Trinity Lutheran Church of Wichita

26 November 2021
*Friday after the Last Sunday*

Dear Saints and Friends of Grace & Trinity,

This Sunday is
*The First Sunday of Advent*
*T** Ad Te Levavi **T*
Jeremiah 23:5-8; Romans 13:8-14; Matthew 21:1-9 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+23%3A5-8%3B+Romans+13%3A8-14%3B+Matthew+21%3A1-9&version=ESV>

*The Lord Jesus Comes in Humility to Redeem Us*
*The new Church Year begins by focusing on the humble coming of our Lord. “Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey” (Matt. 21:5). Even as He was born in a lowly manger, so Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a beast of burden. For He bears the sin of the world. He is the Son of David riding to His enthronement on the cross, where He shows Himself to be “The LORD is our Righteousness” (Jer. 23:5–6). Our Lord still comes in great humility to deliver His righteousness to us in the Word and Sacraments. Before receiving Christ’s body and blood, we also sing, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9) And as we receive the Sacrament, we set our hearts on His return in glory, for “our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11).*

*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. *

*Bible Study this Week* is at Trinity and we’ll continue our discussion of Christian piety as rooted in the Word of God. Join us at 9:30am at Trinity.

*Those Serving* *at Grace & Trinity today…*
*Trinity** Grace*
*Counter: The Wortzes Counters: Jennifer*
*Greeters: the Pattersons Greeters: the Unruhs*
*Ushers: David Ketteman Ushers: Jim & Sandy*
*Altar Guild: the Pattersons Altar Guild: the Nickels*
*Elder: **Scott Smith*

*To prepare* your hearts and minds for the Sunday gathering of the faithful, here is the bulletin for Sunday <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/0739c29a-efa3-e640-3066-9bb94a17ae0f/2021_11_28_First_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/9985b0d5-62c7-5daf-08b7-381de04af084/11_28_21_News_Notes.pdf> and the congregation at prayer <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/6d777b2a-98a1-51ad-943c-a5957b51f37a/2021_11_28_Advent_I.pdf> .

*Prayer Requests…*
· For Roger Zwemke, who is still hospitalized in the ICU. He has a surgery scheduled for Monday, but at the moment he is intubated and not likely going to be able to undergo surgery.
· Also, prayers for Mary as she has recently moved into Regents Park. Visitors or lunch dates would be very welcome; however, you must know that there are a few covid positive cases in the memory unit. She recognizes faces from Church and it brings a great deal of comfort to her.

*Coming up this week…*
· *Sunday (11/28): **The First Sunday of Advent*
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*: *Commemoration of Noah*
o *6:30pm* New Member Catechesis, Trinity
· *Tuesday: **Feast of St. Andrew*
o *9am *Divine Service, Grace
· *Wednesday: *
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Grace
o *4:15pm *Bell Choir Practice, Trinity
o *6pm *Advent Meal, Grace
o *6pm *Private Confession & Absolution, Grace
o *7pm *Advent Compline, Grace
· *Thursday: **Thanksgiving Day*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
· *Friday: *
o *4pm *Private Confession & Absolution, Trinity
· *Saturday: **Commemoration of St. John of Damascus*
o *2-4pm* Advent By Candlelight, Trinity
· *Sunday (12/5): **The Second Sunday of Advent – Populus Zion*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace

*Looking Ahead…*
· *December 1 – *Midweek Advent Meals (6pm) and Services (7pm) begin at Grace. These Wednesday evenings are a wonderful way of slowing down and preparing our hearts for the Nativity Feast. If you’d like to prepare a meal for one of these Wednesdays in December, please let me know.
· *December 4, 2-4pm* – Please join the ladies of Grace & Trinity for Advent-By-Candlelight at Trinity. Sign-up in the narthex to attend or to be a Hostess. Questions? Contact Vicki Lessman at 316-641-9392 or vlessman@cox.net.
· *December 11, 9-11:30am (both Churches) *– Church Decorating for Christmas. If you’re willing to help put up the lights and wreaths, or hang the chrismons on the trees, we could use all hands on deck! This is a great opportunity to spend some time together preparing the sanctuary for the festal season to come.
· *December 17, 6:30-8:30pm *– Advent/Christmas Caroling through the neighborhood at Trinity. We’ll carol for about an hour and then come back to the Church for warm drinks and desserts. This is always a great time and brings such joy to our neighbors. Please join us!

