A Great Week at Lutherhill

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Synod, Youth and tagged with Bethlehem Lutheran Church, camp, christian camping, La Grange, Lutheran Youth Organization, Lutherhill, Lutherhill ministries, LYO, MLLC, round top, Texas, tx, youth August 9, 2014

The kids from MLLC and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Round Top have had a great week together at Lutherhill. Lutherhill Ministries is the area ELCA Lutheran Camp. It is within the territory of and supported by our own Gulf Coast Synod.

There were learning and fun events.

Chapel time.

Pool time.

Meals and visiting with Pastor David Tinker and Pastor John David Nedbalek. And some clean up time.

And some experience with wildlife.

Thank you to the people of both congregations who made this wonderful week of adventure, fun, learning, service and worship happen. Also thank you to the families of our youth who worked to make it possible for these young people to have this experience in their faith.

Soap for LWR Challenge

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, ELCA, Youth and tagged with bar soap, individually wrapped bar soap, Lutheran World Relief, LWR, soap, Vacation Bible School, VBS, Wilderness Escape VBS August 8, 2014

At Vacation Bible School (VBS) here at MLLC our students collected individually wrapped bars of soap to give to Lutheran World Relief (LWR). During the week at VBS (July 21-25) there were 246 bars of soap collected. Note that this is a revised total from what you see in the photo above.

The VBS students and staff have put a challenge out to the congregation. They want to see if the people of MLLC can gather together at least 246 bars of soap for LWR by Sunday, August 10. Quite a bit has come in already. Together in ministry we would be very happy if the congregation could match this challenge.

Between now and this Sunday, August 10, you still have time to look around your home or to go shopping to get some individually wrapped bar soap to meet this challenge. When you come to worship on Saturday (6 p.m.) or Sunday (9 a.m.) you can drop your soap by at the church in the Narthex.

After this date we will still collect individually wrapped bar soap. These can be individual or multi-pacs. In early April 2015 we will bring these to the Brenham area LWR collection site and send these off for LWR to use to help people around the world.

What you can do:

1. Pray for this charitable work for our neighbors and for the ongoing ministry of LWR.

2. Give money to help cover the cost of shipping such items.

3. Bring individually wrapped bar soap (single or multi-pacs) to MLLC.

4. Give thanks for our ministry together.

Youth at Lutherhill Camp

This is a busy week at Lutherhill Ministries in La Grange, TX. Along with youth from a wide variety of communities there is a combined contingent of campers from MLLC and our neighbor ELCA congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Round Top. Five youth from MLLC were joined by several others of our friends in Round Top. They have been spending the week at this excellent camp. See the photo above with all the kids from these congregations – and an extra friend or two.

Several of the youth have attended camp at Lutherhill several times. One of the youth has lost count, for he has gone to Lutherhill maybe 4, 5 or 6 years in a row. Some are having their first experience at this camp, and are hoping for many more summers.

We at MLLC are big supporters of Lutherhill and Lutheran/Christian Camping programs. We also offer a partial “campership” for MLLC members who would like to participate in the summer camp programs at Lutherhill or other Lutheran summer camping programs.

We will post more photos from this week at camp in the next couple of days. Remember to keep these youth in your prayers as they grow in Christ through the camping programs of Lutherhill Ministries.

August MLLS Lunch & Snack Menus

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements and tagged with Carmine, day care, daycare, lunch, Martin Luther Lutheran School, menu, nursery school, preschool, snack, student, students August 4, 2014

The lunch and snack menus for Martin Luther Lutheran School have been posted for your use.

Click here to see the menu page.

Tabgha Loaves & Fish Communion Set

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Pastor's Ponderings and tagged with baptismal bowl, communion set, feeding of the 5000, loaves and fish, loaves and fishes, Matthew 14:13-21, miracle, pottery, Tabgha August 4, 2014

On Sunday, August 3, 2014, we dedicated a new set of communion ware and a baptismal bowl for use at MLLC. These depict the miracle of the Feeding of the 5000 as noted in all 4 Gospel books. Our Gospel reading for the day was Matthew 14:13-21.

Here is a closer look at the pattern:

The pattern on these new chalices, paten (bread plate) and baptismal bowl is taken from the design of a Byzantine mosaic which adorned a church building built around AD 480. This was just in front of the altar at that church building. The church was buried over for many centuries, but was rediscovered by German archaeologists in 1932. In 1982 a church building was dedicated which now preserves this beautiful and meaningful mosaic. The mosaic depicts 4 loaves and 2 fish, but the account in the Gospels refers to 5 loaves and 2 fish. It is commonly understood that the “missing” 5th loaf of bread is the one which is used for the Holy Communion at the altar above the mosaic. The modern church building is called, “The Church of the Multiplication”.

The original church building was placed in this location to commemorate the great miracle of the Feeding of the 5000. Some early Christians considered this to be the location. There is some debate about this being the actual location.

Here is a photo of the original mosaic from the church building in Tabgha in the Holy Land. Tabgha is located on the Northwestern coast of the Sea of Galilee.

Photo from Avishai Teicher via the PikiWiki – Israel free image collection project

Here is a link to an article about the church.

Here is a link to an article from 1984 about the restoration of this ancient Christian church building.

