Rector's Message: Wednesday, 2 September 2020

Included in today's update: A Message from Father Keith, Outdoor Yoga Classes to Benefit Local Charities, Opportunity to Help A Parishioner with Transportation, Belfry Bargains Update,

Produce for Manna, Recipes Needed, Questions for Reflection and a Prayer & Psalm for the Week

FROM THE RECTOR

Wednesday, 2 September 2020

Dear Friends:

Next week, September 4-13, I will be away enjoying a few vacation days with my family at the beach. Should you have a pastoral emergency, The Rev. MaryJo Melberger will be available to assist: 215-692-4123. The office will be closed on Labor Day, September 7th, but Sue Phillips will be in the office on Tuesday through Thursday, September 8-10, from 9:00-1:00. I will be back in the office starting Monday, September 14th.

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ,

and our God who wants only health and wholeness for his children,

I send you blessings, peace and grace in these uncertain, confusing and anxious times.

- Keith

OUTDOOR YOGA CLASSES AT MESSIAH

TO BENEFIT LOCAL CHARITIES

Support local charities while enjoying outdoor Yoga classes! Whether you are a master or a novice, Diana Mulroy, a certified yoga instructor, invites you come out on Monday and Wednesday evenings, September 14-30. Classes begin at 6:30pm. Cost is only $10/session. Each week's proceeds will be donated to a different local charity.

Bring a mat and wear comfortable clothing. Space is limited. Here is the signup link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CAEA922A4F58-join.

Questions? Contact Diana: Dimulroy@yahoo.com

Click Here to sign up today!

HELP A PARISHIONER WITH TRANSPORTATION

A Messiah parishioner needs occasional help with transportation to medical appointments in Doylestown, visits to the hair salon, grocery runs, and other errands. If you are available to assist, please contact the parish office: 215-699-9204. Thank you!

BELFRY BARGAINS UPDATE

After much deliberation, a decision has been made to keep Belfry Bargains closed until after the first of the new year to ensure the safety of the volunteers, many of whom are in the at-risk age range, as well as shoppers since social distancing is impossible in such tight quarters. This was also a difficult decision for the reason that this means that no outreach funds will be available for distribution to the many social service agencies that Belfry supports each month from the shop's proceeds. The Rector's Discretionary Fund will try to give some assistance to these organizations, particularly those that minister to the needs of our local community.

Since mid-March when Belfry closed its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, donations have continued to be dropped off, sorted and shelved. But so many donations have been made that we now find Belfry stuffed to overflowing! In the next few weeks, volunteers will be working to make inroads into the donated goods, and hopefully alleviate the problem of inventory blocking every aisle. If you have items to donate, please hold off bringing them to Belfry until late-September or early-October. Thank you!

FRESH PRODUCE FOR MANNA ON MAIN STREET

Two of Messiah's parishioners have undertaken a new ministry of providing fresh corn on the cob and other vegetables from a farm market to Manna on Main Street for distribution to clients, along with using it in their meal program. Twice each week - on Monday and Thursday mornings - the corn is brought here to Messiah, then later in the day I deliver it to Manna. They are delighted to receive it, allowing them to supplement the canned and non-perishable goods they normally give out.

This has gotten me thinking . . . At this time of year, with so much fresh vegetables and fruit available at quite reasonable prices, why don't we make it a Messiah mission to provide fresh produce to those in need within our community? Too many zucchini or tomatoes in your garden? Bring them to the church. See a good deal on fresh green beans or cucumbers or lettuce? Pick up an extra pound or two and bring them to the church. These will be added to the donation and delivered each Monday and Thursday afternoon.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN COOKING OR BAKING?

WILL YOU SHARE YOUR RECIPES, PLEASE?

Barbara Stevenson and I are working to publish a Messiah edition of a "Quarantine CookBook". We would love to include at least one recipe from every Messiah household! Do we have your submission yet? Send your recipes to either: Barbara Stevenson - bebstevenson@yahoo.com; or to me - rector@messiahgwynedd.org. We will then work to organize your submissions, and make the cookbook available to all of you.

SUNDAY WORSHIP CONTINUES ON THE WEBSITE

Videos of Sunday worship services will continue to be posted to the parish website for the duration of the suspension of church services. Each Saturday, you will receive the psalm and words of the responses and other communal parts of the service, allowing you to fully participate and interact in the worship service.

So get that second cup of coffee, still in your pajamas and bathrobe, and gather together

in front of the computer or iPad or other other device . . . Then join with me and other members of Messiah as we worship together virtually, until we can once again worship together in person.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

In last Sunday's Gospel, we read the following: Jesus told his disciples: "if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)

• What does it mean for me to take up my cross and follow Jesus?

• How do I practice that in my daily life?

• How is the cross I am asked to bear related to the cross of Jesus?

A PRAYER & PSALM FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

On this Labor Day weekend, let us pray:

Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

PSALM 100

Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *

serve the Lord with gladness

and come before his presence with a song.

Know this: the Lord himself is God; *

he himself has made us, and we are his;

we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;

go into his courts with praise; *

give thanks to him and call upon his name.

For the Lord is good;

his mercy is everlasting; *

and his faithfulness endures from age to age.