Every year, Messiah Lutheran gifts our 3-year-olds and third graders with a children's Bible. This year, we will be gifting Bibles during worship on Sunday, October 15th. Three year olds enrolled at Messiah Preschool will be gifted their Bible from the preschool. If you have or know a child that would like to receive a Bible, please rea...
Yoga with Karri will resume on Mondays at 5pm beginning October 2 in the Hazel Dell gym. All participants should plan to bring a mat and water bottle. There is no cost to attend class, but a donation of a canned food item for the Ridgefield Family Resource Center is appreciated. The first few weeks of class will be super gentle an...
The submission deadline for Endowment Grant requests is Thursday September 21, 2023. For more information and to apply see the "About Messiah" tab on messiahvancouver.org or visit messiahvancouver.org/endowment. Grant requests are considered quarterly. The next deadline will be in December of this year.
Last week numerous Messiah North attendees took time out to volunteer at the Ridgefield Family Resource Center. The volunteers helped to assemble snack packs for kids and also wrote notes of encouragement to go along with them. "What a marvelous experience it was to volunteer at the Ridgefield Family Resource Center," said interim Messiah Nor...
All interested in learning more about the Godly Play program at Messiah Lutheran are invited to "Godly Play 101" on Wednesday, September 20 from 6-7pm. The event will be held at Messiah's Hazel Dell campus in the downstairs Godly Play Room (#105). Children and their parents or guardians are invited to check out the Godly Play space and walk through...
In the 'old days' churches used to have professional Church Directory companies come in, take family pictures, sell family pictures (to you,) and then make church directories for free out of the proceeds. That was all well and good, but not what most of us do anymore. Now churches (like Messiah) have more sophisticated membership softwar...
If you read or study the New Testament much you are probably used to having the Apostle Paul in his letters tell people what they should and shouldn't be doing, and what it means to be the church, or live a godly life. I, at least, think of the Gospels more as books that tell the story of Jesus. They are stories and histories, if you will, as oppos...
What a difference a year makes! Last September Pr. Tom and I were just getting to know you. We were working on our Ministry Site Profile and looking forward to a Spring/Summer formation of your call committee. Check, check and check. We've done great so far. Thank you! The theme we used for last Fall's work was "In Holy Hands." We talked about how ...
All are invited to attend Messiah's Fall Kickoff on September 10. Join in for a ministry fair featuring tables and information on all of the various ministries, activities, opportunities, programs and small groups available at Messiah. It all takes place after worship beginning with the fair and being followed by a potluck and ice cream from Chill3...
You've had Brewed Theology and Theology on Tap so let's not go against the grain and introduce HOP TOPICS! It's time to reprise some of the great conversations that can be had around a cold one and see what is mashing around in your world. What ales you? We'll kick off HOP TOPICS on Thursday, September 14 at the Messiah Church House backyard, the f...
All Wednesday night children and youth programs resume on Wednesday, September 13! The following programs meet weekly at Messiah Lutheran's Hazel Dell campus on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00 PM. Godly Play (3 Years Old - 5th Grade): Meets Wednesdays 6:00-7:00PM in the downstairs Godly Play Room #105 Confirmation (Middle Schoolers): Meets Wednesdays 6:0...
Our Gospel reading for this Sunday, August 27, 2023, is Matthew 16:13-20. In it Jesus asks his disciples who people think he is - for which there are lots of answers. And then Jesus asks them who they think he is, and Peter says, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!" Right you are, Peter. And you didn't come up with that one a...
Join us in reading and talking about The Gift of Empathy book published by Stephen Ministries. It takes an in-depth look at empathy as a learnable skill, showing how it can enhance relationships, improve communication, and help people better connect with one another. "I used to get too wrapped up in other people's issues and emotions, or I'd avoid ...
All are invited to Taste of Choir! A Musical Potluck The event will include great food, guided part-singing, and plenty of time to catch up with friends. For returning choir members, it will be a fun way to get back in that singing swing after taking the summer off. For new folks, it's a great way to sample the choir commitment-free, so bring your ...
