30 July 2021
*Commemoration of Robert Barnes*
Dear Saints and Friends of Grace & Trinity,
*Today *the Church commemorates Robert Barnes. Here’s what Luther had to say about him:
* “This Dr. Robert Barnes we certainly knew, and it is a particular joy for me to hear that our good, pious dinner guest and houseguest has been so graciously called by God to pour out his blood and to become a holy martyr for the sake of His dear Son. Thanks, praise, and glory be to the Father of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who again, as at the beginning, has granted us to see the time in which His Christians, before our eyes and from our eyes and from beside us, are carried off to become martyrs (that is, carried off to heaven) and become saints. *
* Now, since this holy martyr, St. Robert Barnes, heard at the time that his King Henry VIII of England was opposed to the pope, he came back to England with the hope of planting the Gospel in his homeland and finally brought it about that it began. To cut a long story short, Henry of England was pleased with him, as is his way, until he sent him to us at Wittenberg in the marriage matter…*
* Let us praise and thank God! This is a blessed time for the elect saints of Christ and an unfortunate, grievous time for the devil, for blasphemers, and enemies, and it is going to get even worse. Amen.*” ~ Treasury of Daily Prayer, Taken from Luther’s “Preface to Robert Barnes *Confessio Fidei* (1540)”
This Sunday is
*the 9th Sunday after Trinity*
T the Sunday of the Unjust Steward T
2 Samuel 22:26–34; 1 Corinthians 10:6-13; Luke 16:1-13 <www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Samuel+22%3A26%E2%80%9334%3B+1+Corinthians+10%3A6-13%3B+Luke+16%3A1-13&version=ESV>
*The Steward’s Shrewdness Sanctified ~ **“The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness” (Luke 16:1–9). The steward’s shrewdness is praiseworthy for two reasons. First, he knew the master would be merciful. He trusted that the master would honor the debts he forgave in the master’s name. In the same way, though we have squandered our heavenly Father’s possessions in selfishness and sin, Jesus is the Steward who has canceled our debt, knowing that His forgiveness will be honored by the Father because of the holy cross. Secondly, the steward was shrewd in using oil and wheat to provide for his earthly welfare. So also do these earthly elements aid us when pressed into heavenly use in the anointing of baptism and the wheat of the Lord’s Supper. Those who have the Sacraments will have an eternal home when their earthly home fails. These provide us aid in times of temptation (1 Cor. 10:6–13). For the Lord is our strength and a shield to all who trust in Him (2 Sam. 22:26–34).*
Join us for the *Divine Service* at *Grace* at *8am* or *Trinity *at *11am* and for *Bible study* at *9:30am* *at Grace. *
*Those Serving* *at Grace & Trinity today…*
*Trinity** Grace*
*Counter: the Pressnells Counters: Tom & Sandy*
*Greeters: the Smiths Greeters: the Kennys*
*Ushers: Roger Zwemke & Ushers: Jim & Sandy*
* Derrel Pressnell Altar Guild: the Unruhs*
*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/f5eae6d3-fb95-fd68-8a97-dc853934fcc7/2021_08_01_Trinity_9.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/d9e98024-eacf-e79d-0b12-bf47ab8077bf/8_1_21_News_Notes.pdf> and the congregation at prayer <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/061b9bbb-3041-0acc-5a76-20b81ee85429/2021_8_1_The_Ninth_Sunday_after_Trinity.pdf> .
*Prayer Requests…*
· For Brian and Sarah Lewallen, and—by the time you’re reading this—their newborn baby!
*Coming up this week…*
· *Sunday (8/1): **9th Sunday after Trinity*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace*
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
· *Monday*:
o *9am *Matins, Grace
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· *Tuesday: **Commemoration of Joanna, Mary, and Salome, Myrrhbearers*
o *9am *Matins, Grace
· *Wednesday: *
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace ***it’s back!*
o *11am *Divine Service, Grace
o *7pm *Evening Prayer, Trinity
· *Thursday: *
o *9am *Matins, Grace
· *Friday: *
o *9am *Matins, Grace
o *4-5pm *Private Absolution, Trinity
· *Sunday (8/8): **10th Sunday after Trinity*
o *8am *Divine Service, Grace
o *9:30am *Bible Study, Grace
o *11am *Divine Service, Trinity
o *2pm **Misa en Español, *Grace
*Looking Ahead…*
· *August 15 *during Bible Study we’ll have a farewell reception for Harold & Esther Brunner, who will be moving closer to their family.
· *August 21 *is the Annual St. John Lutheran Worship Conference in Topeka. This is always a great conference. It’s relatively close, inexpensive, and will certainly strengthen your faith and knowledge of how our Lord works in the liturgical life of the Church. For more, see here <stjohnlcmstopeka.org/learning/worshipconf/>.
