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This visual prayer is a photograph of Catedral Metropolitana del Divino Salvador del Mundo, San Salvador, El Salvador. From the Vanderbilt Digital Library.
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Jesus reveals his truest self to his closest friends, and they love and accept him. But they also want him to stay exactly where and how he is. Jesus knows, however, that he (and they) can't stay. Can't stay safe. Can't stay frozen in time. Can't stay in one moments, no matter how pleasant it is.
They, and he, need to get up, and get going. Because being a disciple isn't about getting comfortable. It's about facing our fears and moving with intention, in the steps of Jesus.
See you Sunday!
+ Pastor Michael
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Reading the Scriptures:
The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Exodus 24:12-18 Psalm 99
2 Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9
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Morning Prayer: Holy God, mighty and immortal, you are beyond our knowing, yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ, whose compassion illumines the world. Transform us into the likeness of the love of Christ who renewed our humanity so that we may share in his divinity, the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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Evening Prayer: O God of the covenant, the cloud of your splendor and the fire of your love revealed your Son on the mountain heights. Transform our lives in his image, write your law of love on our hearts, and make us prophets of your glory, that we may lead others into your presence.
Amen.
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Prayer with Children:
Dear God, you love us just they way we are, for who we really are. Just like Jesus' was not afraid to be himself, help us to be ourselves, so that other people can feel free, too. Thank you Jesus. Amen.
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In Our Prayers: Zoe, Nikki, Ahmed, Denny, Theresa, Ken, Charlie, Sue, Lili, Gabby, John and Sharon, Steve, Alex and Andy, Ione, Gene, Tom, Joe, Linda, Sue, Saundra, Bill, Velda, Paul, Charlie, Tina, Elaine, Ina, Don, Ashley, Brian, and Eric. We also pray for our bishops, Elizabeth and Wayne.
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Ash Wednesday is THIS WEEK:
March 1
We gather at
12:15 and 7:00 p.m. for worship.
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Community Hour at Ebenezer
Gather following morning worship for coffee fellowship, followed by Community Hour from 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
Childcare is provided!
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February 26: Mardi Gras Potluck, Reformation Jeopardy, and Burning of the Palms. Ebenezer continues its tradition Fat Tuesday on Sunday! Bring a decadent dish to share, and we'll provide King Cake, beverages, beads, and burning (of Palms to make our Ash Wednesday Ashes). We will play a round of Reformation Jeopardy. So bone up on your 16th century European history, bring a dish, and bring a friend for a little fun and feast before the fast.
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March 5: Christian Resistance (Session 2). A look at three examples of Christian Resistance in modern times: Nazi Germany, Civil Rights Movement and Ebenezer. In preparation for this session, if possible please read MLK’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”.
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Faith and Health?
From Advocate Faith Community Nurse, Marcia Smith: Health is something we all hope for. But what is it exactly? There are many definitions of health. One such definition is simply a lack of disease. Or is it more than that? Can we have health challenges and still live healthy lives? What does good health mean for you? The ministry of parish nursing strives to integrate faith and health. Does that seem strange? Maybe so for those who think health is no more than a state of being disease-free. But if health includes our spiritual, emotional, mental, social AND physical selves, if it means well-being in all these dimensions of our lives, then faith and health are more clearly bound together. All these aspects of our personhood are interconnected in our well-being. As your new parish nurse I hope to explore with you what your vision of good health is and what you wish for regarding your own health and the health of the congregation and community. I hope we can come up with ways to work together to optimize our health. To begin this process I ask for input from all of you.
The simplest way to share your thoughts is to complete a questionnaire. It is available on paper in the narthex. You may leave your completed questionnaires in the flowered box. It’s also available electronically
here. Your comments will be confidential and much appreciated. If you wish to share more ideas or concerns feel free to talk with me. You can contact me 773-734-1831.
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Facilities Feedback
Ebenezer's facilities are busier than ever, which is both a gift and a challenge! To help us understand areas where cleaning and repair could be improved, you are invited to use this
form to provide feedback to Jesse, our sexton. This is a more reliable method than verbal reports to staff or volunteers on Sundays, when our focus in on worship. Please let us know how we can continue to make Ebenezer a place of hospitality for all! The link is also available at any time at the Ebenezer Facilities
webpage.