August 9, 2023 Dear Friends and Members of Messiah Lutheran Church, Thank you for a wonderful summer, and all the prayers, work and involvement you have offered for VBS and Wild Wednesdays, as well as the ongoing work of our quilters, study groups, Stephens Ministries, etc. Worship attendance has also been strong and energetic through the summer. I...
Messiah North "Brunch on the 2nd" will be held August 13 at Country Cafe in Ridgefield. Country Cafe is located at 6370 Pioneer Street. This month we'll be joined by Worship and Music Director Maria Kramer. Those interested in attending this month should contact Messiah North site coordinator Ingrid Maddox by August 12 so that they can be add...
The Ridgefield Family Resource Center is conducting a back to school supply drive. Items may be brought to worship services at either campus by August 20. The following is a list of supplies they could use. Empty backpacks (elementary to highschool age appropriate), college ruled spiral notebooks, wide ruled spiral notebooks, college ruled co...
Thanks to all who voted for their favorite songs for the music team to perform on You Choose the Songs Sunday July 30. The top vote getting songs were: Messiah North top three, tied for 1st place with 2 votes each: Child of Love10,000 ReasonsAmazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)Hazel Dell top four, ranked:1. Beautiful Savior (6)2. How Great Thou Art (...
Wild Wednesdays return beginning August 2 and run through August 16. The three sessions will be for children ages 3-11 on Wednesday mornings from 9:30-11am. It's free fun with bible stories, games, crafts, music, snack and play time. Drop off will be at the church gym and pickup at the preschool playground. Since there was a great turno...
Last week 16 Messiah Members helped pack 40 bins with kitchen bath and bedroom items to help benefit refugees. The bins will be used locally to help refugees who are settled in the area through Lutheran Refugee Services and to help give them essentials to get started. Money for the event came from an Endowment grant of $6,500 dollars. You may...
Dozens of kids ranging from preschool to fifth grade flocked to Messiah last week for the annual Vacation Bible School. Volunteers from the church and Lutherhaven were on hand to invite kids to gather around "The Big Table" and engage in faith building stories and lessons as well as numerous fun activities. Things were capped off with a celebration...
This calendar year the Endowment Committee has a little less than $27,000 to disperse to requests that come to our committee and, if approved, are also approved by the Church Leadership Team. We've received fewer grant requests this year than at this time last year. The second quarter ended in June with the following monetary requests approved: $50...
The Chatter Books group has decided to continue to meet through the summer. Here are the upcoming books and dates for future meetings: July 12 The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar August 2 Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty September 6 All That She Carried by Tina Miles October 4 Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan All meetings begin at 10:00 a....
Jubilee Collective joined with five other ELCA congregations for Pride in the Park at Esther Short Park in downtown Vancouver this past weekend. The annual event celebrates the Southwest Washington LGBTQ+ Community. "It was such a magnificent event and so fun working side by side with other Lutheran churches," said Carie Wright of Jubilee Col...
Snacks are needed for Vacation Bible School, and donations are much appreciated.Please bring to worship or the Messiah front office no later than Wednesday, July 12. Snack list: 6 boxes of Rice Krispies4 boxes of Graham Crackers3 bags of Pretzel Thins3 boxes of Goldfish*2 boxes of Honeycomb cereal2 bags of Pretzel Rods2 bags of Pretzel ...
July 30 is You-Pick Song Sunday! The last Sunday of July will feature crowdsourced hymns and songs at both Messiah North and Hazel Dell's worship services. Messiah's worship team deeply values your feedback and inspiration, and this is a wonderful opportunity to make your voice heard. Votes will be collected through July 23. You may enter up to thr...
The Call Committee has been meeting weekly since being formed in early May. We have reviewed the three candidate profiles that were forwarded to us by the Synod, and have conducted introductory and first round interviews with two of the most promising candidates. We are now moving forward and planning to conduct a secondary interview in person with...
During the week of Independence Day there will be many closures and changes as staff and group leaders take a well deserved break. The church office will be closed July 3-7. The voicemail in the office will be checked daily to provide call backs in the event of emergencies. Other closures: There will be no Wednesday bible study.Faith and Fibers are...
