8-16-2026

                                 The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

                                   Announcements:  August 16, 2026

                                Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

800 North Sumner                                                                 Pastor John Rutz

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

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost August 16, 2026

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15. 28-32

Matthew 15:21-28

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost on August 23, 2026

For your own personal reading at home this week.

Isaiah 51:1-6

Romans 11:32-12:8

Matthew 13:13-20

This Week at Trinity

Sun., Aug 16

 8:00 am   Bible Class

 9:00 am   Divine Service/HC

10:30 am   Fellowship Time

Linda will not be in the office this week.

Tues., Aug. 18

 7:30 am  Early Risers

Wed., Aug. 19

Thurs., Aug. 20

 1:00 pm  Card Club

Fri., Aug. 21

FH in use all day by Red Cross Bloodmobile

Sun., Aug. 23

  8:00 am   Bible Class

  9:00 am   Divine Service/HC

10:30 am   Fellowship Time

 6:00 pm  Food & Fellowship by the firepit

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, August 9, 2026

Church Attendance 85           Communed 64

 Bible Class  8  

Prayer List

Cancer:  

Tyson Stuart

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)

Larry Miller Sr. (father of Larry Miller)

Mike Long (nephew of Ellen Kearney)

On-going health concerns, Hospitalized, or Recovery:

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)

Jackie Ehlert (sister of Larry Miller)

Mary Jane Narigon (mother of Diana Miller & Connie Kerrigan)

Jim Munson (father of Donna Badgett)

Suzanne Troxel

Melissa Long (niece of Ellen Kearney)

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, August 16, 2026

Accompanist: Julie Lang

Ushers in August: Dennis Brown, Dean Hadley, Mike Lang and Eric  Eklund

Elder of the month for August:  Dean Hadley

Finance Team in August: Kevin Kruse & Mike Swanson

Altar Guild for August: Becky & Jim Hagen

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

August 16, 2026 –  Proper 15 (Pentecost 12)
Scripture: “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” — Matthew 21:13

Stewardship Sentence: As God’s people, we support His house and mission through faithful giving and prayerful devotion.

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

Vacation:  Secretary will be out of the office this week.

Summer lunch program need donations.
Trinity will serve lunch this week on August 17 & 18 at the Methodist church as part of One in Christ. We’ll serve approximately 100 kids and are able to put church info in each lunch. We’re in need of hamburger and cash donations which will cover both days. The cookies have all been donated already. If you feel so moved, please put $ donation in an envelope located in the narthex. Envelope can be placed in Julie Lang or Becky Hagen’s mailbox. Thank you so much for your help with this outreach project.

Preschool Board will meet on Sunday, Aug. 30 following Divine Service

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.

40th Anniversary:  We will be celebrating Trinity Lutheran Preschool’s 40th Anniversary with a ice cream social on Saturday, September 19th (12 PM-2 PM) Please sign up to bring pie or 9x13 crisp to the ice cream social. Bring any flavor(s) you want. Labeling with the flavor is helpful. These can be homemade or purchased. They should be delivered to the kitchen anytime BEFORE the event. The sign up sheet is on the table in the narthex.

Confirmation Group Photos Wanted:  If your child was confirmed between 2003 and 2025 we are in need of a copy of a group photo of their class on their confirmation day. Volunteers are working on updating a notebook of photos of confirmands through the years. Please speak with Sharon Eklund if you have any photos or you may email a copies of photos to Linda Hadley in the office at lhadley@trinitycreston.org and she will pass them on to those who are working on the updates. Or you may bring the actual photo to the office, a copy will be made and the original will be returned to you.

Building Projects Update:  By now you all have noticed the repairs that have been done this summer. The roof was replaced on the sanctuary. We also replaced the driveway at the south entrance of the church.  Replacement of two furnaces/AC units for the sanctuary has been completed. We withdrew $50,000 from our investment account for these projects. Contributions of $24,000 have been received to date towards these projects. Total cost of these projects was $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.