17 December 2021
*Commemoration of the Prophet Daniel and the Three Young Men*
Dear Saints and Friends of Grace & Trinity,
This Sunday is
*The Fourth Sunday of Advent*
*T** Rorate Coeli **T*
Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Philippians 4:4-7; John 1:19-28 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+18%3A15-19%3B+Philippians+4%3A4-7%3B+John+1%3A19-28&version=ESV>
*John the Baptizer Points Everyone to the Messiah*
*The coming of God in all His unveiled power at Mount Sinai was terrifying to the people of Israel. The thundering voice of the Lord puts sinners in fear of death (Deut. 18:15–19). God, therefore, raised up a prophet like Moses—the Messiah, the Christ. God came to His people veiled in human flesh. The skies poured down the Righteous One from heaven; the earth opened her womb and brought forth Salvation (Introit) through the blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord (Luke 1:39–56). The fruit of her womb is the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the One whose sandal strap John was not worthy to loose (John 1:19–28). In Jesus we are delivered from fear and anxiety. In Him alone we have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:4–7).*
*Bible Study this Week* is at Grace this month and we’ll continue our discussion of Christian piety as rooted in the Word of God. Join us at 9:30am at Grace.
*Those Serving* *at Grace & Trinity today…*
*Trinity** Grace*
*Counter: the Schneiders Counters: Jeanette*
*Greeters: the Smiths Greeters: the Petersens*
*Ushers: Derrel Pressnell & Ushers: Cory & Terry*
* David Ketteman Altar Guild: Stan & Janet*
*Altar Guild: Sheryl Anderson *
*Elder: Kendall Patterson*
*To prepare* your hearts and minds for the Sunday gathering of the faithful, here is the bulletin for Sunday <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/a264d228-609d-52d0-bee3-7913bd56b57d/2021_12_19_Fourth_Sunday_in_Advent.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/592ba57c-c4a6-9aa8-ed2b-f415a196eb0d/12_19_21_News_Notes.pdf> and the congregation at prayer <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/a0f13d7e-c66f-aa5a-4692-71e767cc45a4/2021_12_19_The_Fourth_Sunday_in_Advent.pdf> .
*Prayer Requests…*
· For the family of Ruby Sites, who fell asleep in Christ yesterday morning.
· In thanksgiving for the Hollander family—Blake, Katie, Evelyn, and Claire—joining our fellowship at Trinity this weekend. They are transferring from Birmingham, MI and have joined us for the last few months.
· For Roger Zwemke, who continues with steady, but slow improvement.
*Coming up this week…*
· *Today: *
o *4pm *Private Confession & Absolution, Trinity
o *6:30pm *Advent Caroling, Trinity
o *The “O” Antiphons begin today! (See LSB 357)*
· *Saturday: *
o *6pm **Las Posadas*, Grace
· *Sunday (12/19): **The Fourth Sunday of Advent – Rorate Coeli*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace
o *3:30pm *Elders’ Book Study, Grace
· *Monday*: *Commemoration of Katharina von Bora Luther*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
· *Tuesday: **Feast of St. Thomas*
o *9am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *9:30am *OMT
o *6:30pm *Sisters of Sophia, the Ladder
· *Wednesday: *
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Grace
o *4:15pm *Bell Choir Practice, Trinity
o *5:45pm *Advent Meal, Grace
o *6pm *Private Confession & Absolution, Grace
o *7pm *Advent Compline, Grace
· *Thursday: *
o *9am *Matins, Grace
· *Friday: **Christmas Eve*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *4pm *Private Confession & Absolution, Trinity
o *7pm *Lessons & Carols, Grace
o *11pm *Midnight Mass, Trinity
· *Saturday: **Feast of the Nativity of our Lord*
o *10am* Divine Service, Trinity
· *Sunday (12/26): **The Feast of St. Stephen*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace
*Looking Ahead…*
· *Special Divine Services This Month*
o *December 21, 9am *– *Feast of St. Thomas*, Trinity, followed by OMT.
o *Christmas Services*:
§ Christmas Eve Lessons & Carols at Grace, 7pm,
§ Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at Trinity, 11pm,
§ Christmas Day Divine Service at Trinity, 10am.
o *December 27, 9am* – Feast of St. John, Grace
o *December 28, 9am* – Feast of the Holy Innocents, Grace
o *December 31, 5:30pm* – Eve of the Circumcision and Name of Our Lord, Grace
· *December 30, 6:30-10pm* – EDI’s annual Nativity Feast will be held again at Trinity. This is for EDI Members and their guests. If you’d like to attend, register here <eighthdayinstitute.salsalabs.org/2021FeastoftheNativity/index.html> .
*Other Things*
· *Tube Socks for the Homeless: *The Board of Social Ministry at Grace is filling tube socks for the homeless again this year. We need your help in filling them with goodies. Some suggested items are: hard candy, small packages of snacks, “Slim Jims,” playing cards, small first aid items, trial size toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. Items for donation can be left in the narthex at Grace in the Food Pantry collection box. Thank you!
· *Christmas Gifts for our homebound members: *Grace’s Board of Social Ministry will put together (with your help) some goodies this year to be delivered to our homebound members. We’d love to have a few baked goods, small personal religious items like (a cross, bible verses, little trinkets, ornaments) crossword puzzle books, socks, blankets, etc. If you would like to donate, please place your items in the narthex in the food pantry box. Thank you and God bless your giving hearts.
· *Seminary Class on the Prophets: *Here’s the lecture <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/567e98c1-6f7f-827e-32d8-175041c93a61/Zoom_Recordings.10.docx> from this past Monday.
· *The Eighth Day Institute 2022 Symposium: *This year’s symposium is shaping up to be pretty exciting. With Rod Dreher, Carl Trueman, and Jennifer Roback-Morse, you’re in for a treat. Register now. <www.eighthdayinstitute.org/eighth-day-symposium-2022> If you’d like to attend the banquet, register for that as well, but let me know. I’ll try to designate a couple “Lutheran Tables” for us.
Many blessings and much joy to you all in Christ our life.
-Pastor