by Meggen Saka, Holy Trinity President

The power of a question is robed in the majesty of Mystery. Holy Trinity embraces the spiritual discipline of dwelling with doubt and walking with the unknown. Within this realm of Mystery answers come slowly (if at all), we learn how to embrace ambiguity, and paradoxes bring wholeness instead of conflict.

Supported by Calvin Institute's Worship Renewal Grants Program, one question led us through a year and half long exploration of worship: What do members of Gen X/Y find meaningful in worship? It's amazing how a simple question can challenge, expand, and grow through communal contemplation. Not only did the question itself evolve, but we also interacted with this topic in a variety of ways. We engaged with the theme of meaningful worship through pastor led worship moments, books selected to study at Adult Forum, a Gen X/Y bible study group, the creation and participation of Worship Pilgrims, and by hosting our own Worship Conference: Sects and the City this past February.

I invite you to look at the poster of our learning that Pastor Mueller and I presented at Calvin Institute's Colloquium last week in Grand Rapids, MI. You can see the poster at the back of church or by clicking this link. I also want to encourage you to go to Calvin's website. It is a wonderful resource where you can learn from other grant proposals and their reflections and posters on a variety of worship topics. While returning from the Colloquium last week marked the end of our grant year, it does not end the call for us to pursue the work of worship renewal within our congregation.

How can we continue to invite the Spirit of worship renewal into the life of our congregation? One way would be to invite others into the spiritual discipline of being "Open to the Mystery" within our synod, with other denominations, and faiths. I believe opportunities of leadership are presented to each of us in all parts of our lives: our place of work, within our families, through volunteer experiences, with friends, attending public forums around the city, and so on. May we be led to 'connect, strengthen, and serve with joy' in all parts of our lives.

Send a note to Meggen with your comments or reflections!

NEXT TWO SUNDAYS

July 8 - Lectionary 14

July 8 Schedule: 

• 9:30 a.m. - Eucharist
• 10:30 a.m. - Fellowship in Garden  
  (weather permitting)

Prayer of the Day
God of the covenant, in our baptism you call us to proclaim the coming of your kingdom. Give us the courage you gave the apostles, that we may faithfully witness to your love and peace in every circumstance of life, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Weekly readings 

July 15 - Lectionary 15

July 15 Schedule:
***CUBS HOME GAME***

• 9:30 a.m. - Eucharist
• 10:30 a.m. - Fellowship in Garden  
  (weather permitting)

Prayer of the Day
O God, from you come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works. Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments; and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Weekly readings 

BIRTHDAYS:
Lars Jenner  7/05
Marji Shannon  7/06
Norm Kaiser  7/07
Amy Boin  7/08
Steven Boin  7/08
Matthew Kissling  7/08
George Ahlgrim  7/09
Ted Remus  7/11
Becky Sims  7/11
Mary Buschmann  7/12
Chris Drayer  7/12
Dana Johnson  7/13
John Nordwall  7/13
Adam Boin  7/15
Lydia Lucas  7/16
Kate Berlin 7/18 

BAPTISMS:
Dick Tribble  7/4
Mary Buschmann  7/12
Ethan Fiegel  7/18
Carol Schickel  7/19 

ANNIVERSARIES:
David Brackley  7/5
Eric Breese & Mark Stolt  7/9
Katherine & David Mertens  7/9
Chelsea & Justin Carlson  7/11
Carrie Egan  7/16
Justin & Alison Sjovall  7/16
Caroline Nero  7/17
Raymond Pickett  7/18
Mike & Rita Schnell  7/18 

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

Stewardship and Worship
Johanna Olson

Last Two Week's Attendances

June 24, 9:30 a.m. - 81
July 1, 9:30 a.m. - 123

Help Holy Trinity Welcome a Refugee Family

It's that time of year to begin thinking about how you can help with Holy Trinity's annual refugee project through Refugee One. We won't know much about the family until they arrive in late August, but there is a lot we can do to prepare. Please visit the sign-up sheets in the back of the church to select from a registry of needed household items. If you're interested in volunteering your time, you can sign up to help decorate the apartment, greet the family at O'Hare airport, or help the family once they arrive. We also need financial gifts to meet our fundraising goal of $2,000-enough to pay for the first three months of rent.

Questions? Contact Laury Rinker and Scott Hendrickson. Thanks for your help!

Worship Times Task Force Report

A report by the Worship Times Task Force can be found here.

Free And Fun! July 8 After Service

Come and experience a new skill with our Shawl Ministry members A.J. Yoeckel and Barbara Wahler as they teach ANYONE who is interested in learning how to knit or crochet. There is no charge! Any age is welcome but you need an open mind and willing heart! A.J. and Barbara will bring the supplies and the skill.

Next Movie Night to be July 21

All are invited to enjoy a light supper and movie at church on Saturday, July 21, at 5 p.m. The film "Amélie" features a charming and unusual young woman, as well as the lovely Montmartre region of Paris. See and read more at Rotten Tomatoes. Please bring snacks and/or beverages to share.

Renewal of Vows

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!

