Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Creston, IA

September 5, 2010; Philemon 10-21; 15th Sunday after Pentecost;

2010-09-05T15:31:00.000-05:00

¹Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker. ¹⁰I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. ¹¹(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) ¹²I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. ¹³I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, ¹⁴but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own free will. ¹⁵For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, ¹⁶no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. ¹⁷So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. ¹⁸If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. ¹⁹I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. ²⁰Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. Philemon 1,10-21 (ESV)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

(Thanks again to Edit-O-Earl!)

“Other’s can err but we don’t allow ourselves the same privilege.” That’s a phrase from a sermon by a Rabbi named Daniel Roberts. It’s not really all that profound, but it is very true, especially for all you perfectionists out there. You will really understand what the Rabbi is saying. Even those who are not perfectionists know a lot about making mistakes, because our lives are full of them. A famous Bishop once said “I saw a man this week that hasn’t made a mistake in 4000 years.” He was talking about a 4000 year old mummy. It’s only dead people who don’t make mistakes. We are not so lucky; we make them all the time. And we hate it when it happens. It’s bad enough to make a mistake but worse when we make a public one that everyone knows about. When we make them we are usually pretty hard on ourselves doing it.

I’ve made my share of mistakes. I remember when I was little. I wanted to make a good impression on the kids at my new school. We were playing softball and I was third base. I missed an easy grounder right to me, you know the kind practically hit my glove and slipped right between the legs. I hung my head in disgust, forgetting that there was a runner advancing round the bases. He made it all the way home while I moped trying to show deep remorse. I doubled up on my mistake, because I was trying to show how upset I was at missing the ball.

Do you remember that show the The Apprentice. One of the guys on there made a big mistake. (Actually I think Donald Trump seized on it more for ratings than anything else!) He was offered immunity from being eliminated. But thinking he had done a great job and was safe from getting fired by Trump he turned it down. Donald Trump was flabbergast, and fired him. As the young man was leaving the room he said, “I’ll not make that mistake again.” Because of a silly mistake he’s now out of the running for the coveted job.

We don’t often make life changing mistakes. Most of the time they are of no real consequence to us, we hear ourselves saying that tell-tale word “oops.” But once in a while we make a whopper, a mistake that we can’t correct, one that really makes a difference in our lives. You know the kind: The big ones that are life changing, we may say “oops” when they happen but the word doesn’t really cover the serious nature of them.

That’s what happened to a man named Onesimus. He made a mistake, his big mistake. His mistake is the reason why Paul wrote the letter to Philemon that is our text today. In a way, Onesimus is like the “Prodigal Son.” It seems (in as much as we can guess) that he was a slave who ran away from his master, Philemon, and may have even stolen something in the process. The punishment for what he had done was death. For slaves in the Roman Empire crucifixion was the most common way to carry out a death sentence. We don’t know why Onesimus ran; he may have wanted to see the world, or he may just have wanted to get away, but he ended up in Rome. When he discovered that a life of running away wasn’t all it was cracked up to be; it is thought that he went looking for Paul, who was in prison of the Roman government. Under house arrest. Paul was Philemon’s good friend. He had founded the church at Colossae. Where Philemon lived. Onesimus must have known Paul was in Rome, so he went to see if he could help him.

Paul does help, what he does is nothing less than Christ-like. He sends Onesimus back with a letter to Philemon asking that he (Paul) be charged for anything that is owed. Implying that Onesimus should be forgiven for running and even sent back to Paul to continue working with him. Martin Luther said that we are all like Onesimus, runaway slave. Jesus saves us from the punishment we so rightly deserve. “Receive him as you would receive me,” Paul wrote to the Onesimus’ master. Sounds a lot like Jesus words, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40 (ESV)

There are two ways that people usually handle their mistakes, both the big one and the small ones. There is the guilt route. You know that our society doesn’t really tolerate mistakes. Mistakes are seen as weak and foolish things we do that cost us. Mistakes are illogical and stupid. Just look at the ex-apprentice. Donald Trump must have called him stupid a dozen times. Oh sure, he learned from the mistake, but I wonder how long it will be before he’s hired, how long it’s going to be till he’s not known as the guy who made the “big stupid mistake” on television. When that’s the way we see life, when that’s the pressure that’s put on us, it’s no wonder that our teenagers suffer from a very high suicide rate. Our reaction when we make those dreaded mistakes is to go into automatic depression, like me when I hung my head after missing the ball. We are pushed toward self reevaluation. They cause us to re-consider our self worth. Others can err, but we don’t allow ourselves the same privilege. We hold ourselves accountable our whole life… and even beyond. And even when things seem to be going really well we dredge up our past errors, to temper our luck. We carry our mistakes as a burden, slung over our shoulders like a big sack. That’s the guilt trip we lay on ourselves with our mistakes. And, at one time or another we’ve all been there.

And yet there’s another way to take that sentence. Others can err, but we don’t allow ourselves the same privilege. Mostly, when we run up against a mistake we push it off on someone else. Call it the blame game. The more serious the error the more fingers we try to point away from ourselves. “If all else fails, blame someone else!” That kind of blame game has been going on since the very beginning. When God walked into the garden after Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the forbidden tree, he asked Adam, “What did you do?” “Hey,” the man answered, “the woman gave me the fruit. It’s her fault. And you know that it never would have happened if you hadn’t put her here.” And God asked her, “What have you got to say, Eve?” “It was the snake, he fooled me.” She answered. Adam tried to reflect the blame to Eve and God. Eve blamed the snake. God laid the blame squarely where it belonged, on both of them.

The reason we fret over our mistakes or try to give them to someone else is because we know what they really mean. Often we say, “Nobody’s perfect.” And that’s true. We are not perfect. Adam and Eve were, at first. They made more than a big mistake. It was a life or death issue. They willfully disobeyed God. They purposely defied his place in their lives. They followed their own desires and did the only thing God told them not to do. They condemned the whole human race to the same mistake, the same rebellion, and the same punishment. We talked about Onesimus running away from his master. And the penalty was death. Being a slave he may have had reason to run away. We don’t have good reason to reject God. And yet we do. Every day we try to make it on our own, and ignore him. If Onesimus had been caught he would have died on a cross. The punishment we deserve is no less than that. That’s what our mistakes continually remind us of. It’s not that God punishes us for our little flubs. We make mistakes because we aren’t the people that he created us to be. We don’t live up to the perfection that God has every right to expect from us. The punishment we should get is death.

In his letter to Philemon, Paul takes up Onesimus’ cause. Onesimus had made a mistake, a dangerous one. Paul could have appealed to Philemon on his authority as an apostle, in fact, as Philemon’s Pastor. But instead he chooses to present his case through love. He never tells Philemon what he should do. He just reminds Philemon of the special relationship they have. “Don’t forget that you really owe me your very self.” As if to say, “Jesus came into your life through me.” Paul doesn’t say, “Forgive Onesimus, free him, and send him back to me.” Instead he says, “I want you to do what you believe is right, based on your relationship with me, and mostly on your relationship with Jesus.” What kind of a relationships were those? Here are a few things Paul had said before that he may have wanted Philemon to think about:

"God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

“Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners--of whom I (Paul) am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life."

That was the background of their relationship to each other, and their relationship with Jesus. Of course we should remember that Onesimus’ mistake wasn’t just a little one, like a secretary’s typo. It was a serious problem. It was potentially fatal. It wouldn’t be an easy thing set aside. Philemon is asked to ignore the fact that he has a houseful of potential runaway slaves. Forgiving and forgetting is a dangerous precedent to set. But, of course, forgiveness is never easy.

Paul didn’t expect Philemon to forgive Onesimus’ mistake because he felt like forgiving him. He expected him to do it because God had already taken care of it; and not only that but because God had taken care of Philemon’s mistakes, too. He assumes that he will forgive because he too, had been forgiven. He assumes that because God has been gracious with him he will be gracious with his slave. Paul told Philemon to charge him for whatever Onesimus owed, and he would pay it. It was a reminder to Philemon that Jesus had already done that very thing for him.

We deal with our mistakes in different ways, but God deals with them in only one way. He dealt with our mistakes, our sin, in the death of Jesus. The cross that Onesimus deserved for running away was the cross that Jesus took. The death that we deserve for our rebellion is the death that Jesus took. Jesus died to forgive the sins of Onesimus and Philemon and Paul, of you and me, and to take care of the mistakes that we all make. We don’t have to carry them around anymore. They don’t have to trouble us to our graves. We don’t have to blame other people either. We can take the blame ourselves and remember that Jesus went to the cross and died for those mistakes too. We’ve been forgiven much. We can take those things that trouble us and give them to Jesus.

And even more importantly, when someone makes a mistake that hurts us, that cost us. We remember that we have been forgiven much. You know the largest room in the world is room for improvement. Forgive as you have been forgiven. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

2009-09-10T12:11:00.003-05:00

This page is no longer in use. Please go to http://www.TrinityCreston.org

THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (AUGUST 30, 2009)

2009-08-28T07:20:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Hymn of Invocation: 876 O Blessed, Holy Trinity LSB 876
Invocation LSB 151
Exhortation LSB 151
Confession of Sins LSB 151
Absolution LSB 151

SERVICE OF THE WORD
Introit Introit for The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Ps. 51:7, 10–12; antiphon: Ps. 51:2
Kyrie LSB 152
Hymn of Praise Gloria in Excelsis LSB 154
Salutation and Collect of the Day Collect for The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament Reading Deuteronomy 4:1–2, 6–9
Epistle Ephesians 6:10–20
Common Alleluia and Verse LSB 156
Holy Gospel Mark 7:14–23

Hymn of the Day: 566 By Grace I'm Saved LSB 566
Sermon
Apostles' Creed

Prayer of the Church
Offering
Offertory LSB 159
Lord's Prayer
Benediction (Aaronic)
Hymn: 587 I Know My Faith Is Founded LSB 587

2009-08-27T13:38:00.002-05:00

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Acolyte Schedule 2009-2010

2009-08-26T14:07:00.000-05:00

September

6 Hannah Watt Jacy Eklund
12 Alex Brown Dorian Peterson
20 Devon Peterson Danielle Riley
27 Kessler Thomas Jay Wolfe

October

4 Cali Foglesong Alexandra Bird
11 Reagan Brown Samantha Reed
18 Joshua Reed Ashtyn Riley
25 Jacy Eklund Madison Peterson

November

1 Dorian Peterson Hannah Watt
8 Danielle Riley Alex Brown
15 Jay Wolfe Devon Peterson
22 Alexandra Bird Kessler Thomas
26 Thanksgiving Samantha Reed Cali Foglesong
29 Ashtyn Riley Reagan Brown

December

2 Advent Midweek Madison Peterson Joshua Reed
6 Hannah Watt Jacy Eklund
9 Advent Midweek Alex Brown Dorian Peterson
13 Devon Peterson Danielle Riley
16 Advent Midweek Kessler Thomas Jay Wolfe
20 Cali Foglesong Alexandra Bird
27 Reagan Brown Samantha Reed

January

3 Joshua Reed Ashtyn Riley
10 Jacy Eklund Madison Peterson
17 Dorian Peterson Hannah Watt
24 Danielle Riley Alex Brown
31 Jay Wolfe Devon Peterson

Date Students

February

7 Alexandra Bird Kessler Thomas
14 Sammantha Reed Cali FogleSong
21 Ashtyn Riley Reagan Brown
24 Lenten Midweek Madison Peterson Joshua Reed
28 Hannah Watt Jacy Eklund

March

3 Lenten Midweek Alex Brown Dorian Peterson
7 Devon Peterson Danielle Riley
10 Lenten Midweek Kessler Thomas Jay Wolfe
14 Cali Foglesong Alexandra Bird
17 Lenten Midweek Reagan Brown Samantha Reed
21 Joshua Reed Ashtyn Riley
24 Lenten Midweek Jacy Eklund Madison Peterson
28 Dorian Peterson Hannah Watt

April

1 Maunday Thurs Danielle Riley Alex Brown
2 Good Friday Jay Wolfe Devon Peterson
4 Sunrise Alexandra Bird Kessler Thomas
4 Easter Samantha Reed Cali Foglesong
11 Ashtyn Riley Reagan Brown
18 Madison Peterson Joshua Reed
25 Hannah Watt Jacy Eklund

May

2 Alex Brown Dorian Peterson
9 Devon Peterson Danielle Riley
16 Confirmation Kessler Thomas Jay Wolfe
23 Cali Foglesong Alexandra Bird
30 Reagan Brown Samantha Reed

Pastor Watt's Sermons

2009-08-24T13:14:00.000-05:00

August

1, Wedding Sermon for Eric and Beth - Ephesians 5:22-33
2, Ninth Sunday after Pentecost - Exodus 16:2-15
9, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost - John 6:41-51
16, Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost - Joshua 24:1-18
23, Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost - Mark 7:1-14

July

5, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - 2 Cor 12:1-10
12, Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - Psalm 34:9-14
19, Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - Ephesians 2:11-22

June

21, Third Sunday after Pentecost - Mark 4:35-41
28, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - Mark 5:21-44

May

3rd, Fourth Sunday in Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday, and Confirmation - John 10:11-18
10th, Fifth Sunday in Easter - John 15:1-8
17th, Sixth Sunday in Easter - John 15:9-17
24th, Seventh Sunday in Easter - Psalm 1
31st, The Festival of Pentecost - Psalm 139:1-12

April

9th, Holy Thursday (Text Only) - Luke 22:7-20.
10th, Good Friday - Devotion
12th, Festival of the Resurrection, Sunrise - Job 19:25-26
12th, Festival of the Resurrection, 10am - Psalm 118:14-24
19th, Second Sunday in Easter - John 20:19-31
26th, Third Sunday in Easter - Luke 24:36-49

March

1st, First Sunday during Lent - Genesis 22:1-18
8th, Second Sunday during Lent - Romans 5:1-5
11th, Wednesday Lenten Service - Jonah 1:1-17
15th, Third Sunday during Lent - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
18th, Weekday Lenten Service - Jonah 2
22nd, Fourth Sunday during Lent - Numbers 21:4-9
29th, Fifth Sunday during Lent - Hebrews 5:7-9

February

1st, Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany - Mark 1:21-28
8th, Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany - Mark 1:29-39
15th, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany - Mark 1:40-45
25th, The Transfiguration of Our Lord - Mark 9:2-9

January

4th, Epiphany of Our Lord - Matthew 2:1
11th, The Baptism of Our Lord - Mark 1:4-11
18th, The Confession of St. Peter - Mark 8:27-36
25th, Third Sunday after the Epiphany - Jonah 3

December

3rd, First Advent Vespers Service (Wed) - Genesis 3:9-15
7th, Second Sunday of Advent - Isaiah 40:1-11
10th, Second Advent Vespers Service (Wed) - Isaiah 2:1-5
11th, Funeral of Louise - John 14:1-6
14th, Third Sunday of Advent - Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
24th, Christmas Eve - Luke 2:1-20
25th, Festival of the Incarnation of Our Lord - Luke 2:1-20
28th, First Sunday after Christmas - Luke 2:29-32
31st, New Year's Eve - Numbers 6:22-27

November

16th, 27th Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 25:14-30
9th, 26th Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 25:1-13
2nd, All Saints Day - Matthew 5:1-12
23rd, Last Sunday of the Church Year - Matthew 25:31-46
26th, Thanksgiving Evening - Luke 17:11-19
30th, First Sunday of Advent - Isaiah 63:16b-17; 64:1-8

October

26th, Festival of the Reformation - Romans 3:19-28
19th, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 22:15-22
12th, 22nd Sunday after Pentecost - Isaiah 25:6-9
5th, 21st Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 21:33-45

September

28th, 20th Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 21:28-32
21st, 19th Sunday after Pentecost - Matthew 20:1-16
14th, 18th Sunday after Pentecost - Genesis 50:15-20

THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (AUGUST 23, 2009)

2009-08-18T07:49:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Hymn of Invocation: 644 The Church's One Foundation LSB 644
Invocation LSB 203
Exhortation LSB 203
Confession of Sins LSB 203
Absolution LSB 203

SERVICE OF THE WORD

Introit Introit for The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Ps. 26:1–2, 6–7; antiphon: Ps. 26:8
Kyrie LSB 204
Gloria in Excelsis LSB 204
Salutation and Collect of the Day Collect for The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 29:11–19
Epistle Ephesians 5:22–33
Alleluia LSB 205
Verse LSB 205
Alleluia LSB 205
Holy Gospel Mark 7:1–13

Nicene Creed
Hymn of the Day: 865 Lord, Help Us Ever to Retain LSB 865
Sermon
Prayer of the Church
Offering
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT

Preface LSB 208
Sanctus LSB 208
Prayer of Thanksgiving Prayer of Thanksgiving for The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Lord's Prayer
The Words of Our Lord
Pax Domini LSB 209
Agnus Dei LSB 210
Distribution

Distribution Hymn: 576 My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less LSB 576
Distribution Hymn: 589 Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens LSB 589

Nunc Dimittis LSB 211
Post-Communion Collect
Benedicamus and Benediction

Hymn: 582 God's Word Is Our Great Heritage LSB 582

Michael Spencer - The Internet Monk; Worship Toolbox.

