We use the season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday, as an opportunity to again especially consider the suffering and death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As part of this pondering and consideration, we realize that it was our sin that put Jesus on the cross. The suffering that he suffered should be our suffering. The death he died should be our death. It’s a sobering reality, no doubt.

That’s why, although we talk about sin an awful lot throughout the year, we really emphasize it during Lent. Lent is a season of repentance that culminates in Christ’s death—the payment for those very same sins we’ve been pondering for the last 40 days.

So how do we commemorate it? Well, as a group, we do it solemnly. When we consider that Christ suffered and died in our place, there is nothing else we can do. So our praises are muted. We abstain from saying or singing “Alleluia” which means “Praise Ye the Lord.” The frequency of our worship increases as we have services each Wednesday to further ponder Christ’s suffering and death.

As individuals, we use it as a period of time to re-focus ourselves on Christ and the cross. This may mean that we try to create or re-create good spiritual disciplines like prayer, devotion, or study of God’s Word and Luther’s Small Catechism. It may mean that we make weekly attendance at the Divine Service more of a priority in our lives. It may mean that we examine our giving practices and determine if are indeed giving cheerfully as a response to the gifts God has given us. It may mean that we fast.

OK, that one might have caught you off-guard. Fasting is something we just don’t talk about much, but it historically has been one of the identifiable marks of Lent. Luther mentioned it in the section in the Small Catechism on the Sacrament of the Altar. In response to the question “Who receives this sacrament worthily?” Luther writes that “Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training.” Jesus gave his disciples instructions not for if they fast, but for when they fast.

At times in the history of the Christian Church, it has been abused. Prior to the Reformation (and, to a lesser extant, even after the Reformation in some church bodies), fasting was a requirement. Fasting ought never to be a law that must be observed by all. Fasting also at times has been erroneously viewed as some sort of payment for sins as if Christ, repayment weren’t sufficient. We are people of the Gospel who have been freed completely by Christ. We must never see such a thing as a requirement or a repayment for sins.

Rather, if you choose to fast, use it as a tool. It is a tool, just like any discipline used during Lent, to help you ponder anew Christ’s sacrifice. When you fast, you are kind of telling your stomach that it doesn’t rule your life. If you fast, hunger pains may call to mind the suffering that Christ endured (even though it was obviously much greater). If you fast the time you once used for eating might now be replaced with prayer and devotion.

May God richly bless you and your family during this Lenten season no matter how you choose to observe it!

Here are the rehearsal times:

February 26  -  5 pm

March 4  -  8 am
March 11  -  5 pm
March 18  -  8 am
March 25  -  5 pm
April 1  -  8 am
April 8  – 6:30 am

For more information about Trinity’s Music Ministry, click here.

You can find the devotional books that accompany the series on the tables in the narthex and in the glass hallway connecting the sanctuary with the Fellowship Building.

Additionally, Pastor’s Wednesday Morning Bible Class will be using the Bible Study that accompanies this series. Pastor’s class meets at 10:30 each Wednesday morning.

Midweek Lenten and Holy Week Schedule (services are at 11:15am and 7pm on each day):

Ash Wednesday, February 22
Psalm 6: “Save Me Because of Your Unfailing Love”
Catechism: What does such baptizing with water indicate?

Wednesday, February 29
Psalm 32: “Hiding from God or Hiding in God?”
Catechism: What is the Office of the Keys? Where is this written?

Wednesday, March 7
Psalm 38: “Make Haste to Help Me”
Catechism: What do you believe according to these words?

Wednesday, March 14
Psalm 51: “Against You and For Me”
Catechism: What is confession?

Wednesday, March 21
Psalm 102: “But You, O Lord, Are Enthroned Forever”
Catechism: What sins should we confess?

Wednesday, March 28
Psalm 143: “Teach Me to Do Your Will, For You Are My God”
Catechism: Which [sins] are these?

Holy (Maundy) Thursday, April 5
Psalm 166: “Delivered”

Good Friday, April 6
Psalm 130: “Divine Forgetfulness”

 

     We really had a gratifying day on December 21 when we not only gave regular food items out, but also gave special food for a Christmas meal to 107 families which involved 349 people.  All the children of these families were presented with gift bags of various candy, cookies, small toys or stuffed animals.  It also really helps the cause when all the non-perishable items come in that were collected at the various locations, from all the different organizations, and individuals.

     Enough can’t be said about the outpouring of love and care shown from the community, as we strive to ease the extra burdens some people have to carry.  The love of Christ is very evident as you continue to support the pantry.

Vernon Ekarius, Coordinator

During the month of February, we will be collecting blankets to send to Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries to support them in their effort to reach the homeless and of Philadelphia. Bring blankets, new or used, to church during the month of February and put them in the large marked box in the glass hallway that runs between the narthex and the Fellowship Building. To learn more about Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries, check out their website, Facebook page, or the feature article from For the Life of the World from November, 2011. The video below was created about a year ago (and its creator has since taken a call to serve in the Chicago area), but it still gives a great picture of the mission field that exists in Philadelphia.

Vocation is more than just the job we have that puts food on the table. In fact each one of us likely has several of them. For example, mine include pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (which could be broken down even further), wife of Laura, father of Allyssa, David, and Kaytlin, son of James and Ardith, brother of Sarah and Rachel, brother-in-law of Ricky, Roper, Michael, and Cristy, son-in-law of John and Gail, uncle of Micah, Nathan, Michal, Camden, Tayten, Kyle, Nathan, and J.W., friend of my friends, member of the Sealy Lions Club, citizen of the city of Sealy, county of Austin, state of Texas, country of the United States, etc. I could probably come up with more if I sat and thought about it longer. Each one of you could do the same thing. We are all called to various vocations in life and God works through each one of them to love and serve our neighbor.

