplative eucharist service part of your Lenten discipline.

Save the Date: Film and Spirituality

Join us for the next installment of the Film and Spirituality Series on Saturday, March 24 at 5:00 p.m.. We will be watching the film Doubt staring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Spring 2012 Dinner Groups

One of Holy Trinity's most popular offerings, these groups meet in a home for dinner in which the host provides the main course and others provide the side dishes. Sign-up as a couple, with a friend, or by yourself by filling out a form at the back of the church or by emailing the office and letting us know which dates you are available, if you are willing to host 8 - 10 people, if you are vegetarian, and if you request a location near an el stop. Over 50 people participate in dinner groups at Holy Trinity; it's a great way to meet new folks in our community! Sign-up by March 21; groups will meet April 15, 21, 22, 28, 29.

E-news for parents

There's a new monthly e-mail sent to all the parents at HTLC. It includes upcoming events for families and news or articles about raising kids in the Christian faith. If you'd like to receive these monthly e-mails, please let Pastor Sevig know.

Note from Rev. Barbara Heard:

Dear Pastor Mueller,
I greet you in the blessed name of Jesus, the One who is our life, our love, and our liberation. Allow me to compliment you on the wonderful service you officiated for Claire Evans. I was glad to be able to share my remembrances of her.

Please thank your pastors and your congregation for their warm welcome. It was a joy to fellowship with them after the service was over.

Claire has left us a great legacy that can be passed on to those she left behind on this earthly pilgrimage.

May you, your congregation, and all those who you love have a blessed Lenten season and journey with Jesus all the way to Calvary. May the joy of His glorious Resurrection be in your heart and home throughout the Easter Season.

Yours in Christ Jesus,
Rev. Barbara A. Heard

Love in a Ziploc

The children and parents enjoyed another successful service project for Sunday School. Even though there were a few minor glitches in getting everything ready, we all managed to pull together and create 65 bags of love. Thanks to all who donated items for the gift bags which include: granola/protein bars, gummie snacks and animal crackers, $5 gift cards to Subway; gloves or hats; lip balm; tooth paste, tooth brushes, and floss, cough drops; hand sanitizer, hand warmers, combs, lotion and other odds and ends. These bags will be shared with homeless and low income people throughout the city of Chicago. Thanks for your generosity!

We're stocking up for next year, so when you see any of the above items on sale as you are out and about, please buy them and bring to the church. This year we made 65 bags, but the children could assemble and distribute so many more. This project is a tangible, visible sign of God's work being done through our hands. Our goal for next year (1st Sunday in Lent) is 200 bags. Start your clearance shopping now and remember this project throughout the year.

 
 

It's Circus Time

Join us for a fun afternoon of circus fun with the Triton Troopers. Watch in amazement as Linda Johnson swings from a trapeze, be amused by young Austin and Jake (only 3 and 6) as they clown around with their dad in the big ring, and hold your breath as Randy Johnson juggles all kinds of amazing objects.

There are 4 different performances to choose from, but a group from HTLC will be meeting at Triton College on March 31st for the 1:00 p.m. show. Come early to the pancake breakfast and help us save seats for the show. It's a blast! Tickets are only $6 each and it is a delightful and fun group activity. Children of all ages will enjoy this animal free circus. Questions, please contact Pastor Sevig or Linda Johnson. More information about the circus here 

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 2 for the March 4 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 tomorrow, 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!

This coming Saturday: 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.  No need to RSVP.

Attendance Last Sunday 

8:30 - 18; 10:30 - 171   

Food4Thought Follow-up

What a great success!

We had over 40 people attend this event, listening to three members talk about how their faith life and work life intersect. It was an intriguing, insightful and entertaining time! Thanks to Scott Johnson, Rebecca Pallmeyer, and Chris Bender who were our speakers, and wore their work garb!

Here's a recipe for the Taco Soup made by Pastor Sevig which was requested by several people.

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. The first meeting will be on Saturday, March 3 at 12:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity.

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.

"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 Lakeview Pantry

Holy Trinity members help hand out food at the Lakeview Pantry on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. For more information or with questions, contact James Perez.

--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.

