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Rector's Message: Saturday, 23 October 2021
Sunday, 24 October
The Twenty-second Sunday After Pentecost
A Scripture Verse for the Week:
A Message from the Rector
Dear Friends:
In last Sunday’s Gospel, and again this week, Jesus asks those who come to him the same question: “What is it that you want me to do for you?” As the agents of Christ in our own day and time, we would do well to remember to ask the same question of those who come to us.
I am reminded of a story found in Christine Wicker’s book, God Knows My Heart:
A Buddhist monk left his tradition and converted to Christianity, becoming a preacher of the Gospel. In an interview, he was asked what the Christian faith could possibly give him that Buddhism didn’t. He said that it gave him help. He recounted how he had been a refugee, and he felt utterly hopeless. The Buddhists had told him to look within himself for comfort. “You’re on your own,” he said their message had been. But the Christians said, “We’ll help you, and so will our God.” It was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
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.
Edward Patruno
Cheryl Sargent
Stan Rybicki
Jon Ferullo
Juliana Trigone
Susan Baumann
VISIT THE WEBSITE: Here you can find a video of the Sunday service as well as the bulletin and the sermon. https://www.messiahgwynedd.org/
VIEW THE CALENDAR
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Friday 9:30 to 2:30
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.
Mike Linn’s Retirement:
Mike Linn, our long-time sexton here at Messiah, retired on Friday, October 22nd, after 17 years of service. Honoring Mike’s request, we did not have a thank-you reception, but the vestry did give Mike a substantial monetary gift in thanksgiving for his many dedicated years of service to the parish. Since most of you didn’t have an opportunity to personally thank Mike and wish him well in this new chapter of life, you may wish to send a note or card as I know he would be grateful in knowing how much he was appreciated for his work among us. Mike and his family are relocating upstate and his new address is: 11 Pine Tree Road, Lock Haven, PA 17745.
Dine and Donate at Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza
On November 10th and November 17th you can enjoy a great meal while supporting the church. You can dine in or take out from 11:00am-9:00pm. Simply mention to your server that you are with Church of the Messiah and 20% of your total bill (excluding tax and tip) will be donated back to Messiah. If ordering takeout Call 610-275-2625 and mention that you are with Church of the Messiah before placing your order OR Visit Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza's online order website. In the section for order notes or special instructions, mention Church of the Messiah to receive 20% of your meal’s price donated back to the church.
Online Rummage Sale
Do you have items in your home that you no longer need or want? If so, please consider donating them to Messiah. We will post them online on Facebook marketplace and will arrange for the sale. All proceeds will go towards achieving our annual fundraising goal. Items that tend to sell online are furniture, clothing lots, shoes, accessories, books, seasonal products, home goods, sports and fitness equipment, electronic appliances, etc. If you have any of these items that you wish to donate, reach out to Jennifer Marsh at jhmarsh21@gmail.com with a detailed description of your item as well as photographs of the item from different angles. Jennifer will post the item on Facebook and will communicate with interested buyers to arrange for a sale at the best price. Once a sale is made we will coordinate with you to bring the item to the parish hall (either Jennifer will pick it up from your location or you may drop it off). If an item is too big (like a large piece of furniture) Jennifer will meet with the buyer at your location at a time that is convenient for you. The buyer is fully responsible for lifting and transporting large items from your location.
FORWARD DAY-BY-DAY
The new edition of this popular daily devotional has arrived. This copy covers the period of November through January. Both regular and large print books are available. Copies are free and may be found in the narthex, or call the church office to have one mailed to you.
November 14: Thanksgiving Meal Bags
Help families put a full meal on their table this Thanksgiving! Last year, we filled and delivered 25 bags to the Keystone Opportunity Center in Souderton for distribution to their client families. Each bag was filled with food items and a $25 supermarket gift card to complete the meal according to their preference for a turkey or another meat. This year, we are hoping to fill 30 bags! Please help us achieve our goal to feed our neighbors in need!
Make your donation payable to the “Rector’s Discretionary Fund”. Then join us in the Parish Hall after the 9:30am service on Sunday, November 14th, to pack the bags and load them into cars for delivery to the Center by the youth of the parish that afternoon.
News from SMG Clubhouse
SAVE THE DATE!!
Sign up Here!
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
Acolytes - not just for teens anymore!
Volunteers – of any age! – are needed to serve on the altar as acolytes. In addition to leading the choir and clergy in processions, acolytes assist the priest in preparing and clearing the altar for Communion. If you are interested in serving in this important ministry, contact Rich Dunlap: dunlap1824@verizon.net. Thank you!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A HANDBELL RINGER?
If you can count, and you want to praise God with music, we would love to have you join the handbell choir. You don't need to know how to read music, we will guide you. We rehearse on Thursday nights from 6:00pm-7:00pm, in the church. Let one of the bell ringers know that you are interested, or come to rehearsal on Thursday and we will get you gloved and ringing! How about even joining us for a season? Give it a try! Thank you.
SUPPORT FOR MANNA ON MAIN STREET
We Continue to Collect & Deliver Non-Perishable Items
As you do your weekly shopping, please pick up some non-perishable food items, toiletries and cleaning supplies. These donations can be left on the back pew of the church or left outside the Rector’s office door. These will then be delivered to Manna to stock their shelves for distribution to meet clients’ needs.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN!
The Rector’s Zoom Book Study & Discussion
GENESIS - The Opening Chapters: Origins & Foundations
Wednesday evenings – 7:00pm
First Session: October 6 – November 10, 2021
Second Session: January 12 – February 16, 2022
The first book of the Bible is a book of beginnings. The first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis bring us back to our origins and the foundation of life itself: the creation stories; the Fall; the first murder; the ark and Great Flood; the first covenant; Tower of Babel; and dispersion of the nations. We learn how we were created and about the origins of sin and its fallout through meeting Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and his family. We find ourselves drawn into tales of deceit, jealousy and outright failure. And woven throughout these earliest stories are the golden threads of God’s promises and revelation.
Church School will continue to meet in person and virtually on Sunday mornings at 9:30 in the Parish Hall.
Following the CDC and diocesan guidelines, and for the safety of all:
all children, teachers and nursery volunteers will be strongly encouraged to wear a mask or face covering, regardless of vaccination status
seats will be spread out, when both sitting at a table or on the carpet
snacks and drinks will not be served
hand sanitizer will be available, as well as the restroom sink for hand washing
each child will be supplied with a bag of their own supplies to eliminate the need for sharing supplies
This Saturday the YOMS will be meeting at the church at 6:00 and then heading out to the corn maze!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS YEAR'S CALENDAR OF MEETINGS AND EVENTS
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.
The weather certainly has taken a chilly turn! This time of year is exciting as we change the types of clothes we wear, the types of activities in which we are involved and, of course, the meals we eat. Many of us try to incorporate the "fall" crops into those dishes we create. This Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad is one of my favorites! It's a wonderful side dish, but can actually be served as a meal. It's so tasty! Enjoy!
Barbara
Apple Walnut Cranberry Salad
1 bag salad greens (Romaine is my favorite)
2 green apples, sliced
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup small walnut pieces
Apple Cider Vinaigrette
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
In a large bowl, toss together all salad ingredients. In a bowl, whisk together vinaigrette ingredients. Drizzle vinaigrette over salad and toss. Serve.
A GENTLE REMINDER
Please send your favorite holiday recipes to me to include in Creative Angels. It will be a treat to share them!