*Other Things*
· *Giving Tuesday *is the single largest charitable giving day during the year. There are many great not-for-profits that rely on your generosity to keep them doing the unique work they do (as you know, I’m intimately involved with two of them: Concordia Academy <www.concordiaacademywichita.org/contribute.html> and the Eighth Day Institute <www.eighthdayinstitute.org/>). As you consider your thankfulness and how that might overflow to the aid and support of others, remember that charitable giving does not replace your thank offering to the Lord, but is over and above that. That being said, our congregations are able to provide faithful preaching, teaching, and an administration of the Sacraments in prominent buildings for the sake of the life of the world because of your generosity. We support missionaries at home and abroad. We provide food for the hungry, offer an Hispanic ministry, and are boldly supporting a new school. Thank you!
· *My Newman University Lectures* on the Old Testament can be found here <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/c4fc878d-6f58-8aff-4087-8e259b721aa4/Zoom_Recordings.06.docx>. For some reason, today’s lecture had some zoom difficulties. Hopefully most of the lecture can be accessed. Enjoy!

Many blessings and much joy to you all in Christ our life.
-Pastor

19 November 2021
*Commemoration of St. Elizabeth of Hungary*

Dear Saints and Friends of Grace & Trinity,

*St. Elizabeth of Hungary* (a.d. 1207-1231) was a princess of the Kingdom of Hungary, Landgravine of Thuringia, Germany, and an early member of the Third Order of St. Francis, by which she is honored as its patroness. She was married at the age of fourteen and widowed at twenty. After her husband’s death she sent her children away and regained her dowry, using the money to build a hospital where she herself served the sick, becoming a symbol of Christian charity for the Church of God. The hospital was located just outside her home, which happened to be the Wartburg Castle, where Luther would later translate the Scriptures into German). She fell asleep in the Lord at the age of twenty-four. Today we thank God for His humble maidservant Elizabeth.

This Sunday is
*The Last Sunday after Trinity*
*T** Sunday of the Ten Virgins **T*
Isaiah 65:17-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:1-13 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+65%3A17-25%3B+1+Thessalonians+5%3A1-11%3B+Matthew+25%3A1-13&version=ESV>

*By Faith We Are Prepared for Christ’s Return*
*“The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:1–11). The arrival of the bridegroom will be sudden and unexpected. Therefore you are to be watchful and ready like the five wise virgins. “For you know neither the day nor the hour” when the Son of Man is to return (Mt 25:1–13). The lamps are the Word of Christ. The oil in the lamps is the Holy Spirit, who works through the Word to create and sustain the flame of faith in Christ. The foolish are those who do not give proper attention to the working of the Holy Spirit in baptism, preaching, and the supper, and so their faith does not endure. The wise, however, are those who diligently attend to these gifts of the Spirit, and who therefore have an abundance of oil. The flame of faith endures to the end. By God’s grace they are received into the eternal wedding feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, the new heavens and the new earth created by the Lord for the joy of His people (Isa 65:17–25).*

*No Bible Study this Week* due to the voters’ meeting at Grace this Sunday.

*Those Serving* *at Grace & Trinity today…*
*Trinity** Grace*
*Counter: The Wortzes Counters: Jeanette*
*Greeters: the Pattersons Greeters: the Petersons*
*Ushers: David Ketteman Ushers: Cory & Terry*
*Altar Guild: the Pattersons Altar Guild: the Nickels*
*Elder: **Scott Smith*

*To prepare* your hearts and minds for the Sunday gathering of the faithful, here is the bulletin for Sunday <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/8288d13e-2280-8c13-5601-46baf51e7935/2021_11_21_Trinity_27_Last_Sunday_of_the_Church_Year.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/10e20170-1642-b320-7700-98ef617951cb/11_21_21_News_Notes.pdf> and the congregation at prayer <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/db01de7d-942c-b135-d710-f368579a8e73/2021_11_21_The_Last_Sunday_of_the_Church.pdf> .

*Prayer Requests…*
· For Karla Atkinson, Jennifer Reyes’ and Ashley Janney’s mother.

*Coming up this week…*
· *Friday: **Commemoration of Elizabeth of Hungary*
o *4pm *Private Confession & Absolution, Trinity
· *Saturday:*
o *9:30am *LWML Mtg., Trinity
· *Sunday (11/21): **The 27th Sunday / Last Sunday after Trinity*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Grace Voters’ Mtg., Grace (*no Bible Study*)
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *12:15pm *Trinity Voters’ Mtg., Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace (*with the Wedding of Lauro and Cristina Aquino*)
· *Monday*:
o *6:30pm* New Member Catechesis, Trinity
· *Tuesday: **Commemoration of St. Clement of Rome*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
· *Wednesday: *
o **No Bible Study or 11am Divine Service at Grace this week**
o *7pm *Thanksgiving Eve Divine Service, Trinity
· *Thursday: **Thanksgiving Day*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
· *Friday: *
o *4pm *Private Confession & Absolution, Trinity
· *Sunday (11/28): **The First Sunday of Advent*
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

