We celebrated New Member Sunday at MLLC on November 6. This was also All Saints Sunday. We welcomed 6 new members to the congregation on that day. Three of those are pictured above.
We also updated the New Member Page with information about the newest members of the congregation. Click this link to see more about those who have recently joined MLLC.
We have begun gathering items for the 2016 Seafarers Boxes. This annual program brings Christian Care and Christmas Cheer to the men who work on ships. Our Christmas Boxes are distributed through the Seafarers Center Chaplains at the Port of Houston. The MLLC Men in Mission group organizes this program each year.
Click this the link to the page which describes this annual ministry, and how you can participate.
The photo above shows an abundance of boxes which are ready to be given to the seafarers in Houston.
On Sunday, September 18, we will recognize the faithful service of Kelli Meinholdt. At the end of July this year Kelli stepped down as the director of our Martin Luther Lutheran School. She served in this role for 14 years, almost since the school was founded.
We invite you to show your thanks to Kelli with a special recognition on Sunday, September 18.
This will include several elements:
At worship (9:45 a.m.) we will have a commemoration for her ministry among us.
After worship (about 10:55/11:00 a.m.) we will have a reception in her honor.
You are invited to add to the day of thanks in one or more of these ways:
If you cannot attend on September 18, know that we can receive these personal notes and gifts at the church office to pass these along to Kelli.
If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Pastor David Tinker at the church office – 979-278-3388.
For several years the Men in Mission of MLLC have been collecting aluminum beverage cans for a special purpose. They are working to help make sure young people from MLLC get some help to attend Lutheran Church Bible Camp at Lutherhill. In recent years this men’s ministry group has quietly collected these cans to raise money from selling these through recycling. This year the Men in Mission were able to provide $50.00 per youth member for their participation a summer camping program at Lutherhill.
The Men in Mission have not been alone in this. They have had significant support from many people who donate enough cans each year to provide this encouragement and assistance to many youth. They don’t really know all who those who make the donations. This is because the donation center is outside in a quiet corner of the church facilities. Every week kind, and generally anonymous, individuals drop off bag upon bag of empty aluminum beverage cans to help our youth.
You can be part of this happy cause as well. Simply set aside your used aluminum beverage cans. Then, when you are on your way to worship, or heading to or through town, simply grab your bags of cans and leave these at the donation station.
The donation station is on the north side of the building – the side facing US 290. This is under the covered part of the drive through, drop off entrance to the fellowship hall. These photos show the can receptacles in the context of the north entrance. The station is open 24 hours a day.
Thank you all for your partnership in ministry at MLLC. Together we are making disciples of Jesus Christ and sharing God’s love to the ends of the earth.
The Newsletter Page has been updated.
One of our many forms of communication we use at MLLC is our monthly newsletter. These are sent through regular mail to many members and friends of MLLC. It is also sent via email by our church office for those who request it. You can request this service by sending an email to pastordjt at industryinet dot com or by contacting the church office at 979-278-3388.
Here is the link to the page about the newsletters.
The people of Carmine pull together in service to their neighbors throughout the year. One of the main events of the year in Carmine is the annual Firemen’s Feast (Click link for more information). This fundraising event helps cover the cost of providing a fire department for this community.
There are large numbers of people who give of their time, energy and resources to make this event happen each year. In order to provide a time of worship on Sunday morning for these faithful servants MLLC brings church to them.
A brief worship service with Holy Communion will be offered this Sunday, July 17, at about 7:30 a.m. at the Carmine VFD fire house. (We will also gather at MLLC for our usual time of worship at 9:00 a.m. this Sunday.) All people who will be serving at the Firemen’s Feast Sunday morning are especially invited to participate in this time of prayer, Word and Sacrament. We are expecting 50+ participants this year. Most of the people at this service are the cooks for the chicken, but the service is not limited to those at the firehouse. If you are going to be working at the dinner at Carmine Hall, please feel free to attend this 7:30 a.m. service at the Fire Station before you head over to prepare the hall for serving. The photo above is from a previous year’s service.