Sadly, we often get into the habit of valuing one vocation over another, or looking at another’s vocation and either proclaiming our vocation inferior or superior to theirs.

You might recall that one of the issues of the Lutheran Reformation was that of monasticism. Monasteries, while they achieved a lot of good things, were created for the wrong reasons. Essentially, monasteries were created to give monks (those who entered monasteries) the opportunity to earn an extra measure of God’s grace as a result of the good works they accomplished. This, of course, goes completely against the very definition of the word grace. Once you’ve made it something to be earned, it is no longer grace at all.

Unfortunately, when we start to pit one person’s vocation against another and say that it somehow more pleasing to God, we create a new form of monasticism.

For example, we may look at a person who goes out of their way to witness to non-believers in a more positive light than the person who simply stays at home and provides food for their children and teaches them the Small Catechism. To be sure, telling others about Jesus is a good thing, but too often we look at that and say that it is somehow better than anything else we could do. I could use any number of examples to illustrate this point.

Luther called the various vocations that exist in life “masks of God.” When we see people in our lives, we see their ordinary face, whether it’s a parent, doctor, pastor, a friend, or something else, but behind that face, God is ministering to us through them. I gave some examples above of how each one of us has different vocations in life. In each of these vocations, God works through us to minister to others.

Now, that ministry to others can take on just about any form. The point is that not one of these vocations, or callings, is higher than another. Through our labor, no matter how humble or grand it may seem, God is at work.

May God richly bless each one of you as you serve your neighbor through the vocations that God has given you!

In Christ,

Pastor Vandercook

Each month at Trinity we will be highlighting a different ministry, mission, or service organization of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. This will include a newsletter article each month giving background information about what the organization does and what we can do to support them in their work. Also, one of the Sundays each month after the worship service, we will take a door offering to support the Ministry of the Month. The purposes of having a Ministry of the Month are to raise awareness of ministries that exist in our church body and to give us an opportunity to put our faith into action by making an impact in the lives of others.

Catechism and Hymn Memory Work

I know, I know, memory work is, well, work. I wish I had a better title for it. Each month in your newsletter there will be a half sheet of paper with a section of Luther’s Small Catechism and a verse of a hymn from Lutheran Service Book printed on it. This is designed to be a tool for family devotions. In his Small Catechism, Luther led off each of the Six Chief Parts with the words “As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.” In this case, the entire congregation can learn sections of the Catechism together. Sometimes it will be quite short (like this month). Other months it may be a little longer (the meanings to the Articles of the Creed, for example). The hymn verse will always be taken from one of the hymns that we sing during one or more of the services each month.

Private Confession and Absolution

This is actually nothing new. If you come to Bible Class (If you don’t come to Bible Class, you should!), you’ve heard me speak of the great comfort that comes through hearing a pastor directly forgive you for sins committed. Luther speaks very highly of it. In fact, we’ve always had private confession and absolution available, but I’ve never set aside a specific time period that I would be available each week. It will be different in 2012. Each Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning from 8am to 9am, I will be in my office and available for private confession. The north entrance to the narthex will be unlocked during this time, and you can come to the back door of my office through the sanctuary. If 8-9am on those days doesn’t work for you, I am always available by appointment (979-256-7197).

It is my hope that these new additions to what we do at Trinity will be a blessing to you and your family as you learn of new ways to serve your neighbor, grow in your faith as individuals and as a family, and receive the forgiveness won for you on the cross by Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Pastor Vandercook

Christ has commanded us to love Him and to love one another (Matt. 22: 37-39).  He also tells us to “Serve one another in love” (Gal. 5:13).  We now all have an opportunity to show our love and compassion for our fellow members of Trinity through the Telecare Ministry.  Its goal is to call every church member once a month.

Our hope is these calls will serve the following purposes:

• Serve as communication link, both from the church to you, and also from you to the Pastor and Elders, to let us know what your needs are and what’s going on in your lives.
• Discover unmet needs so that they can be addressed.
• Provide information to questions you may have.
• Provide listening, care, and encouragement.
• Take prayer requests.

It only takes a few minutes a month to make 6 to 8 phone calls to fellow members right from your own home and at your convenience.  To make this ministry successful, we need your help!  Please call Carolyn Grisbee (865-5393) or Patsy Tomasek (877-0848) for details.

In October we had the privilege to serve 199 families, which involved 651 people, by giving them some groceries.  We are in need of brown paper grocery bags.  If you don’t mind, when you go to the grocery store, ask for your groceries to be put in paper bags.

As the year is winding down, we are gearing up for the holiday season.  We will try our best to make it special for the people that are less fortunate than we.  When you are handing out your stocking stuffers, please keep the pantry in mind.  God’s Blessings.

Vernon Ekarius

     Trinity’s Senior Day was held on January 4 with 34 attending the luncheon.  The activity began with Pastor Vandercook sharing a devotion and prayer before we ate.  Everyone enjoyed having lunch together and a special thank you to Antoinette Romano, Geraldine Barrett, Mary Grunke, and Ruby Emshoff for providing the delicious desserts.  Our activity in January was playing Bingo, which was a hit with everyone.  Antoinette Romano was the champion Bingo player, winning 4 times.

     Mark your calendar for the next luncheon that will be held on February 1 at 12:15 p.m. in the fellowship hall.  We hope to see all of our seniors and their friends and neighbors for a fun time together.  We plan to play Bingo again.  Please remember that this is a time to come and enjoy a meal, visit, play games, if you wish, and have FUN.  Please sign the sheet in the Narthex by Jan. 29.  If you need a ride, let us know.  Contact Patsy 877-0848 or Bev 885-2014.

Bev Ekarius