New Blog

Hey everyone!  Thanks for following us here... but we've moved!
Follow our new blog at https://firsttrinitychicago.com
Thanks!

E-News

All Are Welcome! View this email in your browser

Sunday: During Lent we journey with all those around the world who will be baptized at Easter. In today’s gospel Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born of water and Spirit. At the font we are given a new birth as daughters and sons of God. As God made a covenant with Abraham, in baptism God promises to raise us up with Christ to new life. From worship we are sent forth to proclaim God’s love for all the world. Readings and Psalm Genesis 12:1-4a The blessing of God upon Abram Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the hills; my help comes from the Lord. (Ps. 121:1, 2) Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 The promise to those who share Abraham’s faith John 3:1-17 The mission of Christ: to save the world

Sunday, April 9 at 6 PM - 9 PM Come explore the Jewish roots of the Christian faith through ritual, story, song, teaching, and exquisite food and wine. Annual guest facilitator and long time friend of First Trinity, Rev. Jonathan Bradley Krogh will be leading us through the Seder once again. An educational, spiritual, and communal tradition of our congregation not to be missed. Tickets are $25 and may be reserved by phone at 312-842-7390 or by contacting rene@firsttrinitychicago.com.  Sunday, April 9, 2016 Doors open at 6 Service starts at 6:30 Reservations required

Last Sunday of Each Month - 9:15am Living Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group Last Thursday of Each Month - Bridgeport Alliance - 7pm Confirmation Classes 2nd and 4th Sunday of Each Month - See Pastor Tom Check out some of the groups who meet or perform in our space: The Bridge, The Glint, LGBT Neighbors in Bridgeport, Midwest Books to Prisoners, The Group Project, and more! 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 Weekly Activities: Sunday: Worship 10:30 am Monday: Office Closed, Books to Prisoners  Tuesday: Lectio Divinia 9 am, God's Closet 5-7, Bible Study 7 pm Friday - God's Closet 10-noon, Office Hours 10-Noon, AA 8:00   Upcoming: 03/12/17    Confirmation Class 03/12/17    Daylight Saving Time begins 03/12/17    Second Sunday in Lent 03/14/17    Coping and Hoping 7:05 03/19/17    Third Sunday in Lentt 03/21/17    Coping and Hoping 7:05 03/26/17    Confirmation Class 03/26/17    Fourth Sunday in Lent 03/26/17    Living Lutheran Magazine Discussion                   Group 03/28/17    Coping and Hoping 7:05 04/01/17    Fundraiser 04/02/17    Fifth Sunday in Lent 04/04/17    Coping and Hoping 7:05 04/09/17    Confirmation Class 04/09/17    Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday 04/09/17    Christian Seder 04/11/17    Easter Bunny Visits God's Closet 5 pm 04/13/17    Maundy Thursday 04/14/17    Easter Egg Decorating 10 am 04/14/17    Good Friday Service 7 pm 04/16/17    Resurrection of Our Lord, Easter Day

E-News

All Are Welcome! View this email in your browser

Our Tuesday night lenten series begins this week.

Sunday: This week's gospel tells of Jesus’ temptation in the desert. His forty-day fast becomes the basis of our Lenten pilgrimage. In the early church Lent was a time of intense preparation for those to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. This catechetical focus on the meaning of faith is at the heart of our Lenten journey to the baptismal waters of Easter. Hungry for God’s mercy, we receive the bread of life to nourish us for the days ahead. Readings and Psalm Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Psalm 32 Mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord. (Ps. 32:10) Romans 5:12-19 Death came through one; life comes through one Matthew 4:1-11 The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness for forty days Long ago, April 1st was the first day of the new year.  Then someone had the bright idea to change it, thus creating April Fool’s Day.  This year we are going to celebrate with a calendar mash-up event with a raffle, a penny auction (pennies only accepted for this), a silent auction, a traditional church bazaar, all focusing on different calendar celebrations. It's a FUNdraiser incorporating the hilarity of the day. Come, be silly, plan to spend a little cash!  Proceeds benefit First Lutheran Church of the Trinity, God’s Closet, and FTKids.  All Are Welcome! So you want to help make this fundraiser a success?  We need stuff to sell and auction, lots of volunteers, and fun activities for the day.  See Rene or Marge if you want to help! Something to Take on for Lent Many of us often look for ways to “give up” and “take on” for  Lent. We have a suggestion, if your heart feels called -- something that can help cultivate the spiritual development of our youth   Perhaps consider sponsoring a story for them. We’ve built a solid foundation with Godly Play, and by most accounts, it’s been a success. However, we still need to stock foundational stories to cover the Sundays on our calendar. There are also stories that you may feel will round out our children’s growth.   You can sponsor a story by choosing one that speaks to you from the list below. You may opt to purchase one from the Godly Play site. Or, if you have the time, talent or desire, you can make your own. Both are welcome. Both are beloved.   We’re still working out the details, but if you’re interested, please see Erika or email her at erikahobbs@gmail.com. She’ll provide you the details of the story kits, cost, links and DIY instructions - or help you come up with your own.   Many thanks to you, FT Kids

E-News

Last Friday during God's Closet our volunteers dressed in hijabs as a symbol of friendship and solidarity with our Muslim neighbors. Intissar has been volunteering for God's Closet for a few years now, and her children have participated in the Christmas Pageant and other youth activities.  She was very excited to help the volunteers with their hijabs and share some of her culture with us.

