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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 Sunday Jesus does great deeds of power and gives his disciples authority over demons. Yet none of this power is unilateral; it all must be received by faith. Jesus asks his disciples to go out without money or supplies, so that they will be dependent on how others receive them. When we are sent from the assembly to witness and to heal, we are asked to be vulnerable, to be dependent on the reception of others. The Spirit always operates in the between: between Jesus and his Abba, between Jesus and us, between you and me, between us and those to whom we are sent. Readings: Ezekiel 2:1-5, Psalm 123, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13 We are also 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! #MoralMondaysIL Our next action will take place on Monday, July 13, at 10:30am at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W Randolph St.  Wednesday, July 8 we will be making props here in the community center, 6-8pm.   What a Week! Alicia, Elma, Erica, Giovanni, Isaiah, Rene, Roxy, and Yami had a great time at the SLCM community meal on Sunday night. Tuesday we were visited by Claudio Carvalhaes' from McCormic Theological Seminary and his class, ‪Preaching‬ from the ‪Margins‬ of the World.  The pastors joined us for conversation, a tour of the neighborhood and a community meal during God's Closet.  They have also made a very generous donation to the community meal ministry.  It was really wonderful to meet them! Lots of photos here!

#FTP & #FTVP hanging out by the crumbling paint.   We're most of the way there!  If you've been meaning to donate to the building fund but have not yet done it, here's the link!  Let's make sure that our worship space continues to be a sanctuary and home!  Details here, Donate here.

May God continue to shed His grace on the United States of America. - President Obama Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July!

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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.

Summer Newsletter

Click hear to read our Summer 2015 Newsletter!

This quarter's edition includes:

•   A letter from Pr. Tom
•   God's Closet volunteer, Roseann's reflection on her experience serving those in need
•   An update on planned renovations
•   An update from Amie and Kevin
•   Have ya met... Toby Chow?
•   A preview to our upcoming history book
•   And, as usual, plenty of announcements and photos!