· *August 28* is our Joint-Parish Picnic. We’ll also have an official “visit” by our Circuit Visitor, Pr. Lovett. Please join us at 3pm at Grace and stick around for dinner, drinks, and games. To prepare for the visit, please feel free to fill out this survey <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/08def2a8-993a-0eb7-0614-a961bb40982f/Questionnaire_for_Laity_Circuit_Visit.docx>. It won’t be collected, but it will help guide the conversation.
· *September 11* – *CLOTHING GIVEAWAY*! On Saturday, from 9a-12p, Grace’s Board of Social Ministry will hold a clothing giveaway. Donations will be accepted and appreciated until the first of September. Please drop off donations at Grace on Sunday mornings, Tuesdays from 9-11a, or you can contact Jennifer Reyes at 316-300-0500 for other arrangements. Volunteers for sorting the week prior are always needed, as is help the day of the event. Please mark your calendars and contact Jennifer with any questions and let her know if you are able to help. Thanks!
· *September 24-25 *is the Annual Men’s Retreat <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/4deefc14-df15-6b3a-1c62-4a59e5c3a318/Men_s_Retreat_Flier_2021_.pdf> in Herington. This year we’re thrilled to have Pr. Bryan Wolfmueller joining us to talk about martyrdom. Registration is $35, each teenage son you bring is $15. Everyone will get a copy of the book *A Martyr’s Faith in a Faithless World*
· *September 24: *You are cordially invited to The Gathering, on Friday, September 24. The Gathering is an annual benefit fundraiser for Fairmount Ministries! Your generosity does more good than you can imagine. Your support gives college students, young adults, and anyone who visits Fairmount Coffee Company, an opportunity to meet the love of Jesus at our front door. The Gathering is a night to remember that you will surely not want to miss! The evening will be a celebration full of delicious food and beverages, a silent auction, and catching up with old friends or making new ones! Join us at the Cowtown Visitor Center (1865 Museum Blvd., Wichita) for a social hour beginning at 5:45pm and dinner and program at 6:45pm. Tickets are $75 per guest. RSVP at www.fairmountministries.org/gathering or send checks (in memo “The Gathering”) to Fairmount Ministries (3815 E. 17th St. N., Wichita, KS 67208). Please indicate names of guests in attendance. Call 316-684-5224 x2 with questions.
· *September 30-October 1 *is Lutheranism and the Classics, a conference on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary-Fort Wayne at which I’ll be offering a paper. You can see more about this excellent gathering here: www.ctsfw.edu/ctsfw-events/lutheranism-the-classics/
*Other Things…*
· *Our monthly newsletter* is ready! Grace Notes <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/7c260228-2092-01c5-fb18-3556da18ff04/2021_08_August_Grace_Notes.pdf> and Trinity’s Torch <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/dfaf100d-9136-d0cb-dc00-e9d14952858b/August_Torch_2021.pdf> discuss the Nicene Creed and help keep you up to date with all that’s going on. Also, here’s the calendar <mcusercontent.com/a90ee03ff0810e6c55bae6a58/files/329a5f34-68c9-3487-d009-638afc86a257/August_2021_Calendar.01.pdf> .
· *Trinity Ladies’ Guild/LWML* will be collecting items for Lutheran World Relief Personal Care Kits until August 22. There will be boxes in the Narthex to put your donations in. If you want us to purchase the items for you, please put monetary donations in the large Mite Box in an envelope marked Personal Care Kits. We will be collecting the following items: lightweight, dark colored bath towels, bath size bars of soap, adult size toothbrushes, metal nail clippers, sturdy combs. The kits will be assembled and boxed on September 11 at 9:30 am.
· *Parking Lot Safety – *It’s summertime! As more of our members are returning to weekly services in-person and the parking lot has more people visiting outside after the service, please be mindful of the following:
o Watch for people walking between vehicles to their vehicles, especially watch for children.
o When backing out, watch for other vehicles backing out, anticipate actions of other drivers.
o be careful exiting the parking lot, more vehicles are parking on the street and your view may be limited or obstructed.
· *First Call for Convention Nominations – *The LCMS Committee for Convention Nominations (CCN) urgently needs names of highly qualified lay members, ordained ministers, and commissioned ministers of LCMS member congregations to fill the offices that govern the Synod and its agencies. Those elected to these positions serve on the LCMS congregations’ behalf at the various District, Synod, and synodically recognized service organizations. Nominations for LCMS Board of Directors, LCMS Board of National Mission, and LCMS Board for International Mission are submitted through a nomination process and an electronic nomination form, please see Curt Engelbrecht or Pastors Boyle or Metzger for more information about office’s qualifications and submitting nominations. These nominations are for national office level positions, and your nomination can be for any qualified candidate for these positions and are not restricted to Kansas District or the Central region. For the list of positions, please see our website.
Many blessings and much joy to you all in Christ our life.
-Pastor