1-25-2026

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Announcements:  January 25, 2026

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

 800 North Sumner                                                                 Pastor John Rutz

Creston, Iowa      Website:  www.trinitycreston.org   Phone:  641-782-5095

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany on Jan. 25, 2026

Isaiah 9:1-4

I Corinthians 1:10-18

Matthew 4:12-25

The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany on Feb. 1, 2026

 For your own personal reading at home this week.

Micah 6:1-8

I Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12

This Week at Trinity

 Sun., Jan. 25     National Lutheran Schools Week

  8:00 am   Bible Class            

  9:00 am   Divine Service/HC

10:30 am  Sunday School & Fellowship Time

Mon., Jan. 26  National Lutheran Schools Week

  9:00 am  Youth Confirmation Class

12:30 am  Preschool

  1:00 pm  Book Club

Tues., Jan. 27 National Lutheran Schools Week

  7:00 am  Early Risers

  8:30 am  Preschool

12:30 pm  Preschool

  6:15 pm  Meet at church to carpool to Rachel Circle

  6:30 pm  Rachel Circle at Cindy Nelson’s house

Wed., Jan. 28 National Lutheran Schools Week

12:00 PM  OWLS in FH  (pizza lunch)

12:30 pm  Preschool

 6:00 pm  Altar Guild Meeting in the sanctuary

Thurs., Jan. 29 National Lutheran Schools Week

  8:30 am  Preschool

  9:45 am  Preschool Chapel

12:30 pm  Preschool

  1:45 pm  Preschool Chapel

Sun., Feb. 1    

  8:00 am   Bible Class            

  9:00 am   Divine Service with concert by the Preschool students to close out National Lutheran Schools Week

10:30 am  Sunday School and Fellowship Time

Serving at Trinity on Sunday, January 25, 2026

Accompanist: Sharon Eklund

Acolyte:  Becca Swanson

Ushers in January: Dennis Brown, Dane Wardenburg,

Phil Wardenburg and Jim Hagen

Elder of the month for Jan.: Dane Wardenburg

Finance Team in Jan.: Rick Hadley & Phil Wardenburg

Altar Guild for Jan.:   Phil & Anita Wardenburg        

 Attendance from last Sunday, January 18, 2026

 Church Attendance 58  Communed 52

 Bible Class 13                 Sunday School  7

Prayer List

Cancer:  

Neal Bowman (brother of Charlie Bowman)

Sharmen Lowenberg

Tyson Stuart

Jane McNeill (friend of Corene Walter)

Ron Still (friend of Ed Booth)

Brenda McIntosh (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Chad Simmons( friend of Melody Stoner)

Cloa Faulkner (sister of Cindy Isdahl)

On-going health concerns, Hospitalized, or Recovery:

Cindy Isdahl

Jack Quee

Martin Herzberg (son of Bruce and Beth Herzberg)

Shellie Wimer (friend of Doug Gooding

Kenny Kile (friend of Melody Stoner)

Curtis Decker (brother of Joy Brown)

Pat & Max Lowenberg (friends of Mitzie Cellan)

John Needles (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Bev (Bear) Denipah (friend of Deb Melzer)

Kristi Srans (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Steven Andresen (nephew of Dennis & Jean Foglesong)

Shut-ins: Dorothy Cook

Military: 

 Kyle Marchok (husband of Lola Hembry’s granddaughter)

 Eric Green (husband of Elizabeth Green)

Missions:

Trinity Preschool (Creston)

Life Care Clinic, (Stuart, Creston & Atlantic)

Concordia Mission Society

Pastor James and Christel Neuendorf (Puerto Rico)

Pastor Daniel Vogel (Denison Hispanic Ministry)

Pastor James and Angela Sharp and Family (Uruguay)

Rev. Dr. Walter and Robyn Steele, (East Africa)

Jesse Liebmann (Romania)

Rachel Krause (Germany)

Rev. Thomas Park (Taiwan)

Rev. David & Jennifer Preus and family (Romania)

Rev. Christian & Lula Tews (Germany)

Vicar Gavin Johnson (Dominican Republic)

Phone Numbers and Emails Addresses

To reach Pastor Rutz  phone the church office at

(641-782-5095) Ext. 3

Or, you may reach Pastor at 712-621-5971 (cell)

Pastor’s email is:

pastor@trinitycreston.org

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Email Address for the Office Assistant

lhadley@trinitycreston.org

When you have announcements that need to be included in the weekly announcements, please turn them in by noon on Wednesdays.

