First Sunday After New Testament Galatians 4: 4-7 Holy Gospel Matthew 2: 13-23 Dec. 28+29, 2019 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his When they had gone, an of the Lord Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said,

redeem those under the law, that we might receive “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Preacher: Rev. Larry Matro adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit search for the child to kill him.” who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a So he got up, took the child and his mother Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries Worship Notes slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, during the night and left for Egypt, where he “Back to the Sheep” Saturday Sunday God has made you also an heir. stayed until the death of Herod. And so was Luke 2:20 - And the shepherds returned, Order Page 184 fulfilled what the Lord had said through the glorifying and praising God for all they had prophet: heard and seen, as it had been told them. Gathering — Gloria Isaiah 63: 7-14 “Out of Egypt I called my son.” What did the shepherds do after they saw Opening 389 389 Old Testament the baby and His parents? Luke tells us Sermon 361 361 I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, that "they made known the saying that had the praises of the LORD, When Herod realized that he had been been told them concerning this Child" (Luke Closing 375 Joy to the World according to all that the LORD has granted us, outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave 2:17). That is, they talked to people—Mary and the great goodness to the house of Israel orders to kill all the boys in and its and Joseph, the neighbors, people in the that he has granted them according to his compassion, vicinity who were two years old and under, in street, who knows? But then they went home. according to the abundance of his steadfast love. accordance with the time he had learned from the There were sheep waiting. Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Sometimes God kindly gives us those For he said, “Surely they are my people, wonderful moments too, doesn't He? Perhaps children who will not deal falsely.” Jeremiah was fulfilled: it's at the Baptism of a baby in your family, or And he became their Savior. maybe it's a special moment at communion. In all their affliction he was afflicted, “A voice is heard in Ramah, Maybe it's just a second when you're washing and the angel of his presence saved them; weeping and great mourning, dishes or changing the oil in the car and then in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; suddenly your heart thinks of Jesus and His Rachel weeping for her children he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. love. Those moments are precious. We're right and refusing to be comforted, Saturday Schedule But they rebelled to be grateful for them. 5:00 p.m. Worship Service because they are no more.” But the sheep are still waiting. And so we and grieved his Holy Spirit; pick ourselves up, pull our thoughts back to Sunday Schedule therefore he turned to be their enemy, the work that lies in front of us, and dig in. and himself fought against them. After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared 8:45 a.m. Adult Bible Study That's the way it goes. Then he remembered the days of old, in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, 10:00 a.m. Worship Service Except for one thing. Luke says that "And the of Moses and his people. take the child and his mother and go to the land of shepherds returned, glorifying and praising Where is he who brought them up out of the sea Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s God for all they had heard and seen" (verse with the shepherds of his flock? life are dead.” 20). We can do that, too. We can go about Our Communion services are held on the first and So he got up, took the child and his mother and our ordinary lives, not forgetting the great Where is he who put in the midst of them third Sundays of each month. Visitors wishing to went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that things that God has done, but praising God for his Holy Spirit, commune with us are kindly asked to speak with Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his them. We can do it silently, in our hearts, or a pastor before the service begins. Thank you! who caused his glorious arm we can do it when we talk to other people— to go at the right hand of Moses, father Herod, he was afraid to go there. to friends, family, or coworkers. who divided the waters before them Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to We may be back in our ordinary lives, but to make for himself an everlasting name, the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a the great things God has done for us—Jesus' Trinity Lutheran Church and School 406 South Lakeview - Sturgis Michigan 49091 who led them through the depths? town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was life, death, and resurrection—are still with us. said through the prophets, that he would be called Jesus' love and work for us undergird every- Church: 269-651-6511 School: 269-651-4245 Like a horse in the desert, a Nazarene. thing we do. How great it is that we can praise E-mail: [email protected] they did not stumble. Him for those things, even when we're Website: trinitylutheransturgis.com Like livestock that go down into the valley, minding the sheep! the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. Sermon Pastor Matro So you led your people, Rev. Larry Matro, Administrative Pastor “The Ugly Side of Christmas” THE PRAYER: Lord, help me to love and Rev. Calvin J. Kolzow Jr., Associate Pastor to make for yourself a glorious name. glorify You during all the ordinary moments of Paul Kosman, Principal Matthew 2: 16-18 my life. Amen. Please Pray for… Sunday Bible Study Helen Baker Bea Lesher We Welcome By Baptism…  December 29: The Christmas Gospel Your pastors are here to serve you when you need us Carolyn Beardsley Wendy Lesher Owen Bradley Scheske, son of Brett &  January 5: Christmas Hymns Amanda (Baker) Scheske, was baptized for conversation, prayer, personal counseling or a Brayden Cassell+ Jerry Martinsen on Tuesday, December 24.  January 12: The Matros in PNG discussion about a spiritual matter. You can contact Jim Connors Gary Myers Judy Cornell Meryl Nelson Madison Jane Lytle, daughter of Ryan & There is room for you! We start at about 8:45 am! us anytime by the means listed below. Abby (Swan) Lytle, was baptized on John Cossairt Jenva Petravich Heather Evenson+* Orson Poley Tuesday, December 24 Thank you for respecting our "Day Off" except in the case of an emergency. Jean Fieberkorn Jean Rommel Welcome to our church family! School News! Kelly Frohriep Goldman Keith Shultz CHRISTMAS BREAK... School is on Christmas Pastor Larry Matro: 231-866-1542 Denny Hagen+* Ethan Smith+ break through January 5 and classes resume on or [email protected] BJ Harms Joy Smith + January 6. Richard Herl JoEllyn Wachtman+ (Day Off is Monday) Cindy Holtz+ Linda Winkens+

