Remembering LeVerne Hinze

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Obituary, Women's Ministry and tagged with funeral, Ladies Aid, obituary April 16, 2016

LaVerne Hinze photo obit

A longtime and faithful member of the congregation has died. LeVerne Hinze entered her rest in the Lord on April 14, 2016. We give thanks for her life and ministry as one of God’s beloved children.

Here is the obituary which her family prepared:

LeVerne Lucille (Jaeger) Hinze

Born: December 14, 1926
Died: April 14, 2016

LeVerne Lucille (Jaeger) Hinze, 89, of Burton, died April 14, 2016, at Brenham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Visitation with the family will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday, April 17, 2016 at Foehner Funeral Home in Burton. The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 18, 2016 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine, with Rev. David Tinker officiating. Burial will follow in Carmine Cemetery.

LeVerne Hinze was born Dec. 14, 1926 in Carmine to Gustav and Ella Dickmann Jaeger. She was baptized June 12, 1927 by Pastor H. Brunotte, and confirmed by Pastor Brunotte on April 6, 1941 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, where she was also married to Roger Hinze on June 4, 1950.

Mrs. Hinze attended the Carmine school and was a 1944 graduate of La Grange High School. As an active life-long member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church, she was a member of the Ladies Aid for 65 years, was on the Stewardship Committee, and taught Sunday School. She also served as officer for the La Bahia Cemetery Association, Burton I.S.D. Mothers’ Club, and was a charter member of the Burton Band Boosters. Other memberships included the Burton Heritage Society, Carmine Senior Citizens, Washington Co. Farm Bureau, and La Bahia Turn Verein.

LeVerne was employed at Siebel’s Cotton Gin in Carmine, Brenham Broom and Mop, and later as a bookkeeper for A. H. Ullrich Chevrolet in Carmine, and Max Zuehlke Chevrolet in Burton. She retired as postmaster from Burton, where she served many customers in the community. She provided help for her family and friends.

Dancing, gardening, baking bread and attending celebrations were favorite pastimes. She treasured time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom brought her great joy.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Joyce Hinze of Giddings; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Wade Eilers of Carmine; grandchildren: Clint and Stacy Eilers, Christy and Matt Kelley, Nicholas and Karla Hinze, John and Carrie Hinze, and Mary Hinze; great-grandchildren: Kate, Jill and Tess Eilers, Seth Kelley and expected baby boy Kelley, and Reagan and Cooper Hinze. Other surviving relatives are cousin Sarita Mutscher, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their families.

LeVerne was preceded in death by her parents; husband on April 29, 2001; twin sisters and brothers-in-law, Bernice and J. R. Loewe, and Berdie and Max Siegmund; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Elfon and L Dee Hinze; cousin, Barbara Ann Wagner.

Serving as pallbearers are Clint Eilers, Nicholas Hinze, John Hinze, Matt Kelley, Jimmy Loewe, John Siegmund, Charles Siegmund, Glenwood Hinze, and Darrell Kieke. Honorary pallbearers are Cooper Hinze and Seth Kelley.

Memorials may be directed to Martin Luther Lutheran Church, P. O. Box 362, Carmine, Texas 78932, or to Hospice Brazos Valley.

Funeral arrangements for LeVerne Lucille Jaeger Hinze are entrusted to Foehner Funeral Home in Burton. For more information visit http://www.memorialoakschapel.com.

Parsonage Dedication – May 1

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with Carmine, parsonage April 14, 2016

Parsonage front

There is some Big News regarding the parsonage remodeling project. Work on the house is in the very final stages. There are some small touch-ups and such to do, along with some final basic furnishings. Since the work is pretty much done the church council can now set a dedication date.

We invite you to the dedication and house blessing on Sunday, May 1, 2016, after worship. Worship on that day will be at a special time – 10:15 a.m. – due to it also being Confirmation Sunday. The dedication and house blessing will take place at about 11:30 a.m.

Following the House Blessing and Dedication the parsonage will be open for you to walk through to view the updates and renovations.

Thank you to all those who have given so much for the renovations and remodeling of the parsonage. So many have given money, labor, ideas and time to make this possible.

