Important Building Use Update: January 14, 2021

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Following Wednesday's extension of Michigan’s emergency epidemic order, Messiah's leadership has been discussing our response.  I recognize (and share) the disappointment and frustration some of you have expressed, especially regarding the limitations on the use of our building during the past two months, and I appreciate that you've shared these concerns with our lay leaders.

Building use will be discussed at the next Church Council meeting, which will be held remotely on Monday, January 18 at 7 pm.  If you'd like to contribute to the discussion, please contact Dave Ahrens (Messiah's new president) or Kurt Veitengruber (the congregational secretary) before Monday night.  Following the meeting, we will work to inform you of the results in multiple ways, as soon as possible.

Messiah's staff and leadership remain committed to our mission of knowing Christ and making Him known, strengthening our faith through worship, education, and our other ministries.  We remain committed to taking precautions that provide for the health and safety of members, preschool families, guests and staff during the ongoing pandemic.  And we remain committed to respecting those placed in authority and maintaining a proper public witness in the decisions we make.  Striking the right balance of these commitments has proved to be an ongoing, challenging task!   We thank you for your ongoing support through all the ups and downs that COVID-19 has brought to our congregation, community and society, and we ask for your continued prayers and support in the current situation.  Please join us in this prayer:

Almighty God, heavenly Father, give us grace to trust You during this time of illness and distress. In mercy put an end to the pandemic that afflicts us. Grant relief to those who suffer, and comfort all that mourn. Sustain all medical personnel in their labors, and cause Your people ever to serve You in righteousness and holiness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Yours in Him,

 

Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

Worship & Online Bible Study For Sunday, January 17!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In this update:

  • Worship and Online Bible Study for Sunday, January 17

  • The Days to Come


Worship and Online Bible Study for Sunday, January 17
Our worship services for Sunday, January 17, the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord, will be led by Pastor James Blain.  There will be two identical communion services at 8:30 and 11 am. (The 11 am service will also be livestreamed at www.tinyurl.com/messiahgryoutube.)  Please RSVP for your choice of service by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, goodlans@messiahgr), or by clicking here to sign up.  

A reminder that the following precautions are currently in place for in-person worship:

  • Please exercise personal discernment when it comes to your health.  If you are feeling sick, waiting for COVID-19 test results, in recommended quarantine or isolation from COVID-19 exposure, in a high-risk category, or not comfortable or ready to attend in person, please stay home.  

  • You will be welcomed in person as you enter.  All inner doors will be kept open.

  • To minimize potential spread of COVID-19 in this public setting, wearing of face coverings (fabric masks) are required at all services, from when you enter the building to when you leave.  If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one.

  • To assure social distancing during worship, advance RSVPs are required for all services.  Sign-up options are available as above; 26 spots for families or individuals will be available in the nave of the sanctuary for each service.

  • Worshipers will sit on the opposite ends of alternate pews.  Designated seating will be clearly marked for “8:30 (1st service)” or “11:00 (2nd service)”; other pew entrances will be roped off to assure social distancing.

  • Following announcements, dismissal by families will begin from the back of the church.  Please maintain social distancing and, weather permitting, wait until you are outdoors to greet others.

If you want to receive Holy Communion, but do not feel comfortable attending these services, please call (734-645-4353) or email (revjpeterson@yahoo.com) our vacancy pastor, Rev. Jason Peterson, to make arrangements to receive the Lord's Supper by individual weekday appointment, either at the church, at home, or another location that meets your needs. 

General guidelines for sanitation and other current practices (complete service bulletins, simplified giving of offerings, Holy Communion protocols, nursery and kitchen closures, restroom availability, post-service sanitizing) remain in effect.  Click here to see the most recent version of our current worship guidelines.

Our online devotional Bible studies continue. The study for January 17th, based on Psalm 139 is already up on YouTube; click here to view it. I'll hope you'll join me to explore David's meditations on God’s infinite wisdom, presence, power and goodness -- and see how they can strengthen us for our lives. Click here to read the Psalm; click here for a study guide.


The Days to Come
As I write this, we anticipate an update from the state of Michigan regarding their current emergency epidemic order.  While we hope to resume in-person classes and meetings soon, we await further developments before we can say anything definite.  I promise to update you when we know more through this channel, along with our website and Facebook page.

We also await further developments from Washington DC in the wake of last week's events and ahead of the upcoming inauguration; I personally cannot remember a more tense time in the life of our nation.  However, preparing this week's study on Psalm 139 has brought me immense comfort, knowing that our heavenly Father does not abandon His Church and His creation.  His almighty wisdom, presence and power shapes and protects our lives on this earth; His love in Jesus Christ keeps His redeemed safe throughout all storms; His Holy Spirit empowers our life of faith, through Word and Sacrament, in loving, sacrificial service to our neighbors.  As David writes,

    [7] Where shall I go from your Spirit?
        Or where shall I flee from your presence?
    [8] If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
        If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
    [9] If I take the wings of the morning
        and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
    [10] even there your hand shall lead me,
        and your right hand shall hold me.
    [11] If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
        and the light about me be night,”
    [12] even the darkness is not dark to you;
        the night is bright as the day,
        for darkness is as light with you. (Psalm 139:7-12)

May our loving Lord's gracious presence enable you to meditate on His Word, pray for all our leaders, care for each other, and cling to Jesus Christ in the days to come!  

Yours in Him,

 

Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

Worship This Sunday, January 10 And More.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

If you have not already done so, I ask you to read my earlier message, "A Very Present Help in Trouble."

In this update:

  • Worship and Online Bible Study for Sunday, January 10

  • Building Use Reminder

  • January Newsletter Update

  • A Prayer for Our Nation


Worship and Online Bible Study for Sunday, January 10
Our worship services for Sunday, January 10, the feast of The Baptism of Our Lord, will be led by Pastor James Blain.  There will be two identical communion services at 8:30 and 11 am. (The 11 am service will also be livestreamed at www.tinyurl.com/messiahgryoutube.)  Please RSVP for your choice of service by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, goodlans@messiahgr), or by clicking here to sign up.  

A reminder that the following precautions are currently in place for in-person worship:

  • Please exercise personal discernment when it comes to your health.  If you are feeling sick, waiting for COVID-19 test results, in recommended quarantine or isolation from COVID-19 exposure, in a high-risk category, or not comfortable or ready to attend in person, please stay home.  

  • You will be welcomed in person at the sanctuary door as you enter.  All inner doors will be kept open.

  • To minimize potential spread of COVID-19 in this public setting, wearing of face coverings (fabric masks) are required at all services, from when you enter the building to when you leave.  If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one.

  • To assure social distancing during worship, advance RSVPs are required for all services.  Sign-up options are available as above; 26 spots for families or individuals will be available in the nave of the sanctuary for each service.

  • Worshipers will sit on the opposite ends of alternate pews.  Designated seating will be clearly marked for “8:30 (1st service)” or “11:00 (2nd service)”; other pew entrances will be roped off to assure social distancing.

  • After the first service, worshipers will leave through the side door of the narthex, using the classroom hallway and exiting the building through the exterior doors in the fellowship hall foyer.

  • Following announcements, dismissal by families will begin from the back of the church.  Please maintain social distancing and, weather permitting, wait until you are outdoors to greet others.

