Rector's Message: Saturday, 12 June 2021

Sunday, 13 June

The Third Sunday After Pentecost and Annual Meeting

Included in today's update: A Message from the Rector, Revised Covid Guidelines, Birthdays in the Week Ahead, Annual Parish Meeting, YOM Mission Trip, Virtual VBS, Creative Angels Recipe, and Ongoing Updates

FROM THE RECTOR

Saturday,12 June 2021

Dear Friends:

THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 13th!

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING!

During 9:30 Service

The Annual Parish Meeting, normally held on the first Sunday in May, has been postponed this year. The new date is this coming Sunday, June 13th. As is the custom here at Messiah, the meeting will take place in the midst of the 9:30am Eucharist, and will feature presentations by the Rector on the highlights of the past year and proposed events planned for the year ahead, financial data from the Treasurer, and information from the Wardens on important developments for the parish. We will also honor Vestry retirements and approve a new class of Vestry members for three-year terms. Please plan to attend.

ALSO . . . !

After twelve years of leading the parish and vestry through his service as Senior Warden, DAVE PREZUHY is stepping down from that position. Please join us as we honor him – and try to thank him! – for his many years of ministering in this important position. Following the service, a special coffee hour will honor Dave and allow you an opportunity to offer your personal expressions of appreciation.

AND THANK YOU . . . !

After completing their three-year terms, three members will be rotating off of the vestry. Thank you to VICKY FOGEL, SUSAN MILLER & CHARLES SUDLOW for their years of faithful service and commitment to the mission and ministries of the parish.

AND TWO MORE THANK YOU'S . . . !

to The Rev. Bob Brown for celebrating and preaching for the past two Sundays, and The Rev. MaryJo Melberger being on-call for pastoral issues last week. Their services allowed the Rector to get away for a few days of much-appreciated rest and relaxation.

May your summer days be filled with joy, health, and hope!

Blessings! Peace! Grace! And Love!

- Keith

NEWLY REVISED COVID GUIDELINES

Bishop Gutierrez has released updated guidelines for worship gatherings, based on the new guidance from the CDC. As a result, we are now revising the protocols for Church of the Messiah.

Beginning THIS SUNDAY, June 13th,

the date for our Annual Parish Meeting:

• Pews will no longer be roped off. Social distancing between households is still a good idea, but the decision on where to sit and who to sit with will be left to the individual.

• Congregational singing will resume.

• Fellowship will resume. This means that our annual custom of gathering after worship for Summer Tea on the Terrace can begin again.

• Contact tracing sheets will no longer be required.

• Eucharist will continue to be offered in one kind, meaning only bread will be distributed, until further notice from the Bishop. For the safety and comfort of all, the celebrant will remain masked and gloved when administering the host.

• The wearing of masks will be optional for fully vaccinated adults. This is now an individual decision. When deciding whether to be masked, please remember that while most adults have had the opportunity to be vaccinated, children under 12 are still not eligible, and youth 12-16 have only recently been cleared for vaccination. There are also those among us who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Whether you decide to wear a mask or not, please be sensitive to the decisions of others.

• Activities for children and youth must still include masks and social distancing of participants. With this in mind, Vacation Bible School will again be virtual this year. Repeating the success of last summer’s ‘VBS-in-a-Box’, supplies will be distributed to all families, and daily lessons and activities can then be accessed on the church website.

• The Sunday morning service will continue to be livestreamed, and also available on the website. This has become an important means of outreach and participation for those unable to join in in-person worship.

Should you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me (215-699-9204; rector@messiahgwynedd.org).

INTERMENT OF ASHES

The family of SANDY MELLISH invites you to join them in the Messiah Cemetery on Monday, June 14th, at 2:00pm, for the interment of Sandy's ashes. May she rest in peace, and rise in glory!

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord;

and let light perpetual shine upon her.

May Sandy’s soul and the souls of all the departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

BIRTHDAYS IN THE WEEK AHEAD

O God, our times are in your hands: Look with favor, we pray, on these your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

• Emma Kriebel

• Rachel Powell-Cohen

• Zoe Bruno

• Paul Myers

• Stephen Wacyk

• Megan Myers

• David Reichley

• Michael Stinson

• Colleen Vaccaro

• Nancy Johnson

2021 YOM MISSION TRIP: Local Ministry Week

We are excited to announce our Summer 2021 Mission Trip! This year our week of service will look a bit different. Our group will be working together for several consecutive weekdays during the week of June 21-25. We are coordinating with several different organizations and outreach programs in Philadelphia and Montgomery County, and our group will be volunteering at different locations each day. During a typical year we would be traveling out of state or out of the country, and we would usually be sharing some tight living arrangements with groups from other states. Although we are not travelling far this year, we recognize that there are many needs within our own community and those surrounding us nearby. This past year has brought a lot of challenges, not just financially but also emotionally and spiritually. We hope that throughout this week of service our ministry group can bring healing, love and hope to the people in our communities.

