"Fall" Party Day! At Trinity Pre-School

  

After practicing the music for the Fall Festival,

the Pre-School Children say the Lord's Prayer with Pastor Watt. Our Father, who art in heaven...

The morning class in costume.  

Going into church for "Pastor Time."

Junior Confirmation - Unit 3 – The Lord’s Prayer – Study Guide

10/29/2008

Review the contents of the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer. (Red Catechism p. 19-21; Blue Catechism p17-20. )

Intro: Our Father who art in heaven
1. Hallowed be thy name
2. Thy kingdom come
3. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
4. Give us this day our daily bread
5. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
6. Lead us not into temptation
7. Deliver us from evil
Concl: For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Review Catechism Questions: 193-235 (Red p. 174ff; Blue p. 175ff)

Review Workbook “Applying Luther’s Catechism” Unit 3, (page 68-83)

Sample Questions:

True / False

1. T F One reason people don’t get along is because they are unwilling to forgive.
2. T F In the Third Petition we ask that God forgive us our sins.

Multiple Choice

1. God’s name is kept holy when
   • a. We make it holy
   • b. We honor religious beliefs that do not include Christ
   • c. We live our lives to God’s glory
   • d. We suffer hardship and persecution to earn God’s favor
2. Which of the following do we promise according to the explanation of the Fifth Petition?
   • a. To rid ourselves of evil
   • b. To trust in God’s power more completely
   • c. To study God’s Word faithfully
   • d. To forgive others sincerely

Newsletter - November Chimes

 

The November Edition
of the Chimes Newsletter
is available at

November Chimes (pdf format)

"Chimes" is the monthly newsletter of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Creston, IA for subscription information please contact the Chimes Editor

Festival of All-Saints; November 2, 2008

Liturgical Color: White

Preparation

Processional Hymn - Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness LSB 563

Service of the Word

First Reading Revelation 14:6–7
Epistle Romans 3:19–28
Gospel John 8:31–36

Hymn of the Day - For All the Saints LSB 677

Service of the Sacrament

Distribution Hymns
Behold a Host, Arrayed in White LSB 676
Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise LSB 680
Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones LSB 670

Recessional Hymn - Children of the Heavenly Father LSB 725

Mission News from Dr. Stephen Oliver, Taiwan

News from Dr. Stephen Oliver, Taiwan

Luther scholar, Dr. Robert Kolb, is making an East Asian tour through Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan. His ministry is diverse, including preaching, counseling, advising, teaching, encouraging, admonishing, and lecturing.
We praise God that as a mission professor of Concordia Seminary, he can devote a good amount of time each year to mission ministry overseas!

Thank God for Dr. Kolb's good health and ministry here, and pray for continued fruitfulness.

Photo: KOLB IN HONG KONG
Dr. Robert Kolb with Hong Kong pastors Andrew Chiu, Daniel Lee and Stephen lp at seminar in which he spoke with Dr. Andrew Chiu on the topic of WORD, SPIRIT, GIFTS.

More F.L.O.C.K. Fun!

F.L.O.C.K. met again on Wednesday night, October 22. We couldn't cook out 'cause of the rain... so we cooked "in"

We also made pictures of God's promise to Abram's that his children would be as many as the stars in the sky. That promise is important because Jesus is one of those stars.

A New Friend In Pre-School!

A new friend showed up in preschool today.  He was there to greet all the parents as they came to pick up the students. 

Welcome to Trinity Pre-School new friend!

Festival of the Reformation, October 26, 2008

Liturgical Color: Red

Preparation

Processional Hymn - Built on the Rock LSB 645

Service of the Word

Kyrie - Kyrie LSB 942

Hymn of Praise - All Glory Be to God Alone LSB 948

First Reading Revelation 14:6–7
Psalm Psalm 46:1-11
Epistle Romans 3:19–28

Hymn of the Day - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God LSB 656

Gospel John 8:31–36

Creedal Hymn - We All Believe in One True God LSB 953

Service of the Sacrament

Sanctus - Holy, Holy, Holy LSB 507 v 4

Agnus Dei - Lamb of God, Pure and Holy LSB 434 v 1

Distribution Hymns
Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice LSB 556
My Soul Rejoices LSB 933

Post-Communion Hymn - O Lord, We Praise Thee LSB 617 v 1

Recessional Hymn - Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing LSB 924

Worship This Week - Service for Oct 19, 2008, Pentecost 23 (Proper 24)

     

Processional Hymn - O Christ, Our True and Only Light   LSB 839

Old Testament Reading   Isaiah 45:1–7
Epistle 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10
Holy Gospel     Matthew 22:15–22

