Worship on July 19 – Firemen’s Feast Sunday

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with Carmine, community, Firemen's Feast, Holy Communion, love your neighbor, service July 14, 2015

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. 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 19, 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 last year’s service.

Carmine Firemen’s Feast is Coming

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with Carmine, community, Holy Communion, worship July 2, 2015

The Annual Carmine Volunteer Fire Department’s Firemen’s Feast is coming soon. This is a wonderful event which brings our community together to support the men and women who serve us.

Sunday, July 19, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Carmine Hall.

Click this link for more information on the Firemen’s Feast 2015

The photo above is from a very special part of the event. In recent years MLLC has sponsored a brief worship service with Holy Communion early on Sunday morning. This provides the opportunity for the cooks to pause for prayer, God’s Word, Holy Communion and a time of thanksgiving. The rest of the day after this is very busy for the cooks and other volunteers.

Click this link to see the report from last year’s Firemen’s Feast worship service.

WELCA Banquet June 3 at 7 p.m.

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Women and tagged with banquet, Women of the ELCA June 3, 2015

The Annual Banquet of the MLLC Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will be tonight at 7:00 p.m. All women and girls are invited to participate. All ladies are encouraged to bring guests to this wonderful annual tradition at MLLC. There will be ladies present from elementary ages through 90+. There are typically 60-90 women in attendance at this event.

“Branded for Christ” is the theme for the WELCA Banquet. We will have a duo, a trio, and a quartet of singers. There will also be two different girl groups singing western songs.

You will not want to miss it! Dust off your boots and come explore through readings and songs about how some of the items from the Old West relate to Christ in our lives.

All MLLC ladies are asked to bring a salad, either main dish, side dish or dessert.

The decorations are delightful. Here are a couple of the table decorations.

Amen. Come Holy Spirit!

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with Holy Spirit, Pentecost, vigil of pentecost, wear red May 22, 2015

The Vigil of Pentecost and the Day of Pentecost
May 23 & 24, 2015 – Remember to wear RED

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 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 strongly encouraged 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.

The Vigil of Pentecost

Saturday, May 23 6:00 p.m.

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

Sunday, May 24 9:00 a.m.

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.

The Arts in Worship on Pentecost are lively. Look for red banners, red paraments, doves of the Holy Spirit on banners, and more.

Scriptures for Pentecost Weekend

Read ahead as your devotions for May 17-14

Vigil of Pentecost Day of Pentecost

Genesis 11:1-9 Ezekiel 37:1-14

Exodus 19:3-8a, 16-20b Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Acts 2:1-21

Joel 2:28-32 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Psalm 130

Romans 8:14-17, 22-27

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Remember to wear Red on Pentecost Weekend.

Jacob Fundraiser Event

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with Carmine, Carmine Community, Jacob Family, love your neighbor, Martin Luther Lutheran Church May 13, 2015

The Community of Carmine pulled together to support MLLC members Lane and Robyn Jacob, and their family, on Saturday, May 9. The event was a fundraiser to support this family in their time of difficulty. This event was noted previously in this article: click link. It is a wonderful thing when people work together and serve one another.

Back in March 2015 their family home burned to the ground. We are thankful that nobody was hurt. The family was away at the time to support daughter Taylor at a rodeo event.

Following the fire the Carmine Community pulled together to support this family in their time of need. Thanks to all who gave of their time, energy, materials and love to support this family. It was a great way to show our love for our neighbors and to show love for one another in the community of faith.

The people of MLLC worked side by side with community members and friends, as well as various community organizations, to bring about a day of love and support for the Jacob family.

This day of support was one of a number of various ways people worked together to support this family. As with anybody in such a situation the long term care, support, prayers and friendship which we offer will make a world of difference.
Here are some photos from the event:

Visit of Glen and Cathy Bengson

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with fellowship, Lutheran Deaconess Association, pastor, seminary, Vicar May 12, 2015

We welcomed a face from the past of MLLC. Rev. Glen and Cathy Bengson joined us for worship and fellowship on Sunday, May 10. They were part of our life together nearly 40 years ago. Glen and Cathy were in residence in Carmine when Glen was serving as our Vicar (Seminary Intern) during the 1975-1976 school year. A Vicar is a student pastor who has the opportunity to serve in a local congregation for hands on learning. This time as a vicar is an important time for the pastor in training. It give the student the time to learn about the real life, day to day work in a congregation. The student has a supervising pastor. In most cases it is the called pastor of the congregation hosting the vicar. In Glen’s case it was our own Pastor Hilmer Krause.