Laurie Sykes has accepted the position of Messiah's Administrative Assistant, working in the front office. Laurie recently moved to Vancouver and has been very involved in the Lutheran Church. Please stop in and say hi the next time you are at Hazel Dell. Welcome Laurie!
Marcella Gowan attends services at Messiah North and currently works at Linfield University as an associate professor in the School of Nursing. Over the past 40 years she has spent significant time in Africa. " In my former life I was a long-term missionary nurse-midwife living and working in East Africa, even raising our kids abroad. We adopted tw...
Kathy Hoffman will be signing copies of "Christmas at Two Ponds, "the second book in her Two Ponds trilogy after worship services on June 25. Kathy Hoffman's second book of the Two Ponds trilogy is now available. You laughed through the first book. The second book has 75% more funny stories for the same low price: $20 donation to ELCA World Hunger....
Ingrid Maddox has accepted the role of Interim Messiah North Site Coordinator, taking over for Julie Backous beginning June 21. Ingrid is very welcoming, knows the Messiah North community well and lives near the winery. Ingrid will have the opportunity to work with Julie Backous before she leaves to help aid in the transition....
When the 9am service comes to an end at the Messiah North County location at Windy Hills Winery this Sunday, June 18, it will mark an end of an era. Julie Backous, the site coordinator for Messiah North for the past five years, is stepping down as she and her husband Todd move to Arizona later in the month. Julie has been involved with Messiah Nort...
Thank you for celebrating Pride Month with Jubilee Collective at both campuses last Sunday. Jubilee Collective is excited to announce our upcoming gathering opportunity, entitled First Round. This is a chance for ALL people interested in Jubilee Collective and its mission to hang out, share some food, and get to know each other, often i...
Traditionally, we have a pattern for worship, our practice of Holy Communion, that has four basic elements - gathering, word, meal, and sending. This structure allows for freedom and flexibility in the ways worship may be shaped locally, while focusing on what the church holds in common: the means of grace: the saving word of God and the sacraments...
Jason Lee Middle School is opening a calming/focusing room for students and is in need of some items for the room. They may be dropped off at the church office during business hours or brought to any worship service. Contact Jessica Potts (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for more information. Items needed include: Drawing/art suppl...
My wife Gretchen and I live in a co-housing condominium. There are 39 of us, 55+, living in intentional community. You'll not be surprised to hear that we've been having the same kinds of COVID conversations Messiah Lutheran has been having over the past three years. Gretchen, with her Masters Degree in Nursing, has been an active and interest...
Messiah is excited to kick off Wild Wednesdays starting May 31! Wild Wednesdays will be held on Wednesday morning from 9:30-11am in two different 3-week series during the summer (see schedule below). Each Wednesday will look a little different, but will include a combination of Bible stories, music/art, snack, and time to run and play! Please...
The Call Committee continues to meet weekly, and has committed to keeping the congregation informed as to our actions and progress. In our meeting held on May 15th, we asked Pastor Rebecca of the Synod to provide us with the list of candidates and their statement of qualifications and interest (RMPs) for our consideration. We also are in the proces...
Beginning May 28, the Prayground in the Sanctuary will be staffed by a nursery attendant. The nursery itself is closed for the summer. Parents are welcome to drop off their child and sit wherever they would like in the Sanctuary. The Prayground is refreshed regularly so there are always new activities!
A Wallowa backpacking trip, the first since Covid, is being organized for this summer. The plan is to go to Echo Lake in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of Northeastern Oregon for a 4-night 5-day trip from August 4-8. The cost is $95 and payment is needed to hold your spot. Participants are responsible for carrying all of their own gear plus u...
The Messiah Semi-Annual meeting of the congregation is June 4 in the Hazel Dell Campus sanctuary at 11:45am. This meeting will be an in-person event. Agenda items include staff reports, a report on the recent synod assembly, financial reports, church leadership team reports and the presentation of the 2023-24 operating budget. Reports and agenda it...
The Endowment Committee is seeking grant request submissions in these areas: National and International Outreach, Ministries, and Missions (examples: World Gospel mission feeding children, Messiah Mission trip support)Local Community Outreach, Ministries and Missions (examples: Winter clothing for local school children, emergency refugee fund, shut...
