Dear Brothers and Sisters at Messiah,
As we rejoice that Rev. Eric Black has accepted the call to serve as Messiah's pastor beginning in 2024, on this last day of November we also look forward to the busy month to come!
ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SERVICES
During Advent, we prepare our hearts to celebrate Jesus' first coming on the first Christmas, reflect how He comes to us today in Word and Sacrament, and look toward His final coming at the end of time!
Our special midweek services of prayer and preaching will focus on Christ as the true, final revelation of The Glory of God. Morning services will be led by Pastor Jason Peterson; evening services will be led by Pastor Terry Hoese. Please plan to join us on these dates:
Wednesday, December 6th at 11:00 am (Matins) or 7:00 pm (Evening Prayer)
Wednesday, December 13th at 11:00 am (Matins) or 7:00 pm (Christmas Reflections)
Wednesday, December 20th at 11:00 am (Matins) or 7:00 pm (Evening Prayer)
Please plan to join us for these special Christmas services as well:
Preschool Christmas Program - Thursday, December 14th, 6:30 pm
Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service - Sunday, December 24th, 7:00 pm
Christmas Day Divine Service - Monday, December 25th, 10:00 am
New Year’s Day Divine Service - Monday, January 1st, 2024, 10:00 am
Epiphany Divine Service at St. Peter's, Rockford - Saturday, January 6th, 2024, 7:00 pm
WEEKLY WORSHIP AND CLASS SCHEDULE
We also continue with one Divine Service held at 10:00 am on Sundays, with Bible Class beforehand at 9:00 am. Services are scheduled to be livestreamed at
Our website www.messiahgr.org
Our Facebook page www.facebook.com/messiahgr.
Bulletins formatted for use with our livestream are available for downloading and/or printing at home. These are posted at least two days before each service at www.messiahgr.org/worship-resources
Readings and hymns for each service are also listed in the informational note found on the same web pages as our livestreams.
Bible Class is also livestreamed at www.messiahgr.org/adult-bible-class.
Thanks to Pastor James Blain for leading Sunday services and Bible Classes during December.
Our weekly women's group CARES (Caring, Active, Reaching, Encouraging Sisters in Christ) continues on Wednesdays, December 6th & 13th at 9:45 am, reading and discussing the book God’s Provision in a Wilderness World by Lindsey Hausch. Click here for a book sample.
Our vacancy pastor, Rev. Jason Peterson of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Rockford, is in Messiah's office on Tuesdays from 8:15 to 11:00 am. You can also contact Pastor Peterson by phone at 734-645-4353 or by email at revjpeterson@yahoo.com. (We will also host the pastors of the Grand Rapids Circuits for their monthly meeting on the morning of Tuesday, December 12th.)
DECEMBER NEWSLETTER (PLUS WHAT'S NEXT)
An updated version of our December newsletter, which includes news of Pastor Black's acceptance of our call, 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 events:
Christmas Bazaar & Cookie Walk, sponsored by the Parish Services Guild, this Saturday, December 2nd from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Advent Prayer Breakfast Saturday, December 9th at 9:30 am.
Christmas Caroling on Saturday, December 16th at 3:00 pm.
NEW! Christmas Card Exchange Board, sponsored by the Social Ministry Committee. Sign a Christmas card, enclose a donation and place them in Shirley Kremm's church mailbox. Cards will be placed on the board in the Sanctuary Foyer; donations will be used to help those in need.
Adopt-A-Family Donation Drive, supporting the mothers and children served by the Pregnancy Resource Center of Grand Rapids, through Sunday, December 17th.
NEW! Hat & Mitten Tree, sponsored by the Social Ministry Committee, collecting hats, mittens, scarves and gloves for children in our community through Sunday, December 24th.
LOOKING AHEAD
I've heard lots of questions in the last week: "When is Pastor Black coming?" "Where will he and his family live?" "How are we going to welcome them?" While the eagerness we feel is a wonderful thing, we don't know the answers yet. But, as plans for the Black family's arrival and Pastor's installation take shape, we promise we'll share them with you! In the meantime, let's continue to go to our Lord in fervent prayer with these new requests:
that this Advent and Christmas will be a time of joy among us and all Christians, devoted to celebrating Christ's coming and receiving His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation.
that the Lord will give our pastor-elect's current congregations (St. Paul-Kalkaska and St. Matthew-Mancelona) peace as they prepare to bid the Black family farewell and Godspeed.
that our District and Synod will aid and comfort the people of St. Paul and St. Matthew, as they enter a period of reflection and discernment.
that God will grant the Black family a smooth transition to living in Grand Rapids, according to His timing.
that our Lord would open our hearts to welcome Pastor Eric, Allison, Eleanor, Theodore and Lucia, and bless their coming among us.
Yours in Christ,
Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
