29 January 2021
*Friday after the Transfiguration*
Dear Saints and Friends of Grace & Trinity,
This Sunday is
T* Septuagesima *T
Exodus 17:1-7; 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5; Matthew 20:1-16 <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=90eadf4c-2097-48d0-baee-746d0a86c6d9&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1>
The Epiphany season came to an end with the Feast of Transfiguration last Sunday. Lent will begin on February 17th, Ash Wednesday. In between these is a small season that we call “Pre-Lent,” or, *gesimatide*. It’s a period of preparation, allowing us to ease into the fast and the disciplines of Lent. On Sunday we begin to count down the days until Easter (*Septuagesima *= 70 some-odd days unto Easter). And part of our preparation is our Lord’s gracious invitation to work in His vineyard, whether from the first hour or the eleventh. *Join us at 8am at Grace and 11am at Trinity as we hear of our Lord’s generosity towards us for our salvation.*
*Bible Study is at 9:30am at Trinity. *We’re starting chapter 14 of the Revelation of St. John. Please join us! Here are a couple Peter Leithart videos that run with the chapter: Song of Heaven <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=3208c8c3-e62b-4f84-aa7e-448ce84caa7c&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1> and Harvest <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=b99aa3cb-a42c-488d-b4ca-be38a908abf6&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1> .
*Those Serving at Grace & Trinity today…*
*Trinity** Grace*
*Counters: David Ketteman Counters: Jeanette & Margie*
*Greeters: the Lewallens Greeters: the Suttons*
*Ushers: Sheryl Anderson & Ushers: Tom & Sandy*
* Keith Buhr Altar Guild: the Browns*
*Altar Guild: the Lessmans*
*Elder: Curt Engelbrecht*
*For those not able to join us in person*, here is the bulletin for Sunday <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=34f91fbf-d9d9-457f-ab3a-5205c681c021&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1> to follow along with at home. Please remember to give your offering to the Lord for the service of the Church, either by mailing a check or donating through our PayPal account (Grace <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=219a6527-60fe-4bbe-aa74-4652777a29bb&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1> , Trinity <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=55efe71a-1a51-465d-b3e6-8085451025f3&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1>). I know this is a difficult financial time for many, so if you need assistance, please let us know! We are so thankful for the continued generosity shown to both congregations during this time. Also, here are the news/notes <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=812f99e3-b436-498c-b28e-ee8cab1dc446&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1> and the congregation at prayer <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=8387d4a5-556c-480c-aa8f-40ad8df6dad0&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1>for Sunday.
*Coming up this week…*
· *Sunday (1/31): **Septuagesima*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Trinity
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español, *Grace
o *3:30pm *Elders Book Study, Grace
· *Monday*:
o *9am *Matins, Grace
· *Tuesday*: *Feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord*
o *No Matins*
o *7pm *Festal Divine Service, Grace
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o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *9:30am* Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Grace
o *5:15pm *Youth Catechesis, Trinity
o *7pm *Evening Prayer, Trinity
· *Thursday: *
o *9am **Matins, Immanuel***
· *Friday: **Commemoration of Jacob (Israel), Patriarch*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *4pm *Private Absolution, Trinity
· *Sunday (2/7): **Sexagesima*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace*
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español, *Grace
*Looking Ahead…*
· *Feb 8-16* ~ No Matins or Wednesday Divine Service, Bible Study, or Youth Catechesis.
· *Feb 17 *~ Ash Wednesday (11am & 7pm, Grace)
· *Apr 16-17 *~ Concordia Academy Kickoff Banquet <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=44b5c614-224c-4c48-80e9-4d42598cacde&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1> & Annual Lutheran Lecture Series, Grace
*Other things…*
· *Preparing for Lententide…*
o Lent is just around the corner. The upcoming ‘*Gesima’ *Sundays prepare us for the Great Fast by focusing us on the grace of God. You can read about the *Gesima *Sundays here <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=095a8a9c-f8c5-4e04-901b-7bc50eb171c7&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1> .
o Our Lord gives us three spiritual disciplines in the Sermon on the Mount: Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=c214795f-9443-4570-a2a5-9437f215a144&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1>. The Church of God is always engaged in all three, though there are times when we increase our practice and awareness, such as during Lent (there are other times such usually around vigils, such as Pentecost, as well as the Season of Advent and Ember Days – more on that later!). Usually this is said that during Lent we “giving something up”. But I would encourage you to think of it in the biblical terms of fasting. This will help propel us to consider what the Scriptures say on fasting and help us to understand why fasting is part of the Christian life. Here’s a brief work on the spiritual disciplines of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=95866f6a-1363-4007-8bf5-624c0c458b33&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1>
o Also, our Lenten custom is to have a light meal prior to our Wednesday night Vespers service. These meals and services will be held at Grace: meal at 6pm, Vespers at 7pm. During the meal, from 6-6:45pm, I’ll also be available in the sanctuary, offering another opportunity for Private Confession and Absolution.
· Today is Kansas Day! On this day, 160 years ago, the Territory of Kansas was received as a State into the Union. Celebrate the day by going to Eighth Day Books and getting a book on Kansas history. I’m currently reading Craig Miner’s <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=f4398234-dca5-4d72-806f-c7739e831813&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1> *Kansas: The History of the Sunflower State, 1854-2000 *(borrowed from Delmar & Irma Quade!), which has been fascinating!
· A couple of you mentioned that you enjoyed getting a chance to read over the draft of the lecture I am giving for the seminary in the Dominican Republic (in English, that is…). Well, here’s what I went through this week on Jeremiah <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=1284a188-a8f6-469b-8ea0-524aa3798d5f&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1>. Enjoy!
· Passageways, a local Lutheran agency providing help to the homeless vets in Wichita, can be supported by dining at Applebee’s on February 9th from 4-8pm. For more info, see here <ec2-52-26-194-35.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=10943499&l=f373ea07-eace-4185-88c2-71b4b750171f&r=7e1904e5-ec2b-432f-aaf5-fa5fbfc5d6f1> .
*Prayer Requests…*
· I just learned today that Jan Schmidt was ill a couple weeks back. She became very weak, anemic, and delusional—and all of it very quickly. Her cousin, Mary, was able to get an ambulance to take her to the hospital. While there, trying to find the source of what seemed to be internal bleeding, she had a colonoscopy during which she coded and is now unresponsive. Her family is with her and I was able to commend her to the Lord today. Please pray for a peaceful and restful sleep until our Lord calls her, along with all of us, up from the grave.
Many blessings and much joy to you all in Christ our life.
-Pastor