January 5, 2020   The Second Sunday after Christmas

Post date: Jan 7, 2020 3:45:52 PM

For The Second Sunday after Christmas on Jan. 5,  2020

For your own personal reading at home this week.

I Kings 3:4-15         Ephesians 1:3-14

Luke 2:40-52

40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

 This Week at Trinity

Sun., Jan. 5         No adult Bible Class today

                         9:00 am  Divine Service (CR)

                       10:00 am  Sunday School (CR & MA)

                       10:00 am  Fellowship Time (MA)

                       10:00 am  Taking down the Greens (CR)

                       11:00 am  Divine Service/HC (MA)

Jan. 5-10        Pastor and family are on vacation this week

Mon., Jan. 6    8:30 am  Preschool

                     12:30 pm  Preschool

Tues., Jan. 7     6:30 am  Early Risers Bible Study

                         8:30 am  Preschool

                       12:30 pm  Preschool

                        7:00 pm  Rachel Circle

Wed., Jan. 8     8:30 am  Preschool

                       12:30 pm  Preschool

                         1:30 pm  Naomi Circle in FH (CR)

                        5:00 pm  F.L.O.C.K. in FH (CR)

Thurs., Jan. 9   8:30 am  Preschool

                       12:30 pm  Preschool

Sun., Jan. 12   Festival of the Baptism of Our Lord

                         8:00 am  Bible Class (CR) 

                        9:00 am  Divine Service/HC and installation of

                                        officers and board members (CR)

                        9:00 am  Taking down the Advent/Christmas

                    decorations in Mt. Ayr followed by a potluck brunch

                      10:00 am  Sunday School (CR & MA)

                      10:00 am  Fellowship Time (MA& CR)

                      11:00 am  Divine Service/HC with installation of

                                        officers and board members (MA)

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

 Prayer List

Cancer:  Heidi Albaugh; Denice Creveling; Kent Larsen;

Diane England; Gary McCraken; Randy Nemitz; Steve McCann;

Ron Ludwig; Dale Snelling; Libbie Wilkenson; Steve Townsend;

Rev. Blake Rickbiel; Suzanne Troxel; Otto Guiter;

Dan Lutrick; Patty Gipple; Dave Goeglein; Arieta Miers;

Brad Still 

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

Norm Schroeder; Oliver Gish; Rev. Dave Ericksen; Rachel Heck;

Dan Lutrick; Byron Bilderback; Jay Bochart; Eddie Ehm;

Terry Melzer 

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

Walt & Nelda Herzberg, Clara Buchanan; Doyle Hembry;

Warren Kruse                                                                                                                           

Military:  Nathan Nonneman; Kyle Marchok 

Missions: Concordia Mission Society

Pastor James and Christel Neuendorf (Puerto Rico)

Pastor Daniel Vogel (Denison, Iowa)

Pastor Herb and Markie Burch (Belize)

Pastor James and Angela Sharp and Family (Uruguay)

Pastor Joel and Clarion Fritsche & Family (Dominican Republic)

Pastor Stephen and Maggie Oliver and Family (Taiwan)

Life Care Clinic, (Stuart & Creston)

Trinity Preschool (Creston)

 Attendance:  Please fill out an attendance card which is found in the pew rack.  List the names of each person in attendance.  Please hand the card to an usher.

In services when there is Holy Communion, please list the names of those who will be communing on the back side of card.  

 Attendance from Dec. 29, 2019 CR  73, H/C 65    MA 9, H/C 8

Attendance from New Year’s Eve CR  23, H/C 22

 Serving At Trinity  Sunday, January 5,  2020

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

Ushers in  January:  (CR) Phil Wardenburg, Dennis Brown, Ed Booth, Mick Hagen

Elders on Duty in January: (MA) Mike Sickels & Greg Storhoff     (CR) Phil Wardenburg

Acolyte:  (CR) Hunter Brown  (MA)  Garrett or Jaxsen Walter

Finance Team in January: Rick Hadley & Phil Wardenburg

Altar Committee for January:   (CR)  Phil & Anita Wardenburg

 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. 

Attendance Cards:  Visitors and members are asked to fill out an attendance card (found in the pew rack) and to list names of each family member in attendance.   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 the card to an usher.

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

Thank You:  We thank Rev. David Strable for sharing God’s Word with us this morning.  We pray that he will have safe travels back home to Indianola, too.

REMOVAL OF THE GREENS in Creston will be  TODAY Sunday, January 5, 2020, following Divine Service.  A hearty thank you to all who participated in the Hanging of the Greens at both locations.  Your help with this project has been extremely important. THANK YOU.

Equally important is the timely removal and proper storage of the greens.  We need your help with this important project as we prepare our facilities for the Epiphany Season of the Church Year.  Please join us.  Thank you!

The Mount Ayr location will remove Advent/Christmas decorations next Sunday, January 12 before worship services beginning at 9:00 am. Potluck brunch will follow.

Installation of Officers and Board Members will be included in the service on January 12.

Holy Communion will be held at both locations next Sunday for the festival of the Baptism of Our Lord

Vacation  Pastor Rutz and family will be on vacation January 5-10. During that time, in case you are in need of emergency pastoral care, please contact either Pastor Keith Schweitzer from Greenfield at 641-745-5143 or chairman of the elders, Phil Wardenburg, at 641-202-1611.

EARLY RISERS will resume at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.  We are currently reading through the Gospel of Luke.  Please join us for Bible study, coffee and conversation.

Naomi Circle will meet this Wednesday, January 8, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for Bible Study and fellowship.  Our topic will be “Beautiful Savior.”  This study is found on page 16 of the Winter 2019 Quarterly.  Please join us for Bible study and fellowship.

Youth Bowling Outing:  Sunday January 19th at Lucky Lanes in Mount Ayr at 1pm.  All are invited to attend the 11:00 service in Mt. Ayr.  After the service we will have pizza and pop, devotion and meeting planning for upcoming events. Then we’ll head over to the bowling alley. Feel free to bring friends!!  If you’d rather attend church in Creston, feel free to join us for pizza and/or bowling.

MISSIONS

Used Portals of Prayer can be placed in the box located below the mailboxes in the Narthex. These will be distributed free next summer by the LLL at the Iowa State Fair.  There is a big demand for these. Thank you.

THANK YOU to the congregation for the Christmas gift of cash and to all who sent gifts and cards to remember our family for Christmas.  We have been blessed with your support and encouragement.  Looking forward to serving you with God’s gifts in the coming year. 

From Pastor, Julie, Molly, Jacob, and Jeremy Rutz

THANK YOU to the members of Trinity for the nice Christmas gift.  Your kindness is appreciated.   May God bless all the members of Trinity as we begin a new year as a church family.               

From Linda Hadley