02-05-2023
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Announcements: February 5, 2023
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
For The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany on February 5, 2023
Isaiah 58:3-9a
I Corinthians 2:1-16
Matthew 5:13-20
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Christ Came to Fulfill the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer List
Cancer:
Jo Ehm (member)
Otto Guiter (grandson of Kathy Parker)
Kent Larsen (brother of Mark Larsen)
Michael Ellerton (husband of Julie Rutz’s niece)
Roger Kessler (cousin of Marge Scott)
Carrie Baker (Jolene Hinrich’s niece)
Joe Rivera (Julie Lang’s brother-in-law)
On-going health concerns, Hospitalized, Surgery/Recovery:
Members: Virginia Isaacs and Alexis Swanson
Dana Scott (friend of the Larsens)
Mark Andresen (nephew of Dennis & Jean Foglesong)
Rev. Michael Breach (son-in-law of Langs)
Eugene Goeglein (brother of Dorothy Cook)
Dick Stream (brother of Cindy Isdahl)
Rev. Leon Hodges (brother of Jean Stoll)
Daniel Gooding (father of Doug Gooding)
Grayson Nelson (2 yr. old great-great nephew of Storhoffs)
Carla Roghair
Creed Hirsch (grandson of Hagens)
Shirley Lett (Julie Lang’s mother)
Shut-ins: May Carlisle, Clara Buchanan, Linda Schroeder,
Jean Stoll
Military: Nathan Nonneman (grandson of Sharon Nonneman)
Kyle Marchok (husband of Lola Hembry’s granddaughter)
Missions: Concordia Mission Society
Pastor James and Christel Neuendorf (Puerto Rico)
Pastor Daniel Vogel (Denison Hispanic Ministry)
Pastor Herb and Markie Burch (Belize)
Pastor James and Angela Sharp and Family (Uruguay)
Pastor Stephen and Maggie Oliver and Family (Taiwan)
Life Care Clinic, (Stuart, Creston & Atlantic)
Trinity Preschool (Creston)
This Week at Trinity
Sun., Feb. 5 8:00 am Bible Study (CR)
9:00 am Divine Service (CR)
10:00 am Fellowship Time in CR & MA
10:00 am Sunday School in CR
11:00 am Divine Service/HC in MA
2:00 pm Preschool Board Meeting in FH (CR)
Mon.., Feb. 6 Bloodmobile in FH (CR) all day
8:30 am Preschool
12:30 pm Preschool
Tues., Feb. 7 7:00 am Early Risers
8:30 am Preschool
12:30 pm Preschool
6:00 pm Bible Study in Mt. Ayr
6:30 pm Rachel Circle at Julie Lang’s 1200 N. Oak
Wed., Feb. 8 8:30 am Preschool
12:30 pm Preschool
1:30 pm Naomi Circle in FH (CR)
5:00 pm FLOCK in FH (CR)
7:00 pm Elders Meeting in FH (CR)
Thurs., Feb. 9 8:30 am Preschool
12:30 pm Preschool
Sun., Feb. 12 8:00 am Bible Study (CR)
9:00 am Divine Service/HC (CR)
10:00 am Fellowship Time in CR & MA
10:00 am Sunday School in CR
11:00 am Divine Service (MA)
12:00 pm Parish Review Comm. Mtg. in Mt. Ayr
1:00 pm –on FH (CR) in use by Preschool for Father’s Night Activities
Attendance from last Sunday, January 29, 2022
Creston 55 communed 44
Mt. Ayr 9 communed 8
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, February 5, 2023
Accompanists (CR) Sharon Eklund (MA) Greg Storhoff
Ushers in February: (CR) Jim Kneedler, Dennis Foglesong, Tim Foglesong
Elder of the month for February: (CR) Tim Foglesong
(MA) Doug Gooding
Finance Team in February: Joyce Kruse & Joy Brown
Altar Guild for February: Phil & Anita Wardenburg
Serving at Trinity on Sunday, February 5, 2023
Accompanists (CR) Julie Lang (MA) Greg Storhoff
Ushers in February: (CR) Jim Kneedler, Dennis Foglesong, Tim Foglesong
Elder of the month for February: (CR) Tim Foglesong (MA) Doug Gooding
Finance Team in February: Joyce Kruse & Joy Brown
Altar Guild for February: Phil & Anita Wardenburg
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.
