You can register online now for Martin Luther Lutheran Church’s (MLLC) Monumental VBS 2022. Participants will gather at MLLC from Sunday, June 12-Thursday, June 16 from 5:30-7:45 pm for upbeat music, bible stories, and engaging activities. Children from preschool (age 3 minimum) through elementary school are invited to join the fun.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Please click here to register.
Mark your calendars now to plan to attend worship on this special Sunday. We invite students of all ages to attend worship on Saturday, August 21, at 6:00 p.m., or Sunday, August 22, at 10:00 a.m. 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 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.
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Special note: This will also be our weekend to celebrate our partnership with Lutherhill Ministries. Our guest preacher for Saturday and Sunday will be Matt Kindsvatter, executive director of Lutherhill Ministries.
First Holy Communion Class begins this month
By Pastor David Tinker
pastordjt@industryinet.com 979-278-3388
The First Holy Communion class will be offered March 22 and 29, and April 5on Sunday mornings, starting at about 11:15 a.m. in the Mission & Ministry Building.
First Holy Communion at MLLC is most often offered to elementary age students, in 5th grade and younger. Our goal is to make sure youth who are part of MLLC have begun communing by the end of 5th grade. The 5th grade tradition does not prevent younger students from attending the class and receiving Holy Communion. Each year for the past several years we have had youth in younger grades participating in the class. It is likely that most of the youth participating in the class will be younger.
Students are encouraged to bring a Bible for use in class, as well as paper/pen for any notes they might want to write. If students don’t have access to a Bible we have one for their use. Note that each student will be presented with a Bible on First Communion Thursday – April 9/Maundy Thursday – for his or her personal study and for use in Sunday School, Confirmation and Worship. Parents/Grandparents/Guardians are welcome and encouraged to be present at this class time. We will meet in the Mission & Ministry Building, but will also move to other places in the building for parts of the lessons.
The class will include instruction, discussion, videos, mini-field trips in the church building, etc.
Due to the late date of Resurrection Sunday/Easter Sunday this year (April 12), there should be little or no problem with Spring Break from school for the students.
Also, one of the classes will include bread baking by the students. This bread will be used at their First Communion service.
Here is the schedule:
Sundays, March 22 and 29, April 5
11:15 a.m. – about 12:30 p.m.
If one or more of these dates is/are not workable for your family, I am very glad to work out make up lessons for your student. That way he or she will not miss out of the learning and special service this year.
If you are unsure if your child is ready to participate in this class, please read through this article which was published on our church web site a few years ago.
Thursday, April 9 7:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Service, First Holy Communion Day
Presentation of Bible to students during worship – Church gives to Parent/Grandparent, then the parent/grandparent presents Bible to student. We will go over this before that Thursday, so all are ready.
Students please arrive by 7:00 p.m. to make sure all our plans are in order for what we will be doing at worship. Also, families may wish to take photos before worship, for this is the best time to do this. The altar area will be bare of all decorations, candles, banners, etc. after worship due to the “Stripping of the Altar” during the service.
I look forward to exploring this wonderful sacrament with your child. This is a very exciting time of growth for these young people and for their families. If you have any questions or special needs, please feel free to contact me. See email and phone number above.
We had a successful collection of donations for the 2019 Souper Bowl of Caring and Food Drive in February. The LYO made the goal of $700.00 to give to the A.M.E.N. Food Pantry in La Grange (our county seat). With the final donations in the past week we were able to meet that goal. Here is a link to the office Souper Bowl of Caring web site.
Added to that were the in kind donations of food and other needed items for the food pantry. Approximately 60 items were also collected at MLLC in February and then brought to the food Pantry. We are very thankful for the wonderful partnership we have in the congregation as we seek to love our neighbors.
Here is the report on the Souper Bowl of Caring official web site: click link.
Again, thank you for your partnership and support of this annual event at MLLC.
We celebrate the faith commitment of two of our MLLC youth. Miles Tinker and Janette Weidemann affirmed their baptism on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at MLLC. We are thankful for the commitment of the students, parents, congregation, and teachers involved in the Confirmation Class Ministry of MLLC. We share this ministry with 4 other congregations: Waldeck Lutheran Church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Round Top, St. Paul Lutheran – Shelby, and Greenvine Emmanuel Lutheran – Burton. The pastoral leaders of each congregation are the teachers. The classes in the group have been held at MLLC for many years now. In recent years the classes have been held in the new Mission & Ministry Building of MLLC.
