12-22-2024
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Announcements: December 22, 2024
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Fourth Sunday in Advent on December 22, 2024
Micah 5:2-5a Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1: 39-45 (46-56) Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[a] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Prayer List
Cancer:
Dannie Stephens
Lynn Shawley (mother of Deron Shawley)
On-going health concerns, Hospitalized, or Surgery/Recovery:
Dona Bowman (member)
Mark Andresen (nephew of Dennis & Jean Foglesong)
Dick Stream (brother of Cindy Isdahl)
Kevin Larsen (brother of Mark Larsen)
John Needles (friend of Mitzie Cellan)
Anna Needles (friend of Mitzie Cellan)
Martin Herzberg (son of Bruce and Beth Herzberg)
Don Harris (brother-in-law of Mitzie Cellan)
Sharyn Harris (sister of Mitzie Cellan)
Javier Solis Saldana
Shut-ins: Clara Buchanan, Ellen Brown
Military:
Kyle Marchok (husband of Lola Hembry’s granddaughter)
Missions:
Trinity Preschool (Creston)
Concordia Mission Society
Pastor James and Christel Neuendorf (Puerto Rico)
Pastor Daniel Vogel (Denison Hispanic Ministry)
Pastor James and Angela Sharp and Family (Uruguay)
Pastor Stephen and Maggie Oliver and Family (Taiwan)
Life Care Clinic, (Stuart, Creston & Atlantic)
This Week at Trinity
Sun., Dec. 22 Fourth Sunday in Advent
8:00 am Bible Class in Creston
9:00 am Divine Service/HC
10:00 am Fellowship time in Mt. Ayr & Creston
10:15 am Sunday School in Creston
11:00 am Divine Service in Mt. Ayr
Tues., Dec. 24 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Service in Mt. Ayr
7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service in Creston
Wed., Dec. 25 9:00 am Christmas Day Service/HC in Creston
Sun., Dec. 29 First Sunday after Christmas
8:00 am Bible Class in Creston
9:00 am Divine Service/HC
10:15 am Sunday School in Creston
No 11:00 service in Mt. Ayr
2:00 pm Closing Service /HC in Mt. Ayr
Doors will open at 1:00 with fellowship and
refreshments until the service starts.
Tues., Dec. 31 7:00 pm New Year’s Eve Service
Attendance from last Sunday, December 15, 2024
Creston 81
Mt. Ayr 14 Communed 13
From Dec. 18 Advent service in Creston 48
When writing down names on the attendance side of the attendance cards, remember to include any children who are attending church with you.
Serving at Trinity on Sunday, December 22, 2024
Accompanists (CR) Julie Lang (MA) Melody Stoner
Ushers in December: (CR) Ed Booth, Kevin Kruse, and Dean Hadley
Acolytes: Bethany Isdahl and Wyatt Swanson
Elder of the month for December: (CR) Dean Hadley
(MA) Doug Gooding
Finance Team in December: Dennis Brown & Joyce Kruse
Altar Guild for December: Tracy & Ed Booth
LIFE TOGETHER
VISITORS: We are so glad you joined us today. We do collect offerings during our worship services. While we
believe this is a chance for each believer to be a good steward of the gifts they have received from God, you are welcome but not expected to give an offering while you are our guest. If you would like to learn more about the Lord’s ministry here at Trinity please call Pastor Rutz.
He would love to get acquainted and visit at a time that is convenient for you. You are also invited to join members in the fellowship hall after the 9:00 service or prior to the 11:00 service for a time of fellowship.
Attendance Cards: Visitors and members are asked to fill out an attendance card and to list names of each family member in attendance. Turn in your card at the back of the church at the end of the service.
On Sundays when there is Holy Communion please list the names of those who will be communing on the Holy Communion registration side of the card. Hand it to an usher as you go up for communion.
If you have moved or your phone number or email address have changed, please note any changes on the attendance card so that we can update our records in the office.
Weekly bulletins, announcements, and sermons continue to be available on the church website.
Children in the Divine Service Sheets are available from the basket in the back of the church. Parents are encouraged to read these to/with their children. Each week will have a short explanation of a different part of the church service or about something found in the church. They another way to aid parents in teaching their children.
Maggie Dory (former member) will be having open heart surgery on January 6th. Prayers would be appreciated as she anxiously and apprehensively awaits this procedure. If you'd like to send her and Dave a Christmas card and/or Maggie a
card, their address is: 1025 W. Nobes Rd. York, NE. 68467
Birthday Celebration: Today, Dec. 22, Jack Quee turns 90 years young! His family hosted a card shower for him and will serve birthday cake in his honor during fellowship time following the service this morning. All are invited to stay and celebrate. If you’d still like to mail a card his address is:
Jack Quee 2306 190th St. Afton, IA 50830
Upcoming Schedule for Special Services and Activities
Dec. 24 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Service in Mt. Ayr
Dec. 24 7:00 pm Christmas Eve Service in Creston
Dec. 25 9:00 am Christmas Day Service/HC in Creston
Dec. 29 9:00 am Divine Service/HC in Creston
Dec. 29 No morning service in Mt. Ayr on 29th
Dec. 29 2:00 pm Closing Service/HC for Mt. Ayr site
Doors will open at 1:00 with fellowship and
refreshments until the service starts.
Dec. 31 7:00 pm New Year’s Eve Service in Creston
Jan. 5 8:30 a.m. Bible Class and Sunday School
Jan. 5 9:30 a.m. Divine Service/HC/Installation of officers
and board members
Jan. 5 Removal of the Greens following Divine Service
With plenty of helping hands the work will go more quickly.
Beginning January 5, 2025 New Schedule
8:30 a.m. Bible Class and Sunday School
9:30 a.m. Divine Service/HC
Fellowship time following the service.
Portals of Prayer for Jan.-Mar. are available in the back of the church this morning. These are excellent home devotion readings.
Offering Envelopes for 2025 have been placed in the church mailboxes. Reminder to pick your box up if you haven’t already.
Building Healthy Families: What do you do in your home to keep your family focused on the true meaning of Christmas? Time spent together without technology, taking turns reading aloud the “original” Christmas story from Luke 2 is one great idea. Praying together is another. Perhaps at Christmas dinner, invite your family to read a Christmas song as a prayer before the meal, with each member given a verse to share. The text from Martin Luther’s “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” (Lutheran Service Book #358) would be a beautiful family prayer. A blessed, peaceful and joyful celebration of Jesus’ this Christmas to you and yours ——from your friends at Lutheran Family Service!
Lutheran Family Service