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Our annual Thanksgiving Community Meal was great fun!  More photos will be posted on Facebook soon!

Bring Peace to the Earth Again In the season of anticipation, we both celebrate and long for God’s Something-New in this world. We join together in songs of longing, desire, and hope for a redeemed creation, finally at peace, were God’s justice shall reign, where all will be fed, where the lion shall lie down with the lamb. This year, our Advent hymn is Bring Peace to Earth Again. As we hear and experience daily the effects of war, disparity, displacement, and injustice—leaving many vulnerable, impoverished, or without shelter or refuge or home, we join the longing, crying-out hymns and spiritual songs of the ages. How long, O Lord? How long? (Psalm 13) O come, O Come Emmanuel! God of Mercy, Hear Our Prayer! As we sing and light candles each week on our wreath, we might or might not feel anticipation of something more. Yet we lift these prayers, state these longings, and name these desires for God’s Something-New. We claim these longings are our own, as we continue wait, look for, and work for a just world, satisfied and at peace. Each week we add a verse to the song as we light another candle, hoping that the word of John’s Gospel still ring true “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome to.” November 29 - Advent 1 + A Prayer for Deliverance December 6 - Advent 2 + A Prayer for Peace  December 13 - Advent 3 + A Prayer for Sanctuary   December 20 - Advent 4 + A Prayer for Redemption  First Lutheran Church of the Trinity 643 W 31st Street Chicago, IL 60616 312-842-7390 welcome@firsttrinitychicago.com FirstTrinityChicago.com All Are Welcome! ELCA presiding bishop encourages the support of refugee resettlement On Sunday, Pastor Ben Adams from South Loop Campus Ministry will join us for The Lutheran study group.  Be there at 9:15 for coffee and conversation before worship. Saturday is Ben's Movie Night.  Join him in the community center kitchen at 7.  Details here.

Sunday: Worship 10:30 am Monday: Office Closed Tuesday: Lectio Divinia 9 am, God's Closet 5-7, Books to Prisoners 5-9, Bible Study 7 pm Wednesday - Yoga 7 pm Friday - God's Closet 10-noon, Office Hours 10-Noon, AA 8:00 Last Saturday of Each Month - 7pm Ben's Movie Night Last Sunday of Each Month - 9:15am The Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group Check out some of the groups who meet or perform in our space: The Bridge, Bridgeport Alliance, The Glint, LGBT Neighbors in Bridgeport, Midwest Books to Prisoners, The Group Project, Windy City Opera, and more! Nov 22 - Christ the King Sunday (Christian New Year) Nov 26 - Thanksgiving Day (And Community Meal)  Nov 27 - Grey Friday - God's Closet open as usual Nov 29 - The Lutheran Magazine group with Pr. Ben Adams Nov 29 - Advent 1 Dec 1 - Giving Tuesday Dec 6 -12:15PM - Annual Congregational Meeting Dec 6 - Advent 2 Dec 13 - Advent 3 Dec 17 - Beer and Carols Dec 20 - Advent 4 Dec 20 - Christmas Pageant  Dec 22 - Visit Seniors/Christmas Caroling Dec 24 - 7PM Candlelight Service, Lessons & Carols Dec 25 - 10:30 Christmas Day Worship & Brunch Dec 27 - Hymn Sing Sunday! Did you know, First Trinity is a member of Concordia Cemetery?   If you have news for the benefit of the community, please send it to welcome@firsttrinitychicago.com

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This Sunday This week we'll (really) celebrate Camp Sunday!  Pr. Tom and the kid's are planning some special stuff for Sunday morning worship, 10:30 am.  It's going to be a good day all around with The Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group at 9:15, and Camp Games after worship! Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44, Psalm 145:10-18, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 6:1-21 #MoralMondaysIL Our next action will take place on Monday, July 27 in Springfield. Details Here. New sink in the kitchen!  And the bathroom floor is still in progress. Join us Sunday, 9:15, as we discuss the recent issue of The Lutheran Magazine. Bring your own copy or share one of ours. Coffee, snacks, and conversation! Prayers of Thanksgiving for everyone who contributed to the building fund in the month of July.  We have raised $2962 toward our $3500 goal.  That is awesome!  If you had planed to contribute but have not done so yet, there's still time!  Click here to contribute online.

Regular Activities: Sunday: Worship 10:30 am Monday: Office Closed Tuesday: Lectio Divinia 9 am, God's Closet 5-7, Books to Prisoners 5-9, Bible Study 7 pm Wednesday - Yoga 7 pm Friday - God's Closet 10-noon, Office Hours 10-Noon, AA 8:00 Last Saturday of Each Month - 7pm Ben's Movie Night Last Sunday of Each Month - 9:15am The Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group Check out some of the groups who meet or perform in our space: The Bridge, Bridgeport Alliance, The Glint, LGBT Neighbors in Bridgeport, Midwest Books to Prisoners, The Group Project, Windy City Opera, and more! If you have news for the benefit of the community, please send it to welcome@firsttrinitychicago.com   Coming Up: Aug 2 - Rev. Jonathan Breimeier preaches Aug 11 - August 14 - Jesus and Justice Camp Aug 16 - 10:30am Rally Day and Blessing of Back Packs Aug 30 - Rev.PeterV,PhD preaches,TriSox -White Sox Neighbor Game Night Sep 13 - Bishop Miller preaching Oct (TBD) Rev. Ronald Nitz preaching Oct 4 - St Francis Day Oct 25 - Reformation Sunday Nov 1 - Anniversary Celebration Nov 22 - Christ the King Sunday Nov 26 - Thanksgiving Day Nov 29 - December 24 - Advent Dec 24 - 7pm Candlelight Service, Lessons & Carols Dec 25 - 10:30 Christmas Day Worship & Brunch Dec31-NewYear'sEve * as part of our  year-long 150th anniversary celebration we have invited the bishop and former pastors to preach Did you know, First Trinity is a member of Concordia Cemetery?