Born: March 18, 2004 in Plymouth, Indiana
Baptized: April 10, 2004 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church,
North Liberty, Indiana
Parents: David & Jennifer Tinker
Sponsors (Godparents): Gordon & Elaine Tinker, Sharol & Dale Herr, George Clark, and Eric Clark
Bible Verse: John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Born: November 25, 2003 in Austin, Texas
Baptized: March 21, 2004 at Palm Valley Lutheran Church,
Round Rock, Texas
Parents: Cindy Weidemann
Jonathan & Melissa Weidemann
Sponsors (Godparents): Jeffrey & Kristi Wunderlich, Jessica Weidemann, Joah & Heather Weidemann, Tracy & Thomas Ruether, and Keith & Danette Farris
Bible Verse: Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
We are very excited about Lutherhill Sunday 2017. We have enjoyed having staff from Lutherhill visiting at MLLC during this time of year for a number of years now. We invite you to be part of this special Sunday of learning, fun, fellowship, music, and a joyful message.
Lutherhill Ministries is the camping and retreat ministry in our Synod. Lutherhill offers programming through Lutherhill Camp in La Grange, TX, the Zion Retreat Center in Galveston, TX, and through destination day camp programs in various congregations in Texas and Louisiana.
Here is the plan for this special Sunday:
9:00 a.m. Sunday School hour – Lutherhill staff will lead singing and learning with the children. They will also work with the children to prepare and present a skit at worship later that morning. Bring your student to the fellowship hall so he or she can participate in this special time together.
10:00 a.m. Worship with Lutherhill staff leading music with Camp Style songs. Lutherhill Ministries Executive Director, Matt Kindsvatter, will be our preacher at worship. He always brings an uplifting and joyful message. Matt will also present information and updates about Lutherhill Ministries.
Here is Matt at a previous Lutherhill Sunday at MLLC. We are very thankful to have such an amazing camping ministry right in our county.
“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” Romans 5: 1-2
What does this mean?
Guided by Romans 5, Martin Luther reimagined what living as followers of Christ meant. Luther sought to reform the practices of the church so that the Christians might rejoice more fully in the grace-filled love of God.
In celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, we will explore how we are called to continually Reform, Reimagine, and Rejoice!
The First Holy Communion Class will be held over three Sundays in late March and early April. Each class will be held in the Mission & Ministry Building (New Building behind Parsonage). See the photo above which shows the 2016 class group with the bread they baked for their First Communion.
Class Dates: March 26, April 2 and 9 – after worship – starting about 11:00 a.m.
First Holy Communion at MLLC is most often offered to students in 5th grade. There are numerous cases in which there are exceptions to this. If you and your student, who is not yet in 5th grade, wish to participate in this class please speak with me to make arrangements. The 5th grade tradition does not prevent younger students from attending the class and receiving Holy Communion.
Students are encouraged to bring a Bible for use in class, as well as paper/pen for any notes they might want to write. If students don’t have access to a Bible we have one for their use. Note that each student will be presented with a Bible on First Communion Thursday – April 13 – for his or her personal study and for use in Sunday School, Confirmation and Worship. Parents/Grandparents are welcome and encouraged to be present at this class time. We will meet at a table in the Mission and Ministry Building, but will also move to other places in the church facilities for parts of the lessons.
The class will include instruction, discussion, videos, mini-field trips in the building, etc.
We are working to avoid Spring Break weekends for this class, therefore all sessions are after Spring Break. Please consult with me if you have special needs about family schedules, vacations, parental custody issues, etc. which could conflict with the posted schedule. I want this opportunity to work for your student.
Notes that one of the Sunday classes will include bread baking by the students. This bread will be used at their First Communion service.
Presentation of Bible to students during worship – the Church gives to Parent/Grandparent, and then the parent/grandparent presents Bible to student. We will go over this before Thursday so all are ready.
Students please arrive by 7:00 p.m. to make sure all our plans are in order for what we will be doing at worship. Also, families may wish to take photos before worship, and this is the best time to do this. The altar area will be bare of all decorations, candles, banners, etc. after worship due to the “Stripping of the Altar”.
