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This Sunday - Advent 4 - A Prayer for Redemption Cradle and cross are inextricably connected on the fourth Sunday of Advent. Between a lovely tribute to the little town of Bethlehem and the blessed virgin Mary’s magnificent song of praise, the letter to the Hebrews reminds us in no uncertain terms that Christ’s advent is for “the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” It is the kind of tension in which the church always lives as when in the holy communion—with high delight—“we proclaim the Lord's death.” Readings: Micah 5:2-5a, Luke 1:46b-55, Psalm 80:1-7, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45 [46-55]  Bring Peace to the Earth Again This year, our Advent hymn is Bring Peace to Earth Again. Read more about this tradition on our blog. 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    Beer and Carols Tonight! Friends, Neighbors, Aquaintences! Join us for an evening of Fa La La and Folderol! We will be taking over the back room of ledgendary local bar, Schaller's Pump. Their kitchen closes at 9, so if you plan to get food try to come early. We don't want to overwhelm them!  Cash only - buy your own drinks. Snacks and Songbooks provided. Donations Accepted. And, of course, Bob Leone will be playing keyboard.   Christmas Pageant The kid's are at it again! This year's pageant includes a modern twist! All are welcome to attend the show and stick around after for the cast party and to get their program signed. Suggested donation $5 (goes to the FT Kid's Activity Fund).  Sunday - 5 pm.   Christmas Caroling Our annual trip to visit seniors and sing carols is coming up next Tuesday.  Times and route are still being finalized, but we are looking at leaving around 9 am. Please contact Pastor Tom, Rene, or Vicar Toby if you plan to go.  We need to make sure we have enough seatbelt! First Trinity Last Minute Pop Up Sale Sunday at 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM We had a great time at Armour Elementary's Craft and Vendor Sale, but we had a lot of leftovers. Sunday, December 20 we'll be presenting them for your last minute shopping needs. Gift items available for purchase include: Holiday pins and jewlery Handmade scarves and hats Paper flowers Grab-bag jewlery Gift tags, boxes, cards and wrap Holiday decorations   First Lutheran Church of the Trinity 643 W 31st Street Chicago, IL 60616 312-842-7390 welcome@firsttrinitychicago.com FirstTrinityChicago.com All Are Welcome! There is so much going on in December, we thought a calendar would help!   Our Friends at The Bridge have a show this Friday that you want to see! Followspot Friday, December 18 @8PM $10 or PWYC* at the door *Pay What You Can At The Orphanage Preview performances of works by The Bridge's artists-in-residence, which will premiere at the IN TIME >16 Performance Art Festival coming in February:  - Dao Nguyen presents "Holzwege", which employs thought experiments, play apparatuses, and obstacle courses to respond to the existential question How do I live?  - Elise Cowan presents "Up to the Elbows in What They Call Adventures", a performance spurred by two sources: historical patents for inventions that attempted to bestow the body with extraordinary capabilities and Cervantes's Don Quixote. Onward!  - Drag superstar Chic Filet will transport us to a world where queens are kings and kings are queens...  - Puppeteer Kely Nesheim will delight and entertain.  - Madeline Pell will break out of hell with her piece entitled "Music Box", which examines the question: Who is the music box doll when no one is watching?

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 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! Jan 6 - Joint Feast of the Epiphany with Christ the Mediator 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 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!

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This Sunday November begins with All Saints Day and ends in or near Advent, when we anticipate Christ’s coming again. So the readings today tell of the final resurrection and the end time. In the turmoil of hope, fear, and disbelief that these predictions provoke in us, Hebrews sounds a note of confident trust. Christ makes a way for us where there is no way, and we walk it confidently, our hearts and bodies washed in baptismal water, trusting the one who has promised. The more we see the last day approaching, the more important it is to meet together to provoke one another to love. Readings: Daniel 12:1-3, Psalm 16, Hebrews 10:11-25, Mark 13:1-8   Thanksgiving Our next big event is coming soon!  Our Thanksgiving community meal takes place on Thanksgiving day, and is a full day of fun!  Doors will be open for cooking and fellowship around 2 pm, and dinner will be ready around 5.  Come all or part of the day, bring a dish to pass if you can.  There is also a small pie baking party the night before, see Rene if you want to know more.   A Message from Dolores Dolores shared a story about coming to First Trinity for the 150th Anniversary.  Thanks to Chris for editing and uploading it, and to Zarana for interviewing.  See the video here!   Christmas Stuff!   The kids will begin rehearsing the Christmas Pageant on Tuesdays, 5:30 - 7 (during God's Closet) next week.  Adults who want to help out are encouraged to talk to Pastor Tom. A tentative date has been set for Beer and Carols.  Location and time are still being worked out, but the date will likely be Thursday, December 17. A tentative date for Visiting Seniors/Christmas Caroling has been set for Tuesday, December 22.  See Pastor Tom if you are interested in going.   Pastor Ben and SLCM in The Lutheran South Loop Campus Ministry was recently featured in The Lutheran.  At November's Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group, Pr. Ben will join us to discuss the article and the work that is done at SLCM.  All Are Welcome!  The article is available here, or we will have copies available.  Sunday, November 29at 9:15am Facebook event page  We will also take a freewill offering for SLCM that morning, cash and sock donations are appreciated.   31st Street Bus Monday, November 16 at 5:45pm - Join the coalition for the restored 31st St. and Lincoln Ave. routes, as we fight for fair transit and make our voices heard at the CTA's Budget Hearing. Rene and members of Bridgeport Alliance will meet at 5pm at Dunkin Donuts, 31 and Halsted, and take the #8 to the meeting!.  Details here! The End of the Year is Near!   Help us reach our 2015 fundraising goal! Click here to join the Facebook event  Click here to donate online  Click here to read more!

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!   Coming Up: 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 - December 24 - Advent Dec 6 -12:15PM - Annual Congregational Meeting Dec 17 - Beer and Carols 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 * 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?   If you have news for the benefit of the community, please send it to welcome@firsttrinitychicago.com

Beer and Carols!