March 16th Update

Written By Rick Krueger

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Messiah,

Just past the halfway point of Lent, Jesus sets His face toward Jerusalem "For Us" in the upcoming midweek service readings and Sunday Gospels. Holy Week begins two weeks from yesterday, with Easter Sunday just under three weeks away. Please join us for the upcoming worship, education, outreach, fellowship and service opportunities during the coming weeks and beyond - and invite a friend!

WORSHIP AND CLASS SCHEDULE

  • We continue with Divine Service at 10:00 am on Sundays.Bible Class continues beforehand at 9:00 am. Sunday School for children PreK and up is held after worship, starting about 11:15 am.

  • Lent Midweek Services of Prayer continue on Wednesdays through March 25th at 11:00 am & 7:00 pm. Lenten suppers will be held on those Wednesdays in our Fellowship Hall at 6:00 pm; check the weekly announcements for details.

  • Our Holy Week service schedule is as follows:

    • Maundy Thursday, April 2nd – Divine Service at 7:00 pm.

    • Good Friday, April 3rd – Chief Service at 11:00 am; Service of Darkness (Tenebrae) at 7:00 pm.

    • Easter Sunday, April 5th - identical Divine Services at 7:30 & 10:00 am.  There will be no Sunday School or Bible Class on Easter Sunday; our annual Easter Breakfast will be held between services.

  • Livestreams of our Sunday, Wednesday night and Holy Week services can be found at:

  • LifeLight: Law & Gospel continues on Tuesdays at 10:30 am, led by Shirley Hoese. Click here for a sample.

  • CARES (Caring, Active, Reaching, Encouraging Sisters in Christ) continues on Wednesdays at 9:45 am, discussing the book Come and Be Filled: Feasting with Jesus in His Word by Kristopher R. Whitby. Click here for a sample.


WHAT'S NEW & NEXT
Our March newsletter is online; click here to view or download a copy!  Paper copies are available at the Welcome Center.  We post the newsletter (including monthly calendars) and our weekly announcements online at www.messiahgr.org; calendars are also online separately at www.messiahgr.org/calendar.  Be sure to check these sources regularly for updates on the events listed below and more!

  • Help make Palm Crosses on Saturday, March 21st at 9:00 am, or participate in The Stripping of the Altar on Maundy Thursday, April 2nd at 7:00 pm. Sign up at the Welcome Center or contact the church office.

  • Family Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 28th at 10:00 am, sponsored by our Board of Outreach. Sign up to volunteer or donate items at the Welcome Center or in Bible Class.We would appreciate it if you bring in your donations of food or candy this week. Join us for an egg filling party after worship this coming Sunday, March 22nd.  Flyers to share with families you know are available at the Welcome Center, too!

  • NEW! Preschool Yard Signs are now available for you to display in your neighborhood; sign them out at the Welcome Center. 

  • NEW! Orders for the Board of Outreach's annual Hanging Basket Sale are due by Sunday, March 29th. Order forms are on the Welcome Center; please return them to Arlene Mansfield or the office. Orders will be available for pickup on Sunday, May 3rd; proceeds will benefit the Pregnancy Resource Center of Grand Rapids.

  • NEW! Our annual Garage Sale will be held Friday, April 17th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm & Saturday, April 18th from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm. Donations can be brought to the church basement. Contact Renee Davis or Zachary Poggemoeller if you have questions or would like to volunteer.

  • NEW! Adult Easter Egg Hunt Sunday, April 19 at 11:15 am. For this fun fellowship event, we’ll search indoors for eggs filled with play money; mystery prize bags will be awarded to everyone! More details and a sign up coming soon!


WELCOME PASTOR JEAN FROM MADAGASCAR
As we've mentioned in recent Sunday announcements, this week Pastor Eric will be hosting Pastor Jean Rajaonasy of House of Hope Madagascar. Raised in poverty, Pastor Jean found hope through the transforming love of Christ and the power of education. Years later, he and his wife Aina followed God’s call to return home and build a place for children with no one to care for them — a house of refuge, faith, and hope. 

House of Hope opened an orphanage in 2024, where 72 children from southern Madagascar who've been abandoned, orphaned or forgotten now live; School of Hope opened in 2025 and has 151 students currently enrolled. Pastor Jean and his wife Aina have a bold dream that a future President, pastor, or doctor of Madagascar could come from House of Hope!

We look forward to welcoming Pastor Jean to Messiah, where he'll be the speaker at our Adult Bible Class this coming Sunday, March 22nd at 9:00 am. You can learn more about House of Hope by visiting their website or watching the video below.

Yours in Christ, Pastor Eric & RIck Krueger

Rick Krueger Messiah Lutheran Church
Next

February 26th Update