+ Second Sunday in Advent +
December 8, 2024
The Lord Comes on the Last Day
The day on which our Lord returns will be a “great and awesome day” (Mal. 4:5). For He will come in a cloud with great power and glory. To the wicked and the proud, it will be a Day of judgment that will “set them ablaze” (Mal. 4:1). The signs preceding this Day will bring them fear and fainting. But to those who believe, who fear the name of the Lord, this Day is one to look forward to and rejoice in: “. . . straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). Christ our Redeemer is coming; the Sun of Righteousness will bring healing in His wings. Let us, then, give attention to the words of the Lord, which do not pass away. Let us “through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures” (Rom. 15:4) be strengthened in our hope by the Holy Spirit and watch diligently for Jesus’ coming. Then, by God’s grace, we shall escape all these things that will come to pass and stand before the Son of Man.
Advent Rubrics
Unique to Advent and Lent, the Liturgy drops the Greater Gloria (“Gloria in Excelsis”). The Church sets that magnificent hymn of praise aside until we hear the angels sing it at the birth of Christ! Also, you’ll notice that as the weeks of Advent go forth there will be two collects: the collect of the day (particular to the readings appointed) as well as the collect for the first Sunday in Advent. Finally, you can’t help but notice the Advent Wreath with four candles around the outside. This wreath is a calendar—slowing us down, week by week, drawing us in anticipation towards Christmas. Each of the four candles represents a different aspect of our waiting: Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy. Three candles are blue; one is pink. The pink calls us to rejoice and find the refreshment needed in a period of fasting (there’s something similar in Lent, too). Advent wreaths at home with daily family prayer and devotion is highly encouraged as well.
Sunday Resources:
Bulletin for The Second Sunday in Advent ~ December 8, 2024
Congregation at Prayer for The Second Sunday in Advent ~ 12/8/24
El boletín de este domingo en español
Children’s Bulletin for this Sunday
Sunday Readings:
Old Testament: Malachi 4:1-6
Epistle: Romans 15:4-13
Gospel: Luke 21:25-36
Sunday Catechesis:
- The Book of Judges
Wednesday Catechesis:
- The Book of Matthew
Week of the Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Trinity (December 8 – December 14, 2024):
Sunday
- 8:30 a.m. Choir Practice in Fellowship Hall
- 9:00 a.m. Divine Service
- 10:30 a.m. Bible Study
- 1:30 p.m. Misa en Español
Monday
- 8:30 a.m. Matins
Tuesday
- 8:30 a.m. Matins
Wednesday
- 8:30 a.m. Matins
- 9:30 a.m. Bible Study
- 11:00 a.m. Divine Service
- 5:30 p.m. Private confession and absolution
- 7:00 p.m. Vespers
Thursday
- 8:30 a.m. Matins
- 4:30 p.m. Private confession and absolution
Friday ~ Commemoration of Lucia, Martyr
- 8:30 a.m. Matins
Saturday
- 2:00 p.m. Advent Tea
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Advent Tea is December 14 at 2:00 p.m. Pastor Filipek will give a short presentation on Advent hymns. There will also be singing! Please sign up in the narthex if you are coming and what dessert or food item that you will be bringing to share. There is also a sign-up for those ladies who would like to decorate a table. Please indicate guests you have invited and the number of seats available for additional guests. Guidelines for table decorations are available, too.
- OMT Theological Reading Group
Tuesday, December 17 (Trinity)
8:30 am Matins
9:15 am Reading Discussion
11:15 am Prayer
11:30 am Lunch
Reading Assignment: Due: Wilkin, Robert L. Remembering the Christian Past. Grand Rapids, Michigan, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1995. (180 pages)
- Caroling December 22 Please join us as we go caroling the neighborhood surrounding Trinity. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 4 p.m. Please bring a snack or appetizer to share in fellowship after singing. Warm drinks will be provided.
- Catechesis begins with a meal at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesdays. There are classes for all ages. Pastor Filipek is teaching confirmation and adults, Kendall Patterson is teaching elementary age, and Amy Filipek is with preschool and younger children. Everyone is welcome! The last day of Catechesis for 2024 was November 20. Wednesday classes will resume January 8, 2025.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Ladies of Trinity Would you be interested in gathering to talk about how we can bring the traditions of The Church Year into our homes and to encourage each other in Christ? You are invited to come Sunday, December 15 at 3:30 p.m. to Trudy Unruh’s house for an informal gathering to discuss what such a group might look like using All The Household’s blog as a guide. Check out the blog at allthehousehold.com. Questions? Contact Trudy Unruh.
- Picture Directory There are copies of the church picture directory in the narthex. Please pick one up at your leisure.
- The last day of Catechesis for 2024 was November 20. Wednesday classes will resume January 8, 2025.
- Are You A Dillon’s Shopper? Designate Trinity as your Dillon’s rewards charity online, using the code QG377. You will need to designate Trinity every year for this rewards program.
- Happenings at Fairmount Ministries
- 6:47 Tuesdays @Fairmount! We are studying Romans. There will be a special bible study series beginning Dec. 3rd for Advent. College Age/Young Adult Fellowship/Bible Group. E-mail hannah@fairmountministries.org for more info.
- T.O.T. (formerly Theology on Tap): We will take a break in December. See you in January!
- Pancake Night Dec. 9th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Students can stop by for pancakes and take a break from studying for finals.
- A Message from The Kansas District LCMS Office As many of you know, there is a great need in the eastern regions of the United States in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Countless people, including LCMS members and congregations, are grieving the loss of their businesses, homes, and even their loved ones. Yet equally swift have been the many congregations, organizations, church members, and volunteers from around the Synod who have contributed their time, resources, finances, and prayers to aid those affected by the hurricane. Provided below are links for the three districts receiving contributions:
LCMS Mid-South District: https://mid-southlcms.org/
LCMS Southeastern District: https://se.lcms.org/
LCMS Florida-Georgia District: https://flgadistrict.org/
Funds received will be distributed by these districts for survivor support and some volunteer support. This will be a long-term ongoing recovery. Let us join in prayer together as we “encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). In the service of Christ, Rev. Justin Panzer, Kansas District President
RESOURCES:
Issues, Etc.
For the week of December 8
Christianity & Other World Religions . . . Judaism, Islam, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hinduism, Buddhism, Atheism, Scientology. Issues, Etc., a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL, is doing a World Religions 101 series with Dr. Adam Francisco of Concordia University Chicago. You can listen to this multi-part series at issuesetc.org/worldreligions. Listen Here for other Issues, Etc. programs.
As a result of Sunday’s Bible class discussion, these are link to Commemorations, Feasts, and Festivals with information about the Saints:
Link to Feasts and Festivals throughout the Church Year
Link to Commemorations throughout the Church Year
MISCELLANEOUS:
Trinity Lutheran Church tlcwichita.org
Concordia Academy Wichita Concordia Academy Wichita – Home
Kansas District LCMS LCMS Kansas District | (kslcms.org)
The Lutheran Church Missouri SynodLCMS.org – The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Eighth Day Books Eighth Day Books
Eighth Day Institute Welcome to Eighth Day Institute
Concordia Publishing House Home – Concordia Publishing House (cph.org)
Issues, Etc. issuesetc.org
Luther Classical College Luther Classical College