Hymn of the Day - Holy God, We Praise Thy Name  LSB 940

Recessional Hymn - O God, Our Help in Ages Past LSB 733

Worship and Education Schedule Schedule

Sunday Morning

• 9:00am - Divine Service
  
  • Holy Communion* Celebrated 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month
• 10:15am - Sunday School and Bible Classes

Weekdays

• Monday: 7:00pm - Lifelight Bible Study
• Tuesday: 1:30pm - Lifelight Bible Study
• Wednesday: 6:00pm - Junior Confirmation (5th - 8th Grade)
• Second and Fourth Wednesday: 6:00pm - F.L.O.C.K.
• Weekday Worship Services (Advent, Lent, etc) begin at 7:00pm
  

Updated (10/18/2008)

*A note regarding Closed Communion The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that, as He says, our Lord gives into our mouths not only the bread and wine but His very body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another. Our Lord invites to His table those who trust in His words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us, that they may show forth His death until He comes. Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because his Holy Communion is a confession of faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the Sacrament, are asked first to make an appointment to speak with the Pastor. For further study, see Matt 5:23ff; 10:32ff; 18:15-35; 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:17-34;

ACOLYTE ASSIGNMENTS

October

Sun. 19 – 9:00 a.m. Josh Reed

Sun. 26 – 9:00 a.m. Ashtyn Riley

November

Sun. 2 – 9:00 a.m. Samantha Reed

Sun. 9 – 9:00 a.m. Jay Wolfe

Sun. 16 – 9:00 a.m. Jacy Eklund

Sun. 23 – 9:00 a.m. Madison Peterson

Wed. 26 – 7:00 p.m. Adam Bochart

Sun. 30 – 9:00 a.m. Jacob Wolfe

Monthly Acolyte schedules are published in “The Chimes,” Trinity’s monthly newsletter and will also be posted on our website: www.TrinityCreston.org. Also, an assignment sheet will be placed on the table in the narthex prior to the coming month if you would like to choose a Sunday to acolyte rather than being assigned. If your young person cannot acolyte at their assigned time, they are responsible for finding a replacement and notifying the church office of the change.

Updated 10/14/2008

Yearly Repeating Usher Schedule

JANUARY

Jay Bochart
Jim Kneedler
Eddie Ehm
Dennis Brown

FEBRUARY

Phil Wardenberg
Dave Stream
Jim Hagen

MARCH

Lyle Scheel
Randy Ehm
Jim Nelson

APRIL

Norm Schroeder
Eric Eklund
Steve Bradley

MAY

Karl Peterson
Darwin Scott
Jack Quee
Lynn Kruse

JUNE

Charlie Bowman
Mike Lang
Kevin Kruse

JULY

Jay Bochart
Jim Kneedler
Eddie Ehm
Dennis Brown

AUGUST

Phil Wardenburg
Dave Stream
Jim Hagen

SEPTEMBER

Eric Eklund
Norm Schroeder
Steve Bradley 782-9447

OCTOBER

Lyle Scheel
Randy Ehm
Jim Nelson

NOVEMBER

Karl Peterson
Darwin Scott
Jack Quee
Lynn Kruse

DECEMBER

Charlie Bowman
Mike Lang
Gene Cook
Kevin Kruse

Word for Today - Daily Devotional

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Word for Today is a Daily Devotional produced by Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Creston, IA.  Word for Today has been broadcast on KSIV radio Creston, for over fifty years.

Now available on your telephone!

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Join The F.L.O.C.K.

 

F.L.O.C.K. News

Fellowship & Love Offered to Christ’s Kids

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

 

F.L.O.C.K. got off to a great start tonight with 7 kids here! Julie led us in some songs and Carla Roghair led a Bible lesson about apples and the Trinity – Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

We took turns cranking an apple peeler and enjoyed our fresh apples with some caramel dip. Yummy!

 

We also talked about all the things we would like to do this year in F.L.O.C.K.

 

 

NEXT TIME…..

Our next F.L.O.C.K. will be Wednesday, Oct. 22. Don’t eat before you come. We will have a cookout with hot dogs & s’mores.

We’re so excited all the things we can do this year and hope the kids have a great time, too. As always they are welcomed to invite their friends.

 

If you have any questions, contact Tammy in the church office at 782-5095 or Julie Lang (782-5683).

