7-12-2026

                                  The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

                                      Announcements:  July 12, 2026

                                Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

800 North Sumner                                                                 Pastor John Rutz

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

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost July 12, 2026

Isaiah 55:10-13

Romans 8:12-17

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost on July 19, 2026

For your own personal reading at home this week.

Isaiah 44:6-8

Romans 8:18-27

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

This Week at Trinity

Sun., July 12

 8:00 am  Bible Class

 9:00 am Divine Service/HC

Trustees’ Mtg. following Divine Service

 6:00 pm  Food & Fellowship by the fire pit

Mon., July 13

7:00 pm  Elders Meeting in FH

Tues., July 14

7:00 am  Early Risers

Wed., July 15

6:15 pm  Board of Education Mtg. in FH

6:30 pm  Other Board Meetings in FH

7:00 pm  Church Council Meeting in FH

Thurs., July 16

1:00 pm  Card Club

Sun., July 19

8:00 am   Bible Class

9:00 am   Divine Service/HC

Quarterly Voters’ Meeting following Divine Service

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.

Attendance from last Sunday, July 5, 2026

 Church Attendance 81     Communed 67

 Bible Class 15

                                 Prayer List

Cancer:  

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)

Eric Hensley (friend of Doug Gooding)

Aubree Trost (granddaughter of Tammy Magers and great-granddaughter of Bill Magers)

Jeff DeGennaro (son-in-law of Jolene Hinrichs)

Martin Hinrichs (son of Jolene Hinrichs)

On-going health concerns, Hospitalized, or Recovery:

Tracy Booth

Cindy Isdahl

Jack Quee

Shellie Wimer (friend of Doug Gooding

Kenny Kile (friend of Melody Stoner)

Pat & Max Lowenberg (friends of Mitzie Cellan)

John Needles (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Bev (Bear) Denipah (friend of Deb Melzer)

Kristi Frans (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Steven Andresen (nephew of Dennis & Jean Foglesong)

Roy Stetzel (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Paula Godwin (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Larry Miller Sr. (father of Larry Miller)

Jackie Ehlert (sister of Larry Miller)

Shut-ins: Dorothy Cook

Military: 

 Kyle Marchok (husband of Lola Hembry’s granddaughter)

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)

Serving at Trinity on Sunday, July 12, 2026

Accompanist: Julie Lang

Ushers in July: Dennis Brown, Jim Hagen, Rick Hadley and Doug Bullock

Elder of the month for July: Jim Hagen

Finance Team in July: Phil Wardenburg & Rick Hadley

Altar Guild for July:  Jeanna & Eric Eklund

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.

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.

Weekly bulletins, announcements and sermons are  available on the church website.   Recorded services will also be available as soon as possible following each service.  

Message shared by Rev. Keith Haney, Assistant to the President for Missions, Stewardship, and Human Care in Iowa District West

July 12, 2026 – Proper 10 (Pentecost 7)

Scripture: “The seed is the word of God.” — Luke 8:11 (Gospel, alternate used in Series A tradition alongside Matthew 13)
Stewardship Sentence: As hearers of God’s Word, we steward our hearts and lives so that His truth may take root and shape our daily walk as disciples.

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.   Learn more about our preschool by visiting our new website:  TrinityLutheranPreschoolCreston.com.

Food & Fellowship Tonight:  Bring lawn chairs, a snack to share and meet by the firepit.

Trustees Mtg.: Today, following Divine Service

Elders Mtg.:  Mon., July 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Bd. of Ed. Mtg:  Wed., July 15 at 6:15 p.m.

Other Board Meetings:  Wed., July 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Council Meeting:  Wed., July 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Quarterly Voter’s Meeting:  Next Sunday, July 19 following Divine Service

Portals of Prayer: New Portals for July-Sept. may be found in a basket in the back of the church.  If you have not received one of these home devotional booklets yet, feel free to pick one up this morning.

Wanted:  Please save empty ice cream buckets.  The preschool needs them for candy for the Balloon Days Parade.  Place them on the back counter in the kitchen.

Building Healthy Families:

Many of us were raised on a familiar script: be tough, don’t ask for help, and “pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” It sounds admirable—but it’s not a recipe for a healthy life, and it’s not what God calls us to. Scripture points us in a different direction. Paul writes in Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” We were never meant to carry everything alone. God places us in community—where we can be supported, and where we can support others in return. So challenge those old messages, even the deeply ingrained ones about self-reliance. Replace them with truth. Let someone in. Share what you’re carrying with a trusted brother or sister in Christ. Reach out to family, friends, your pastor, or a LFS counselor who shares your faith and values. Strength isn’t found in isolation—it’s often revealed in the courage to seek and receive help. Learn more at www.LutheranFamilyService.org

Building Projects Update:  By now you all have noticed the repairs being done the past few weeks. We had the roof replaced on the sanctuary. We also replaced the driveway at the south entrance of the church and we also have scheduled replacement of the two furnaces and AC units for the sanctuary. We withdrew $50,000 from our investment account for these projects. We have received contributions of $24,000 to date towards these projects. Total cost of these projects is $71,994. Any money left over will be reinvested.

If you would like to make a donation, you may use the building fund envelope found in your box of offering envelopes.