The Annual MLLC Harvest Festival and Homecoming is coming soon. This annual event is a joy for all ages. Join us on Sunday, October 16, at the Carmine Hall.
The Stewardship Committee is inviting you to donate items for the 2016 Auction on October 16. They are asking for new items, along with gift certificates/cards, artistic items, and baked goods. These may be brought to the church office. For fresh baked goods you can let office know, and bring your item on the morning of the auction.
The main page for the 2016 Harvest Festival and Homecoming has been updated. Click this link to see that page.
Mother’s Day is a day which brings with it a variety of feelings. Some celebrate motherhood, mothers, children and so much more on this day. Others avoid any mention of it. Others recognize it as important, but don’t always know what to do with it. Our mixed feelings can range from great delight to significant grief. All of these are real, and all of these are normal and acceptable. Our relationship with parents, family and parenting are not all that simple.
This is not the first time someone has pondered this reality. Here is a blog post by MLLC member Jennifer Clark Tinker regarding her mixed feelings about Mother’s Day. Click this link.
At MLLC we know that both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are special day, yet these are difficult for some people. There are many and various reasons for these difficult feelings. Here are a few significant examples:
*Loss of a child, or children, through death of any circumstance, such as infant death, murder, accident, disease, abortion, stillbirth, miscarriage, etc.
*Death of a parent at any age.
*Desire for children, but circumstances prevent conceiving a child, such as singleness, divorce, widowhood, relationship difficulties, financial hardship, infertility struggles, etc.
*Struggles with one’s relationship with God and/or others.
*Broken relationship with a parent, a spouse, a sibling or a child.
*Abandonment by a parent.
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are special for many, yet difficult for many others. This Mother’s Day we will recognize Mother’s Day in a few ways. One is with a reception for all after worship this Sunday, May 8. Worship is at 9:00 a.m. this Sunday, the reception will be at 10:00 a.m. Come for the fellowship and food. We will also remember in prayer mothers and women of all ages. Part of our prayers at worship will also remember those who have struggles and mixed feelings about this day. Here are examples of the prayers being prepared for this day:
“On this Mother’s Day we pray for those who struggle with grief related to motherhood. Comfort those who mourn for deceased loved ones or who are estranged from either mother or child. Give strength to women who have lost a child or whose circumstances have prevented motherhood. Help us as a community of faith to care for one another in our grief. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer. We give thanks for all mothers, grandmothers, along with all faithful girls and women in this congregation. Help them to love, serve and lead in ways which are honoring to you. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.“
Some congregations around the country have a banquet around the time of Mother’s Day. One congregation I served as pastor years ago did this well. They understood the various feelings people have around Mother’s Day. What they had was a banquet called, “Daughters of All Ages”. This event was for all women and girls, no matter what their relationship or parenthood circumstances were. All the women and girls present at that event are the daughters of somebody. Most importantly, by the Grace of God, they are daughters of God. While this event didn’t solve all the struggles of each woman, the event opened the door for healing and support.
Mother’s Day is not a bad thing, but it is not always easy for each person. We have good reason to be thankful for Mothers on Mother’s Day. We also have good reason to love one another and to love God at this time of year. Part of our love for God, one another, and our neighbors, is in how we show sensitivity to those who don’t always have good feelings regarding Mother’s Day.
No matter what your feelings are about Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day, know that what matters most is what Jesus Christ has first done for us. Because of his abundant mercy, forgiveness, and gift of life-giving hope, we have our most important identity in Christ. The photo at the bottom of this article is of men and women, boys and girls, all gathered around the cross. This reminds us that all people are loved by God, and are called to follow the way of Jesus, no matter what they have struggled with in this life. By the stirring of the Holy Spirit and the power of God’s Word, Jesus draws all people to himself. Through Christ Jesus we have healing, hope and restoration for this life and in eternity with our Lord. Through this goodness of God we get to follow the Lord and to share his goodness with others.
