Messiah News

Mark is my favorite Gospel. It's energetic, approachable, clear, and, and, and - but that's just me. Fortunately for me, though, this year has been the "Year of Mark" for us in worship. Our style of worship rotates through three years, one each telling the story of Jesus through the eyes of Matthew, Mark and Luke respectively. The Gospel of John doesn't get it's own year because it doesn't really tell a chronological story of Jesus like the other three. So, we sprinkle in a little John here and there every year just so he doesn't feel unloved. (But I digress.) My point is that this has been the year of Mark. Mark is especially clear about the last week of Jesus' life, what we call Holy Week. This Sunday, March 24, we begin the Holy Week journey. As we read the story, though, we discover that each writer seems to emphasizes something different in their...

All are welcome to join in celebrating Easter at Messiah, March 31, 2024.  Messiah will have three services on Easter morning as well Easter Egg hunts at both campuses.  Maundy Thursday, March 28 6:00pm-Messiah Hazel Dell Livestream link » Good Friday, March 29 10:30am, 6:00pm-Messiah Hazel Dell. 6:00pm livestream link » Easter Sunday, Ma...

Since the update provided at the annual meeting, the Call Committee has received 4 additional Rostered Minister Profiles (RMP) to consider. We have conducted initial interviews with all 4 of the candidates. We conducted a second onsite interview with one of the candidates. That candidate withdrew from consideration as they felt they needed more time to discern what God has planned for them next. One of the candidates we talked with was very gifted but has not yet served as a solo or lead pastor. As a result, we decided to continue our conversation with the other two candidates. Both have an impressive depth and breadth of experience and have served as a solo pastor of a congregation. We have invited both candidates to a second interview. Our preference is an in-person conversation over a zoom discussion, but we recognize this is a difficult time of the year to travel for...

If you were a part of our "Internship Process Progress Potluck" February 25, or if you read our summary of that event in last week's Northern Highlights, you may have noticed that several groups said they looked forward to "new, fresh or alternative" perspectives a new pastor might bring. Really?! You shouldn't encourage me. I can do alternative perspectives! Here's what happened. Our Old Testament Lesson for Sunday, March 10, 2024, is Numbers 21:4-19. In this story Israel, doing their 40 years in the wilderness after the Exodus, is complaining to God about, I don't know, everything. Anyway, God gets tired of it and sends snakes into the desert which bite people and they die. (Complainers beware!!)  So, the people apologize for their whining and ask God to take the snakes away. That doesn't  happen (sigh) but God does tell Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a stake....

As you may already know, our Lenten Offerings this year go to the ELCA Fund for Leaders. (By Lenten Offerings we mean those specially designated for The Fund.) What you may not know is that a request has been made to Messiah's Endowment Fund to match your gifts, up to $1,500 total, for this worthy cause. If you missed worship this past Sunday, March 10, 2024, you also missed a short, video shot just for us by ELCA Fund for Leaders Director Rev. Marissa Krey. You can view it here if you wish. We also have a few brochures and other information at church. If you wish to support the fund you can do so with cash or a check, (there is a gifting box at the back of the sanctuary during our Wednesday Holden Evening Prayer services,) or you can give online in your usual manner. (You may also, of...