Wilderness Escape – Day 3

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Youth and tagged with 2014, bible school, Exodus, learning, Moses, Vacation Bible School, VBS, Wilderness Escape, Wilderness Escape VBS, youth July 24, 2014

We continue to have a great week at Wilderness Escape VBS. Day 3 – Wednesday included a presentation by Moses about how God helps us. To illustrate this he told the story of how the Israelites battled the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16). Aaron and Hur helped Moses keep his staff raised above his head during the battle. God’s help for us includes the help of other people in our lives.

Another special feature of Wilderness Escape VBS is the “Israelite Camp”. This is housed in our fellowship hall. The room is set up with tents and special vendors who help the students enter into the world of the ancient Israelites. There are various shops where the children can engage with adults who help them get their food, do crafts, and learn about how various people struggled with their faith in the time of the Exodus. In addition to the food there have been six shops:

Town Cleaner

Rope Weaver

Instrument Shop

Sandal Stitcher

Sand Artisan

Weaver

Wilderness Escape VBS uses a variety of learning experiences to help the children engage with the message of God’s goodness for us.

An engaging message

Joyful and active singing

and Small Group experiences

We are very thankful for the joyful opportunity which these young people have during Vacation Bible School at MLLC. We invite your continued prayers as we complete our week with Day 4 on Thursday, Day 5 on Friday, and our final program at worship on Sunday, June 27, at 9 a.m.

Wilderness Escape – Day 2

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Youth and tagged with 2014, Carmine, Lord Jesus Christ, Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Vacation Bible School, VBS, Wilderness, Wilderness Escape, Wilderness Escape VBS, youth July 22, 2014

We had a wonderful night at Wilderness Escape on Tuesday. We are thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ for providing the opportunity for children in the community of Carmine, and surrounding areas, to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your support and prayers during this very exciting week.

At Wilderness Escape VBS on Tuesday:

*The children prayed together. See above.

*The children praised the Lord with joyful, active songs.

*They visited with Moses – Guess who?

*Moses told them about the Lord’s gift of “quail” in the evening. (Peeps filled in for the “quail”)

*They even cooked the “quail” over an open “fire”.

*They saw how the Lord provided “manna” in the morning. (Frosted Flakes cereal filled in for “manna”) What is it?

*As we head through the week, remember to bring new, wrapped soap for Lutheran World Relief. This is our outreach and charity project for VBS 2014.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday at Wilderness Escape VBS!

Wilderness Escape – Day 1

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Youth and tagged with 2014, children, joy, Lutheran, Moses, Vacation Bible School, VBS, Wilderness Escape July 21, 2014

Moses led the Children of Israel through the Red Sea at the first night of Wilderness Escape Vacation Bible School. Best of all, the children of the community and congregation had the opportunity to get to know more about God’s love and that we can trust in the Lord.

You can still participate in Vacation Bible School at MLLC in Carmine. Come on out Tuesday through Friday. We begin Day 2 at 5:30 p.m. We are having a great time and would love to have you be part of our great time together. Thank you to God for our great time. Thank you to parents, grandparents, friends and supporters who make it possible for this great week of learning and outreach to happen.

Our Final Program will be at worship on Sunday, July 27, at 9 a.m.

Welcome to Martin Luther Lutheran School

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Martin Luther Lutheran School and tagged with baby sitting, brenham, Burton, Carmine, Chapel, child care, children, Christian Day School, Christian Education, christian school, day care, daycare, early childhood eduction, giddings, La Grange, ledbetter, Lutheran, Martin Luther Lutheran School, MLLS, nursery school, pre K, preschool, round top, Round Top - Carmine, school, Texas, tx, youth July 21, 2014

(Pictured above: Pastor David Tinker, MLLS Director Kelli Meinoldt, MLLS Board President, Ed Eargle)

We are very thankful to offer an early childhood eduction and daycare center here at Martin Luther Lutheran Church. We encourage you to visit the page for our school to find out more about the service and ministry we offer. Click this link for more information about Martin Luther Lutheran School.

Also, feel free to contact our school director, Kelli Meinholdt, at 979-278-3380, to find out more.

Firemen’s Feast Worship

Posted by Pastor David Tinker in Announcements, Pastor's Ponderings and tagged with Carmine Volunteer Fire Department, faith, Holy Communion, worship July 20, 2014

It is a busy day in Carmine, Texas. Today, July 20, is the annual “Firemen’s Feast”. This is the annual fundraising meal for the Carmine Volunteer Fire Department. At MLLC we give thanks to God for the caring work of these community servants.

The work of cooking the fried chicken for the meal begins early on Sunday morning. Dozens of cooks gather at the Carmine Fire Station for this work. Since this event is on Sunday morning we offer the opportunity for the cooks to gather for God’s Word and Holy Communion. We bring the Church to the Fire Station each year at an early morning time. The cooks are already busy as the worship space is set up between the fire equipment and the food preparation area. For about 10 minutes the cooks take a break for prayer, to give thanks, to hear the Word of God, and to be assured of God’s love and forgiveness in Holy Communion. This year 50 men and boys paused their work to be a part of this special worship service.

We are thankful for the service of the Carmine Volunteer Fire Department. We are thankful for the opportunity to support their work and to encourage them in their faith in Christ.

Here are some additional photos from this special event: