December 22, 2019   The Fourth Sunday in Advent

Post date: Dec 23, 2019 4:05:55 PM

For The Fourth Sunday in Advent on Dec. 22,  2019

Isaiah 7:10-17

Romans 1:1-7

Matthew 1:18-25

The Birth of Jesus Christ

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

 This Week at Trinity

Sun., Dec. 22  8:00 am   Bible Class (CR)

                         9:00 am   Divine Service/HC (CR)

                       10:00 am   Sunday School (CR & MA)

                       10:00 am   Fellowship Time (MA)

                       11:00 am   Divine Service (MA)

Tues., Dec. 24    Christmas Eve

                           5:00 pm  Christmas Eve Service in Mt. Ayr

                           7:00 pm  Christmas Eve Service in Creston

Wed., Dec. 25  Christmas Day

                           9:00 am  Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion in Creston

                          12:00-6:00 FH (CR) in use by Hembry family

Sat., Dec, 28   FH (CR) in use all day by Eklund family

Sun., Dec. 29   No adult Bible Class today

                         9:00 am   Divine Service/HC (CR)

                       10:00 am   Sunday School (CR & MA)

                       10:00 am   Fellowship Time (CR & MA)

                       11:00 am   Divine Service/HC (MA)

Tues., Dec. 31  6:00 pm  New Year’s Eve Service with

                                         Holy Communion  (CR)

 Prayer List

Cancer:  Heidi Albaugh; Denice Creveling; Kent Larsen;

Diane England; Gary McCraken; Randy Nemitz; Steve McCann;

Ron Ludwig; Dale Snelling; Libbie Wilkenson; Steve Townsend;

Rev. Blake Rickbiel; Suzanne Troxel; Otto Guiter;

Dan Lutrick; Patty Gipple; Dave Goeglein; Arieta Miers

On-going health concerns, Hospitalized,  Surgery/Recovery: 

Norm Schroeder; Oliver Gish; Rev. Dave Ericksen; Rachel Heck;

Dan Lutrick;  Byron Bilderback; Jay Bochart; Eddie Ehm;

Terry Melzer

Shut-ins: May Carlisle, Bertha Jensen, Lawrence Herzberg,

Walt & Nelda Herzberg, Clara Buchanan; Doyle Hembry;

Warren Kruse

Military:  Nathan Nonneman; Kyle Marchok

Missions: Concordia Mission Society

Pastor James and Christel Neuendorf (Puerto Rico)

Pastor Daniel Vogel (Denison, Iowa)

Pastor Herb and Markie Burch (Belize)

Pastor James and Angela Sharp and Family (Uruguay)

Pastor Joel and Clarion Fritsche & Family (Dominican Republic)

Pastor Stephen and Maggie Oliver and Family (Taiwan)

Life Care Clinic, (Stuart & Creston)

Trinity Preschool (Creston)

Attendance :  Please fill out an attendance card which is found in the pew rack.  List the names of each person in attendance.  Please hand the card to an usher.

In services when there is Holy Communion, please list the names of those who will be communing on the back side of card.  

 Attendance from December 15, 2019   CR 73       MA 16  H/C 13

From Advent Service on December 18  CR 36

 Serving At Trinity    Sunday,  Dec. 22,  2019

Organist: (CR)  Sharon Eklund  (MA) Greg Storhoff 

Ushers in  December:  (CR) Ed Booth,  Randy Ehm, Dean Hadley, Kevin Kruse

Elders on Duty in December: (MA) Mike Sickels & Greg Storhoff     (CR) Bruce Herzberg

Acolyte:  (CR) Hunter Brown (MA)  Garrett or Jaxsen Walter

Finance Team in December: Kevin Kruse, Dennis Brown

Altar Committee for December:   (CR)  Ed and Tracy 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. 

Attendance Cards:  Visitors and members are asked to fill out an attendance card (found in the pew rack) and to list names of each family member in attendance.   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 the card to an usher.  If  you have moved or have a different phone number, or email address please note any changes on the attendance card so that we can update our records in the office. 

Early Risers will not meet on Tuesday, Dec 24 or Tuesday, Dec 31, 2019.

We will resume on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.

Christmas Eve Services will be at 5:00 p.m. in Mt. Ayr and 7:00 p.m. in Creston.

Christmas Day Service will be at 9:00 a.m. in Creston.

Adult Bible Class will not meet on Sunday, December 29. 

New Year’s Eve Service will be at 6:00 p.m. in Creston.

Sacred Music 24/7 You can listen to sacred Christmas music for the 12 days of Christmas anytime, anywhere on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app and at www.lutheranpublicradio.org.

Christmas Cards:  Trinity LWML has boxed Christmas cards for sale on the wire rack by the mailboxes. They are $5.00 per box.  Please put the money in the plastic box on that is found on the same side as the cards.  If you write a check, make it payable to Trinity LWML and in the memo section jot down that it’s for Christmas cards.  There are also some individual cards for sale on the other side of the wire rack for  $.25 each. 

Offering Envelopes for 2020 The new offering envelope boxes for 2020 are on a table in the narthex (CR) and have been sent to Mt. Ayr.  If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Kruse, the financial secretary.

REMOVAL OF THE GREENS in Creston will be on Sunday, January 5, 2020, following Divine Service.  A hearty thank you to all who participated in the Hanging of the Greens at both locations.  Your help with this project has been extremely important. 

Equally important is the timely removal and proper storage of the greens.  We need your help with this important project as we prepare our facilities for the Epiphany Season of the Church Year.  Please join us.  Thank you!

       Two Christmas Greetings

A Christmas letter from Pastor and Becky Rubke was received and is found on the table in the narthex for all to read.

Christmas and New Year greetings to our many dear friends in Creston.  Some of you have sent cards and we so much appreciate them.  We are not sending many Christmas cards this year so we are responding in this way to all of you.  We want to thank you for your many prayers and kindnesses.  We are very blessed to have you in our lives.  We wish for all of you a Christmas filled with God's love and may your New Year be one of good health and God's blessings.  We thank you all again for your friendship.  Merry Christmas from your friends in York, NE 

               From Dave and Maggie Dory     

MISSIONS

Hat/Mitten Tree:  As in past years, a Christmas tree is in the narthex in Creston for the collection of hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves. Items will be shared with those in need in our community.

Used Portals of Prayer can be placed in the box located below the mailboxes in the Narthex. These will be distributed free next summer by the LLL at the Iowa State Fair.  There is a big demand for these. Thank you.

Message from Ellie Menz, IOWAY  (Individual Outreach With Adults and Youth) Director for Iowa

District West: 

As many of you know, I am working with Kevin and Gail Petersen in Pacific Junction.  Progress is continuing.  They are nearly done with the inside painting. Kevin shared that he is looking for an old craftmatic style bed.  His wife is in the later stages of MS and she is confined to her lift chair 24/7. I asked what a craftmatic bed is and he said that it is like a hospital bed but sleeps two. Please let me know if you know of someone who has one.  Thank you.

Ellie Menz, IOWAY Director

Iowa District West-LCMS | 409 Kenyon Road, Suite B | Fort Dodge, IA 50501

Phone: (515) 370-1159