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Rector's Message: Saturday, March 19, 2022
Updated: Mar 26, 2022
Sunday, 20 March
The Third Sunday in Lent
A Scripture Verse for the Week:
A Message from the Rector
How many times in your life have you wished for another chance? Another chance to take a test. Another chance at bat. Another chance to do a better job. Another chance to heal a hurt. Another chance to show you love. A person asks for another chance because he failed the first time; because she thinks she can do better; because he did not realize how important it was. But all too often, we do not get another chance.
Another chance. That’s what the Gospel lesson of the cursed fig tree is about. And that’s what this season of Lent is about. It is another chance to think about and do something about the most important fact in life – that Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins that we might have eternal life. These forty days of Lent give us another chance to think about that. We need that second – or third – or fortieth – or umpteenth chance - because it’s not an easy thing to grasp, even though we have heard it all our lives. It’s too big, too incredible to take in, to understand, to comprehend all at once. And so we need another chance. Each year during Lent we have the chance to view it again in terms of our own life and circumstances, revisit this awesome and amazing fact, and come to better and deeper terms with our belief in it.
Lent is another chance to consider God’s unconditional and unfathomable love for us, so that we may grow more and more into Christ Jesus. Wishing you a holy and blessed Lent!
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.
· John Sangston
· Jackson Marshall
· Carter Dunlap
· Bob Duffield
· Nick Kapusta
· Edwin Steel
· Jim Hautzinger
· Olivia Boldt
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.
**You can also help by donating to Episcopal Relief and Development. You can take a flyer from the Narthex and mail your payment with the coupon or contribute online at episcopalrelief.org/Ukraine-crisis
**Another way to help: Ukraine Aid Donation Collection: A collection for aid to Ukraine has been set up through the Ukrainian Catholic Church of Lansdale. The collections will take place during the two upcoming weekends (March 11-13 and 18-20), and the goods will be shipped overseas through the Ukrainian Relief Committee (out of Philadelphia).
Presentation of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church
1564 Allentown Road, Lansdale, PA 19446
215-368-3993
Our first load of donations has already been picked up at taken to UECC in Jenkintown. Please continue to bring in items to be donated!
SEEKING DONATIONS FOR A NEW FREEZER
After many years of loyal and dedicated service, the large freezer in the Parish Hall kitchen has given out. Repair costs are prohibitive, estimated at nearly the cost for a new freezer. So . . . we are starting a collection to purchase a new commercial freezer. Cost: $3,000.00. Can you help? No donation is too small. Make checks payable to Church of the Messiah; note Freezer in the remarks section of your check. Thank you for your help!
AMENDMENTS TO THE NEW DIRECTORY
The following are changes/corrections to the new 2022-2023 directory:
Bob and Jean Brown have new e-mail addresses:
Bob: rhb.1301.19446@gmail.com
Jean: jbrown949.19446@gmail.com
Drew and Berylle Reynolds:
Zip code: should be 19025
Drew’s cell: should be 215-380-9370
There should be no home number
EASING OF COVID GUIDELINES
Accompanying the re-opening of the church for in-person worship services, the COVID guidelines have also been eased in accordance with CDC and diocesan guidelines. When you return to church – We hope you will do so soon! We have missed seeing you and being together! – the following guidelines will be in effect:
Masks are optional for those who are fully vaccinated
Masks are still highly recommended for those unvaccinated
Doors will remain open for increased ventilation
Both 8:00am and 9:30am services begin on Sunday, March 6th
Communion will still be distributed in the form of bread only
Coffee hour following the 9:30 service will resume
TWO LENTEN CLASS OFFERINGS
HOPE IN HARD TIMES
with The Rev. Dr. Flora Keshgegian
Wednesdays lunchtime series
6 sessions: March 9 – April 13 * 12:30-1:30
A Zoom presentation sponsored by the Diocese of Pennsylvania
More information and registration on the diocesan website: diopa.org
How do we sustain hope in the midst of all that is happening in our world today? Christian hope invites us to translate messianic ends - like justice, freedom, and peace – into present values. Moving deeper than our yearning for a better future, we will re-imagine hope as we learn how to retell the Christian story and that of our lives, and develop spiritual habits of hope. This communal and interactive Zoom series will explore the nature of Christian hope, progressing each week through key habits of hope including: honoring time, moving in place, imagining creatively, participating in interrelation, and living in wild wonder. Christian hope enables us to encounter God exactly where we are, not in spite of it.
