9-21-2025

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Announcements: September 21,  2025

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost on September 21, 2025

Amos 8:4-7        Timothy 2:1-15

Luke 16:1-15    The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures[a] of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures[b] of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world[c] are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth,[d] so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”  The Law and the Kingdom of God14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

 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)

On-going health concerns, Hospitalized, or Recovery:

Kevin Larsen (brother of Mark Larsen)

Martin Herzberg (son of Bruce and Beth Herzberg)    

Shellie Wimer (friend of Doug Gooding

Terri Higgins (friend of Bullocks)

Cindy Isdahl

Jack Quee

Kenny Kile (friend of Melody Stoner)

Curtis Decker (brother of Joy Brown)

Margaret Blair (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

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)

                                                This Week at Trinity 

Sun., Sept. 21    8:30 am   Bible Class in FH led by guest speaker,

                                             Rev. Steve Schulz from Mission Central

                            9:30 am   Divine Service/HC led by Rev. Steve

                                             Schulz from Mission Central

                          10:30 am   Fellowship Time and time to talk to

   Pastor Schulz more about the work of our LCMS missionaries in FH

                            3:00 pm  Mini-golf outing for all ages           

                                         (This was rescheduled from last weekend.)

Mon., Sept. 22 12:30 pm    Preschool

                             1:00 pm Trinity Book Club in FH

Tues., Sept. 23       7:00 am Early Risers Bible Study in FH

                             8:30 am    Preschool

                             12:30 pm     Preschool

Wed., Sept. 24     12:00 pm OWLS

                           12:30 pm   Preschool

                               6:15 pm   Youth Confirmation Class

Thurs., Sept. 25   8:30 am Preschool

                               9:45 am Preschool Chapel

                           12:30 pm Preschool

                               1:45 pm Preschool Chapel  

Sun., Sept. 28      8:00 am   Bible Class in FH            

 NOTE NEW      9:00 am   Divine Service/HC

TIMES                      Fellowship Time       

                          10:30 am Sunday School

Attendance from last Sunday, September 14, 2025

Church Attendance  84  Communed  72

Bible Class 17

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, September 21, 2025

Accompanist:  Julie Lang

Acolyte:  Rebecca Swanson

Ushers in September: Dennis Brown, Doug Gooding, Kevin Kruse, Jim Hagen

Elder of the month for September: Doug Gooding

Finance Team in September: Dean Hadley & Ed Booth

Altar Guild for September:  Candace & Karl Peterson

 LIFE TOGETHER

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. 

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 it to an usher as you go up for communion.

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.

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.

Special Missions Sunday:  Today, Sept. 21, Pastor Steve Schulz, from Mission Central in Mapleton, IA is our guest speaker.  During Bible Class/Sunday School  time he gave a presentation on LCMS Mission Work and about Mission Central.  During fellowship time he will be available to speak to individuals and to answer questions about missionaries and their work throughout the world.  He has a display of mission related items on a table in the fellowship hall, too.  We thank him for sharing God’s Word with us today and pray that he will have a safe trip home.      Pastor Rutz is out of town today.

Rescheduled for TODAY:  The Sunday School kick-off  that was postponed last Sunday will now be held TODAY, Sunday, Sept. 21 as our Sunday School Rally Day event. It will begin at 3pm at the Lowenberg residence south of Afton at 2572 210th St.   Hot dogs, buns, condiments, and s'mores fixings will be provided. Feel free to bring a snack to share.

Kids: bring your parents and friends! If you haven't attended in the past, you should really join us. It is a fun afternoon of fellowship at a beautiful location! 

LWML Circuit Rally will be held this coming Saturday, Sept. 27 at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Villisca beginning at 9:00 a.m.   Information sheets with details about the ingathering items, registration fee and program for the day are available to be picked up from the table in the narthex.

Local LWML Group Rally: Trinity LWML is having a rally on Saturday, October 4th at 9 AM.  Fellowship time begins at 8:30 AM.  Lunch is included.  Bring Mites and group offering.  In-gathering items are Fareway, Walmart, and/or HyVee gift cards, and pre-packaged snacks (enough for 12 children).  If you are a Lutheran and a lady you are welcome to attend.  There will be LWML Q&A.  There will be a servant activity, Bible Study, meeting, and more.  We have much to discuss!  Childcare will be available.  See the flyers for more details.  Sign up sheets are in the narthex.  We do need the help of a few ladies that morning.  If you would like to help with something or have questions, please talk to Alexis Swanson. 

Oct. 18 Seminar:   Trinity, Creston will be hosting a seminar given by Pastor Keith Haney on “THE ART OF NEIGHBORING” on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10:00 am-1:00 pm at the fellowship hall in Creston.  Lunch is included.  Please RSVP by October 13, 2025 by emailing lhadley@trinitycreston.org, phoning her at the office at 641-782-5095 or by signing up on the sheet found on the table in the narthex.  Pastor Haney is from Fort Dodge, Iowa and is the Assistant to the President for the Missions, Human Care and Stewardship in the Iowa District West LCMS.

Save the Date: The annual LWML Bake & Craft Sale will be held on Sunday, November 2, following Divine Service.  Think about your fall baking or holiday crafts for this fun little event that supports LWML.

IOWAY Petal Pushers Trip 2025-26:  If you are interested in a trip to California Dec. 28-Jan. 3 to help with floats for the Rose Bowl Parade information and registration forms are available on the table in the narthex.  

Building Healthy Families: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…. Remember the repeated line from the 1930’s children’s book The Little Engine That Could? Yesterday and still today the story lines and themes of popular books, songs, movies or TV shows provide opportunities to begin a conversation with a young person that will influence their thinking and faith development. I think I can… provides a great opening for sharing the importance of hard work and persistence, but also how many times “I” can’t, but that all things are possible with God. Watch one episode of The Bachelorette with your teenager and you’ll find multiple opportunities to talk about how best to choose a spouse and what’s really important to look for in a marriage partner! Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to share Biblical truths and God’s good design for life with those in your family this week.

Lutheran Family Service    www.LutheranFamilyService.org