The Call Committee continues to meet weekly. In our meeting held May 1st, we finalized and distributed the forms to be used by the congregation to nominate candidates for consideration. Those forms are available from Tom Zimmer or Julie Backous at the North County site, and at the church office in Hazel Dell. There are instructions to follow with t...
Do you want to help with worship? Do you like to bake cookies? Do your kids or grandkids like to bake cookies? Saturday, June 24th, is the next opportunity to help bake cookies for coffee time on Sunday mornings. We will meet in the downstairs kitchen at Hazel Dell campus. All ingredients will be provided. Fun and laughter will be share...
Graduate recognition Sunday is coming up on June 4, 2023 at the 10:30am service at Hazel Dell and the Messiah community wants to acknowledge all those who are graduating this year. If you are a graduate, or the family member of one, Messiah invites you to submit the following information, as well as a recent picture of the graduate and a picture fr...
If you are new to Messiah, just coming back to in-person services, or want to try something new, we can use your help. I am looking for worship helpers. We need greeter/ushers, readers, and communion servers. Any instruction is gladly given. Most of our current helpers serve every 6 to 8 weeks. You are welcome to try it once and see how it goes. If...
The Call Committee held its initial meeting on April 27 as well as another meeting on May 1. The congregation has already indicated an interest in nominating potential candidates, and the form and process to be used for this purpose is being established, and will be announced very shortly. The Call Committee is preparing to conduct inte...
Did you know that here is a Qigong class meeting weekly at Messiah? It meets 9:30 to 10:30am on Saturdays in the gym. The class is led by Liz Bolza. Liz has been leading Qigong classes for over 20 years. According to Liz, "Qigong was developed in China thousands of years ago as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Qigong practice ...
The Can-Am (Canadian-American) book club has started reading "Embody" by Karoline Lewis, which focuses on church leadership. This group meets via Zoom each Wednesday at 10 a.m. They just finished reading another book by the same author, "Belonging" which focused on discipleship, featuring the story of the Woman at the Well. This grou...
Beginning May 7, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. Messiah North will start a new adventure of meeting for Brunch after church at local restaurants in the Ridgefield area. This idea was suggested at a meeting for Messiah North to brainstorm ideas for fellowship and is now about to become a reality! The May 7 brunch will be held at Sportsman's Public Hou...
What's a Synod Assembly? (For that matter, what's a "synod"?!) Well, the "Synod" is the 88 congregations and 30,000 some ELCA Lutherans in SW Washington. There are 65 synods in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and each synod is served by a bishop and the bishop's staff. Our bishop is Rick Jaech, and the Bishop's Associate is R...
Vacation Bible School is just around the corner! Vacation Bible School will take place July 17-21, and the program is available for all children ages 4-years-old* (*must be 4 by August 31, 2023) - 5th grade. VBS for 1st-5th grade will run in the church building from 9am-12pm, and VBS for preschoolers and kindergartners will take place a...
Did you notice a lot more singing than usual during the Easter Sunday service at Hazel Dell? The liturgy that the Messiah worship team is using throughout the Easter season is a setting called "Now the Feast" by contemporary composer Marty Haugen. In addition to short liturgical music, it contains two of Haugen's standalone hymns, As the Grains of ...
One of Messiah's members, Hope Quinn, has suggested that she would like to organize and support a Prayer Team specifically focused on our Call Committee members and their work. Thank you, Hope. What a wonderful gift! Hope's vision is that this is something anybody who feels called could do from home on their own schedule. She'll keep the Team ...
Dear Friends, We are off and running with the Call Committee - and I'm excited to be moving into this phase of our congregational transition. Thank you all for your prayers, trust and support! Wednesday evening, April 12, our Call Committee met together for the first time via ZOOM with SWWA Synod Bishop's Associate Rev. Rebecca Shjerven. I was able...
Ellen Andres. in memory of Arnie Andres Loretta Babbitt. in honor of A Great Family Julie Backous and Todd Dugdale in memory of Lily and in honor of our children Wes, Jennifer, Joel, Crystal and Amanda Rick and Sheri Backous in memory of our daughter, Sara, as well as other family members who have passed away; in honor of our daughters and their fa...
