Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,
Like you, I'm saddened and disappointed that we had to suspend in-person worship through December 6, following a COVID-19-related event. But I am grateful that we are able to continue livestreaming worship services for you during the coming two weeks.
Our Thanksgiving Eve service will be livestreamed on Wednesday, November 25 at 7 pm at our YouTube channel; it will be posted on our website and our Facebook page soon afterwards. Rev. Todd Brunworth, who helped us out this past summer, will lead this service and proclaim God's Word to us on Wednesday night, focusing on the theme "Taken for Granted?"
Pastor Brunworth will also lead our Sunday livestream on YouTube, on November 29 at 11 am. The readings and message for the First Sunday of Advent will focus on "The Watchman's Prayer" as we implore our Lord Jesus to come - as He came before, as He comes to our hearts in Word and Sacrament, and as He will come at the end of time!
I've already uploaded my Adult Bible Study for this coming Sunday to this website’s Bible Studies page; it begins a four-week series on The Jesse Tree: Jesus' Family Tree. The study is below; you can download a study guide by clicking here. (This study series, unpacking how the Bible proclaims our Savior from Genesis to Revelation, also looks forward to our midweek Advent services; these will start with a livestream on Wednesday, December 2 at 7 pm led by Rev. Roger Mackie.)
Finally, Messiah's call committee met remotely last night and decided:
To ask the Michigan District-LCMS for a new call list;
To re-submit the names of candidates that were submitted by members, but were not included on the previous list;
To pass along new names of candidates that members submit by next Monday, November 30. Members can submit names by returning a Candidate Information Form to me (by US mail, or by sending a scanned attachment by email) by that date. You can download a form by clicking here.
The Call Committee is also exploring the possibility of calling a seminary graduate, which can be pursued alongside calling pastors already in the field. We will update the congregation on this option at the earliest opportunity; stay tuned!
This is not the Thanksgiving and Advent that I expected or would hope for; quite probably, it's the same for you. As we move forward, I pray that all of us may take heart from God's Word, receiving courage and joy from these words in the Letter to the Hebrews:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)
Blessings and peace to you in Christ,
Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
