E-News

All Are Welcome! View this email in your browser

This Week The glory of God is often revealed when and where it is least expected. God uses our lips to declare that glory, inexperienced and hesitant though they may be. God uses our love to demonstrate that glory and so urges us to exercise it. God uses Jesus of Nazareth, water and the word, bread and wine, to reveal God’s glory where and when God chooses. Take heed, lest the glory of God slip through our midst unnoticed. Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30  Winter Warm Up After Worship on Sunday, join us for a Winter Warm Up Party.  We'll have flights of hot chocolate, winter scarves, arts and crafts to make or purchase.  All donations accepted.  All Are Welcome! Click for Facebook Invite 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! 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. February 2016 February's Calendar, with commemorations and birthdays, is available in the community center or on our blog . Events are subject to change.  If you are aware of any dates that need to be added please contact rene@firsttrinitychicago.com.

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 2/14/2016    First Sunday in Lent 2/15/2016    Spring Cleaning 2/21/2016    Second Sunday in Lent 2/25/2016    7 p m Bridgeport Alliance 2/27/2016    6pm Ben's Movie Night 2/28/2016    Third Sunday in Lent 2/29/2016    Bow Tie Affair 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 Copyright © 2016 First Lutheran Church of the Trinity, All rights reserved.

February Calendar

Subject to change!

Commemorations:

Tuesday, February 02, 2016 - Presentation of Our Lord - Forty days after the birth of Jesus we mark the day Mary and Joseph presented him in the temple in accordance with Jewish law. There they were greeted by Simeon, an aged priest who offered the song "Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace," as well as by the prophet Anna, who spoke of the redemption of Israel.

Wednesday, February 03, 2016 - Ansgar, Bishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark and Sweden, died 865 - A monk who helped bring Christianity to Scandinavia, Ansgar returned to Germany where he was named bishop of Hamburg. He is remembered for his love for poor people.

Friday, February 05, 2016 - The Martyrs of Japan, died 1597 - Christianity was brought to Japan in the sixteenth century by Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries. The religion was suppressed, however, and in 1597 twenty-six missionaries and converts were crucified. Nevertheless, Christianity survived and later prospered.

Sunday, February 14, 2016 - Cyril, monk, died 869; Methodius, bishop, died 885; missionaries to the Slavs - These two brothers from Thessalonika, Greece, were monks and were sent to bring Christianity to the Slavic people. In the course of their work they created a written language, inventing the Cyrillic alphabet for it, and translated the Bible and the liturgy.

Thursday, February 18, 2016 - Martin Luther, renewer of the church, died 1546 - Though he began his adult church life as a simple Augustinian monk, Luther challenged the abuses he saw in the church, and his work eventually led to the Protestant Reformation. Luther's accomplishments included liturgical reform, translation of the Bible, and creation of the Small and Large Catechisms.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, martyr, died 156 - Because he is said to have been known by John, the author of Revelation, as well as the important early church fathers Irenaeus and Ignatius, Polycarp serves as a vital link in church history. He was burned at the stake at age 86 for refusing to renounce his faith.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 - Elizabeth Fedde, deaconess, died 1921 - Born in Norway and trained there as a deaconess, Fedde was asked to come and minister to the poor and to seamen in New York City. She established the Deaconess House in Brooklyn as well as Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis.

February Birthdays:


2- Alicia I

10 - Bryon M

13 - Roseann M

15 - Jim P

22 - Jill R

26 - Marge F

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress.All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #35845.

January 2016

A Community of Open Doors!

