Ash Wednesday 2022

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements and tagged with Ash Wednesday, ashes, discipline, Jesus, Lent, Lutheran, repentance, season of lent February 15, 2022

Ash_Wednesday with ashes

Lent Begins March 2, 2022

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.

The Ash Wednesday Service this year serves as the beginning of our Lenten Sermon Series on the Disciplines of Lent. On Ash Wednesday we will hear about the Biblical, Christian discipline of Fasting.

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.

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.

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.

Celebrating Epiphany

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements and tagged with celebrate, Christmas, Epiphany, January 6, Lutheran December 28, 2021

Celebrating the Epiphany Day and Season

By Pastor David Tinker

The Epiphany of our Lord is on January 6. We will celebrate this on the weekend of January 1 and 2, 2022, at our regular weekend services: Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. For Christians around the world Christmas gets to be celebrated into January. It is a great joy to participate in these special events in the days after the Festival of Christmas.

An important Bible Verse to help us understand this festival is: ‘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, the 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 they are thus representatives of 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 Saturday, January 1 at 6 p.m. or Sunday, January 2, at 10:00 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 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, sort of like a Christmas party, but in January.

– Give generously to people in need. Remember, as Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

– Sing songs about the events of the Epiphany. The most familiar are: “We Three Kings” and, “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; frankincense, used in ritual and prayer to indicate the presence of God; and 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.

Reformation Day 2021

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements and tagged with A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Luther, Lutheran, Martin Luther, reformation, reformation day October 31, 2021

Wittenberg Door

Reformation Day is October 31

We 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. See photo above.

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 display our Martin Luther Banner. This was on the banner stand, just to the left as you face the altar at MLLC. Here is a catalog image of that banner.

Vigil of Easter – April 15

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements and tagged with Baptism, Holy Communion, Lutheran, Three Holy Days, Triduum, Vigil of Easter April 12, 2017

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The Great Vigil of Easter

Saturday, April 15, 7 p.m.

Click this link to view a blog post from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) regarding this service and its connections with Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

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.

Our Celebrations of the Resurrection of Jesus

The Great Vigil of Easter – 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 15 – see the introduction below. Shared with Waldeck Lutheran Church.

Easter Sunrise – 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 16, at the Carmine Cemetery. Bring a lawn or folding chair for seating. Shared with Waldeck Lutheran Church.

Easter Festival – Sunday April 16. Opportunities at both MLLC and Waldeck

MLLC Schedule:

9:00 a.m. – Sunday School

10:00 a.m. – Festival Worship

~11:15 a.m. – Easter Egg Hunt

Waldeck Schedule:

8:00 a.m. – Festival Worship

~9:00 a.m. – Pot-luck Easter Breakfast – bring an item to share

9:30 a.m./After Breakfast – Easter Egg Hunt

Reflecting on Ash Wednesday 2017

Posted by mllccarmine in Announcements and tagged with Ash Wednesday, Fasting, Lent, liturgy, Lutheran, Prayer, repentance, Sacrificial Giving, Self Examination, Works of Love, worship March 1, 2017

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Ash Wednesday

Adapted by Pastor David Tinker, from the writings of Pr. Thomas L. Weitzel – in some form these items will be part of the bulletin used for the Ash Wednesday liturgy.

This day is something of a slap in the face, especially when one hears the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The original name – “Day of Ashes” – was a reference to the ancient Christian practice of sprinkling or rubbing ashes on the head or forehead as a sign of one’s mortality. The same ancient gesture appears in the baptismal liturgy: a cross is traced with oil on the forehead of the person being baptized. In this simple gesture the person is claimed by Christ.

There can be no more solemn and appropriate action on this day than to distribute ashes to all who gather for the beginning of the Lenten season. Here are gathered together both the young and old, men and women, rich and poor, as well as the learned and simple. Here the cross is the sign of salvation that all believers share. It is the sign of death and resurrection.