Trinity Lutheran Church Trinity Lutheran Church Non Profit Organization 5005 I-40 West October 2017 U.S. Postage Paid Trinity Epistle Amarillo, Texas 79106 Amarillo, Texas Change Service Requested Permit No. 307 Pastor Ponderings October is an important month for Lutherans. This is the month that will mark the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. What does that mean to you? What does it mean to celebrate the Reformation? For some it is a celebration of heritage. For many the celebration of the Reformation is a matter of ethnic heritage. German Lutherans identify with the reality that Martin Luther was a German. My own grandfather was German, he immigrated legally to the United States when he was a teenager. Since the time I was raised in a German Lutheran family, I once thought that Lutheranism is primarily a German celebration. Many here at Trinity come from a similar German Lutheran background. However, Lutheranism is much larger than a German celebration. Inside this issue For many Lutheranism is a matter of pure doctrine and correct teachings in the church. Martin Youth & Family Life Ministry ....... 2-3 Luther made many contributions to helping us understand and teach the Scriptures. At theological School News ............................... 4-5 Lutheran view is truly unique. However, Luther never intended to break away from the Roman Elders .......................................... 6 Catholic Church and start Lutheranism to offer a new or better or different doctrine. In fact, it was CEF .............................................. 7 just the opposite! Luther and other reformers thought they were offering nothing new at all. The reformers wanted only to teach what the church had always taught from Scripture. October Calendar ....................... 8 October Birthday’s ...................... 9 To celebrate the Lutheran Reformation is to celebrate the Gospel. In other words, what we Lutheran Reformation Tour & Pas- celebrate is the Good News that Jesus Christ is the only salvation from our sins. Jesus has sion Play 2020 ............................. 11 accomplished all that is needed for eternal life. Jesus has shown to us a God of grace, mercy and love. The Gospel is about a church that preaches, teaches and practices the Gospel. We must Special points of interest preach the Gospel. We must teach the Good News about Jesus Christ. We must practice, as church, the grace, love and mercy that we have been shown in Jesus Christ. Good Samaritan - Pg. 6 Ladies Day Guild - Pg. 6 This month we have two big celebrations in the life of the Lutheran Church. Both of these You are Cordially Invited to Attend to Invited Cordially are You celebrations will feature Lutheran guests who will preach the heart of the Gospel as we celebrate Rental Car Discount - Pg. 6 9:20 A.M. 9:20 the Reformation. Be sure to mark your calendars. Greeters - Pg. 9 Sunday School & Bible Class Bible & School Sunday Sunday School & Bible Class - 75th Diamond Anniversary of the Pg. 9 P.M. 6:00 & Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Whole Person Health Ministry 8:00 A.M.,10:30 A.M. A.M.,10:30 8:00 Sunday, October 8, 2017 at 3:00 PM - Pg. 10 Sunday Services At Trinity At Services Sunday Guest Preacher: Rev. Ken Hennings, Texas District President LWML - Pg. 10 October 2017 October Reception to follow College Care Ministry - Pg. 10 Texas Panhandle 500th Anniversary of the Reformation Mrs. Summer Howard, Child Care Director (TLCW) Director Care Child Howard, Summer Mrs. Sunday, October 29, 2017 at 4:00 PM Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Charles Arand, Concordia Seminary Mrs. Brittany Tarbutton, Child Care Director (TLC) Director Care Child Tarbutton, Brittany Mrs. Catered Meal to follow Mr. Rick Ryan, Principal Ryan, Rick Mr. By God’s grace our Lutheran proclamation of the Gospel will continue for another 500 years or Charessa Koontz, Director of Youth & Family Ministry Ministry Family & Youth of Director Koontz, Charessa until Christ comes and claims us as His own. Rev. Brian Hesse, Senior Pastor Senior Hesse, Brian Rev. In His Service Pastor Hesse Christian School & Child Care Child & School Christian Josh 1:9 Church Lutheran Trinity Page 11 Page 2 Hurricane Harvey Relief Tour: 10 day tour of Germany Not Included: Summer 2018 Date: August 3-12, 2020 All lunches Included: Tips to driver, guides, and hotel staff Roundtrip air from Amarillo including current air Optional travel insurance taxes and fuel surcharges Optional credit card payments The Trinity Youth and Family Board approved at their September Meeting 8 nights lodging at 3-4 star hotels to pursue a summer ministry opportunity to help our brothers and Breakfast and dinner daily Hotels Quoted (or similar)- Full time English speaking tour escort sisters in south Texas that were affected by Hurricane Harvey. TC1 Passion Play ticket package NH Messe or NH Ost Conference Ceter- Munich Services of air