*Looking Ahead…*
· *November 24, 7pm* – Thanksgiving Eve Divine Service, Trinity
· *December 1 – *Midweek Advent Meals (6pm) and Services (7pm) begin at Grace. These Wednesday evenings are a wonderful way of slowing down and preparing our hearts for the Nativity Feast. If you’d like to prepare a meal for one of these Wednesdays in December, please let me know.
· *December 4, 2-4pm* – Please join the ladies of Grace & Trinity for Advent-By-Candlelight at Trinity. Sign-up in the narthex to attend or to be a Hostess. Questions? Contact Vicki Lessman at 316-641-9392 or vlessman@cox.net.
· *December 17, 6:30-8:30pm *– Advent/Christmas Caroling through the neighborhood at Trinity. We’ll carol for about an hour and then come back to the Church for warm drinks and desserts. This is always a great time and brings such joy to our neighbors. Please join us!

*Other Things*
– *Concordia Academy has issued a Call to the Rev. Anthony Dodgers to serve as Headmaster*. Please keep the school and Pr. Dodgers in your prayers during this time of deliberation. He intends to let us know by the end of the month. See more at www.concordiaacademywichita.org <www.concordiaacademywichita.org/contribute.html>.
· *Trinity is looking for three more members* to serve on the Board of Trustees as well as one “At-Large” member to sit on the monthly Church Council, and one “At-Large” member to serve on our Joint-Parish Council. If interested, please talk to Curt Engelbrecht, Scott Smith, Kendall Patterson, or myself. Thanks!
· *My Newman University Lectures* on the Old Testament can be found here <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/87b3194c-3d4e-ed50-22ab-228e556fdfc7/Zoom_Recordings.05.docx>. For some reason, today’s lecture had some zoom difficulties. Hopefully most of the lecture can be accessed. Enjoy!
· *New Church Calendar*: Okay…here’s the Calendar of hymns and readings <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/c6f5e551-10e3-f9f9-a566-7b16313f6984/2021_2022_Advent_Pre_Lent.pdf> for feasts, festivals, and the Sundays of the Church Year through Pre-Lent (end of February). You’ll notice that Sundays are in bold. The Feasts and Festivals have their location and times posted. Please put these on your personal calendar and plan to join us as often are you’re able!
· *And Just for Fun*: Check out this Lutheran Satire video <https://youtu.be/4rSVp86PSyU> on running for Congregational President. Enjoy!

Many blessings and much joy to you all in Christ our life.
-Pastor

12 November 2021
*Friday in the octave of All Saints*

Dear Saints and Friends of Grace & Trinity,
This Sunday is
*The 26th Sunday after Trinity*
*T** Sunday of the Sheep and the Goats **T*
Daniel 7:9-14; 2 Peter 3:3-14; Matthew 25:31-46 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+7%3A9-14%3B+2+Peter+3%3A3-14%3B+Matthew+25%3A31-46&version=ESV>

*Render to God the things of God*
*“Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came One like a Son of Man” (Dan. 7:13). The Lord Jesus will return in glory on the Last Day with all His holy angels. “Before Him will be gathered all the nations . . . And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left” (Matt. 25:31–33). Those on His left will be cast into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For they rejected Christ by failing to receive and support His brethren, that is, the preachers of the Gospel. But those on His right will inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. For they received and supported His brethren and believed what they preached. We believe in the promise of Christ’s coming, even it is delayed because of His longsuffering mercy. Conducting ourselves in godliness, knowing that this fallen creation will soon pass away, we look forward to “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).*

*In Bible Study* this week we’ll continue our discussion of the Christian life and the place of piety and reverence therein. Join us at Trinity at 9:30am. Much of our upcoming studies will be based in part on the delightful book by Pr. Will Weedon, *Thank, Praise, Serve, and Obey: Recover the Joys of Piety <www.cph.org/p-31340-thank-praise-serve-and-obey-recover-the-joys-of-piety.aspx>*. You can also get it on audio!

*Those Serving* *at Grace & Trinity today…*
*Trinity** Grace*
*Counters: The Wortzes Counters: Tom & Sandy*
*Greeter: Minda Shultz Greeters: The Howards*
*Ushers: Dave Ketteman & Ushers: Terry & Ted*
* Ron Rooker 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/e6868ec1-546d-4a18-91b3-54a8beb3e317/2021_11_14_Trinity_26.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/6fe23d70-ea2d-39f8-820c-5d4594424547/11_14_21_News_Notes.pdf> and the congregation at prayer <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/306639d5-c1dc-40c1-7faf-fe62d4a50963/2021_11_14_The_Twenty_Sixth_Sunday_after_Trinity.pdf> .