2009-08-15T11:23:00.001-05:00

Rev. Spencer has a nice article in his "Evangelical Liturgy" Series. "The Toolbox" explores the necessary tools for "giving distinctive evangelical content, flavor and boundaries to the worship service." Michael's perspective is distinctively "evangelical" and not everything fits our Lutheran perspective, he gives some nice thoughts to contemplate. Here's his section on "the Hymnal." (Emphasis mine)

2. The Hymnal. I know, here we go.

The hymnal is a crucially important evangelical worship resource. While it can be supplemented, it should never be replaced. The education of a congregation to use and appreciate the resources in a hymnal will be the single post ecumenically broad, historically deep and theologically enriching experience most church members will have. There is more diversity, tradition, theology, church history and content in a good hymnal than almost any single book that you can put in the hands of a congregation. The hymnal represents and captures the journey of the church throughout history, and joins the worshiping congregation to the church around the world and throughout all time.

We are nothing short of idiots for getting rid of them, and I choose that word carefully. Who in the world decided that we would throw out two thousands years of worship because it didn’t fit in with our current plan to sound like the secular music of the last 40 years? Good grief, what a demolition job this has been. I know a lot of young people “like” the new music, but we have a responsibility to those who came before us, not to prefer or like what they did as much as they did, but to use it with respect and honor for the value that is in it. Handing the entire musical and lyrical heritage of two millenia of Christianity over to a “worship leader” to be eradicated in favor of contemporary music only is insane.

As a child, I spent hours in the hymnal during church. I learned vast amounts. Had the pastors and worship leaders used the resources of the hymnal wisely, it would have been even more enriching for me.

I want to commend the Lutheran Service book for putting the complete hymnal and ALL corporate and individual worship resources together. Having that hymnal in your hands- a tactile experience- is a significant part of worship we’ve underestimated. Use new music. Have the band from time to time. Project away. But the church of the past 2000 years is in that hymanl. In fact, we need more historically and culturally diverse hymnals, not more music for evangelical white people.

Hymnals vary widely in every way. Choose carefully and be forgiving of the inevitable flaws. The current 2008 SBC hymnal is a project involving both book and projection resources coordinated together. This is surely the direction of the future and holds real promise for ending the ridiculous war on hymns that evangelicals have perpetrated. We ought to hang our heads that we have become a generation more concerned that our children know the latest Hillsongs’ piece- which is fine and good- but that they NOT know the top 100 hymns in Christian history! Just reading the lyrics of Christmas carols is a theological feast.

For many evangelicals, the hymnal is the closest thing to a book of common prayer and worship resources they will have. Hymnals should be chosen carefully so they can be used t include calls to worship, litanies, creeds, etc. Keep making great hymnals out there, somebody! We need them.

Look at Bob Kauflin. Look at Indelible Grace. Look at good, blended worship at Piper’s church and conferences. Get a grip evangelicals!

Rev. Scot Kinnaman's Lutheranism 101. Very nice blog post.

2009-08-13T09:51:00.001-05:00

Hey folks, take the time to read Lutheranism 101 at Rev. Scot Kinnaman's blog "Blog My Soul." This deserves a permanent link.

http://scotkinnaman.com/lutheranism-101/

What We Believe

2009-08-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church - Statement of Beliefs

Updated (8/13/9)

We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and the only source and norm for Christian doctrine and practice.

We believe that there is only one true God, who has revealed Himself in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that, by His innocent suffering and death on the cross in our place, Jesus Christ made full atonement for our sins.
We believe that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning, later ascended into heaven where He now lives and reigns to all eternity.
We believe that Jesus will return on the last day to judge the living and the dead and take all believers in Him to eternal life and glory.
We believe that God comes to us in His Church through chosen means of grace which are the Word of God (The Holy Scriptures) and the Sacraments of Baptism and The Lord's Supper (Holy Communion), and that through these means of grace He conveys to us His forgiveness.
We believe that we are saved only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, which is a free gift of The Holy Spirit to us. We believe that Holy Baptism brings us into God's Kingdom and makes us members of the Body of Christ as we receive the Holy Spirit, who works faith in our hearts.
We believe that the Sacrament of Holy Communion is the true body and blood of Christ which is received with the bread and the wine (Real Presence). It is not a Symbolic eating and drinking. We believe that those who receive this Sacrament actually eat and drink the body and blood of our Lord and Savior shed for us on the cross. We celebrate "closed" communion and ask only those who are members of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, or, are members of a church with which we are in Altar and Pulpit fellowship with would participate in the Sacrament. (See A Statement about the Lord's Supper)

The Book of Concord is the Lutheran Confession of Faith.

You can find a great copy of it at Concordia Publishing House.
Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions-A Readers Edition of the Book of Concord - 2nd edition

Luther's Catechisms are handbooks for the Christian faith and express the faith in simple terms.

See also Rev. Scot Kinnaman's blog "Blog My Soul."

Lutheranism 101

Trinity is a congregation of The Lutheran Church -Missouri Synod

What does the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod Believe? Look here

THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (AUGUST 16, 2009)

2009-08-10T09:14:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

Opening Versicles LSB 219

PSALMODY

Venite LSB 220
Antiphon (Common) LSB 221
Psalm Psalm 34:12–22
Office Hymn: 696 O God, My Faithful God LSB 696

READINGSOld Testament Reading Proverbs 9:1–10
Epistle Ephesians 5:6–21
Holy Gospel John 6:51–69
Responsory Common LSB 221

Sermon

CANTICLETe Deum LSB 223

Offering

PRAYERKyrie LSB 227
Lord's Prayer
Collect of the DayCollect for Grace
Benedicamus LSB 228
Benediction LSB 234

Hymn: 697 Awake, O Sleeper, Rise from Death LSB 697

THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (AUGUST 9, 2009)

2009-08-04T09:10:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Hymn of Invocation: 905 Come, Thou Almighty King LSB 905
Invocation LSB 203
Confession of Sins LSB 203
Absolution LSB 203

SERVICE OF THE WORD

Introit Ps. 34:8–10; antiphon: Ps. 145:16
Kyrie LSB 204
Gloria in Excelsis LSB 204
Salutation and Collect of the Day

Old Testament 1 King 19:1-8
Epistle Ephesians 4:17—5:2
Alleluia and Verse
Holy Gospel John 6:35–51

Nicene Creed
Hymn of the Day Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor LSB 534
Sermon
Prayer of the Church
Offering

SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT

Preface LSB 208
Sanctus LSB 208
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lord's Prayer
The Words of Our Lord
Pax Domini LSB 209
Agnus Dei LSB 210
Distribution Hymn: 774 Feed Thy Children, God Most Holy LSB 774
Distribution Hymn: 637 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord LSB 637
Distribution Hymn: 618 I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table LSB 618
Nunc Dimittis LSB 211
Post-Communion Collect
Benedicamus and Benediction
Hymn: 655 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word LSB 655

2009 Officers and Board Members

2009-08-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

All officers and Board Members will be installed on Sunday, January 11, 2009.

President - Karl Peterson

Vice-President - Tom Braymen

Secretary – Becky Hagen

Treasurer - Mike Lang

Financial Sec. - Paul Kearney

Elders
Kevin Kruse - Head Elder
Jim Nelson, Gene Cook, Byron Bilderback, Bill Magers, Chuck Bowman

Trustees
Phil Wardenburg - Chair
Jim Hagen Jay Bochart, Norm Schroeder, Troy Peterson

Preschool Board
Linda Schroeder - Chair
Anita Wardenburg - Co-Chair
Jim Nelson, Becky Hagen, Dena Chapman, Deb Clausen

Board of Education
Julie Lang - Chair
S.S. Supt. - Carla Roghair
Waunita Watt - Youth
Randy Roghair, Pat Stream

Worship/Altar Comm
Janette Lang - Chair
(includes Altar Committee & Organists)

Board of Stewardship
TBA - Chairman
Randy Ehm, Dennis Brown, Steve Bradley

Board of Missions
TBA - Chairman
Carla Roghair, Deb Clausen, Cindy Nelson, Anita Wardenburg

Head Usher - Jim Kneedler

Updated August 4, 2009

Trinity's Monthly Newsletter - the Chimes, is available online.

2009-08-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

The August Edition
of the Chimes Newsletter
is available at

August Chimes (pdf format)

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

Announcements for Sunday; August 2, 2009;

2009-07-31T09:52:00.000-05:00

Adult Bible Class Today. Continuing our “Guide to the Sanctuary” (Sunday 10:30am)

It's time to start thinking about Sunday School for next fall! We are in need of a superintendent and four teachers. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex. We appreciate the people who have served our children in this way!

Large Print Bulletins are available please see ushers

Announcements for the Sunday bulletin can be given to Pastor Watt by placing them in the “bulletin” mailbox or via eMail bulletin@TrinityCreston.org

Please place articles for the Chimes in the "Chimes" mailbox found at the lower left side of the member mailboxes, or eMail articles to chimes@TrinityCreston.org

Trinity eMails! Trinity's eMail addresses are...

Trinity Lutheran Church - tlc@TrinityCreston.org;
Pastor - pastor@TrinityCreston.org;
Chimes Articles - chimes@TrinityCreston.org;
Bulletin Announcements - bulletin@TrinityCreston.org;
Preschool Teachers - preschool@TrinityCreston.org

CAMP OKOBOJI OMELET BRUNCH featuring Red’s Cafe YOU are invited to enjoy a tasty omelet prepared your way by the staff of Red’s Café, Hartley, Iowa, at an Omelet Brunch to be held in the Ginny DeWall Dining Hall at Camp Okoboji, 1531 Edgewood Drive, Wahpeton, on Sunday, August 2nd, 2009, from 9:30 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. (Turn off Highway 86 at the Crescent Beach Sign). A free will offering will be collected with all proceeds going for designated projects and the Camp’s Annual Fund.

You are cordially invited to a retirement celebration dinner for Reverend Larry Troxel on August 22, 2009 at 6pm. Tony's East Room 810 Hampshire Quincy, IL

Serving at Trinity this Week

Sun Aug 2

Organist: Janette Lang Elder: Chuck Bowman
Finance: Steve Bradley, Lyle Scheel
Altar: Mike and Janette Lang
Ushers: Phil Wardenburg, Dave Stream, Jim Hagen

Mon Aug 3

Lawn Area 1: Bill Magers Lawn
Area 2: Paul Kearney
Lawn Area 3: Byron Bilderback

This Week at Trinity

Sun Aug 2

9am Divine Service
10:15am Sunday School and Bible Classes

Mon Aug 3

Pastor's Day Off
9am Confessions Reading Group

Tue Aug 4

6:30am Early Risers (HyVee)
1:30pm Streams of Living Water, Sermon Broadcast PirateChristianaRadio.com
6:15pm Board of Ed

Wed Aug 5

7:30pm Elder's Meeting

Fri Aug 7

Iowa District West Early Childhood Conference Dennison, IA

Sun Aug 9

9am Divine Service with Holy Communion
10:15am Sunday School and Bible Classes

GOD’S PEOPLE AT PRAYER…

Illness: Bob Rassmussen, Kaylee Hoepker, Joel Herzberg, Jessica Marquardt

Hospitalized: Lonny Riley

Recovering: Barbra friend of Mitzy, Curtis & Tricia Scott

Cancer: McKenna Brown, Shelly Cabbage, Trevor Hanson, Vyck Shanes, Rachel Stoker

In Prison: Nate Brus

Military Service: Luke Watt

Missions: Rev. Daniel Vogel, Rev. Dennis Konkel

Shut-ins: Ruth Chase, Dale Keating, Wilma Cottrell, Pauline Young

Trinity Creston on Facebook!

2009-07-30T14:48:00.001-05:00

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Creston, IA on Facebook

More On Higher Things.

2009-07-29T16:02:00.001-05:00

Great interview with Higher Things President Rev. Bill Cwirla on the InternetMonk.

http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/higher-things-a-new-model-of-youth-ministryan-interview-with-pr-bill-cwirla

A highlight:

3. What is at stake in not creating a separate “youth ministry” culture within the church?

Adolescence is a transitionary period from childhood to adulthood; it is not a subculture. Our task as adults is to get them through adolescence, not perpetuate it.

I compare youth work to a relay race. There is that critical point where the lead runner and the next runner need to be perfectly in step as the baton is passed. They must be running together, side by side. This is what HIgher Things is trying to do, have youth and adults “running together” in worship, in learning, in recreation, having youth get up to speed with adults so that the baton can be passed on to them. The word “tradition” means something handed on, and as we run the race that is set before us, we need to make sure that the next generation of runners is fully up to speed.

Find more info on Higher Things at http://higherthings.org/

Basement Water Project Completed!