THE LORD’S PRAYER: the meaning and power of the prayer Jesus taught
with the Rector, The Rev. Keith A. Marsh
Wednesday evening series
3 sessions: March 30, April 6 & 13 * 7:00-8:30pm
A Zoom presentation
Registration: rector@messiahgwynedd.org
Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them to pray, and he gave them the form and words that are recorded in the Gospels, and have come to the be known as The Lord’s Prayer. All of us can recite the prayer from memory, probably having learned it in childhood, and it is woven into nearly every worship service of the Church. But while the well-known words slip easily off our tongue, do you really know what you are praying for? Have you taken the time to understand what it means when we say: “hallowed be thy name;” ask that “thy kingdom come;” ask for the means to “forgive … as we are forgiven;” or hope “not to be led into temptation”? Adam Hamilton has written: “this prayer is meant by Jesus to shape our lives and, through us, to shape and change the world.” Join us on three evenings as we explore the depth of this prayer our Savior taught us.
HELP WANTED . . .
As we reopen for in-person worship and begin ramping up to pre-COVID levels of activity and participation, we are in need of volunteers in several areas. Please consider giving of your time and talents to help in these various important ministries.
MANNA ON MAIN STREET FOOD DELIVERY - Each week, parishioners are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items in the back pew as part of our continuing effort to provide food to those who are hungry within our community. Manna’s food collection warehouse is located in the Lansdale Business Center, 650 North Cannon Avenue, in Lansdale. Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday. We are looking for a couple of volunteers who are willing to deliver Messiah’s food donations to Manna. Interested? Contact the Rector: rector@messiahgwynedd.org.
SUNDAY MORNING VIDEO TEAM - When church services were paused due to COVID, we began live-streaming worship services and posting the videos to the church website. This has developed into an important and much relied-upon ministry, providing those unable to join us in-person to continue to worship and participate as part of our faith community. Because of its importance, we will be continuing to broadcast and post our worship gatherings. Training is provided - so don’t be afraid, or let technology scare you! It's just a camera! If willing to be a part of this vital ministry, contact the Rector: rector@messiahgwynedd.org.
USHER CHAIR & USHERS – The Usher Chair recruits, trains and ensures that ushers are assigned for Sunday and special services. Ushers are responsible for greeting worshippers and distributing bulletins, counting and reporting attendance, collecting offerings, and assisting with traffic flow at Communion. We are hoping to assemble a corps of volunteers large enough to allow for a monthly rotation. And ladies, please remember: This job isn’t just for men!
LECTORS & CHALICE BEARERS – Volunteers are needed for both the 8:00am and 9:30 to read the lessons and Prayers of the People, as well as administering the chalice at the time of Communion. Willing to serve? Questions? Speak with Mercer Sisson: amercersisson@gmail.com.
You're Invited!! Both performances are featuring our organist, Hannah Albrecht!!
Tuesday March 22, 12:00-12:30 - solo organ recital with the AGO Tuesday Noon series, held at St. David's Episcopal Church and livestreamed at https://stdavidschurch.org/event/american-guild-of-organists-march-recitals/2022-03-22/
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 – 8:00 and 9:30am
LIVE-STREAMED - the 9:30 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.
Church School is back in person!! Please meet us upstairs in the Parish Hall at 9:30!
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.
Hopefully, the warm weather is on its way! I look forward to outdoor meals, grilling and enjoying those side dishes I associate with spring! These two potato salads are among my favorites. I serve them frequently!
Enjoy!
Barbara
POTATO SALAD WITH MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE
2 large shallots, thinly sliced
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon Kosher salt, more for seasoning
3 1/2 pounds small Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 3/4 inch chunks
2 Tablespoons whole grain mustard
Black pepper, to taste
2/3 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups fresh parsley, chopped
Combine the shallots in a large bowl with the vinegar, sugar and salt. Set aside so they pickle slightly while you cook the potatoes. Put the pot in a large pot and cover with water by an inch. Season with salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well and let sit in the colander about 10 minutes to cool slightly. Whisk the mustard into the shallot mixture. Season with pepper. Whisk in the olive oil in a slow, steady stream to make a slightly thick dressing. Add the warm potatoes and toss well. Add the parsley and toss again. Season with more salt and pepper, if needed.
10 - 12 servings
NEW POTATO AND GREEN BEAN SALAD
Dressing
1/4 balsamic vinegar
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Small amount of minced garlic
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salad
1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes
3/4 pound haricots verts, or other green beans, stems trimmed
1 small red onion, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Dressing: whisk first five ingredients in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate, covered. Bring to room temperature and whisk together before using.
Salad: steam potatoes until tender. Cool; cut into quarters. Cook green beans in a large pot of salted water until crisp tender, about 5 minutes. Drain. Cut beans in half. Combine green beans, potatoes, onion and basil in a large bowl. Add dressing; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Prepare about 4 hours ahead. Serve at room temperature.
6 servings
