TrinityX X TribuneX 20111777 Trinity Lutheran Church X Paola, Kansas Palm Sunday—The first day of Holy about the proper day to celebrate Easter. Week, commemorating our Lord’s The Western churches settled on this entrance into Jerusalem as the cheering formula: the first Sunday after the first crowds spread branches before him full moon following the spring equinox. (Matthew 21:1-11). This year Palm The Eastern churches settled on a Sunday is on April 9. different formula and often observe Easter on a different date. This year Maundy Thursday—Thursday of they happen to coincide on April 16. Holy Week, on which our Lord instituted the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28; The United States Naval Observatory Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; has a web site which will calculate the 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). “Maundy” is date of Easter, according the Western derived from the Latin mandatum, formula, for any year at http:// meaning “commandment,” and is based aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/easter.html. During March we are in the season on Jesus’ words at the Last Supper: Fasting—As a reminder that our Lord of the Church Year known as Lent. “A new command I give you: Love one made the ultimate sacrifice for us, it is Understanding the origin of this season, another. As I have loved you, so you traditional to voluntarily “give up” and some of its customs, will deepen its must love one another” (John 13:34). meaning for us: something for Lent. This is often some This year Maundy Thursday is on form of fasting, perhaps eating only a “Lent”—The word “Lent” comes April 13. We will observe Maundy simple, limited luncheon meal, or from the old English meaning Thursday with a special service of Holy abstaining from meat or some other foods. “to lengthen.” “Lent” was originally used Communion at 7:00pm. The money saved is then donated to a to describe early spring, when the days charity, particularly to help feed the hungry. begin “to lengthen” after the darkness of Good Friday—Friday of Holy Week, winter. In time, “Lent” became the name on which our Lord died on the cross Changes in Worship Services— for the season prior to the celebration of (Matthew 27; Luke 23; Mark 15; John Because Lent is a somber season focusing our Lord’s resurrection at Easter, which 19). Even though it was the darkest day on our Lord’s suffering, it is traditional occurs in early spring. in the history of the world, it is “Good” during Lent not to sing the Hymn of Friday for us, because on it our Lord Praise (Gloria in Excelsis or This is the Ash Wednesday—Lent begins on earned our eternal salvation by His Feast) or use the word “alleluia” in worship Ash Wednesday, so named because of sacrifice (Colossians 1:19-20). services. It is also customary to read the ancient custom of marking a cross of the Passion Story from the Gospels. ashes upon the foreheads of worshippers This year Good Friday is on April 14. as a symbol of repentance and humility, We will observe Good Friday with a Lent Services—Many churches, a custom still observed in many churches. special Tenebrae Service at 7:00pm. including our own, have extra services during Lent that focus on the story of This year Ash Wednesday was on March1. Tenebrae Service—“Tenebrae” is Jesus’ suffering and death. You are Latin for “shadows” or “darkness.” In the 40 Days of Lent—The season of Lent strongly encouraged to attend our Lenten traditional Good Friday Tenebrae Service is a 40 day period of reflection upon our Vespers services on Wednesday seven candles and other lights are Savior’s suffering for our salvation, evenings at 7:00pm. You are also invited gradually extinguished as the Seven Last corresponding to our Lord Jesus’ 40 to enjoy a Lenten Supper in our basement Words of Christ from the cross are read. days of fasting and resisting temptation Fellowship Hall before Lenten Vespers in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2). [Ash Date of Easter—The first Easter each Wednesday. Wednesday is actually 46 days prior to occurred on the Sunday following the Jesus said, “Greater love has no man Easter; the figure of 40 days for the celebration of Passover as prescribed than this, that he lay down his life for his length of Lent comes from subtracting in the Old Testament (Exodus 12:1-51). friends” (John 15:13). The Lenten season the six Sundays during Lent, which are Because the Hebrew calendar was is an opportunity for you to draw closer to said to be “in” Lent but not “of” Lent.] based on a lunar cycle, the date of your Friend, Jesus, and gain a deeper Passover fluctuates widely according Holy Week—The final week of Lent, appreciation for his great love for you. during