Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In this update:
Worship and Online Bible Study for Sunday, January 17
The Days to Come
Worship and Online Bible Study for Sunday, January 17
Our worship services for Sunday, January 17, the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord, will be led by Pastor James Blain. There will be two identical communion services at 8:30 and 11 am. (The 11 am service will also be livestreamed at www.tinyurl.com/messiahgryoutube.) Please RSVP for your choice of service by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, goodlans@messiahgr), or by clicking here to sign up.
A reminder that the following precautions are currently in place for in-person worship:
Please exercise personal discernment when it comes to your health. If you are feeling sick, waiting for COVID-19 test results, in recommended quarantine or isolation from COVID-19 exposure, in a high-risk category, or not comfortable or ready to attend in person, please stay home.
You will be welcomed in person as you enter. All inner doors will be kept open.
To minimize potential spread of COVID-19 in this public setting, wearing of face coverings (fabric masks) are required at all services, from when you enter the building to when you leave. If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one.
To assure social distancing during worship, advance RSVPs are required for all services. Sign-up options are available as above; 26 spots for families or individuals will be available in the nave of the sanctuary for each service.
Worshipers will sit on the opposite ends of alternate pews. Designated seating will be clearly marked for “8:30 (1st service)” or “11:00 (2nd service)”; other pew entrances will be roped off to assure social distancing.
Following announcements, dismissal by families will begin from the back of the church. Please maintain social distancing and, weather permitting, wait until you are outdoors to greet others.
If you want to receive Holy Communion, but do not feel comfortable attending these services, please call (734-645-4353) or email (revjpeterson@yahoo.com) our vacancy pastor, Rev. Jason Peterson, to make arrangements to receive the Lord's Supper by individual weekday appointment, either at the church, at home, or another location that meets your needs.
General guidelines for sanitation and other current practices (complete service bulletins, simplified giving of offerings, Holy Communion protocols, nursery and kitchen closures, restroom availability, post-service sanitizing) remain in effect. Click here to see the most recent version of our current worship guidelines.
Our online devotional Bible studies continue. The study for January 17th, based on Psalm 139 is already up on YouTube; click here to view it. I'll hope you'll join me to explore David's meditations on God’s infinite wisdom, presence, power and goodness -- and see how they can strengthen us for our lives. Click here to read the Psalm; click here for a study guide.
The Days to Come
As I write this, we anticipate an update from the state of Michigan regarding their current emergency epidemic order. While we hope to resume in-person classes and meetings soon, we await further developments before we can say anything definite. I promise to update you when we know more through this channel, along with our website and Facebook page.
We also await further developments from Washington DC in the wake of last week's events and ahead of the upcoming inauguration; I personally cannot remember a more tense time in the life of our nation. However, preparing this week's study on Psalm 139 has brought me immense comfort, knowing that our heavenly Father does not abandon His Church and His creation. His almighty wisdom, presence and power shapes and protects our lives on this earth; His love in Jesus Christ keeps His redeemed safe throughout all storms; His Holy Spirit empowers our life of faith, through Word and Sacrament, in loving, sacrificial service to our neighbors. As David writes,
[7] Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
[8] If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
[9] If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
[10] even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
[11] If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
[12] even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you. (Psalm 139:7-12)
May our loving Lord's gracious presence enable you to meditate on His Word, pray for all our leaders, care for each other, and cling to Jesus Christ in the days to come!
Yours in Him,
Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