Here are some more photos of the outside of the parsonage.

Parsonage front door Parsonage back doors Parsonage back ac

During May the Tinker family will be moving into the parsonage. Since their arrival in April 2012 they have been living in temporary housing in the countryside near Carmine.

The Vigil of Easter – March 26

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with Baptism, Candles, Jesus Christ, Resurrection of our Lord, Vigil of Easter March 26, 2016

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Three Celebrations of the Resurrection

1: The Great Vigil of Easter – 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 – see the introduction below.

2: Easter Sunrise – 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, at the Carmine Cemetery

3: Easter Festival – 9 a.m. on Sunday

The Easter Breakfast will take place at 8 a.m. in the fellowship hall.

The Easter Egg hunt will follow worship on the church lawn, or in the fellowship hall if weather is unfavorable.

The Great Vigil of Easter

Saturday, March 26, 7 p.m.

Click this link to view a blog post by our own Jennifer Clark Tinker which tells about her experience and joy related to attending the Great Vigil of Easter each year.

An Introduction to the Vigil of Easter

Like the children of Israel who watched and waited through the night for the Lord of the Exodus, we too come together this night to watch and wait for the Lord of the Resurrection. We come, as Christians have come since the first century, to keep vigil and to prepare ourselves for the arrival of the Bridegroom who is chief host and guest at the Resurrection feast to come.

First, we must break the darkness of the night. Like the virgins in the parable, we must light our vigil lights. Our light will be a very special light, for it is the light of Christ which burns atop the Paschal candle and which dispels the darkness — of night, of sin, of death. Our light will be a constant reminder of the Resurrection victory during the coming season, at every baptism and at every funeral. But for now, it will burn in vigil as we await the Bridegroom.

When we have settled into our pews for the watch, we hear the storytellers among us sharing the stories of our faith — the stories of God’s salvation history and the covenants which he made with our people. These are our “family” stories. We listen. We sing. We watch. And we wait for the feast to come.

After hearing our stories, we make our last minute preparations to meet our Lord. All must be right for the feast. On some years those among us who have not yet joined us are brought into membership with us this night, making all who are here part of the Church family, known as the Bride of Christ. Each year, so that the whole family is prepared, each of us reaffirms our faith through the Apostles Creed. As we interact with the water and the Lord, we hear and we feel that grace which was given to us through our baptism.

We are nearly ready. The time is close. We prepare the room and set the table for the Feast of Victory, the First Holy Communion of this greatest festival day of all. And then at last He comes! The Resurrection victory is won! The Bridegroom has come through the darkness to claim his Bride, the Church, to be his own. This is the feast of victory! In the end flowers and banners must adorn the space, for our time this evening and tomorrow will be a feast to remember.

Good Friday is March 25

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with Good Friday, Jesus Christ, Three Holy Days, Triduum March 24, 2016

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We will gather together on Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m. to remember the events of Good Friday. This is our annual remembrance of the dramatic sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin.

Introduction to Good Friday

We begin our liturgy as we ended the Maundy Thursday Liturgy: in silence. What was begun then continues this day as we journey with our Savior from the Last Supper, the stripping and humiliation, to the cross and tomb. Good Friday is the second day of the Triduum, the “Three Sacred Days” of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday with its Vigil of Easter.

The Good Friday Liturgy is marked with austerity, silence and reflection. The chancel itself is bare from the Maundy Thursday stripping. There is no organ music except to accompany the hymns. Everything focuses on our adoration of the crucified Christ, reigning from the throne of the cross.

The service of Tenebrae is an ancient Holy Week devotion which began in the 7^th or 8^th century, or possibly earlier. The name “Tenebrae” means shadows. The service takes its name from the ceremony of extinguishing in succession all the lights in the sanctuary, casting it into total darkness which is symbolic of the disciples’ desertion of our Lord, and of his death and burial.

The purpose of the Tenebrae Service is to aid us in realizing the total impact of the darkest day in the history of the world, the day Jesus died on the cross.

The opening portion of the liturgy includes no praise. It proceeds directly to the Invocation and Prayer of the Day. It is a simplified version of our Sunday Liturgy of the Word. The chief acts are the reading of the Passion of St. John and the Bidding Prayer for the needs of our world.