2009-07-28T17:13:00.001-05:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (August 2, 2009)

2009-07-28T09:54:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

Order of Service - Matins (LSB 219)

Opening Versicles LSB 219

PSALMODY

Antiphon (Common) LSB 220
Venite LSB 220
Antiphon (Common) LSB 221
Psalm Psalm 145:10–21
Office Hymn: 918 Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer LSB 918

READINGS

Readings From Holy Scripture
Old Testament Reading Exodus 16:2–15
Epistle Ephesians 4:1–16
Holy Gospel John 6:22–35
Responsory Common LSB 221
Sermon

CANTICLE

Te Deum LSB 223
Offering

PRAYER

Kyrie LSB 227
Lord's Prayer
Collect of the Day
Additional Collects of Intercession and Thanksgiving
Collect for Grace
Benedicamus LSB 228
Benediction LSB 234

Hymn: 685 Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus LSB 685

THE EIGHT SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (JULY 26, 2009)

2009-07-20T12:09:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Hymn of Invocation: 506 Glory Be to God the Father LSB 506
Invocation LSB 203
Exhortation LSB 203
Confession of Sins LSB 203
Absolution LSB 203

SERVICE OF THE WORD

Introit Introit for The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost Ps. 145:1–3, 6–7; antiphon: Ps. 145:5
Kyrie LSB 204
Gloria in Excelsis LSB 204
Salutation and Collect of the Day Collect for The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament Reading Genesis 9:8–17
Epistle Ephesians 3:14–21
Alleluia and Verse LSB 205
Holy Gospel Mark 6:45–56

Nicene Creed
Hymn of the Day: 731 O God, Forsake Me Not LSB 731
Sermon
Prayer of the Church
Offering

SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT

LPreface LSB 208
Sanctus LSB 208
Prayer of Thanksgiving Prayer of Thanksgiving for The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Lord's Prayer
The Words of Our Lord
Pax Domini LSB 209
Agnus Dei LSB 210
Distribution Hymn: 715 Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me LSB 715
Distribution Hymn: 617 O Lord, We Praise Thee LSB 617
Nunc Dimittis LSB 211
Post-Communion Collect
Benedicamus and Benediction
Hymn: 918 Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer LSB 918

Rev. Cwirla's "Sola Top Ten"

2009-07-16T16:05:00.001-05:00

Here's at Higher Things Sola 2009 top ten list from Pr. Cwirla (I whole heartedly agree!)

Top ten higher things at the Sola - San Antonio Higher Things youth conference:

10. Chris Loemker on the organ - Chris Rocks absolutely!

9. Listening to Bill Weedon burst into Latin

8. Bruce Keseman's PowerPoint

7. CCVs

6. Kellee's chocolate fountain at the development reception - Wow!

5. Conference staff - Gina, Sue, Ann, Lynea, Hannah, David, Jacob, Carl, Daniel, Stan, Kellee, Sandra, Brent, Duane, Erin, Jason, Landon, Mark, Jon, George, Paul, Ringo....

4. San Antonio Zoo - steaming hot but awesome animals!

3. Ray Reed's Texas brisquit - holy smoke!

2. The Holst Te Deum

1. 800+ Kids Darin' to be Lutheran

HT: http://blog.higherthings.org/wcwirla/article/4252.html

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost; July 19, 2009

2009-07-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

Order of Service Matins (LSB 220)

PSALMODY
VENITE LSB 220
ANTIPHON (COMMON) LSB 221
PSALM Psalm 23:1–6

OFFICE HYMN: 728 HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION LSB 728

READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE

OLD TESTAMENT Jeremiah 23:1–6
EPISTLE Ephesians 2:11–22
HOLY GOSPEL Mark 6:30–44

RESPONSORY COMMON LSB 221

SERMON

TE DEUM LSB 223
OFFERING
PRAYER
KYRIE LSB 227
LORD'S PRAYER
COLLECTS
BENEDICAMUS LSB 228
BENEDICTION LSB 234

HYMN: 912 CHRIST IS OUR CORNERSTONE LSB 912

My Sola 09 - Photo Book

2009-07-14T17:00:00.001-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Technorati Tags: Higherthings,Youth Group,Sola2009

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (June 14, 2009)

2009-07-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

Confession and Absolution

Hymn of Invocation: 689 Let Me Be Thine Forever LSB 689
Invocation LSB 203
Exhortation LSB 203
Confession of Sins LSB 203
Absolution LSB 203

Service of the Word

Introit for The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Ps. 143:1–2, 8a; antiphon: Ps. 143:11
Kyrie LSB 204
Gloria in Excelsis LSB 204
Collect for The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Old Testament Reading Amos 7:7–15
Epistle Ephesians 1:3–14
Alleluia and Verse LSB 205
Holy Gospel Mark 6:14–29

Nicene Creed
Hymn of the Day: 732 All Depends on Our Possessing LSB 732
Sermon
Prayer of the Church
Offering

Service of the Sacrament

Preface LSB 208
Sanctus LSB 208
Prayer of Thanksgiving for The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Lord's Prayer
The Words of Our Lord
Pax Domini LSB 209
Agnus Dei LSB 210
Distribution Hymn: 618 I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table LSB 618
Distribution Hymn: 716 I Walk in Danger All the Way LSB 716
Nunc Dimittis LSB 211
Post-Communion Collect
Benedicamus and Benediction
Hymn: 917 Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise LSB 917

2.Corinthians.12.1-10;Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, July 5, 2009

2009-07-05T15:54:00.000-05:00

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:1-10, ESV)

Grace and peace to you from Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Conceit is a dangerous thing. In the scramble to get along in this world a little conceit seems to go a long way. It was Andy Warhol who said that in the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes. I think he really meant that to be a good thing about the future. But now that we are here, I’m not so sure. Isn’t a lot of what’s going on in the world today based on conceit? A cell phone means I’m so important I can’t afford to miss a single call. No matter what conversation is taking place that cell phone call takes priority. Everyone rolls their eyes at the guy who takes a call during a movie, but if the little thing starts giggling in your pocket (or mine) we are very likely to answer it too. Whatever the call is, it’s more important, I’m more important, than whatever I’m doing right now. I’m more important than the commotion caused by my need to answer the phone. In fact, when was the last time you went to a large gathering of people and you didn’t hear the phone ring? Do you have a Facebook account? Just the name alone has conceit in it; my “face” out there for the world to see. I use it. I’ve gotten in touch with some friends that I hadn’t seen in years. Actually, I’ve not really spoken to them. I just know what they had for breakfast. If you know what Twitter is… it’s even more brief. In 140 characters describe what you are doing right now. (Actually, it is never really true, because you’ve interrupted whatever you are doing to send a twitter message!) Everyone in the world wants to know what I’m doing right now. By the way, I had a half a grapefruit, cheerios, dry toast, and coffee for breakfast. With Twitter you are never out of touch ‘cause your ‘tweets’ come and go from your cell phone. It’s a way to ‘publish’ your text messages “What am I doing right now” to the world. And just to overload the point… how many reality TV programs are there now? The networks get the best of both worlds here. They are cheap to make, controversial, widely popular, ratings grabbers. What a platform for commercials. You do know that that is what TV is all about, selling stuff. And it’s all based on conceit. Really it is. My life is important enough that everyone should know what I’m doing. I’ve got drama and intrigue enough to spare and everyone should be interested in my life. I’ve got it all! Look at me! I deserve to be famous. A recent poll said that a majority of young adults believe that fame is a reasonable way for a person with no talent to make a living. That’s what conceit is. I’m worth the all attention.

Well, I guess it’s a good thing we are immune to conceit in the church right? Hardly, God does something great and we are the first to take the credit. It is one of my pet peeves. Someone asks how big your church is. “Well, we worship around 100 people every Sunday.” No! We worship God, in Trinity and Unity, the one who saved us from sin, death and hell through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We don’t worship people! I think in a way we try to say, “we must be doing something right because we have these people in church.” It is especially hard for pastors to set aside themselves when things are going well in a congregation. After all there is a certain character trait in all pastors that makes the want to be the center of attention. If we didn’t have it we couldn’t be a pastor. And yet, the work that happens in the church is God’s work, not the pastor’s. If a church is growing as God would have it grow it is doing so because the Holy Spirit is working through Word and Sacrament. But, people want to give credit to people. Pastors want to take credit for themselves. Let’s make this very personal. In my sinful nature I want to take credit for all the good things that have happened here at Trinity. My conceit tells me I’m the reason. The Holy Spirit convicts me of my sin and shows me the forgiveness of the cross. Please remember, nothing good that happens here is because of me, rather the Holy Spirit works through God’s Word and Sacrament, convicting people of their sin and showing them their Savior, Jesus Christ. To God be all the Glory for His Work in the church. I am only trying to be faithful to what I have been given to do. So much for the pastor’s confession.

How about you? Where does your conceit lie? Do you look to the culture around you to determine what’s good for you? Do you want your fifteen minutes of fame? Do you want credit for your support of the church, as if the church would collapse without you? Does everything have to be done your way; because you are just conceited enough to think that your way is the only right way? Do you come and sit in the same seat so everyone knows you’ve been here? At least you’ve been a faithful teacher, weather or not the kids have learned the truth about our faith. Do you count your faithfulness to the church through all its trouble the reason this church is still here? You see folks, here’s the rub, isn’t it? There are a great many good things that you have done and do on a regular basis for this church. But instead of seeing them as God working through you, you want to take the credit. Better yet, someone else recognizes you for doing it. When was the last time you were disgusted because you didn’t get a thank you. Do you see the sin here? You see when we read this text we tend to look at Paul as if he had some special predisposition to the sin of conceit. We think that God had to do something to prevent him from taking credit where no credit was due. But Paul is simply being human. His temptation to conceit is no different from yours our mine. So here we are, you, me, St. Paul pointing to ourselves asking for credit that isn’t ours to take.

Whenever we talk about our story of sin, we find the same story in the Garden. Conceit was at the heart of what Adam and Eve did when they disobeyed God.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6, ESV)

“the tree was to be desired to make one wise.” Eve wanted that wisdom for herself. She wanted to make her own decisions about right and wrong. She wanted to have control for herself, and take the credit for herself. She didn’t want to be dependant on God, or Adam or anyone. Conceit is to think of yourself more highly than you ought. She thought of herself more important than God. And Adam, well he was standing right by her the whole time egging her on. He wanted it, too. He just made his wife do it first.

That’s conceit, really; placing ourselves above God; thinking of ourselves more highly than God; putting God in his place, below us. We do it, all the time. And it is a dangerous place to be. If we want to be on our own before God, we can do that. But imagine standing before God in the final judgment. He says, “Do you have anything to say in your defense?” What can we offer? Half righteous works that we did for our own benefit? Gifts that we gave to the church with a grudging heart or in hopes of receiving accolades from others? None of that will stand up to a judge who demands perfection. When we stand on our own, when we are taking credit, all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags, polluted by sin. And the wages of sin is death, eternal death.

So now you see what St. Paul is talking about. God beat down his sin with a healthy dose of the law. For him it came in this “thorn in the flesh.” It kept him humble. It kept him focusing on Jesus Christ crucified for the forgiveness of his sin. It kept reminding him that all that God was doing was God’s doing. After all it is God’s doing that really matters isn’t it? We are filled with conceit. Jesus humbled himself on the cross and shed his blood to cleanse us of all our sin. We are full of ourselves. Jesus thought of nothing but us as he bled and died. We take credit. Jesus gives all glory to God the Father and submits to God’s will perfectly. Even to death on the cross. We think we know what’s best. Jesus takes the difficult road to the cross, the only way for sinners to be saved. It is there on the cross that your sin is forgiven. It is there on the cross that God does something about your self-centered conceit. It is there on the cross that God washes you clean through Jesus blood. It is there on the cross the God himself in Jesus Christ suffers the eternal punishment you deserve for thinking more of yourself than others and God. You are his baptized, loved, forgiven child. Through the washing of water and the Word you are dead to the sin of conceit.

Consider Paul’s words in Romans, he is speaking about God’s work for you in Jesus, through Holy Baptism:

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:8-11, ESV)

So what do we do? What does it mean to be dead to sin? Work hard. Do what’s necessary for the church to continue doing its work. Make sure Jesus Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sin is proclaimed from this pulpit. Give generously to the budget of the church and for missionaries in all parts of the world. Care for your neighbors when they need it, no matter what the need. Feed your family. Tell people about the forgiveness that God has for them in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Confess your conceit in all these things. Take your sin to Jesus. He will wash you in his blood shed on the cross. Open your mouth and receive the forgiveness that God pours into you through Jesus’ body and blood. And then rejoice in what he is doing in his church through you, in spite of your sin. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (July 5, 2009)

2009-07-02T07:57:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

Order of Matins LSB 219

Opening Versicles LSB 219
Venite LSB 220
Antiphon (Common) LSB 221
Psalm Psalm 123:1–4
Office Hymn: 839 O Christ, Our True and Only Light LSB 839

Readings From Holy Scripture
Old Testament Reading Ezekiel 2:1–5
Epistle 2 Corinthians 12:1–10
Holy Gospel Mark 6:1–13

Responsory Common LSB 221
Sermon
Te Deum LSB 223
Offering
Prayer
Kyrie LSB 227
Lord's Prayer
Collect for The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Additional Collects of Intercession and Thanksgiving
Collect for Grace
Benedicamus LSB 228
Benediction LSB 234
Hymn: 966 Before You, Lord, We Bow LSB 966

July Chimes Available

2009-06-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

The July Edition
of the Chimes Newsletter
is available at

July Chimes (pdf format)

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

Adult Bible Class - White Horse Inn, Basic Doctrine Quiz (Continued)

2009-06-26T15:56:00.001-05:00

June 28, 2009

This week we are continuing or study The White Horse Inn - Basic Doctrine Quiz.

White Horse Inn is a nationally syndicated radio talk show hosted by Michael Horton, Rod Rosenbladt, Kim Riddlebarger and Ken Jones. On the air since 1990, the show features a regular roundtable discussion of Christian theology and apologetics.

The main motivation for holiness is fear of punishment and hope of reward.

False.
This Error is an improper distinction between Justification and Sanctification

i.e. John Wesley (Methodism)

Justification – Coming to faith
Sanctification – Growing in faith

Resource: The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel (@cph)

Author: C. F. W. Walther – 1st President of the Missouri Synod
Seminal work
Definition of “Missouri Synod Lutheran”
The true knowledge of the distinction between the Law and the Gospel is not only a glorious light, affording the correct understanding of the entire Holy Scriptures, but without this knowledge Scripture is and remains a sealed book.

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (June 28, 2009)

2009-06-25T10:53:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (June 28, 2009)

Confession and Absolution

Hymn of Invocation: 737 Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing LSB 737
Invocation LSB 203
Confession of Sins LSB 203
Absoluton LSB 203

Service of the Word

Introit Introit for The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Ps. 121:5–8; antiphon: Ps. 121:1–2
Kyrie LSB 204
Gloria in Excelsis LSB 204
Collect for The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Old Testament Reading Lamentations 3:22–33
Epistle 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, 13–15
Holy Gospel Mark 5:21–43
Nicene Creed
Hymn of the Day: 742 For Me to Live Is Jesus LSB 742
Sermon
Prayer of the Church
Offering

Service of the Sacrament

Preface LSB 208
Sanctus LSB 208
Prayer of Thanksgiving for The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Lord's Prayer
The Words of Our Lord
Pax Domini LSB 209
Agnus Dei LSB 210
Distribution
Distribution Hymn: 922 Go, My Children, with My Blessing LSB 922
Distribution Hymn: 760 What God Ordains Is Always Good LSB 760
Nunc Dimittis LSB 211
Post-Communion Collect
Benedicamus and Benediction

Hymn: 390 Let Us All with Gladsome Voice LSB 390

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, VBS Registration

2009-06-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Mission society wins lawsuit on 'leafleting' gay festival

2009-06-19T07:12:00.000-05:00

June 18, 2009 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 50

Mission society wins lawsuit on 'leafleting' gay festival

By Paula Schlueter Ross

The Apple of His Eye, a St. Louis-based LCMS mission society, is free to distribute religious literature at public events in the city of St. Louis, according to a U.S. District Court judge.

On June 11, Judge Henry Autrey signed a permanent order that bars the city from arresting or threatening to arrest members of The Apple of His Eye while they are handing out their literature.

The First Amendment lawsuit was filed last year after Apple of His Eye missionary Alan Butterworth and founder Steve Cohen were distributing free religious tracts in the city's Tower Grove Park during a 2006 "gay pride" event. Both men were first told to cease literature distribution at PrideFest, and later told to vacate the premises or face arrest.

