Dear Brothers and Sisters of Messiah,
After our July lull, we're beginning to look toward our fall activities in the areas of education, fellowship and outreach! And of course, we continue gathering to receive God's gifts of forgiveness of sins, life and salvation every week.
WORSHIP AND CLASS SCHEDULE
During the summer, we continue with Divine Service at 10:00 am on Sundays; Bible Class continues beforehand at 9:00 am. Monday night Divine Services also continue through Monday, August 25th at 7:00 pm.
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
This coming Sunday, August 3rd, we'll welcome Michigan District-LCMS Director of Development Laura Thomas. Laura will update us on the District's mission and ministry efforts during the Bible Class hour at 9:00 am.
Our monthly Lutheran Confessions Study continues delving into The Augsburg Confession; on Thursday, August 14th at 10:00 am (note the date change) we'll turn our attention to the Confession's Article IV: Justification and Article V: The Ministry. (The Confessions study plans to resume meeting on the first Thursday of the month in September.)
LifeLight resumes in September, with two options for nine-week fall classes:
a Lifelight Foundations class on Parables, led by Shirley Hoese, Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am beginning September 16th. Click here to view a sample.
Selected Psalms, led by Dan Bohlinger & Pastor Hoese, Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm beginning September 17th. Click here to view a sample.
AUGUST NEWSLETTER - PLUS WHAT'S NEW
Our August newsletter is available online; click here to preview or download it in its entirety. Paper copies are available now at the Welcome Center. We post the newsletter (including monthly calendars) and our weekly announcements online at www.messiahgr.org/news; calendars are also online separately at www.messiahgr.org/calendar. Be sure to check the newsletter and our weekly announcements for info on the events listed below and others:
NEW! Sign up now for our monthly Meet and Eat Small Groups at the Welcome Center
NEW! Parish Service Guild Christmas Bazaar Planning Meeting Thursday, August 14th at 1:00 pm.
NEW! Senior Choir resumes weekly practices Wednesday, September 3rd at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. Contact Rick Krueger if you're interested!
NEW! Community Picnic Sunday, September 7th after the Divine Service. For the start of our preschool year and our education Rally Day, we're inviting folks from our church, our preschool, our VBS and our neighborhood to celebrate! We'll have a picnic meal with ice cream, a visit from the Plainfield Fire Department, a bounce castle, carnival games and -- a dunk tank?!? Watch for more information from the Board of Outreach coming very soon!
Yours in Christ, Rick Krueger
FROM PASTOR ERIC (IN THE AUGUST NEWSLETTER):
"The entire story of our relationship with God is not one where God keeps us down, but completely the opposite. In the very creation account we are dust, and God shapes us and breathes life into us. We are dead in our sins, and Christ comes down to take our place on the cross, so that we might have His life by faith. The promise of the resurrection explicitly states that God will raise us up so that we might be with Him, all of this born simply out of His love for us. We receive the kingdom of heaven, everlasting life, a place in God’s family as His dear children, what more could God possibly give us or do for us? In contrast to this, I’ve heard atheists find hope and comfort in that we are made of star dust, and to start dust we shall return, and that’s it, a complete undoing of the creation account, and that is all an atheist has to hope in. One of these beliefs does seem to drag people back down, but I do not think it is our God. And the best thing we can do with this wisdom, is simply to share it. The best antidote to any lie is the truth, and we know the way, the truth, and the life, and we get to help others know Him too, amen."
AUGUST'S HYMN OF THE MONTH
"Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness" (Lutheran Service Book 636), has been called “the finest of all German hymns for the Holy Communion.” The text by Johann Franck (a lawyer and politician as well as a poet) and the music by cantor Johann Crueger were published together in 1648; since then, Christians worldwide have drawn comfort from its stirring proclamation and praise of God’s goodness and Jesus’ love for us. In addition, composers have been inspired to write variations on the meditative tune for more than 350 years; during August's Divine Services, we'll hear settings by J.S. Bach, Johannes Brahms, Paul Manz, Carl Schalk and others, all evoking the joy and devotion Franck and Crueger express. The praise of these creators, congregations and composers is also ours as we approach the heavenly banquet of Christ’s body and blood every week! We hope you enjoy the video version of selected stanzas immediately below.
