Trinity eNews

December 11

Trinity eNews

Scripture Readings

Isaiah 35:1–10 (ESV)

¹ The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;

the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;

² it shall blossom abundantly

and rejoice with joy and singing.

The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,

the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.

They shall see the glory of the Lord,

the majesty of our God.

³ Strengthen the weak hands,

and make firm the feeble knees.

⁴ Say to those who have an anxious heart,

“Be strong; fear not!

Behold, your God

will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God.

He will come and save you.”

⁵ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

⁶ then shall the lame man leap like a deer,

and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

For waters break forth in the wilderness,

and streams in the desert;

⁷ the burning sand shall become a pool,

and the thirsty ground springs of water;

in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,

the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

⁸ And a highway shall be there,

and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;

the unclean shall not pass over it.

It shall belong to those who walk on the way;

even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

⁹ No lion shall be there,

nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;

they shall not be found there,

but the redeemed shall walk there.

¹⁰ And the ransomed of the Lord shall return

and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

they shall obtain gladness and joy,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Psalm 146 (ESV)

¹ Praise the LORD!

Praise the LORD, O my soul!

² I will praise the LORD as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

³ Put not your trust in princes,

in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.

⁴ When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;

on that very day his plans perish.

⁵ Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the LORD his God,

⁶ who made heaven and earth,

the sea, and all that is in them,

who keeps faith forever;

⁷ who executes justice for the oppressed,

who gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets the prisoners free;

⁸ the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.

The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;

the LORD loves the righteous.

⁹ The LORD watches over the sojourners;

he upholds the widow and the fatherless,

but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

¹⁰ The LORD will reign forever,

your God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the LORD!

James 5:7–11 (ESV)

⁷ Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. ⁸ You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. ⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. ¹⁰ As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Matthew 11:2–15 (ESV)

² Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³ and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” ⁴ And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

⁷ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.’

^“11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, ¹⁴ and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Sunday Worship – December 14

Return to Zion with Singing

Rushton Christmas Adopt-a-Family Donations

You are invited to serve a family from the Rushton community who are in need of our help. We have been asked to help two families this year who need assistance, with one just recently coming to our attention.

Please bring your WRAPPED gifts by Sunday, December 14.

Mr. Stinky Feet’s Christmas Concert at Trinity

Date: Saturday, December 13
Time: 11:30 AM
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church
Mission Campus
5601 West 62nd Street
Mission, KS 66202

Join us for a festive, family-friendly celebration featuring Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove, who has been delighting families for over 28 years with his high-energy, interactive concerts! This special Christmas show will include original songs and fun twists on holiday classics—perfect for kids and parents alike.

Admission:
Bring non-perishable food or hygiene items (canned and dry goods) to support local families, or give a free-will offering.

Christmas Caroling

Bundle up and join us for singing, snacking, and Christmas fun! Bring friends, neighbors, grandkids, and anyone else to the Mission campus parking lot on December 12 to sing Christmas carols, enjoy hot cocoa/coffee, and sweet treats!

Poinsettias for Christmas

Mission Campus
$14 per plant
Poinsettia orders are now being taken to beautify the Mission sanctuary for Christmas. If you are interested in helping to beautify the sanctuary with this meaningful flower, please see the signup on the kiosk in the foyer. You may also order and pay online with the link.

2026-2027 Preschool Open House and Enrollment

2026-2027 Preschool Enrollment is right around the corner! Families with children who will be 3-5 years of age and potty-trained before September 1, 2026, are invited to Trinity Lutheran Church Preschool’s Open House on Friday, January 16, 2026.

A Message from the Executive Committee

Find our the highlights from the Executive Committee November meeting. Get the current financial picture and find ways to help!

2026 Altar Flower Signups

The 2026 altar flower schedule is now available! You may sign on online or in person at the Mission campus. Cost is $45 per bouquet. Two available per Sunday. Please make payment when signing up.

LWML Coffee and Tea Sale – Dec. 14

LWML coffee and tea sale will be held between worship services at the Mission campus on Sunday, December 14. Be sure to stop by the table to select from the wide variety of flavors available for all your holiday entertaining and gift-giving needs. Mite donations will go to support Growing Together to Share Braille and Large Print. Learn more about this project from the poster behind the mite box. Thank you for your support!

Burg and Barrel Fundraiser for the Pantry

Burg & Barrel of Lenexa is proud to support the Mission Community Food Pantry with TWO special ways to give back: 1. Barrel of Good Donations: Stop by and drop off non-perishable items in our donation barrel to help stock the pantry shelves. 2. Give-Back Night: Wednesday, December 17 | Join us for dinner and drinks! We’ll donate 15% of our profits to the Mission Community Food Pantry.

Youth Advent Small Group Bible Study

Mondays, Dec. 1-22 or Thursdays, Dec. 4-18 | 6-7:15pm | Shawnee Campus
Join us this season for a special Advent Small Group as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. In the midst of the holiday rush, take time to slow down, reflect, and connect with others on a journey of anticipation and hope.

Advent Devotionals – The Way to Bethlehem

As we approach the Advent season, we invite you to join us in preparing our hearts and minds for the celebration of Christ’s birth. Starting on November 22-23, Advent devotionals will be available at each campus. We encourage you to stop by and pick up one, or even two devotionals, tailored to your specific needs.

High School Misison Trip

We have a mission trip opportunity this summer for high school youth! This summer we will be serving on the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota from July 26th to the 31st. This opportunity is centered around connecting with the local community through volunteerism and growing in faith through the use of devotionals and daily worship services. SIGNUP DEADLINE is December 11.

Advent and Christmas Theme and Worship Schedule: The Way to Bethlehem

This year’s Advent theme meets us where we are: on the move, on the way to Bethlehem through the maze of busy lives. God’s Word gives us instructions, signals, and signs that lead us on the way.

High School Progressive Dinner

December 14
Meet at the Shawnee Campus

Come join us for a joyful evening as we celebrate the season together with a Christmas Progressive Dinner! We’ll travel from home to home enjoying a delicious meal in courses—appetizers, main dishes, and desserts—each served in a different location.

Middle School Christmas Party

5:30-7:30pm, Sunday December 14
Shawnee Campus
Cost is Free!
Join us for a Christmas celebration! We will serve a festive breakfast buffet for dinner and play some fun Christmas-themed games. Make sure to bring a friend!

Kindle Small Group Journey: Cultivating Health

Starting December 2 | Mission Campus

Join us for an 8-week mid-day Bible study focused on practicing our faith, encouraging one another, and following Jesus. This is a welcoming space—anybody can come!

Children’s Christmas Worship

Manger Tales will introduce you to the animals that were present for the birth of Jesus, our Savior. We will hear the first-hand accounts from the residents of the stable to visitors from afar. Come to hear and see the Christmas story come to life through the eyes of the animals as they share the tale of the joyous birth of Jesus.

Handel’s Messiah

December 23, 2025
Featuring Period Instruments
C. Stephen Metzler Hall at The Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO

Experience Handel’s beloved masterpiece as the composer intended in this special period performance featuring world-class musicians playing historical instruments.

German Christmas Market

Come and visit the sixth annual Saint Paul Christkindlesmarkt in Concordia, Missouri. Come the weekend of December 12-13th. The market will be open from 4pm to 8pm on Friday, Dec. 12th and from 11am to 7pm on Saturday, December 13th.