Rector's Message: Saturday, 26 June 2021

Sunday, 27 June

The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

Included in today's update: A Message from the Rector, Kids Summer Food Bag Program, Internment of Ashes for Helen Vanderslice, Birthdays in the Week Ahead, Recent Baptisms, Virtual VBS this week, Update on the daycare/preschool/education center, Creative Angels Recipe, and Ongoing Updates

FROM THE RECTOR

Saturday,26 June 2021

KIDS SUMMER FOOD BAG PROGRAM

With the school year ending, many families will struggle to provide breakfast and lunch for their children. Did you know that almost 25% of students in our local school districts receive free or reduced-priced meals while in school? During the summer months, these children often go hungry. That’s where YOU can help provide good nutrition through the Keystone Opportunity Center’s Kids Summer Food Bag Program. Families can register with the Center and be provided bags of easily-prepared foods and snacks; items such as macaroni and cheese, low sugar cereals, juice boxes, granola bars, applesauce and fruit cups, cans of tuna, peanut butter and jelly, Spaghettios, tomato soup.

Here at Messiah, we are collecting donations to purchase these items, and in a few weeks, following a Sunday service, we will be packing bags for delivery to the Center and distribution to local families. If you would like to make a contribution, please make your check payable to “Rector’s Discretionary Fund” and note “Summer Food” in the memo line. Thank you for your generosity! Then join us for the future bag-packing event later in the month!

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

Blessings! Peace! Grace! And Love!

- Keith

INTERMENT OF ASHES

The family of HELEN VANDERSLICE invites you to join them in the Messiah Cemetery today. Saturday, June 26th, for the interment of Helen's ashes. Visitation in the narthex begins at 11:30am; interment will take place at 12:15pm. May she rest in peace, and rise in glory!

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord;

and let light perpetual shine upon her.

May Helen’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.

• Grace Vaccaro

• Walter Mulroy

• Phillip Myers

• Bonnie Perrone

• Lynda Calore

• Dolores Hallman

• Kim Gruszecki

• Gail Rusnak

• Joan Astle

• Karen Higgins

• Priscilla Tracy

RECENT BAPTISMS

In recent weeks, we have baptized several young children and welcomed them into the Messiah community. Please be sure to introduce yourself to these families and make them feel welcomed into the Messiah family. Introducing the newest citizens of God's Kingdom:

Michael Stephen Anthony Little

Parents: Star & Michael Little

Callum Quinn DiMauro

Parents: Laura & Seamus DiMauro

Haley Mae Romano

Jacob Anthony Romano

Parents: Tara & Nicholas Romano

Let us welcome the newly baptized:

We receive you into the household of God.

Confess the faith of Christ crucified,

proclaim his resurrection,

and share with us in his eternal priesthood.

VIRTUAL VBS 2021

THIS WEEK!!! 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!

UPDATE ON THE NEW DAYCARE/PRESCHOOL/EDUCATION CENTER

Great progress has been made in recent weeks to prepare the downstairs spaces for the opening of the new daycare/preschool/education center: SMG CLUBHOUSE. To begin, all of the rooms received a thorough deep cleaning, followed by the painting of all the spaces in a neutral tone and doors in bright primary colors. By mid-July, new flooring, molding and stair treads will be laid down. At that time, the spaces will be turned over to the new operator for their installation of furnishings, updated technology requirements, and playground refurbishments. Marketing and registration will begin soon, with the first students and teachers arriving in early September. A Sunday morning open house for Messiah members is being planned for the parish to tour the newly-renovated spaces, meet the administrator and staff, hear about ways you can become involved in supporting this ministry, and learn more about this important resource for our local community. Stay tuned!

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.

It’s hard to believe but the Fourth of July is just a week away! Hopefully, the weather will be gorgeous and we’ll be able to have those fun celebrations we missed out on last year! These two salads are perfect for those picnics as they are not made with mayonnaise. They are tasty and easy to make!

Enjoy!

Barbara

3 BEAN SALAD

1 lb can kidney beans, drained

1 lb can green cut string beans, drained

1 lb can yellow wax beans, drained

1 small jar pimento slices, drained

1/2 cup chopped green peppers

1/2 cup chopped onions

Mix all of ingredients above in a large bowl. Mix the following in a small bowl.

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup salad oil

2/3 cup sugar

Salt and pepper to taste.

Mix vinegar, oil, sugar, salt and pepper together. Mix about 5 minutes. Pour mixture over the bean mix. Marinate for 12 hours or serve the following day.

8 - 10 servings

PANZANELLA

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 small French or Italian bread, cut into 1 in cubes ( better if bread is slightly stale)

1 tsp Kosher salt

2 large ripe tomatoes, cut into 1 in cubes

1 hothouse cucumber, not peeled, sliced 1/2 in thick

1 red pepper, cut into 1 in cubes

1 yellow pepper, cut into 1 in cubes

1/2 red onion cut in half and thinly sliced

Basil leaves, coarsely chopped

(vinaigrette)

Small amount of chopped garlic

1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

3 Tbsp champagne vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp Kosher salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Heat oil in large sauté pan. Add bread and salt. Cook over low heat to med heat, tossing frequently, for 10 min., until nicely browned. Add more oil, as needed. For vinaigrette, whisk all ingredients together. In a large bowl, mix all salad ingredients together, toss with vinaigrette and season with salt and pepper.