This is an edited and updated version of an article which was on the http://mllccarmine.com website in May 2014.
Note this Worship Time Change for this Sunday only:
Sunday School will be at 9:00 a.m.
Worship will be at 10:15 a.m.
We will gather as the people of God to support Carson as he affirms his baptism on May 1. He has been a faithful member of MLLC since his infancy. We are thankful for the blessings of faith and life which have been granted to Carson, and we celebrate that the Holy Spirit has been stirring in his life to draw him closer to Christ.
Carson’s Confirmation Verse is: 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
“Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
We are having a joyful Pentecost this year as always. Added to the high joy of this festival will be two special things related to the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.
1 – we will recognize Baptismal Birthdays at both the Vigil and Day of Pentecost services – Saturday at 6 p.m., Sunday at 9 a.m. We will celebrate those who were baptized in May in previous years.
2 – we will have three baptisms at the Vigil of Pentecost, 2 adults and 1 child.
This Church Year we continue celebrating the Three Great Festivals of the Church. We are also including the Three Great Vigils of the Church Year. These are:
The Nativity of our Lord – Celebrating the birth of Jesus
The Resurrection of Our Lord – Celebrating Jesus rising from the tomb
The Day of Pentecost – Celebrating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
Each of these three major Church Year festivals has a vigil service on the evening before the festival day. These are times of prayerful waiting and preparation for the joyous celebration of the Festivals. Each vigil service includes readings, prayers, singing and, more often than not, Holy Communion. The Vigils of Easter and Pentecost also include a special emphasis on the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. The most well-known vigil here at MLLC is the Vigil of the Nativity of our Lord, also known as Christmas Eve.
The Day of Pentecost and its vigil are taking place this month. You are invited to participate in both of these unique worship experiences. The liturgical color of both these days is red. Therefore, you are invited to wear RED in celebration of the gift and outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
We will hear readings about the Holy Spirit. The congregation will be invited into a deeper time of prayer, including prayer for the newly confirmed youth of the church.
Here is what a noted worship writer says about the Vigil of Pentecost:
“From history, we know that Easter and Pentecost were the first two and only feasts of the original Church Year from apostolic times. We also know that the ancient church celebrated a vigil with Easter as early as the second century and with Pentecost universally from the fifth century, likely earlier in various places. We further know that baptisms were also a part of these services, given its promise of resurrection with Christ and gift of the Holy Spirit. Easter, having the earlier vigil, was clearly preferred, with those not baptized then being transferred to Pentecost. If a baptism occurred at some time other than Easter or Pentecost, it not only was highly unusual, but actually limited access to holy orders in the church.
The purpose of the ancient Vigil of Pentecost therefore would have been an awaiting of/preparation for/rehearsing of the great themes of the Day of Pentecost, meaning primarily the Holy Spirit and the Christian life lived under the power and guidance of that same Spirit. You could add to that the idea of the birth of the Church as well.”
– (Pr. Thomas L. Weitzel)
The Day of Pentecost of the fiftieth day of the Easter season. On that fiftieth day we celebrate God the Holy Spirit, through whom and in whom the people of God are created and re-created. We give thanks for the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples as they were gathered in one place in Jerusalem. On that day the Holy Spirit came as a rush of violent wind and as tongues of fire on the disciples. They were then sent out by the Spirit to proclaim in various languages the mighty acts of God, specifically the saving work of Jesus through his death on the cross and his rising from the dead. Pentecost is sometimes called the church’s birthday, but might more appropriately be called its baptism day, since the gift of the Spirit is the fullness of baptism.
Read ahead as your devotions for the week leading up to May 14-15
Vigil of Pentecost
Genesis 11:1-9
Exodus 19:3-8a, 16-20b
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Joel 2:28-32
Psalm 130
Romans 8:14-17, 22-27
John 14:8-17 [25-27]
Day of Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Romans 8:14-17
John 14:8-17 [25-27]
Martin Luther Lutheran Church 