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Rector's Message: Saturday, February 05, 2022
Updated: Feb 13, 2022
Sunday, 06 January
The Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany
A Scripture Verse for the Week:
A Message from the Rector
In this week’s Gospel lesson, Jesus instructs Simon Peter, despite a nonproductive night of fishing, to take the boat out again and let down his nets once more. Reluctantly, the fishermen do so, and this time their nets are filled to the point of breaking and swamping the boats. Then Jesus says those famous words: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” And immediately upon reaching the shore, Peter, James and John leave everything behind and follow him.
For many years, “fishing for people” seemed to me an odd and dangerous way to describe the apostolic and evangelistic mission. First, fishing is a predator-prey activity, perfectly legitimate in the larger scheme of things in which humans use fish to feed their need for protein, but clearly bad news for the fish. And then there are all those phrases in our language that link fishing with devious human activity. We speak disapprovingly, for example, of someone “fishing” for a compliment. Or we refer to the sinister work of drug pushers as getting people “hooked.” And the work of another kind of hooker is sometimes described as “luring.” How does an image that uses such negative connotations fit the ministry to which Jesus calls his followers?
For starters, the connotations of fishing practices today are not necessarily the associations people would have made in first-century Palestine. While fishhooks were certainly known tools and archaeologists have found ancient fishhooks around the Sea of Galilee, the Gospel references to fishing envision the use of nets, like those used by Peter and his friends in today’s Gospel. And this image shift moves us from hooking to gathering.
Another insight comes, rather interestingly, from one of the sayings of Napoleon Bonaparte while exiled on the island of St. Helena. One morning, while reading the New Testament, perhaps this same Gospel story, Napoleon commented to a companion, “I am struck with the contrast between Christ’s mode of gathering people to himself and the way practiced by Alexander the Great, by Julius Caesar, and by myself. The people have been gathered to us by fear; they were gathered to Christ by love. The people have been driven to us; they were drawn to him. In our case there has been forced conscription; in him there was free obedience.”
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.
· Byard Brogan
· Sue Costella
· Doug Shank
· Marie Kramer
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.
MESSIAH IN-PERSON CHURCH SERVICES REMAIN ‘PAUSED’ THROUGH FEBRUARY
Unfortunately, while there are some indications that the COVID numbers are slowing and approaching a peak in some areas of the country, the local infection rate still remains quite high, overwhelming hospitals and emergency rooms, and causing many businesses to delay having workers return to offices until later in the spring. And as was inevitable with this easily-spread virus, more of our parishioners have recently been infected; thankfully, all with relatively mild symptoms.
Therefore, in coordination with national Church policies and diocesan guidelines, and after consulting local medical professionals and Messiah’s vestry officers, I have made the very difficult decision to suspend in-person Sunday services for another month. While this decision is not made quickly or easily, I am convinced that it is the prudent and cautious choice for protecting our congregation, especially our older parishioners and the children among us. I ask for your understanding.
Please continue to tune into the videotaped services found each week on the church website: messiahgywnedd.org. Remember to pray for all those adversely affected by this pandemic. Check on your neighbors and friends and offer help where you can.
Most of all, please do all you can to stay safe and healthy, for your own sake and others:
Maintain your vaccinations and boosters.
Wear a mask.
Keep a social distance.
Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
I am hoping that we will be in a safer environment in another month, allowing us to reopen for Ash Wednesday services on March 2nd and continuing into Lent and Easter. And with the weather beginning to improve in a few weeks, leaving the church doors open to increase fresh air ventilation will be less difficult. Stay tuned . . .
Blessings!
Keith
Belfry Bargains Will Also Remain Closed for the month of February.
Thank you!!
Charles Sudlow delivered 113 meals to Caring for Friends from the church freezer! Thank you to everyone who contributed frozen meals. It is so wonderful that we were able to come together as a church community to make that many meals from our own homes. Caring for Friends is currently changing their menu requests and meal trays, so keep an eye out for future opportunities to participate!!
If you would like to know more about the Caring for Friends organization, you can visit their website here: https://caringforfriends.org/
Valentine's Day Dine and Donate
A New Directory is on the Way!
A new church directory is in the works. Directories will be available by the end of February. If you did not fill out an updated communications form, and you know your information has changed, please notify the office ASAP. Thank you!
