by Laury Rinker, Holy Trinity member and Marketing Manager in Mission Advancement at the ELCA.

"God loves you, for Christ's sake, and will never let you go." My fellow Valparaiso University graduates may remember these words from Dr. David Truemper, a member of the theology faculty, who passed away in 2004.

I never met Dr. Truemper. I was just a sophomore when he died. But there wasn't a semester gone by when these words didn't make their way into a lecture, a sermon or a paper presented by one of his colleagues or students. Soon enough, almost all of us had these words ingrained on our hearts - even people like me, who he never met.

I didn't know it at the time, but almost a decade later I'd find these words carrying me through some hard times. Maybe they can carry you, too. Through times of restlessness and fatigue, times of failure, time of loss and grief. Just when we start to feel like we couldn't possibly be more distant from God and from others, it's these words that remind us that God has been there all along, holding us.

"God loves you, for Christ's sake, and will never let you go."

Send a note to Laury with your comments or reflections!

NEXT SUNDAY

May 27 - Day of Pentecost 

May 27 Schedule - SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE BEGINS 

• 9:30 a.m. - Festival Eucharist
  WEAR FIERY COLORS (red, orange, yellow, pink) representing the fire of the Holy Spirit! 

Weekly readings 

Prayer of the Day
Mighty God, you breathe life into our bones, and your Spirit brings truth to the world. Send us this Spirit, transform us by your truth, and give us language to proclaim your gospel, through 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

Tonight, 6:00 p.m. Contemplative Evening Prayer

Church Office Closed

Please note that Josh will be on vacation from May 27 - June 3. The church office will be closed the week of Memorial Day.

New Members!

This past Sunday, we welcomed the following new members to our community of faith: Molly Beran, Kara Devaney, Patty Erickson, Heidi Mueller, Rachel Schipull, Ginger Tanton. Please greet them when you get a chance, and scroll down to find about more about them!

May Book Club Meeting

Please join us for the next book club TONIGHT, May 23 at Julius Meinl (3601 N Southport). We will discuss the book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot which should offer an engaging discussion on a controversial topic. Books for June and July are Cutting for Stone by Abraham Veghese and The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther. Feel free to join us whether you have read the book or not!

Baptism Seminar--It's for Life!

Wednesday, May 30, 6:30 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.

Holy Trinity's Annual Picnic-Sunday, June 3

This is a party for everyone! We'll provide food to grill and games for the young at heart. You bring a side dish or dessert to share. We'll gather in our beautiful garden for a relaxing picnic lunch. The celebration begins immediately following the worship service. Please contact Megan Eichorn or Pastor Sevig if you have questions or to volunteer to help.

Worship Times - Open Forum - June 10

An open forum will be held Sunday, June 10, following the 9:30 a.m. service to hear some results of the Worship Times survey; share concerns, ideas and conversation regarding the worship schedule at Holy Trinity; and to discuss the above in light of the Voices guiding principles.

Ordinary People/Extraordinary God

Vacation Bible School (VBS) this year will be August 6-10 at Luther Memorial Church in Ravenswood. Young adult counselors from Lutherdale Bible Camp will bring the camp experience to us in the city and lead the older children on a fun-filled faith adventure. The younger children will also have fun playing games, doing crafts and exploring Bible stories.

Through the lens of Biblical characters the youth will experience that God's love is for all, that we are God's children, that God is with us in hard times, that God's love transforms us, and that we are called by God in this world. Please register quickly, deadline to register is June 15.

Last Week's Attendance 

8:30 a.m. - 21
10:30 a.m. - 135

HT Kids Pictures - Phase II

Now that we have a number of children "on the wall" in our Sacred Space Gallery, it's time to see our "Old Kids." Yes, we want the adults in our community to bring in pictures (framed, ready to hang) of themselves-both yesterday and today. Please bring in separate pictures and we can have fun guessing which grown picture goes with which little picture. You can bring your photos to Josh in the office. Contact Barbara Wahler if you have any questions.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

During the first month of ministry we have gifted five prayer shawls to member and friends of Holy Trinity. It's an exciting new venture and we invite you to join us on Sunday, June 10th after worship for a brief meeting and some time to stitch and pray with others. HTLC's Prayer Shawl Ministry group is fun, creative and relaxing, and we welcome all people, whether beginner or advanced. If you have questions please contact Patrice Macken.

