Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,
Due to the events of this past week, this update comes a bit later than usual. Thanks so much for your support of last week's Vacation Bible School; you can view a gallery of selected photos here.
Thanks as well for your prayers and Christian care for the families of Jack Keller and Mary Ann Snell in the aftermath of their passing. Click here for details about funeral arrangements for Jack; please note that Jack's funeral service will be livestreamed, and that a dessert reception in Messiah's fellowship hall will follow the service. Click here for details about funeral arrangements for Mary Ann.
With the Fourth of July weekend already upon us, we hope that the reminders below of upcoming opportunities for worship, education, fellowship and service at Messiah will be helpful for you.
WEEKLY WORSHIP AND CLASS SCHEDULE
We continue with one Divine Service held at 10:00 am on Sundays. Bible Class is held beforehand at 9:00 am. Sunday Services are scheduled to be livestreamed at
Our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/messiahgr
The most recent service is viewable on our website's front page, www.messiahgr.org
We will also hold Divine Service on Monday nights at 7:00 pm through August 26th.
JULY NEWSLETTER - PLUS WHAT'S NEW & NEXT
Our July 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 and other events:
NEW! Lutherans in Fellowship Together (LIFT) meet this Sunday, July 7th after the Divine Service. Join us as we brainstorm for upcoming fellowship and service events!
Life Team Service Project next Wednesday, July 10th, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Join us as we volunteer at the Pregnancy Resource Center of Grand Rapids' Support Center (on 28th Street in Wyoming)! Sign up at the Welcome Center or in Bible Class; contact Arlene Mansfield for details.
Our monthly Lutheran Confessions Study will be held next Thursday, July 11th at 10:00 am and Thursday, August 1st at 10:00 am. Contact Pastor Hoese for more information.
Urdu Worship Service Saturday, July 20th at 5:00 pm. Led by Pastor Masih, this service will be held in the fellowship hall, with a Pakistani meal following. Urdu services are held on the third Saturday of each month; Messiah members and friends are welcome to attend.
Community Picnic Sunday, August 25th following the Divine Service, sponsored by the Board of Outreach. Watch for more details and volunteer sign-ups beginning Sunday, July 14th!
And look for our next email update toward the end of July . . .
Yours in Christ,
Rick Krueger
FROM PASTOR ERIC (FROM THE JULY NEWSLETTER):
God does not work in vain. Christ did not die and rise in vain. The Holy Spirit does not work faith in us in vain. The Father did not create us in vain. God does not love us in vain. He does not change, His will is done, His plan does not fail, His institution, the one, true, eternal church, the body of all believers, does not fail or crumble.
Every change we see and experience all leads in one direction, each day brings us closer to Christ’s return and a new heaven and a new earth, and eternity with God and all our brothers and sisters in the faith. That kingdom, that place, that people, are all built upon our rock, Christ. So yes, we live in uncertain times, but like a book that has already been written, we know how this story ends. All ends with the end of uncertainty, the end of vanity, the end of sin and death, and in the place of all that, we receive life everlasting with our Rock, our Redeemer, our Savior, amen.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Eric
