Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,
A (fairly) short, sweet update this time around; we hope that this list of opportunities for worship, devotion, fellowship and service will be helpful as we all prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ!
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Our final Advent midweek services will be this Wednesday, December 21st at 11:00 am (Matins) and 7:00 pm (Evening Prayer).
Christmas services are scheduled as follows:
Christmas Eve Divine Service, this Saturday, December 24th at 3:00 pm.
Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service, this Saturday, December 24th at 7:00 pm.
Christmas Day Divine Service, Sunday, December 25th at 10:00 am. There will be no Sunday School or Bible Class.
New Year's Day Divine Service, Sunday, January 1st at 10:00 am. There will be no Sunday School or Bible Class.
Our second annual joint Epiphany Divine Service at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Rockford, Friday, January 6th, 2023 at 7:00 pm. Supper beforehand at 6:00 pm!
Please note that the December 21st evening service, the 7:00 pm Christmas Eve service and the Christmas & New Year's Day services are scheduled to be livestreamed at:
Our website www.messiahgr.org
Our Facebook page www.facebook.com/messiahgr.
Please note that bulletins formatted for use with our livestream are available for downloading and/or printing at home before each service. These are posted at www.messiahgr.org/worship-resources
SUNDAY WORSHIP AND CLASS SCHEDULE:
Our regular schedule of worship, Sunday School and Bible Class will resume on Sunday, January 8th, with the Divine Service at 8:30 and 11:00 am, and Sunday School and Bible Class at 9:45 am. 11:00 am services are scheduled to be livestreamed as above.
Bible Class is also livestreamed at www.messiahgr.org/adult-bible-class.
WHAT'S UP, WHAT'S COMING
(Details in our weekly announcements and in the upcoming January newsletter)
The church office will be closed on Monday, December 26th and Monday, January 2nd.
Senior Choir will resume rehearsals on Wednesday, January 4th at 7:00 pm. We will meet at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Rockford to practice our joint anthems for the Epiphany Divine Service!
New Member Welcome Sunday is January 8th! New members since 2021 will be welcomed publicly in each service, with a Welcome Potluck in the Fellowship Hall following the 11:00 am service.
Our biweekly Bowling League resumes on Sunday, January 8th at 3:00 pm at Northfield Lanes. Contact Joanne Gillette for more details.
LifeLight: 1st & 2nd Peter begins Tuesday, January 10th at 10:30 am.
CARES (Caring, Active, Reaching, Encouraging Sisters in Christ) will resume on Wednesday, January 11th at 9:30 am, continuing the book Chosen: A Study of Esther by Donna Snow.
The annual Parish Leadership Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, January 14th. Continental Breakfast starts at 8:30 am, followed by the Workshop at 9:00 am.
LOOKING AHEAD
In the festive days to come, we pray that Almighty God, by whose providence our Savior came among us in great humility, may sanctify you with the light of His blessing and set you free from all sin. We pray that Jesus Christ, whose second Coming in power and great glory we await, make you steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. We pray that you, who rejoice in the first Advent of our Redeemer, at His second Advent may be rewarded with eternal life. And we pray that the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you this Christmas and forever. Amen!
Yours in Christ,
Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
