+ Third Sunday in Advent +
December 15, 2024
John the Baptizer Prepares the Way for the Lord
The voice of the Baptizer cried out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord . . .” (Isa. 40:1). John called the people to be made ready for the Messiah’s coming through repentance, for “all flesh is grass” (Isa. 40:6). Now He asks from prison, “Are you the one who is to come . . .?” (Matt. 11:2). Jesus’ works bear witness that He is. The sick are made well; the dead are raised, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. Their iniquity is pardoned; they have received from the Lord’s hand double forgiveness for all their sins. The “stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor. 4:1) still deliver Christ’s overflowing forgiveness to the poor in spirit, comforting God’s people with the word of the Gospel which stands forever. This Gospel produces rejoicing among all those who believe.
Advent Rubrics (. . . and Pink?)
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, Love, Joy, and Peace. Three candles are blue; one is pink/rose. The pink calls us to rejoice and find the refreshment needed in a period of fasting (there’s something similar in Lent, too). The week of Gaudete is marked by this joyous rose. Advent wreaths at home with daily family prayer and devotion is highly encouraged as well.
Sunday Resources:
Bulletin for The Third Sunday in Advent ~ December 15, 2024
Congregation at Prayer for The Third Sunday in Advent ~ 12/15/24
El boletín de este domingo en Español
Children’s Bulletin for this Sunday
Sunday Readings:
Old Testament: Isaiah 40:1-11
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
Sunday Catechesis:
- The Book of Judges
Wednesday Catechesis:
- The Book of Matthew
Week of the Third Sunday in Advent (December 15 – December 21, 2024):
Sunday
- 8:15 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
- 3:30 p.m. Ladies’ gathering at Trudy’s
Monday
- 8:30 a.m. Matins
Tuesday ~ Commemoration of Daniel the Prophet and the Three Young Men
- 8:30 a.m. Matins
- 9:15 a.m. OMT
- 7:00 p.m. Security Committee
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 ~ Commemoration of Adam and Eve
- 8:30 a.m. Matins
- 4:30 p.m. Private confession and absolution
- 7:00 p.m. Elders’ meeting
Friday ~ Commemoration of Katharina von Bora Luther
- 8:30 a.m. Matins
Saturday ~ Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Caroling Next Sunday, Dec. 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.
- 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)
- 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.
- 2025 KS District Life Conference will be held Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Topeka (901 SW Fillmore St., Topeka, KS 66606). The 2025 Kansas District Life Conference will once again be in conjunction with the 2025 Kansas March for Life. Registration is open. Visit the Life Conference webpage on the District website, https://kslcms.org/2025-life-conference to register and find more information. The keynote speaker will be Rev. Jeffrey Hemmer, pastor of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairview Heights, Ill. Rev. Hemmer is also an assistant to LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison and the author of the book, Man Up!: The Quest for Masculinity. Find out more about Rev. Hemmer’s book by visiting the Concordia Publishing House website, https://www.cph.org/man-up-the-quest-for-masculinity.
- Offering Envelopes Please pick up your 2025 offering envelopes in the narthex on your way out of church. Thank you!
- Trinity Staff Christmas Gift If you would like to donate to a staff Christmas gift, please put your donations in the designated basket in the narthex. The Board of Elders
- 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
- Fairmount Coffee: We will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day with shortened hours during the weeks of Christmas and New Year. See social media for adjusted hours.
- 6:47 Tuesdays @Fairmount! Advent Study continues. We will not meet on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve.: College Age/Young Adult Fellowship/Bible Group E-mail hannah@fairmountministries.org for more info. January bible study: Basics of our Faith.
- T.O.T. (formerly Theology on Tap): We will take a break in December. See you in January!
- 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
HOLIDAY SERVICES
12/24/24 ~ ChristMass Eve Candlelight Lessons ~7:00 pm
12/24/24 ~ ChristMass Eve Midnight Mass ~ 11:00 pm
12/25/24 ~ ChristMass Day Divine Service~ 10:00 am
12/31/24 ~ Eve of the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus (New Year’s Eve Divine Service) ~ 5:30 pm
1/6/25 ~ The Epiphany Divine Service ~ 5:30 pm
RESOURCES:
Issues, Etc.
For the week of December 15
Truth, Goodness, & Beauty . . . Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. This week’s topics include: The Movie “Gladiator II,” The Hymn “May God Bestow on Us His Grace,” Roman Catholicism & Indulgences, Mary Visits Elizabeth, The Testimony of John the Baptist and more. You can listen on-demand at issuesetc.org, the LPR mobile app, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomePod, TuneIn or a podcast provider. 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