Following the final hymn is a meditation on the Seven Last Words of our Lord which he spoke from the cross. After each word is read, there will be a prayer and silent meditation. Lights and one candle will be extinguished after each meditation until the sanctuary is in darkness.

After the lights are all extinguished, the congregation will stand as the Paschal Candle is carried from the sanctuary reminding us of the burial of Jesus. A loud noise, made by the closing of a Bible,will remind us of the closing of the tomb. This announces the fulfilling of the Scriptures and the completion of our Lord’s work on the cross for us.

The Paschal Candle (called the Christ Candle during Advent/Christmas) will not return until the beginning of the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. On Good Friday we recognize that Jesus was fully dead and was placed in the borrowed tomb.

Note: The return of the Paschal Candle moments after the loud noise is a form of the Good Friday service designed to be used in those congregations which do not have the Great Vigil of Easter.

All will leave in silence to return tomorrow as we wait in vigil and then celebrate our Lord’s Resurrection at the Great Vigil of Easter. At the Vigil tomorrow evening we will have the first Holy Communion in celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Schedule for the rest of Holy Week:

Easter Vigil – Saturday – 7:00 p.m. – in sanctuary

Resurrection Sunday:

Resurrection Sunrise service at 7:30 a.m. at the Carmine Cemetery.

(Bring your own chairs for seating at the cemetery)

Breakfast in the fellowship hall at 8 a.m.

Festival Resurrection Service at 9:00 a.m. in the sanctuary

Egg hunt and party for the children. ~10:15 a.m

Maundy Thursday – March 24

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with First Holy Communion, Foot Washing, Holy Communion, Jesus Christ, Maundy Thursday March 23, 2016

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Maundy Thursday is March 24

We will gather for the observance of Maundy Thursday on March 24, at 7 p.m. You are invited to this first of the Three Holy Days of Holy Week.

An Introduction to Maundy Thursday

The Maundy Thursday service is one of endings and beginnings. What was begun on Ash Wednesday is brought to a close here today. What begins today does not end until the Day of Resurrection. It is the ancient Triduum, “The Three Sacred Days,” which lead us to the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
The theme is love, our Savior’s love for us, expressed in the washing of the disciples’ feet, in giving himself in bread and wine, in dying upon the cross. An invitation to confession is given. The focus is on forgiveness. On Ash Wednesday, we began Lent with a major act of confession and ashes, but we did not receive a strong statement of forgiveness in the absolution. That bold announcement of forgiveness comes now, “In the mercy of almighty God,” and “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” at the service celebrating Christ’s love.
The lessons of love are read. A new command derives from it: “Love one another.” The name “Maundy” comes from the first word of the Latin form of John 13:34: ” mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos ut et vos diligatis invicem” (“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”). This self-giving love is demonstrated in the washing of feet. The prayers are said. The table is made ready. The time of the Lord’s Supper arrives, and our Lord is revealed in bread and wine as once he “revealed himself to his disciples.” It is a solemn moment, but we cannot linger here. Nor could the Lord, for His betrayal was imminent.
Before we know it, the markings of betrayal are seen before us. The symbol of Christ in our midst, the altar, is stripped bare. Christ is stripped of his power and glory. Good Friday is inescapable. The powers of darkness work upon him.
In silence, we depart without benediction. The Three Sacred Days continue with the Good Friday service tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. We will also gather on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. for the Vigil of Easter.

First Holy Communion

At this special service there will be 7 young people who will be receiving their First Holy Communion. In preparation for this day they made the bread for use at the service on Maundy Thursday.

1st Holy Communion Group 2016

Holy Week Schedule 2016

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with Bible, Easter Sunday, Good Friday, Holy Communion, Holy Week, Vigil of Easter, youth March 8, 2016

Holy Week Schedule

We invite you to Holy Week 2016

Maundy Thursday, March 24

Worship at 7:00 p.m.
Remembering the Last Supper,
Washing of Feet and Hands, First Holy Communion, Presentation of Bibles to First Communion Candidates

Good Friday, March 25

7:00 p.m.
Prayer and Readings, Tenebrae,
Remembering Jesus’ death on the cross.
Reflections by the Apostle John

Note the Three Options for attending Worship on Easter:

A grand celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord!

Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday at 7:30 a.m.
Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
Details below:

The Resurrection of Our Lord: The Vigil of Easter, March 26

Worship at 7:00 p.m. (will last until about 8:20-8:30 p.m.)
Service of Light, Service of Readings,
Baptisms or Remembrance of Baptism, Initial Holy Communion of Easter
Entry of Easter Flowers into Sanctuary

The Resurrection of our Lord: Resurrection Sunday, March 27

Sunrise Service 7:30 a.m. – Carmine Cemetery – bring a lawn or folding chair for seating. The service will be held at the covered pavilion at the cemetery in the event of rain.

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Easter Breakfast 8:00 a.m. – in Fellowship Hall

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Festival Worship 9:00 a.m. – Sanctuary

Sunday School Resurrection Celebration and Egg Hunt ~10:15 a.m.

Lent Wednesdays 2016

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Uncategorized and tagged with cross, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lent, Midweek, Wednesday February 17, 2016

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You are invited to gather with God’s people for our Lenten Wednesday services.

Wednesdays in Lent

February 17, 24, March 2, 9 and 16
Fellowship Meal 6:00 p.m. each week
Evening Prayer 7:00 p.m. each week
Both the meal and worship will be in the Fellowship Hall.

Our Lenten Theme is “Reflections Around the Cross”. We are participating in a Pulpit Exchange with area Lutheran clergy. Each one will bring a message from a Biblical character who reflects on Jesus’ death on the cross. Each week we will also read a portion of Jesus’ Passion from the Gospel of Luke. We will use our usual service of Evening Prayer.

February 17 Pastor Candy O’Meara, portraying the Roman Centurion
February 24 Pastor Marcia Kifer, portraying Mary, the mother of our Lord
March 2 Pastor Willie Rotter, portraying Caiaphas, the High Priest
March 9 Pastor John David Nedbalek, portraying Satan
March 16 Pastor Glenn Hohlt, portraying Nicodemus

Later, on Good Friday, Pastor David Tinker will be portraying the Apostle John.

See this link for additional information: https://mllccarmine.com/

Fundraiser Meal for Our School – February 7

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Martin Luther Lutheran School and tagged with Carmine, children, day care, day school, daycare, fellowship January 28, 2016

We have a fantastic Nursery School and Daycare ministry at MLLC. We continually give thanks to God for his provision of this ministry in our community. This year we are renewing our Fundraiser and Celebration meal. We invite you to get your tickets now. Details below.

The Martin Luther Lutheran School (MLLS) Fundraiser Dinner is on Sunday, February 7, at Carmine Hall, with pick up from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The deadline for ticket purchase is Sunday, January 31. Tickets for the to-go-only meal are $10.00 and available in the church office, on Sunday at worship, and from MLLS students. The meal will consist of 6-oz. chicken-fried steak, German potatoes, green beans, and cream gravy.

A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex to provide cookies/cupcakes/other desserts (either packaged separately in zip-lock bags or on plates to be easily picked up), and the MLLS students will make Valentine’s cards to place with each meal.

Donations to MLLS will be accepted for the desserts as you pick up your items.

Christmas Eve 2015

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Uncategorized, Youth and tagged with Christmas, Christmas Eve, Lutheran Youth Organization, LYO December 21, 2015

Our Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) has been working hard preparing for Christmas Eve. As they have done for most of the past many years, they are leading the service and presenting their play. We look forward to seeing you at worship at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve, December 24. This will be a service of Word, Prayer and Song.

This will be our Candlelight Service as well. Come to hear the Good News. Come to support our youth. Come to celebrate that Jesus Christ has been born for us.

Also note: we will have our annual Festival Worship with Holy Communion on Christmas Day at 10 a.m.

Invite your friends and family.

The 12 Days of Christmas

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Pastor's Ponderings, Uncategorized and tagged with 12 days, 12 Days of Christmas, Christmas, Epiphany, The Epiphany of our Lord December 12, 2015

Nativity Sacred Art NatShepherdMurillo

by Pastor David Tinker
Martin Luther Lutheran Church
Carmine, Texas

When are the 12 Days of Christmas?

