Sunday Forum
Sunday, 9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
We meet each Sunday between services in St. Mark’s Room (upstairs) for a forum on either appointed scripture readings for the Sunday or another topic of interest. Sunday School for children is held concurrently in Passavant Hall. Many of the sessions will include the study of scripture, a practice encouraged by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Book of Faith initiative. See below for a full schedule.
Schedule
September 12 – Jalal al-Din Rumi: Poet of the Whirling Dervishes—and More – Carol LaHurd
The 70,000 verses of mystic Sufi poems by Rumi (1207-1273) are the most read and most translated poetry in human history (yes, even more than Shakespeare and the Bible). Come and experience Rumi's distinctive vision of creation, human nature, and divine love through such poems as "Jesus on the Lean Donkey" and "Why Wine is Forbidden."
September 19 – Poetry, Resistance and Faith in the New World – Joel Cruz
When is the pen mightier than the sword? When it’s wielded by Sister Juana Inés de la Cruz, a seventeenth-century nun from colonial Mexico who used poetry and drama to explore faith, critique the Spanish Empire and give voice to the voiceless.
September 26 – Religion and Science in The Lost Symbol – Kerry Tupper
Dan Brown’s most recent bestselling novel, The Lost Symbol, makes a fascinating starting point for a discussion of the relationship between religion and science. Join us as we review the main points in the religion-science dialog, take a look at the perspective Dan Brown espouses in the novel, and consider another way of approaching the issue. Reading the book beforehand is not required; the presentation will include a summary.
October 3 and 10 – Exploring the Journey of Undoing Racism through Scripture – Claire Evans
Evidence of continuing racial injustice persists all around us – from the astronomical incarceration rate of young African America men, to reactionary immigration policies, to our country’s decision to wage war against "the other" in various countries around the world. Whether you think we’re almost to the goal of eradicating racism or you think it is a never-ending struggle, most of us would agree that racism is a sin that violates God’s plan for a peaceful world. Can exploring scripture through an anti-racist lens help unmask institutionalized racism and white privilege and lead us to break down these sinful structures?
Led by Claire Evans, who through her work with Christian Peacemaker Teams has been on the journey of undoing racism for the past three years and is eager to encourage members of Holy Trinity along the way. Everyone is welcome, no matter where you are along the path; congregational leaders and council members are especially encouraged to attend.
October 17 – This Sunday: Reflecting on the Scriptures of the Day – Seminarian Cuttino Alexander
October 24 – Calvin – Joel Cruz
Was he the petulant preacher of predestination? The joyless foe of religious tolerance? The brilliant torch that helped ignite the Reformation across Europe and the North America? Come discover the man some hail as Luther’s best disciple and how John Calvin’s distinct contributions as theologian and pastor can inspire our own faith.
October 31 – This Sunday: Reflecting on the Scriptures of the Day – Seminarian Steven Dickens
November 7 – Christians and Muslims Part 1 – Joel Cruz
From looking at the news one might think that Muslims and Christians have always been at each other’s throats. Yet has this always been the case? This introduction to Christian and Muslim relations will take us from the beginnings of Islam to the riches of Medieval Spain to the battlefields of the Crusades.
November 14 – Christians and Muslims Part 2 – Carol LaHurd
Are modern-day Muslim-Christian relations truly a "clash of civilizations" between Islam and the West? We will assess this claim as we review19th century Christian missionary encounters in such contexts as Egypt and Palestine and current conditions for the substantial Muslim minorities living in the United States and Europe.
November 21 – Lutheran Social Services of Illinois – Pastor Denver Bitner
LSSI is a social service agency of the three Illinois synods of the ELCA. LSSI brings healing, justice and wholeness to people and communities. Pr. Denver Bitner, president of LSSI, will be with us to share more about the many services of LSSI, which include foster care, adoption, pregnancy counseling, residential programs for adults with developmental disabilities, substance abuse treatment, and much, much more. See: www.LSSI.org.
November 28 – This Sunday: Reflecting on the Scriptures of the Day – Seminarian Cuttino Alexander
December 5 – This Sunday: Reflecting on the Scriptures of the Day – Seminarian Steven Dickens
December 12 – Icons: Touching the Sacred – Ryan LaHurd
Unlike most other Lutheran churches, Holy Trinity displays a series of religious paintings called icons as a part of our worship life. Icons are common in the Eastern branch of Christianity and represent the oldest form of Christian religious art. In this forum we will discuss why icons look the way they do, how they have historically functioned in devotion and liturgy, how they differ from the kind of art more familiar in the West, and how they can deepen our experience of the sacred.
