The Church of the Messiah

Tuesday night, November 11th, Church of the Messiah will be hosting a Rethreaded Party.  As we draw near the holidays, there are always dozens of parties that are hosted this time of year, but Rethreaded is different!  Rethreaded’s vision is to “unravel the effects of the sex trade by fighting business with business on a global and local level.”  Rethreaded is not just selling high-quality jewelry, scarves, and men’s and women’s accessories, they are helping to remove women from the sex trade and end sex trafficking altogether.  This is a cause that everyone case get behind.  The Rethreaded Party begins at 7 o’clock in the evening and will include an informational presentation about the work Rethreaded is doing as well as an opportunity to support this wonderful ministry by buying their products.

Do to the nature of the presentation, this event is for women only.  Childcare will be provided.  For more information, contact Lizz Looker at 424-8622, visit Rethreaded’s web-site or look at the diagram below.

This Sunday Church of the Messiah will observe All Saints’ Day.  Historically, this is when the Church takes time to commemorate that countless numbers of saints who have gone before us whose names are known only to the Lord; saints about whom no one writes books or icons, carves statues or dedicates churches, but whose lives were lived dedicated to the Lord nonetheless.  It is a day we reaffirm our own Baptismal Vows and often welcome new believers into the Kingdom of God.

In recent years, the ICCEC has taken up an annual offering on All Saints’ Day to support our developing churches in Africa.  Each year 20% of the money collected goes to mercy missions and to establishing sources of clean water in the local environments to prevent the spread of the disease.  The other 80% goes to establishing self-sustaining micro-businesses in order to ensure that our local parishes in these countries can become self-sufficient and self-supporting and no longer relying on outside support and aid.  For more information about this project, visit the web-site of the ICCEC.

This Sunday, November 2, as we give thanks for the great cloud of witnesses who has gone before us, let us remember those saints, our brothers and sisters who will have already risen early on the first day of the week to praise the Risen Lord, and let us do what we can to uphold and support our those saints who are worshiping with us in Africa.

As you have most likely heard already, Frank Powell went to be with the Lord this past Sunday, September 28th.  Frank is the grandfather of Lizz Looker and was, for many years, the Head-Usher at Church of the Messiah.  An obituary is available on-line through Arlington Park Cemetery and Funeral Home which may be seen by clicking HERE.   There will be a viewing Thursday, October 2nd, beginning at 6:30 pm at Holy Family Catholic Church (Click HERE for directions).  The family has invited those who wish to say something about the way Frank has impacted their lives to speak at this service.  There will be a Funeral Mass on Saturday, October 4th, beginning at 1 o’clock also at Holy Family Catholic Church.  A luncheon will follow the Mass and then, at 4:30, there will be a graveside service at Arlington Cemetery (Click HERE for directions).  The family thanks everyone for their prayers and invites everyone to join them at these services.

Rest eternal grant to Frank, O Lord:
And let light perpetual shine upon him.

May his soul and the souls of the the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

This Sunday, we received word that Frank Powell has passed from this life into the next.  Frank is the grandfather of Lizz Looker and was, for many years, the Head-Usher at Church of the Messiah.  Frank’s death comes after a brief battle with an aggressive form of cancer.  He had been in the care of hospice and died at home.  Frank is survived by his wife Pat, many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  Funeral arrangements are, at this point still tentative, but we will update this page as we receive more information.

Rest eternal grant to Frank, O Lord:
And let light perpetual shine upon him.

May his soul and the souls of the the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

Fr. Miguel Rosada, the pastor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and long-time friend of Church of the Messiah, has extended a special invitation to our congregation to join his parish as they celebrate their annual Multicultural Festival this Sunday, October 5th.  There will be a variety of music, dancing, food, and desserts, all for the low price of $5.  All are welcome.

This Wednesday night will draw to a close one of the most informative teaching series Church of the Messiah has hosted in years.  September 10th, beginning at 7pm, Fr. Scott Looker will teach the final session of Follow Me: an Introduction to the Gospel According to St. Matthew.  In the last week of the Bible study, Fr. Looker will focus on the last four chapters of the Gospel dealing with the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord as only St. Matthew relays it.  Join Church of the Messiah for this powerful conclusion to what has already been an insightful Bible study.

Follow Me: An Introduction to the Gospel According to Saint Matthew is part of Church of the Messiah’s regular Wednesday night worship service.  Each night begins with anointed praise and worship and concludes with a time of intercessory prayer.  Childcare is provided during this service.  The service dismisses by 8:30 so that everyone can be home in order to get kids in bed and prepare for work the next day.  Set your DVR’s and watch it when you get home, because Wednesday nights are amazing at Church of the Messiah!

