Category Archives: Pastor’s Ponderings

Pentecost 2023 – Wear Red to Worship

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

Holy Spirit Icon Pentecost

The Great Festival of Pentecost

On the weekend of May 27-28, 2023, we will be celebrating one of the central festivals of the Church Year.  This is the Day of Pentecost.  It is the celebration of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the whole church.  We read about this dramatic giving of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-42.  This giving of the Holy Spirit was a powerful kick-start of the mission and ministry of the Church following the Ascension of Jesus ten days earlier.

At MLLC we are offering two distinct worship opportunities for the celebration of Pentecost.

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Saturday, May 27 at 6 p.m. – The Vigil of Pentecost.

This is a time of waiting, listening, and praying as we prepare for the grand festival.

Readings, candles, Pentecost Sermon of St. John Chrysostom, Holy Communion

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Sunday, May 28, at 10 a.m. – The Day of Pentecost

Festival Worship Service for Pentecost

Reading of Acts 2, Pentecost Sermon of St. John Chrysostom, Holy Communion

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The Festival Vigils

At MLLC we offer both the Vigil and the Festival services for all three of the Major Festival celebrations:  Nativity (Christmas), Resurrection (Easter), and Pentecost.  Each of the Vigils is on the night before the grand festival day.  Each of the Vigils includes a special time using handheld candles. The Vigil of the Nativity is more commonly known as, “The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.”  The other two use the titles, “The Vigil of Pentecost,” and, “The Great Vigil of Easter.”

Christmas Eve 2014 Candles

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Remember to Wear Red for Pentecost

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It is happy tradition that people are encouraged to wear something Red to worship on Pentecost Weekend.  We follow this at MLLC as well.  It is not required, for it is simply a joyful way to celebrate the Holy Spirit and our life together in Jesus.  Look through your drawers and closets for red ties, red shirts, red dresses, red skirts, red suspenders, red coats, or whatever you could wear for this holy and joyful weekend of worship.

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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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.

Longest Night Service – December 22

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, ELCA, Pastor's Ponderings, Shared Ministry, Synod and tagged with ,

 

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

 

 

 

 

Luther’s 95 Theses and the Reformation 2022

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Pastor's Ponderings, Shared Ministry

Wittenberg Door

Reformation Sunday is October 29-30, 2022

We will gather this weekend, October 29-30, for worship.  Saturday at 6 p.m. at the church and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for our special service at Lutherhill camp near La Grange.  See this link for full details.

Our theme for the day will be Reformation Day.  We will remember and give thanks for the ministry of Martin Luther and the Reformers of the 1500s.  We choose this date because it is the final Sunday in October, and the Sunday in October closest to Reformation Day (October 31).  That is the date on which Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the castle church door in Wittenberg, in what is now Germany.

We have a permanent spot on our church web site which has a modern translation of Luther’s 95 Theses, as well we a brief explanation of the major themes.  You are invited to click on this link to view that page.  A printed version of this same information is available at the church in the Narthex/lobby.

Another part of our celebration of Reformation Sunday/Weekend is that we will display our Martin Luther Banner.  This will be on the banner stand, just to the left as you face the altar at MLLC.  It will be on view at the Lutherhill service as well. Here is a catalog image of that banner.

Martin Luther Banner

Worship and Fellowship on Labor Day Weekend 2022

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Pastor's Ponderings, Women, Women's Ministry, Youth

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Sunday Schedule for September 4

Worship at 10:00 a.m.

Fellowship and Meal at ~11:10 a.m.

Worship on Sunday, September 4, will be in the Fellowship Hall at MLLC.  This is the older, white building on the north/US-290 side of the church campus.  On future weeks we will resume gathering for worship in the sanctuary – the brick building on the south side of the church campus.

See below for details about worship, food, dressing the part, etc.

The Saturday evening worship service will be in the sanctuary at 6 p.m. as usual.

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Note: We will resume our normal schedule on the weekend of September 10 and 11:

Saturday Worship at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Sunday School at 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary

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A National Holiday

The beginning of September brings a Holy Day of sorts for all of us.  Labor Day is a civic holiday to celebrate at least two things: 1 – the opportunity for work; and 2 – the American Labor Movement.  As Lutheran Christians we go deeper with this and view all work as part of God’s calling and his provision of our daily bread.  All Christians are doing the work of God, regardless of where or what they do in their honorable vocation in life.