If you want to receive Holy Communion, but do not feel comfortable attending these services, please call (734-645-4353) or email (revjpeterson@yahoo.com) our vacancy pastor, Rev. Jason Peterson, to make arrangements to receive the Lord's Supper by individual weekday appointment, either at the church, at home, or another location that meets your needs. 

General guidelines for sanitation and other current practices (complete service bulletins, simplified giving of offerings, Holy Communion protocols, nursery and kitchen closures, restroom availability, post-service sanitizing) will remain in effect.  Click here to see the full version of our current worship guidelines.

I've resumed our weekly online Bible study on the appointed Psalm of the day.  During this season of Epiphany, I'll continue to explore each Psalm's message for us, as well as how it ties in with the other readings for that Sunday.  The January 10th study based on Psalm 29 is already up on YouTube. Click here to watch it;  Click here for a study guide.
 

Building Use Reminder
Due to the extension of Michigan’s emergency epidemic order, Messiah’s building will continue to be closed through Friday, January 15 for all activities except worship services, preschool and essential functions that must be done onsite:

  • The restart of Sunday School and LifeLight classes has been postponed until the week of Sunday, January 17.

  • Preschool classes resumed this week, following their Christmas break.

  • Board and committee meetings will be held remotely.

  • Staff and volunteers are only onsite for basic operations (worship preparations and services, preschool sessions and preparations, financial work and recordkeeping, drop-offs for volunteer efforts, trustee projects, etc.) To contact staff members, please continue to call the church office; the phone will be answered remotely.

We will do our best to update you promptly as changes occur.

January Newsletter Update
Messiah's January newsletter is on its way via the US mail and available online.  Click here to read the newsletter; click here to view January's event calendar; click here to view January's volunteer calendar.


A Prayer for Our Nation
Gracious God and Father, though Your Son, Jesus Christ, came to bring us Your heavenly peace, violence and conflict still rage among Your children on earth. Bring a restoration of calm and security to our nation, and heal the wounds that have been inflicted. Restore and reserve peace, so that what has been laid waste and made desolate can again be planted and built up. Open Your fatherly heart and bountiful hand to help all in need. Grant that we all may live together in unity and peace, and let all hatred and ill will be remembered no more. Give us that peace which the world cannot give, and grant us grace that, delivered from all conflict and strife, we may live in harmony and safety, and finally, having gained the eternal rest of the saints in glory, may praise and bless, worship and glorify You forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Yours in Him,

 

Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

A Very Present Help in Trouble

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    God is our refuge and strength,
        a very present help in trouble.
    Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
        though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
     though its waters roar and foam,
        though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 
    
    “Be still, and know that I am God.
        I will be exalted among the nations,
        I will be exalted in the earth!”
    The LORD of hosts is with us;
        the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11 ESV)

This psalm (part of this morning's devotion) has comforted me, as I find myself shaken and disturbed by yesterday's events in our nation's capital city.  In a troubled time such as this, how should we understand these things?  And what are we, as God's people in Jesus Christ, called to do?

My friend Pastor Donald Neuendorf (of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor) has reminded his congregation that under King David, God's Old Testament people, enjoyed military victory, material prosperity and respect among the nations. But there was corruption beneath the surface. The people were drawn to false gods, and even the king was caught up in scandal. Because of the sins of Israel, God afflicted the country with an epidemic in which 70,000 died. David's son Absalom led a conspiracy to overthrow his father so serious that the capital had to be evacuated and the king was forced to flee for his life. (See 2 Samuel chapters 24 and 15 for the full story.)

Pastor Neuendorf wrote yesterday, "Our nation is not greater than Israel, and our leaders of all political parties are no less prone to sin or failure than theirs. Yet God worked in the midst of all this to achieve His plan. And His faithful were kept in His hand, and preserved in faith to eternal life." 

"We cannot know where our nation will go in the months and years ahead. We have enemies abroad, enemies at home, cultural decay and growing rejection of God, and we face forces of disease and death. These things are too large for any of us to solve on our own. But they are not too large for our King, our Heavenly Father." 

"We know our calling as citizens of Heaven. We are called to obey God rather than men, to bring good news not evil, to bless and not to curse. Whatever political differences we may have with your neighbors, we are called to uphold a greater law, to share a better news, and to bring a more perfect peace. We are God's people in this place. We are servants of a greater King."

I ask you to join me in prayer today and in the days to come.  Let us repent of our sins of thought, word and deed against God and our neighbor.  Let us take refuge in our Father's infinite mercy and forgiveness, seeking His grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us implore the Holy Spirit for increased faith, and for His fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Immersing ourselves in God's Word of Law and Gospel, let us pray for our nation; pray for our leaders, all of them; pray for our frightened neighbors; pray for the Church that we may know how our Lord would have us live; pray that we may love and forgive others as we have been loved and forgiven. 

Information about this weekend's worship services and other key updates will be shared in a separate email later today.  I ask that, whether in person or via livestream, you participate as you are able, respecting the decisions Messiah's leaders have made in order to continue our mission while providing for the health and safety of members, preschool families and others.  May each of us grant each other the grace we have received in Christ.  And may this prayer from Lutheran Service Book be a help for us all, as you and I pray:

Heavenly Father, God of all concord, it is Your gracious will that Your children on earth live together in harmony and peace. Defeat the plans of all those who would stir up violence and strife, destroy the weapons of those who delight in war and bloodshed, and, according to Your will, end all conflicts in the world. Teach us to examine our hearts that we may recognize our own inclination toward envy, malice, hatred, and enmity. Help us, by Your Word and Spirit, to search our hearts and to root out the evil that would lead to strife and discord, so that in our lives we may be at peace with all people. Fill us with zeal for the work of Your Church and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which alone can bring that peace which is beyond all understanding; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Yours in Him,

 

Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

Worship This Sunday, January 3!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This update will cover:

  • Worship on Sunday, January 3

  • Building Use Reminder

  • January Newsletter Update

  • What Our True Love Gives to Us


Worship on Sunday, January 3
It was a blessing to gather once again for in-person worship on Christmas Eve, Christmas and January 27.  We thank all those who attended in person or viewed our livestreams of these services.

Our worship services for Sunday, January 3, the 2nd Sunday after Christmas, will be led by Pastor James Blain; there will be two identical communion services at 8:30 and 11 am. (The 11 am service will also be livestreamed at www.tinyurl.com/messiahgryoutube.)  Please RSVP for your choice of service by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, goodlans@messiahgr), or by clicking here to sign up.  

A reminder that the following precautions are currently in place for in-person worship:

  • Please exercise personal discernment when it comes to your health.  If you are feeling sick, waiting for COVID-19 test results, in recommended quarantine or isolation from COVID-19 exposure, in a high-risk category, or not comfortable or ready to attend in person, please stay home.  

  • You will be welcomed in person at the sanctuary door as you enter.  All inner doors will be kept open.

  • To minimize potential spread of COVID-19 in this public setting, wearing of face coverings (fabric masks) are required at all services, from when you enter the building to when you leave.  If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one.

  • To assure social distancing during worship, advance RSVPs are required for all services.  Sign-up options are available as above; 26 spots for families or individuals will be available in the nave of the sanctuary for each service.

  • Worshipers will sit on the opposite ends of alternate pews.  Designated seating will be clearly marked for “8:30 (1st service)” or “11:00 (2nd service)”; other pew entrances will be roped off to assure social distancing.

  • After the first service of each two-service day, worshipers will leave through the side door of the narthex, using the classroom hallway and exiting the building through the exterior doors in the fellowship hall foyer.

  • Following announcements, dismissal by families will begin from the back of the church.  Please maintain social distancing and, weather permitting, wait until you are outdoors to greet others.

If you want to receive Holy Communion, but do not feel comfortable attending these services, please call (734-645-4353) or email (revjpeterson@yahoo.com) our vacancy pastor, Rev. Jason Peterson, to make arrangements to receive the Lord's Supper by individual weekday appointment, either at the church, at home, or another location that meets your needs. 

General guidelines for sanitation and other current practices (complete service bulletins, simplified giving of offerings, Holy Communion protocols, nursery and kitchen closures, restroom availability, post-service sanitizing) will remain in effect.  Click here to see the full version of our current worship guidelines.
 

Building Use Reminder
Due to the extension of Michigan’s emergency epidemic order, Messiah’s building will continue to be closed through Friday, January 15 for all activities except worship services, preschool and essential functions that must be done onsite:

  • The restart of Sunday School and LifeLight classes has been postponed until the week of Sunday, January 17.

  • Preschool will resume in January following their Christmas break.

  • Board and committee meetings will be held remotely.

  • Staff and volunteers will only be onsite for basic operations (worship preparations and services, preschool sessions and preparations, financial work and recordkeeping, drop-offs for volunteer efforts, trustee projects, etc.) To contact staff members, please continue to call the church office; the phone will be answered remotely.
     

January Newsletter Update
Due to the Christmas and New Year holidays falling on Fridays this year, Messiah's January newsletter will be mailed during the first full week in January (the 4th-8th). We appreciate your patience with this slight delay, which will enable to include as much up-to-date information as possible. The newsletter will be sent via US mail and will also be available on our website; watch for direct links to it in next week's email update!


What Our True Love Gives to Us
We're now in the Twelve Days of Christmas -- either the 6th or the 5th day, depending on whether you count from December 25 or 26. And like the famous English folk carol (which a few scholars have speculated might have been a coded catechism song for persecuted Catholics), the Church's focus during these days is on gifts. But not on partridges, hens, geese, or even what you received this year from family, loved ones and friends. Rather, the Church focuses on God's gifts to us -- grace, mercy, faith, forgiveness, salvation and eternal life.

These are the gifts that Jesus won for us through His birth (celebrated on December 25), His circumcision (on the eighth day, celebrated on January 1) and His entire earthly life -- even His visit to the temple at 12 years old, the focus of this coming Sunday's Gospel! Our Savior's death and resurrection are also foreshadowed during the Twelve Days -- not just in the words of Simeon from Luke 2:22-32 that were read and sung this past Sunday, but also in the commemorations of the first martyr Stephen (on December 26 --see Acts 6-7), St. John the writer of the Fourth Gospel (on December 27) and the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem (on December 28 --see Matthew 2:16-18).

It may be that this Christmas, so different from previous years for many of us at Messiah, was challenging for you. And like many of you, I can't help but wonder what the new year of 2021 will bring. What I know by God's grace is that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:9). So I encourage each of you tocontinue growing in His Word, caring for each other, praying for those in authority, and keeping your eyes on our Lord, as we pray together:

Eternal God, we commit to Your mercy and forgiveness the year now ending, and commend to Your blessing and love the times yet to come. In the new year of 2021, abide among us with Your Holy Spirit that we may always trust in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Yours in Him,

 

Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

Important Update: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, December 27 and more!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This important update will cover:

  • Resuming In-Person Worship:

    • Christmas Eve

    • Christmas Day

    • Sunday, December 27

  • Building Use Update

  • Christ, The Dayspring


Resuming In-Person Worship

We return to in-person worship this coming week with the following services:

  • Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service, Thursday, December 24, led by Pastor Todd Brunworth. There will be two identical services, at 5 pm and 7 pm. Please RSVP for your choice of service by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, goodlans@messiahgr) or by clicking here to sign up. The 7 pm service will also be livestreamed at www.tinyurl.com/messiahgryoutube

  • Christmas Day Communion Service, Friday, December 25, 10 am, led by Pastor Roger Mackie. Please RSVP for this service by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, goodlans@messiahgr) or by clicking here to sign up. This service will also be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

  • Sunday, December 27, led by Pastor Terry Hoese. There will be two identical services at 8:30 and 11 am. Please RSVP for your choice of service by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, goodlans@messiahgr), or by clicking here to sign up. The 11 am service will also be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.


The following precautions will be in place for in-person worship from December 24 onward:

  • Please exercise personal discernment when it comes to your health.  If you are feeling sick, waiting for COVID-19 test results, in recommended quarantine or isolation from COVID-19 exposure, in a high-risk category, or not comfortable or ready to attend in person, please stay home.  Services will continue to be livestreamed as noted..

  • You will be welcomed in person at the sanctuary door as you enter.  All inner doors will be kept open.

  • To minimize potential spread of COVID-19 in this public setting, wearing of face coverings (fabric masks) will be required at all services, from when you enter the building to when you leave.  If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one.

  • To assure social distancing during worship, advance RSVPs will be required for all services.  Sign-up options are available as above; 26 spots for families or individuals will be available in the nave of the sanctuary for each service.  Note: To insure that as many people as possible can attend Christmas services, we respectfully request that you only sign up for one of the three services available.  As of this morning, spaces for all three Christmas services are available, especially for the 5 pm Christmas Eve service and the Christmas Day service.

  • Worshipers will sit on the opposite ends of alternate pews.  Designated seating will be clearly marked for “8:30 (1st service)” or “11:00 (2nd service)”; other pew entrances will be roped off to assure social distancing.

  • After the first service of each two-service day, worshipers will leave through the side door of the narthex, using the classroom hallway and exiting the building through the exterior doors in the fellowship hall foyer.

  • Following announcements, dismissal by families will begin from the back of the church.  Please maintain social distancing and, weather permitting, wait until you are outdoors to greet others.

If you want to receive Holy Communion, but do not feel comfortable attending these services, please call (734-645-4353) or email (revjpeterson@yahoo.com) our vacancy pastor, Rev. Jason Peterson, to make arrangements to receive the Lord's Supper by individual weekday appointment, either at the church, at home, or another location that meets your needs. 

General guidelines for sanitation and other current practices (complete service bulletins, simplified giving of offerings, Holy Communion protocols, nursery and kitchen closures, restroom availability, post-service sanitizing) will remain in effect.  Please see the full version of our Guidelines available at Messiah’s website or Welcome Center for complete details.
 

Building Use Update

Due to last Friday's extension of Michigan’s emergency epidemic order, Messiah’s building will continue to be closed through Friday, January 15 for all activities except worship services, preschool and essential functions that must be done onsite:

  • The restart of Sunday School and LifeLight classes has been postponed until the week of Sunday, January 17.

  • Preschool will resume in January following their Christmas break.

  • Board and committee meetings will be held remotely.

  • Staff and volunteers will only be onsite for basic operations (worship preparations and services, preschool sessions and preparations, financial work and recordkeeping, drop-offs for volunteer efforts, trustee projects, etc.) To contact staff members, please continue to call the church office; the phone will be answered remotely.