Visitors:  We are so glad you joined us today.  We

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 this morning’s service.

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.  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 you phone number or email address have changed, please note any changes on the attendance so that we can update our records in the office.

Weekly bulletins, announcements and sermons are 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 are another way to aid parents in teaching their children.

German Dinner:  Clarinda Lutheran School will be hosting their 23rd Annual German Dinner next Sunday, Feb. 1 beginning at 11:00 a.m.  This is a benefit dinner for the operational expenses of the educational ministry of Clarinda Lutheran School.  Cost of the meal is a free will donation.   Reservations may be made on their website:  Clarindalutheranschool.com/german-dinner

Some flyers with menu information are available on the table in the narthex.

Keyboard for Sale:   The keyboard that had been in the church in Mt. Ayr is currently in our fellowship hall.  It is for sale.  If you know someone interested in purchasing it, sealed bids including contact information, may be turned in to the office by February 28. 

Address for Cindy Isdahl:

Methodist Hospital

North Tower Room 453

83rd & Dodge

Omaha, NE  68118

Birthday Party:  Mark your calendars for the congregational birthday party on February 22 at 3:00 p.m. More details to come. We’ll be looking for people to sign up for birthday months.

Easter Breakfast:  We are in need of a group of people who would like to be in charge of preparing and serving the annual Easter breakfast.   If you are willing to do this please speak with Pastor Rutz.

Altar Guild:  An altar guild meeting will be held for current and new volunteers interested in becoming guild members this Wednesday, January 28 at 6:00 p.m.   Meet in the sanctuary.  Men and women are welcome to attend.   Due to the “retirement” of some guild members and a time of medical recuperation for others, we are in need of more volunteers.  

Rachel Circle will meet at the home of Cindy Nelson’s on January 27 at 6:30. Carpool leaves the church at 6:15. This Bible study will cover both January and February meetings.

OWLS are planning pizza for lunch on Wednesday, Jan. 28th.  Let Sharon Eklund know if you plan to come so there will be plenty. 

National Lutheran Schools Week

  Let's Make a Joyful Noise! This is the theme for this year’s Lutheran Schools Week which is this week, January 25–31, 2026.  Did you know that Iowa District West is home to eight Lutheran day schools and 32 Lutheran preschools? We invite you to join us in honoring the incredible work these schools do to provide a high-quality, Christ-centered education to students across IDW.
  It is a blessing to have Trinity Preschool in our community.  Next Sunday, Feb.1, the students of Trinity Preschool will join us to sing some songs at the beginning of the service to close out this special week.   Please join in welcoming these children and their families.

  Follow Iowa District West-LCMS social media channels throughout the week to see how our schools are celebrating this special occasion!

Teacher Needed:  Trinity Lutheran Preschool (est. 1986)  is looking for a part-time SWVP teacher with an Early Childhood Licensure for Monday through Thursday afternoon classes.  Hiring is contingent upon passing all required guidelines.  Submit resume and cover letter to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, ATTN: Preschool Board, 800 N. Sumner Ave., Creston, Iowa, 50801.  Deadline is May 31st or until the position is filled.  Learn more about our preschool by visiting our new website TrinityLutheranPreschoolCreston.com.

Feb. 8 Deadline for Lutheran Witness Subscriptions:   If you would like to begin a new subscription to the Lutheran Witness Magazine, the cost for 2026 is $31.10.  Use the Lutheran Witness envelope found in the front of your offering envelope box and place it in the offering plate.  Make checks payable to Trinity Lutheran Church. The church will be billed for all subscriptions in one lump fee.   The deadline to subscribe is Sunday, February 8 so Linda can send the list of addresses to Concordia Publishing House.   There is a sign up sheet for new subscription names/addresses on the counter in the office.  Sign up if you want to begin a subscription. 

Diaper Drive for the LC Clinic:  If you would like to participate in the annual Diaper Drive benefiting the work of the LC Clinic, flyers of information are available on the table in the narthex.