December 6, 2020   The Second Sunday in Advent

Post date: Dec 3, 2020 4:29:23 PM

For The Second Sunday in Advent on December 6,  2020

Isaiah 40:1-11

2 Peter 3:8-14

Mark 1:1-8

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[a]

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,[b]

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

    who will prepare your way,

3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:

    ‘Prepare[c] the way of the Lord,

    make his paths straight,’”

4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

                    This Week at Trinity 

Sun., Dec. 6    Second Sunday in Advent

                  8:00 am   Bible Class (CR)                  

                            9:00 am   Divine Service (CR)

                          10:00 am  Hanging of the Greens (CR)

                          10:00 am   Fellowship time in Mt. Ayr

                          11:00 am   Divine Service/HC (MA)

                            5:00 pm   Preschool Board Meeting in FH (CR)

Mon., Dec. 7    8:30 am   Preschool

                           12:30 pm   Preschool

Tues., Dec. 8   6:30 am   Early Risers’ Bible Study

                  8:30 am   Preschool

                          12:30 am   Preschool

                            6:00 pm  Rachel Circle meets in FH (CR)

Wed., Dec. 9    8:30 am   Preschool

                          12:30 am   Preschool   

                            1:30 pm   Naomi Circle in FH (CR)                  

                            1:30 pm   Youth Confirmation Class in Mt. Ayr

                            6:00 pm   Advent Service in Creston

                            7:00 pm   Youth Confirmation Class (CR)

Thurs., Dec. 10   8:30 am  Preschool

                             9:45 am  Preschool Chapel

                           12:30 pm  Preschool

                             1:45 pm  Preschool Chapel

Sun., Dec. 13   Third Sunday in Advent

                  8:00 am   Bible Class (CR)                  

                            9:00 am   Divine Service/HC (CR)

                          10:00 am   Fellowship time in Mt. Ayr & CR

                          11:00 am   Divine Service (MA)

            Prayer List

Cancer:  Denice Creveling (member)

Dan Lutrick (member)

Phil Burmeister (member)

Ellen Kearney (member0

Otto Guiter (grandson of Kathy Parker)

Brian Raske (brother in law of Deb Melzer)

Vivian Herzberg (sister of Bruce Herzberg)

Susie Seals (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Libbie Wilkenson (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Kent Larsen (brother of Mark Larsen)

Don Goodman (brother-in-law of Kathy Parker)

On-going health concerns, Hospitalized,  Surgery/Recovery: 

Members:  Norm Schroeder ,Jay Bochart, Jean Kruse, Tracy Booth

Marie Burmeister

Oliver Gish (great nephew of Waunita Watt)

Bob Beatty (friend of Waunita Watt)

Rev. Dave Ericksen

Terry Melzer (brother of Deb Melzer)

Rev. Larry Troxel (former pastor at Trinity)

Roger Eyberg (friend of Eddie Ehm)

Bob Ritnour (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Beverly Lyon (friend of Mitzie Cellan)

Maggie Dory

Makayla Burgmaier

Betty Mills (sister of Dorothy Cook)

Shut-ins: May Carlisle, Bertha Jensen, Lawrence Herzberg,

Nelda Herzberg, Clara Buchanan, Doyle Hembry, Warren Kruse,

Mona Quee, Linda Schroeder

Military:  Nathan Nonneman (grandson of Sharon Nonneman)

Kyle Marchok (husband of 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)

Trinity Preschool (Creston)

Attendance:  From November 29, 2020

                      Creston   35              Mt. Ayr  17

                       From Dec. 2, 2020  Midweek Advent #1

                       Creston 18

 Serving At Trinity    Sunday, December 6, 2020

Organist: (CR) Julie Lang         (MA) Greg Storhoff

Ushers in  December:  (CR) Kevin Kruse, Randy Ehm, Dean Hadley, Dennis Brown

Elders on Duty in December: (MA) Mike Sickels & Greg Storhoff     (CR) Bruce Herzberg

Acolyte:  (CR) Maylee Riley  (MA)  Garrett or Jaxsen Walter

Finance Team in December: Dennis Brown and Joyce Kruse

Altar Guild for December: Ed & Tracy Booth

 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.

Attendance via Livestreamed and You Tube Services:  During this pandemic period, if you watch the Divine Service online and wish to have your attendance recorded, please call Linda at the church office 782-5095 or email her at

lhadley@trinitycreston.org and let her know the date of the service that you watched.

Private Communion Times:   If you would like to take holy communion privately, please call Pastor to set up an appointment.  Common cup is also available to families or small groups upon request.

Weekly bulletins, announcements, and sermons continue to be available on the church website.

Hanging of the Greens in Creston will be  TODAY following the Divine Service.  We need YOUR help to prepare our church for the Advent and Christmas season.  We are usually done in less than two hours.  Thank you in advance.

Rachel Circle will meet at 6:00 p.m.  on Tuesday, December 8, in the fellowship hall in Creston.   Note that this is an earlier starting time.  If you have any questions, contact Anita Wardenburg.

Naomi Circle will meet in the Fellowship Hall Wednesday, December 9 at 1:30 p.m.   Our Lesson will be “We’ve Got Good News to Tell,” found on page 20 of the Fall 2020 Lutheran Women’s Quarterly.

You are invited to bring some goodies to share. Please join us as we enjoy the study of God’s Word and Christian fellowship.

Removal of the Greens in Creston will be Sunday, January 3, 2021 following the Divine Service.

Offering Envelopes for 2021:  The new offering envelopes for 2021 are ready for you to pick up.  The ones in Creston are on a table in the narthex and the ones for Mt. Ayr members have been sent down to the church.  If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Kruse, the financial secretary.

IOWA LUTHERAN SCHOOL TUITION ORGANIZATION:  In 15 years ILSTO has been able to award over 7 million dollars to benefit families wanting to send their children to Lutheran elementary & secondary schools. This money comes from donors like you that benefit two ways: 1) You get to see more children experiencing the love of God every day, and 2) You will receive a 65% tax credit on your Iowa state income taxes and possible charitable deduction on your Federal return.  Please consider making this donation a part of your tax planning for 2020. For further information, please contact Dewey Torkelson at 712-260-2991. You may also check the websites: www.iowalutheransto.org and www.iowasto.org

Upcoming Special Services in December

Dec 9     6:00 pm  Advent Service #2 in Creston

Dec. 16  6:00 pm  Advent Service #3 in Creston

Dec. 24  5:00 pm  Christmas Eve Service in Mt. Ayr

Dec. 24  7:00 pm  Christmas Eve Service in Creston

Dec. 25  9:00 am  Christmas Day Service with Holy Communion in Creston

Dec. 31  6:00 pm  New Year’s Eve Service with Holy Communion in Creston