by Pastor Michelle Sevig

For most of us, grief is uncharted territory. When a loved one dies, survivors enter some of life's most turbulent and troubled waters. It is important to find people and resources who can help us find our way through the rough spots.

This weekend's grief seminar is an excellent educational opportunity for those who are experiencing loss of any kind. Education is important because there are a lot of misconceptions out there about grief. Consequently, many people suffer from judgments and unrealistic expectations that make an already difficult situation even worse.

For instance, there can even be some "gifts of grief" as noted by our presenter Thom Dennis at www.griefriver.com

Gratitude
Compassion
Internal Resources
New Skills
Memories
Other People
Reflection/Wisdom
Faith Growth

As we prepare to enter into Holy Week observances and hear once again the life and death story of Jesus, I invite you to be open to your own grieving for losses both recent and long ago, and to the possible gifts of new life. Keep your eyes open to the possibility of finding something beautiful along the way.

Please join us on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. for an interactive, non-threatening, presentation on grief that will engage you beyond the "5 stages theory" RSVP today with Pastor Sevig 

Send a note to Pastor Sevig with your comments or reflections!

NEXT SUNDAY    

April 1 - Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday

April 1 Schedule:

• 8:30 a.m. - Eucharist w/Blessing of the Palms and St. Mark's Passion (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/Palm Procession and St. Mark's Passion
  (meet outside, weather permitting)

Sunday Forum - Earth, Bodies, and the Liturgies of Holy Week

9:30 a.m. - Passavant Hall 

Weekly readings 

Prayer of the Day
Everlasting God, in your endless love for the human race you sent our Lord Jesus Christ to take on our nature and to suffer death on the cross. In your mercy enable us to share in his obedience to your will and in the glorious victory of his resurrection, 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

Stations of The Cross - Tonight, 6:00 p.m.

Special Lenten service
Features artistic renderings by Holy Trinity member, Richard Bough, and meditations that connect this ancient practice with social justice, and the needs of the world.

 

LAST CHANCE To Sponsor Flowers For Easter 

We welcome special gifts to provide flowers for our Easter celebration. Please designate:
1. Either 'In Memory of...', 'In Honor of...', or 'In Thanksgiving for...'
2. Amount, gifts of any amount from $20 - $500 are welcome.
3. Send or bring a check to Holy Trinity with the above information, or give online now from our website.

In order to be recognized in our Holy Week programs, please make your donation by Sunday, April 1 (donations can still be made after the 1st). 
Thank you for your generosity!

SPECIAL REQUEST- Easter Vigil Reception: Ways to Help

Our elegant champagne reception will follow the Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 7 at around 9:30 p.m. in Passavant Hall. It's a major event at Holy Trinity!
The Easter hospitality team still needs volunteers for the following:

• Prepare hors d'oeuvres or other food:
• Meatballs - (2 volunteers-100 Swedish each)
• Cheese and Crackers - (3 volunteers - each 2 boxes of crackers and 4/5 blocks of cheese)
• Veggies - (1 volunteer to supply traditional veggie trays or veggies, like carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cherry tomatoes and 1 volunteer to supply unique veggies, like baby corn, squash, zucchini, pea pods, etc.) Those bringing veggies may feel free to bring dip as well.
• Fruit Skewers - (5 volunteers to provide a variety of fruit, including strawberries, pineapple, apple, banana, grapes)
• Specialty Treats - (1 volunteer to supply among the following: 3 loaves poundcake, 3 bags of large marshmallows, 3 loaves of angel food cake)
• You may also provide financial assistance for the reception 

For more information please contact Kara Grimme (312.860.2954). To sign up, check the sheet in the back of the church or email Josh in the church office.  Thank you for volunteering and sharing in this wonderful event!

More To Help: Polish, Clean, Steam, Fold And Staple

Are you free Wednesday morning, April 4, any time 10:00 a.m. or after? We will gather to polish altarware for Easter, wash woodwork in the sanctuary, steam the large white hanging banners, and to help assemble (fold and staple) the Easter Triduum bulletins. A wonderful way to help prepare for Easter, and socialize! Email Josh to volunteer. If you are free to come in Tuesday or Thursday to help with tasks, let Josh know as well. 

Call for Ushers

We need some volunteers to help usher several Holy Week services. If you can help with any of these, please email Josh in the office:

-- Palm Sunday (April 1) - 2 Ushers
-- Maundy Thursday (April 5) - 1 Usher
-- Easter Vigil (April 7) - 1 Usher
-- Easter Day (April 8), 9:00 a.m. - 1 Usher; 
                                  11:00 a.m. - 4 Ushers.

Easter Party

Join in on the fun and Easter celebration on Saturday, April 7th at 10:00 a.m. Festivities include crafts, coloring eggs, games and a hunt for treasures in the garden. RSVP to Pastor Sevig with number of children and adults. Volunteers to help on the day of the party are welcome. Please speak to Pastor Sevig if you are interested in helping with the party.