which our Lord was betrayed and to our modern solar calendar. This led crucified. to some disputes in the early church Pastor Kevin Vogts Page 1 Everyone is invited to enjoy Lenten Suppers in our basement Fellowship Hall before the Lenten Vespers services, each Wednesday evening throughout the Lenten season. This year’s schedule is: Each month we remember in prayer March 1 in our worship services—and you are Trinity Youth – Soups encouraged to remember in your personal prayers—specific missionaries March 8 around the world who are supported by Block Walkers – Taco Bar March 1 our congregation through our mission “The Lord Is My Shepherd” offerings to our Synod. March 15 Twin Valley 4H – Baked Potato Bar Psalm 23:1 March 5 March 5 Freeman & Susan Rohlfing March 22 Czech Republic Open “Satan’s Triple Play” Matthew 4:1-11 March 12 March 29 Rev. Charles & Connie Cortright Trinity Youth March 8 Czech Republic BBQ Pork & Chicken “I Shall Not Want” Psalm 23:1 March 19 April 5 March 12 Richard & Sarah Sovitzky Blocktoberfest Committee Czech Republic Brats & Bierocks “The Strange Story of the Bronze Snake” March 26 Thank you to all those hosting these Numbers 21:4-9 Rev. Tony & Connie Booker fun fellowship events! Czech Republic March 15 Rev. Roger Schepmann TrinityX X TribuneX Guest Minister March 19 Published Monthly by “Food to Sustain You in Trinity Lutheran Church the Wilderness of Sin” 34868 Block Road Exodus 16:1-4, 17:1-6 Paola, Kansas 66071 March 22 Rev. Kevin Vogts, Pastor “He Restoreth My Soul” Stacey Elkinton, Church Secretary Psalm 23:2-3 March 26 Church: 913-849-3344 “Jesus Sets the Pastor’s Study & Parsonage: Disciples Straight” Rev. Tony & Connie Booker, LCMS 913-849-3711 missionaries in the Czech Republic. Pastor’s Cell: 913-594-9865 Matthew 20:17-28 March 29 The Lutheran Church—Missouri trinitylcms.org “He Leadeth Me in the Synod has a rich history of sharing the facebook.com/trinitylutheranblock Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. [email protected] Paths of Righteousness” A few years after the Synod was founded [email protected] Psalm 23:3 in 1847, the first LCMS mission board March, 2017 was established in 1851. Since then the Page 2 LCMS has done or is doing mission work in more than 90 countries. Currently, the LCMS sends, equips, and supports a global mission team of more than 1,000 people. Also under the auspices of the mission board are over 200 United States military chaplains the LCMS endorses. God continues to use His people to share the Gospel overseas, preparing them in His ways and faithfully providing for all their needs. Meet the Rev, Tony Booker and his wife, Connie, who serve in Prague, Czech Republic, where he pastors a congregation of English- speaking expatriates, and as LCMS Regional Director for Eurasia is building closer relationships between the LCMS and local Lutheran churches, so that we might work together more effectively in mutual mission and ministry. 2017 Lent Vespers Earlier in life, Booker served in the United States Army on active duty for Wednesdays – 7:00pm five years. He majored in international studies and Russian area studies in Lenten Suppers Before Services college and graduate school. Then, after finishing college, he worked in sales and March 1 – Ash Wednesday Sunday, April 2 customer service positions for 13 years, which provided him with opportunities to “The Lord Is “I Will Fear No Evil” travel internationally and manage diverse teams of coworkers. My Shepherd” April 5 – Lent Service VI Upon entering Concordia March 8 – Lent Service II “Thy Rod and Thy Staff Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, “I Shall Not Want” Booker initially had no intention of serving They Comfort Me” as an overseas missionary. However, March 15 – Lent Service III April 13 – Maundy Thursday memories of his own childhood as an Rev. Roger Schepmann overseas “missionary kid” prompted him Guest Minister “Thou Preparest a and his wife to consider international missions. The mission board staff was March 22 – Lent Service IV Table Before Me” excited by his language credentials and “He Restoreth My Soul” April 14 – Good Friday extensive cross-cultural experience. March 29 – Lent Service V “And I Will Dwell Rev. Booker reflects, “I have always had a heart for international missions. “He Leadeth Me in the in the House of As a ‘missionary kid’ myself growing up in Austria, I thought I would fly planes into Paths of Righteousness” the Lord Forever” jungle airstrips as a medical missionary. Then I received a call to the Czech Rev. Booker now sees how the Lord is difficult to explain. I remember as a Republic, which is a realization of dreams worked through the various phases of child praying for years for the people I’ve had for many years.