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Celebrate the Ebenezer Quasquicentennial!
What’s a
Quasquicentennial? It’s Ebenezer’s 125th Anniversary! A task force is forming now to plan a celebration that has been 125 years in the making. You’ve felt the joy at Sunday service and many other programs housed at 1650 Foster. Help share that joy in a celebration weekend, September 30-October 1. We need your time, talent and special touch. If interested in helping plan the party weekend, contact Pastor Michael, check the box on the Connection Card, send an email to
ebenezerarchives@gmail.com.
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February Senior Ministry Events
Are you 60 years of age or older? At Ebenezer we have a number of programs which are specifically designed for members of our older community. In the month of February you are invited to participate in the events listed below. All you need to do is call the church office at 773-561-8496 and let us know you are coming.
Monthly Poetry Reading and Discussion: Monday, February 27, 12:00 pm
Bring a sandwich and join us in the Cafe (the room below the sanctuary) as we discuss two poems, this time: Love (excerpt) by Saint Paul, I Corinthians 13:1-3, 11-13 and The Divine Will by Jean Pierre de Caussade. Dessert will be provided.
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Community and Announcments
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Loved Beyond Measure: Celebrate the ministry of ELCA Schools and Learning Centers during the week of March 5-11.
Over 1,400 ELCA schools and learning centers in the U.S. provide high quality education in nurturing Christian communities! If you are looking for an elementary school or a child care center for your child, check out one of these schools/centers within an easy drive of Ebenezer: Pilgrim Lutheran School or St. Luke's Academy (Pre-K--8 schools); Resurrection Pre-School, Concordia Place (3 campuses) or Edison Park Lutheran Church Pre-School. For more information about ELCA Schools, contact Chris Comella, Principal, Pilgrim Lutheran School at
ccomella@pilgrimchicago.org. Take a tour or attend an Open House to see the difference an ELCA sponsored school makes.
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Benefit Concert for Augusta Victoria Hospital
On my second visit to the Holy Land, not only did we see where Jesus lived and walked, we also saw where His work is still going on today. One of those places is Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives. This hospital is owned by the Lutheran World Federation and gives life saving care for adults and children with cancer and kidney disease.
On Sunday, April 30, 3:00 pm, at Luther Memorial Church, 2500 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago, we are honored to have Ali Paris perform for a Benefit Concert for Augusta Victoria Hospital and their life-saving work with children in the West Bank and Gaza. Quincy Jones describes Ali as an “unrivaled unique artist.” There are only a handful of people who have mastered the Qanun, a 76-string zither dating back to the 14th century. NO TICKETS - FREE WILL OFFERING AT THE DOOR.
We are thankful to our sponsors, Luther Memorial Church, Ethnic Specific & Multicultural Ministries of the ELCA and Metro Chicago Synod’s Working Group on the Middle East, for supporting Ali’s appearance so that
ALL your Door Offerings will go directly to help children at Augusta Victoria Hospital.
Checks may be made payable to:
ELCA.
In the memo portion:
Gmg 0739 Augusta Victoria Hospital.
You may also mail to:
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA Gift Processing Center,
P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009
AVH serves very poor, mostly Palestinian, people. It is supposed to be paid for this care by the Palestinian Authority after the Israeli government gives back the taxes it has collected. Unfortunately that is not a steady stream of income and insurance is not available to most. Your supporting this concert by coming, making a donation or sending in a check, will allow the hospital to remain open and keep
saving lives.
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Give with Goodshop
Shopping online at
goodshop.org allows you to do the shopping you'd do anyway at your favorite sites, while supporting the ministry at Ebenezer! Simply register and then select Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Chicago, as the beneficiary of the donation Goodshop makes when you shop through their site. Check it out today!
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Office Hours
Monday-Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Closed Friday.
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Our Mission:
God calls Ebenezer to be a Christian home for all who seek the sustaining nature of the Holy Spirit, to demonstrate faith and trust in God through the ministry of its people, and to let Christ's model of service, justice and love give expression to how we share God's gift with the world.
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