The September Ultreya for North Florida will be Tuesday, September 9th, beginning at 6:30 in the evening with a covered-dish potluck meal.  This month, instead of our regular grouping, we will be preparing “things” for the upcoming Tres Arroyose in October.  If you have previously attended a Tres Arroyose weekend please try to be here this Tuesday to bless future candidate and “pay it forward.”  As always, we will conclude the evening with the Holy Eucharist.  The Ultreya will be hosted at Church of the Messiah (click HERE for a map and directions) and is open to anyone who has attended a Tres Arroyos weekend or similar 3-day weekend retreat (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Lighthouse Via de Christo, etc…).  We look forward to seeing everyone Tuesday night.

This week is one of those week’s we thank God we have our own building because we will be getting a whole lot of use out of it and you will want to be there!  The weekend is loaded with fun, so be sure to read through to the end!

On Tuesday night, we have the September Ultreya for Northeast Florida.  The Ultreya is open to anyone who has attended a Tres Arroyos weekend or similar three-day weekend retreat (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, etc…).  We will begin at 6:30 with a potluck meal and begin working and an important project in preparation for the upcoming Tres Arroyos weekends this coming October.  If you have attended Tres Arroyos weekends in the past, please make an effort to attend this Ultreya to bless future candidates.  As always, we will end with the Holy Eucharist.

Wednesday is the final session of Follow Me: an Introduction to the Gospel of Saint Matthew.  This will bring to a close our very powerful study on St. Matthew’s Gospel as we focus on the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the First Gospel.  Everyone who has attended this Bible study has said that they have had their eyes opened to the Gospel in ways they never imagined.  Come experience what they have been learning as this amazing Bible study comes to a close Wednesday night starting at 7pm.

Friday night many of our ladies will be leaving for their women’s retreat at the scenic Epworth-by-the-Sea in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia.  Their theme for the weekend will be “Relentless: Reignited, Reclaimed, Revived, and Repurposed.”  They will be meeting Friday evening, all day Saturday, and returning just in time for the service on Sunday morning.  Pray for the ladies and for their retreat leader and speaker Shannon Clemons.

Saturday is our monthly Fusion service!  Fusion is our service directed at young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 who either have no church home of their own or are attending a church without a young adults ministry.  We begin the service at 6pm with light appetizers and have a time or worship and testimony as well as amazing fellowship.  This week, because so many of the ladies will be at the women’s retreat, we still have a need for some of our men to volunteer to bring in “finger food” and other munchies.  Please contact Kevin Paysinger if you are willing to do so.

Finally, last but not least, we have an incredibly important service Sunday morning at Church of Messiah.  This is will be part of our regular service but will include a special speaker with a unique presentation.  This will definitely be a service you will not want to miss.  Even though it will have been a busy week, be sure to be here Sunday morning for a service that is sure to be full of surprises!

It’s not too late to register for this year’s Women’s Retreat.  If you are interested in attending this year, please contact Janice Paysinger or Darla Shiell by Thursday at the latest!  The theme for this year’s retreat will be “Relentless: Reignited, Reclaimed, Revived, and Repurposed” and our Retreat Leader will be Shannon Clemons.  The retreat will once again be held at the beautiful Epworth-by-the-Sea in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, September 12th through 14th.  For pricing details and a biography of the retreat leader, click on the flyers to the left.  The retreat promises to be an amazing, Spirit-led weekend and we want everyone to be there and experience what God is doing.  Please contact Janice or Darla if you have not already done so.  Payment arrangements have another week before they are due.  The ladies of Church of the Messiah are very excited about this retreat and hope that everyone will attend this powerful event!

After taking a break for Summer Vacations, the Ultryas are starting back again tonight!  The August Ultreya for North Florida will be tonight, August 12th, beginning at 6:30 in the evening with a covered-dish potluck meal.  Groupings will begin around 7:30 and we will conclude the evening with the Holy Eucharist.  The Ultreya will be hosted at Church of the Messiah (click HERE for a map and directions) and is open to anyone who has attended a Tres Arroyos weekend or similar 3-day weekend retreat (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus, Lighthouse Via de Christo, etc…).  If you are interested in sharing a brief (5-10 minute) example from your own 4th Day walk, please e-mail Greg Looker. We are also beginning to plan ahead for the next Tres Arroyos weekends coming up in October!  We look forward to seeing everyone tonight.