"Jesus loves me, this I know!" A common response to the call of God in Jesus Christ is baptism. When baptized the pastor traces the sign of the cross on an individual's forehead and says "'Bob,' child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever." To be baptized is not only to ...
The votes are officially in, and we will be showing the film Encanto! All are invited to a free movie night at Messiah Lutheran Church on Friday, April 14th at 6:00 PM! The film will be shown in the sanctuary where there is plenty of seating available as well as space to lounge on the floor if preferred. You are also invited to we...
Godly Play has returned at a new time, Wednesdays from 6-7pm. Godly Play will occur weekly on Wednesdays through May 24th.All children ages 3 years old - 5th grade are welcome! Godly Play meets in the downstairs Godly Play classroom 105.If you have any questions, or if you would like more information about the Godly Play program, please contact Tor...
Holy Week is a pause in the usual routine of our lives. Functionally it's a pause because our focus and time moves to the special services of the season - Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter!. Spiritually it is the same. I encourage you to set other things aside as much as possible and spend time internally focusing on what the death and r...
The Church Leadership Team (CLT) met March 28 and created the Call Committee from the many members of the congregation who came forward to volunteer for service. The CLT had many more candidates than they were able to place on the committee.Thank you to all who came forward and were willing to serve. The Call Committee is: Vicki Taylor-Roskopf, Cha...
We are now in the middle of Holy Week. Sunday we raised Palms and sang "Hosanna!" This is the beginning of the week that was. In the party (and politically charged) atmosphere that was Passover - with everybody who was anybody in Jerusalem - Jesus rode into town as a Fan Fav who hailed him as a prophet and the promised "Son of David." This was our ...
Saturday, May 20, Lutheran Men in Mission is sponsoring a "Bold Gathering" for men. It will be at Trinity Lutheran Church Parkland in Tacoma, WA. There is no cost other than a freewill offering basket with lunch. I'm curious about the event and plan to attend personally. If you wish to make a day of it with me I'd be glad to have company. Time...
All are welcome to join in participating in worship throughout Holy Week at Messiah Lutheran Church. On Maundy Thursday, April 6, at Messiah's Hazel Dell location, worship will be at 6pm. On Good Friday, April 7, services will be at Hazel Dell at 10:30am and 6pm. The 6pm services on both days will also be livestreamed on the Messiah web...
Messiah's new prayer shawl group, Faith in Fiber, will meet next on March 30 at 6:00 p.m. in the Narthex at Hazel Dell. The group meets every other Thursday at 6:00 p.m. for devotions, prayer and "knitting in the round", making prayer shawls and lap blankets for those in need of a caring touch. All are welcome! Knitters (and crocheters) knit whiche...
I consider giving and gifting to be sacred acts. They are sacred because giving and gifting are woven into the very fabric of life. We are "given" life from the outset. Parents give so much to children as they grow, and children learn to give in return - smiles, a helping hand, trust, faith. We share a sandwich at lunch, give time to help a neighbo...
All are invited to a free movie night on Friday, April 14 at 6pm! This is a fun, free, and family-friendly event for people of all ages to enjoy, so share the news and invite your friends! Snacks will be provided, but guests are encouraged to eat dinner beforehand. You are also invited to wear your pajamas, bring a blanket, and whatever else will h...
Orders are now being taken for Easter flowers. The deadline to order is March 29. Cost is $16/plant. There will be both Easter lilies and spring flowers, but we cannot guarantee what type of plant you will receive. Plants may be picked up after Easter worship. To order, please fill out the sign up form at the link below: Easter flower sign up...
New and gently used clothing (all sizes) is now being collected. Donations can be brought to church during office hours or to any worship services. Donations are being collected through April 5. Please contact Jessica Potts at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.
The CLT is beginning it's process of putting together Messiah's Call Committee, a significant group in the calling of a new pastor. This communication is designed to 1) Explain the process, 2) Allow members to volunteer for service, and 3) Outline the responsibilities of the call committee and the timeline they will follow. 1. How Does this Wo...
