The The monthl y newsl etter of M essiah Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) 8154 Atl ee Road, M echanicsvill e, Virginia 23111 804-746-7134 APRIL, 2015 We celebrate Easter on Sunday, April 5. Easter Sunrise Service - 7:30 am Festival Worship - 11:00 am On Easter, we will offer our traditional Walk with Jesus and contemplate his walk pancake breakfast by MOM (Men of Mes- to the cross for our sake. Palm Sunday be- siah), 8:30 am – 10:00 am. Contact Bill gins this special week on Sunday, March Weaver to help. 29. Kids’ activities start at 9:30 am with our Palm Sunday - 8:00 am & 11:00 am popular Easter Egg Hunt at 10:10 am. services Holy Monday – Cursing the Fig Tree, We hope you can join us!! 6:00 pm Holy Tuesday – Jesus predicts his death, 6:00 pm Holy W ednesday – “Spy Wednesday,” A look inside.... Judas conspires against Jesus, 6:00 pm Survey: New service time? ..……...P. 2 Maundy Thursday – Last Supper re- Pastor’s Letter …………...………....P. 3 membered with first communion, 7:00 The Reformation at 500 ……….….P. 4 pm Prayers, Celebrations ……..……...P. 5 Good Friday – Calendar of events …...……………P.6, 7 Service of Three Hours - Jesus’ MCEF news ………………..………..P. 7 death on the Cross, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Making an impact………………… P. 10 Special Good Friday Service – Adult Sunday school news .……..P. 11 7:00 pm Unified service, potluck & vote ...P. 12 Easter Vigil (Saturday) - with All Souls, 7:30 pm April, 2015 M essenger page 2 The Messenger Your 2015 Church Council And Associate Members Published monthly by Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA Kevin Hendrickson…..Council President 8154 Atlee Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 Church Office: (804) 746-7134 Donna Shaw ……….……...Vice-President FAX: (804) 746-5579 Laura Harris ……….…..…........ Secretary Rev. Louis A. Florio, Jr., Pastor Pastor’s email: [email protected] Sally Bennett Jon Koeppen Davina Winn, Church Secretary Paula Barwick Dean Gustafson Office email: [email protected] Steve Gilnett Gordon Gunn Susie Weaver, Newsletter Editor Ph: 804-550-3503 Co u n cil Li ai so n s Email: susiew [email protected] Christian Education ……….Jon Koeppen Evangelism ………..........Dean Gustafson VISIT OUR MLC WEBSITE: http://www.messiahmech.com Fellowship …………..……….Steve Gilnett Finance ………………………Paula Barwick Property ………………Kevin Hendrickson School Board ………………….Donna Shaw Social Ministry ………………Gordon Gunn Messiah on Pinterest Stewardship ……………….....Laura Harris Worship ……….……………..Sally Bennett http://pinterest.com/messiahmech/ boards/ Johnnie Collie… Treasurer Bill Weaver... Financial Secretary Sue Gilnett, RN...P arish Nurse Trustees: Bob Griffin, Join Messiah on Facebook! Dick Wright and Pat Hubert. Survey says…New service time? Messiah will once again be offering a larger segment of our community gather- short survey to help council discern our ing together as one; and an opportunity to future course in ministry. Of particular let all members get to know one another note is a study to unify our two services. better. At the last worship team meeting, several members suggested we move to one ser- Several scheduling options will be pre- vice instead of our current 8:00 am and sented for your feedback, but no action is 11:00 am format. (Messiah used to have being taken at this time. The survey is be- one service in the past.) ing created as our newsletter is published an d will even tually be con ducted th rough Suggested benefits included: better music paper and electronic submissions. Please due to more voices; improved appearance take advantage of this opportunity when for guests (to help them see that we aren’t the survey is distributed. We need to get a a shrinking, tiny congregation especially firm sense of what all our membership on low attendance Sundays); an en- would like, for this is our ministry to- hanced worship experience provided by a gether. April, 2015 Messenger page 3 Pastor’s letter.. have access to an abundant life. Our “little deaths” will be used by God to show love A resurrected people for us. Blessing will surely come, and so, we can live in hope. We are called as a res- I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount urrected people where we trust God is do- the deeds of the Lord. (P salm 118:7) ing new and w onderful things in and through our lives. We need not get stuck in our doubts and darkness. We can in- Recently, I finally broke down and bought stead embrace the resurrection dawning in a smart phone. After eight years with my old phone, it was sadly necessary and our lives. overdue. One of its many features is the ability to play a musical alarm. Recalling “In my distress, I called to the Lord. God my past joyful experiences with the Com- heard my voice and set me free. God is my munity of Taizé as well as the many strength. God is my song.” How shall I prayers shared between All Souls Episco- proclaim this Good News? How can I not? It is humbling to think that our extraordi- pal and Messiah Lutheran, I immediately n ary God is breakin g in to our ordin ary thought to make a Taizé chant my alarm lives in such a joyful, intimate way. tone. Of all the many choices available, I selected Psalite Deo (Praise God), based on Yes, we have access to God through the Psalm 118. Risen Christ. The tomb is empty. Let us Wh at a blessin g it has proven to have my not linger there, but instead run and tell first conscious thoughts each day be of all we know through word and deed. Jesus God’s love and the great things done and is Risen! He is risen indeed! A new song being done in my life. “This is the day the and new life lie before us. Lord has made” with all its opportunities. “Sing a new song to the Lord for all the In thanksgiving, I want to live for him and those he entrusts to our care. I intend to wonders God has done.” It is another day lift my voice to the Lord for he is surely for me to give thanks and praise with all good, for his steadfast love endures forever the earth. “Sing out for joy!” No matter (Psalm 118). I pray your life will join mine what happens in this day, “I shall not die and the lives of all the saints in singing but live!” “For God’s love endures forever.” “Alleluia! Alleluia!” praises to God forever. With such affirmations thrust upon my Happy and blessed Easter to you all! mind and heart, my day begins somehow Pastor Lou differently than before. I recognize once again that God is alw ays doing something new in my life. No matter the adversity lay- ing before me in w ait, I need not be afraid. It is truly time for me to awake from my slumber and witness to the new, joyful re- ality of the Risen Christ in my life. In our Len ten class on grief, I men tion ed that life can often seem like a number of “little deaths” with its many trials and losses. Yet as we might rightly grieve, we April 22, 2015 should never forget that through Jesus we April, 2015 M essenger page 4 I challenge all of you reading this to sign up today, and together let's find out what 1517, and 2017, are really all about! Introducing the Luther Reading Chal- l enge: - What did Martin Luther really say in the The Reformation at 500 years old 95 Theses? - Is it true he had a special affection for Preparations for the 500th anniversary of the Virgin Mary? the start of the Protestant Reformation continue. The event marks Martin Luther’s - Di d he th in k the Ol d T estamen t w as all posting of his 95 Theses, primarily oppos- law an d no gospel? ing the practices of indulgences. This - What was his advice concerning prayer? event unexpectedly resulted in reforms of - Did he advocate good works? the universal church which continue to- - Why was the real presence of Christ the center of all his thinking? day. You can learn more from the follow- - How did his last will and testament ing resources. break the law (in favor of his wife)? - What did Luther actually say and think? Web: elca500.org As the Reformation anniversary in October Facebook: facebook.com/elca500 2017 draws near, Martin Luther will be a hot topic of conversation. Lutheran Twitter: @ELCA churches are already asking themselves how to commemorate the big event. It's not too early to start preparing! And what Another resource from Germany cele- better w ay to do so than actually to read and discuss Luther's own words? brates what is being called “the Luther Decade” (2008 – 2017). This marks Martin ...Sign up for a free account and join Luther’s arrival in Wittenberg through the countless other readers around the world posting of his 95 Theses. Visit in reading, discussing, and reflecting on luther2017.de/en for informative articles Luther's important writings! and more. Each text begins with an introduction, giv- ing its context and key themes. You can add marginal comments, respond to oth- ers' remarks, and raise your own ques- Are You Ready for 2017 Yet? tions. You can also tailor your own profile to share and connect with others. The 500th anniversary of the posting of the 95 Theses on the door of the church in In time there will also be a blog, other lan- Wittenberg is fast approaching...and as I guages, and even gamification elements! talk with our folks around the Synod, eve- Join today! ryon e is w on derin g wh at w e're goin g to do www.lutherreadingchallenge.org to commemorate the event that changed history.