The attorney for The Apple of His Eye, Rick Nelson of the American Liberties Institute in Orlando, Fla., brought the matter to the city's attorneys, hoping for an amicable resolution. When no progress was made, the lawsuit was filed by the mission society on May 1, 2008.

Cohen said the group "got tired of being threatened with arrest" and "just wanted to bring it to an end." Cohen and a seminary student recently were confronted by police at two events in April -- the women's Final Four basketball tournament and opening day of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball season.

"When religious freedom is at stake," Cohen said, "I've always felt that our constitutional rights here in the United States should be affirmed and upheld, and that's what we tried to do."

The Gospel handouts, or "broadsides" -- written especially for the PrideFest event -- did not mention homosexuality, but focused on the fact that "all of us are sinful. All of us fall short," said Cohen. "But God loves us so much that -- while we were yet sinners -- He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."

"We can't tell people how to live," he added, "but we can tell people what Jesus did for them. And from there, the work of the Holy Spirit in a person's life is powerful and mighty and capable of bringing change."

As a result of the lawsuit, the city has rescinded a part of its bylaws that bans literature distribution and is required to let police and PrideFest organizers know that handing out religious fliers is allowed.

Cohen says he is "thrilled" at the judge's decision and will be at this year's PrideFest, June 27-28 in St. Louis. He said he is hoping for 15 to 20 volunteers to join him.

"Going out and talking to people about Jesus is one of the best ways you learn to sharpen your own skills in personal witness," he said, and volunteers don't have to be Jewish. The society's mission is to "boldly declare Y'shua (Jesus) as the Messiah for both Jews and gentiles," and to "urgently equip the church to do the same."

The ministry's work "is with anybody who is unchurched and needs to hear who Jesus is," according to Cohen.

"Our prayer is that Christians will take seriously the Great Commission and take the initiative to reach out in their own communities as opportunities become available," he said. "We can help!"

The Apple of His Eye offers free religious handouts that congregations can print and distribute. In fact, Cohen says he will even write a Gospel tract for a specific event, if a congregation requests it, and offers free PDF copies of his book, Beginning from Jerusalem, a 156-page primer on sharing your faith with others.

His organization routinely hands out broadsides at sporting events, concerts, parades, festivals, and other public gatherings that allow it "to maximize the opportunities to reach a lot of people in a short amount of time." Often, volunteers will begin a conversation with, "What do you think of Jesus?"

The Apple of His Eye distributed about 60,000 Gospel tracts during a recent "Taste of Chicago" event, which led to "hundreds and hundreds of conversations, and of those conversations, about 200 people gave us their names and addresses for follow-up," Cohen said. Those contacts are forwarded to local LCMS congregations and the Jews for Jesus organization.

For more information about The Apple of His Eye, contact Cohen at steve.cohen@appleofhiseye.org or 636-326-4040, ext. 3. Or, visit the ministry's Web site at www.appleofhiseye.org.

Technorati Tags: Apple of His Eye,Persecution,LCMS,Mission Work

Our New Johannes Opus 17 Organ Installed

2009-06-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Our new organ was installed on June 2, 2009. Watch for a dedication recital in the near future!

The Third Sunday after Pentecost (June 21, 2009)

2009-06-16T14:58:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: Green

The Third Sunday after Pentecost (June 21, 2009)
Order of Matins

Psalmody
Venite LSB 220
Antiphon (Common) LSB 221
Psalm Psalm 124:1–8

Office Hymn: 726 Evening and Morning LSB 726

Readings From Holy Scripture

Old Testament Reading Job 38:1–11
Epistle 2 Corinthians 6:1–13
Holy Gospel Mark 4:35–41

Responsory Common LSB 221
Sermon
Canticle Te Deum LSB 223
Offering
Prayer
Kyrie LSB 227
Lord's Prayer
Collect of the Day Collect for The Third Sunday after Pentecost
Additional Collects of Intercession and Thanksgiving
Collect for Grace
Benedicamus LSB 228
Benediction LSB 234

Hymn: 722 Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me LSB 722

Good Questions to Ask (Tiller's) Pastors

2009-06-04T18:05:00.000-05:00

Dave Welch has a great article yesterday at World Net Daily (June 2) (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=99830) asking the right questions about Abortionist Dr. Tiller's church and pastors. It gets to the very heart at what the Church is and exactly what its mission is. His question is a good question for all congregations and pastors to consider. Welch asks:

I have to ask the question that is one which strikes at the heart of much of our spiritual, social, moral and political condition today. What was he being taught in this church? Tiller was obviously comfortable in this church, and it is evident that the pastoral leadership was comfortable with him.

He responds what a nice analogy and a great Law / Gospel distinction.

In an analogy that may bring some criticism, suppose a known drug lord or pimp attended this church and gave substantial contributions? Would he have been given the status and gratitude for his generosity that Tiller apparently enjoyed? Those others may be operating outside the boundaries of man's law while Tiller was within; however, all were equally outside the laws of God.

We live in a day where the power of God is non-existent in many churches – possibly most – because we have either rejected the authority of Scripture, or more predominantly in the evangelical church we are focused far more on "comforting the afflicted" than "afflicting the comfortable." We should do both.

Welch zeros in on the exact problem. Churches have "rejected the authority of scripture," he says. They are more interested in filling coliseums, expanding buildings, and conforming to business models that promote "growth" than the real mission of the church. His exposition of Matthew 28 is right on target.

The passage in Matthew 28:18-20 known as the Great Commission does not command us to fill coliseums, expand our buildings, or increase our budgets – or accommodate the world. It does command us to do three things:

Make disciples of the nations – disciples are "pupils";

Baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – spiritual rebirth is FIRST;

Teach them to observe all He commanded – All four elements are essential:
– Teach – Impart with integrity to the text and context
– All – Don’t leave anything out between Genesis and Revelation
– He – Jesus was involved in authoring all Scripture
– Commanded – If we want the "benefits," we must follow "The Way."

When will the American Church wake up and break off its love affair with death, sodomy, and earthly wealth? Lord, have mercy.

Pastor Watt.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=99830

Technorati Tags: Church Growth,Tiller,Abortion,Church,Pro-Life

Festival of the Holy Trinity (June 7, 2009)

2009-06-02T13:48:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: White

Festival of the Holy Trinity (June 7, 2009)
Divine Service, Setting Four

Confession and Absolution

Hymn of Invocation: O Sing to the Lord sts. 1–5 LSB 808
Invocation LSB 151
Exhortation LSB 151
Confession of Sins LSB 151
Absolution LSB 151

Service of the Word

Introit Introit for The Holy Trinity Ps. 16:8–11; antiphon: Liturgical Text
Kyrie LSB 152
Hymn of Praise Alabaré - I LSB 799
Salutation and Collect of the Day Collect for The Holy Trinity

First Reading Isaiah 6:1–8
Epistle Acts 2:14, 22–36
Common Alleluia and Verse LSB 156
Holy Gospel John 3:1–17

Hymn of the Day: Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying LSB 826
Sermon
Athanasian Creed LSB 319
Prayer of the Church
Offering
Offertory LSB 159

Service of the Sacrament

Preface LSB 160
Proper Preface (Full) Proper Preface for The Holy Trinity
Sanctus LSB 161
Prayer of Thanksgiving LSB 161

Lutherans For Life Statement on the George Tiller Murder

2009-06-01T16:47:00.000-05:00

June 1, 2009

Lutherans For Life (LFL) joins pro-life groups across the country in extending our sympathy to the family of George Tiller, the late-term abortionist who was gunned down Sunday morning in his church. We join other pro-life groups in denouncing this action as evil. No circumstances justify the violent murder of another human being.

God’s Word tells us not to fight evil with evil but to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Based on that same Word of God, LFL believes that abortion is a great evil, the violent murder of another human being that deeply grieves the Author and Redeemer of life. But we oppose the use of evil to overcome this evil. We have the greatest “good” there is to use against it, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. LFL strives to apply the Gospel to the life issues, to change hearts and minds so that people will turn to the Lord of Life and not the god of death as the solution to difficult circumstances. We want to make the killing of children in the sanctity of the womb as unthinkable and deplorable as the killing of George Tiller in the sanctity of his church.

While George Tiller was a member of a Lutheran denomination that does not officially oppose abortion, it should be noted that almost all other Lutheran denominations do take an official stance that opposes abortion and asserts the God-given value of human life from conception to natural death.

We commend the Tiller family and all affected by this tragic event into the loving arms of a crucified and risen Savior. May He be at work in all of this according to His good and gracious will.

http://lutheransforlife.org/

Technorati Tags: abortion,tiller,Lutherans for Life

Missional and Liturgical... Possible?

2009-05-29T08:18:00.001-05:00

Often the dichotomy is drawn between Missional and Liturgical. "You can't be interested in 'reaching people for Jesus' and hold on to that old stuffy liturgy." Here's an example of both together.

(HT: Cyberbrethren)

In a world that is moving faster and faster and farther and farther away from stability, we find comfort in the stability of Jesus Christ our Savior. He comes to us in Word and Sacrament every week. We hear over and over again of the great love of God in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Traditional worship offers us the opportunity to slow down and receive the gifts God gives in the same way as Christians have received them for two thousand years.

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church offers traditional historic worship services centered on Jesus Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sin.

In the Divine Service God comes to us in Word and Sacrament (Holy Baptism and Holy Communion) to give us the forgiveness of sins won for us by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Please join us as God brings to us these amazing gifts.

June Chimes Available

2009-05-28T14:32:00.001-05:00

The June Edition
of the Chimes Newsletter
is available at

June Chimes (pdf format)

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

Organ Replacement. (Updated 5-26-2009)

2009-05-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

Totals to Date

3-May Cash:200; Pledge: 1,400; Total: 1,600

10-May Cash: 1450; Pledge: 4,475; Total: 5,925

17-May Cash: 500; Pledge: 875; Total: 1,375

24-May Cash: 575; Pledge: 1,275; Total 1,850

Memorials Dedicated to Organ: $2,193

Total: $12,935

Thanks be to God! He has blessed us with a new organ to replace our old faithful (but worn out) one. Thanks to all who pledged and gave to this project.

This organ, a Johannes Opus 17, is of very high quality. Simple, yet elegant, and easy to install, it has many features needed to reliably accompany us during the Divine Service. The warranty is outstanding, offering ten years on the electronic components, five years on all other components and three years on labor.

The Organ will be installed as soon as we can get some training for the organists.

Festival of Pentecost, May 31, 2009

2009-05-26T09:59:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: Red

Festival of Pentecost, May 31, 2009
Divine Service 1, LSB 151
No Holy Communion

Confession and Absolution

Opening Hymn 497 Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord      LSB 497
Invocation     LSB 151
Exhortation     LSB 151
Confession of Sins     LSB 151
Absolution     LSB 151

Service of the Word

Introit for The Day of Pentecost Ps. 104:24, 27–28, 30; antiphon: Liturgical Text
Kyrie     LSB 152
Hymn of Praise 799 Alabaré - I      LSB 799
Collect for The Day of Pentecost

First Reading    Ezekiel 37:1–14
Response Hymn 808 O Sing to the Lord     sts. 1–5 LSB 808
Epistle    Acts 2:1–21
Common Alleluia and Verse     LSB 156
Holy Gospel    John 15:26–27; 16:4–15

Hymn of the Day 491 Up through Endless Ranks of Angels      LSB 491
Sermon
Apostles' Creed
Prayer of the Church
Offering
Offertory     LSB 159
Lord's Prayer
Benediction
Closing Hymn 895 Now Thank We All Our God      LSB 895

Announcements for May 24, 2009

2009-05-22T10:12:00.001-05:00

Announcements

Our missionary Pastor Dan Vogel will be our special guest on June 7^th. Pastor Vogel will be bringing us news of his work among our Hispanic brothers and sisters here in Iowa. He will also share with us God’s Word as our guest preacher and bible class leader. There will be a pot-luck lunch following pr. Vogel’s bible class!

Please give items for the Sunday bulletin to pastor in writing in the mailbox slot "bulletin" (found at the lower left side of the member mailboxes in the narthex) or eMail them to bulletin@trinitycreston.org

Please notify pastor when you make a change to the church calendar outside the church office.

Please place articles for the Chimes in the "Chimes" mailbox found at the lower left side of the member mailboxes, or eMail articles to chimes@TrinityCreston.org

New eMails! Please take note of these changes in Trinity's eMail addresses. Trinity Lutheran Church - tlc@TrinityCreston.org; Pastor - pastor@TrinityCreston.org; Chimes Articles - chimes@TrinityCreston.org; Bulletin Announcements - bulletin@TrinityCreston.org; Preschool Teachers - preschool@TrinityCreston.org

Lutheran Witness Subscriptions! Please notify pastor if you want to receive the Lutheran Witness.

Please contact Bill Magers if you are willing to help mow the church property.

Adult Bible Class today is at 10:15am. We are continuing our Basic Doctrine Quiz. Topic today “True or False: The Bible teaches that there is an age of accountability, and that children who die before this age go to heaven because they are innocent.”

Life Qutoe: "As many as an estimated nine out of ten children with Down syndrome are aborted in the womb, sought out by increasingly sophisticated prenatal tests and eliminated as too flawed, too burdensome, too different to live. This is the ugly eugenic underbelly of American life, even as we congratulate ourselves on our tolerance and diversity." Rich Lowry, columnist This "Life Quote" is from Lutherans For Life – www.lutheransforlife.org.

Stewardship for the 7th Sunday of Easter 1 John 5:9-15: Christian stewards have courage in God’s presence because we are sure that He hears us if we ask for anything that is according to His will. God’s love is shown in giving; our love is also shown in giving.

There will be a voters meeting today, immediately following worship to make a final decision on the Organ.

You are cordially invited to a retirement celebration dinner for Reverend Larry Troxel on August 22, 2009 at 6pm. Tony's East Room 810 Hampshire Quincy, IL

CONTENDING FOR TRUTH IN AN AGE OF ANTI-TRUTH...Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. Topics include: Is Islam a Religion of Peace?, "Angels & Demons" by Dan Brown, Adoption, Decision Theology, Handel's Messiah and more. You can listen to what you want when you want at www.issuesetc.org.

This Week at Trinity

Sun May 24 7th Sunday of Easter

9am Divine Service with Holy Communion

10:30am Voter's Meeting (Organ project)

10:15am Sunday School

Adult Bible Class will follow the Voter’s Meeting.

Mon May 25 Pastor's Day Off - Memorial Day

Tue May 26 SWCC - Early Childhood Board Workshop

6:30am Early Risers (HyVee)

1:30pm Sermon Broadcast on

PirateChristianaRadio.com

Wed May 27 7:30pm Trustees Meeting

Sat May 30 10am Pastor at Convention Committee Mtg.

Grace Luth. Storm Lake, IA

Sun May 31 The Festival of Pentecost

Guest preacher Pr. Dan Vogel

9am Divine Service

10:15am Sunday School and Bible Classes

11:30am Mission Fest Pot-Luck.

God’s People at Prayer

Cancer: Lynne Reeves

Cancer: McKenna Brown

Cancer: Shelly Cabbage, Friend of Phil and Anita Wardenburg.

Cancer: Trevor Hanson

Cancer: Vyck - Bill Mager's brother-in-Law

Cancer: Patty - Bill Mager's sister

Critically Ill: Bob Rassmussen.

