Dedication of our New Chalice

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Pastor's Ponderings and tagged with communion ware, eucharist, Holy Communion, the blood of christ, to the glory of God February 14, 2023

Celebrating Communion with a New Chalice

During the weekend worship services on February 18-19, we will dedicate our new Holy Communion Chalice. This replaces the one we have used for a number of decades. After consultation with the church council, the worship committee selected and purchased a new chalice. This was paid for with memorial funds which were set aside for items such as this.

We invite you to attend worship on this weekend, Saturday, February 18, 6 p.m., or Sunday, February 19, 10 a.m., as we dedicate this new chalice to service in God’s House and to the Glory of God.

Why a New Chalice?

After decades of faithful use the old chalice was wearing out. This was especially evident in the bowl part of the chalice. The gold and silver finish was worn through. Corrosion was forming. This corrosion was reacting with the wine and was becoming dangerous for the pastor to use. Do note, there is always a small amount of wine in the chalice at worship. As a practical and piety based matter, the pastor receives the wine, the Blood of Christ, via the chalice. It is not our current practice to offer common cup communion, so we simply use a small amount of wine for the consecration of the elements of the Holy Communion at each Eucharistic service (Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m.).

The worship committee consulted with multiple companies which service church ware and chalices. There were two common items of note in their responses:

1) the cost would be $300-600 to repair and refinish the chalice

2) the companies were unsure if the chalice was even fixable enough to use normally.

Instead of paying for expensive repairs which may not even work, the Worship Committee chose to seek out a new chalice and to put the old chalice in our history display case in the Narthex.

A notable value in choosing a chalice was that it be easy to clean and would look right with our other communion ware. The committee looked at the chalice being used at our partner church, Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ledbetter. Their chalice is stainless steel, easy to clean, and matches our other communion ware. The committee found a similar chalice to what Waldeck uses, and that is what was chosen.

The Tabgha Loaves and Fishes Chalice and Paten

During the past few months, since the discovery of the declining condition of the old chalice, we have been using the ceramic, Tabgha Loaves and Fishes Chalice and Paten (bread serving plate). This set will continue to be used on occasion as the situations warrant. Here is an article from our web site from several years ago about this communion set. Click this link.

Thank You

We thank the various families who have designated memorial gifts over the years to Martin Luther Lutheran Church. These gifts provided the funds needed to purchase this new chalice. The congregation and community are generous in giving memorial gifts, and this is immensely appreciated.

The inside of the bowl of the new chalice.

Souper Bowl of Caring 2023

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Youth February 10, 2023

Souper Bowl Cash for Web

Souper Bowl of Caring

Collection Dates: February 11 and 12, 2023

The Souper Bowl of Caring is an Annual Fund Raiser for the local food pantries. All proceeds will directly and exclusively support our local Fayette County food pantry: the A.M.E.N. Pantry. The Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) of Martin Luther Lutheran Church has led this effort for many years. They continue this excellent fundraiser for hunger relief this year,

How to Participate

*Look for the LYO members holding the large soup pots after worship on the 2^nd weekend of February.

*Bring in monetary gifts for A.M.E.N.. Place these in the “Soup Pots” at the sanctuary entrances. For gifts placed in the Soup Pots, Cash or check accepted. Make checks payable to: MLLC LYO; memo line: Souper Bowl. No amount is too small or too large.

*You may give using a designation on your regular offering envelope – note: Souper Bowl.

*You can give through the mllccarmine.com web site. Here is the link to our giving page. This will provide a link to our official, secure, online giving page. At the bottom of the list of funds you will find “Souper Bowl of Caring”. That is the fund line you will use to choose your amount of giving.

*All gifts will be processed by the LYO and forwarded to the two recipient groups.

*If you will not be able to attend worship on the designated dates, or you simply forget to bring something to give on those dates, feel free to mail your Souper Bowl of Caring gifts to the church office by March 1, 2023.

The LYO has Big Plans to help our neighbors in need:

*Our goal is to collect at least $500 for our local food pantry.

*We have been generous here at Martin Luther over the years. Let’s work together to make 2023 our best year ever as we serve our neighbors in need.

*This is a nationwide effort. In recent years about $5-10 million was generated by 6,000-10,000 groups across the USA each year.