The 6:00 AM Tuesday morning book group has just finished Bill McKibben's The Flag, the Cross and the Station Wagon and is now in recess until April 11. (The Tuesday after Easter.) Sometime between now and then I'll get a "vote" form out for you about our next book or focus. There are no space limitations on ZOOM so we'd love to have you! ...
The West Vancouver Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets the third Friday of every month in the Fellowship Hall. This support group is sponsored by the Parkinson's Resources of Oregon and SW Washington, headquartered in Beaverton. This group meets in person, but also has on-line attendees via Zoom. The group used to meet at Legacy Hospital before...
The Can-Am book group is starting a new book study. This small group meets weekly via Zoom, connecting Messiah with friends in Christ in Saskatchewan, Canada. The group is now reading Belonging: 5 Keys to unlock your potential as a disciple by Karoline Lewis. The group meets Wednesday from 10-11:30am via zoom Contact Julie Backous at ju...
This past week Messiah partnered with Jason Lee Middle School for a day of service. Messiah volunteers helped with eight service projects, five at Jason Lee and three onsite at Messiah. The projects at Messiah included packing personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief, packing snack bags for Ridgefield Family Resource Center, pa...
A new caring/crafting ministry has been formed! Beginning Thursday, March 2 at 6pm in the chapel at the Hazel Dell campus, knitters, crocheters, and weavers will meet together to create prayer shawls and/or lap blankets to give to those in need of prayer (shut ins, people on hospice, recovering from major illnesses, those who are grieving a l...
High School and Middle School Youth Night (includes Night Games!). This is a combined event with youth from area Lutheran Churches. Friday, March 3 from 5:40pm – 10:00pm Meet at Messiah…the group will be traveling to Trinity the event. Pick up is at Trinity Lutheran (309 W. 39th St, Vancouver) at 10:00pm. Cost: A Snack Item to Share. Come dressed t...
"Lament" is the gift of giving voice to our anguish, pain or anger without the need to place blame or "fix" something. Many of the Old Testament Psalms are Psalms of Lament and they are given us for a reason. Psalms of Lament are given to us so that we, too, might find words for pains too deep to understand. How long O Lord?! During the ...
A Caring Closet is a non-profit place that accepts durable medical equipment from anyone and then gives the equipment away, free, to anyone.You don't have to donate to take.Things like bath benches, grab bars, hospital beds, walkers, wheelchairs, canes, Depends & Adult briefs are all available to anyone who wants them.They also accept donations...
The preschool and church office are both closed today, Feb. 23, due to snowy weather conditions. The staff of the preschool and church hope everyone stays safe and warm and enjoys the snow!
Due to adverse weather conditions the 5pm Soup Supper and 6pm Ash Wednesday service at the Messiah Hazel Dell Campus have been cancelled. All are invited to join in Sunday worship throughout Lent as well as participate in midweek soup suppers, worship and inter-generational service projects which will begin March 1.
Want to grow stuff - but short on space? Then you need to come to the next meeting of From Seed to Harvest, the Messiah Gardening Ministry. . Many people would like to grow a few veggies, herbs or flowers, but don't have the space to have a garden. Or perhaps you'd just like to try growing a few things without investing a lot of time or money. From...
Save the Date for VBS! Messiah Lutheran is happy to be hosting Vacation Bible School again this summer! Summer will be here before we know it, so mark your calendars for VBS July 17th-21st, 2023. Keep an eye out for online registration that will be opening up very soon! If you have any questions, or if you are interested in volunteering at VBS this...
Children ages 3 years old through 5th grade are invited to Godly Play during the season of Lent. We will be meeting on Sunday mornings during the 10:30 AM worship service at our Hazel Dell campus (Sundays Feb. 26th - March 26th). Participants will start downstairs in the Godly Play room at 10:15 AM, and then be accompanied to the sanctuary in time ...
Debra Rienstra writes: "Refugia Faith requires a sturdy capacity to grieve, lament and repent. It requires the humility that comes from feeling helpless and small. More important refugia faith compels us to grieve along with others, to build empathy and compassion for those whose griefs we may never have bothered about before."She continues: "Lente...
From ELCA,org: On Feb. 6 two powerful earthquakes hit Türkiye and significantly impacted neighboring Syria. The first was a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in south central Türkiye, followed hours later by a magnitude 7.5 quake in the southeastern part of the country. The two quakes have devastated Türkiye and Syria, collapsing thousands of buildings and ...
