First Lutheran Church of the Trinity

Click to see the full email, with photos!

Join us for Worship: Sunday 10:30 am

Support The Mission
Please consider including First Trinity in your year end giving. Thank you to those who have already given time and donations to help support and fund the ministry and mission that we hold in our hearts, and the community that we love.
Week of Sunday, December 10
Second Sunday of Advent
This Sunday we welcome special guest preacher, Rabbi Brant Rosen.

Rabbi Brant Rosen is the founding rabbi of Tzedek Chicago. A native of Los Angeles, he was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1992 and served congregations in Los Angeles and Denver before coming to the Chicago area in 1998. Rabbi Rosen served as rabbi of Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston until 2014. In addition to his work at Tzedek Chicago he is the Midwest Regional Director of the American Friends Service Committee.

Rabbi Rosen has served on numerous organizational and community boards. He is a Past President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, co-founder and co-chairperson of the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council and co-founder of the Jewish Fast for Gaza. A longtime activist, he has led and participated in peace/justice international delegations to Israel/Palestine, Iran, the former Soviet Union, Nigeria, Uganda and Rwanda.

Rabbi Rosen is a prolific journalist and blogger, whose op-eds have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Jewish Forward, Tikkun and Truthout among others. He is the author of the popular Jewish social justice blog, Shalom Rav and his book Wrestling in the Daylight: A Rabbi’s Path to Palestinian Solidarity was published by Just World Books in 2012 (updated in 2017). Rabbi Rosen is also a poet and liturgist; his prayers and poems can be found on his blog Yedid Nefesh.

Rabbi Rosen and his wife Hallie live in Evanston. IL.

Join us for 10:30 worship, followed by a discussion lead by Rabbi Rosen.

John called people to repent, to clear the decks, to completely reorder their lives so that nothing would get in the way of the Lord’s coming. The reading from Isaiah gives the context for this radical call: the assurance of forgiveness that encourages us to repent; the promise that the coming one will be gentle with the little ones. Isaiah calls us all to be heralds with John, to lift up our voices fearlessly and say, “See, your God is coming!” We say it to one another in worship, in order to say it with our lives in a world in need of justice and peace.

Readings and Psalm
Isaiah 40:1-11
Good news of God’s coming to a people in exile
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Righteousness shall prepare a pathway for God. (Ps. 85:13)
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Waiting for and hastening the day of God
Mark 1:1-8
John appears from the wilderness

We are a faith community

Annual Meeting

Thanks to all who attended last week’s Annual Meeting. We have voted to move forward on plans for Trinity House, approved our budget, and set the date for our next annual meeting in January of 2019. We have elected the following officers:
President: Erika H, Vice President: Andrew M, Secretary: Diane M, Treasurer: Will T
Council Members: Alicia I, Chris K , Claudia H, Kevin R, Mary D, Renee G

Please keep all of our leaders in your prayers!

Time to Clean House!

Saturday, December 9 at 9 AM – 5 PM

We need your ELBOW GREASE!!! There is a property at the church that needs some major cleaning and we need your help!!! Click here for details!
Called to grow in the spirit

Tuesday Bible Study
Every Tuesday we meet to read and discuss the Bible and share prayer together. All Are Welcome + You Are Invited. Tuesdays 7 pm in the Community Center Kitchen.

Living Lutheran Discussion Group
Living Lutheran is a publication of the ELCA that is distributed free to all members. Each month we gather on the last Sunday of the month at 9:15 am to discuss the recent issue. Join us in the community center kitchen for this month’s meeting, December 31.

Bring a copy of Living Lutheran or use one of ours! All Are Welcome + You Are Invited!

First Trinity Kids
Parents with youth ages 11-16 who are interested in participating in confirmation are encouraged to contact Vicar Samantha@firsttrinitychicago.com for more information. Additionally, plans are coming together for the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering. Students entering high school will be eligible to attend and there are scholarships available. Speak to Vicar Samantha for details!

Youth 10 and under are invited to Godly Play, an innovative approach that helps children to explore their faith through story, to gain religious language and to enhance their spiritual experience though wonder and play. Based on Montessori principles and developed using a spiral curriculum, the Godly Play method serves children through early, middle and late childhood and beyond. Come join us Sundays, 9:15 am.

Radical Discipleship Training

Join First Trinity for our first ever Day-long Radical Discipleship Training. We are stoked. Click here for details!

Love as Christ loves us

God’s Closet

Hours:
Tuesday 5-7 pm
Friday 10 am – Noon

God’s Closet is our free, volunteer run clothing pantry. All are welcome to take clothes, donate, share or serve a meal. If you are interested in serving a meal please contact gcloset@firsttrinitychicago.com.

Participate in God’s liberating work of justice and peace

Bridgeport Alliance

Those interested in working to bring justice and peace to our community are encouraged to join Bridgeport Alliance. BA was founded in part by members of First Trinity and continues to meet in our kitchen (at least) monthly. If you are interested contact info@BridgeportAlliance.org or visit their Facebook page.

Redevelopment Process

First Lutheran Church of the Trinity has entered into a redevelopment partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA.

The redevelopment process is focused not only on sustainability of resources, but on creating a culture where our congregation is participating in the work of the spirit.

Each month our redevelopment team will identify something new to focus on, or we will continue to work in the areas recommended by the Synod. These areas are Growth, Shared Leadership, Discipleship, Stewardship, Contextual and Relevant Worship, and an Inclusivity Plan.

The latest redevelopment news is always available on our blog!