VOX 3 Concert - Veiled Faces

The girls tell their side of the story in this recital that pairs history's great composers with several world premiere compositions! Many of the female characters in the Bible are nameless, forever hidden-fascinating characters known to us only as "Lot's Wife" or "The Bleeding Woman." Others are infamous, like Jezebel, whose name has become a symbol for a brazen, lustful woman. Still others are both familiar and mysterious, like Eve, who glimpsed both paradise and a fallen creation, or Mary, who trembled at the angel's words, then at the foot of her son's cross. Major works by Hindemith, Fauré, and Handel are featured alongside new songs and cycles by Chicago composers Amos Gillespie, Adam Gustafson, Randall West, Eric Malmquist, and Randall Moore. The program will be performed four times, with varying music and performers. Performances will be on May 27, 31, June 1, 3. Please visit the VOX 3 website for specific repertoire and performer information.

"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 Bus

Holy Trinity will be assembling and distributing 'meals in a bag' with the Night Ministry in Rogers Park on a quarterly basis. Next dates are May 16, August 15, October 17.  Watch the e-news for details. With questions, contact Ken Duckmann (773.551.2573).

--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: June 3 (9:30 a.m.), August 26 (9:30 a.m.). More info.

Next New Member Orientation Date: TBD.  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. 

May 20, 2012
The Seventh Sunday of Easter
Pr. Craig M. Mueller 

FROM LOSS TO LEGACY

Maybe you don't think about it a lot. Maybe you haven't made a will or let your wishes be known regarding end-of-life issues.

One of our members assists people in making legacy gifts: ways that enable people to support causes they believe in for years to come. A newly-formed Endowment Committee at Holy Trinity will help all of us reflect on legacy and planned giving. For some of us, putting Holy Trinity in our will will help ensure the future of this congregation we cherish.

Continue reading the sermon here

Listen to past sermons here
Listen to entire services here 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23

    6:00 p.m.  Contemplative Evening Prayer

    6:30 p.m.  Audit Committee

THURSDAY, MAY 24

    10:00 a.m.  Weekly Bible Study

FRIDAY, MAY 25

SATURDAY, MAY 26

    5:00 p.m.  Common Solutions

SUNDAY, MAY 27

    9:30 a.m.  Eucharist

    12:30 p.m.  LVC Meeting (Passavant Hall)

MONDAY, MAY 28 (Memorial Day) - Church Office Closed All Week 

    1:20 p.m.  Cubs Home Game

TUESDAY, MAY 29

    1:20 p.m.  Cubs Home Game

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30

    6:00 p.m.  Contemplative Eucharist - Final Service of the Season 

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

Full Calendar of Events  

 

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Thursday, May 24 - Nicolaus Copernicus, died 1543; Leonhard Euler, died 1783; scientists  

Tuesday, May 29 - Jiri Tranovsky, hymnwriter, died 1637
Tranovsky is considered to be the father of Slovak hymnody as well as an important reformer of the Slavic church. He translated the Augsburg Confession (the basis of Lutheran teachings) and published a collection of Slovak hymns.  

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

Heather DeSouza is putting together a one-woman show. She'll be singing some tunes and telling some tales at Davenport's Piano Bar, June 23 & 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Alison Strickler and Aana Marie Vigen, along with their son Benjamin Gabriel, warmly invite all members and friends of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicago to celebrate the renewal of our vows and Civil Union during the 9:30 a.m. worship service on July 22, 2012. We will host a festive champagne and dessert celebration following the service.

The Holy Trinity faith and friendship community is a powerful, gracious, and joyous presence in our lives. You help nourish and sustain us as a couple and family. So, we hope many of you can join us in this time of promise-making, blessing, and celebration!

In Sunday's Sermon: The Descendants

Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
There is a Japanese proverb that goes: "The grief of parting and the agony of separation are the way of the world." With his extraordinary respect for the flaws and vulnerabilities of human beings, director Alexander Payne has fashioned another emotionally rich film that blends serious drama with many comic moments...

Continue reading the reveiw at Spirituality and Practice.

Check Out These Links for more interesting discussions, conversations, questions and ideas!

• 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>