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Rector's Message: Saturday, January 29, 2022
Sunday, 30 January
The Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
A Scripture Verse for the Week:
A Message from the Rector
“When is the Good News good news?”
Linguists will inform us that the English word “gospel” comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word that means “good news”; and from the Greek word, “evangelion” we get the word “evangelism”, meaning “to share the good news”. What is less obvious is that the good news of the Gospel can, at times, be unwelcome and unwanted. The good news that we are saved implies that we are people who need saving. The good news that we are forgiven implies that we are sinners. The good news that we are reconciled to God implies that we were at odds. The good news that we are inheritors of eternal life implies that we had been destined for death.
At times, the good news will shock and dismay rather than comfort. In this Sunday’s first lesson from Jeremiah, the prophet is sent to a people who for generations had stubbornly resisted the call to repent. Jeremiah is called by God to bring a final warning and a stern message of imminent destruction. He is charged to preach this message, given authority as God’s messenger, and promised protection against the people’s outrage.
Similarly, centuries later in Nazareth, the people of Jesus’ hometown had first listened to him with pride and a certain amount of gratified smugness. Then he shocks the congregation with a message intended to destroy their complacency. When Jesus reveals a new interpretation and deeper meaning to the familiar scriptures, the people become enraged. They resist even to the point of threatening the life of the one who is, at the very least, their own native son, and is in fact, their Savior and the Son of God. After his hometown friends and neighbors reject him, Jesus moves on to the town of Capernaum, where he finds people who listen with amazement and recognize the authority of his words.
The Good News, however and whenever and wherever it may appear, is always good news. When it is faithfully preached and lived, there will always be some who will find it so.
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.
Helen Wilhelmy
Carolyn Sangston
Jayne Wicklund
Ginny Woodbury
John Grivner
Sophie Harrison
Brian Schneider
Claudette Sudlow
Lauren Thornborough
Nancy Parke
Shirley Bowen
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.
Dine and Donate
Monday, January 31st
4:00pm-9:00pm
Harvest Seasonal Grill
1460 Bethlehem Pike, North Wales, PA 19454
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.
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.
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
Ministry Opportunity:
We are in need of intercessors for our prayer chain ministry.
When someone has a need or concern, they can be placed on our prayer chain. That person is prayed for daily and the concern lifted before the Lord. If you want to join this crucial ministry, please contact Ciara Prezuhy at 215-353-1343 or cprezuhy@gmail.com.
Thank you!
HAT AND GLOVE DRIVE FOR MITZVAH CIRCLE
LAST CHANCE!! In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, join the outreach committee is collecting hats and gloves for Mitzvah Circle. Mitzvah Circle is an organization in Norristown that was created to fill the gaps, to provide items that are not covered by government assistance. You can purchase hats and gloves to donate (Walmart, Amazon or Target will ship right to your house if you don’t want to go out), or you can offer ones you have knitted/crocheted. Please drop off all items to the church before January 31st. There will be a bin labeled Mitzvah Circle. You can also include a handwritten note of encouragement!
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.
RECTOR'S BIBLE STUDY
GENESIS – PART II
After taking a break for the month of December, the second half of the GENESIS Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, January 12th. We will meet each Wednesday evening via Zoom at 7:00pm for six weeks (1/12-2/16), covering the events of Noah and the Great Flood through the Tower of Babel. If you would like to join us, please contact the Rector to receive the weekly readings and Zoom invitations.
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.
Even though we live in uncertain times, family time continues to be important to all of us. During those times, when we are together, tasty meals are handy to have at the ready. This casserole is a wonderfully tasty one that can be prepared quickly. Enjoy!
Barbara
Chicken Tetrazzini
12 ounces spaghetti
2 Tablespoons butter
1 package 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
3 cups diced cooked chicken breast
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cups sour cream
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13 x 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Cook spaghetti for minimum time. Drain. In a 10 inch skillet, melt butter. Cook mushrooms in butter for 4 minutes, stir occasionally, until tender. In a large bowl, mix cooked spaghetti, mushrooms, chicken, soup, sour cream and pepper. Pour mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered 55 minutes or until bubbling. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
9 servings