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.
Offerings: Offering are gathered in the back of the church and will be brought forward during the offertory.
Children’s Bulletins to go along with today’s Sunday of the Church Year are available in a basket by the back pew (Creston).
Christian Care Fund: Current balance is $2573.53
LifeLight Bible Study will begin Monday, March 6 at 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, March 7 at 1:00 p.m. and continue this pattern every week, EXCEPT April 17 & 18, then resuming on Monday, April 24 and Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
We will study Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. Martin Luther says of 1st Corinthians: “In this epistle, St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians to be one in faith and love, and to see to it that they learn well the chief thing, namely that Christ is our salvation, the thing over which all reason and wisdom stumbles…” Paul states the theme of the epistle in 1:18: “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
If you plan to join us, please let Mike or Janette Lang know by Monday, February 20, 2023, so that we can order materials and get them to you at least a week before we begin. To register, or for further information, call Janette or Mike at 641-782-7922.
Welcome: This morning, we welcome Chad and Staci Wilker into membership at Trinity.
Rachel Circle will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7 at Julie Lang’s house. 1200 N. Oak St.
Naomi Circle: 1:30 pm on Wed., Feb. 8 in fellowship hall in Creston
FLOCK 5:00 pm on Wed., Feb. 8 in fellowship hall in Creston
Elders 7:00 on Wed., Feb. 8 in fellowship hall in Creston
Parish Review Committee will meet next Sunday, Feb. 12, right after the 11:00 service in Mt. Ayr.
Valentine Dinner: Saturday, Feb. 18 at 6:00 PM in Creston’s Fellowship Hall. See the insert in today’s bulletin for all the details. If you plan to attend, please sign up by Feb. 15 to aid in food preparation.
OWLS: Note this change of location for Feb. 22. Due to Brick and Bell being closed that day, they will meet in the FH (CR).
Ash Wednesday is on February 22. A service with Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Creston.
Lutheran Witness Subscriptions: Would you like to start a new subscription to the Lutheran Witness magazine which includes Iowa District West News inserts? If so, a sign up sheet for new subscriptions may be found on the front counter in the office. The cost for a year’s subscription will be $26.16. To pay, you will find an envelope in the front of your offering envelope box. If paying by check, note in the memo portion that it’s for Lutheran Witness. Then place the envelope in the offering plate. The deadline for subscriptions will be Feb. 19. Mt. Ayr members may email Linda at lhadley@trinitycreston.org or phone the office at 641-782-5095 Ext. 1 to be included on the subscription list. If you currently subscribe to the magazine, you need to let Linda (church secretary) know if you want to remain on the list or not by Feb. 19.
Mailboxes: Those who had photos taken for the new pictorial directory will find a directory in their church mailbox in the narthex. Giving statements for 2022 are also in the boxes. Check your box regularly for any “mail” that might be in there.
Used Books: You will find books on the table in the fellowship hall. We are working through a large selection of books from a pastor’s library that were obtained in St. Louis this past summer. There are free to whoever would like them. There are several subjects in addition to theology.
Elder’s Responsibility Lists for 2023
Each elder has been assigned primary spiritual responsibility for congregational members as follows: You may speak with any of the elders or Pastor Rutz, as you desire:
Names Elder
Barkalow through Conn Tim Foglesong
Connell through Hembry Dane Wardenburg
Herzberg through Melzer Dean Hadley
Nelson through Schroeder Ed Booth
Scott through Zellmer Mike Lang
Members with an address in or Doug Gooding
close to Mt. Ayr