Category Archives: Announcements

Introduction to Maundy Thursday 2023

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements

Maundy bread wine

Introduction to Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday Worship Services for 2023

April 6, 2023

5:45 p.m. at Waldeck Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6915 Waldeck Church Lane, Ledbetter, TX 78946, about 6.5 miles south of Ledbetter.

7:30 p.m. at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine MLLC

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 resurrection of Easter. It is the ancient Triduum, “The Three Sacred Days,” which lead us to Easter: 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, and 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 forgiveness in the absolution. That forgiveness comes now, “in the name and by the command of our Lord,” at the service celebrating Christ’s love. The peace is shared after absolution and seals that forgiveness in a loving embrace, as if embraced by Christ himself.

The lessons of love are read. A new command derives from it: “Love one another.” 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.”).  At Martin Luther in Carmine we will offer the washing of feet (and hands, for those who prefer it) as part of worship on this holy day.

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. 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.  This will be held at 7 p.m. at Martin Luther in Carmine.

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Here is the schedule for the rest of Holy Week after Maundy Thursday:

Good Friday Tenebrae Service – April 7, 2023

Worship at MLLC at 7:00 p.m. – a joint event for both churches (Waldeck and MLLC)

We will be remembering the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reading of the St. John Passion account.  The Seven Last Words of Christ.

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The Great Vigil of Easter – Saturday, April 8, 2023

Worship at MLLC at 7:00 p.m. – a joint event for both churches (Waldeck and MLLC)

Service of Light, Sharing Old Testament Stories, Remembrance of Baptism, First Holy Communion in celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is the first of our three worship services celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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The Resurrection of Our Lord – Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023

6:45 a.m. – Sunrise Service at Carmine Cemetery – a joint event for both churches (Waldeck and MLLC)

Bring a lawn or folding chair for seating at the cemetery.  A shorter service, no communion.

9:30 a.m. – Easter Reception in Parlor/Narthex

10:00 a.m. – Festival Worship Service with Holy Communion

After worship – Easter Egg Hunt for the children

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For those who are interested, the schedule for Easter Sunday for our partner church in Waldeck:

Festival Worship at 8:00 a.m. in the outdoor pavilion.

Easter Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. in the Annex

Easter Egg Hunt at about 9:15/9:30 a.m.  Listen for announcements of the time.

Welcome to Holy Week 2023

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements

Holy-Week-Worship-Art

You Are Invited to Holy Week 2023

Here are the various events and worship services for our annual celebration of Holy Week.

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Palm Sunday Weekend – April 1-2

Worship on Saturday at Carmine at 6:00 p.m.

Worship on Sunday at Waldeck at 8:00 a.m. – includes the procession of Palms with the whole congregation.

Worship  on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. – includes the Procession of Palms led by the children of the church.

The Holy Triduum – the Three Holy Day (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)

Maundy Thursday – April 6

Click this link for an introduction to Maundy Thursday.

Remembering the Last Supper.

Holy Communion at both churches.

Foot and Hand Washing in Carmine.

Worship at Waldeck:  5:45 p.m.

Worship at Carmine:  7:30 p.m.

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Good Friday – April 7

Remembering the suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

Reading of the Passion Account from John.

Worship at Carmine:  7:00 p.m.

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Saturday – The Resurrection of Our Lord – The Great Vigil of Easter – April 8

The most ancient special service of the Church.  Service of Light.  Sharing of Old Testament Stories.  Remembrance of Baptism. Initial Holy Communion of the Resurrection Day.

Worship at Carmine at 7:00 p.m.  (note that we will not have worship at 6 p.m. that night)

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The Resurrection of our Lord. – Easter Sunday – April 9

Sunrise Service at the Carmine Cemetery:  6:45 a.m.  Bring a lawn chair or folding chair for seating on the cemetery lawn.

Easter Reception in Parlor at Carmine: 9:30 – 10:00 a.m.  Enjoy the fellowship and some delicious food together.

Festival Service with Holy Communion at Carmine: 10:00 a.m.

Egg Hunt to follow worship.

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For those who are interested: Resurrection Sunday in Waldeck

Festival Service at Waldeck with Holy Communion:  8:00 a.m.

Pot-luck Easter Breakfast after worship ~9:00 a.m.

Egg Hunt to follow worship.

Easter Egg Hunt 2023 Candy Needed

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Youth

MLLC Egg hunt group 2022

Egg Hunt participants in 2022

Donations Requested

Our annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place after worship on Sunday, April 9.   This  will  be at about 11:15 a.m.

The Sunday School and Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) are asking for  donations of bags of individually wrapped candy.  These items need to be smaller so the candy item can be put into a plastic Easter egg.

Your donations can be brought to the Parlor (large room near offices) in the week leading up to Easter Sunday.  Simply place  these on the counter in the parlor.

Thank you for your support of  this fun and yummy event for the youth.  We look forward to seeing you at worship (10 a.m.) on  Easter Sunday, April  9, and to see you at the egg hunt with you.

Egg Hunt

Souper Bowl of Caring 2023 Report

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Youth and tagged with , , , , ,

Souper Bowl Cash for Web

Souper Bowl of Caring for the A.M.E.N. Food Pantry

Wow!  Thank you all very much.  Thanks be to God, the provider of all.

The Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) of Martin Luther Lutheran Church (MLLC) had a great year ever for the Souper Bowl of Caring. After a final accounting of all gifts given our grand total is $822.50.  That means we will be giving $822.50 to A.M.E.N. (Area Ministries for Emergency Needs) Food Pantry in La Grange, the county seat of our own Fayette County, Texas.

With these donations we can help this hunger relief agency purchase food items to alleviate hunger in our community.

MLLC is in Carmine, Texas, which is at the Northeast corner of Fayette County.  Our ongoing support of A.M.E.N. is in line with the mission of the national Souper Bowl of Caring.  The mission statement is:  “Using the energy of the Super Bowl to mobilize youth in a united national effort to care for people in their local communities who are hungry and those in need.”

This is a growing ministry of MLLC.  In 2022 we gave $775.00 through the Souper Bowl of Caring to our local A.M.E.N. Food Pantry.

Thank you to all who made gifts of any amount to this special project.

Thank you to the numerous youth who gave of their time to receive the donations.

The National Souper Bowl of Caring web site is:  https://tacklehunger.org/

Remembering Joyce Stainer

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Obituary

Joyce Stainer Photo

Joyce Stainer Obituary and Service Information

Vera Joyce Stainer died on March 17 after a general decline of health.  We give thanks for her life and ministry among us at MLLC. Joyce had moved to Arkansas in recent years to live closer to family.

The visitation and funeral will be on Saturday, March 25, at MLLC.

Family will be present to receive visitors at the church 9-10 a.m.

The funeral will begin at 10 a.m.

Committal will follow at the Carmine Cemetery, where she will be interred by her late husband Jessie.

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See information about memorial gifts at the end of the obituary below.

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Vera Joyce (Jones) Stainer

September 24, 1934 ~ March 17, 2023 (age 88)

Vera Joyce (Jones) Stainer, 88, passed away on March 17, 2023, in Rogers, Arkansas. A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Carmine, TX. Joyce will be laid to rest at Carmine Cemetery.

Joyce was born in Jeff City, Oklahoma on September 24, 1934, to Charles and Juanita Jones. Her family moved quite a bit during her childhood, with her father following work opportunities mostly in Texas and Oregon. This gave her a sense of wanderlust and a love for travel that she kept her whole life. Joyce worked as a waitress in high end restaurants serving such celebrities as Ronald Reagan, Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride and numerous others.  She then got a job at Methodist Hospital in Houston and took nursing classes at San Jacinto College in Deer Park, Texas.  In 1974 she began her career as a Chemical Operator for Shell Oil Company where she was one of the few women brave enough and strong enough to do a “man’s job” and stand up to the opposition.  She stayed there nearly 20 years before retiring to Carmine.

Joyce was friendly and extroverted and she was the life of the party wherever she went. She could win over anyone with her wit and sense of humor. Joyce enjoyed life in Carmine, TX and made many friends. She was involved with the Red Hat Club, Lions Club, Homemakers club, and her dominoes groups. She was a member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church. Joyce was deeply proud of her membership with the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Joyce was a loving and dedicated mother to her children Debi, Kelly, and Rhonda. She had a special love for her grandchildren. For Joyce, being “Grandma” or “Gram” was such an important role that she became known as “Grandma” to everyone in the family. Joyce had an impressive memory and was the family historian.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband of 27 years, Jessie Ray Stainer, son-in-law John Swartz, and grandson John Swartz Jr., grandson Jimmy Murphy, great granddaughter Silvia Seleste Butler, parents Charlie and Juanita Jones, siblings Sonny Jones and Charlene Bennett.

Joyce’s surviving loving family includes Debi Swartz, Kelly Butler (wife Rexanna), and Rhonda Eaves (husband Dave); grandchildren David Harris, Paul Harris. Anne Clark, Uriah Butler, Jaysen Butler, Chuck Murphy, Brian Murphy, Steven Butler, Justyn Bearden, and Kelli Bearden; 15 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; sisters Louise Epps and Marceta Pirtle; brother John Jones.

If you’d like to make a contribution in memory of Joyce, please consider a donation to Wounded Warrior Project or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,  or for those who desire, to Martin Luther Lutheran Church.

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A church representative will be available in the hour before the service to receive memorial gifts to MLLC.  Additionally, gifts to MLLC may be sent by mail to the church, delivered in person, given 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, “Joyce Stainer,” and the gift will be passed along to the right account.

Thank you for gifts of any amount in  memory of your friend or loved one.

The church address for mailing memorial gifts is:

Martin Luther Lutheran Church

P O BOX 362

Carmine, TX 78932-0362

Telephone: 979-278-3388

Dedication of our New Chalice

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Pastor's Ponderings and tagged with , , , ,

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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.

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Why a New Chalice?

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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.).

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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.IMG_1160

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.

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The Tabgha Loaves and Fishes Chalice and Paten

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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.

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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.

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The inside of the bowl of the new chalice.

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Souper Bowl of Caring 2023

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Youth

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 2nd 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

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Carmine Car Show: Remembering Bob Springer

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements and tagged with , , ,

Car Show 2023 Flier for Web

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.

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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.

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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.

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

February 2023 Newsletter Published

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements

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.

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Here is the link to that page.
Monthly Newsletters.

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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 with ashes

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.