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This Sunday A woman finds healing by touching Jesus' cloak, and a girl is restored to life when he takes her by the hand. In both cases a boundary is crossed: in Jesus' time the hemorrhaging woman was considered ritually unclean, polluting others by her touch, and anyone who touched a corpse also became unclean. In Mark's gospel Jesus breaks down barriers, from his first meal at a tax collector's house to his last breath on the cross as the temple curtain is torn in two. We dare to touch Jesus in our "uncleanness" and to live as a community that defines no one as an outsider. Readings:  Lamentations 3:22-33, Psalm 30, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43 This week we gather early for The Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group. Bring your own copy or share one of ours. Coffee, snacks, and conversation! See you at 9:15. In celebration of Pride Sunday we'll have RIC logo temporary tattoos for all who would like one on Sunday. After worship we'll celebrate June Birthdays! #MoralMondaysIL Our next action will take place on Monday, June 29at 4:00pm at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W Randolph St Community Meal at SLCM This Sunday, June 28, volunteers from First Trinity will be joining our friends at South Loop Campus Ministry to help serve their monthly community meal. Those interested in volunteering or donating food are encouraged to contact rene@firstrinitychicago.com. This is a very worthwhile experience that consists of preparing and serving a meal, and then joining in eating the meal with our guests. After clean up we gather to discuss the experience and what it means. If you can make it, you don’t want to miss this. Current and future college students are especially encouraged to come. Welcome Toby! On Sunday, July 5, we are pleased to welcome our new intern, Toby Chow! Please plan to stick around after church to get to know Toby... and let him get to know us! I know... last week I said this week... Had the date wrong.  July 5 is his real, confirmed start date! Storytelling Event! The Group Project is bringing storytelling to our auditorium!  Click the flier below for details.

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We are having a great time at Catechemmunity.  Be sure to join us next week! 

The First Trinity Community Lenten Devotional is available for download, on the blog, on by following #FTLent on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, or you can just pick up a paper copy on Sunday!

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The third covenant in this year's Lenten readings is the central one of Israel's history: the gift of the law to those God freed from slavery. The ten commandments are one of the chief parts of Luther's catechism, a core piece of baptismal instruction. They begin with the statement that because God alone has freed us from the powers that oppressed us, we are to let nothing else claim first place in our lives. When Jesus throws the merchants out of the temple, he is defending the worship of God alone and rejecting the ways commerce and profit-making can become our gods.

Readings
Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22

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On Sunday, March 15 (2:30 PM) Windy City Opera is going to be doing a performance of La Boheme at First Trinity.  Suggested donation is $10 ($5 for students and seniors).  This is a neat opportunity to hear professional singers perform a classic opera right here in Bridgeport, for a great price!  

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Tomorrow is the makeup day for Ben's Movie Night.  Free movie, popcorn, and fun!  Potluck beverages and snacks!

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Tickets for Seder are now available online or by contacting the church office at 312-842-7390.

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On February 24 Nativity of Our Lord Parish, and First Lutheran Church of the Trinity visited the Br. David Darst Center for the first of our 2015 Ecumenical Lenten Speaker Series.  Sr. Donna Liette, C.PP.S and Sr. Carolyn Hoying C.PP.S from Precious Blood Ministry Of Reconciliation and Sr. Sharon Bossler, OP, from St. Leonard's Ministries spoke about 
Life on Purpose: Contemplation and Justice.  

The second in the series takes place Thursday, March 12 at Nativity Of Our Lord Parish (3700 S. Union Ave.); Maria Fitzsimmons from Organizing Catholics for Justice will speak about Faith and Action: The Baptismal Call for the Kingdom of God.  

Fellowship, soup and bread start at 6:30PM, and the special guest speakers at 7:00PM.  We are excited about our collaboration, and we look forward to seeing everyone there. All are welcome.

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First Trinity E-News read more here!

We are having a great time at Catechemmunity.  Be sure to join us next week! 

The First Trinity Community Lenten Devotional is available for download, on the blog, on by following #FTLent on Facebook, Twitter and Google+, or you can just pick up a paper copy on Sunday!

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The second covenant in this year's Lenten readings is the one made with Abraham and Sarah: God's promise to make them the ancestors of many, with whom God will remain in everlasting covenant. Paul says this promise comes to all who share Abraham's faith in the God who brings life into being where there was no life. We receive this baptismal promise of resurrection life in faith. Sarah and Abraham receive new names as a sign of the covenant, and we too get new identities in baptism, as we put on Christ.

Readings: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Psalm 22:23-31, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38

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Tomorrow is Ben's Movie Night.  Free movie, popcorn, and fun!  Potluck beverages and snacks!

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Tickets for Seder are now available online or by contacting the church office at 312-842-7390.

Catechemmunity Bridgeport Ecumenical Lenten Series Holy Week

Lenten Devotional Movie Night Seder

Ben's Movie Night