Christ, The Dayspring
Last week, I wrote to you about the origin of the hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, the "O Antiphons" prayers used in the church since the ninth century. It struck me that the O Antiphon for today, December 21 -- the winter solstice, the longest night of the year -- is a perfect fit:

O Dayspring, splendor of light everlasting, come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

In the final chapter of the New Testament, Jesus calls himself by this name, "the bright morning star" (Revelation 22:16). Throughout the centuries, our Savior's first coming in Bethlehem, His coming into our hearts through Word & Sacrament, and His promise to come again has been light for those who sit in darkness. (Sometimes that light has shown from quite unexpected corners of our world; the young scholar J.R.R. Tolkien was so moved by an Old English translation of this prayer that it ultimately inspired his classic novel The Lord of the Rings.) This year has been dark for many of us, in many different ways. But as we approach Christmas, I rejoice that even on the darkest day of the year, the light of Christ still shines brightly in this troubled world. And I rejoice that, in the coming week, I can celebrate that gift with you!

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.


Yours in Him,

 

Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

December 17 Update: Livestream, Christmas and More

Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,

Here's what's included in this update:

  • An apology and a message from President Harrison

  • Adult Bible Study for December 20

  • Livestream worship Sunday, December 20

  • In-person worship resumes:

    • Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

    • Sunday, December 27

  • O Come, O Come Emmanuel!

An apology and a message from President Harrison
Last night, a technical glitch prevented us from streaming our final Advent midweek service. We apologize. Our tech team continues to refine our livestream prep checklist; they also continue to troubleshoot and work to spot problems before they arise. We appreciate your continued patience and support; we pledge to do better.

In the meantime, I encourage you to take a few minutes and click here to listen to the annual Advent & Christmas message from the president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Rev. Matthew Harrison. I'm thankful that President Harrison echoes many of the Biblical themes from this year's Advent services (on both Sundays and Wednesdays); his message is a great boost for us all as we head into the week before Christmas.

Adult Bible Study for December 20
This coming Sunday's Adult Bible Study is already live on YouTube, continuing our four-week series on The Jesse Tree: Jesus' Family Tree. Click here to watch the study; click here to download a study guide. (This final session of the series previews the themes of our Christmas Day service, which will be led by Pastor Roger Mackie.) Look for the next Adult Bible study video the week before Sunday, January 10.

Livestream worship Sunday, September 20
Pastor Todd Brunworth will lead our livestream-only service on Sunday, December 20 at 11 am; click here to go to our YouTube channel. The Fourth Sunday in Advent brings us ever closer to Christmas, with the focus on the Angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary! Afterwards, the livestream will be posted on our website and our Facebook page.


In-person worship resumes
Lord willing, Messiah will gather once again for in-person worship services to celebrate Christmas!

  • Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service, Thursday December 24, 5 or 7 pm

  • Christmas Day Communion Service, Friday, December 25, 10 am

The two services on Christmas Eve will be identical.  The 7 pm Christmas Eve service and the Christmas Day service will also be livestreamed at wwwtinyurl.com/messiahgryoutube. 

Going forward, wearing of face coverings (fabric masks) will be required for worship services, from when you enter the building to when you leave. If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one.

Also, to help assure social distancing, advance RSVPs are also required for worship services going forward. (To insure that as many people as possible can attend Christmas services, we respectfully request that you only sign up for one of the three services available.) At this point, we still have plenty of space available for all three Christmas services; you can sign up by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, goodlans@messiahgr.org) or on our website: 


Sunday, December 27
Sunday services will resume on December 27 at 8:30 and 11 am, led by Pastor Terry Hoese.  The 11 am service on December 27 will also be livestreamed at wwwtinyurl.com/messiahgryoutube. 

Please contact me, your elder, or any elder if you have further questions on our resumption of in-person worship.



O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!
Ever wonder why we sing the hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (LSB 357) on the Fourth Sunday in Advent?  It comes from a series of antiphons -- refrains sung before and after a psalm or hymn -- that were first used way back in the 700s. 

These O Antiphons, intended for the week before Christmas, pray to Christ starting with the word "O": addressing Him by one of His Biblical titles, recalling His goodness to the Church through the ages, and imploring Him to come -- as He came on the first Christmas, as He comes in our hearts through Word and Sacrament, as He will come again at the end of time.  You can learn more about the O Antiphons by clicking here to explore a series of articles from The Lutheran Witness.  And click here to listen to O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

I can't tell you how much I look forward to worshiping with you at Christmas, whether you do so in person or online.  May Emmanuel, God with us, bless and keep you all as that day gets closer!

Yours in Him,


Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

"O Emmanuel, our king and our Lord, the anointed for the nations and their Savior: come and save us, O Lord our God." - the O Antiphon for December 23.

December 14 Update: Livestream, Annual Meeting, In-Person Worship & More

Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,

Here's what's included in this update:

  • Livestream worship continues

  • Annual Voters Meeting update

  • Christmas Eve and Day: in-person worship resumes

  • Preschool Christmas service update

Livestream worship continues
Pastor Todd Brunworth will lead our next livestream worship on Wednesday, December 16 at 7 pm; click here to go to our YouTube channel. This service will be the third in our series on The Jesse Tree: Jesus' Family Tree; we'll look at "Jesus, the Life of Jesse's Tree" Our music, readings and message will focus on the Baptism of Jesus, showing us how the Son of God took our sins and gives His righteousness and everlasting life! Afterwards, the livestream will be posted on our website and our Facebook page. (Click here to watch my Bible study on this same topic.)

We will have one more livestream-only service, on Sunday, December 20 at 11 am, before we resume in-person worship services during the Christmas season. See below for more details.

Annual Voters Meeting update
Thanks to all the members who participated in our annual voters meeting via Zoom. The voters elected officers and board members for 2021-22, and approved a 2021 budget; please contact our outgoing congregational president Jonathan Chaffer if you have questions. The voters also approved requesting a 2021 seminary graduate to serve as our pastor through the Michigan District-LCMS. (We will also continue calling candidates from the field while pursuing this request; contact Mark Altemann if you have questions.) Thanks to our officers for enabling us to continue our necessary business during this challenging time, and thanks to all officers and board members who are completing their terms at the end of 2020. We appreciate your faithful service to our Lord and to us!

Christmas Eve and Day: In-person worship resumes
Lord willing, we will gather once again for in-person worship services on the following dates:

  • Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Thursday December 24, 5 or 7 pm

  • Christmas Day Communion Service, Friday, December 25, 10 am

  • Morning Prayer, Sunday, December 27, 8:30 or 11 am

Going forward, wearing of face coverings (fabric masks) will be required for worship services, from when you enter the building to when you leave. If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one.

In order to assure social distancing, advance sign-ups will also be required for worship services going forward. (To insure that as many people as possible can attend Christmas services, we respectfully request that you only sign up for one of the three services available.) You can sign up by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, office@messiahgr.org) or on our website: 

The 7 pm Christmas Eve service, the Christmas Day service and the 11 am service on December 27 will also be livestreamed at wwwtinyurl.com/messiahgryoutube.  Please contact me, your elder, or any elder if you have further questions.


Preschool Christmas service

Thanks to those of you who've already watched our Preschool Christmas service; it immediately became the most popular video on our YouTube channel! If you haven't seen it yet, it's available below. Thanks again to our preschool director, Vonda Smestad, her dedicated staff, and the children for sharing the Good News of Jesus with the world! The children come through loud and clear, but you may need to increase the volume on your device to hear the narration. You can also click here to download the order of service.

