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This Week Witnesses to the glory of God in the face of Jesus will be unable to avoid reflecting that glory in the world. It was true for Moses. It was doubtless true for Peter, James, and John. We pray that it will be true of all of us who see the glory of the Lord in the word and in the supper and who are being “transformed into the same image” by the Spirit of God. Join us as we bury the Alleluia and Burn the Palms. Vicar Toby is preaching. It's going to be great! PS - Bring your palms! Readings: Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99, 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2, Luke 9:28-36 [37-43a]  Lent is here! The sign of ashes suggests our human mortality and frailty.  Wednesday, February 10 Imposition of Ashes: 7-9 am, 11am-1pm, 2-4 pm Worship at 7pm Our lenten series starts 2/17 The Servant Church: Building up the Body of Christ Each evening will include: 6-6:15 - Gather/Food 6:15-7:30 - Conversation 7:30-7:45 - Prayers/Songs   Since some of us are off for President's day it seems like a good day to clean up the church in anticipation of Easter. We'll do general cleaning in the community center and sanctuary. If there are special projects that you think you might want to do, please see Rene (rene@firsttrinitychicago.com) and we might be able to make them happen. Lunch, vinyl gloves, and fun will be provided!  Facebook Event Here. Bow Tie Affair Our first fundraiser for the 2016 Camp Fund is coming up on Leap Day, February 29! Every four years we get an Extra Day. Some call this bonus day Leap Day, but we are thinking of it as a Superlative Spaghetti Supper Day! A day where Calories Don’t Count! Join us for a BOW TIE AFFAIR to help send a bunch of Neat Kids to Camp! No dress code, non-pasta bowties are optional!     Building a Vocal Community Through a collaboration of seminaries in Hyde Park, Dr. YsayeBarnwell will be coming to Chicago to do one of her nationally-known workshops, "Building a Vocal Community." A lesson in music, African and African diaspora history, and activist history - her two-part workshop will go over the breadth of the African and African American singing tradition and show the ways that group singing can build, strengthen, and fortify community in such times as these. Just click on the EventBrite link here to reserve your spot and share this with friends.   Theater Happening Here!  First Annual Followspot Performathon Sunday, February 14 beginning at 6pm $10 suggested donation at the door at The Bridge in Bridgeport (643 W 31st St) Click for more information! Learn more about the In>Time Performance Festival.  Two events will be taking place in the Orphanage on February 12 and 13.  Hosted by The Bridge.

Sunday: Worship 10:30 am Monday: Office Closed Tuesday: Lectio Divinia 9 am, God's Closet 5-7, Books to Prisoners 5-9 Wednesday: Bible Study 6 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! 1/28/2016    7 p m Bridgeport Alliance 1/30/2016    6pm Ben's Movie Night 1/31/2016    9:15am The Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group 1/31/2016    Winter Warm Up Party 2/7/2016    Transfiguration of Our Lord 2/10/2016    Ash Wednesday 2/15/2016    Spring Cleaning 2/25/2016    7 p m Bridgeport Alliance 2/27/2016    6pm Ben's Movie Night 2/29/2016    Bow Tie Affair 3/1/2016    Camp Registration Deadline 3/13/2016    Daylight Saving Time begins 3/15/2016    Election Day 3/20/2016    Seder 3/24/2016    Maundy Thursday 3/25/2016    Easter Egg Decorating 3/25/2016    Good Friday 3/26/2016    Ben's Movie Night 3/27/2016    Easter 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 is going to be a fantastic week.  We have Transfiguration + Burning Palms + Burying Alleluia, Beer and Hymns, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Catechemmunity.  

We'll also be releasing the First Trinity Community Lenten Devotional.  The devotional will be available on our blog, or pick up a copy on Sunday, Ash Wednesday.  

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The Sundays after Epiphany began with Jesus' baptism and end with three disciples' vision of his transfiguration. In Mark's story of Jesus' baptism, apparently only Jesus sees the Spirit descending and hears the words from heaven. But now Jesus' three closest friends hear the same words naming him God's beloved son. As believers, Paul writes, we are enabled to see the God-light in Jesus' face, because the same God who created light in the first place has shone in our hearts to give us that vision. The light of God's glory in Jesus has enlightened us through baptism and shines in us also for others to see.

Readings: 2 Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9

Ash Wednesday Ashes Will be imposed in the Community Center Green Chapel. Instead of all day this year. we'll be having three "shifts," as well as our annual gathering for evening worship, and the start of our Lenten series! "Drop in" for ashes in the chapel: Morning: 7AM-9:30AM LUNCH!: 11AM-1PM Afternoon: 2:30-4:30

E-Newsletter - Fourth Sunday in Easter

This week at First Trinity

Good Shepherd Sunday / Mothers Day / Fourth Sunday in Easter

Sisters and Brothers, Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

SUNDAY!
As we move into a beautiful weekend, a reminder that, in addition to it being Good Shepherd Sunday, this Sunday is also Mother's Day. We'll also be remembering some of the early Mothers of Christianity, Saints Perpetua and Felicity. A reminder of the radical and religious origins of this holiday can be found at this link, among other places!  We have flowers for all the mothers at worship AND Roxy and Cassie will be making pancakes for coffee hour after worship!

Sunday evening, we will carpool at 5:30 to South Loop Campus Ministry to deliver sandwiches to our homeless sisters and brothers! Feel free to join us!

Bishop's Visit
Mark your calendars! Bishop Miller will be preaching for worship 10:30AM, Pentecost Sunday, June 8. We will grill out and hang out after worship! If you are interested in being baptized or installed as a new member that day, please let me know this Sunday at worship, and we will prepare!

Liberation Theology - Learn About It!
(And live it!) Drew will be leading us, starting Tuesday, in a study on Liberation Theology for Armchair Theologians. Certainly this is a passion for Drew, and being in a class with him brings the topic to life in an exciting and engaging way. There will also be food! See you there!

God's Peace This Weekend!

Rev. Thomas R. Gaulke

 'Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας. Epi ges !

E-Newsletter - Third Sunday in Easter

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Sisters and Brothers! Christ is Risen! Still! Alleluia!

I pray that last Sunday was great! I saw some pictures of Josh, Matt and Ben online. With worship leaders like that...

Our trip to DC was great! We also had the opportunity to worship, as well as to bring the message of God's love for all people to the streets. Drew and I also had the opportunity to preach at a couple of rallies. 

We were introduced to our new Ministry In Context (formerly known as Teaching Parish) student from the seminary this week. Her name is Katy Jacob, preparing for ordained ministry in the ELCA. We will have seminarian Christine Doidge with us next school year, as well, in a similar capacity. Christine is a candidate for ELCA diaconal ministry. More about them this summer! 

Worship this Sunday will be at 10:30AM.

South Loop Campus Ministry Sandwich Delivery at 6pm at Grace Place - 637 S. Dearborn!

See you Sunday!

Peace and Love. 

Some Bridgeport-at-NPA-in-DC photos:

Time to Burn the Palms and Bury the Alleluias!

Sunday, March 2 - After 10:30 Worship

Still like playing with fire?

Bring your Palm-Sunday-Palms. WE WILL BURN THEM!

Bring your ALLELUIA's. We'll bury them. 

The ashes from the palms will be used for the imposition of ashes for First Trinity Ash Wednesday.

Read Pastor Tom's blog about why we bury the alleluia.

All Are Welcome!