Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Tonight at 7:00 pm, we gather at Messiah for our joint Thanksgiving Eve service with our neighbors in faith from St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Rockford. Then, this coming Sunday, Advent begins. Lots to cover this time around!
WEEKLY WORSHIP AND CLASS SCHEDULE
The Divine Service continues weekly at 10:00 am on Sundays. Sunday School & Bible Class are held beforehand at 9:00 am, beginning with a joint opening in the Fellowship Hall.
Livestreams of our services can be found at
Our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/messiahgr
The most recent livestreamed service is viewable on our website's front page, www.messiahgr.org
CARES (Caring, Active, Reaching, Encouraging Sisters in Christ) continue their weekly sessions on Wednesdays at 9:45 am. Click here for a sample of this year's CARES book Unfailing: God's Assurance for Times of Change by Rev. Christopher Kennedy.
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE
MIdweek Advent Services begin on Wednesday, December 4th.
Services of Prayer & Preaching will be offered at 11:00 am on December 4th, 11th and 18th, as well as at 7:00 pm on December 4th.
Wednesday evening Advent services will also include:
Our Preschool Christmas Service on December 11th at 6:30 pm.
Christmas Reflections (Lessons and Carols) on December 18th at 7:00 pm.
Special services for the Christmas season will include:
Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service, Tuesday, December 24th at 7:00 pm.
Christmas Day Divine Service, Wednesday, December 25th at 10:00 am.
New Year's Day Divine Service, Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 at 10:00 am
Epiphany Divine Service, Monday, January 6th, 2025 at 7:00 pm. This will be a joint service held at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Rockford.
DECEMBER NEWSLETTER + WHAT'S NEW AND NEXT
Our December newsletter is now online! Click here to view or download it in its entirety. We also post the newsletter (including monthly calendars) and our weekly announcements online at www.messiahgr.org/news; calendars are also online separately at www.messiahgr.org/calendar. Be sure to check the newsletter and our weekly announcements for information on the events listed below:
Christmas Bazaar Saturday, December 7th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, sponsored by our Parish Services Guild. If you'd like to help with prep work, volunteer staffing, clean-up, donating items for the Bazaar's Country Store, baking cookies or frosting cookies, talk to a Guild member. Proceeds support congregational projects and LCMS missions!
Christmas Caroling Saturday, December 14th from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. We'll carol to homebound members and senior living residents; a pizza party at church will follow. Contact Rick Krueger for more information.
Our 2025 Spiritual Growth Seminar is set for Saturday, February 8th. Rev. Jeffrey Leininger, former campus pastor at Concordia University-Chicago, will be our featured presenter, focusing on the theme Callings for Life: God's Plan, Your Purpose. More details in the December newsletter; registration will begin early next year.
REACH OUT WITH GOD'S LOVE
Along with the events listed above, there are plenty of opportunites for you to help and reach out to others in the next few weeks:
Preschool Fundraiser is happening now through Tuesday, December 3rd. Grand Rapids Coupon Books are available, with samples and details at the Welcome Center. Contact our Preschool director Vonda Smestad for more information.
Holiday Basket Collection is happening through Sunday, December 15th. Gift card or monetary donations are welcome for church and community families in need. Donation envelopes are available at the Welcome Center; contact Joe & Becky Buss for more information.
NEW! Adopt-A-Family Collection starts this coming Sunday! The Board of Outreach is working with Northview Schools to provide Christmas gifts for a local family in need. Choose a gift tag from the “Adopt A Family” Christmas tree in the church foyer, then return your gift (boxed & wrapped, with the gift tag attached) under the tree by Sunday, December 15th.
NEW! The Hat and Mitten Tree will be up this coming Sunday, sponsored by the Social Ministry Committee. Donations of hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves are welcome! All items will be given to children in our community that need it. Please make sure your items are on the tree by Sunday, December 29th.
NEW! Christmas Card Exchange Board, sponsored by the Social Ministry Commitee. Sign a Christmas card, enclose a donation, designate "Messiah Christmas Card" and place it in Shirley Kremm's mailbox. Cards will go on the decorated board in the church foyer; donations will be used to help those in need.
NEW! Invitations for Christmas Reflections and Christmas Eve services will be available at the Welcome Center, beginning this coming Sunday. Use them to invite friends, relatives, neighbors and colleagues to rejoice with us that the Lord Jesus is at hand! Invitations for each service come in greeting card and business card formats.
Yours in Him,
Pastor Eric Black & Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
P.S. Please enjoy a preview of December's Hymn of the Month, "Savior of the Nations, Come" below. Complete with an introductory quote from Martin Luther, who translated the text from Latin to German, then tightened up the tune for congregations to sing!