Recovering: Joel Herzberg:

Critically Ill: Baby Kaylee

Ill: Jessica - Neice of Marti Williams

Missions: Rev. Daniel Vogel, Missionary to Hispanic in Dennison

Missions: Rev. Dennis Konkel Missionary to the Deaf in Des Moines

Shut-ins: Ruth Chase, Dale Keating, Wilma Cottrell, Pauline Young

Serving Today:

Altar: Gene and Dorothy Cook, Pat Barkalow

Organist: Sharon Ekland

Elder: Chuck Bowman

Acolyte: Jay Wolfe

Finance: Jay Bochart, Chuck Bowman

Ushers: Karl Peterson, Darwin Scott, Jack Quee, Lynn Kruse

Serving Next Sunday, May 31

Acolyte: Madison Peterson

Orgainist: Julie Lang

Altar: Gene and Dorothy Cook, Pat Barkalow

Elder: Gene Cook

Finance: Jay Bochart, Chuck Bowman

Ushers: Karl Peterson, Darwin Scott, Jack Quee, Lynn Kruse

Contact us:

2009-05-22T10:06:00.000-05:00

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
800 N. Sumner Ave.
Creston, IA 50801
phone: (641)782-5095
eMail: tlc@TrinityCreston.org

Pastor: Rev. Jonathan C. Watt
Phone: (641)782-0027
eMail: Pastor@TrinityCreston.org

Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00AM / Sunday School and Adult Bible Class: 10:15AM

$500 Lutheran Scholarships to ISU.

2009-05-20T15:25:00.000-05:00

From: Joe Eisenbacher [mailto:bacherbsy(at)gmail.com]
Subject: ISM Scholarship

Greetings in Christ!

I'm Joe Eisenbacher, an Iowa State University student and member of Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames, Iowa. The International Student Ministry at Memorial is offering two $500 scholarships to incoming Lutheran freshmen men and women to Iowa State University in the Fall of 2009. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide an opportunity for young men and women to be apart of the mission field that is present even in the heart of Iowa. Attached to the email is the application. Please be sure to let your graduating high schoolers know, or even put it in your bulletin/newsletter!! Feel free to make copies of the application as well. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at (cell) 712.292.9754 or (email) bacher(at)iastate.edu . Thank you very much for your time and blessings!

In Christ,
Joe Eisenbacher
Beta Sigma Psi | Recruitment Chair
ISM Inc. | International Peer Minister
Dance Marathon

Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 24, 2009

2009-05-19T09:11:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: White

Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 24, 2009
Divine Service 1, LSB 151
With Holy Communion

Confession and Absolution

Opening Hymn The Church's One Foundation LSB 644

Invocation LSB 151

Exhortation LSB 151

Confession of Sins LSB 151

Service of the Word

Introit Ps. 27:1a, 4–5, 10, 14; antiphon: Ps. 27:7

Kyrie LSB 152

This Is the Feast LSB 155

Collect for The Seventh Sunday of Easter

First Reading    Acts 1:12–26

Epistle    1 John 5:9–15

Common Alleluia and Verse     LSB 156

Holy Gospel    John 17:11–19

Hymn of the Day From All That Dwell Below the Skies LSB 816

Sermon

Nicene Creed

Prayer of the Church

Offering

Offertory LSB 159

Service of the Sacrament

Preface LSB 160

Proper Preface for The Seventh Sunday of Easter

Sanctus LSB 161

Prayer of Thanksgiving LSB 161

Lord's Prayer

The Words of Our Lord LSB 162

Pax Domini LSB 163

Agnus Dei LSB 163

Distribution

O Sing to the Lord sts. 1–5 LSB 808

Alabaré LSB 799

Post-Communion Canticle

Thank the Lord LSB 164

Post-Communion Collect

Benediction LSB 166

Hymn I Love Your Kingdom, Lord LSB 651

NEW! Trinity Facebook Page.

2009-05-18T14:41:00.000-05:00

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Creston, IA's Facebook Page

Promote Your Page Too

Sixth Sunday in Easter, May 17, 2009

2009-05-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: White

Sixth Sunday in Easter, May 17, 2009
Divine Service 1, LSB 151
No Holy Communion

Confession and Absolution

Hymn of Invocation: Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower LSB 694

Service of the Word

Introit for The Sixth Sunday of Easter Ps. 66:1–2, 8–9, 20; antiphon: Ps. 66:16
Kyrie LSB 152
Hymn of Praise Gloria in Excelsis LSB 154
Collect for The Sixth Sunday of Easter

First Reading Acts 10:34–48
Epistle 1 John 5:1–8
Common Alleluia and Verse LSB 156
Holy Gospel John 15:9–17

Hymn of the Day: Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice LSB 556
Sermon
Apostles' Creed
Prayer of the Church
Offering
Offertory LSB 159
Lord's Prayer
Benediction (Aaronic)

Hymn: Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus LSB 660

Announcements for May 10, 2009; Fifth Sunday in Easter

2009-05-09T13:59:00.001-05:00

Adult Bible Class Today 10:15am. Basic Doctrine Quiz.

Please notify pastor when you make a change to the church calendar outside the church office.

Chimes Deadline is this Friday.

Please place articles for the Chimes in the "Chimes" mailbox found at the lower left side of the member mailboxes, or eMail articles to chimes@TrinityCreston.org

Follow Trinity Creston on Twitter: News, Meeting Reminders, etc. http://twiiter.com/TrinityCreston

The June Worship Assistant Signup Sheet is on the Narthex Table.

The Board of Education would like to recognize ALL graduates (College and High School) next Sunday. Please give names to Julie Lang, Randy Roghair, Pat Stream or Pastor Watt.

Camp Okoboji will be having 2 more volunteer weekends. We need volunteers to help ready your Camp for the coming summer months. On Saturday May 2 we would like as many youth groups as possible to come and help clean the grounds (rake leaves and level the ground where we have had to dig up water lines and where we have had new construction). On Friday and Saturday May 8 and 9 we can use as many volunteers as possible to finish all the jobs we did not get finished on our Volunteer Weekend of April 24 and 25. We will furnish housing and meals, please call Lorene at 712-337-3325 if you can come, if you need housing and which meals you will be eating with us. We look forward to see you at one of these weekends.

If you are interested in hosting a bible study in your home please contact Pastor Watt

Missed out on Getting Treasury of Daily Prayer for your daily devotions? Only in May! Get the Treasury for 1/2 price. Deluxe Edition now $40 (reg: $80). Regular Edition now $25 (reg $50). Talk to pastor Watt or call CPH 800-325-3040.

Word for Today Devotions are available by phone. Call (901) 328-7672. Regular long distance charges apply.

Stewardship for May 10th – 5th Sunday of Easter 1 John 4:1-11: This passage of Holy Scripture encourages us to love one another because love comes from God who sent His only-begotten Son into the world so that we might have life through him. God’s stewards demonstrate their love for Him by loving others.

Organ Pledge Forms are available on the narthex table.

Worship Assistants

Sun May 10

Acolyte: Dorian Petersen

Altar: Gene and Dorothy Cook, Pat Barkalow

Organist: Janette Lang

Finance: Jay Bochart, Chuck Bowman

Elder: Gene Cook

Ushers: Karl Peterson, Darwin Scott, Jack Quee, Lynn Kruse

Sun May 17

Altar: Gene and Dorothy Cook, Pat Barkalow

Elder: Gene Cook

Orgainst: Sharon Ekland

Finance: Jay Bochart, Chuck Bowman

Acolyte: Ashtyn Riley

Ushers: Karl Peterson, Darwin Scott, Jack Quee, Lynn Kruse

This Week at Trinity

Sun May 10 9am Divine Service with Holy Communion

10:15am Sunday School and Bible Classes

Mon May 11 Pastor's Day Off

12:30pm – 3:30pm Preschool

Tue May 12 6:30am Early Risers (HyVee)

8:30am – 11am Preschool

12:30pm – 3:30pm Preschool

1:30pm Streams of Living Water, Sermon Broadcast (PirateChristianaRadio.com)

5:30pm Habitat for Humanity Meeting (FH)

6:30pm Preschool Board

Wed May 13 12:30pm – 3:30pm Preschool

1:30pm Naomi Circle

7:30pm Elder's Meeting

Thu May 14 8:30am – 11am Preschool

9:30am Preschool Pastor Time (3yr)

12:30pm – 3:30pm Preschool

1:30pm Preschool Pastor Time (4yr)

Fri May 15 Chimes Newsletter Deadline

Sun May 17 9am Divine Service

10:15am Sunday School and Bible Classes

GOD’S PEOPLE AT PRAYER

All Mothers. Cancer: Lynne Reeves, McKenna Brown, Trevor Hanson (5 yr old Great-nephew of Jim Hagen), Vyck - Bill Mager's brother in-law, Patty - Bill Mager's sister; Critically Ill: Bob Rassmussen; Joel Herzberg: severely injured in skiing accident, Kaylee, Jessica; Missions: Rev. Daniel Vogel, Missionary to Hispanic in Dennisonm, Rev. Dennis Konkel Missionary to the Deaf in Des Moines; Shut-ins: Ruth Chase, Dale Keating, Wilma Cottrell, Pauline Young

Video Presentation about our Sister Congregation, Faith Lutheran in Winterset, IA

2009-05-06T11:19:00.001-05:00

Faith Lutheran Church, Winterset, IA

Children in the Divine Service by Dan at Necessary Roughness.

2009-05-06T07:27:00.001-05:00

Dan at Necessary Roughness has a nice piece on "Children in the Divine Service". Read the whole thing here.

The key paragraph is:

Youngsters can participate in worship, but even if they cannot, they are still included. Sometimes they need to be picked up in one arm and LSB in the other arm, and head gestures are used to draw the child’s focus on the music and the text. They will pick up on what’s going on, especially when the service is consistent from week to week. If they don’t, it may be their present God-given office to just listen

BTW: Dan is a Pirate. He has a short program of Readings and Hymns on Pirate Christian Radio (Thursdays at 11am, Central) . You can get his podcast at Necessary Roughness or listen on Pirate Christian Radio.

Pirate Christian Radiogreat free widgetsWidgetbox

Worship this Week - May 3, 2009; Fifth Sunday in Easter

2009-05-05T11:50:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: White

Fifth Sunday in Easter, May 3, 2009
Divine Service 1, LSB 151

Confession and Absolution

Hymn of Invocation: 865 Lord, Help Us Ever to Retain LSB 865

Service of the Word

Introit Ps. 145:1–2, 8, 10, 21; antiphon: John 16:16
Kyrie LSB 152
Hymn of Praise This Is the Feast LSB 155
Collect for The Fifth Sunday of Easter

First Reading Acts 8:26–40
Epistle 1 John 4:1–11
Common Alleluia and Verse LSB 156
Holy Gospel John 15:1–8

Hymn of the Day: 633 At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing LSB 633
Sermon
Nicene Creed
Prayer of the Church
Offering
Offertory LSB 159

Service of the Sacrament

Preface LSB 160
Proper Preface for The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Sanctus LSB 161
Prayer of Thanksgiving LSB 161
Lord's Prayer LSB 162
The Words of Our Lord LSB 162
Pax Domini LSB 163
Agnus Dei LSB 163
Distribution

Distribution Hymn: 808 O Sing to the Lord LSB 808
Distribution Hymn: 619 Thy Body, Given for Me, O Savior LSB 619

Post-Communion Canticle
Thank the Lord LSB 164
Post-Communion Collect
Benediction LSB 166
Hymn: 601 All Who Believe and Are Baptized LSB 601

VBS - July 13-17

2009-05-01T14:39:00.000-05:00

Watch for more info on Trinity VBS here.

Pastor Todd Peperkorn pre-Reviews The Lutheran Study Bible available from CPH in October.

2009-05-01T14:29:00.001-05:00

Pastor Peperkorn has a nice pre-review of The Lutheran Study Bible from CPH. Take the time to read it here.

May Chimes Available

2009-05-01T11:38:00.001-05:00

The May Edition
of the Chimes Newsletter
is available at

May Chimes (pdf format)

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

Confirmation Questioning Tonight 7:30pm

2009-04-29T10:17:00.001-05:00

Confirmation Questioning for

Adam Bochart, Mason Peterson, Jacob Wolfe

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Creston, IA 50801

April 29, 2009 ~ 7:30pm

Fourth Sunday in Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday; May 3, 2009

2009-04-28T08:28:00.001-05:00

Liturgical Color: White

Fourth Sunday in Easter, May 3, 2009
Divine Service 1, LSB 151

Confession and Absolution

711 Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us LSB 711

Invocation LSB 151
Exhortation LSB 151
Confession of Sins LSB 151
Absolution LSB 151

Service of the Word

Introit Ps. 23; antiphon: John 10:14, 15b
Kyrie LSB 152
Hymn of Praise This Is the Feast LSB 155
Salutation and Collect of the Day

First Reading Acts 4:1–12
Epistle 1 John 3:16–24
Common Alleluia and Verse LSB 156
Holy Gospel John 10:11–18

710 The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want LSB 710

Sermon
Apostles' Creed
Prayer of the Church
Offering
Offertory LSB 159
Lord's Prayer
Benediction (Aaronic)

740 I Am Jesus' Little Lamb LSB 740

Announcements for April 26, 2009

2009-04-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

Adam Bochart & his family invites the congregation to a reception in celebration of his confirmation. It will be Sunday, May 3rd from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at their home (1104 N. Elm St.)

Please give items for the Sunday bulletin to pastor in writing in the mailbox slot "bulletin" (found at the lower left side of the member mailboxes in the narthex) or eMail them to bulletin@trinitycreston.org

Please notify pastor when you make a change to the church calendar outside the church office.

Please place articles for the Chimes in the "Chimes" mailbox found at the lower left side of the member mailboxes, or eMail articles to chimes@TrinityCreston.org

Church eMails! Please take note of these changes in Trinity's eMail addresses. Trinity Lutheran Church - tlc@TrinityCreston.org; Pastor - pastor@TrinityCreston.org; Chimes Articles - chimes@TrinityCreston.org; Bulletin Announcements - bulletin@TrinityCreston.org; Preschool Teachers - preschool@TrinityCreston.org

Now receive daily news eMail from Trinity! 1. Goto the church web page http://www.TrinityCreston.org; 2. Click on "Subscribe to Daily eMail News Update" (Right below the weather box) 3. Enter you eMail address in blank box next to the mailbox. 4. Click on "Submit Query"; Now every day there's news you'll receive an email.

Life Quote: April 26 "Here are words from the One who thought you valuable enough to die for: ‘God will redeem my soul from the grave; he will surely take me to himself’ (Psalm 49:15)." Pastor Mark Jeske, speaker on Time of Grace This "Life Quote" is from Lutherans For Life – www.lutheransforlife.org.

Stewardship in 1 John 3:1-7: By God’s grace we are declared His children. Two of the things that God delights in doing is loving and giving (John 3:16). As the Holy Spirit empowers us we can become more and more like our Heavenly Father and also delight in loving and giving,

Adult Bible Class (Sunday 10:30am)

Early Risers meet at HyVee every Tuesday at 6:30am for bible study

Last Adult Information Class tonight 7:30pm Fellowship Hall.

