*Friday after Ash Wednesday*
Dear Saints and Friends of Grace & Trinity,
This Sunday is
*Invocabit** – the 1st Sunday in Lent*
*T** The Sunday of the Temptation **T*
Genesis 3:1-21; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10; Matthew 4:1-11 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A1-21%3B+2+Corinthians+6%3A1-10%3B+Matthew+4%3A1-11&version=ESV>
*Jesus Does Battle in our Place*
*In the Garden, man exalts himself to be a god in place of God (Gen. 3:1–21). He succumbs to the temptation of the devil, and eating of the forbidden fruit, he receives death. But in the sin-cursed wilderness, God humbles Himself to become man in place of man (Mt. 4:1–11). He does not eat but fasts and bears the onslaughts of the devil for us that we may be restored to life. Jesus stands as David in our place to do battle against the Goliath, Satan (1 Samuel 17:40–51). Though outwardly Jesus appears weak, yet He comes in the name of the Lord of hosts. He draws from the five smooth stones of the books of Moses and slings the Word of God. The stone sinks into the forehead, and the enemy falls. In Christ we are victorious over the devil. Let us therefore not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor. 6:1–10), but seeing that we have a great High Priest, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain help in time of need (Heb 4:14–16).*
*Bible Study this Week* is at Trinity. We’ll discuss the piety of the Lenten season*.* Join us at 9:30am at Trinity.
*Those Serving* *at Grace & Trinity today…*
*Counters: The Lewallens Counters: Tom & Sandy*
*Greeters: Minda Shultz Greeters: The Kennys*
*Ushers: Dave Ketteman & Ushers: Jim & Sandy*
* Derrel Pressnell Altar Guild: The Nickels*
*Altar Guild: The Wortzes *
*Elder: Keith Buhr*
*To prepare* your hearts and minds for the Sunday gathering of the faithful, here is the bulletin for Sunday <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/4cc7e2a3-b7d5-2841-23c3-358e4a922384/2022_03_06_The_First_Sunday_in_Lent_Invocabit.pdf>. Meditate on the readings, pray the prayers, and consider what gifts our Lord has for us this week. Also, here are the news/notes <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/9dafa200-09fd-0436-c5c5-8926d77c8897/3_6_22_News_Notes.pdf> and the congregation at prayer <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/55a4d289-708e-5918-4cb8-ebd439935175/2022_3_6_First_Sunday_in_Lent_Invocabit.pdf> .
*Prayer Requests…*
· For me and my family. I have been asked to prayerfully consider a call to serve as a professor at Concordia Theological Seminary-Fort Wayne for this upcoming school year. This is, as you may expect, incredibly difficult. I ask for your prayers as well as any counsel you may have to offer. I would love to meet with you and hear from you.
· For Debra Rodgers, the mother-in-law of Donna Lehane’s youngest son, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer.
· The people of Ukraine (here’s an article about our Synod’s involvement <reporter.lcms.org/2022/the-list-changes-daily-help-for-ukraine/>)
· For Rev. Dr. Gregory Schulz <www.lutheranphilosopher.com/>, a professor at Concordia University-Wisconsin, recently suspended from teaching for his published concerns over the “Woke-ism <www.cc.lutherclassical.org/summer-2021/wokism/>” infiltrating the university. You can read the article here <christiannewsmissouri.com/2022/02/15/woke-dysphoria-at-concordia/>, listen to a conversation with him about it here <www.gottesdienst.org/podcast/2022/3/1/tgc-172-called-to-defend>, and sign a pledge in support of the pastor here <chng.it/gJVRMKdfmP>. Above all, please pray for him and his family, along with the university, its faculty and students, and that the Church of God would live its life in repentance and faith in the Gospel.
