12-29-2024
First Sunday after Christmas
Announcements: December 29, 2024
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
First Sunday after Christmas on December 29, 2024
Exodus 13:1-3a, 11-15 Colossians 3:12-17
Luke 2:22-40 Jesus Presented at the Temple
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] depart in peace,
according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[b] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
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)
Martin Herzberg (son of Bruce and Beth Herzberg)
Javier Solis Saldana
Maggie Dory
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. 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
Sun., Jan. 5 8:30 am Bible Class and Sunday School
9:30 am Divine Service/HC/Installation of officers
and board members
Removal of the Greens following the service
2:00 pm Preschool Board Meeting in FH
6:00 pm Food & Fellowship in FH
Attendance from last Sunday, December 22, 2024
Creston 70 Communed 63 Mt. Ayr 17
Christmas Eve CR 102 Christmas Eve MA not reported yet
Christmas Day CR 39 Communed 34
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 29, 2024
Accompanists (CR) SOS (MA) Melody Stoner
Ushers in December: (CR) Ed Booth, Kevin Kruse, and Dean Hadley
Acolytes: Lincoln Means and Mallory Williams
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.
Portals of Prayer for Jan.-Mar. are available in the back of the church this morning. These are excellent home devotion readings. When the year ends, please bring your old Portals and place it in the tub beneath the mailboxes. These are used at the Iowa State Fair each year.
STUDY GOD’S WORD IN 2025… Here’s a simple way to study God’s Word. The Word of the Lord Endures Forever is a daily, 15-minute, verse-by-verse Bible study produced by Lutheran Public Radio and hosted by LCMS Pastor Will Weedon. Pastor Weedon is currently leading a study on the Book of Psalms. You can listen at thewordendures.org, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, TuneIn, the LPR mobile app or a podcast provider. You can also listen by phone at 1 (618) 262-0078.
Special Closing Service for the Mt. Ayr Site will be held this afternoon, Dec. 29 beginning at 2:00. The address is 1111 E. South St., Mt. Ayr. All are invited to attend. If you did not receive a bulletin insert last Sunday, some extras are on the table in the narthex.
New Year’s Eve Service will be held at 7:00 Tuesday night.
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.
Installation of Officers/Board Members for 2025 will be held during the January 5 service.
Removal of the Greens will be done following the service next Sun., Jan. 5. With plenty of helpful hands the work won’t take long.
Upcoming Meetings: Please note some changes for January.
Tues., Jan. 7 7:00 p.m. Elders’ Meeting in FH
Sun., Jan. 12 Board Meetings following Divine Service
Sun., Jan. 12 Church Council Mtg. following board meetings
Sun., Jan. 19 Voters’ Mtg. following Divine Service
Thank You Card: A Christmas card with the following message was sent to the church.
Thank You for your generous donation of hats and gloves.
From your friends at East Union ASPIRE “More.”
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 a card the address is: 1025 W. Nobes Rd. York, NE 68467
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Thank you for the Christmas gift of cash and to all who sent gifts and cards to remember our family for Christmas.
As we begin a new year with changes and challenges that life gives us, may we remain in what is unchanging, the Word and Sacraments that come to us. Redeemed and sanctified in these gifts we enter the new year knowing we have peace in Jesus and may we look for opportunities to share that peace in our families and communities we serve.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor, Julie and family