Worship Assistants

Sun May 3
Organist: Sharon Ekland Altar: Gene and Dorothy Cook, Pat Barkalow
Finance: Jay Bochart, Chuck Bowman Acolyte: Jacob Wolfe
Elder: Gene Cook Ushers: Karl Peterson, Darwin Scott, Jack Quee, Lynn Kruse

Sun May 10
Acolyte: Dorian Petersen Altar: Gene and Dorothy Cook, Pat Barkalow
Finance: Jay Bochart, Chuck Bowman Organist: Janette Lang

Elder: Gene Cook Ushers: Karl Peterson, Darwin Scott, Jack Quee, Lynn Kruse

This Week at Trinity

Sun Apr 26 9am Divine Service with Holy Communion
    10:15am Sunday School and Bible Classes
    6:30pm Mother's Tea (FH)
    7:30pm Adult Information Class

Mon Apr 27 Pastor's Day Off
12:30pm – 3:30pm Preschool

Tue Apr 28 6:30am Early Risers (HyVee)
    8:30am – 11am Preschool
    12:30pm – 3:30pm Preschool
    1:30pm Streams of Living Water, Sermon Broadcast www.PirateChristianaRadio.com

Wed Apr 29 12:30pm – 3:30pm Preschool
6pm Confirmation Class
7:30pm Confirmation Questioning

Thu Apr 30 8:30am – 11am Preschool
    9:30am Preschool Pastor Time (3yr)
    12:30pm – 3:30pm Preschool
    1:30pm Preschool Pastor Time (4yr)

Sat May 2 9am – 12pm Stewardship 360 - St. Paul Lutheran Church,400 S. 13th Street, Fort Dodge, IA

Sun May 3 Confirmation Sunday
    9am Divine Service
    10:15am Sunday School and Bible Classes
    12pm – 4:30am Mason Peterson Confirmation Reception (FH)

GOD’S PEOPLE AT PRAYER… Trevor Hansen, Vyck and Patty, Jessica, Joel Herzberg, Kaylee, Troy and Corina; Shut-in: Ruth Chase, Wilma Cottrell, Dale Keating, Pauline Young; Missionaries: Rev. Daniel Vogel & Rev. Dennis Konkel

The March of Time, Use of the Common Cup

2009-04-23T11:40:00.001-05:00

Guest Blogger Rev. David Schultz, St. John Lutheran Church, Fenton, IA

1st Century, Jesus Christ, uses the common cup to institute His supper.
2nd Century-the church spreads across the Mediterranean, the first generation of pastors, all trained by the apostles, use the common cup.
3rd Century, the Great Persecutions of the church. Hidden in the catacombs, in the tombs of the dead, all Christians use the common cup in worship.
4th Century, the Christian church becomes the official faith of the Roman Empire. In the newly triumphant churches, they use the common cup.
5th Century, the Roman Empire of the West falls to barbaric German tribes (maybe your ancestors). The Christian missionaries to those tribes use the common cup.
6th Century, The Dark Ages, not much is known of this time period, due to the fall of civilization. What we do know, is that in all the churches, they use the common cup.
7th Century, the new religion of Islam conquers the Christian lands of the Middle East. In those now captive churches, they still use the common cup.
8th Century, Christian troops in what is now France stop the Islamic invasion at a place called Tours. They use the common cup in their victory mass.
9th Century, the kingdoms that will become France and Germany form. In all Christian lands, they use the common cup in communion.
10th Century-Great monasteries are founded, that later will grow into Medieval cities. The savage Viking begins to be Christianized by monks and priests. In those monastic houses in the wilderness, the common cup is used.
11th Century, the western catholic and eastern orthodox churches split. But in both the east and the west, the Christians use the common cup.
12th Century, the great crusades are underway, to reconquer the Middle East and Spain from Islam. The crusaders use the common cup, even as they search for the Holy Grail, the cup of Christ.
13th Century, the Black Death stalks across Europe, killing up to 40% of the population. In those places where Christians survive, the common cup is used.
14th Century, the Hundred Years War between England and France is underway. But in the camps of both armies, they still use the common cup.
15th Century, The Eastern Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople, falls to invading Islamic armies. In the last church service before the city falls, all Christians, west and east, join together to use the common cup for communion, (oh, and a place called America is discovered).
16th Century, Martin Luther reforms the churches of Northern Germany and in Scandinavia. In all churches, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Reformed and Orthodox, one issue that they agree on, is to use the common cup.
17th Century, The 30 Years War roars across Europe, while puritan Pilgrims settle in new American lands. All the churches still use the common cup.
18th Century, 13 of the 15 British colonies declare independence. The first Lutheran synod in North America is founded. All the churches use the common cup.
19th Century, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is founded. All Missouri Synod churches use the common cup.
20th Century, Because of World War I and II, the Missouri Synod switches languages, from German to English. In most churches up to the 1970s and '80s, the common cup is used. But because so many have become afraid of germs, the individual cup is introduced.
21st Century, You now have a choice to make. Like most of the Christians of previous centuries, you can use the common cup, or you can choose to use this innovation. It is still the Blood of Christ, shed for the forgiveness of sins, no matter what vessel is used. But the common cup does symbolize our unity, both with other Christians today, as well as those in the past, in the One Christ. Now you can make an informed decision.
God bless you now and always in Christ, Amen.

Technorati Tags: Holy Communion,Common Cup

Third Sunday in Easter, April 26, 2009

2009-04-21T08:57:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: White

Third Sunday in Easter, April 26, 2009
Divine Service 4, LSB 203

Confession and Absolution

505 Triune God, Be Thou Our Stay     LSB 505
Invocation     LSB 203
Exhortation     LSB 203
Confession of Sins     LSB 203
Absolution     LSB 203

Service of the Word

Introit    Ps. 30:1–5; antiphon: Ps. 16:11b
Kyrie     LSB 204
Gloria in Excelsis     LSB 204
Salutation and Collect of the Day

First Reading     Acts 3:11–21
Epistle     1 John 3:1–7
Alleluia and Verse      LSB 205
Holy Gospel     Luke 24:36–49

Nicene Creed LSB 206
483 With High Delight Let Us Unite LSB 483
Sermon
Prayer of the Church
Offering

Service of the Sacrament

Preface     LSB 208
Sanctus     LSB 208
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lord's Prayer     LSB 209
The Words of Our Lord
Pax Domini     LSB 209
Agnus Dei     LSB 210

Distribution

459 Christ Is Arisen LSB 459
680 Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise LSB 680

Nunc Dimittis     LSB 211
Post-Communion Collect
Benedicamus and Benediction     LSB 212
725 Children of the Heavenly Father     LSB 725

Youth Group News

2009-04-20T07:52:00.001-05:00

Conference Schedule July 7-10, 2009

This is a basic outline of the tentative schedule for both of the 2009 SOLA conferences so that groups can get a general idea of what goes on during the week. The schedules will not be finalized until just before the conference. And even then, minor changes have been known to happen on the fly during the conference itself!

Second Sunday in Easter, April 19, 2009

2009-04-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: White

Second Sunday in Easter, April 19, 2009
Divine Service I, LSB 151

LSB 467 Awake, My Heart, with Gladness

Confession Absolution

Invocation       LSB 151
Exhortation      LSB 151
Confession of Sins       LSB 151
Absolution       LSB 151

Service of the Word

Introit Ps. 105:1–5, 8; antiphon: 1 Peter 2:2–3
Kyrie LSB 152
Hymn of Praise This Is the Feast LSB 155
Salutation and Collect of the Day

First Reading    Acts 4:32–35
Epistle 1 John 1:1—2:2
Alleluia and Verse Common Alleluia and Verse     LSB 156
Holy Gospel      John 20:19–31

LSB 470 O Sons and Daughters of the King

Sermon
Apostles' Creed
Prayer of the Church
Offering
Stand
Offertory LSB 159
Lord's Prayer
Benediction

LSB 477 Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven

Statement on Gay Marriage in Iowa - Dr. Paul G. Sieveking, President, Iowa District West; and Dr. Gary M. Arp, President, Iowa District East

2009-04-13T17:15:00.000-05:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of our Crucified and Risen Savior, Jesus, this Holy week.
Like many of you, we were saddened and offended by Iowa Supreme Court ruling regarding “same sex marriage” and the response of the leaders of the Iowa Legislature ruling out any effort to overturn the decision or even discuss it.
Today there are voices telling us that we must learn to “accept” the changes that are taking place in society. The reality is, society no longer values the church’s role, is suspicious of our views, and considers us irrelevant. Society has lost its moral foundation upon which to base any decisions regarding true and false, good and evil, right and wrong.
As Lutheran Christians we have a duty and an unprecedented opportunity to speak to society the will of God as revealed to us in His Holy Word for this is the only solid foundation upon which a civilized society can stand. The Law of God declares that homophile behavior is intrinsically sinful (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom.1:24–27). The Gospel declares that Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2) and that Christ, who knew no sin, was made to be our sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). The church’s proper evangelical work is to proclaim the reconciliation of the sinner to God in the death of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:18–19).
Therefore, we cannot be silent regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling, but must faithfully and publicly speak against it. For we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that ‘we’ may declare the praises of him who called ‘us’ out of darkness into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:9
We will continue to define marriage as God has, “a lifelong union of one man and one woman.” We will celebrate His gift to us and defend marriage as Martin Luther reminds us in his explanation of the sixth commandment, “We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.”
We encourage our pastors and congregations to minister to homosexuals and their families with love and concern, calling for repentance and offering forgiveness in the Good News of Jesus Christ when there is repentance.
We are attaching a copy of the 2008 letter from Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in response to the California Supreme Court ruling and a copy of Resolution 3-05A adopted at the LCMS 2004 Convention both of which further clarify our church body’s position. We encourage an “in depth” study of the Bible passages cited so that all of our people might be informed by God’s Word.
We urge all of God’s people to pray for our elected leaders, our legislature, our judges that our God will grant them wisdom and understanding so that they might govern us according to His will so that our nation, our state, our communities, and all people might be truly blessed.
Your Servants in Christ,
Dr. Paul G. Sieveking, President Dr. Gary M. Arp, President
Iowa District West, LCMS Iowa District East, LCMS

Statement from the President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in Response to California Supreme Court Ruling on Same-Sex “Marriage”

2009-04-13T17:05:00.000-05:00

June 24, 2008
The recent decision of the California Supreme Court legalizing same-sex “marriage” highlights the downward spiral of moral values that is becoming so prevalent in our culture. This most recent action contravenes not only the Judeo-Christian values that have defined the moral compass of this great nation, but also the laws of nature and the natural reproductive process.
In the face of such moral decline, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has consistently upheld the Bible-based values that designate “marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:2–24; Matthew 19:5–6)” (2004 LCMS Convention Resolution 3-05a, attached. All subsequent quotations are from this resolution). The LCMS has consistently held that “homosexual behavior is prohibited in the Old and New Testaments [of Holy Scripture] (Leviticus 18:22, 24; 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9–20; 1 Timothy 1:10) as contrary to the Creator’s design (Romans 1:26–27).”
As a Christian body in this country, the LCMS has the duty and responsibility to speak publicly in disagreement with this action of the California Supreme Court. In the present context we cannot be silent, since such silence “could be viewed as acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle.” Accordingly, we as a church body urge our leaders, members, congregations, and all Christians, “to give a public witness from Scripture against the social acceptance and legal recognition of homosexual ‘marriage.’”
While this occasion calls us to declare that homosexual behavior is both unnatural and sinful, (see Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:24–27), we also recognize that it is necessary to respond to these “sexual sins with the same love and concern as all other sins, calling for repentance and offering forgiveness in the Good News of Jesus Christ when there is repentance.”
“The Gospel declares that Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2) and that Christ, who knew no sin, was made to be our sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is the church’s proper evangelical work to proclaim the reconciliation of the sinner to God in the death of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18–19) in a spirit of compassion and humility, recognizing that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23–24).”
Finally, we pray that all people, especially men and women properly united as husbands and wives, will honor God’s divinely ordained relationship of marriage. And we pray that all husbands and wives will “give thanks to God for the blessings of marriage, lead a chaste and decent life, and each love and honor one’s spouse.”
Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

"Transforming lives through Christ's love ... in time ... for eternity ..." John 3:16-17

2004 Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; RESOLUTION 3-05A; To Affirm Marriage as Union of One Man and One Woman

2009-04-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

WHEREAS, The LCMS, in convention, in 1973, stated in Res. 2-04 (Proceedings, p. 110): “That the Synod recognize homophile behavior as intrinsically sinful” (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom.1:24–27); and
WHEREAS, The Gospel declares that Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2) and that Christ, who knew no sin, was made to be our sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21); and
WHEREAS, The church’s proper evangelical work is to proclaim the reconciliation of the sinner to God in the death of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:18–19); and
WHEREAS, The Synod, in convention (2001 Res. 2-08A), encouraged its congregations “to minister to homosexuals and their families in a spirit of compassion and humility, recognizing that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:23–24)”; and
WHEREAS, Many in American society are demanding legal recognition of same-sex unions as “marriages” by appeals to “equality under the law” (e.g., the Supreme Court of the State of Massachusetts, Feb. 4, 2004); and
WHEREAS, God gave marriage as a picture of the relationship between Christ and His bride the Church (Eph. 5:32); and
WHEREAS, Homosexual behavior is prohibited in the Old and New Testaments (Lev. 18:22, 24; 20:13; 1 Cor. 6:9–20; 1 Tim. 1:10) as contrary to the Creator’s design (Rom. 1:26–27); and
WHEREAS, For our Synod to be silent, especially in the present context, could be viewed as acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod urge its members to give a public witness from Scripture against the social acceptance and legal recognition of homosexual “marriage”; and be it further
Resolved, That in ministering to homosexuals, “A Plan for Ministry to Homosexuals and Their Families,” prepared by the President’s Task Force, be commended as a resource for study and a guide for pastoral care; and be it further
Resolved, That the members of the Synod deal with sexual sins with the same love and concern as all other sins, calling for repentance and offering forgiveness in the Good News of Jesus Christ when there is repentance; and be it further
Resolved, That husbands and wives give thanks to God for the blessings of marriage, lead a chaste and decent life, and each love and honor one’s spouse; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS, in convention, affirm, on the basis of Scripture, marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:2–24; Matt. 19:5–6).

Please join for Holy Week Services at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

2009-04-09T16:00:00.000-05:00

April 9th - Holy Thursday

6:00 pm - Passover Haggadah Seder Supper (reservations required).
7:30 pm - Maunday Thursday Service with Holy Communion.

April 10th - Good Friday

7:00 pm - Good Friday Tenebre Service.

April 12th - The Festival of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

7:00 am - Sunrise Service with Holy Communion.
8:00 am - Easter Breakfast (sponsored by the Trinity Youth Group)
10:00 am - Festival of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ with Holy Communion.

April Chimes is Available

2009-04-06T09:31:00.001-05:00

The April Edition
of the Chimes Newsletter
is available at

April Chimes (pdf format)

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

Death Visited Our House Today - From the Pastor.

2009-04-01T12:47:00.000-05:00

(Written Friday, March 13, 2009)

Death visited our house again today. No, it wasn’t any of my children or my wife or any other person in the family. It was Sugar. She was our pet. I know, it isn’t the same. And yet, we still feel the same. After all she had been a part of our family for six years. She was a Latino Cockatiel, beautiful yellow with big dark eyes and that red spot on the side of her head. Every morning when we got up she would chirp a good morning. At night when it was time to go to bed, Sugar was the one who tried to keep us on schedule with an obnoxious squawk. She enjoyed watching movies with us. I think she liked Fred and Ginger better than James Bond, but we all enjoyed them together. We also joked that she was the only Orthodox Lutheran Cockatiel in the world. In the morning if we weren’t prompt in turning on Pirate Christian Radio, she would begin to complain. She listened with raped attention to Issues, Etc. and Fighting for the faith. I’m sure she was tempted to use the comment line a time or two. The thing is she was a part of our household and a part of God’s creation that we lived with every day. We hated death that took this little treasure from us. So, we cried. We groaned.

