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Rector's Message: Saturday, 30 October 2021
Updated: Nov 6, 2021
Sunday, 31 October
The Twenty-third Sunday After Pentecost
A Scripture Verse for the Week:
A Message from the Rector
MEN OF MESSIAH!
JOIN THE RECTOR THIS MOVEMBER!
No, that’s not a typo. It’s an invitation to join me in raising awareness for men’s health by joining me this month in the Movember Movement!
Did you know that 4 out of 5 suicides are committed by men? One man dies by suicide every minute of every day!
Did you know that 1 in 8 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States. More than 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year.
Did you know that testicular cancer strikes young? It is the most common cancer in American men, ages 15-39.
Men are dying before their time. But you can help us save lives. How? By helping to raise awareness and research funds addressing these alarming statistics. The answer is right under your nose! Join me and millions of other men in growing a moustache this November!
GROW A MO FOR A BRO!
It’s quite simple: Start on Monday, November 1st, with a clean-shaven face; then, leave that upper lip alone for the rest of the month. As people comment on your emerging, hairy masterpiece, use it as an opportunity to inform them about the importance of men’s mental and physical health. For more information and/or to donate to the Movember Movement, simply Google “Movember”.
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.
rd. Amen.
Calvin Smith
Michael Biehl
Renee Ferullo
Marilyn Bonner
Ella Wilkinson
Megan Wertz
Gloria Jones
Renee Marsh
Tonia Uffner
Mercer Sisson
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.
2022 PLEDGE CARDS:
All 2022 pledge cards have been mailed. We ask that you please return your card by November 14. If you did not receive your envelope and card, please contact the office. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity!
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.
NOTE: Anthony’s is using GroupRaise.com in order to properly staff the restaurant with the appropriate number of servers and kitchen staff. They ask that everyone who plans to attend (whether in person or ordering take-out) to RSVP by going to the following website:
https://www.groupraise.com/events/208423 (to RSVP for November 10th)
https://www.groupraise.com/events/207886 (To RSVP for November 17th)
Once on the page click the green “Commit to Eat” button. It will ask you to enter your first and last name as well as your email address. Also, click on the number of additional guests in your party. Then enter the first and last name of each guest. Finally, click the green “I’ll be there” button. You will then be on the list of people attending.
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
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
There will be no YOM meeting on Halloween
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 recipe this week features a side dish that can be served with just about any meal, especially at the holidays. The dish takes a little work, but it is more than worth it!!! This is delicious!
Please be reminded to send me your favorite recipes for holiday dishes. They will be featured!
Enjoy!
Barbara
Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar
6 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 1/2 lbs)
6 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar, more for topping
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon to taste
1/2 cup pecans coarsely chopped
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash potatoes, scrub and dry thoroughly. Place two chopsticks on a cutting board and place one sweet potato
In between them with the long axis of the potato running parallel to the chopsticks. Using a sharp knife, make cuts approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch apart at least 1/2 inch from the end of the sweet potato. Stop cutting when your knife hits the chopsticks so the bottom is still connected. Repeat this until the entire potato is sliced thinly. Do this with other 5 potatoes. Place potatoes on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Whisk together oil, butter, salt,sugar and cinnamon in a medium sized bowl. Use a pastry brush and brush half of the mixture over the potatoes. Spread potato slices apart using your fingers to ensure the sauce gets between the pieces. Cover the baking sheet with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Brush remaining sauce over potatoes and return to oven, uncovered for 20 minutes. When potatoes are done, sprinkle on pecans, reduce oven to 375 degrees. Return potatoes to oven for 5 - 10 minutes. Serve potatoes immediately.