• Dates: Monday, June 21st - Friday, June 25th

• Where are we working: Mitzvah Circle, Belfry Bargains, Aim High Yoga, Judith Creed Horizons for Achieving Independence, Keystone Opportunity Center - and our special surprise fun day on Friday!!!

• Who Can Go: Any Youth entering 7th - 12th grade who are currently in our YOM program or will be entering into the YOM program in the coming year. If any youth have friends who are interested in this great experience, we are always open to allowing our ministry to grow!

• How Much Will The Trip Cost: The total amount for our week of service will be $100. This will help cover our costs for transportation, materials for some of our volunteer sites, evening meals, and our Friday activities. Some of the expenses are already being covered by our youth fund.

• How To Sign Up: Please fill out a Mission Trip Sign Up form and turn it in along with $100 to reserve your space! If you have any friends who may be interested, please have them contact us so that we may provide information on the trip and answer any questions.

We hope you decide to join us for this unique ministry opportunity!

If you have any questions about signing up or our trip in general,

please contact Dave Reichley at:

dareichley@gmail.com or 267-664-2276

VIRTUAL VBS 2021

JUNE 28 - JULY 1

Repeating the success of last year's VBS-in-a-Box, this year’s VBS program will again be fully virtual. We felt it was the best way to meet every family’s schedule and safety concerns. Our program this year is titled:

TREASURED - discovering you're priceless to God

• All digital material will be available beginning June 28 via the church website

• https://www.messiahgwynedd.org/

• All other materials will be available for pick up/delivery during the week of June 21.

Please email tmreichley@gmail.com if you are not able to pick up a box, and we will make sure you get one!

AND YOU CAN SPONSOR A TREASURE HUNTER!!

This year’s Vacation Bible School program is TREASURED: DISCOVERING YOU’RE PRICELESS TO GOD, and we are looking for people to sponsor a young treasure hunter for the week. For only $30 you can cover the cost for a VBS camper to receive all of the supplies for a week of VBS! Checks should be made payable to ‘Church of the Messiah’; clearly note ‘VBS’ in the memo line. VBS will begin the week of June 28. Thank you in advance for your support!

MULTIPLE WAYS TO JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology and the hard work of several parishioners, we are able to offer a variety of ways to participate in Sunday services:

• IN-PERSON – COVID precautions strictly observed

• LIVE-STREAMED - the service will be broadcast on YouTube – follow the link posted on the church website (messiahgwynedd.org)

• BY PHONE – for those without computer access, dial 609-663-5164 to listen to an audio-only option on your phone

• WEBSITE – at the close of the service, a video will be posted to the parish website (messiahgwynedd.org) for viewing at a time convenient for you

ON THE WEBSITE

Check the website each weekend for the video of the Sunday service. And make it interactive by checking out the service bulletin with all the responses, lessons, and weekly updates and information. A copy of the Sunday sermon is also available.

IN CASE OF A PASTORAL EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS

Should you have an urgent need to contact the Rector outside of Church Office hours, please use his cell phone: 215-692-2667.

CREATIVE ANGELS

NOTE: Barbara Stevenson continues to need recipes and craft ideas to pass along to the parish through the weekly email messages. You can send your submissions to Barbara at bebstevenson@yahoo.com.

Over the last several weeks, we have shared recipes for quite a few main and side dishes. This week our focus is on desserts. We all have those individuals in our families with a “sweet tooth.” Those people will be so happy with these happy endings! Enjoy!

Bananas Foster

• 1/2 cup, melted

• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

• 6 bananas, cut into 1 inch slices

• 1/4 cup rum or 1/4 teaspoon rum extract

• Vanilla ice cream

Stir together butter, brown sugar, bananas and rum in a 3 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low setting for one hour. To serve, spoon over scoops of vanilla ice cream. Yummy!

Cream Puffs

• 1/2 cup butter. (1stick)

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup flour

• 4 eggs

• 2 small boxes instant vanilla pudding (3.4oz each)

• 1 1/3 cup cold whole milk

• 8 oz. sour cream

• Powdered sugar

(Cream Puffs) - Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt stick of butter and water to a rolling boil. Stir in flour and stir vigorously over low heat until mixture leaves the pan ( comes off the sides) and is in a ball ( about 1 minute). Remove from heat and cool for a couple of minutes. Beat in eggs ( one at a time) with a mixer. Beat mixture until smooth and velvety. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until dry, 20 - 25 minutes ( may need a few minutes longer). Allow to cool.

(Filling) - Mix pudding with milk. Add sour cream until thick. Put mixture in refrigerator for at least an hour. Slice cream puffs in half and fill with pudding mixture. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. So good!