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:20-21, ESV)

The trouble is this isn’t the last time we’ll face this problem. And next time it just might be a child, a parent, a sister, a spouse, or a brother. This little death only points out that there is more to come, more hating death, more crying, more groaning.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56, ESV)

And there it is; we sinners facing the sting of death; we sinners facing our mortality; we sinners facing the wages of our sin.

My daughter, 17, asked if animals go to heaven. There’s no good answer. I told her that God created animals and loves them as a part of his creation. And thanks be to Jesus, when he comes again we will live in a new heavens and new earth, a physical place full of physical things, made to have relationships with physical human beings. There were animals in the Garden; it seems to me they’ll be animals in eternity with Christ, too. When Jesus comes again all things will be made new.

But there real issue here isn’t weather Sugar will be with us in paradise. We faced our sin today. We faced our death. Without Christ, facing death would truly be a hopeless prospect. With Christ, death is swallowed up in victory.

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:50-55, ESV)

Our comfort in the face of death is the death and resurrection of Christ. He makes the difference between hopelessness and hope-full-ness. In the future we will still face the crying and groaning, but for us the groaning has an answer. The answer is Jesus.

Jesus, our Savior, died on the cross as the punishment for our sin. When we face death, we don’t face the sting of it anymore. Our sins are forgiven. The law that requires our permanent punishment has been taken out of the picture by Jesus. Our death doesn’t lead to eternal death, eternal punishment and separation from God and each other; instead it leads to eternal life. Jesus shows this to us in his resurrection. He didn’t stay dead. After three days He rose again. He lives. He gives us the promise of life after death with him. And there is even more. Jesus is returning to end the groaning forever. Death has been swallowed up in victory. For now we must die. When he comes again death will come to an end. The pain of death is knowing that it will end, and wishing for that to happen now.

You see, it doesn’t really matter if the death we are talking about is the death of a bird, our beloved pet Sugar, or the death of a young child, an old woman, or my death or yours. Jesus is still the answer. Jesus is still the hope. Jesus stands in the face of death. Thanks be to God he gives us the victory, in Jesus Christ.

That little yellow bird has left a hole in our hearts, a part of the groaning of creation. But the groaning will end. Come, Lord Jesus, Come! Amen.

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Lent 6; April 1, 2009;

2009-03-30T10:23:00.000-05:00

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Lent 6
Petition, Provision, Proclamation

Order of Service

Lighting of the Lenten Cross

+ As the season of Lent wanes, one candle is lit as a reminder that we are drawing near to Holy Week +

Lenten Candle (Isaiah 55:5-7)

423 Jesus, Refuge of the Weary

Invocation

I: Men; II: Women

Confession and Absolution

First Reading Jonah 3:5–10
Holy Gospel Matthew 20:1–16

Apostles' Creed

611 Chief of Sinners Though I Be

Sermon Part 6: “About Face!”
Offering
Prayers
Lord's Prayer
Benediction (Aaronic)

878 Abide with Me st. 6

Help Protect Conscience Rights for Health Care Workers.

2009-03-30T06:50:00.000-05:00

Urgent Action Needed!

Join LCMS Life and Health Ministries in urging U.S. Health and Human Services to safeguard current regulations protecting health care workers’ “conscience rights.” HHS is accepting public comment until April 9 regarding the proposed repeal.

Laws established over the past 35 years guaranteeing health care workers’ freedom from religious and moral discrimination are under challenge after seven states and two pro-abortion groups filed suit. Foreseeing this possibility, the Bush administration attempted to shore up these protections in Dec. 2008, by issuing what’s become known as the “conscience rule.” The Obama administration has called for a repeal of this rule.

What can I do?

Read:

http://www.lcms.org/ca/worldrelief/ministries/life/20090326_Protect_Health_Care_Workers_Conscience_Right.pdf

Act:

It is imperative that individuals and groups who oppose the repeal send comments immediately. For more information, contact Karner at Maggie.karner@lcms.org or 800-248-1930, ext. 1371. Comments may be submitted electronically at www.Regulations.gov or by e-mail at
proposedrescission@hhs.gov.

For More Information:

Lutherans for Life
http://lutheransforlife.org/
LCMS World Relief and Human Care
http://www.lcms.org/ca/worldrelief/
Freedom to Care
www.freedom2care.org
Family Research Council
www.frc.org
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
www.usccb.org/conscienceprotection
National Committee for a Human Life Amendment
www.nchla.org

Technorati Tags: Obama,LCMS World Relief and Human Care,Conscience Rights,Health Care,Lutherans for Life

Announcements - Mar 29, 2009

2009-03-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Life Quote: "When I saw the embryo, I suddenly realized there was such a small difference between it and my daughters. I thought, we can’t keep destroying embryos for our research. There must be another way." Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, professor at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences at Kyoto University, in "Risk Taking Is in His Genes," New York Times. This "Life Quote" is from Lutherans For Life – www.lutheransforlife.org.

Now receive daily news eMail from Trinity! 1. Goto the church web page http://www.TrinityCreston.org; 2. Click on "Subscribe to Daily eMail News Update" (Right below the weather box) 3. Enter you eMail address in blank box next to the mailbox. 4. Click on "Submit Query"; Now every day there's news you'll receive an email.

Adult Bible Class (Sunday 10:30am) We are continuing our “Basic Doctrine Quiz” Please join us for a review of the basics of the Christian faith.

Adult Information Class: (Sunday 7:30pm) Three classes left. Please feel free to come and learn with us.

Early Risers meet at HyVee every Tuesday at 6:30am for bible study

For more information in mission work to the deaf in Iowa District West go to the Trinity web site (TrinityCreston.org) and click on "Missions" on the top or side bar menu.

Passover Hagadah. Seder Supper. Means "Passover Telling" on Maunday Thursday (Apr 9, 6:30pm). Many volunteers are needed for this event. Please contact me or the church office. Reservations.

Stewardship in Hebrews 5:1-10: This passage of Scripture reminds us Christian stewards that we are at the very same time saints and sinners. As such we thank God for declaring us saved through Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit we are equipped to better manage all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.

Our Last Board of Missions "Mission Coffee" will be this week after each Lenten services. This week’s topic Pastor Daniel Vogel, Iowa District West Hispanic Missionary. Good coffee, fellowship and information!

Worship This Week

Altar: Anita Wardenburg, Carla Roghair, Becky Hagen

Acolyte: Reagan Brown

Ushers: Lyle Scheel, Randy Ehm, Jim Nelson

Elder: Chuck Bowman

GOD’S PEOPLE AT PRAYER

Patty & Vyck, Jessica, Troy & Corina & baby, Kaylee, Joel Herzberg, Trevor Hanson; Shut-ins: Ruth Chase, Wilma Cottrell, Dale Keating, Pauline Young;

Missionaries: Rev. Daniel Vogel & Rev. Dennis Konkel

Worship Next Week

Elder: Jim Nelson Altar: Chuck and Paula Bowman

Ushers: Norm Schroeder, Eric Eklund, Steve Bradley Acolyte: Josh Reed

Deaf Ministry in Iowa District West, LCMS

2009-03-26T08:15:00.001-05:00

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church supports Pr. Dennis Konkel with prayer and money.

Pastor Dennis Konkel and missionary Pat Monroe reach out the deaf in Iowa. They bring joy and salvation through-out the District to the hearing impaired. They are making new contacts and converts in Ames, Atlantic, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Red Oak and many other locations in Iowa.

Pr. Konkel serves Calvary Lutheran Church for the Deaf, Des Moines, Ames and Fort Dodge

The church web site is http://www.ioweb.com/calvary/

Here are some web resources for Deaf Missions:

DeafJesus.org is a resource site for deaf and hard of hearing people in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. It is also a resource site for churches that have deaf and hard of hearing members.
http://www.deafjesus.org/
LCMSDeaf.org is the Synod's support page for deaf missions.
http://www.lcmsdeaf.org/

To support Iowa West Deaf Missions you can give online here:

http://iowawest.org/district_news/giving_opportunities/index.htm

Technorati Tags: deafjesus,deafmissionwork,pastorkonkel

Fifth Sunday during Lent, March 29, 2009

2009-03-25T19:30:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: Purple

Fifth Sunday during Lent, March 29, 2009
Matins, LSB 219

Opening Versicles LSB 219

Psalmody

Antiphon (Common) LSB 220

Venite LSB 220

Antiphon (Common) LSB 221

Psalm Psalm 119:9–16

Office Hymn LSB 430

Readings

Old Testament Jeremiah 31:31–34

Epistle Hebrews 5:1–10

Holy Gospel Mark 10:35–45

Responsory for Lent LSB 222

Hymn LSB 439 sts. 1–5, 15

Sermon

Canticle Te Deum LSB 223

Offering

Prayer of the Church

Kyrie LSB 227

Lord's Prayer

Introduction to Collects LSB 227

Collect of the Day Prayers

Collect for Grace

Benedicamus LSB 228

Closing Hymn LSB 878

Important info from Lutherans for Life!

2009-03-25T13:53:00.001-05:00

Many people are aware that President Obama is in the process of rescinding a regulation from late in the Bush administration allowing health-care workers to refuse to provide services based on moral objections.

What many do not realize is that the required public comment phase began March 10 and ends April 9.

It is also very difficult to find the link to provide such comment. Click here for the link―and please pass along.

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=SubmitComment&o=090000648090229f

Jim Lamb

Lutherans For Life

Lutherans For Life
1120 South G Avenue
Nevada, IA 50201-2774

A Message from Dr. Oliver

2009-03-23T10:40:00.001-05:00

Pastor Carl Hanson and I rode the 6 hour bus winding through small Philippino villiages to Baguio in the highlands to teach Lay training for about 70 participants who are leaders and evangelists in the Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP). The LCP has 92 churches, many mission stations, 26 ordained pastors and a large number of Lay leaders. Their Ablaze goal is to establish 100 new churches by the 500th anniversary of the Reformation (October 31, 2017), thus the importance of Lay training for outreach and nurturing ministry! Pray for the evangelism and minstry of the Lutheran Church in the Philippines.

Photo: PHILIPPINE LAY TRAINING

Pastor Carl Hanson teaches about preparing Christ centered messages for Bible study and preaching to about 70 leaders in the Lutheran Church in the Philippines in Baguio during a March Lay training for Ablaze outreach and ministry.

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Lent 5; March 25, 2009

2009-03-23T10:20:00.000-05:00

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Lent 5
Petition, Provision, Proclamation

Order of Service

Lighting the Lenten Cross

+ As we are in the fifth week of Lent, two candles are lit to stand for the time that remains of this season as we progress closer to Christ's death. +

Lenten Candle (Joel 2:13-14)

436 Go to Dark Gethsemane

Invocation
Psalm Psalm 2

First Reading Jonah 3:1–4
Holy Gospel Matthew 8:5–13

Apostles' Creed

430 My Song Is Love Unknown

Sermon Part 5: “The God of the Second Chance”
Offering
Confession and Absolution
Prayers
Lord's Prayer
Benediction (Aaronic)

878 Abide with Me st. 6

Adult Bible Class

2009-03-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Sunday March 22, 2009

This week we are continuing or study The White Horse Inn - Basic Doctrine Quiz.

This week:

True or False:

The only way we can be saved is by the perfect conformity to the law of God.

Study Resources

For this Week: The Active & Passive Obedience of Christ
- Read this online article by Dr. Rod Rosenbaldt of the White Horse Inn Radio Program - Christ Alone & the Pastor
- Listen to this Issues, Etc. program on the Active and Passive Obedience of Christ with Dr. RosenBladt

General Lutheran Doctrine Resources
- Luther's Small Catechism - Handbook of Christianity
- The Book of Concord - The Lutheran Confessions
- An Explanation of Luther's Catechism - Questions and Answers
- Issues, Etc. - Radio for the Thinking Christian
- The WhiteHorse Inn - Reformation Theology and Apologetics
- LCMS Doctrine Statements - The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod

Fourth Sunday during Lent, March 22, 2009

2009-03-21T19:00:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: Purple

Fourth Sunday during Lent, March 22, 2009
Divine Service I, LSB 151

Confession and Absolution

571 God Loved the World So That He Gave
Invocation     LSB 151
Exhortation     LSB 151
Confession of Sins     LSB 151
Absolution     LSB 151

Service of the Word

Introit Ps. 27:3–5; antiphon: Ps. 27:1
Kyrie LSB 152
Salutation and Collect of the Day

Old Testament Reading Numbers 21:4–9
Epistle Ephesians 2:1–10

Verse for Lent LSB 157

Holy Gospel John 3:14–21

837 Lift High the Cross
Sermon
Nicene Creed
Prayer of the Church
Offering
Offertory LSB 159

Service of the Sacrament

Preface     LSB 160
Proper Preface (Full)
Sanctus     LSB 161
Prayer of Thanksgiving     LSB 161
Lord's Prayer     LSB 162
The Words of Our Lord     LSB 162
Pax Domini     LSB 163
Agnus Dei     LSB 163
Distribution

744 Amazing Grace
702 My Faith Looks Up to Thee
426 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Nunc Dimittis     LSB 165
Post-Communion Collect
Benediction     LSB 166
895 Now Thank We All Our God

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Lent 4; March 18,2009

2009-03-16T10:16:00.000-05:00

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Lent 4
Petition, Provision, Proclamation

Order of Service

Lighting of the Lenten Cross

+ As we are in the fourth week of Lent, three candles are lit to stand for the three remaining weeks of this season of confession and absolution. +

Lenten Candle (Selected verses from Psalm 69)

770 What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Invocation
Confession of Sins Jonah 2

Holy Gospel Matthew 7:1–11

Apostles' Creed (Paragraph)

779 Come, My Soul, with Every Care

Sermon Part 4: “Praying in the Belly of the Great Big Fish”
Offering
Prayers
Lord's Prayer
Benediction (Aaronic)

878 Abide with Me st. 6

Third Sunday during Lent; March 15, 2009

2009-03-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Liturgical Color: Purple

Third Sunday During Lent, March 15, 2009
Divine Service I, LSB 151

Confession and Absolution

Opening Hymn 981 To Your Temple, Lord, I Come

Invocation     LSB 151
Exhortation     LSB 151
Confession of Sins     LSB 151
Absolution     LSB 151

Service of the Word

Introit Ps. 69:14–16; antiphon: Ps. 69:9
Kyrie LSB 152
Salutation and Collect of the Day

Old Testament Reading Exodus 20:1–17
Epistle 1 Corinthians 1:18–31

Verse for Lent LSB 157

Holy Gospel John 2:13–22

Hymn of the Day 645 Built on the Rock

Sermon
Apostles' Creed
Prayer of the Church
Offering
Offertory     LSB 159
Lord's Prayer
Collect
Aaronic Benediction

Closing Hymn 579 The Law of God Is Good and Wise

Pastor Watt's Bible Study in the March 2009, Lutheran Witness.

2009-03-11T15:42:00.001-05:00

This month is pastor Watt's final installment of three in a row for "Searching Scriptures" in the Lutheran Witness.

Greetings, O Favored Ones: The Lord Is with You

Right now you have to read the printed edition for the whole study.

After this month the three studies will be posted here.

These are Pastor Watt's articles in the witness.

Search Scriptures Bible Studies:

Feature Articles:

The Future of American Evangelicalism Michael Spencer of InternetMonk.Com, Issues, Etc.