*Coming up this week…*
· *Sunday (3/6): **Invocabit*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Trinity
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity **with safety/security drill*
o *12:15pm *Ordination Anniversary Celebration for Pr. Metzger, Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace
· *Monday: **Commemoration of Perpetua & Felicitas, Martyrs*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
· *Tuesday: *
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *7pm *Trinity Council Mtg., Trinity
· *Wednesday*:
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Grace
o *5pm *Bell Choir, Trinity
o *5:30pm *Lenten Meal, Trinity
o *6-6:45pm *Private Absolution, Trinity
o *7pm *Lenten Vespers (the Creed), Trinity
· *Thursday*:
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *7:30pm *Hall of Men, the Ladder
· *Friday: **Anniversary of Pr. Metzger’s Installation at Grace & Trinity (2018)*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *4-5pm *Private Absolution, Trinity
· *Sunday (3/13): **Reminiscere (Daylight Savings!)*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Trinity
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace
*Looking Ahead…*
· *March 6*: *Pr.* *Metzger Ordination Anniversary Celebration – *Following the 11am service at Trinity, we will honor Pr. Metzger’s 30 years in the Holy Ministry with a luncheon. Please join us! (His actual anniversary is March 3)
o Also on the 6th at Trinity we’ll have our annual security fire & tornado explanation and drill.
· *March 12: All Day Prayer Vigil* – Immanuel Lutheran Church (909 S Market St) is inviting all the area Lutherans to join them in their All-Day Prayer Vigil on March 12th. This is a come-and-go vigil, set between the hours of 8am (beginning with Matins) and ending at 8pm (with Compline). No need to sign up, just show up. Volunteers at Immanuel will be there to greet you and help those unfamiliar with the Prayer Vigil, providing “Prayer Helps” including a helpful walk-through of the LSB in the use of prayer. Deaconess Suzanne of Immanuel will also be available to help and pray with anyone who would like to pray with someone or have someone pray for them. If you have any question, please call Deaconess Suzanne at 316-617-4092.
· *March 18-19*: *EDI Saint Patrick Feast – *The 14th Annual St. Pat’s Feast <eighthdayinstitute.salsalabs.org/2022feastofstpatrick/index.html> will include additional lectures and a calligraphy workshop with Rev. Dr. Gabriel Rochelle! Sign up now!
· *March 20-22: Society of St. Polycarp Retreat* – Every third Sunday of Lent (Oculi) the KS Chapter of the SSP meets for a retreat at Immanuel for study, prayer, silent reflection, and fellowship. While the retreat is for members of the society, it is open to anyone interested to participate. Look for the schedule next week. Our study this year will focus on the Magdeburg Confession. Resources for our discussion can be found here <magdeburgconfession.com/mag/> and here
*Other Things…*
· *March’s Newsletters Are Finally Here! *Here’s Grace’s *Grace Notes <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/8a0a6e1d-decb-aa8c-a5c5-f904db84a4d9/March_Grace_Notes_2022.pdf>* and Trinity’s *Torch <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/ffb751bd-fbf5-a4f2-8a36-a8337331b690/March_Torch_2022.pdf> *along with this month’s Calendar <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/ad56fc86-faf0-c252-bb93-8957791de8f5/March_2022_Calendar.pdf> .
· *Our Missionary Newsletter* from the Conrads is here <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/6d1b6d77-135b-660e-5831-64713bad6571/NewsletterJan22Feb22.pdf>, too!
· *Lenten Litany:* Every day in Matins we pray this Litany <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/90297191-16d3-1d42-4bca-0ba1f5cec8cd/Lenten_Litany_for_Matins.01.pdf>. I encourage you to print it off, use it at home, or, if the chanting is too difficult, open your hymnal to LSB 288-289.
· *Updated Daily Prayer List* is available here <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/82f8887d-0bb8-8fd9-de28-387db1011da9/Daily_Prayer_List.pdf> !
· *Cune (Concordia University-Nebraska) A Cappella Choir *(including Neal Patron) will perform a concert at Holy Cross here in Wichita this Saturday evening (3/5) at 7:30pm. They’ll also sing during the Sunday services at Holy Cross at 8am and 11am.
· *Concordia Academy-Wichita Open Enrollment: *Finally, please spread the word about our open enrollment and LARGE tuition grants at Concordia Academy. You can find the enrollment application here <www.concordiaacademywichita.org/uploads/1/3/1/6/131611242/application_form.pdf> .
Many blessings and much joy to you all in Christ our life.
-Pastor