*Prayer Requests…*
· For Pr. Metzger, who returns home today from the hospital after having a stent put in this week, which has significantly improved his blood pressure and kidney function. Thank God!
· For Karl Shultz Jr., Minda’s son, who also has returned home and is doing very well.
· For Beth Wilson and her family as she mourns her grandmother’s death.
· Happy birthday to our Ana today! She turned 14 *AND* received her student driver permit…watch out!

*Coming up this week…*
· *Today: *
o *No Private Confession & Absolution*
o *4pm *Youth Catechesis Retreat, leave from Trinity
· *Sunday (11/14): **The 26th Sunday after Trinity*
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 *Special Voters’ Mtg., Grace
· *Monday*:
o *6:30pm* New Member Catechesis, Trinity
· *Tuesday: *
o *9am *Matins & OMT, Grace **We’re discussing G.K. Chesterton’s “The Thing: Why I’m a Catholic”*
o *6:30pm *Grace Council Mtg., Grace
· *Wednesday: *
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Grace
o *4:15pm *Hand Bell Choir, Trinity
o *5:15pm *Youth Catechesis, Trinity
o *7pm *Evening Prayer, Trinity
· *Thursday: *
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *7:30pm *Hall of Men, the Ladder
· *Friday: **Commemoration of Elizabeth of Hungary*
o *4pm *Private Confession & Absolution, Trinity
· *Saturday:*
o *9:30am *LWML Mtg., Trinity
· *Sunday (11/21): **The 27th Sunday / Last Sunday after Trinity*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Grace Voters’ Mtg., Grace (*no Bible Study*)
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *12:15pm *Trinity Voters’ Mtg., Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español*, Grace

*Looking Ahead…*
· *November 14 –* Special Grace Voters’ Mtg. at 3:30pm. Please plan to attend!
· *November 21 –* Regular Voters’ Mtg. for each congregation: Grace, 9:30am; Trinity, 12:30pm. No Bible Study this day.
· *November 24, 7pm* – Thanksgiving Eve Divine Service, Trinity
· *December 1 – *Midweek Advent Meals (6pm) and Services (7pm) begin at Grace. These Wednesday evenings are a wonderful way of slowing down and preparing our hearts for the Nativity Feast. If you’d like to prepare a meal for one of these Wednesdays in December, please let me know.
· *December 4, 2-4pm* – Please join the ladies of Grace & Trinity for Advent-By-Candlelight at Trinity. Sign-up in the narthex to attend or to be a Hostess. Questions? Contact Vicki Lessman at 316-641-9392 or vlessman@cox.net.

*Other Things*
– *Come and see Annie this weekend!* Classical School of Wichita (including our own Sophia Schneider!) will present “Annie” at 7 p.m. tonight, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, November 13 at Morningstar Community Church (Kellogg & Greenwich). Tickets are $8/adult and $6/student; children 3 and under are free. – *Concordia Academy has issued a Call to the Rev. Anthony Dodgers to serve as Headmaster*. Please keep the school and Pr. Dodgers in your prayers during this time of deliberation. See more at www.concordiaacademywichita.org <ec2-54-202-43-228.us-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/x/d?c=16122047&l=0cd59574-9abf-44c4-ab09-2a222aa54e63&r=056e0018-0237-4ed1-99c4-a3bc4441e50c> .
· *Trinity is looking for three more members* to serve on the Board of Trustees as well as one “At-Large” member to sit on the monthly Church Council, and one “At-Large” member to serve on our Joint-Parish Council. If interested, please talk to Curt Engelbrecht, Scott Smith, Kendall Patterson, or myself. Thanks!
· *My Newman University Lectures* on the Old Testament can be found here <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/c0c8305e-85ac-2961-0d23-da27340a39c6/Zoom_Recordings.04.docx>. Enjoy!
· *New Church Calendar*: As we make our way into the end of the Church year, I set my eyes towards the next calendar. I try to plan out the entire Church Year in advance of its beginning (we’ll see if I can pull it off this time…). One new item for this year is a robust schedule of feasts and festivals, making use of both our Wednesday Divine Services at Grace as well as weekday feasts in place of Matins. The bigger feasts will still be celebrated in the evenings as we’ve done in years past. See here for a tentative schedule of this upcoming year’s non-Sunday feasts and festivals <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/4c2b26ca-5197-07d9-70f2-243930e174da/2021_2022_Non_Sunday_Feasts_and_Festivals.pdf>. And look for a full calendar for the year to come out shortly!

Many blessings and much joy to you all in Christ our life.
-Pastor