I’m not particularly good at goodbyes. Maybe some people are. But I am not one of those people. I struggle with what sorts of words to say to mark an occasion. Should I be hyper-specific? Should I write platitudes? Can I just avoid the subject altogether? 

As I was struggling to find words, what came to mind was a prayer beloved to my alma mater, Valparaiso University. But I couldn’t quite remember the text.

It feels rather appropriate that in looking for a farewell note for Holy Trinity, I found myself picking up a hymnal trying to remember which liturgy this prayer could be found in. Appropriate because here at Holy Trinity, we find ourselves and what it means to be a community of faith in the liturgy. The liturgy forms and shapes us to be greeters of many, welcomers of all, food sharers, listeners, tech support, singers of joy and lament, coworkers with God for justice, etc. In doing “the work of the people,” we work on becoming who God has called us to be in this world: servants of one another and to all. 

I love how Holy Trinity puts the eucharistic liturgy at the center of our life together. It almost makes goodbyes easier/non-existent. No matter where we are in time or space, we are joined together in our baptisms as the Body of Christ. No matter where we are in time or space, we, the Body of Christ, greet one another in the Eucharist. 

I offer you this prayer I treasure for all your future farewells:

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love is supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

You’re probably wondering what I’ll be doing next. I’ll be serving as Children and Family Minister at Augustana Lutheran Church in West Saint Paul, MN. If you’re ever up in our neck of the woods, swing by. Isaac, Lucy, and I would love to see you at the communion table in-person again.

Warmly,

Deaconess Claire Schoepp



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Deaconess Claire Schoepp has been the Director of Operations at Holy Trinity since the fall of 2021.

Saturday, August 19, 5:00 p.m.

HTLoop (637 S. Dearborn)

Join the Liturgy Online:

Meeting ID: 200 920 453  Passcode: 068508

Sunday, August 20, 9:30 a.m.

HTLakeview (1218 W. Addison)

Join the Liturgy Online:

For information on Holy Trinity's masking procedures, please visit our website at htchicago.org.

Holy Trinity had a great time at the Cross Town Classic this past Tuesday. We're looking forward to all of the other great events in this 150th Anniversary Year. To find out more, explore our webpages devoted to the anniversary.

Mark your calendars: Saturday Soiree, Saturday, October 14, 7:00pm

Saturday Soirée returns this fall to Passavant Hall and is a night not to be missed! We’ll feature a silent auction, food and beverages, and fellowship in our community. In the coming weeks we’ll solicit donations for the auction catalog, and we invite you to think about experiences or events you might like to offer (eg, sip-and-paint night, theme dinners, golf outings, and more). Holy Trinity's members gave generously of both their time and resources last year, and we look forward to another exciting evening of bidding fun for a good cause. Stay tuned – more information coming soon!

Fibre Arts Group

Tuesday, August 22 + 7:30 p.m. (Zoom)

Wednesday Morning Eucharist

Wednesday, August 16 + 9:30 a.m. (in-person)

Wednesday Morning Study

Wednesday, August 16 + 10:00 a.m. (in-person & Zoom)

Book Group

Thursday, Sept 7 + 7:00 p.m. (location TBD)

More information about upcoming events can be found on our website calendar.

PRAYERS for those ill, or with special needs or circumstances:

• The Holy Trinity call committee.
• For an end to gun violence.
• For the people of Turkey, Syria, and Ukraine.
• For Russ Williams, grieving the death of his mother Libby Williams
• For the family and friends of Grant Petersen (Lisa Snyder’s uncle), who are grieving his death.
• For those grieving the death of Paul Nicholson.
• For Audrey Frost who is in rehab following a hospitalization for a bone infection.
• For the brother of Barbara Wahler, Larry Wahler, whose cancer has returned.
• For Kris Hiepler-Hartwig who is recovering from her first hip surgery and getting ready for the second surgery later this summer.

If you would like to be included on the prayer list please contact Pastor Sevig. Prayer requests remain on the list for four weeks before being removed, and requests can be renewed as often as needed.