2009-03-11T15:12:00.001-05:00

The Future of American Evangelicalism
Michael Spencer of InternetMonk.Com

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Lent 3, March 11, 2009

2009-03-10T08:59:00.001-05:00

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Lent 3
Petition, Provision, Proclamation

Order of Service

Lighting the Lenten Cross
Lenten Candle (Psalm 130:1-2)

427 In the Cross of Christ I Glory

Invocation
Confession and Absolution

837 Lift High the Cross     sts. ref, 1–3

First Reading     Jonah 1:1–17
Holy Gospel     Matthew 14:14–21
Apostles' Creed

837 Lift High the Cross     sts. ref, 4–6

Sermon    Part 3: “Our Providing God”
Offering
Stand
Prayers
Lord's Prayer
Benediction

878 Abide with Me     st. 6

Preschool Pastor Time

2009-03-06T14:20:00.002-06:00

Pastor Watt and the Trinity preschool children enjoying some time in the church.

Confirmation Class - Unit 4 – Exam Study Sheet for Exam on March 11, 2009

2009-03-04T19:00:00.001-06:00

Unit 4 – Exam Study Sheet

God’s Gifts – Confession and the Sacraments.

Exam on March 11, 2009

Applying Luther’s Catechism – Unit 40-54 (pg. 84-113)

Luther’s Small Catechism

Question 236-305 (blue pg. 197-241; red pg. 202-244)

Memory Work – The Apostles’ Creed with Luther’s Explanations (“What does this mean?”; Catechism, Blue pg. 13-15; Red pg. 15-17)

Sample Questions:

True / False

T / F God works faith in people through Baptism.

T / F Baptism takes place in the name of the Trinity.

T / F Adults should be baptized after they have been instructed in what Baptism is about.

T / F Repent means to have a changed mind about our sins and to want never to sin again.

T / F We must confess our sins before our pastor.

T / F Simon Peter instituted the Lord’s Supper.

T / F A person of weak faith may take the Lord’s Supper.

Multiple Choices

To baptize means to

a) To forgive

b) To wash

c) To heal

d) To cover

What does Baptism with water indicate

a) The drowning of the old sinful nature

b) The innocence of infants

c) The natural desire of humans to succeed.

d) The flood of blessings on all who are willing to help themselves.

Which of the following is NOT essential in order fro something to be identified as a sacrament.

a) Instituted by God

b) Uses visible elements that are joined to God’s Word

c) Requires special furnishings in the church

d) Offers believers the forgiveness of sins

What happens during the Lord’s Supper

a) Christ is sacrificed once more for the sins of the world.

b) The faith of believers is strengthened.

c) Unbelievers who participate are made holy.

d) Bread and wine are changed into Christ’s body and blood.

Second Sunday during Lent; March 8, 2009

2009-03-04T19:00:00.000-06:00

Liturgical Color: Purple

Second Sunday During Lent, March 8, 2009
Divine Service I, LSB 151

Confession and Absolution

Processional Hymn 912 Christ Is Our Cornerstone

Invocation LSB 151

Exhortation LSB 151

Confession of Sins LSB 151

Absolution LSB 151

Service of the Word

Introit Ps. 115:11–13, 18; antiphon: Ps. 25:6

Kyrie LSB 152

Salutation and Collect of the Day

Old Testament Reading     Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16

Epistle     Romans 5:1–11

Verse for Lent     LSB 157

Holy Gospel     Mark 8:27–38

Hymn of the Day 708 Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart

Sermon

Stand

Nicene Creed

Prayer of the Church

Sit

Offering

Stand

Offertory LSB 159

Service of the Sacrament

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;

Preface LSB 160

Sanctus LSB 161

Prayer of Thanksgiving LSB 161

Lord's Prayer LSB 162

The Words of Our Lord LSB 162

Pax Domini LSB 163

Agnus Dei LSB 163

Distribution

563 Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness

798 The God of Abraham Praise

Post-Communion Canticle

Nunc Dimittis LSB 165

Post-Communion Collect

Benediction LSB 166

Closing Hymn 922 Go, My Children, with My Blessing

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Lent 2, March 4, 2009

2009-03-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Lent 2
Petition, Provision, Proclamation

Order of Service
Lighting of the Lenten Cross
+ As we are in the second week of Lent, five candles are lit to stand for the five remaining weeks of this season of repentance +
Lenten Candle (From Psalm 27)

715 Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

Confession and Absolution

PSALM Portions of Psalm 139
First Reading Jonah 1:4–16
Holy Gospel Matthew 8:23–27

Apostles' Creed

702 My Faith Looks Up to Thee

Sermon Part 2: “Saved in the Storm”

Offering
Prayers
Lord's Prayer
Benediction

878 Abide with Me st. 6

Messanic Passover Haggadah ("Telling")

2009-02-28T10:00:00.002-06:00

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-25, ESV)

It was Passover night when Jesus sat with his disciples and taught them the meaning of the Passover celebration given to them by God after he brought them out of Egypt. Join with us as we see how this meal points to what our Savior did for us on the cross. Learn about the setting He used to give to us Holy Communion. Enjoy Christian fellowship and education. The Seder (order of service) will include a full meal.
The Passover Haggadah and meal will be held on Maundy Thursday, (April 9th, 2009) 6:00pm in the Trinity Fellowship Hall. A free will donation will be taken to help defray the cost. Reservations are necessary; please make yours by signing the sheet in the church narthex or contacting the church office (641) 579-5095 or tlc@TrinityCreston.org.

First Sunday during Lent; March 1, 2009

2009-02-25T19:00:00.000-06:00

Liturgical Color: Purple

First Sunday During Lent
Divine Service I, LSB 151

Processional Hymn LSB 915 Today Your Mercy Calls Us
Confession and Absolution LSB 151

Service of the Word

Introit Ps. 91:9–13; antiphon: Ps. 91:15–16
Kyrie LSB 152
Salutation and Collect of the Day

Readings

Old Testament Reading     Genesis 22:1–18
Epistle     James 1:12–18
Verse for Lent    LSB 157
Holy Gospel     Mark 1:9–15

Hymn of the Day 657 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Sermon
Apostles' Creed
Prayer of the Church
Offering
Offertory     LSB 159
Lord's Prayer
Closing Collect
Benediction
Recessional Hymn 707 Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways

Ashes to Ashes...

2009-02-25T13:48:00.001-06:00

We stand at the edge of the grave, peering in. The pastor says those well known funeral words “We now commit the body of our brother to the ground. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…” As we stand there looking at death we realize that our whole lives are spent standing right there at the edge of the grave. The funeral that we attend will be ours, too. Death will claim us.

Today is Ash Wednesday. In many churches today, repentant sinners will approach the altar to receive a sign of morality and death. The pastor uses his thumb to mark the forehead with a dark smudge in the shape of a cross. The traditional words spoken by the pastor are “Remember, O Man, that thou art dust and to dust you shall return.” Again we are reminded of the grave in our future. We are reminded in a vivid picture that “the wages of sin is death.” All who sin, die.

And yet, there is Good News. The ashes are drawn in the shape of the cross. It is at the cross that our Savior faced death. With repentant hearts we remember the price paid by our Savior to save us from our death. Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross to pay the wages of our sin. Jesus dies the death of all sinners. God, the Father, heaped on him the punishment that all deserve. He was crucified, dead and buried. And Jesus Christ rises again to new life. After three days in death He rose again. Death, the wages of sin, is paid in full with the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. Death cannot hold him captive. He has defeated it. Jesus Christ promises new life to us, too. The ashes in the shape of a cross tell the story. Thru the cross, Jesus brings to us the forgiveness of sin we need. Thru the cross and resurrection Jesus promises resurrection for all who look to him only for salvation. The dark cross shaped smudges remind us that our death is coming, but so is our new life in Christ.

“Remember, O Man, that thou art dust and to dust you shall return.”

Called to Glory - Nadine Heinicke

2009-02-23T10:40:00.001-06:00

Nadine Heinicke (widow of Rev. Edward Heinicke) was called to glory on Transfiguration Sunday, Feb. 22. The funeral service will be at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 239 Frank Street, Council Bluffs on Ash Wednesday morning, Feb. 25 at 10:00 a.m. A prayer service and visitation will be held on Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Cutler, O'Neill Funeral Home, 545 Willow Ave, Council Bluffs. The Heinickes served in several District settings: Trinity, Creston and Immanuel, Osceola from 1945-1948; Timothy, Council Bluffs from 1953-1962; Zion, Manning from 1964-1983. Pastor Heinicke had also assisted at St. Paul's, Council Bluffs in his retirement. Rev. Edward Heinicke passed away in 1990.

"I am the Resurrection and the Life; he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever livenh and believeth in me shall never die." John 11:25-26

Ash Wednesday Service, February 22, 2009, 7pm.

2009-02-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

Jonah, The Survivor Series: Ash Wednesday
Petition, Provision, Proclamation

Order of Service

Lighting of the Lenten Candles
Hymn: LSB 440 Jesus, I Will Ponder Now sts. 1–3
Invocation
Confession and Absolution
Imposition of Ashes
Hymn: LSB 440 Jesus, I Will Ponder Now sts. 4–6
First Reading Jonah 1:1–3
Holy Gospel Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21
Nicene Creed
Hymn: LSB 833 Listen, God Is Calling
Sermon Part 1: “God is Calling!”
Offering
Prayers

Service of the Sacrament

Preface LSB 216
Lord's Prayer LSB 217
The Words of Our Lord
Sanctus: LSB 507 Holy, Holy, Holy st. 1
Pax Domini LSB 217
Agnus Dei LSB 198
Distribution
LSB 362 O Sing of Christ
LSB 732 All Depends on Our Possessing
Post Communion Canticle LSB 617 O Lord, We Praise Thee st. 1
Post-Communion Collect
Benediction
Hymn: LSB 878 Abide with Me (st. 1)

Lenten Series: Jonah, the Survivor Series

2009-02-22T10:00:00.000-06:00

This Lent at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church
Join us for

Jonah, The Survivor Series

Petition, Provision, Proclamation

by Dr. Reed Lessing
Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology
Director of the Graduate School
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO

Join us every Wednesday at 7:00pm

February 25: Part 1: Ash Wednesday, “God is Calling!” (1:1-3)
March 4: Part 2: “Saved in the Storm” (1:4-16)
March 11: Part 3: “Our Providing God” (1:17)
March 18: Part 4: “Praying in the Belly of the Great Big Fish” (2:1-10)
March 25: Part 5: “The God of the Second Chance” (3:1-4)
April 1: Part 6: “About Face!” (3:5-10)
April 9: Part 7: Maundy Thursday, “On the Same Page” (4:1-2)
April 10: Part 8: Good Friday, “The Answer!” (4:3-11)
April 12: Part 9: Easter, “The Sign of Life!” (Matt 12:41)

February 22, 2009; The Transfiguration of Our Lord, Jesus Christ

2009-02-17T11:42:00.000-06:00

Liturgical Color: White

The Transfiguration of Our Lord, Jesus Christ

Divine Service I, LSB 151

Processional Hymn 414 'Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here

Service of the Word

Introit    Ps. 99:1–5; antiphon: Ps. 99:9

Old Testament Reading     2 Kings 2:1–12
Epistle     2 Corinthians 3:12–13; 4:1–6
Holy Gospel     Mark 9:2–9

Hymn of the Day 873 Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

Service of the Sacrament

Distribution Hymns

821 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
680 Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise
814 O Bless the Lord, My Soul

Recessional Hymn 537 Beautiful Savior

Two Hundred Years...

2009-02-17T07:46:00.000-06:00

Born 1809, Charles Darwin brought us the "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life" On this the 200th anniversary of his birth we would do well to revisit his theories. Particularly in light of the increased complexity of the cell.

Listen to the following thoughtful program on Issues, Etc. Todd's guest Dr. Michael Behe of Lehigh University, author of Darwin's Black Box. I highly recommend this book... and this podcast.

Subscribe to Daily eMail News Update from Trinity

2009-02-15T22:22:00.000-06:00

February 15, 2009; Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

2009-02-09T06:00:00.000-06:00

Liturgical Color: Green

Preparation

Processional Hymn - 694 Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower

Service of the Word

Old Testament Reading 2 Kings 5:1–14
Epistle 1 Corinthians 10:31—11:1
Holy Gospel Mark 1:40–45

Hymn of the Day - 394 Songs of Thankfulness and Praise

Recessional Hymn - 783 Take My Life and Let It Be

(hymns from Lutheran Service Book)

Issues, Etc. interviews Miss America. She is a Missouri Synod Lutheran.

2009-02-06T15:24:00.001-06:00

An Interview with Miss America
Miss America 2009 Katie Stam

Fellowship Hall Reservation Calendar

2009-02-06T14:02:00.000-06:00

Click here for a full screen view of the Calendar.

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (LC-MS) Calendar

2009-02-06T13:56:00.000-06:00

Click here for a full screen view of the Calendar.

From the Pastor: February 2009

2009-02-02T16:05:00.000-06:00

Dear Members of Trinity;

This month we will continue to talk about what we do on Sunday mornings. We've discussed the Invocation, the Introit, the Kyrie, and the Gloria. This month we will talk about that first prayer of the service, the Collect, and the greeting that is just before it called the Salutation. Collect is a strange name for a prayer, but it is all about collecting our thoughts together to speak to God about all that we will be hearing in His Word and the Sermon on that Sunday. The
Collect matches the theme for the day. It reflects the Introit before it and the Readings that will follow. Many times you will also hear it echoed in the Hymns that we sing together, especially the Hymn just prior to the Sermon. The Collect is a "collected" prayer. The church has been praying this kind of collected prayer for many centuries.

Many of the prayers that we use for Collects are very old. So, whenever we pray a Collect we are not only collecting our thoughts into a prayer, we are collecting the thoughts of the people of God throughout history too.

Traditionally, the Collect is shaped according to a five part form (and very often one single sentence):

Address - names the person of the Trinity to whom the prayer is spoken, usually the Father
Basis - the characteristic of God on which the prayer is based
Petition - the particular blessing requested
Benefit - the goal or desired outcome of the petition
Doxology - prayer is through Jesus Christ, to the Father, in the Holy Spirit as one God

Just prior to the Collect there is a short greeting called the Salutation. Pastor says, "The Lord be with you," to which the people say, "And with your spirit." Or "And also with you." This little greeting is more than just being polite. It is actually a blessing exchanged between the Pastor and people. The pastor blesses the people entrusted to his care by declaring that the Lord is with them. And the people in turn remind their pastor that the Spirit Lord is with him by
virtue of his Office as he prays on their behalf. The pastor is the collective mouth of the congregation, speaking in a single voice the collected prayer of God's people.

This greeting is also very old. We see a similar greeting in the Old Testament book of Ruth. Boaz greets his workers in the field "The LORD be with you." and they replied, "The LORD bless you." (Ruth 2:4) They were also reminding each other of God's continued blessing to them.

The LORD be with you this day as you remember His blessings.

Pastor Watt.

February 8, 2009; Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

2009-02-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

Liturgical Color: Green

Preparation

Processional Hymn - 693 O Holy Spirit, Grant Us Grace

Service of the Word

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 40:21–31
Epistle 1 Corinthians 9:16–27
Holy Gospel Mark 1:29–39

Hymn of the Day - 398 Hail to the Lord's Anointed

Service of the Sacrament

Distribution Hymns

684 Come unto Me, Ye Weary
578 Thy Strong Word

Recessional Hymn - 664 Fight the Good Fight

(hymns from Lutheran Service Book)