February 4, 2024
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Lent Begins on Wednesday, February 14th. Worship is at Noon and at 6:30 pm. February 14th is Ash Wednesday and features a Baked Potato Bar served by the Confirmation Youth for the meal at 5:30 pm.
Lent 2024: “Why Follow?” Holden Evening Prayer worship at 6:30 pm, Meal at 5:30 pm every Wednesday night starting on February 21st.
Belonging (February 21): Following Jesus together gives us a sense of belonging and community with one another. Matthew 4:18-22. Meal served by the Youth Gathering Youth.
Purpose (February 28): Following Jesus gives a purpose and direction to our lives in an increasingly complex and confusing world. Galatians 5:13. Meal served by the Men of Trinity Strength (March 6): Following Jesus gives us strength beyond just ourselves. Matthew 11:28 -30. Meal served by Church Council.
Hope: (March 13) Following Jesus gives us hope for the future and an assurance that God’s mercy is for us. Hebrews 11:1. Meal served by the Women of Trinity.
Grace: (March 20) Following Jesus allows us to live in God’s grace each day and to share that grace with others. Ephesians 2:8-9. Meal served by the Youth Gathering Youth.
Lagers with the Lord February 19th, 6 pm, at Buckshot’s.
Looking for an usher for March. If you are willing, please contact PB.
We are looking for substitute crossing guards. Looking for especially afternoon shifts, a few times a month. Shift is from 3 pm till 4 pm. Training and equipment provided. If you are interested, contact PB.
MUSINGS FROM PASTOR BRAD
A hodgepodge today (this is a word that we all should use more. Hodgepodge).
I can’t believe I got to golf in January. It is amazing. I feel like I have fulfilled a top five life goal (which might say something about my life goals). As I got ready to tee of on January 31st, I kept telling myself to not take it for granted, to not worry about how I played and instead have fun. I needed that since I hit my tee shot so far right it landed in the ocean. It was great fun and I even ended the day holing a very long birdie putt. I may never, ever, ever in my life get to tee it up in January in Northern Wisconsin, so I will savor the memory for a long time. I also hope that there are things in your life that you take a moment to savor, to appreciate, to not take for granted. To take it all in. I said that to our dear Katie Wagner when I dropped her off at the airport for her trip to Disney World. Enjoy it. Take it all in. Don’t worry about doing everything, just do what you want and enjoy everything around you. I know, for myself, I’m trying to do that a little more. I can be a little to go-go-go.
You know who could be a little more go-go-go? Baxter. He loves to run around the house like a bat out of hell, but when we go on walks, he tends to stop. A lot. Sometimes being very stubborn and not moving at all. Is he tired? Is he scared? Does he just want Mom and Dad to carry him like some privileged prince? I’m not sure. But it is messing up our walking flow. He was a little better yesterday but he needs to get better quick otherwise he doesn’t get to come on walks with Mom and Dad, which would be sad for us. Of course, every time I get frustrated with him, I see this face (see below in Picture of the Week) and I’m like, “Shoot. Can’t be mad at that.”
I have an obsession with shows about drug lords from the 1970’s-1990’s. What can I say. You make a show about a narco from that period, I’m going to watch it. I’ve watched every season of “Narcos” I’ve watched countless documentaries about people like Pablo Escobar, and Amy and I just finished “Griselda” on Netflix about the female drug leader in Miami. Ironically, never really watched “Breaking Bad.” Maybe I just need by drug kingpins real. I’m not sure. It’s just weird. Now I need a show about a bacon cartel talked “Pork King” or something like that and I would totally be in.
After finishing “Griselda” last night, I was searching for something to watch and stumbled across “The Fugitive” with Harrison Ford. They were only about 40 minutes in or so and I watched the rest of the movie. Great movie. Even better, a great Chicago movie. Lots of great settings there. Made me think of my favorite movies not only set in Chicago but shot in Chicago. The shot in Chicago is important as though National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is set in the Chicago area, it was not shot there (sorry, not mountains around Chicago). Here are my Top 5.
Honorable Mention: The Road to Perdition. An underrated movie based on the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins starring Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, and future James Bond Daniel Craig. It is a great Chicago Mob movie with Tom Hanks playing a hitman avenging the death of his son. A great atmosphere movie with a slow build and great performances and Tom Hanks like you have never seen him.
5. The Untouchables: Brian DePalma’s masterpiece starring Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert DeNiro, and a young Andy Garcia. Lots of great shots all over Chicago, especially Union Station. The Connery monologue about “the Chicago Way” is an all-timer.
4. While You Were Sleeping: A great romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock that features the “L.” Just a fun movie, though if you think a little TOO hard, it can be slightly disturbing. Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman really make it worth it.
3. The Fugitive: Harrison Ford. Tommy Lee Jones. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Great shots of downtown and even some of Chicago neighborhoods. A young Jane Lynch (a Chicago area native) shows up along with Julianne Moore. For me, my favorite Easter Eggs are seeing actual local Chicago broadcasters playing the media in the film, including John Drummond, Pam Zekman, and a very young Lester Holt, now lead anchor for NBC Evening News.
2. The Blues Brothers. My Dad’s favorite movie. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. All-time music in this movie. Features Wrigley Field and Daley Plaza and lots of shots of the suburbs. Special shout out to Joliet, where the film begins, my birthplace (not the prison. The town). Give me four fried chickens and a coke.
1. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: John Hughes sets a lot of his movies in Chicago and its environs (Home Alone, Breakfast Club, etc), but this is the best and a top five movie for me all time. So many iconic locations from Wrigley Field (I never not say, “Hey batta batta batta hey batta batta batta SWING batta!” when I go) to the Art Institute to Lake Shore Drive to the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) and the parade scene downtown, just an grade A classic. Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
How can you ever be mad at this for too long?