*The official web site is: www.souperbowl.org

SouperBowl-logo__981 Color

Carmine Car Show: Remembering Bob Springer

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements and tagged with bob springer, Coach Springer, robert springer, Texas Basketball Museum February 10, 2023

Remembering Bob Springer

The Carmine Community has hosted a classic car show for several years. It was founded and organized by Robert “Bob” Springer. He had great commitment and love for the Carmine Community. The car show was one of the ways he cared for the community. Bob’s love for neighbor was expressed, in part, by the Sweetheart Classic Car Show which continued to be held on the 2nd Saturday of February each year. This near Valentine’s Day, thus the Sweetheart.

At the end of November 2022 Bob died after an extended illness. Here is a link to his obituary. Pastor David Tinker led the memorial service for the close family during December 2022.

A wonderful way to remember Bob Springer and to support the Carmine community is by attending the Sweetheart Classic Car Show on Saturday, February 11, 2023. It will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. This takes place on East Sylvan street near the Carmine Train Depot Museum. That is just around the corner from MLLC. Enjoy the show, and offer a prayer of thanks for Bob Springer and the entire Carmine community.

A photo of Bob Springer at his Texas Basketball Museum in Carmine.

February 2023 Newsletter Published

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements February 6, 2023

February 2023 Newsletters and More

MLLC publishes a newsletter every month online and in print. You can receive these by mail or email or see them on this web site. To receive them by mail, contact the church office – 979-278-3388.

To receive them by mail, send a message to mluther@industryinet.com requesting to be added to the list.

The recent months of newsletters, including the current month, are now posted on the mllccarmine.com web site.

Here is the link to that page.
Monthly Newsletters.

Thank you for your interest and partnership in ministry.

Ash Wednesday 2023

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Pastor's Ponderings and tagged with Ash Wednesday, Lent February 1, 2023

Lent Begins February 22, 2023

Ash Wednesday services will be at both MLLC and Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church. You are invited to choose which one best suits your situation. Both services will offer Holy Communion and the Imposition of Ashes as we begin our Lenten Season.

See the end of this article for more about the ashes of Ash Wednesday.

The Ash Wednesday Services this year are as follows:

Worship at MLLC at 7:30 p.m.

Worship at Waldeck Lutheran Church at 5:45 p.m.

Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church is in a shared ministry with MLLC. The Church is located at 6915 Waldeck Church Lane, Ledbetter, TX 78946 – this is about 6.5 miles south of Ledbetter at the corner of FM 2145 and FM 1291. Click here for a map for the church in Waldeck.

The Exhortation on Ash Wednesday invites us into the season of Lent. Here is that Exhortation as presented in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) – the book used at Martin Luther Lutheran Church:

Friends in Christ, today with the whole church we enter the time of remembering Jesus’ passover from death to life, and our life in Christ is renewed.

We begin this holy season by acknowledging our need for repentance and for God’s mercy. We are created to experience joy in communion with God, to love one another, and to live in harmony with creation. But our sinful rebellion separates us from God, our neighbors, and creation, so that we do not enjoy the life our creator intended.

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to a discipline that contends against evil and resists whatever leads us away from love of God and neighbor. I invite you, therefore, to the discipline of Lent—

self-examination and repentance, prayer and fasting, sacrificial giving and works of love—strengthened by the gifts of word and sacrament.

Let us continue our journey through these forty days to the great Three Days of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

We are very blessed by the opportunity to work side by side with the people of Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church. Together we are glorifying God, loving our neighbors and loving one another.

From the Introduction to our Ash Wednesday Services

What is Ash Wednesday?

On Ash Wednesday, the community of faith comes face to face with two realities. First, we confront our own mortality. None of us lives in this life forever. Secondly, all of us are sinners and need to confess our sin to God. These two themes (death and sin) are brought together in light of God’s redeeming love in Jesus Christ. As the Apostle John says in 1 John 1:9b, “…(God) who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The confession of sin on Sundays reminds us, “In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins.” The Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) confession also included, “To those who believe in Jesus Christ he gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.”

What are the ashes for?