--PAWS Chicago

Spend an evening socializing shelter dogs and cats! Attend periodic adult volunteer nights where you can spend time acclimating dogs and cats to a life with a family by playing with them, brushing them, petting them, showing them how to play with toys, or just letting them curl up on your lap. You are welcome to pick dogs or cats - or both! THERE IS NO NEED TO ATTEND ORIENTATION. For socializing, you will be shown what to do at the Center. If you would like to do more advanced things, like walk dogs, feed the dogs and cats, etc., contact Beth Morris to talk about scheduling a more advanced orientation. .

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. 

Ash Wednesday
February 22, 2012
Pr. Craig M. Mueller

REMEMBER FORWARD

After Christmas I finally bought a Kindle. It's a great way to read multiple books on a long trip without lugging all the hard copies along. One of the electronic books I read on my recent trip to Costa Rica was "Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything."

Memory is mysterious. Why do we remember some things but not all things? Why do some people remember names, dates, or other facts more easily than others? The author interviews people representing two extremes of memory: a man who could memorize 1,528 random digits in order. And a man with such an extreme case of amnesia that he doesn't know his own age and can't remember he has a memory problem. The "art of memory" that the author describes is actually a set of techniques invented in ancient Greece. Creating unusual, colorful imagery in your mind helps you not to forget. This is the way medieval scholars memorized entire books. Or Cicero memorized his speeches.

Continue reading this sermon here

Listen to past sermons here
Listen to entire services here

Memorial Homily
Claire Evans
February 23, 2012
Pr. Craig M. Mueller

As much as we try to live the Beatitudes ... or observe them in the lives of the saints, including Claire ... for us, it is Jesus who is the peacemaker. The one who shows mercy. The who one hungers and thirsts for righteousness, for justice, God's shalom.

It is this Jesus who stands among us this night with words of comfort: Peace, I leave you, my peace I give you.

Continue reading this sermon here

Listen to the memorial service here

The First Sunday in Lent
February 26, 2012
Craig M. Mueller

ECO-LENT

If you, your company or your congressperson is eco-friendly, you are committed to goods and services, laws and policies that do not harm the environment. In other words, care for the earth is paramount. When I was in Costa Rica I encountered eco-tourism that respects natural habitats and helps improve the local community. The highlight of the trip was staying at several eco-lodges. These places were committed to nature, to sustainability, to conservation, to ecology, to natural foods, to the local community.

Holy Trinity's book for Lent this year is called A Watered Garden: Christian Worship and Earth's Ecology. The author is our own member, Ben Stewart. I hope you'll consider coming an hour early these Sundays of Lent to join us for a discussion of its themes. Ben makes the point that "ecology stretches out to the boundaries of the universe yet also reaches down deep within us, into each of our cells." (p. 11). And though most people may not think about it, ecology is connected to worship. Worship-coming from the English word worth-ship-is that to which we ascribe worth or value.

Continue reading this sermon here

Listen to past sermons here
Listen to entire services here

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29

    6:00 p.m.  Contemplative Eucharist

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 1

    10:00 a.m.  Weekly Bible Study (chapter 20) 

SATURDAY, MARCH 3

    9:30 a.m.  Lent Retreat: Transitions

    12:30 p.m.  Shawl Ministry Meeting

    7:30 p.m.  Music Series: Mark Valenti, Pianist 

SUNDAY, MARCH 4

    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.  Congregation Meeting: Financial Forum 

MONDAY, MARCH 5

    7:00 p.m.  Meditation Group  

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7

    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
Thursday, March 1 - George Herbert, hymnwriter, died 1633 An excellent scholar, Herbert served briefly in the English parliament, then became a parish priest. He was known for devoted care of his parishioners, as well as for writing poetry and hymns, including "Come, my way, my truth, my life." He died at age 40.

Friday, March 2 - John Wesley, died 1791; Charles Wesley, died 1788; renewers of the church
These brothers led a revival originally intended to remain within the Church of England, one that involved frequent communion and advocacy for the poor. Except for a brief time in America, they worked in England. Charles was also a prolific hymn writer. After their deaths, their work led to the formation of the Methodist Church.

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.

Online Lenten Devotionals 

At this link, scroll down to find a variety of online Lenten devotionals to check out!

Huffington Post features poems, prayers and reflections for Lent 2012. 

• 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>