Dear Brothers and Sisters of Messiah,
First, thanks once again to all who made our Community Picnic an enjoyable, welcoming event -- including the Board of Outreach, the Board of Education, the Board of Trustees, our preschool staff, the faculty of West Michigan Lutheran High School, and everyone else who volunteered, donated and attended! We appreciate your joyful participation in our ongoing task: knowing Christ and making Him known in our community!
That mission continues in the weeks to come through worship, education, fellowship and service events!
WORSHIP AND CLASS SCHEDULE
We continue with Divine Service at 10:00 am on Sundays. Bible Class continues beforehand at 9:00 am; we continue Paul Maier's video study Jesus: Legend or Lord. Sunday School for children PreK and up is held after worship, starting about 11:15 am.
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
LifeLight resumes this week! It's not too late to sign up -- or just show up for:
Lifelight Foundations: Parables, led by Shirley Hoese, Tuesday mornings at 10:30 am.. Click here to view a sample.
LifeLight: Selected Psalms, led by Dan Bohlinger & Pastor Hoese, Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm beginning September 17th. Click here to view a sample.
A reminder that West Michigan Lutheran School has officially moved to Grace Lutheran Church (150 50th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49548). Please feel free to join them for weekly chapel on Wednesdays at 11:50 am.
The LCMS Foundation's Julie Burgess visits us on Sunday, September 28th, with a presentation on Estate Planning during the Bible Class hour. You'll also be able to make personal appointments with Julie for later follow-up.
The Board of Outreach presents Every One His Witness: Witnessing to Adult Children on Saturday, October 4th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Sign ups are now available at the Welcome Center, in Bible Class or at our website.
CARES (Caring, Active, Reaching, Encouraging Sisters in Christ) resumes on Wednesday, October 8th at 9:45 am. This women’s book discussion group continues reading Leaning on Jesus: A Study of God’s Strength by Deb Burma; click here for a sample.
WHAT'S NEW & NEXT
Our September newsletter is online; click here to preview or download it in its entirety. Paper copies are available 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:
Senior Choir has resumed weekly practices on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. (Note: there will be no practice on Wednesday, September 24th.) And our Rhythm & Singers group returns soon, rehearsing after choir practices on Wednesdays, October 1st and 8th. Contact Rick Krueger if you're interested in either ensemble!
Church/Preschool Movie Night Friday, September 26th at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. We'll watch Curious George, complete with popcorn and the big screen. Mark your calendars and sign up in advance at the Welcome Center!
NEW! Harvest Dinner, Sunday, October 12th from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, presented by the Parish Services Guild. Roast Pork dinner and dessert will be served. Tickets will be available after church starting Sunday, September 28th. See any Guild member for details.
NEW! Bowling League begins Sunday, October 12th at 3:00 pm at Northfield Lanes on Plainfield Avenue. We bowl every other Sunday through March; both league members and substitute bowlers are always welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Joanne Gillette.
Prayer Pals Revealing Night, Sunday, October 19th. Contact Deb Krueger for more details.
NEW! Trunk or Treat, Thursday, October 30th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, sponsored by the Board of Outreach. Volunteer sign-ups and donation bins will be out at the Welcome Center this coming Sunday. Treaters and other volunteers, plan to dress up as a creature that God made and called good, or as one of the faithful saints whose lives we read about in His Word!
Yours in Christ, Pastor Eric & Rick Krueger
A PRAYER FOR PEACE
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.
A HYMN FOR PEACE
The sung prayer Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord originated between 500-600 AD; when the Ottoman Empire threatened Europe in the late 1520s, Martin Luther translated it into German. You can find it inLutheran Service Bookas numbers 777 (with a beautiful melody by classical composer Felix Mendelssohn, who also provided the tune forHark! The Herald Angels Sing) and 778 (with a tune by Luther, similar to his melodies forSavior of the Nations, ComeandLord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word). We hope you enjoy this modern version of 778 (with additional petitions reflecting on the "solas" of the Lutheran Reformation), performed by the musical group Koiné.