JOIN OUR BOOK DISCUSSION
If God is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk
Finding a Faith that Makes Us Better Humans
By John Pavlovitz
“Imagine for a moment what the world might look like if we as people of faith, morality, and conscience actually aspired to this mantra. What if we were fully burdened to create a world that was more loving and equitable than when we arrived? What if we invited one another to share in wide-open, fearless, spiritual communities truly marked by compassion and interdependence? What if we daily challenged ourselves to live a faith that simply made us better humans? John Pavlovitz explores how we can embody this kinder kind of spirituality where we humbly examine our belief system to understand how it might compel us to act in less-than-loving ways toward others.”
These words from Amazon invite us into a book discussion unlike any other. Will you join us?
Via Zoom – Thursdays February 3 – March 10, 2022 at 2 p.m. The book may be purchased at Amazon – paperback $14.49; kindle $7.98 Please contact Rev. MaryJo Melberger at revmjmelb@verizon.net to join.
Forward Day by Day
The Day by Day devotionals for February through April 2022 are now available. They are currently available to pick up in the office during office hours.
CAN YOU HELP?
One of our parishioners is in need of rides from her home in Hatfield to occasional doctor appointments in Doylestown/Warrington. She has said she will gladly compensate anyone who is willing to give her a ride. Please contact the church office if you would be willing to help: 215-699-9204.
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 – In-Person Services are temporarily paused for the month of January due to the rising number of Covid cases
LIVE-STREAMED - the service will be broadcast on YouTube – follow the link posted on the church website (messiahgwynedd.org)
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
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.
JOIN OUR BOOK DISCUSSION
If God is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk
Finding a Faith that Makes Us Better Humans
By John Pavlovitz
“Imagine for a moment what the world might look like if we as people of faith, morality, and conscience actually aspired to this mantra. What if we were fully burdened to create a world that was more loving and equitable than when we arrived? What if we invited one another to share in wide-open, fearless, spiritual communities truly marked by compassion and interdependence? What if we daily challenged ourselves to live a faith that simply made us better humans? John Pavlovitz explores how we can embody this kinder kind of spirituality where we humbly examine our belief system to understand how it might compel us to act in less-than-loving ways toward others.”
These words from Amazon invite us into a book discussion unlike any other. Will you join us?
Via Zoom – Thursdays February 3 – March 10, 2022 at 2 p.m. The book may be purchased at Amazon – paperback $14.49; kindle $7.98 Please contact Rev. MaryJo Melberger at revmjmelb@verizon.net to join.
Church School will be meeting virtually at 10:30 Sunday mornings for the month of January and February. A meeting link will be sent out on Saturday evenings.
Due to the rising numer of Covid cases, YOM meetings and events are temporarily suspended for the month of January and February.
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.
I am frequently looking for ways to serve vegetables that are interesting and tasty. A few years ago, I came across this recipe. It’s a great, tasty combination of veggies and pasta that can be served as a main dish or as a side dish with your favorite protein.
Enjoy!
Barbara
Vegetable Lasagna
14 lasagna noodles
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
Small amount of diced garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 green pepper, diced
2 med zucchini, cut into small pieces
2 med yellow squash, cut into small pieces
1 12oz jar roasted red peppers, drained and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
Fresh basil, chopped handful
1 15 oz container ricotta cheese
2 large eggs
2 oz grated Parmesan cheese ( approx. 1 cup)
8 oz mozzarella, shredded
Salt and pepper, to taste
Cook lasagna noodles. Add olive oil to water. Drain, lay flat on aluminum foil. Heat oven to 350 degrees, lightly oil or spray 13 x 9 baking dish. Heat oil in large frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring until translucent, 3 - 5 minutes. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, zucchini, squash and a pinch of salt, stir occasionally until softened with some crunch, 5 - 8 minutes. Stir in roasted red peppers and tomatoes. Bring to low simmer and cook until liquid has thickened and reduced by half, 5 - 8 minutes. Add basil and season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Stir ricotta, eggs and 1/2 teaspoon in bowl until blended. Spoon just enough of the vegetable mix into baking dish to lightly cover the bottom. Arrange 4 noodles lengthwise in the baking dish. Cover open spaces. Spread 1/2 ricotta mixture over noodles. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Top with 1/3 of the vegetable mixture. Add another layer of noodles and repeat. Finish with final layer of noodles, vegetables and cheeses. Cover lightly with foil, bake 15 minutes until cheese is crusty around the edges. To make cheese brown on top, slide under broiler for 1 - 2 minutes. Let rest 10 - 15 minutes before serving.
Can cover 2 days before serving but place parchment paper under aluminum foil to store. Then bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, uncover and bake for about 30 minutes, until heated through.
8 servings
