July 19, 2020 The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Post date: Jul 16, 2020 4:31:07 PM

For the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost on July 19, 2020

Isaiah 44:6-8 Romans 8:18-27

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 (printed here)

The Parable of the Weeds

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

This Week at Trinity

Sun., July 19 8:00 am Bible Class (CR)

9:00 am Divine Service (CR)

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

11:00 am Divine Service/HC (MA)

1:00 pm Voter’s Mtg. in FH (CR)

Tues., July 21 6:30 pm Bible Study in Mt. Ayr

Sat., July 25 All Day FH reserved by the Eklund family

Sun., July 26 8:00 am Bible Class (CR)

9:00 am Divine Service/HC (CR)

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

11:00 am Divine Service (MA)

Prayer List

Cancer: Denice Creveling (member)

Dan Lutrick (member)

Phil Burmeister (member)

Dick Stream (brother of Cindy Isdahl & b-i-l of Pat Stream)

Otto Guiter (grandson of Kathy Parker)

Kent Larsen (brother of Mark Larsen)

Brian Raske (brother in law of Deb Melzer)

Vivian Herzberg (sister of Bruce Herzberg)

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

Members: Norm Schroeder; Jay Bochart, Alexis Swanson, and Jean Kruse

Marie Burmeister

Oliver Gish (great nephew of Waunita Watt)

Bob Beatty (friend of Waunita Watt)

Rev. Dave Ericksen

Terry Melzer (brother of Deb Melzer)

Brian Mills (nephew of Cooks)

Rev. Larry Troxel (former pastor at Trinity)

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

Walt & Nelda Herzberg, Clara Buchanan; Doyle Hembry;

Warren Kruse

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)

Condolences: Prayers for the family of Patty Gipple (niece of the

Bullocks) who passed away on July 14.

Prayers for the family of Ronald Kneedler (brother of Jim Kneedler) who died on July 5.

Attendance: From July 12, 2020

Creston 50, HC 40 Mt. Ayr 16

Serving At Trinity Sunday, July 19, 2020

Organist: (CR) Sharon Eklund (MA) Greg Storhoff

Ushers in July: (CR) Charlie Bowman, Eric Eklund, Mick Hagen, and Phil Wardenburg

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

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

Finance Team in July: Phil Wardenburg and Rick Hadley

Altar Guild for July: Cindy Isdahl and Janette Lang

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.

Hymnals: The hymnals are available again for your use during the service, but for awhile we will continue to print out the entire service in the bulletin, also.

Attendance Cards: Attendance cards are back in the pew racks. 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.

Private Communion Times: If you would like to take holy communion privately, please call Pastor to set up an appointment.

Livestreamed and You Tube Services: Our services will continue to be available via our church website and will be livestreamed and also available, once downloaded, via You Tube.

Weekly Bulletins, Announcements, and Sermons will continue to be available on the church website.

Voter’s Meeting: Today, at 1:00, in the fellowship hall in Creston.

Proposed Amendment to By-Laws

A proposed amendment to the By-Laws will be presented at the July 19 Voters meeting.

The amendment is to eliminate the term limits for the Treasurer and Financial Secretary, which are currently two consecutive, 1 year terms. This is being recommended because the computer programs used for both offices is detailed and takes time to learn. It has become increasingly difficult to find congregational members who are willing to learn these programs. The By-Laws do require that an annual audit be conducted, so this should protect against unauthorized transactions by these officers.

The proposed amendment is to Article IV, part B, the 5^th sentence:

“The officers shall be permitted to hold the same office for two (2) consecutive terms only, except the Treasurer and Financial Secretary offices shall have no term limits.

Bible Class: At 8:00 a.m. next Sunday, July 26, in Creston, Pastor will begin a study titled How Faith Works based on the book of James. The same study will begin in Mt. Ayr on Tuesday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. How Faith Works provides us with an insight into the relationship between faith and works. Often we are tempted to say that it is not really important what we believe but that we do good for others. Others try to pull us in the opposite direction: it is not what we do that counts but only that we believe the right things. James in his epistle sets the record straight. In this study you will discover

· the proper relationship between faith and works;

· what it means to be free to serve God with fruits of faith;

· practical ways of putting your faith into action through Christ-like loving and living.

MISSIONS

USED PORTALS OF PRAYER may 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.