New Member Orientation

Maybe you've attended Holy Trinity a few times or many. Maybe you are looking for a church home. Maybe you have mixed feelings about church and whether it is for you. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome at Holy Trinity! Here is a special invitation to learn more about Holy Trinity, what makes Lutheranism unique, meet some other folks, and find out more about our mission and ministry. Orientation sessions are held four times a year. The next session is Sunday, April 15. We will meet from 9:00 - 10:20 a.m., followed by the 10:30 a.m. worship service. We continue upstairs in Passavant Hall over a light lunch, concluding before 1:00 p.m. Sign-up at the back of the church or email the office (office@htchicago.org).

Exciting Events on Sunday, April 29:

9:20 a.m. - food4thought
"Advocating for a Slow-Down Movement" -- with Rev. Joan Beck, Director of Spiritual Formation and Pastor to the Community at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Join us for a light breakfast and conversation. Pastor Beck will also be our preacher at both services on April 29. 

4:00 p.m. - Doug Williams Organ Recital
An exciting program of Organ Music for Eastertide by former Holy Trinity Minister of Music, Doug Williams, currently serving at All Saints Lutheran Church, Palatine, IL

Mark your calendars for three important dates in 2012:

--June 3: Holy Trinity Sunday picnic/block party
--June 8: Game Night Fundraiser
--December 2: Christkindl Market

...and find answers to three questions you may have:

1. WHAT are these events? June 3rd is Holy Trinity Sunday, so we'll celebrate with a water-themed block party. June 8th's game night and Dec 2nd's Christkindl Market will be our major fundraising events for 2012.
2. WHY are we having these events? Our annual summer picnic space is limited, so we're eager to take the party to the street--literally. As for our two major fundraisers, we're building on the momentum from last year's events as well as starting with seed funding in this area of the budget--an improvement over 2011! We continue to look for ways to reach out to the community and engage with intention as we work to raise money to support local benevolence at these events.
3. HOW can I be a part of these events? We're looking for people who can help with these events in the coming months! For info about the picnic/block party, contact Pastor Michelle or Megan Eichhorn. For info about Game Night, contact Kristi Harreld or Meggen Saka. Finally, anyone with an interest in making crafts, food, or otherwise helping with Christkindl Market, contact Sarah Hanson or Erika Robeck

Attendance Last Sunday 

8:30 - 29; 10:30 - 152

Grief Workshop: Troubled Waters
March 31st, 10:00 a.m. - Noon

"Grief is not a disorder, a disease or a sign of weakness. It is an emotional, physical and spiritual necessity, the price you pay for love. The only cure for grief is to grieve--Rabbi Earl Grollman.

This workshop, led by Thom Dennis, M.Div., MAPC, LCPC, will be held this coming Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

Please RSVP TODAY with Pastor Michelle Sevig if you plan on attending. There is no cost to attend, but register TODAY to ensure presenter has enough materials.

Spring is Here!

Shrubs, flowers and plants around Holy Trinity are up and growing. The Garden Committee is looking for volunteers to help with weeding, mowing, and other care of the plantings. If you are interested, please email or speak with Rita Schnell or Leon Stevens.

ELCA Response to Trayvon Martin's Death

From the ELCA News Service:

The shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., has called members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to engage in the work of "restoring and reconciling communities, pursuing justice and peace no matter how long the journey or wide the chasm," said ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson.  (Continue reading news release...)

Read Bishop Hansons remarks.

Cooking with Joy: New Oven at Holy Trinity 

Each year, Holy Trinity volunteers prepare dozens of meals for church gatherings and for the needy in our community, including a monthly nourishing supper prepared in our kitchen and served by Team Trinity at the Crib shelter. The old oven was no longer heating properly, and it couldn't keep up with our busy volunteers, so a new double oven has been installed. Many thanks to Norm Kaiser and Leon Stevens for their time in researching the stove.

To support the meal making ministries at Holy Trinity, donations are welcome to help with the cost of the new oven. You can give online or write a check with "oven" noted on it. 

Special Congregational Meeting - April 22nd

Mark your calendars for a special congregational meeting following the 10:30 a.m. service. During this meeting members will be voting on amendments to the constitution, the allocation of money between the Mission Endowment Fund, Expansive Faith capital campaign loan, and a proposed Operating, Capital, and Opportunity Reserve.

Use the following links to access resources for the upcoming special congregational meeting:

--Amendments to the Constitution (amendments are highlighted)
--Reserve Initiative FAQs
--Reserve PowerPoint (presented at March 4th's forum)

Analyzing and Understanding Systemic Racism Workshop

This 2.5 day workshop will help you understand and analyze racism in our Church and society. Join us for an exploration of:
--The definition of systemic racism;
--The three manifestations of racism--individual, institutional, and cultural, and their effects on both communities of color and white communities;
--The issue of racism and the task of dismantling racism from spiritual, ethical, political and social perspectives, with the goal of equipping people to combat racism within their institutions and in the larger society.

