Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,
It's been less than a week since our last update - but a lot of what we covered then bears repeating!
PASTORAL CALL MEETING REMINDER - OCTOBER 29
A reminder that a Special Voters meeting will be held on Sunday, October 29th, following Messiah's 10:00 am service. At this meeting, the voters will consider recommendations from our Call Committee and work together with them in calling a pastor to be our next shepherd at Messiah. Please contact Dave Ahrens or Ken Martin if you have questions - and continue praying that God will work through us to provide the pastor He has in mind for us, according to His will and timing.
WORSHIP AND CLASS SCHEDULE
We continue with one Divine Service held at 10:00 am on Sundays, with Bible Class beforehand at 9:00 am. (There's an update on Christian education for our children in the November newsletter, linked below.) Services are scheduled to be livestreamed at
Our website www.messiahgr.org
Our Facebook page www.facebook.com/messiahgr.
Bulletins formatted for use with our livestream are available for downloading and/or printing at home. These are posted at least two days before each service at www.messiahgr.org/worship-resources
Readings and hymns for each service are also listed in the informational note found on the same web pages as our livestreams.
Bible Class is also livestreamed at www.messiahgr.org/adult-bible-class.
Thanks to Pastor James Blain and Pastor Daniel Gruenwald for leading our Sunday Divine Services and Bible Classes in October and November. Our weekday classes continue, too:
LifeLight: Galatians/Philippians/Colossians on Tuesdays at 10:30 am. Learn more about the course by clicking here.
CARES (Caring, Active, Reaching, Encouraging Sisters in Christ) on Wednesdays at 9:45 am, reading and discussing the book God’s Provision in a Wilderness World by Lindsey Hausch. Click here for a book sample.
Our vacancy pastor, Rev. Jason Peterson of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Rockford, is in Messiah's office on Tuesdays from 8:15 to 11:00 am. You can also contact Pastor Peterson by phone at 734-645-4353 or by email at revjpeterson@yahoo.com.
NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER (PLUS WHAT'S NEXT)
Our November newsletter is now online! Click here to preview or download it in its entirety. Paper copies of the newsletter are available for members and guests at the Welcome Center. We also post the newsletter (including monthly calendars) online at www.messiahgr.org/news; calendars are also online separately at www.messiahgr.org/calendar
Check the newsletter and our weekly announcements for details on these upcoming events:
Trunk or Treat, sponsored by the Board of Outreach, TONIGHT from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, This event will be held indoors due to the weather forecast.
Prayer Pals Gathering for all confirmed women this Sunday, October 29th at 6:00 pm. Contact Debbie Krueger for more information.
Altar Guild meets Saturday, November 4th at 9:30 am to plan for the upcoming festival seasons of the Church Year. Contact Carol Mushong with questions.
All Saints Day Sunday, November 5th! If you'd like us to include your late Christian friends and relatives in the commemoration of the faithful departed, fill out and return the slips available at Messiah's Welcome Center by this Sunday, October 29th.
Annual Voters Meeting & Potluck, Sunday, November 19th after the Divine Service.
Joint Thanksgiving Eve Divine Service with St. Peter's Lutheran Church of Rockford, Wednesday, November 22nd at 7:00 pm at Messiah.
Christmas Bazaar & Cookie Walk, sponsored by the Parish Services Guild, Saturday, December 2nd from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Advent Prayer Breakfast Saturday, December 9th at 9:30 am.
LOOKING AHEAD TO REFORMATION SUNDAY
As Paul writes to the Romans in this coming Sunday's Epistle, the Law leaves us speechless, for it condemns us & holds us accountable to God. By the Law, every sin is unmasked, every sinner declared guilty.But in Christ, by His blood, we receive faith, which justifies us apart from the works of the Law. Thanks be to God that Christ gives us this Gospel! By it, sin is forgiven & sinners declared innocent. This is our freedom in Christ (as He tells us in Sunday's Gospel) proclaimed throughout every nation, tribe, language & people. I pray that we rejoice together in these blessings this coming Sunday and always!
Yours in Him,
Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
