Sunday, November 15, 2009

Christmas Workshop



On November 15th, the Junior and Senior Youth of Messiah Lutheran Church and Incarnation Lutheran Church joined several hundred other participants in a Christmas Workshop that was hosted by Grace Lutheran Church.



After an opening ceremony and instructions, the participants of the workshop were divided into three groups and began busily working on their various projects.







Each of the three groups had the opportunity to wrap Christmas Presents for foster children, create Christmas ornaments for Meals on Wheels recipients and decorate cookies for those overseas.



Everyone involved had a good time. The spirit of God was present and the youth were able in a short period of time to create a mountain of gifts for those in need.



At the conclusion of the event, everyone gathered back in the gym for concluding ceremonies and pizza.









 



Sunday, November 8, 2009

Lunches For Learning Graduates



On November 28, 2009 the Benito Montoya School in Honduras will graduate five students from the 6th Grade.  Why is this significant? In rural Honduras most students drop out of school long before they reach the 6th grade. Graduating from the 6th grade in rural Honduras is considered a significant accomplishment and often makes the difference between having a successful life or continuing a life of poverty.
Messiah Lutheran Church is working hard to help break the cycle of poverty at the Benito Montoya School.  Messiah Lutheran Church sponsors the school through the Lunches For Learning Program.  This program provides the students with a lunch meal each day at school in order to encourage them to stay in school where they can receive an education.  Messiah Lutheran Church recently conducted a Hand Made Market which raised $3000 for the Lunches for Learning Program.

To mark occasion of their graduation, Bene David Matule the principal of the school along with his five graduates wrote letters of appreciation to Messiah Lutheran Church to thank the Church for their support.

The five graduates are:
  • Vanesa Colindres
  • Juan Francisco Fuentes Zavala
  • Yonni Javier Vesque Carcamo
  • Hocner Marti Canales Cardene
  • Maria Adelcia Canales Cardenas

Click here to see the original letters.  A translation of Principal Matule's letter follows:

Lord! Give to us effectively to love and be good brothers, sharing what we are and have.

El Barrial, Nacaome Valle
July 3, 2009
Honduras, CA
Benito Montoya School

Pastor Peterson
Messiah Lutheran Church
Madison, Alabama

Through this we, students, parents and teachers extend a warm and cordial greeting. I hope that you are in good health and that our Lord put his hand on you, to continue your good work.

We thank you for having decided to support our school to supplement the diet of the students.  Since you have done this, the students have improved in their physical and mental development and in their skills.  As proof of this we invite you to the graduation of our sixth graders which will be held on November 28, 2009.  We appreciate your help and hope that you will continue to provide support.

We say goodbye Lord! Our Father, by whom nothing is strange and with whose protection you look with pity on our poor brethren who lack food, clothing and health for the injustice and indifference and poor distribution of the goods of this earth because of the selfishness of men.

Sincerely
Bene David Matule
Principal

Alex Laines
Assistant Principal

Pablo Zavala
President PTA

Luis Antonio Gutierrez
School Government President

Monday, November 2, 2009

Eagle Scout Project At Messiah Lutheran Church


This year Messiah Lutheran Church is blessed to be the subject of an Eagle Scout Project.  Steven Rury a member of Boy Scout Troop 8 has been working on his Eagle Project for some time.  Lucky for us at Messiah Lutheran Church, he selected building a retaining wall around the base of our new sign and landscaping it, for his project.  We would like to thank Steven and the scouts who helped him for a job well done!!  The wall and plantings really help to beautify the area around the sign.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Those who attain this rank are called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men. The title of Eagle Scout is held for life, thus giving rise to the phrase "Once an Eagle, always an Eagle".



Requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout Spirit, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages. Eagle Scouts are presented with a medal and a badge that visibly recognizes the accomplishments of the Scout. Additional recognition can be earned through Eagle Palms, awarded for completing additional tenure, leadership, and merit badge requirements.

Boy Scout Troop 8  Meets on Sundays from 2:00-3:30 PM at Messiah Lutheran Church.  Boy Scout Troop 8 is located in the Madison - Monrovia area of North Alabama.  If you would like to learn more about Troop 8 or the other scout troops sponsored by Messiah Lutheran Church, please visit our Community Ministries Page.

Messiah Men's Ministry


This month's meeting of the Messiah Lutheran Church Men's Ministry was conducted Incarnation Lutheran Church. The meeting consisted of breakfast and devotional study.  The topic of this month's devotion was "The Truth Will Set You Free". 

John 8:31-36  - Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "if you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone.  What do you mean by saying, "You will be made free?"  Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.  So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
All men are encouraged to get connected with the Messiah Men’s Ministry.  The Messiah Men’s Ministry meets the 2nd Saturday of each month at 7am in  Messiah’s Parish Hall.  If your would like  more information about Messiah Men’s Ministry or would like to be added to the Men’s Ministry  email list, please contract Pastor Mark Borseth at mark@mlutheran.com or 230-5387.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” Proverbs 27:17