*= Newly Listed Birthdays Pastor Cal Kolzow: 269-251-5489 Connie Jennings Vic Kosloski + = Non-Member Anniversaries ...Have A Laugh... or [email protected] & Helen Krueger (Day Off is Friday) Jeanne Blasius b. 12/31 Kris Kirsch b. 12/31 You can also reach us through the This Weekend’s Special Prayers Phil & Deb Spear w. 12/31 Church Office: 269-651-6511  Our Missionary Family for the week: Ray & Heather Swinsick w. 12/31 God bless you! Rev. Charles & Cheryl Ferry + Six Children Harold Frohriep b. 1/1 Your Pastors Serving in Asia (Live in Taiwan) Bette Lawrence b. 1/1  Our Trinity staff member for the week: Tessa Roehrig b. 1/1 Mr. Brent Sankey Mary Himes b. 1/2 LWML is collecting cancelled stamps…  Our homebound for this week, and their Katina Currier b. 1/4 ...which will be used to fund mission goals around the address for you to send them greetings: Betty Mestelle b. 1/4 world. To contribute, please trim cancelled stamps Judy Cornell from envelopes, leaving at least 1/4-inch margin around 117 N. Douglas the stamp. Please drop your stamp donations in the Bronson, MI 49028 A Huge “Thank You”… small black receptacle on the floor in the church lobby. From the staff to everyone who gave so generously Thanks! to the Love Offering this year. God bless you all!

Church Office—Holiday Hours Poinsettia After singing some Christmas carols, 4-year Poinsettia plants are in the lobby ready to be old Kevin commented, “Wasn’t it nice of the  The church office will be closed January 1. 2019 Charitable Giving ... picked up by those who purchased them. Thank  Holiday Office Hours are 9 am—2 pm. Normal If you are wishing to make a year-end gift to the shepherds to do their laundry before going you for your donations in helping to make our hours (10:30 am—3:30 pm) will resume on church, it needs to be turned into the church office to see the baby Jesus?” Uncle Leo asked, sanctuary beautiful for Christmas! before the end of the year for your donation to be Monday, January 6. “What do you mean by that, Kevin?” He credited to the current tax year. Thank you! replied, “We just sang, ‘While Shepherds PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR 2020 ENVELOPES Washed Their Socks at Night.’” May You Shine UNTIL AFTER JANUARY 1. The envelope numbers are different and even though the Light of we are careful there is a possibility your offering Worshipping Last Week... could get credited to the wrong account. Saturday Service 43 Sunday Service 159 Christ in the Join our Facebook group at: —4pm 118 Facebook.com/groups/TrinityLutheranSturgis Our Financial Picture Christmas Eve—7 pm 222 New Year! December Budgeted Expenses $64, 827 December Giving $69, 877