Reverent. Relevant. Real.

Endless winter. That may be your first thought after the past few weeks.

It may seem a long time since Christmas. Blustery and cold as it is, yet one by one, the days are getting longer.

But we get a brief reprise of Christmas next Sunday. Well, not exactly Christmas. Yet, Jesus is a baby again. On the church's calendar it is the feast of the Presentation of Our Lord. Most years it doesn't get our attention unless February 2nd falls on a Sunday. And that hasn't happened since 2003! The feast day has a nickname as well. It is sometimes called "Candlemas," because of the tradition of blessing candles on this day.

Our church calendar can seem out of sync if you think too much about it. Each year, we mark the entirety of Jesus life, from birth to resurrection. Yet, the cycle of pregnancy and birth dictate certain festivals. The annunciation is nine months before Christmas. The nativity of John the Baptist is exactly six months before Christmas, at the summer solstice. And Presentation/Candlemas is forty days after Christmas, even in years when Lent follows on its heels.

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus is presented in the temple forty days after his birth. The remarkable story involves two memorable, aged saints-Anna and Simeon. Before they die, they see the fulfillment of God's promises as they take the Holy Child in their arms.

The story even includes a hit song from scripture--sometimes called the Nunc Dimittis. You may recognize the first line: Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace ... Simeon proclaims that Jesus will be a light for revelation to the nations and the glory of Israel. Light, candles, you get the picture.

You may think of February 2nd as Groundhog Day and consider it a mere secular flirt with the coming of spring. Yet the origin of the day is in folklore of northern Europe. German farmers believed that if they saw an animal's shadow on Candlemas, there would be six more weeks of winter.

February 2 is a hinge-between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. We get a little taste of Christmas again. At the same time, we look to the coming of spring and the lengthening of days, as we celebrate Jesus as the One whose death and resurrection brings light and healing to the world.

Newscasters may be talking about Groundhog Day on February 2nd. But you won't want to miss the chance to celebrate the feast of the Presentation this coming Sunday. You'll even get a candle.

Nearly 60 people gathered last Sunday for a potluck meal, conversation, reports from staff and congregational leaders, adoption of the 2014 budget, and election of officers.  If you missed the meeting, download and read the Annual Report.

The following were elected:
CONGREGATION COUNCIL: Carrie Egan, Kelly Johnson, Scott Kuhagen, Carol LaHurd. Council elections were also held; please see the left side panel for new officers and roles.

AUDIT COMMITTEE: Barbara Wahler, Tony Kruse

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Alison Strickler, Molly Beran, John Flowers

Pastor Mueller was presented with a prayer shawl, with these words:
"Pastor Mueller, in your 15 years as a pastor of Holy Trinity you have taught us many things. We are thankful for the way you honor other faith traditions and have integrated practices into our community of faith. We appreciate the Orthodox icons; celebrate a reverence for Mary from the Roman Catholic tradition; attune to a meditation bowl and periods of silence from the Buddhist tradition, to name a few. You even welcomed a rabbi to preach and teach from a Lutheran pulpit. When Rabbi Shoshana was here, members of the prayer shawl ministry were inspired by her presence to borrow from the Jewish tradition and make a shawl similar in design to the tallit used by rabbis and other Jewish leaders. The individual squares were crocheted and knitted by members of the prayer shawl ministry and stitched together into a whole. We hope you will receive this gift and use it in your times of prayer and meditation knowing that the prayers, love, and support of this community are with you always."

Weekly Services Begin Saturday, February 1 + 5:00 p.m.
Please share the word with folks who live downtown or would be interested in a Saturday night service! 

Third Sunday after Epiphany
26 January 2014
I Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
Pr. Craig M. Mueller

+ Friday, January 31

+ Saturday, February 1

+ Sunday, February 2

+ Monday, February 3

+ Tuesday, February 4

+ Thursday, February 6

9:30 a.m. - Scripture Study

10:00 a.m. - The Art of Letting Go (Sitting Meditation Retreat)

Next Baptism Dates: February 23, April 27. [More info]

Next Orientation Dates: [More info]

+ Thursday, March 20, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

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

HOLY TRINITY eNews is the weekly electronic newsletter of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago. To unsubscribe click on "safeUnsubscribe" below. E-newsletter submissions and prayer requests should be sent to office@htchicago.org by Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.