See more photos from Holy Week below or on Facebook.  He Is Risen!  Alleluia!  read more here! Doubting Thomas Sunday With Special Musical Guest, John Urban The Easter season is a week of weeks; seven Sundays when we play in the mystery of Christ's presence, mostly through the glorious Gospel of John. Today we gather with the disciples on the first Easter, and Jesus breathes the Spirit on us. With Thomas we ask for a sign, and Jesus offers us his wounded self in the broken bread. From frightened individuals we are transformed into a community of open doors, peace, forgiveness, and material sharing such that no one among us is in need. Readings: Acts 4:32-35, Psalm 133, 1 John 1:1--2:2, John 20:19-31 This Week: Sunday: Worship 10:30 am Monday: Office Closed Tuesday: Lectio Divinia 9 am,  God's Closet 5-7, Books to Prisoners 5-9, Office Hours 5-7 Friday - God's Closet 10-noon, Office Hours 10-Noon,  AA 8:00 Sunday - Worship10:30 am Last Saturday of Each Month - 7pm Ben's Movie Night Last Sunday of Each Month - 9:15am The Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group If you have news for the benefit of the community, please send it to welcome@firsttrinitychicago.com If you are interested in writing for our May newsletter, send your submissions to welcome@firsttrinitychicago.comor speak to Rene after church on Sunday! Coming Up: Sat Apr 18 - Bridgeport Clean & Green Sun Apr 19 - Matt Holmes preaches* Sat May 9 - Ben Adams Ordination in Pickney, MI Sun May 3 - Bob Leone 10 Year Anniversary! Sun May 10 - Mothers’ Day Sun May 17 - Joe Hopkins Graduates from Chicago Theological Seminary Sun May 24 - Pentecost Mon May 25 - Memorial Day Fri May 29 - SYNOD ASSEMBLY Sat May 30 - SYNOD ASSEMBLY Sun May 31 - Rev. Connie Leininger preaching * The Jun 11 - The Art Bowl Wed Jun 17 - LSTC Alumni Awards Ceremony and Reception  Sat Jun 20 - Upcylce/Resale Fair Sun Jun 21 - Fathers' Day Sun Jun 28 - Pride Sunday Sat Jul 4 - Independence Day Sun Jul 5 - Trinity Kids at Lutherdale through July 10 Sun Jul 19 -10:30am Camp Sunday Tue Aug 11 - August 14 - Jesus and Justice Camp Sun Aug 16 - 10:30am Rally Day and Blessing of Back Packs Sat Sep 12 - TriSox - White Sox Faith & Fellowship Game Night Sun Sep 13 - Bishop Miller visits * October (TBD) Rev. Ronald Nitz visits* Sun Oct 4 - St Francis Day Sun Oct 25 - Reformation Sunday Sat Oct 31 - Halloween Sat Nov 1 - Anniversary Celebration Sun Nov 22 - Christ the King Sunday Thu Nov 26 - Thanksgiving Day Sun Nov 29 - Advent Sun Dec 6 - Advent Sun Dec 13 - Advent Sun Dec 20 - Advent Thu Dec 24 - 7pm Candlelight Service, Lessons & Carols Fri Dec 25 - 10:30 Christmas Day Worship & Brunch Thu Dec 31 - New Year's Eve * as part of our  year-long 150th anniversary celebration we have invited the bishop and former pastors to preach

Everything you wanted to know about Lent (at First Trinity) but were not sure who to ask...

It starts now! This morning we buried the Alleluia (read Pr. Tom's blog here! to learn why we do this) and we'll use up any remaining Alleluia's at Bernice's tonight.  

Our Lenten Devotional is ready!  There are many ways to get it.  Follow #FTLent on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.  Check the Lenten Devotional page on our Blog.  Grab the PDF here on our website.  Pick up a paper copy from Rene on Ash Wednesday. 

Below is the calendar of all of the upcoming events with links (where applicable - more to come).  This calendar does not include God's Closet (Tuesdays 5-7, Fridays 10-Noon), Lectio Divina (Tuesdays 9 am), or AA (Fridays 8pm).  

Wed Feb 18, 2015 

•     Ash Wednesday!
•     Ashes 7-9:30, 11-1, 2:30-4:30
•     6:30 pm Catecummunity 
•     Ash Wednesday Worship 7:30

Sun Feb 22, 2015 

•     9:15am The Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group 
•     10:30am Worship with Communion 

Tue Feb 24, 2015 

•     6 p m Bridgeport Ecumenical Lenten Speaker Series - Darst Center

Wed Feb 25, 2015 

•     6:30 pm Catecummunity  - Who Am I?

Sat Feb 28, 2015 

•     7pm Ben's Movie Night - Racing Stripes

Sun Mar 1, 2015 

•     10:30am Worship with Communion 

Wed Mar 4, 2015 

•     6:30 pm Catecummunity - What is the Body of Christ?

Sun Mar 8, 2015 

•     Daylight Saving Time - Spring Ahead!
•     10:30am Worship with Communion 

Wed Mar 11, 2015 

•     6:30 pm Catecummunity - Who is my Neighbor?

Thu Mar 12, 2015 

•     6:30pm Bridgeport Ecumenical Lenten Speaker Series - Nativity of Our Lord Parish

Sun Mar 15, 2015 

•     10:30am Worship with Communion 

Wed Mar 18, 2015 

•     6:30 pm Catecummunity  - Who Else is my Neighbor?

Sun Mar 22, 2015 

•     10:30am Worship with Communion 

Tue Mar 24, 2015 

•     6:30pm  6 p m Bridgeport Ecumenical Lenten Speaker Series - First Trinity

Wed Mar 25, 2015 

•     6:30 pm Catecummunity - Now What?

Sat Mar 28, 2015 

•     7pm Ben's Movie Night - Shadowheart

Sun Mar 29, 2015 

•     9:15am The Lutheran Magazine Discussion Group 
•     10:30am Worship with Communion - Palm Sunday 
•     6:30 pm Seder

Thu Apr 2, 2015 

•     7pm Maundy Thursday

Fri Apr 3, 2015 

•     7pm Service of Darkness 

Sat Apr 4, 2015 

•     Easter Vigil - TBD

Sun Apr 5, 2015 

•     10:30am Easter Sunday Worship
•     12pm Easter Egg Hunt

If you still have questions, send them on over to welcome@firsttrinitychicago.com or call 312-842-7390.