The “ashes” of Ash Wednesday are rooted in the ancient worship of both the Jewish and Christian communities. They are a sign of mortality and penance. Even though we have used the imposition of ashes in our Ash Wednesday worship for many years, they still may seem new or uncomfortable to some of us. What we should remember about the ashes is they are a visible sign of our cleansing and rebirth, both a recognition of our daily dependence on God for life and a promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Should I receive the ashes?

The ashes are not compulsory by any means. You may choose, if you wish, to remain in your seat during the imposition of ashes. But remember that they are a powerful and visible way to participate in the call to repentance and reconciliation. If you choose to participate, come forward at the appropriate time in the liturgy with others desiring the ashes. The pastor will dip his thumb in the ashes and trace the sign of the cross on your forehead. Afterwards, return to your seat and the liturgy will continue.

Ash Wednesday Questions adapted from the work of Pastor Thomas Weitzel. He served at a neighboring church to Pastor David Tinker when they were both serving congregations in western Indiana.

Obituary for Kerry Lehmann

Posted by mllccarmine in Obituary January 2, 2023

Photo - Kerry Lehmann

Remembering Kerry Lehmann

We grieve and we give thanks for the life and ministry of Kerry Dale Lehmann. He died on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, after a recent decline of his health.

The visitation for Kerry will be at the Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings, on Monday, January 2, 2023, 4-7 p.m. with family present.

The funeral will be at MLLC on Tuesday, January 3, at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the Ledbetter Cemetery following the service. A memorial luncheon will be back at the church following the committal service. All are welcome at all events.

Information about memorial contributions is on this page after the obituary. Please consider supporting these organizations with monetary gifts in memory of Kerry.

THE OBITUARY

Kerry Dale Lehmann

September 20, 1958 ~ December 28, 2022 (age 64)

Kerry Dale Lehmann was born on September 20, 1958, in Giddings, Texas to Edward Adolph Lehmann and Marilyn (Weishuhn) Lehmann. He was baptized at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine on November 9, 1958, by Rev. August Hannemann, and confirmed also at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine on June 2, 1974, by Rev. Hilmer Krause. His confirmation verse was Hebrews 12:14: “Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Kerry graduated from TSTC with an associate’s degree in mechanics. After graduating Kerry opened his own mechanic shop called Highway 290 Mechanic Shop where he worked for several years. He then closed his mechanic shop to work on the family dairy farm for some time before joining the team at Blue Bell. After working for Blue Bell, Kerry found his way into the oilfield where he worked until he found his way back to the ranch and loved everything that came with it.

On July 18, 2015, he was united in marriage to Valerie Pinkerton. He had two children, Nicholas and Tabatha, and three stepchildren Tanya, Georgia, and Katrina. Kerry was an active member of the Sandtown Wildlife Association. He enjoyed Bar-B-Que and participating in cookoffs, welding, playing with his dogs, and riding around on his John Deere Gator. Kerry was always ready to host family events and enjoyed any visits with family. He was known for his custom hay bailing and tinkering with all kinds of things. Kerry’s family nicknamed him MacGyver due to his ability to make all sorts of fun things out of stuff he had just laying around. He will be remembered for teaching his grandkids about the farming life and for always being willing to spend time with his family.

Kerry passed away the afternoon of December 28, 2022, at his home in Carmine.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Marilyn Lehmann.

Kerry is survived by his wife, Valerie Lehmann of Carmine; one son, Nicholas Lehmann and his wife, Autumn, of Carmine; daughter, Tabatha Thompson and husband, Travis, of Carmine; the mother of his children, Barbara Schulz of New Ulm; three step-daughters, Tanya Gill and husband, Jeff, of Washington, Georgia Thompson and husband, Travis, of Lubbock, and Katrina Hainey and husband, Tim, of Paradise; twelve grandchildren, Aden, Liam, Ronan, Tayla, Payten, Hayden, Gaven, Ryan, Everly, Athan, Brinlee, and Alexi, as well as several cousins and extend family.

Serving as pallbearers will be Travis Thompson, Wade Weigelt, Timmy Weigelt, Keith Weerts, Ronnie Ladewig, and Cerjio Cerda. Honorary pallbearers will be Wilbert Loewe, Aden Diehl, Liam Diehl, Ronan Diehl, and Gene Weerts.
.