December 19 – Annunciation to Joseph – Josh Judd-Herzfeldt
We’re all very familiar with Luke’s account of an angel visiting Mary, but much less with Matthew’s similar account of Joseph. We’ll look at why Matthew is so concerned with the lineage of Jesus and how Joseph fits into this story, as well as Old Testament parallels which help us understand what’s going on.
December 26 and January 2 – No Forum (Christmas break)
January 9 – The Old Testament in Jesus – Joel Cruz
Sometimes we have the idea that the Old Testament is not important for Christians but the author of Matthew’s Gospel has other ideas. Come explore this most Jewish of the Gospels and how seeing Jesus as the culmination of Israel’s stories can change the way we perceive of the Hebrew Scriptures.
January 16 – Sallie McFague's The Body of God – Kerry Tupper
In September we used a current bestselling novel as a starting point for a discussion of various approaches to the religion-science dialog. Join us now as we examine a theological system that embodies one of the most exciting contemporary approaches to the issue. Sallie McFague's The Body of God (published by the ELCA's Augsburg Fortress Press and mentioned in Pastor Mueller's Easter sermon in 2007) brings the author's perspective on religion and science to the global ecological crisis and suggests that the church needs to take bodies very seriously, including seeing the Earth as God's body. This will be an introductory presentation and discussion; familiarity with the book is not necessary.
January 23 and 30 – Broken Vows – Pastor Michelle Miller
Broken Vows: a candid discussion about domestic violence. Join for a two part series that includes basic information on domestic violence, as well as concrete ideas about how to become involved in prevention and provide support to those who need it.
February 6 – Light of the World – Josh Judd-Herzfeldt
As Lutherans, we tend to get nervous when we talk about "works." In today’s lesson, Jesus tells us to "Let our light shine before others," and we should! Come discuss how we deal with the doing of "works" in light of God’s grace.
February 13 – How to View a Movie from a Religious Perspective – Ryan LaHurd
It is obvious that films like The Ten Commandments or The Last Temptation of Christ invite us to pay attention to their religious aspects. But what about films that have no overtly religious characters or story line? How might we experience them better by examining them using our religious sensibility? In this forum we will watch a short, award-winning film together and discuss its religious implications.
February 20 – This Sunday: Reflecting on the Scriptures of the Day – Seminarian Steven Dickens
February 27 – Economy of the Kingdom: Do Not Worry – Ray Pickett
In light of the current economic crisis, Professor Ray Pickett from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago will lead a study of the appointed gospel for today in which Jesus invites his followers to not worry, but trust in God’s providence. The forum will be a wonderful preparation for the food4thought presentation which will follow the 10:30 a.m. service.
March 6 – This Sunday: Reflecting on the Scriptures of the Day – Seminarian Cuttino Alexander
March 13—April 17 – Rediscovering Values – Pastor Craig Mueller
During Lent we discuss themes from Holy Trinity’s 2011 book for Lent, Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street. Getting back to "the way things were" is not an option. Author Jim Wallis invites us to use our economic uncertainty to find moral clarity. Too often we have been ruled by the maxims that greed is good, it’s all about me, and I want it now. Those can be challenged only with some of our oldest and best values—enough is enough, we are in it together, and thinking not just for tomorrow but for future generations. Wallis challenges us to wrestle with the questions of values together: as families, friends, churches, mosques, synagogues, and entire communities.
April 24 – No Forum (Easter)
May 1– This Sunday: Reflecting on the Scriptures of the Day – Seminarian Steven Dickens
May 8 – This Sunday: Reflecting on the Scriptures of the Day – Seminarian Cuttino Alexander
May 15 – Jesus and the 'I am' of John's Gospel – Carol LaHurd
More than any other gospel, John sees Jesus through the eyes of the late First Century church. In John 10 Jesus declares, "I am the good shepherd." The various "I am" statements in John help us understand Jesus as the light of the world, the bread of life, the true vine, and one with the God who says "I am who I am" to Moses in the Exodus.
May 22 – The Way, the Truth, and the Life – Josh-Judd Herzfeldt
Christians today acknowledge that through Jesus, one finds God. Join in conversation as we explore different ways in which scholars have reconciled the fact that much of the world is not Christian, and what that means given Jesus’ words in John that no one comes go God except through him.
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