conditioned deluxe motor coach 4* hotel- Oberammergau or surrounding area While we are still working on details for this event, we would like you to All guides, entrances, touring and transportation as Hotel Rappen- Rothenburg ob der Tauber know that this event is not just for our high school youth. We are appears on itinerary NH Airport West or NH Morfelden- Frankfurt Radisson Blu- Erfurt encouraging men and women of this congregation to join hands Price Per Person: Best Western Stadtpalais- Wittenberg Based on Double Occupancy: $4,500 Sheraton Grand Hotel Esplanade- Berlin alongside us to answer the call… “Here I am Lord, send me.” Single Room: $5,000 Deposits Due Soon! Itinerary Day 1: Depart USA: Overnight flight to Europe. Shipping Soon! Day 2: Arrive Munich and enjoy a driving tour of Munich including outside views of the Olympic Stadium, Pinako- theken art museums, and National Theater. Next we visit the Royal Palace (Residenz) and the world famous Hofbräuhaus. Care Package #2 is going out soon, so please Day 3: Munich, Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau. Enjoy a walking tour of the Marienplatz which lies at the heart of the Alstadt in the city center of Munich. We leave the city and stop at the Rococo-style chapel in the Meadow. Next we tour King make sure that your student is on the list to Ludwig II’s most luxurious former residence, the Neuschwanstein Castle. receive one no matter if they live 5 states Day 4: Passion Play Performance Your morning is free to enjoy the delightful village of Oberammergau with out- standing opportunities for photos and shopping. This afternoon and evening we enjoy the Passion Play production. The play depicts away or are still at home. the story of Christ's Passion, beginning with the entry into Jerusalem and ending with the resurrection and transfiguration, a mov- ing and spectacular experience. For more information about this amazing Day 5: Augsburg, Romantic Road, Rothenburg This morning we travel from Oberammgau north to the ancient city of Augsburg. It was here in 1518 at St. Anne's Church that Luther met the papal legate, Cardinal Cajetan, who demanded that ministry, see Stacy Tormey! Luther submit to the pope. Augsburg was also the site of another Imperial Diet (1530). Early this afternoon we drive along the pano- ramic "Romantic Road" and visit the best preserved medieval town in all of Europe, Rothenburg. We visit the quaint Rathaus (town hall) with its impressive tower and have some time for shopping at one of the most fascinating Christmas stores you will ever see - Kathe's (pronounced Katie's). Day 6: Heidelberg, Worms, Mainz This morning we travel on to one of the most charming cities in all of the world - Heidelberg, ancient capital of the Palatinate and home of Germany's oldest university. But most importantly, it was a stronghold of German Reformed Protestants beginning in 1560. One of the great confessional statements of the Reformation, the Heidelberg Cate- chism was produced here in 1563. Heidelberg Castle, a most impressive historic landmark of Germany, stands majestically overlook- Junior High/High School ing the Neckar River. The structure, now largely in ruins, preserves numerous examples of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Ger- man architecture. Our next stop is in Worms. It was here, during the Imperial Diet in 1521, that Martin Luther challenged the entire Youth Turkey Bowling Roman Catholic establishment by his refusal to recant the great doctrines of Protestantism. It was also here that William Tyndale Midweek Youth Activities November 5th from 2-4pm completed the printing of his English version of the New Testament in 1525 which he had begun in Cologne. We visit St. Peter's Church and the symbolic Luther memorial near the town square. Next we continue to Mainz to see the Gutenberg Monument and th High School: Oct. 11 5:30- tour the Gutenberg Museum. Day 7: Coburg, Eisenach We immediately set out through scenic Thuringer Wald to view the fortress of Coburg know as Veste, the place of Luther's imprisonment in 1530. Next we visit Eisenach, birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach. It was here 7:00pm at the formidable Wartburg Castle that Luther, under "house arrest", translated the New Testament into German in 1523. Day 8: Erfurt, Eisleben This morning we spend time in Erfurt, where Luther attended the university. A highlight th will be the Augustinian Monastery where he spent his early years as a monk. Leaving Erfurt we visit Eisleben which is noted among Junior High: Oct. 17 the most significant in Luther's history; he was born here in 1483 and died here in 1546 and old manuscripts indicate that he felt a special affinity to Eisleben. We will see the house of his birth and death, St. Andrews Church where he preached his last sermon, the 5:30-7:00 Luther Monument, and St. Anne's Church with the famous Biblical scenes hewn in stone and many other sites.