Memorials may be made to:

Carmine Volunteer Fire Department

P.O. Box 217

Carmine, TX 78932-0217

Ledbetter Volunteer Fire Department

PO Box 213

Ledbetter TX 78946-0213

Martin Luther Lutheran Church of Carmine

P O Box 362

Carmine TX 78932-0362

Click this link for online giving.

Online Giving

or a charity of one’s choice.

Christmas Services 2022

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Youth December 23, 2022

Celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord

Merry Christmas from MLLC. We look forward to you gathering with us to celebrate God’s great love in Jesus Christ.

We offer two celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord – Christmas – each year at MLLC. All are welcome as we rejoice in the annual celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Christmas Eve 2014 Candles

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – December 24

Worship at 6 p.m.

Our LYO – Lutheran Youth Organization – will lead this service as they have for several decades.

The message each year is a play presented by the youth.

A special highlight of service is the candle ceremony which includes the singing of Silent Night.

Christmas Day Festival Holy Communion – December 25

Worship at 10 a.m.

A joyful time of worship, singing, Word, and Holy Communion.

Christmas Decorating 2017 Tree

Christmas Worship at Waldeck

Our partner church, Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church, offers a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion at 11 p.m. As this year Christmas is on a Sunday, our friends at Waldeck will have their regular worship service on Sunday at 8 a.m. Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 6915 Waldeck Church Lane, Ledbetter, TX 78946, about 6.5 miles south of Ledbetter at the intersection of FM 1291 and FM 2145.

Obituary for Pauline “Peetsie” Fischer

Posted by mllccarmine in Obituary December 20, 2022

Remembering Pauline “Peetsie” Fischer

Pauline “Peetsie” Poehls Fischer died on December 16 after various illnesses. We give thanks for her life and ministry among us at MLLC.

There will be a visitation at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home in Brenham on Wednesday evening, December 21, 5-7 p.m.

The funeral will be held in the Sanctuary at MLLC on Thursday, December 22, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

Committal at Carmine Cemetery. Return to the church for a luncheon afterwards.

Memorial Contributions

The family has requested memorial gifts for MLLC to use as needed.

You can send these by mail to the church, deliver in person, give at worship through an offering envelope, or give through the secure giving page of our web site. Here is a link to that page: click link. On the page where you select where to give and how much, note there is a line for “Memorial Gifts.” This is the 4th line down on the secure giving page. Included is a memo box. Note in that box, “Pauline Fischer,” and the gift will be passed along to the right account.

The church address for mailing memorial gifts is:

Martin Luther Lutheran Church

P O BOX 362

Carmine, TX 78932-0362

Telephone: 979-278-3388

The Obituary

Pauline “Peetsie” Poehls Fischer

April 26, 1935 – December 16, 2022

Pauline “Peetsie” Poehls Fischer, 87, of Brenham passed away on December 16, 2022, in College Station.

Pauline was born on April 26, 1935 in Beasley, TX to Henry F. Poehls and Pauline Weidemann Poehls. Pauline’s mother passed away when Pauline was very young so she was raised by her aunt, Leona Koether. She was baptized on April 28, 1935 by Pastor Martin Ernest in Beazley, TX. She was confirmed on October 2, 1949, at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine, TX, by Pastor A. T. Kluge, and her bible verse was Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” On March 14, 1954, she was married to Milton “Chicken” Fischer, at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine, TX, by Pastor A.T. Kluge.

Pauline worked as a Charge/Nurse Aid at the Giddings Hospital, Brenham State School, and Sweetbriar Nursing home. She loved to go fishing, and she loved baking and canning (especially her famous tomato relish). She enjoyed dancing to waltzes and old country music. She also loved to watch baseball.

Those left to cherish her memory are: her daughters, Kalisa Pomykal and husband, Brice of Brenham, TX, and Paula Barrick of Carmine, TX, grandchildren, Jon Jankowiak and wife, Shauna, Bobbie Hughes May and husband Dan, Tammi Hughes, Kody Fox and wife, Ashley, Hunter Pomykal and wife, Olivia, Katy Pomykal Espinosa and husband, Will, great-grandchildren, Kandyce Hughes, Ryler Boyer, Joee Espinosa and Isaac Espinosa, many nieces, nephews and cousins, and special friend and caretaker, Toni Camille Pritchett.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, aunt, Leona Koether; brothers and sisters, Milton Poehls, Jesse Poehls, Lawrence Poehls, Florence Leissner, Methilda Meyer and Selma Williams, cousin, Gladys Koether, son-in-law, Ralph Barrick and grandson, Joseph “Joey” Pomykal.