NeededOn Wednesday, March 1 from 9am - 11am, Messiah will be partnering with Jason Lee Middle School for an all-school day of service. Students will all sign up for service projects. Some will take place at the school and some will take place at Messiah Hazel Dell. Many volunteers are needed. Vancouver School District volunteer clearance is n...
The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 22nd. Messiah will offer two worship services that day for the distribution of ashes, both at Messiah Hazel Dell. The first will be at 10:30 am and the second at 6pm. Following Ash Wednesday, every Wednesday during Lent at Messiah will have a soup supper, mid-week worship and a service projec...
Are you a current Messiah preschool family? If so, it's time to start registering for next year! Registration for current Preschool families begins Feb.8 at 8:15am inside Messiah Lutheran Church. For those who have previously had a child at Messiah Preschool and are registering another, registration begins Feb. 13 in the Preschool. If you kno...
Attention guests of Messiah! Are you interested in becoming an official church member, or just want more information about Messiah? Messiah is hosting a dessert for people interested in membership at Messiah or those interested in more information. The meeting will be on February 19th at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall at Messiah Hazel Dell.&nb...
The Wednesday Bible Study with Pastor Dave is underway and had a great turnout at the first session! All are welcome to join in anytime with no commitment. Each week the study will go over the bible lessons for the coming Sunday with a study sheet provided weekly. The group meets each Wednesday at 2pm in the fellowship hall of Messiah Hazel Dell.
The final feedback session on the site ministry profile will be virtual, with participants able to provide feedback via zoom. The session will be held February 28 from 6:30:pm-8pm. All members are welcome to attend the meeting to provide feedback on this important part of the pastoral call process. Zoom link for meeting »
Make plans to attend Messiah's annual meeting at 11:45am on February 5, 2023 in the Hazel Dell church sanctuary. This meeting will be in person only, there will be no online option. The meeting will include a vote to revise the church constitution, reports from the Church Leadership team and staff and updates on the site ministry profile and ...
Winter Hospitality Overflow Opportunities Messiah Lutheran has been involved with supporting WHO since its inception in 2003. Two of our sister churches, St. Andrew Lutheran in Orchards and St. Paul Lutheran in downtown Vancouver, agreed to provide space for this ministry in their church facilities From November 1 through March 31 during the coldes...
This week I'll be at the SWWA Synod Bishop's Convocation in Seabeck, WA. The Bishop's Convocation is an annual event in which our synodical bishop, currently Bp. Rick Jaech, calls all of our deacons and pastors together to "build a greater sense of community and be deepened in our theological, spiritual and educational formation." I ...
Happy New Year!! 2023 would be a great year to invest in some noggin nuddlin' with Pr. Dave!! Face to Face Bible Study - Yea!!This past Fall we had a second, virtual, book group that paralleled our Tuesday Study. This group met Wednesday mornings. However, this study used to be Face to Face, and a Bible Study to boot. So, we're returning ...
Messiah Preschool has had many things over the years. Support from the congregation, amazing students, caring staff. What it hasn't had is its own stand-alone website. Until now. Messiahpreschoolvancouver.org launched last week, giving the preschool its first stand-alone web presence since its founding. The new website will be the home for all info...
Messiah is excited to be hosting a Godly Play training at Messiah this January! This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who is interested in learning about Godly Play, regardless of your experience and familiarity with the program. As Messiah prepares to reboot the Godly Play program in the near future, there will be many volunteer opportunities...
Endowment Committee Grant Request for last Fall The Endowment Committee met Dec 4 and considered the requests that had been received. The following were approved by the committee and then were also approved by the CLT. $4000 will be sent to Compassion International which will provide food for 80 families for one month overseas. Because fair trade c...
The Messiah vegetable gardening ministry, From Seed to Harvest, will have our first meeting of the year on Saturday, January 28 at 9:30 AM in the sanctuary at Hazel Dell campus. If you are planning or even thinking about growing veggies this year, please plan to attend. Everyone is welcome. If you would like to do some growing but don't have space ...