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Dressing the Part

To celebrate this blessing of vocation we will be taking the Sunday of Labor Day weekend to give thanks for the blessings of daily bread, of work, of school, of family, etc.  To enhance our time together you are invited to wear the clothes or uniform of your current, prior to retirement, or planned for vocation (such as students or children seeking to enter a certain career).  No matter what, know that we will be giving thanks for, and honoring, all that God has called each of us to do as part of his greater work in the world.  Know that who each of us is and what God has called and equipped each of us to do is important.  On Sunday, September 4, we will take time to give thanks for all which God calls and equips us to do.

Food and Fellowship

As part of this we will have a pot-luck lunch following worship.  The committee in charge of this event will provide barbecue pork and condiments, along with beverages.  You are invited to bring a side, salad or dessert to share.

Blessing of Backpacks 2022 + Lutherhill Sunday August 20-21

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, ELCA, Pastor's Ponderings, Synod, Youth

Lutherhill Sunday 2015 Students

Students and Pastor David Tinker at the blessing of backpacks some years ago.

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Lutherhill Sunday

and Blessings of Students and their Backpacks

By Pastor David Tinker

The weekend of August 20-21 offers a combined special event for our congregation.  We will offer our annual Lutherhill Sunday and our annual blessing of students and their backpacks.  Both will be offered at our regular Saturday 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. services.

Lutherhill Sunday

We will welcome our longtime friend, Matt Kindsvatter, Executive Director of Lutherhill Ministries.  For most the past decade he has joined us in August to share about Lutherhill and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with us.  We are thankful for our partnership with this area ministry.  Our cooperative work with our Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a major part of our support and direction of this camping and retreat outdoor ministry.

Pictured is Matt Kindsvatter at a Lutherhill Sunday some years ago.

Lutherhill Sunday 2015 Matt

Lutherhill Staff to Lead Sunday School Class

There will also be a special Sunday school class led by some of our staff friends from Lutherhill.  Get your children, grandchildren, and younger friends together for a fun time of learning, prayer, and play.  Sunday school is offered at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday.

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Blessing of Backpacks

Blessing of Students and their Backpacks

At each of these services we will pray for students of all ages and situations.  It is not required that the students bring a backpack, but, if the student has one, he or she is encouraged to bring it.

This is an opportunity for students to be involved in their faith every day of the week.  We connect their school life with how these students grow and learn as an extension of their connection with Jesus.

We involve students of a wide variety of situations.  Over the years we have involved students in preschool through various types of graduate school.  We have involved students who are enrolled in public schools, private schools, and home school programs.  We have involved students who are quite young through those well into their adult years.  The important and joyful thing is that our students are present with us and God. We are also showing that we support them in their growing and learning.

New Bible Study Class

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements, Pastor's Ponderings

Bible with bookmark

New Bible Study Opportunity


No Experience Necessary
By Pastor David Tinker


You are invited to participate in a new Bible Study.  This will take place at Martin Luther Lutheran Church (MLLC), 211 Luther Ln, Carmine, TX 78932.

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It will run for six weeks in June and July. No experience necessary to participate. You are accepted where you are with what you know or don’t know. You are not expected to be an expert in the Bible.
You can simply come and listen, if that is what you are comfortable doing.
The class will be providing a broad view of the story of scripture. This time of learning will be centered on two tools.
1 – The Holy Bible
2 – the Biblical Time-Line created by Pastor Harry Wendt of Crossways International.
This tool takes the whole of scripture and shows the connections between various
times, places, people, and books of the Bible. You will get to see the whole sweep of
God’s Word and Work for the world. You will eventually see how you are part of this
great work of God.  This photo shows both sides of the Crossways Bible Timeline. 

Each student will  receive a copy of this excellent resource.