Sunday: In today’s first reading we hear, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Yet we know we cannot achieve perfection. Our attempts to love neighbors and even our enemies fall short of what God desires for us. Yet in Jesus we see one who loved even those who persecuted and killed him. We are made holy in baptism, and forgiven at the table of God’s mercy. As a people made holy by God, we go in peace to love as we have been loved. Readings and Psalm Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 Holiness revealed in acts of mercy and justice Psalm 119:33-40 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes. (Ps. 119:33) 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 Allegiance to Christ, not human leaders Matthew 5:38-48 The teaching of Christ: love Long ago, April 1st was the first day of the new year.  Then someone had the bright idea to change it, thus creating April Fool’s Day.  This year we are going to celebrate with a calendar mash-up event with a raffle, a penny auction (pennies only accepted for this), a silent auction, a traditional church bazaar, all focusing on different calendar celebrations. It's a FUNdraiser incorporating the hilarity of the day. Come, be silly, plan to spend a little cash!  Proceeds benefit First Lutheran Church of the Trinity, God’s Closet, and FTKids.  All Are Welcome! So you want to help make this fundraiser a success?  We need stuff to sell and auction, lots of volunteers, and fun activities for the day.  See Rene or Marge if you want to help!

E-News

All Are Welcome! View this email in your browser

Sunday: In today’s reading from Deuteronomy we are called to choose life by loving and obeying God. Much of today’s gospel reading echoes portions of the Ten Commandments. Jesus’ instructions to the crowd reveal a pattern of behavior that honors both God and the neighbor, resulting in life and health for the whole community. We, too, are invited to embrace these commandments, not out of fear of retribution, but because God has promised that to do so means life for us. Readings and Psalm Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Choose life Psalm 119:1-8 Happy are they who follow the teaching of the Lord. (Ps. 119:1) 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 God gives the growth Matthew 5:21-37 The teaching of Christ: forgiveness

Last Sunday of Each Month - 9:15am Living Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group Last Thursday of Each Month - Bridgeport Alliance - 7pm Confirmation Classes 2nd and 4th Sunday of Each Month - See Pastor Tom Check out some of the groups who meet or perform in our space: The Bridge, The Glint, LGBT Neighbors in Bridgeport, Midwest Books to Prisoners, The Group Project, and more! 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 Weekly Activities: Sunday: Worship 10:30 am Monday: Office Closed, Books to Prisoners  Tuesday: Lectio Divinia 9 am, God's Closet 5-7, Bible Study 7 pm Friday - God's Closet 10-noon, Office Hours 10-Noon, AA 8:00   Upcoming: 02/12/17    Confirmation Class 02/18/17    Martin Luther, renewer of the church,                   died 1546 02/25/17    Ben's Movie Night 02/26/17    Confirmation Class 02/26/17    Living Lutheran Magazine Discussion                   Group 02/26/17    Immigration Panel 03/01/17    Ash Wednesday 03/05/17    First Sunday in Lent 03/12/17    Confirmation Class 03/12/17    Daylight Saving Time begins 03/12/17    Second Sunday in Lent 03/19/17    Third Sunday in Lent 03/25/17    Ben's Movie Night 03/26/17    Confirmation Class 03/26/17    Fourth Sunday in Lent 03/26/17    Living Lutheran Magazine Discussion                   Group 04/01/17    Fundraiser 04/02/17    Fifth Sunday in Lent 04/09/17    Confirmation Class 04/09/17    Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday 04/13/17    Maundy Thursday 04/14/17    Good Friday 04/16/17    Resurrection of Our Lord, Easter Day

News

All Are Welcome! View this email in your browser

Sunday: We've been having a lot of fun this January, exploring alternative liturgies and hearing rotating musicians.  The fun continues this Sunday, at 10:30.  Special welcome to Guest Preacher Diane Mack!  And we welcome back Bob Leone after his time off!  Come and See!    Light shines in the darkness for the upright, the psalmist sings. Isaiah declares that when we loose the bonds of injustice and share our bread with the hungry, the light breaks forth like the dawn. In another passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, the light of the world, calls his followers to let the light of their good works shine before others. Through baptism we are sent into the world to shine with the light of Christ. Readings and Psalm Isaiah 58:1-9a [9b-12] The fast God chooses Psalm 112:1-9 [10] Light shines in the darkness for the upright. (Ps. 112:4) 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16] God’s wisdom revealed through the Spirit Matthew 5:13-20 The teaching of Christ: salt and light

E-News

All Are Welcome! View this email in your browser

Sunday: We've been having a lot of fun this January, exploring alternative liturgies and hearing rotating musicians.  The fun continues this Sunday, at 10:30.  Come and See!    Who are the blessed ones of God? For Micah, they are those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. For Paul, they are the ones who find wisdom in the weakness of the cross. For Jesus, they are the poor, mourners, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers. In baptism we find our blessed identity and calling in this countercultural way of living and serving. Readings and Psalm Micah 6:1-8 The offering of justice, kindness, humility Psalm 15 Lord, who may abide upon your holy hill? (Ps. 15:1) 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Christ crucified, the wisdom and power of God Matthew 5:1-12 The teaching of Christ: Beatitudes

Sunday, February 26 at 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Concerned about the future? Your status as a resident? Concerned about a loved one in this time of uncertainity and shifting politics? We're in this together. Join us for a panel on Civil Rights, Immigration, and Governmental Limitations. Lawyers will specifically address: adjusting your immigration status, the path to citizenship, asylum, documentation for undocumented immigrants, wage discrimination, police brutality, Title VII protection, property damage, and bodily injury. 75 minute panel, followed by questions and answers from you. First Trinity seeks to be a sanctuary. All are welcome. Translators will be available in Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic. Speaker information and more on Facebook