With the Third Sunday in Advent yesterday, we've rounded the corner on this season of patience and preparation, moving closer to Christmas by the day. May the words of the hymnwriter be our prayer as we wait and anticipate the celebration:

Prepare my heart, Lord Jesus;
Turn not from me aside,
And help me to receive You
This blessèd Adventtide.
From stall and manger low
Come now to dwell within me;
I’ll sing Your praises gladly
And forth Your glory show. (LSB 354:4)


Blessings and peace to you in Him,


Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

December 10 Update: Livestream, Annual Meeting, Preschool and More

Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,

Here's what's included in this update:

  • Livestream worship continues

  • Annual Voters Meeting update

  • Online adult Bible study

  • Preschool Christmas service

Livestream worship continues
Pastor Todd Brunworth will lead our next livestream worship on Sunday, December 13 at 11 am; click here to go to our YouTube channel. God's Word for the Third Sunday of Advent calls us to "Celebrate! Rejoice!," as John the Baptist continues to testify to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God! Afterwards, the livestream will be posted on our website and our Facebook page.


Annual Voters Meeting update
This coming Sunday, December 13 at 3 pm, our annual voters meeting will be held online via Zoom. Messiah members should click here for their packet of Zoom instructions, meeting agenda, reports and background information. If you have questions or would like assistance before the meeting, please contact Kurt Veitengruber.

The online meeting will be open at 1 pm on Sunday the 13th so you can test how your device works on Zoom. Members can click this link on Sunday afternoon to go directly to the Zoom meeting.


Online adult Bible study
This coming Sunday's Adult Bible Study is already live on YouTube, continuing our four-week series on The Jesse Tree: Jesus' Family Tree. Click here to watch the study; click here to download a study guide.  (This study series, unpacking how the Bible proclaims our Savior from Genesis to Revelation, previews the themes of our livestream Advent services, which continue on Wednesday, December 16 at 7 pm led by Rev. Todd Brunworth.)

Preschool Christmas service

Finally, I'm grateful to be able to share our Preschool Christmas service, recorded as part of today's class time. Click here to watch the service! Thanks to our preschool director, Vonda Smestad, her dedicated staff, and the children for all their extra efforts (certainly more complicated than normal this year) to share the Good News of Jesus with their families and friends -- and with us. The children come through loud and clear, but you may need to increase the volume on your device to hear the narration. You can also click here to download the order of service. May you be comforted and strengthened by the message the children proclaim:

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10–12 ESV)

Blessings and peace to you in Him,


Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

Urgent Update: December 8, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

For the last two weeks, we have had to “meet together” quite differently – as we did in March through August.  With the ongoing, wider community spread of COVID-19, we have seen the need to make further alterations to in-person worship, in order to minimize the risks of transmission inherent in gathering together.

This urgent update will cover:

  • Building Status

  • Suspension of In-Person Worship

  • Resuming In-Person Worship

Building Status

Due to Michigan’s extended emergency epidemic order, Messiah’s building will continue to be closed through Sunday, December 20. Here is what this means:

  • Sunday School is cancelled until January 2021.

  • The annual voters' meeting will be held online on Sunday, December 13 at 3 pm.  An announcement with documentation has been sent to members regarding this meeting; this is also available at our website. Please contact me at rick.krueger@messiahgr.org immediately if you have not received an email.

  • Preschool will continue on weekdays as scheduled until Christmas break (starting Monday, December 21), resuming in January 2021.

  • Board and committee meetings will be held remotely.

  • LifeLight classes will restart in January 2021.

  • Staff and volunteers will only be onsite for basic operations (worship preparations and services, preschool sessions and preparations, financial work and recordkeeping, drop-offs for volunteer efforts, trustee projects, etc.) To contact staff members, please continue to call the church office; the phone will be answered remotely.

Suspension of In-Person Worship 

At their December meeting the Board of Elders prayerfully reviewed and updated their Guidelines for In-Person Worship.  We realize that not everyone will agree with what follows, and respect the reasons they do so.  We are doing our best to serve our Lord and you.  Jesus Christ has brought us together as members of His Body, the Church, at Messiah; we pray that He will keep us unified in Him through His Word, whatever the twists and turns of the days to come.  Please do not hesitate to contact your Elder with any questions, concerns or responses.

In order to insure that in-person worship can be held on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Elders chose to continue the suspension of in-person worship through Sunday, December 20. These upcoming services will be presented via YouTube livestream:

  • Wednesday, December 9, 7 pm

  • Sunday, December 13, 11 am

  • Wednesday, December 16, 7 pm

  • Sunday, December 20, 11 am

  • (The preschool children are recording their Christmas service in class this week.  Watch for information on how to view it on YouTube coming soon.)

Resuming In-Person Worship 

The following precautions will be in place for in-person worship from December 24 onward:

  • Please exercise personal discernment when it comes to your health.  If you are feeling sick, waiting for COVID-19 test results, in recommended quarantine or isolation from COVID-19 exposure, in a high-risk category, or not comfortable or ready to attend in person, please stay home.  Services will continue to be livestreamed as noted below.

  • You will be welcomed in person at the sanctuary door as you enter.  All inner doors will be kept open.

  • To minimize potential spread of COVID-19 in this public setting, wearing of face coverings (fabric masks) will be required at all services, from when you enter the building to when you leave.  If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one.

  • To assure social distancing during worship, advance RSVPs will be required for all services.  Sign-up options will be available by phone, email and Internet.  26 spots for families or individuals will be available in the nave of the sanctuary for each service.

  • Worshipers will sit on the opposite ends of alternate pews.  Designated seating will be clearly marked for “8:30 (1st service)” or “11:00 (2nd service)”; other pew entrances will be roped off to assure social distancing.

  • After the first service of each two-service day, worshipers will leave through the side door of the narthex, using the classroom hallway and exiting the building through the exterior doors in the fellowship hall foyer.

  • Following announcements, dismissal by families will begin from the back of the church.  Please maintain social distancing and, weather permitting, wait until you are outdoors to greet others.

We will resume in-person worship with the following Christmas services:

  • Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service, Thursday, December 24, 5 pm

  • Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service, Thursday, December 24, 7 pm (also streamed)

  • Christmas Day Communion Service, Friday, December 25, 10 am (also streamed)

  • To insure that as many people as possible can attend Christmas services, we respectfully request that you only sign up for one of the three services available.  The 7 pm Christmas Eve service is one of our best-attended services every year, and available spots may fill quickly; please prayerfully consider attending one of the other services.

In-person Sunday worship services will resume on Sunday, December 27 at 8:30 and 11 am.   Video of the 11:00 am service will continue to be livestreamed, then archived on YouTube.

If you want to receive Holy Communion, but do not feel comfortable attending these services, please call (734-645-4353) or email (revjpeterson@yahoo.com) our vacancy pastor, Rev. Jason Peterson, to make arrangements to receive the Lord's Supper by individual weekday appointment, either at the church, at home, or another location that meets your needs. 

 

General guidelines for sanitation and other current practices (complete service bulletins, simplified giving of offerings, Holy Communion protocols, nursery and kitchen closures, restroom availability, post-Sunday sanitizing) will remain in effect.  Please see the full version of our Guidelines available at Messiah’s website or Welcome Center for complete details.