I look forward to exploring this wonderful sacrament with your child. This is a very exciting time of growth for these young people and for their families. If you have any questions or needs please feel free to contact me. Please see the article below about discerning your child’s interest and readiness to receive the sacrament.
He or She may. . .
*have expressed interest in participating in Holy Communion during worship, perhaps copying your movements at the altar
*have begun to ask questions about why we take Holy Communion
*have begun to reach for the Holy Communion elements which are offered to you
*have a foundation in Christ through attendance in Christian education or worship, or through family conversations, devotions or prayer
*be able to speak about God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) as loving and trustworthy
*pray the Lord’s Prayer and be able to say other simple prayers (such as at bedtime and meals)
The following questions can help you determine the readiness of your child to receive her or his first Holy Communion.
The most important question is about God’s gift of Grace for your child:
***** Has your child been baptized?
If your child is not yet baptized, please speak with a pastor to set a date for your child to receive this Sacrament. It is understood that Holy Communion is for the baptized children of God.
Other questions to consider:
*Is your child comfortable in various locations around the church, like the altar?
*Does your child have a basic, age-appropriate awareness that God loves him or her?
*Does your child understand the idea of “right” and “wrong”, and can grasp the basic notion of “forgiveness”?
*Will your child extend his or her hands when asked to do so?
*Will your child be able to understand the basic concept that Holy Communion is a gift from God to each person?
*Does your child seem to have a basic trust that they are a child of God?
*Does your child seem interested in what goes on in church during Communion?
*Does your child interact enough with others to receive the bread and wine?
*Is your child aware enough of others in the congregation and their needs to show respect for the communion experience?
*Are you prepared to help make the process positive?
*Are you prepared to continue to fulfill the promises you made at your child’s baptism to bring him or her regularly to the Lord’s Table?
Only the first question (Has your child been baptized?) requires a “Yes” before your child can be considered ready to receive his or her first communion. Use the others to generate discussion and to plan, in consultation with Pastor David Tinker, for your child’s preparation to begin receiving the sacrament and the gifts it brings.
Contact Pastor David Tinker if you have any questions about Holy Communion. He would be happy to help answer your questions.
We celebrated New Member Sunday at MLLC on November 6. This was also All Saints Sunday. We welcomed 6 new members to the congregation on that day. Three of those are pictured above.
We also updated the New Member Page with information about the newest members of the congregation. Click this link to see more about those who have recently joined MLLC.
For several years the Men in Mission of MLLC have been collecting aluminum beverage cans for a special purpose. They are working to help make sure young people from MLLC get some help to attend Lutheran Church Bible Camp at Lutherhill. In recent years this men’s ministry group has quietly collected these cans to raise money from selling these through recycling. This year the Men in Mission were able to provide $50.00 per youth member for their participation a summer camping program at Lutherhill.
The Men in Mission have not been alone in this. They have had significant support from many people who donate enough cans each year to provide this encouragement and assistance to many youth. They don’t really know all who those who make the donations. This is because the donation center is outside in a quiet corner of the church facilities. Every week kind, and generally anonymous, individuals drop off bag upon bag of empty aluminum beverage cans to help our youth.
You can be part of this happy cause as well. Simply set aside your used aluminum beverage cans. Then, when you are on your way to worship, or heading to or through town, simply grab your bags of cans and leave these at the donation station.
The donation station is on the north side of the building – the side facing US 290. This is under the covered part of the drive through, drop off entrance to the fellowship hall. These photos show the can receptacles in the context of the north entrance. The station is open 24 hours a day.
Thank you all for your partnership in ministry at MLLC. Together we are making disciples of Jesus Christ and sharing God’s love to the ends of the earth.
The Annual MLLC Harvest Festival and Homecoming is coming soon. This annual event is a joy for all ages. Join us on Sunday, October 16, at the Carmine Hall.
The Stewardship Committee is inviting you to donate items for the 2016 Auction on October 16. They are asking for new items, along with gift certificates/cards, artistic items, and baked goods. These may be brought to the church office. For fresh baked goods you can let office know, and bring your item on the morning of the auction.
The main page for the 2016 Harvest Festival and Homecoming has been updated. Click this link to see that page.
Martin Luther Lutheran Church 