 

Friday; October 10, 2008; Matthew 11:1-19

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Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Matthew 11:2-6, ESV)

Are you kidding?  Offended by Jesus!  Everybody likes Jesus don’t they?  Jesus makes deaf people hear, blind people see, lame people walk, cleanses lepers, and raises the dead.  What’s not to like?  Well, John the Baptizer was having some second thoughts.  He was in prison.  He was facing death.  He wasn’t living his best life now.  Something was different from what he expected.  Things should look a bit different if God was really walking around in Jesus’ sandals.  Shouldn’t they?  Jesus gently tells him differently.  God is going to work in God’s way, not ours.  That’s important for us to remember, especially when life is difficult.  Like John, we face death, we are prisoners to our sin, and very often life isn’t always at its best.  We wonder if Jesus is doing what he promises.  Don’t be offended by Jesus.  God sent Jesus to forgive your sin.  He was willing to die a criminal’s death just for you.  When things look bad, do just what John did, turn to Jesus and remember what he did for you. 

Let us pray: Precious Savior, help me to see my struggles through your eyes.  Amen.

  

Thursday; October 9, 2008; Matthew 10:38-31

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Jesus said.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:28-31, ESV)

Jesus is talking about a snack.  Two sparrows were sold for a penny in the market for a quick bite to eat.  Two sparrows are nothing more than a mouthful.  Yet God, the Father’s care for his creation even extends to sparrows.  He knows when they live and when they die, when they sleep and when they fly.  He knows what they need to eat and gives it to them.  God knows you too.  He says the hairs on your head are all numbered.  He knows everything about you.  He knows what you did yesterday and what you’ll do today.  Jesus says we don’t need to fear people, instead we should fear God.  God sees us when we are alone.  He sees into our hearts.  He sees the secret sins there.  He sees our selfishness.  We should indeed fear God’s anger.  Sin, even secret sin, deserves punishment.  But Jesus says “Fear not.”  Not because God overlooks sin, but because He loves you more than many sparrow snacks.  He knows about your sin and just as he provides for sparrows, he provides what you need.  Jesus life on earth was a life lived perfectly.  He had no secret sin.  He wasn’t ever selfish.  He always did right.  God gives you the perfect life you need.  Jesus gives his perfect life to you and he takes your sin to death on the cross.  You don’t have to be afraid of God’s punishment.  God himself has taken care of it in Jesus.  God gives you exactly what you need.

Let us pray:  Heavenly Father, watch over me today and every day.  Amen.

  

Worship This Week - October 12, 2008

October 12, 2008 Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

Processional Hymn - The King of Love My Shepherd Is     LSB 709

Readings

Old Testament Reading    Isaiah 25:6–9
Epistle    Philippians 4:4-13
Holy Gospel    Matthew 22:1-14

Hymn of the Day - Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain       LSB 435

Communion Distribution Hymns

Jesus Lives! The Victory's Won  LSB 490
Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise        LSB 680
At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing        LSB 633

Recessional Hymn - Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee LSB 803

Wednesday; 8-Oct-2008; Deuteronomy 7:6-9

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“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 7:6-8, ESV)

The people of Israel were God’s chosen people.  After spending 500 years in slavery, God rescued them.  He did it with “a mighty hand.”  God sent plagues to convince the king of Egypt to free the slaves; water to blood, frogs, lice, flies, locust, sick cattle, boils, fiery hail and darkness and finally the first born sons of Egypt died.  Pharaoh had enough, the slaves were free.  God still rescues his people.  Just like the people of Israel you and I aren’t anything special.  We don’t deserve anything from God but punishment for our sin.  Sin isn’t just making mistakes; it is living our lives apart from God’s will.  We can’t help it we are slaves it.  We cannot change.  But God rescues us from slavery with a mighty hand.  He sends Jesus, his first born son to die.  His death on the cross releases us from sin’s slavery by taking our punishment.  Now you are free from punishment.  God doesn’t save us because we are something special; we are something special because God saves us.

Let us pray: Dearest Jesus, thank you for giving your life for me and setting me free from sin and its punishment.  Amen.

  

Tuesday; October 7, 2008; Matthew 9:35-36

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And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:35-36, ESV)

… like sheep without a shepherd.  That’s a good description of what’s going on these days in some parts of the church.  You can find any kind of teaching you want to find.  Whatever life style you want to live, someone in some church will tell you it’s ok.  People who listen to this kind of false teaching are being lead astray.  Jesus has compassion on people who are lost and alone, without guidance wondering where to turn, “harassed and helpless.”  God doesn’t leave us without a shepherd.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He comes proclaiming the good news about himself.  The good news isn’t “live anyway you want to live.”  Jesus doesn’t excuse sin, he dies for it.  The Good News is that Jesus’ death on the cross clears the way for you to have a relationship to God.  In that relationship we put sin aside.  St. Paul makes it clear, “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.^[1]”   Follow the Good Shepherd live in the new life he promises to you. 

Let us Pray: Thine forever! Shepherd, keep These Thy frail and trembling sheep; Safe alone beneath Thy care, Let us all Thy goodness share.[2]  Amen.