Pallbearers will be Rocky Ullrich, David Matthijetz, Gary Smith, Mark Poehls, Ricky Stiewart, Jon Jankowiak, Bobbie Hughes and Hunter Pomykal. Honorary Pallbearers will be Albert Matthijetz, Kody Fox and Ryler Boyer.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given honoring Pauline to:

Martin Luther Lutheran Church of Carmine

P O Box 362

Carmine TX 78932

https://mllccarmine.com/online-giving/

Longest Night Service – December 22

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, ELCA, Pastor's Ponderings, Shared Ministry, Synod and tagged with Christmas, love your neighbor December 19, 2022

2022 Longest Night Print Flyer

God’s Care for the Hard Times at Holidays

While taking part in our preparations for all the joyous special services and events of the Christmas season, our thoughts and prayers go out to those who struggle with grief, difficult feelings, and sad memories at this time of years. The feelings these persons are experiencing is hard to bear at any time. At Christmas, it is likely to be even more difficult. These are normal feelings. Our friends at Shared Lutheran Ministry of Fayette County are offering a Longest Night Service. This is an opportunity to connect with God and one another as we experience struggles and grief in this time.

Longest Night Service

Wednesday, December 21 at 6 p.m.

St. John Lutheran Church

5743 State Hwy 159 in Rutersville

This service is for all community members who struggle with the merriment of this season. We hope this worship service will create a safe and sacred space for people who need to feel the presence of our God who is with us even in the darkest times and to remember the hope brought into the world through Jesus Christ. For more information, please call Shared Ministry at 979-249-3155 or Phyllis Fritsch at 979-966-7154.

2022 Longest Night Flyer

Robert Springer Obituary

Posted by mllccarmine in Obituary December 15, 2022

robert-bob-springer-portrait

Remembering Robert “Bob” Springer

Robert Phillip “Bob” Springer died on November 30 after various illnesses. We give thanks for his life and ministry among us in Carmine and in connection with MLLC.

There will be a visitation at Brenham Memorial Chapel Funeral Home

Sunday, December 18, 2022 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

Brenham Memorial Chapel

2300 Stringer Street

Brenham, TX 77833

There will be a private, family only, memorial service at another time.

The Obituary

Robert Phillip Springer

December 13, 1941 – November 30, 2022

Robert Phillip Springer, 80 of Carmine, Texas passed away November 30, 2022 at his home. He was born to Sam and Mary Springer on December 13, 1941 in Hamilton, Ontario Canada.

He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas where he was captain of the basketball team and an All American. Bob obtained a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Prairie View A&M. This began a life time love for the sport of basketball. Bob coached at Sam Houston High School, HISD; Dullas High School, Fort Bend ISD; and Memorial High School, Spring Branch ISD. He was a member of Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. For 24 years, he wrote and published the Texas High School Basketball Magazine. Bob was founder and curator of the Texas Basketball Museum in Carmine, which includes the UIL Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

Bob served his community, as a Carmine city councilman and was on the EDC board. He was a member of Memorial Drive Methodist Church in Houston and attended Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine.

He was preceded in death by: parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, James and Glenna Freeman; brother-in-law, Larry Chrisman.

Surviving loving family includes: loving wife, Karen Springer; son and daughter-in-law, Robert “Eric” and “Kate” Springer of Brooklyn, NY; aunt, Mabel Hazelwood and James Doolittle; sister, Diane; niece, Julie Jones; nephew, Nathan Jones; sister-in-law, Nancy Chrisman; nephews, Jason, Christopher and Damon Chrisman; brother-in-law, James Freeman, Jr.

Visitation with Bob’s family will be Sunday, December 18th, from 1-3 p.m. at Brenham Memorial Chapel.

The family wishes to thank Hospice Brazos Valley for their care. Memorials are requested to Hospice Brazos Valley, 1048 N. Jefferson, St., La Grange, TX 78945.