Despite the hazards and obstacles behind and before us, we continue to journey together – because God the Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened and made us holy in Jesus Christ and kept us in the one true faith.  As we receive and share the Father’s grace and peace, may the anthem of Advent, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” be our anthem as well:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Yours in Him,

Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

December 3 Update: Livestream Worship, Bible Study and More

Livestream worship continues
Pastor Roger Mackie will lead our next livestream worship at our YouTube channel on Sunday, December 6 at 11 am. The readings and message for the Second Sunday of Advent focus on "Comfort for Shriveling Grass," as John the Baptist prepares the way for our Lord Jesus Christ! Afterwards, the livestream will be posted on our website and our Facebook page.

Online adult Bible study
This coming Sunday's Adult Bible Study is already live on YouTube, continuing our four-week series on The Jesse Tree: Jesus' Family Tree. You can watch the study here and download a study guide by clicking here.  (This study series, unpacking how the Bible proclaims our Savior from Genesis to Revelation, previews the themes of our midweek Advent services, which continue on Wednesday, December 9 at 7 pm led by Rev. Todd Brunworth.)

Updates: Pastoral Care and Poinsettias

  • Pastor Peterson will be out of the office, and at times unreachable, from Thursday through Sunday, December 3-13 while his new baby is born and his wife is recovering from surgery. If you have an emergency or other urgent need for pastoral care, please contact your elder or the church office to locate assistance, or call Rev. Terry Hoese at 616-337-3437.

  • Help beautify the sanctuary this Christmas by signing up to order a Poinsettia plant that will be placed in the chancel during the Christmas season. Plants cost $6.00 and come in red, white and marbled (pink stripes on white). If you have not already signed up, please contact Sandy Goodlander by phone or email to place an order. Orders must be placed by this Sunday, December 6th. You may take your plant home following the Christmas morning service.


More to come . . .

  • The annual meeting of the Messiah Voters' Assembly has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 13th at 3:00 pm. Due to health and safety concerns, this abbreviated meeting will be held online. We will conduct the minimum business required until we can have a full meeting in person: Watch for an email to church members with full details coming soon; details will also be available on Messiah' website at www.messiahgr.org/events by this Sunday, December 6th.

  • Further updates on the status of church building use and in-person worship will follow in the coming days. We ask you to continually remember our called workers, preschool staff and lay leaders in your prayers, as we all strive to be faithful to Messiah's mission and respond to whatever occurs with courage, wisdom, care and concern for all.


In closing, I ask you to join me in praying the collect for the Second Sunday of Advent, as we journey together through a very different December. May we always remember that our God is working in our lives for our good as we ask him:

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.



Blessings and peace to you in Him,


Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

December 1 Update: Livestreams, Newsletters and More

Livestream worship continues
As our suspension of in-person worship through December 6th winds down, I encourage you to join us for livestream worship at our YouTube channel during the week to come. Pastor Roger Mackie will lead our first Advent midweek service via livestream on YouTube tomorrow, Wednesday December 2nd at 7 pm. We'll begin our series on The Jesse Tree: Jesus' Family Tree by looking at "Jesus, the Seed of Jesse's Tree." Our music, readings and message will focus on the first promise of a Savior to the newly fallen Adam and Eve, and how Jesus Christ, the second Adam, has made us righteous in His Father's sight!


Messiah's latest newsletter
Messiah's office has reopened, and our December newsletter will be in the US mail soon. It's also available now online! Just follow the links below:

I've also included a few time-sensitive announcements from the new newsletter below.


Pastoral care update
Pastor Peterson will be out of the office, and at times unreachable, from Thursday through Sunday, December 3-13 while his new baby is born and his wife is recovering from surgery. If you have an emergency or other urgent need for pastoral care, please contact your elder or the church office to locate assistance, or call Rev. Terry Hoese at 616-337-3437.


Christmas Poinsettia update
Help beautify the sanctuary this Christmas by signing up to order a Poinsettia plant that will be placed in the chancel during the Christmas season. Plants cost $6.00 and come in red, white and marbled (pink stripes on white). If you have not already signed up, please contact Sandy Goodlander by phone or email to place an order. Orders must be placed by this Sunday, December 6th. You may take your plant home following the Christmas morning service.



Annual Voters Meeting Update
The annual meeting of the Messiah Voters' Assembly has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 13th at 3:00 pm. Due to health and safety concerns, this abbreviated meeting will be held online. We will conduct the minimum business required until we can have a full meeting in person:

  • Election of officers and boards

  • Approval of the 2021 budget


Full details of the meeting procedures will be available on Messiah' website at www.messiahgr.org/events by this Sunday, December 6th and distributed to the congregation by email.


In closing, on this first day of December I encourage you to continue praying the collect for the First Sunday of Advent as we go forward:

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Continued blessings and peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ,


Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

This Week from Messiah

Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,

Like you, I'm saddened and disappointed that we had to suspend in-person worship through December 6, following a COVID-19-related event. But I am grateful that we are able to continue livestreaming worship services for you during the coming two weeks.

Our Thanksgiving Eve service will be livestreamed on Wednesday, November 25 at 7 pm at our YouTube channel; it will be posted on our website and our Facebook page soon afterwards. Rev. Todd Brunworth, who helped us out this past summer, will lead this service and proclaim God's Word to us on Wednesday night, focusing on the theme "Taken for Granted?"

Pastor Brunworth will also lead our Sunday livestream on YouTube, on November 29 at 11 am. The readings and message for the First Sunday of Advent will focus on "The Watchman's Prayer" as we implore our Lord Jesus to come - as He came before, as He comes to our hearts in Word and Sacrament, and as He will come at the end of time!

I've already uploaded my Adult Bible Study for this coming Sunday to this website’s Bible Studies page; it begins a four-week series on The Jesse Tree: Jesus' Family Tree.    The study is below; you can download a study guide by clicking here.  (This study series, unpacking how the Bible proclaims our Savior from Genesis to Revelation, also looks forward to our midweek Advent services; these will start with a livestream on Wednesday, December 2 at 7 pm led by Rev. Roger Mackie.)

Finally, Messiah's call committee met remotely last night and decided:

  • To ask the Michigan District-LCMS for a new call list;

  • To re-submit the names of candidates that were submitted by members, but were not included on the previous list;

  • To pass along new names of candidates that members submit by next Monday, November 30. Members can submit names by returning a Candidate Information Form to me (by US mail, or by sending a scanned attachment by email) by that date. You can download a form by clicking here.

  • The Call Committee is also exploring the possibility of calling a seminary graduate, which can be pursued alongside calling pastors already in the field. We will update the congregation on this option at the earliest opportunity; stay tuned!

This is not the Thanksgiving and Advent that I expected or would hope for; quite probably, it's the same for you. As we move forward, I pray that all of us may take heart from God's Word, receiving courage and joy from these words in the Letter to the Hebrews:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

Blessings and peace to you in Christ,


Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

Urgent Update: November 23, 2020

In-person worship at Messiah is being suspended for the next two weeks, effective immediately.


This action, following procedures adopted by the Church Council at its November meeting, is being taken due to a COVID-19 related event.

Messiah's office will also be closed through Monday, November 30; office staff will continue to work by remote access.

We plan to livestream online worship services during the next two weeks on YouTube at these dates and times.

  • Wednesday, November 25 at 7 pm (Thanksgiving Eve)

  • Sunday, November 29 at 11 am

  • Wednesday, December 2 at 7 pm (Advent Midweek Service)

  • Sunday, December 6 at 11 am

The livestreams will also be posted on our website and Facebook page as soon as possible afterwards.

