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Holy Trinity Church Blog
Grant Hensel Feb 18, 2011
The idea for encore emerged during the summer of 2009 when, one night after dinner, my dad challenged me to start a resale store. I've always been interested in business, (I recently built a website for students taking AP Exams, called http://etestnotes.com/). After being given the idea, I wrote a business plan and presented the idea to the Elders of Holy Trinity. We had seen a model that worked before since some of our elders helped launch Twice is Nice. The elders in turn recommended that we start the store through Hope for Chicago (Holy Trinity’s Mercy and Justice not-for-profit), which had the framework and vision that made Encore possible. Encore evolved through a number of Hope for Chicago discussions, but the dream really started to make progress after we hired Kristi Brockway to be the store's manager. Kristi found retail space for Encore to rent and did everything, from buying ...
Jon Dennis Feb 15, 2011
PREACHING:
We are sometimes asked this great question, “Why do you preach the way you do at Holy Trinity?” Here are a few (10) beginning reasons:
1. We are gospel-centered because everyone needs the gospel (Romans 1:14-17; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5).
2. We are city-focused because God has called us (not everyone) to live in the city and to work and pray for renewal here (Jeremiah 29:5-7; Jonah 4:11; Acts 18:10; 19:8-10).
3. We are Christ-exalting because in the end, God is only honored through Christ (John 14:6).
4. We ...
Catherine Anderson Feb 15, 2011
Encore is starting to generate a positive press buzz. A few weeks ago, we were featured in Kenwood High School's paper, an article is planned for the Lab School Paper, and following is a link to an article that was in The Chicago Weekly last week.
Thank you for your prayers and your support.
http://chicagoweekly.net/2011/02/09/higher-attire/
Jonathan Gilley Feb 08, 2011
The first thing that the Bible reveals about anything – even before it tells us about God's love, justice or power – is that God is creative. “In the beginning, God created…” The next 55 verses go into great, poetic detail about the joy that God took in creating the universe. The rest of the Bible highlights it again and again – God is a Creative Artist preoccupied with beauty.
Living in Chicago, we have the privilege of sharing in this creative beauty through a wellspring of live music. Whether it’s at The Old Town School of Folk Music, Symphony Center, Schubas, The Cultural Center, The Jazz Showcase, or a neighborhood coffee shop, we can experience musicians, not just simply imitating creation, but imitating incarnation – making truth tangible.
All of which reminds us that Jesus is preoccupied with our spiritual beauty. He took our filth upon himself so that we could be spotless. He became ugly so that we could ...
Joseph Kim Feb 07, 2011
With the North Side congregational launch just over a year ago along with a number of urban transitions, Downtown has had the faithful service of our current Deacons: Kevin Yohpe, Michelle Koedoot, and Shannon O’Neill. However, just this past Fall 2010, a number of members of our congregations underwent a membership nomination, training, examination, and approval by the Session to be candidates to the office of Deacon. We thank God for:
Luke and Jaymi Raad,
Katina Geiser,
Sarah McLaughlin,
Val Uhle.
Jeremy and Rebecca Kirk
Members from all four congregations of Holy Trinity Church will vote to approve these candidates along with others from the North Side. Please pray for these brothers and sisters with gratitude that God’s will would be ...
Joseph Kim Feb 07, 2011
Jonathan Gilley is Director of Music and Worship Arts for the Downtown congregation and Associate Director of the Fusion Concert Series. He is passionate about leading Gospel-centered worship in urban city-centers and loves church planting. He is an active bassist in the Chicago music scene as well as being a composer in various genres, including the writing of new songs for worship. He earned his Bachelor's degree at the Eastman School of Music and his Master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music. His music is currently published by Redeemer Music in New York City.
Prior to coming to Holy Trinity Church, Jonathan directed music and worship at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, City Church of San Francisco, The Village Church in Greenwich Village, and Grace Presbyterian Church of the North Shore. As a speaker, he has led seminars nationwide on the power of the centrality of the Gospel in corporate worship.
He ...
Oscar Leiva Feb 04, 2011
Did you survive the storm? Were you one of the people stranded out in the blizzard? Well, in the Leiva home, we were without heat for about 13 hours, yet had limited output of electricity. I was awoken by an electrical shutter or flicker, which disabled our furnace on Tuesday morning around 2am. It was already 56 degrees Fahrenheit in our home (that is the temperature that we set it at night, low isn’t it?). And around 3:30am, I went downstairs and tinkered around with the furnace to see if I could possibly jar it back on. I wasn’t in luck, what do I know about furnaces? So, how did we survive? We spent the whole day boiling water on the stove top just to maintain 50 degrees Fahrenheit in our house. Yes, it was so cold we could literally see our breath. Occasionally we had to run laps from the front of our apartment to the back to stay warm. Obed really didn’t notice the cold but loved the idea of running from his toy box to the back door. Although this was an ...
Jon Dennis Feb 03, 2011
Dear Holy Trinity Church, On Monday, February 7th we will have our second dedicated day of prayer in 2011 called “First Monday Prayer.” I’m writing to ask you to plan now to participate. God is on the move and responds to his people’s prayers! In history, God almost always used two main things to bring revival, and usually both together: 1) the preaching of the gospel and 2) the prayers of his ...