Discount Admission to Six Flags, Courtesy of Thrivent

The Chicagoland Region of Thrivent Financial is excited to offer a special ticket price for Six Flags Great America. Cost per ticket is only $31.00 compared to the normal rate of $63.85+tax. Purchase tickets online at www.sixflags.com with the promo code FunWithThrivent from June 14-July 21. Tickets are valid one day only from July 14-July 21. Children age 2 and under are free. More information can be found here, or contact your Thrivent Financial Representative.

"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: August 26 (9:30 a.m.). More info.

Next New Member Orientation Date: TBD.  More info.

Office Hours: Mon. - Thurs., 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Sun., 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 

June 24, 2012
Birth of St. John the Baptist
Luke 24, 2012
Pr. Craig M. Mueller

I've been a little obsessed and intrigued with the summer solstice this year. Maybe it was the excitement about having St. John's day on a Sunday, a rare occurrence. Ernest and I set our alarm for 4:45 on Wednesday so we could walk to the lake and watch the sunrise at 5:15 and then go for a long bike ride down past McCormick Place. We watched the sunset about 8:30 p.m. though there were clouds at the horizon.

Continue reading the sermon.

Listen to the sermon.

Listen to full services. 

July 1, 2012
Lectionary 13b
Mark 5:21-43; Lamentations 3:22-33; Psalm 30
Pr. Craig M. Mueller

HEALTH CARE

Alice was 47 years old and had an advanced cancer. She was admitted to the hospital when her right leg became blue and cold and painful. She knew she was near the end of her life, perhaps with only a couple more months to live. At the hospital she had a procedure to take a clot out of her leg. That's when Dr. Ira Byock met her. His thoughts run through my sermon today. Dr. Byock was making his rounds in the hospital. At first he asked her all the usual medical questions about pain, her bowels, how she was feeling.

Continue reading the sermon.

Listen to the sermon.

Listen to full services. 

THURSDAY, JULY 5 - (Church Office Closed)

    10:00 a.m.  Weekly Bible Study - Passavant Hall 

FRIDAY, JULY 6

SATURDAY, JULY 7

    6:30 P.m.  LOS Meal

SUNDAY, JULY 8

    9:30 a.m.  Eucharist

    10:30 a.m.  Fellowship In Garden (weather permitting)     1:00 p.m.  WANS Meal 

MONDAY, JULY 9

    7:00 p.m.  Meditation Group (Montrose Beach)

TUESDAY, JULY 10

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11

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

THURSDAY, JULY 12

    10:00 a.m.  Weekly Bible Study (Passavant Hall)

FRIDAY, JULY 13

    1:20 p.m.  Cubs Home Game

SATURDAY, JULY 14

    3:05 p.m.  Cubs Home Game

SUNDAY, JULY 15

    9:30 a.m.  Eucharist

    1:20 p.m.  Cubs Home Game

MONDAY, JULY 16

    7:00 p.m.  Meditation Group (Montrose Beach)

TUESDAY, JULY 17

    7:05 p.m. Cubs Home Game

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

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

Full Calendar of Events  

 

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Friday, July 6 - Jan Hus, martyr, died 1415
Hus was a Bohemian (present-day Czech Republic) priest who spoke against abuses in the church, and was seen by Martin Luther as his predecessor in the reforming movement. He was found guilty of heresy by a council of the church, and burned at the stake.

Wednesday, July 11 - Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino, died around 540
Benedict is known as the father of the Western monastic movement. Educated in Rome, he went to live as a hermit, and eventually gathered a community of monks around him. He wrote a rule for living in monasteries that is used by Benedictines and adapted by others.

Thursday, July 12 - Nathan Söderblom, Bishop of Uppsala, died 1931
A winner of the Nobel Prize for peace for his efforts to unite peoples after the First World War, Söderblom also called attention to the revival of early church worship principles, and helped to lay the groundwork for the World Council of Churches.

Tuesday, July 17 - Bartolomé de Las Casas, missionary to the Indies, died 1566
A native of Spain, Las Casas first came to the Western hemisphere while serving in the military. Granted a large estate with indigenous slaves, he freed them after he was ordained a priest. He worked in the Caribbean and Central America to improve the lives of the native peoples.

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

Vacation Sabotage: Don't Let It Happen to You!

By Matt Richter | from NY Times 

Some good advice on how to unwind on vacations. Equally good advice on some ways to unplug from technology on days off or "sabbath" time in our lives. Read on ...

I pretty much did in my last break, this past March. Not an act of premeditation so much as passion. I got so jacked up. Seven days in Hawaii. It was going to be the best vacation I'd ever had.

And then it started.

Somehow my wife and I had failed to anticipate the effects of a time-zone change on our two toddlers. Then there was the rain. I took refuge in my phone, checking the weather, reading the news. I wondered why I wasn't relaxed. The pool was too cold. How much were we paying for this? I checked my phone to see if anyone missed me on Facebook. Nope.

I had hoped to return home at peace. Instead I was exhausted, defeated and irritable.

Continue reading... 

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>