Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,
April was a fast moving, busy month! We hope that these reminders of upcoming opportunities for worship, education, fellowship and service will be helpful as we begin the month of May and continue the season of Easter.
WORSHIP AND CLASS SCHEDULE:
Our Sunday schedule of worship and classes continues on May 7, 14 & 21, 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 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 pages as our livestreams.
Bible Class is also livestreamed at www.messiahgr.org/adult-bible-class.
From Sunday, May 28th (Memorial Day weekend – also the day of Pentecost) through Sunday, September 3rd (Labor Day weekend), there will be one worship service held at 10:00 am, with Bible Class beforehand at9:00 am. The Sunday morning service will be livestreamed as usual; Sunday School will be in recess for the summer beginning on May 28th. Monday night services will also be held from Monday, June 5th through Monday, August 28th at 7:00 pm.
During the week:
CARES (Caring, Active, Reaching, Encouraging Sisters in Christ) continues on Wednesday mornings, led by Pastor Twietmeyer. CARES begins at 9:30 am.
WHAT'S UP, WHAT'S COMING:
(Details in our weekly announcements)
Congratulations to our young people who have successfully completed First Communion and Catechism classes! We look forward to welcoming our children to the Lord’s altar and our youth into confirmed membership as part of the Divine Services next Sunday, May 7th at 8:30 am (First Communion) and 11:00 am (Confirmation). A reception sponsored by our Parish Services Guild will take place after the 11:00 am service in the fellowship hall. (Click here to find out more about the rites of First Communion & Confirmation.)
The deadline for updating information for our new phone directory is Monday, May 8th; if you have not received update forms in your church mailbox, please contact the office.
Parish Service Guild meeting and Spring Potluck Thursday, May 11th at 12 noon.
On Thursday, May 18th, we will gather with our brothers and sisters in Christ at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Rockford (310 E Division St NE) to celebrate The Ascension of Our Lord. A meal will be served at 6:00 pm, followed by the Divine Service at 7:00 pm; Pastor Jason Peterson will preside over the service, and Pastor Twietmeyer will preach the sermon. We invite you to rejoice in the proclamation of God’s Word, in the sound of our combined choirs and in the gift of our Lord’s body and blood as we worship Him together!
On Monday-Friday, June 19th - 23rd from 9:00 to 11:45 am, Messiah will hold our annual Vacation Bible School. This year’s theme is God’s Living Water: Covered in Jesus’ Grace! Kids age 4 as of August 1st through grade 6 are invited to join us for lessons, music, crafts, snacks, activities and more! Can you help with VBS this year? Sign up at the Welcome Center, contact Steve Ledbetter (our 2023 VBS Director) or go online to volunteer at vbsmate.com/messiahgr2023 (click on the blue “Become a volunteer” button). You can also register children or grandchildren online by clicking on the blue “Register your child” button. A VBS Staff Training Day for all group and activity leaders and helpers is set for Saturday, May 13th, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.
MAY NEWSLETTER
Our May 2023 newsletter is now available online, with more on the above items and much more! Click here to preview or download it in its entirety. A reminder that:
Paper copies of the newsletter are available for members and guests at the Welcome Center. We also continue to mail the newsletter to homebound members. If you want to continue receiving the newsletter, please contact the church office to make arrangements.
We also post the newsletter (including monthly calendars) online at www.messiahgr.org/news; calendars are also online separately at www.messiahgr.org/calendar.
LOOKING AHEAD (from Pastor Twietmeyer's newsletter article):
"It is good to remember that we must distinguish between the Law of God and the Gospel of God, while at the same time we must not boil either of these words down into mere caricatures. When we learn the Law of God in its particulars, we are curbed from sin, led to repentance, and trained in Holy living. When we learn the Gospel of God in its particulars we see clear evidence of God’s work in our lives to bring us grace and mercy. In other words, God has so much more to say to you than 'you’re a sinner, but I love you anyway.' Thank God for this! There is a depth and complexity to the relationship between man and God. And so, we can rejoice that we will continue to grow in grace and truth for as many days as the Lord gives us."
Yours in Christ,
Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
