Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,
Fall has only begun, but October - and even November - are coming on strong at Messiah, with opportunities aplenty for worship, education, fellowship and service!
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 Sunday 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
Fall LifeLight Sessions are focusing on The Epistles of John, held on Tuesdays at 10:30 am beginning September 17th and Wednesdays at 6:00 pm beginning September 18th. Click here for a sample of the study guide.
CARES (Caring, Active, Reaching, Encouraging Sisters in Christ) begin their fall sessions Wednesday, October 16th at 9:45 am (note the date change). Click here for a sample of this year's CARES book Unfailing: God's Assurance for Times of Change by Rev. Christopher Kennedy.
OCTOBER NEWSLETTER - PLUS WHAT'S NEW & NEXT
Our October 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 information on the events listed below.
Lutheran Women in Mission Sunday, October 6th. A door offering for mites and national mission grants will be received.
Harvest Dinner & Bake Sale Sunday, October 13th after the Divine Service, sponsored by the Parish Services Guild. Contact Guild members for tickets.
NEW! Bowling League begins Sunday, October 13th at 3:00pm at Northfield Lanes, bowling every other Sunday through April. Contact Joanne Gillette for details.
Lutherans for Life executive director Rev. Michael Salemink speaks on Saturday, October 19th at Hope Lutheran Church in Dewitt. This event runs from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Click here to preregister (required); registration cost ($25/adult, $15/student) payable at the door.
Fall Clean-Up Saturday, October 19th from 8:00 am to 12 noon, sponsored by the Board of Trustees. Contact Carol Mushong for details.
LWML Fall Rally Saturday, October 19th starting at 9:30 am at Bethel Lutheran Church in Howard City. To RSVP, sign up at the Welcome Center or click here by Friday, October 11th.
Urdu Worship Service Saturday, October 19th at 5:00 pm. Led by Pastor Afzal 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!
Trunk or Treat Thursday, October 24th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, sponsored by the Board of Outreach. Volunteer sign-ups and donation bins are now out at Messiah's Welcome Center.
NEW! New Member Sunday October 27th. We'll officially welcome our new brothers & sisters in Christ during the Divine Service. A potluck will follow the service, sponsored by the Board of Outreach; please plan to bring a main dish, salad or dessert.
NEW! Secret Prayer Pals Sunday, October 27th at 6:00 pm. Contact Deb Krueger for details.
And, NEW! on the calendar for early November:
Altar Guild, Saturday, November 2nd at 9:30 am.
Commemoration of the Faithful Departed Sunday, November 3rd
Messiah's 60th Anniversary Celebration,Sunday, November 10th
Yours in Christ,
Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
FROM PASTOR ERIC (IN THE OCTOBER NEWSLETTER)
Sometimes the church has a tendency to proclaim that life in the church is care free, happier, more comfortable, just plain better all around, and sometimes we even expect this, demand it. We are the faithful, therefore our lives should be like - fill in the blank here! ...
From the moment we were given faith, a contest of wills began, mine vs. God’s. And we have many allies close at hand, sin, death, and Satan, all supportive of our will’s independence from God. To win, to achieve true victory in this contest, we have but one recourse, to surrender. And then we are reminded we are not here to be better at all, at least as we compete in our own minds, we are here simply to be loved by God. And through God’s love, we get to love others, not because they are better, but simply because they too are here to be loved. ...
The world would have us think the good life is one way, a way of comfort, and popularity, of power, and even a certain kind of peace, but [all God's saints are] pulled into the true life. A life of surrender to God’s will, of conforming our lives to Christ, a life of struggle against our own wills, but a life, and a victory, that surpasses anything and everything this world can offer.
Saint Augustine asks, ‘Who am I and what am I?’ We know the answer. We are sons and daughters of God, children of the promise, heirs of the eternal kingdom, we are loved by God, amen.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Eric