April 26-28, 2012 - LUTHERAN SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AT CHICAGO, 1100 EAST 55TH STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60615

This workshop is conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect, caring and safety, and is not based on confrontation, guilt and judgment. Anyone who has an interest in developing a deeper understanding of racism and its impacts on our church and society is invited to attend. PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE - $35 PER PERSON (ELCA), $105 (Non-ELCA) Cost includes lunch, course notebook and workshop materials. See Barbara Wahler or Ken Duckmann for more information.

Announcing Taizé Gathering for Young Adults

A Taizé gathering that is part of the "Pilgrimage of Trust across the earth" will take place in Chicago from 25 to 28 May 2012 (Memorial Day Weekend). The venue will be DePaul University in Chicago. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 from all over the United States and Canada will take part. Three Taizé brothers are now living in Chicago and will be coordinating preparations in the city and region. Among other things, they will be working with friends from Chicago to find accommodation with families for the young adults coming from outside the Chicago area. A volunteer will be present at Holy Trinity on Sunday, March 25 to give more information to Holy Trinity members, and to show a brief video after the 10:30 a.m. service.

For more information about the Pilgrimage of Trust please take a look at this site. Here you will find many resources explaining what the Pilgrimage of Trust is, as well as a provisional program for the Memorial Day weekend, and a short video promoting the event. 

It's Circus Time

Join us for a fun afternoon of circus fun with the Triton Troopers, featuring members Randy & Linda Johnson and their children Austin and Jake (only 3 and 6). 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. 

The Cantata Project:
Chicago Bach Ensemble Performance

Join us on Saturday, March 31 at 8:00 p.m. for a performance of four Bach cantatas, featuring, among others, Holy Trinity member Brian Von Rueden.
Admission is: Adults, $15; Students, $10; Children, free.

 

"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. 

Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 25, 2012
John 12:20-33
Pr. Craig M. Mueller

WE NEED SOME MORE DIRT

Spring has been in the news this week. Not simply the yearly vernal equinox that occurred early last Tuesday morning. Rather the unseasonable summer-like weather. Nine days of record warmth in Chicago. Folks from around here estimated that the blooming, blossoming and green popping out everywhere was four to six weeks ahead of normal. But it wasn't just here. According to the National Weather service, over 4000 heat records were broken across the country.

Think how many conversations you had about it. Most people loved it, right? For a few it was too much, too soon. And you might have been in the majority who rolled your eyes at such a thought! But there was a downside in some places. So much yellow pine pollen in Atlanta that the city was covered like powdered sugar on a doughnut, according to one report. People with allergies had a hard time catching their breath. The bugs are out in full force in some places. And some fear a cold snap that could harm the trees and plants. "Mother Nature can be very cruel," said a research scientist at an arboretum. Or maybe a humbling reminder of global warming and human abuse of the earth and its environment? Who knows?

Continue reading this sermon here 

Listen to past sermons here
Listen to entire services here 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28

    6:00 p.m.  Stations of the Cross

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 29

    10:00 a.m.  Weekly Bible Study  - Genesis 1 

    6:30 p.m.  Chicago Bach Ensemble Rehearsal

SATURDAY, MARCH 31

    10:00 a.m.  Grief Workshop
    5:00 p.m.  Common Solutions

    8:00 p.m.  Chicago Bach Ensemble Concert

SUNDAY, APRIL 1

    8:30 a.m.  Eucharist w/ Blessing of the Palms and St. Mark Passion

    9:15 a.m.  Choir Rehearsal
    9:30 a.m.  Sunday Forum (Passavant Hall) and Sunday School

    10:30 a.m.  Sung Eucharist w/ Palm Procession and St. Mark Passion

                       (Meet outside, weather permitting)

MONDAY, APRIL 2

    7:00 p.m.  Meditation Group  

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4

    6:00 p.m.  NO WEDNESDAY EVENING SERVICE (Holy Week)
    7:00 p.m.  Choir Rehearsal (Nave) 

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

Full Calendar of Events  

 

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Thursday, March 29 - Hans Nielsen Hauge, renewer of the church, died 1824
Hauge was a layperson who wished to revitalize the church in Norway. As a result of a mystical experience, he felt called to preach. Many professionals in the church feared his motives and influence, and he was imprisoned for leading unauthorized gatherings.

Saturday, March 31 - John Donne, poet, died 1631
After finishing his education at Oxford University, Donne seemed headed for a career in the English public service. But a series of circumstances led him into the ordained ministry. He is well known as a writer of both secular and sacred poetry.

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

Following a brief hospital stay, Elvina Moen's new address is:

Astoria Place
6300 N. California
Chicago, IL 60659 

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

Knowing Our Cultural Context: 15 Reasons I Left Church (and returned)  

15 reasons I left church  - click 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>