Please contact Parish Assistant Rick Krueger directly for further information. Messiah's leadership will be monitoring the situation closely; we will let you know of any changes to this plan as they occur.

Please keep all those ill with COVID-19 and all the family of Messiah in your prayers. Empowered by God's Word and our Baptism, may we continue to meditate on Holy Scripture, pray for our leaders, care for each other and hold on to our Savior Jesus Christ. No matter the circumstance, may the peace and joy of God continue to reign in our hearts, because His Son is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity, and is coming again. This is most certainly true!

Coming Sunday, November 22

Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,

We will pray Morning Prayer this coming Sunday, November 22; we welcome Pastor Dennis Lassanske to lead us in worship and proclaim God's Word.

This Sunday we continue our schedule of two in-person services, at 8:30 and 11:00 am. A few reminders about the schedule and our updated worship guidelines:

  • For our 8:30 am service: face coverings are required, from when you enter the building to when you leave. If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one. Advance sign-up is required for the 8:30 am service. Sign up by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, office@messiahgr.org) or by completing the sign-up form on our website. Thanks to those of you who've already signed up!

  • For our 11 am service: face coverings are recommended and strongly encouraged. We will gladly provide you with a face mask if you don’t have one. The 11 am service will also be livestreamed on Messiah's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyZrtHBIfblruk9OSpk0pIg

  • For both services, worshipers will sit on the opposite ends of alternate pews (different for each service). Designated seating will be clearly marked for each service; other pew entrances will be roped off to assure social distancing.

  • Please do not attend:

    • if you are sick (especially with fever, cough, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell)

    • if you have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus;

    • if you are awaiting test results after possible exposure to COVID-19;

    • if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, or who is awaiting test results following possible exposure.

Due to the current Michigan epidemic order, Sunday School and Lifelight are cancelled through December 6, and our annual voters meeting has been postponed.  You can see the full details of our response to the order here.

I've already uploaded my Adult Bible Study for this coming Sunday on Psalm 95; you can watch it here and download the study guide by clicking here.

Looking ahead, we will hold our Thanksgiving Eve service on Wednesday, November 25 at 7 pm, led by Rev. Todd Brunworth. For this service, face coverings are recommended and strongly encouraged. We will gladly provide you with a face mask if you don’t have one. The Thanksgiving Eve service will also be livestreamed. Our three Advent midweek services will be held on the same basis, beginning on Wednesday, December 2 at 7 pm.

On this last Sunday of the church year, we continue to focus on Christ's promised return at the end of time, to judge the living and the dead and to be with His redeemed people forever. In recent weeks, perhaps you've been led like me to frequently pray the final prayer of the entire Bible: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20) We do so knowing that as our Lord promises, His Word will give us all we need to live for Him now and with Him forever. May this prayer resound in our hearts now and in the coming Advent season! In the words of English hymnwriter Christopher Idle:

Grace be with God’s people!
Praise His holy name!
Father, Son and Spirit,
Evermore the same;
Hear the certain promise
From th'eternal home:
“Surely I come quickly!
Come, Lord Jesus, come!” (LSB 509:3)

Text: © 1980 The Jubilate Group, admin. Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110002549


Yours in Him,


Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

Urgent Update: November 17, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,

On Monday, November 16, Messiah's Church Council held its regular monthly meeting via remote Internet access. The major item on the agenda was our response to Michigan's latest epidemic order (issued by the state's Department of Health and Human Services on November 15) which increased restrictions on in-person gatherings.

The Council officially decided that, from Wednesday, November 18 through Tuesday, December 8, Messiah’s building will be closed to all activities except worship services, preschool and essential functions that must be done onsite.

What does this decision mean for the next three weeks?

  • In-person Sunday worship services will continue as scheduled. Our next services will be on Sunday, November 22 at 8:30 am (with face coverings and advance sign-up required; you can sign up here) and 11 am (livestreamed, with face coverings recommended & strongly encouraged). Social distancing will be in effect at both services.

  • Sunday morning LifeLight and Sunday School classes are cancelled through Sunday, December 6.

  • The annual voters' meeting scheduled for Sunday, November 22 has been postponed; watch for further information coming soon.

  • Preschool will continue on weekdays as scheduled.

  • Board and committee meetings will be held remotely.

  • Weekday LifeLight classes are cancelled.

  • Staff and volunteers will only be onsite for basic operations (worship preparations and services, preschool sessions and preparations, financial work and recordkeeping, drop-offs for volunteer efforts such as cornbread for God's Kitchen, trustee projects, etc.) To contact staff members, please continue to call the church office; the phone will be answered remotely.

  • In-person, special midweek worship services will be held as scheduled, beginning with the Thanksgiving Eve service on Wednesday, November 25 at 7 pm (which will also be livestreamed). Watch for another update on this service later in the week.

  • We will inform you of any further changes as soon as possible.

The Council also put in place procedures for responding to any COVID-19-related event onsite, and reaffirmed the preschool's COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan. Please contact congregational president Jonathan Chaffer directly if you have questions about these procedures.

Thanks as always for your continued encouragement and support: I speak for the entire staff and leadership of Messiah when I say I truly appreciate your ongoing kindness and help. In this time of renewed uncertainty and challenge, I ask for your understanding, trust, patience and prayers as we focus on the basics: bringing you the comfort of God's Word and Sacraments, teaching our preschool children to grow in their love of God and each other, and continuing Messiah's core operations. We also respectfully ask that you continue your support of Messiah's ongoing ministry through your faithful giving, whether by your offerings at in-person worship, mailed checks, or our new online giving portal.

In turn, I urge and encourage you to continue growing in your faith and your love for others as you

  • Read and meditate on God's Word;

  • Pray for our governmental leaders;

  • Check in with each other;

  • Above all, hold on to our Lord Jesus Christ! Psalm 46 (which we read and sang on Reformation Sunday) proclaims, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” There has certainly been increased roaring and swelling in our world, our nation and our communities these last few weeks; but in the midst of these cultural storms, we need not fear: "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge;" May peace and joy remain with us always because Jesus our Savior, Christ the King is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true!


Yours in Him,


Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
Messiah Lutheran Church

Pastoral Call Update: November 16, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson has declined our call to serve as pastor at Messiah.  An excerpt from his letter to us follows below.


"I regret to inform you that I am returning the divine call to Messiah and cannot at this time serve as your pastor.

"While I believe that I would be able to serve Messiah well, accepting this call would require my family to make some significant sacrifices, and this fact determined my decision.

"Messiah has a bright future ahead of her. To my eye, you appear to be a healthy, loving, Gospel-centered, and hard-working congregation in a great mission field. I am confident that the Lord will bring you together with the right man to serve you as pastor, and that he will be blessed by serving you, even as you are blessed in his service."

We thank Pastor Jackson for his prayerful consideration of our call. We pray for God's blessings on him, his family, and those he currently serves at Saint John's Lutheran Church in Algoma, Wisconsin and Saint Peter's Lutheran Church in Forestville, Wisconsin.

Messiah's Call Committee will be meeting soon to consider our next steps in the call process, in consultation with Pastor Peterson. Members of Messiah, please keep an eye out for updates by email and in upcoming newsletters.

In the meantime, we ask that all of you continue to keep our Church Council, call committee, staff and membership in your prayers. We turn to Lutheran Service Book to provide a model for our personal prayers:

O gracious Heavenly Father, You instituted the office of the public ministry, and instructed Your Church to call ministers to proclaim Your Word and faithfully administer Your Sacraments. Bless the Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson and his family, as he continues Your ministry in Wisconsin.