Glen has recently retired from called pastoral ministry. Now he is serving congregations in times of pastoral transitions as an interim minister.

There is a secondary connection back to MLLC as well. Cathy Bengson has served on the board of the Lutheran Deaconess Association (LDA). This is the organization which trains and consecrates Lutheran Deaconesses at Valparaiso University. Our own Deaconess Jennifer Tinker was trained and consecrated which Cathy was on the board of the LDA.

Glen and Cathy joined us for fellowship for our Mothers Day Reception. It was a great joy to have them with us this past Sunday.

Special Worship Events

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Pastor's Ponderings and tagged with Ascension, Church Year, liturgy, Pentecost May 11, 2015

We are coming to the end of the “Festival Season” of the church year. With that there are a number of celebrations upcoming. We invite you to participate in these events. We also encourage you to use these special times to delve more deeply into your faith in Jesus Christ.

Click this link to see the information about these various upcoming events.

These include: Ascension, Pentecost, The Holy Trinity, and the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession.

Jacob Family Fundraiser

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with Jacob Family, love your neighbor April 30, 2015

The family home of Lane and Robyn Jacob burned down in early March of this year. Thankfully nobody was hurt, but the home and contents were a total loss. Through this loss the community has pulled together to support this family. MLLC along with other community organizations and individuals are working together to raise fund to help the Jacob family rebuild and resettle after this large loss.

Rally Round the Brand Fundraiser

On Saturday, May 9, the Carmine Community is pulling together. Here are some of the details:

Benefit 5K /Fun Mile Run/Walk and Trail Ride Saturday, May 9th, Carmine Hall, Carmine TX
This benefit is to help the Jacob family with expenses after losing their home in a fire.
*Trail Ride Start Time: (6.7 miles) 9:30 AM 5K Run/Walk 10:00 AM and Fun Mile Start Time: 10:30 AM
A meal of sausage, sauerkraut, potatoes and beans will be served from 11:00 – 1:00. Meal tickets will be available for purchase with registration for $10.00 per ticket.

Click this link for the full size flier with more information.

Confirmation Sunday

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Youth and tagged with Confirmation, Lutherhill, Sacrament of Holy Baptism, youth April 29, 2015

Join us for a special event, Sunday, May 3.

We will gather for worship and to support five youth from MLLC who are affirming their Baptism in the Rite of Confirmation. You are invited to worship with us on this very special Sunday.

Note this special change of our Sunday Schedule for this Sunday only:

Sunday School will be at 9:00 a.m.

Worship will be at 10:15 a.m.

We will resume our normal schedule on the weekend of May 9-10.

Here is our usual schedule:

Sunday Worship at 9:00 a.m.

Sunday School at 10:10 a.m.

Worship on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month at 6 p.m.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is offered at our regularly scheduled Sunday morning and Saturday evening worship services.

The worship service on May 3 – Confirmation Sunday – will be filled with joy and prayer as these young people formally say “yes” to God has first done for them in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

Please keep these young people in prayer as they grow in their faith and service in Christ.

These students are: Faith, Jed, Dana, Aaron, and Dylan.

The Confirmation Program at MLLC includes the following:

A school year of study of God’s Word. Included in this is a general survey of the story of Scripture with an emphasis on how it fits together. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is emphasized.

A school year of study of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, Theology and the Lutheran movement of Christianity. Our relationship with the people of God is emphasized.

A Summer Camp experience at Lutherhill Camp near La Grange, TX.

Resurrection Sunday Fun

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Youth and tagged with Easter Sunday, Resurrection of our Lord April 7, 2015

Celebrating the Joy of our life in the light of Christ.

We gathered for worship at our three different worship times on the weekend of April 4-5: Easter Vigil – Saturday at 7:00 p.m.; Easter Sunrise – Sunday at 7:30 a.m.; and Easter Festival – Sunday at 9:00 a.m. After the third of these celebrations of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we held our traditional Easter Egg Hunt. This was followed by a lesson about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. A craft was enjoyed by children, teens and adults.

Thank you to the Christian Education Committee and the various volunteers who helped to make this such a great celebration of the saving work of Jesus Christ.

This egg hunt is all in good fun and spreads the joy of the day to the younger generations. Children and adults are playing together and making wonderful memories of our life together.

Here are some photos from our after worship celebrations.