Join us at Trinity Lutheran Church to hear more about Jesus’ forgiveness.  Call us at (641) 782-5095 or on the web at www.TrinityCreston.org

---

^[1]The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ro 6:11). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

[2] Text and Music: Public domain Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

.

Monday; October 6, 2008; Matthew 9:2-7

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 And behold, some people brought to [Jesus] a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. (Matthew 9:2-7, ESV)

I’m not sure about you but I think I might have been a bit disappointed. The friends of this paralytic made the effort to get him to Jesus. After all their trouble Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven.” Don’t you think they had something else in mind? Jesus enemies didn’t like Jesus’ Words either. “He’s blaspheming, playing God.” Jesus responds with a question. “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Rise and walk’?” The answer seems easy. Say “your sins are forgiven” and it doesn’t mean anything because you can’t see forgiveness. “Be healed” requires action. Jesus shows that he is God. He can heal and he does forgive. Now back to the question “Which is easier?” Think about it. Jesus heals with a word but what did he do to say, “Your sins are forgiven.” For that he endured the wrath of God on the cross, paying the punishment for all your sin. What Jesus says happens. He says to you, “son, daughter, your sins are forgiven.”

Let us pray: Dearest Jesus thank you for the forgiveness you won for me on the cross. Amen.

Pastor's Sermon

Pastor's Sermon for October 5th text and audio are available.
Listen and read here.
The Text:

“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet. (Matthew 21:33-46, ESV)

From the Sermon:

Well, we aren’t the scribes and Pharisees. We haven’t outright rejected Jesus. And so this parable doesn’t speak directly to us in that way. But we can see Jesus’ call for repentance here for us as well. As the church we don’t always live up to God’s desires for us do we? All you have to do is look at all that God has given us. Just like that vineyard, where our Lord did everything necessary for there to be good fruit, he does the same for us here. We have his word every week, and even during the long time without a pastor, God provided for us here. Even though at times it was discouraging, you can clearly see God’s hand a work, his love for his people, showing through the work of all those who faithfully carried out the tasks necessary to keep the church up and running. You know I can’t help thinking about our church when I read the Isaiah passage. The church on the fertile crest of a hill, the rocky ground behind us, a watchtower, and the choice vines; it just sounds like us. God doesn’t call us to be anything other than faithful tenants.

Pastor's Page - October 2008

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” I’ll bet you can’t even count the number of times you’ve heard that phrase, but do you really remember what it’s all about. Why do we use in to begin our worship? Why do some people make the sign of the cross on themselves when they hear it? How importance does it have for our everyday life?

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17, ESV)

It’s very appropriate to begin our worship, our conversation with God, in His name. This phrase “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” sums up who God is and what he does for us. Remember the Apostle’s Creed? “I believe in God the Father… and in Jesus Christ, His Son… I believe in the Holy Spirit…” Everything we believe about God is focused here in these few words. God, the Father, has created us and does everything to protect and preserve us in our life. God, the Son, has saved us from sin, death and the devil, by His precious blood and innocent suffering and death. God, the Holy Spirit, calls us to faith and strengthens that faith as we listen to and contemplate God’s Word. It’s a complete package; God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our worship isn’t just about one part or function of God; it’s about everything that God is and everything that he has done.

There’s another important thing to remember about this very familiar phrase. We use it at some other very important times. We begin weddings with it, we begin many special gatherings here in the church with it, but most important of all we hear it whenever we have a baptism. Baptism is all about the name of God. It’s the name that He places on us when we are baptized. “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” God’s work in baptism, God’s promises, are made sure by the presence of God’s very name. What are the promises?

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16, ESV)

That is God’s promise that we remember every time we gather to worship God. St. Paul describes it further:

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4, ESV)

In baptism we die with Christ. That “Old Adam” that sinful part of us is killed, drowned daily when we confess our sins and repent. All our sins and evil desires die with him. The “New Adam” emerges and lives before God in righteousness. Every time we remember out baptism a miracle happens.

Some people make the sign of the cross on themselves whenever they hear “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” That’s a good way to remember that what God has done in Jesus Christ is for you. It’s like saying; “God has saved me through Baptism into Jesus Christ. God calls me His very own child.” In our hymnal, if you look carefully, you’ll see a little cross + in those words, every time they appear. That’s a sign to you that that’s a good time to make the sign of the cross. To make the sign of the cross use three fingers, for the Triune Name of God, and touch your forehead, then your heart, then your left shoulder and finally your right (from thought, to heart, and into action).

God’s Richest Blessings;

Pastor Watt.

Membership Information Update Form

Newsletter - October Chimes

 

The October Edition
of the Chimes Newsletter
is available at

October Chimes (pdf format)

"Chimes" is the monthly newsletter of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Creston, IA for subscription information please contact the Chimes Editor

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