FROM THE RECTOR Friday, 20 March 2020 Dear Friends: This has been quite a week . . . schools and churches closed, bars and restaurants curtailed, most activities and events cancelled, gatherings of over 10 prohibited, mixed and confusing and rapidly changing messages from all quarters and "experts" . . . Personally, what has most caught my attention has been the pervasive quiet that seems to have caught everyone and everything in its embrace. Every aspect of our life has been

Dear Messiah Families, Here's a little story to remind us how much God loves us, and how much we need to love each other right now.

Cancellations & Instructions Due to COVID-19 12 March 2020 Dear Parishioners and Friends: After consulting with medical professionals, discussions with the diocesan office, and receiving a directive from the national church office, I have made the difficult decision to cancel services, parish meetings, classes and events here at the church for the remainder of the month. I assure you that this action was not arrived at easily or quickly, but after much thought and prayer - an

Lent 3 / A 15 March 2020 Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95; Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42 "… the disciples (urged Jesus), 'Rabbi, eat something.'" We are advised never to go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. And it seems I can now also advise against sermon preparation. I must have been hungry when I sat down to read the lessons for this morning and begin work on a homily. Or perhaps I was anticipating this morning’s chili cook-off. For whatever reason, this was the verse that jumped

Meditation for the Third Sunday in Lent - March 15, 2020 We live in the world bordered by Massah and Meribah; we are the murmurers before the Lord. Always in us is an airless thirst, a restless dissatisfaction, with the way the world is, and the way the world receives and treats us. This is the thirst the Israelites knew in the wilderness, the life-thirst, we may call it, that the Samaritan woman knew, on that hot noon-day, at Jacob’s well. Lent is the season in which we fa

Red Cross Blood Drive will be here on Monday, April 6, from 2 pm to 7:30 pm. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation. Please contact Cheryl Sargent (cherylsargent623@gmail.com or 215 896-5966.

Lent 2/A March 8, 2020 Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17 One of the real challenges for any preacher, but particularly those who have the discipline of sticking to the lectionary, is trying to find that elusive “fresh perspective” or “new insight” into the assigned Biblical text. In fact, the more familiar the scripture, the greater the effort, sometimes bordering on desperation, to find something “new” and “fresh,” something novel and unique to say

Out of concern for everyone's safety, the chili cook-off, originally scheduled for this coming Sunday, 3/15, has been cancelled.We apologize to those who have been inconvenienced but think it's best to proceed with caution. Back by popular demand, Messiah's " HOTTEST" EVENT OF THE YEAR!! Fellowship Ministry is hosting our Famous Messiah Chili Cook-Off. Sunday March 15 following the 9:30 service in the Parish Hall. Prepare your spatulas and taste buds for a Chili Challenge at

Lent 1/A March 1, 2020 Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11 The Gospel reading for this morning is an odd bit of Scripture, quite dissimilar from the majority of Gospel literature. To begin, this particular passage is full of symbolism, hyperbole, and imagery. Very vivid images, in fact - so very vivid that we almost can’t help but conjure up the scene of Jesus’ conversation with the tempter as it might appear on stage or screen. Those among us wi

Join us on March 23rd & 24th at Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza Mention CHURCH of the MESSIAH and 20% of tracked dine in or take sales will be donated all day