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There will also be the joy of fellowship with fellow learners.
Here are the dates, times, and location for the class.
Wednesdays, 7-8:15 p.m.
In the Parlor – area by church offices – at MLLC.
June 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20, and 27

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If you have a Bible, you are invited to bring it. If you do not have a Bible, come
anyway.  We will have Bibles for your use.

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This class was offered about 8-10 years ago at MLLC. It is also part of the Bible Year of our
Confirmation program. Previous participants are welcome to attend. All are welcome.
Friends and neighbors and people from other congregations are welcome as well.

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Let me know if you are planning to attend.
Pastor David Tinker
pastordjt@gmail.com
office: 979-278-3388

Luther Rose Seal

Posted by mllccarmine in Pastor's Ponderings

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Understanding the Luther Rose Seal

At worship on Sunday, January 30, there was mention of the Luther Rose Seal. It is depicted in two, stained glass windows at MLLC. Check out this link to the special page about the Luther Rose.

This is an important symbol used in the Lutheran Church to express and teach our faith.

If you have been to the Martin Luther Lutheran Church building you will recognize the window depicted above.  It is the most visible of our wonderful stained glass windows at MLLC.

Devotion and Readings for February 1, 2, and 3, 2021

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

Presentation of our Lord

Bible Readings and Devotion for February 1, 2 and 3, 2021

Here are the references for the readings.  Please look these up in your print Bible, your smartphone app Bible, or your online Bible.

February 1

Matthew 10:1-15

Hebrews 12:12-29

Psalm 78:41-72 and 80

Genesis 32

February 2

*Luke 2:22-40

Malachi 3:1-7

Psalms 24, 81, 84

Genesis 33

February 3

Matthew 10:16-26  

Malachi 3:8-15

Psalms 83, 85

Genesis 34

Devotion for February 1, 2, 3, 2021

By Pastor David Tinker

This article was originally published on the mllccarmine.com web site in 2014.  It has been adapted for the current context.

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This date, February 2, is a very special celebration among Christians.  We celebrate what is called the feast of the Presentation of our Lord.  On February 2 each year the church celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the Temple at Jerusalem. Ancient Jewish law required that, following the birth of a firstborn male child, the mother must come to the temple after 40 days for purification and for presentation of the child to the Lord.  February 2 is the 40th day of Christmas.  Christmas Day being day 1; February 2nd being day 40.

The presentation of Mary’s child, however, was different from most. This was the Christ Child, Jesus, the Savior, the Messiah who had been promised. And he was recognized as such by the old prophet Simeon, who knew that this child was “a light for revelation to all nations.” Thus, the image of light carries an important part in this day’s liturgy and links itself with the Christmas season and its lights of the Advent wreath, the decorative tree lights, and the many candles of the Nativity celebration.

To mark this particular feast, the ancient tradition calls for 1) the blessing of candles and burning oils to be used during the year and 2) a procession “to meet the Lord,” just as Simeon and Anna went to the Temple and found the Christ there. The liturgy is called “Candlemas” (the Candle Mass).

Here is another special note about this day.  In the reading from Luke we have the Canticle of Simeon, often called the “Nunc Dimittis”.  This is Latin phrase which begins this Canticle of Simeon.  Many churches use this Canticle of Simeon during funerals.  Since my arrival as pastor at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine we have been using this statement as well.  Here is what we use in the funerals:

“Lord, now you let your servant go in peace:

your Word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

a light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.   (Luke 2:29-32)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever.”

This Canticle of Simeon is used because of the context of its original use in Luke chapter 2.  Simeon was promised by God that he would not die until he had met the Lord’s Messiah.  He was likely a bit older, possibly around the age of Anna (noted in Luke 2:36-38). She was 84 years old.  Upon meeting the Messiah, Jesus, Simeon could rest in peace.  When a Christian, who is a person who has met the Messiah, has died, we remember his or her relationship with God and the fulfillment of God’s promises when we share this Canticle of Simeon.

Original Text by Pr. Thomas L. Weitzel, adapted and added to for use at MLLC and mllccarmine.com by Pr. David J. Tinker

Almighty and ever-living God, your only-begotten Son was presented this day in the temple. May we be presented to you with clean and pure hearts by the same Jesus Christ, our great high priest, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Prayer from Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.