The 12 Days of Christmas are the days of the Christmas Season. These are the days between the Nativity of our Lord (December 25) and the Epiphany of our Lord (January 6). There are 2 traditions of counting these 12 Days of Christmas. One tradition is that the 12 Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day, and conclude on “Twelfth Night”, which is January 5. The second tradition is that the 12 Days of Christmas begin on December 26, and run through January 6. “Twelfth Night” would then be January 6. Despite the promotions and activity of our culture, the Christian “Christmas Season” begins on Christmas Day, rather than during the time leading up to Christmas.

Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas

Here are some ways to mark the 12 Days of Christmas in your home and daily life.
— Daily read something in the Bible about the birth and youth of Jesus. Look especially in Matthew chapters 1-2, and Luke chapter 2.
— For fun with your family sing the popular song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” — “on the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me..” Maybe do only the total number of days which have passed. Only on January 5 or 6, depending on how you count these days, would you sing all twelve verses. Another option would be to play a recording of someone singing this popular song.
— Tell others about the 12 Days of Christmas, such as in conversation, letters, e-mail, or on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
— Use 12 candles to count off the days during a meal or at devotions. One more candle is lit each day until all are lit on January 5th or 6th.
— Keep your Christmas tree up until at least January 6.
— Send your Christmas cards during this time, and possibly note the 12 Days of Christmas in your letter to family and friends.
— Attend worship at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine on the two weekends which always occur in the 12 Days of Christmas. These will be on December 27 and January 3 for this season (2015-2016). Some folks pull back from worship during this time and miss out on a joyful time of the year at church.
— Schedule Christmas Parties during this time. You will be less stressed and it will give your friends another chance to get together for joyful fellowship.

Special Days during the 12 Days of Christmas

*December 26 – The Feast of St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr. Read about his ministry in Acts chapters 6 and 7
*December 27 – The Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. Read one of the books connected to his ministry, such as the Gospel of John, the three letters of John, and Revelation.
*December 28 – Remembrance of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem, Martyrs. Read about these victims of tyranny in Matthew chapter 2, especially verses 16-18.
*December 31 – New Year’s Eve – a chance to reflect on God’s grace for you during this past year.
*January 1 – The Name of Jesus. On this day we remember Jesus’ 8th day. Read about this in Luke 2:21. This is when his name was announced in a public way.
*The Epiphany of our Lord – January 6
‘The People who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined.’ — Isaiah 9:2

The Epiphany of our Lord is mostly known as the celebration of the arrival of the Magi for their visit to bring their gifts of Jesus. It is much more. When we celebrate the Epiphany we are celebrating the spreading of the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Epiphany reminds us about the growing glory of God in the Son of God/Son of Man, Jesus Christ. Epiphany is the manifestation, or showing, of Jesus to the world. The Magi were non-Jewish foreigners who came to worship Jesus, and are thus representatives of those who would eventually benefit from the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. This visit, from Matthew chapter 2, foreshadows the mission which Jesus grants to his followers. In the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20, our Lord commands us to make disciples of all nations, not just of the Jews.

Celebrating the Epiphany of our Lord

— Attend worship on Sunday, January 3, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. as we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine.
— Read the story of the Magi in Matthew, which is told throughout chapter 2.
— Pray for Christian missionaries as they spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
— Pray for the Church around the world.
— Host an Epiphany Party.
— Give generously to people in need. Remember, as Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
— Sing “We Three Kings” and/or “The First Noel”
— Attend worship on all or most every weekend in the season after the Epiphany.

Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh

The gifts of the Magi to Jesus point us to who Jesus really is:

*The Magi offer Gold, a possession of kings.
*The Magi offer Frankincense, used in ritual and prayer to indicate the presence of God
*The Magi offer myrrh, an oil used at the time of death as well as for anointing priests.

By their gifts, the wise men reveal the identity of this child:

*the king before whom nations will bow down
*the anointed high priest of God
*and the suffering servant who will die for the ones he has come to serve