Grant to us the continued guidance of Your Holy Spirit, along with patience, humility and trust in You. Have mercy on us and help us to call a suitable pastor according to Your will and timing, for the blessing of Your Church in this place.

Give us grace to trust You during this time of widespread distress. In mercy put an end to the epidemic that afflicts this nation and the world. Grant relief to those who suffer from COVID-19, from other illnesses, from natural disasters, or from unemployment; comfort all that mourn or struggle. Sustain all government and medical personnel in their labors, and cause Your people ever to serve You in righteousness and holiness. Grant Your peace to our world, our nation and our community.

Hear us for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Yours in Christ,


Jonathan Chaffer, President
Mark Altemann, Chairman, Call Committee

Coming Sunday, November 15

Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,

We will pray and sing the Divine Service this coming Sunday, November 15; Pastor Bill Cate will lead us in worship, bringing us God's Word & Sacrament.

This Sunday begins our new schedule of two services, at 8:30 and 11:00 am. A few reminders about the new schedule and our updated worship guidelines:

  • For our 8:30 am service: face coverings are required, from when you enter the building to when you leave. If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one. Advance sign-up is required for the 8:30 am service. Sign up by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, office@messiahgr.org) or by completing the sign-up form on our website. Thanks to those of you who've already signed up!

  • For our 11 am service: face coverings are recommended and strongly encouraged. We will gladly provide you with a face mask if you don’t have one. The 11 am service will also be livestreamed at Messiah's YouTube channel:

  • For both services, worshipers will sit on the opposite ends of alternate pews (different for each service). Designated seating will be clearly marked for each service; other pew entrances will be roped off to assure social distancing.

  • Please do not attend:

    • if you are sick (especially fever, cough, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell)

    • if you have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus;

    • if you are awaiting test results after possible exposure to COVID-19;

    • if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, or who is awaiting test results following possible exposure.

Onsite Sunday classes will also be in session at the new time of 9:45 am on November 15.  Please note that currently, per state Health Department order, indoor activities (except worship services) are allowed a maximum size of 10 people and face coverings are mandatory:

  • Sunday School: God Works through Prophets and Kings for preschool - grade 2, in the south classrooms downstairs.

  • Lifelight: Ruth/Esther, led by in the north classrooms upstairs.

I've already uploaded my Adult Bible Study for this coming Sunday on Psalm 90; you can watch it on YouTube and download the study guide by clicking here.

One upcoming event to note: on Sunday, November 22nd, we will hold our annual meeting of the Voters' Assembly. The meeting will be held at 3:00 pm in the church sanctuary. Masks will be required and distancing measures in place at this event. The agenda will include reports from boards and committees, election of officers and board members, and approval of the 2021 budget. We hope to see you there!

In closing, I can't help but call to mind that Psalm 90 is the basis of the well-loved English hymn O God, Our Help in Ages Past (Lutheran Service Book 733), which we'll sing this coming Sunday. One thing I didn't realize: the hymn is often part of Canadian and British commemorations of Remembrance Day on November 11 -- what we celebrate as Veterans Day! I hope that, as you watch and listen to the recording from London’s Westminster Abbey at the link , Isaac Watts' words may serve as a prayer all of us can pray during these unsettled days:

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home!

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home!


Yours in Christ,


Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

Pastoral Call Update: November 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

At Messiah's special voters meeting held on Sunday, November 1, the assembly unanimously voted to call the Rev. Dr. Christopher Jackson to serve as our next pastor.

Rev. Jackson currently serves Saint Peter Lutheran Church in Forestville, Wisconsin and Saint John Lutheran Church in Algoma, Wisconsin.

Since the vote, we have spoken with Pastor Jackson; we will send him the official call documents today, along with further information about Messiah and the Grand Rapids area. Pastor Jackson said that he is honored to have been chosen to receive our call. Once he receives and reviews the call documents, he will contact us to let us know his plan for the deliberation process.

We'll inform you of further developments (Pastor Jackson's reception of our materials, the scheduling of any visit to Messiah, etc.) as they occur. Please wait to share the news on social media until after this coming Sunday, November 8, so that he has the chance to properly inform his congregations.

In the meantime, please keep Pastor Jackson, his family, the staff and members at Saint Peter and Saint John, and all of us at Messiah in your prayers. As before, our Lutheran Service Book provides all of us with a model for our personal prayers:

Lord Jesus Christ, You instituted the office of the public ministry and instructed Your Church to call ministers of Your Word. Having prayed for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, we have called a pastor, the Rev. Christopher Jackson, to proclaim Your saving Gospel among us. Assist him to recognize the needs of this congregation and the welfare of Your kingdom and, if it be Your will, grant that he accept the call to serve among us. Hear us for Your own sake, as You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Yours in Christ,


Jonathan Chaffer, President
Mark Altemann, Chairman, Call Committee

Coming Sunday, November 8

We gather to pray the service of Morning Prayer on Sunday, November 8 at 10 am, led by Pastor Terry Hoese. This service will also be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

In the current environment, we need your committed help in mitigating risk and conducting worship prudently. Please help us by:

  • Staying home if you are sick, have underlying medical conditions, or have been exposed to, tested positive for, or are awaiting test results for COVID-19.

  • Maintaining minimum 6-foot social distancing throughout your time at Messiah. When you sit for worship, please respect the "No Seating" signs and space yourselves at least 3 people apart from other family groups.

  • Wearing face coverings (mask, scarf, or bandana), which we recommend and strongly encourage. If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one.

  • Giving your offerings electronically or at the sanctuary door.

Our next Adult Bible study is already available online, along with a study guide, on our Bible Studies webpage. We’ll look at Psalm 70 (which is actually an excerpt from Psalm 40); this is another psalm in which David speaks prophetically about Himself, the promised Messiah, & by extension, all Christians. How are we called to pray for God's people -- and even for those who oppose them -- in difficult times? Let's find out together!

Our onsite Sunday classes will also be in session at 9 am on November 8. Please note that, per the current state Health Department order, indoor activities (except worship services) are allowed a maximum size of 20 people per 1000 square feet, and face coverings are mandatory.

  • Sunday School: God Works through Prophets and Kings for Preschool - Grade 2, taught by Tina Veitengruber, in the south classrooms downstairs.

  • Lifelight: Ruth/Esther, led by Randy Gerke, in the north classrooms upstairs. BYOB (bring your own beverage)

Also, a final reminder that if you would like to contribute gift cards for this year's Thanksgiving & Christmas baskets given to families in need, please return them to Joe and Becky Buss by this Sunday.

Finally, please take the time to read our newly updated Guidelines for In-Person Worship; you will also find a paper copy in your church mailbox on Sunday. As I shared with you on Wednesday, we will hold two Sunday services beginning November 15: an 8:30 am service with face coverings and advance sign-up required; and an 11 am service which will also be livestreamed. Enhanced social distancing will be practiced in both services.

In this update, the Board of Elders have kept previous guidelines in place and made changes in order to improve our care for each other, during a moment where the spread of COVID (and understandable concern regarding that spread) is growing. As I said last week, I hope that each of us will have the mind of Christ, in humility considering others more significant than ourselves, as we prayerfully ponder our individual response to these changes, including the worship service that we choose.


Yours in Christ, Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant

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